Mountain of The Suns • Book 2

Chapter 46

I was in bed with a few books around me as I zoned out. It was past midnight because I could no longer see the moon above me meaning it was past my window. Even from the top of the dojo the moon was able to tell time if the clouds allowed it. I was studying by candlelight forcing myself to stay awake.

Though my energy had been drained of me I still fought it. I wanted to wait for Jun because surely they wouldn't keep him away all night. It had been hours since the ceremony. For a while I could hear yelling all the way from the chambers but eventually it toned down. The lights were still on but it was getting hard to see anything in the cold winter night.

I was laid down on the bed reading a page of a book very slowly. I caught myself having to read the same paragraph a few times because my eyes couldn't focus. My heavy eyelids kept me from fully reading a sentence whole. It was foot steps that grew in volume that brought me to full consciousness. I sat up and saw the door open with a very tired looking Jun.

I didn't say anything just looked at him as he came up the stairs and stopped at the railing. His face was pale and washed out and he looked puffy almost like he'd been crying. He took off his jacket and hung it on the railing with a firm nod.

"You shouldn't be burning oil this late at night, you should be in bed." He said calmly.

"Jun." I said in a soft but purposeful voice.

"You were up waiting I know." He said shaking his head as he nearly shred off layers of his clothes to get out of his winter wear. "Believe me I wasn't there sipping tea."

"Jun." I said again.

"They kept going on and on about honor and how let I my emotions drive my actions." He said with a huff clearly feeling bothered still.

"Jun." I repeated once again.

"I told them I was just trying to do my job but they wouldn't listen." He said throwing on a shirt over his head as he was raising his voice looking at the wall. "Liang got an earful too but they just don't understand what I have to do!"

"For the love of all that is holy- Jun!" I said raising my voice though I was much to tired to force it.

"What?" He asked taken back.

"For starters you've still got your winter boots on." I said seeing that he was in his full sleep wear and clunky winter boots to end it all off.

"It's late." He looked at his feet and his shoulders slouched.

"It is." I said with a huff as I picked up the four books around me to put away. "You look like you've been crying."

"I've been worked up for hours, they don't get it!-"

"Start from the beginning." I said placing my books down on the nightstand as he sat down on the bed and began to unlace his shoes.

"They took us down into his chamber and for a while he just yelled. He was disappointed in us and our behavior. He said I was childish to let Liangs actions affect me the way they did but they don't seem to acknowledge that he started it. I am literally supposed to protect you and he looked like he was going to hurt you." He said throwing his shoe off to the side of the room. "He should have never been placed as a Master, he was a second pick and for a good reason."

"Who was the first pick?" I asked because I had a vivid memory of Minoru saying something about that.

"It doesn't matter a Master would never behave as he did." Jun said shaking his head as I sat beside him hugging his arm.

"Who?" I asked feeling a sick feeling in my stomach.

"Makio you're missing the point." He said sounding frustrated but I was not blind to his very clear dodging of my question.