LEGEND OF THE MONK: book one

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                                                                              Chapter 12

    A  New  Path  Awaits

 Yotto awoke early, just as the blue and orange Hughes peaked in the eastern skies. The blond monk was already dressed, with his blond hair pulled back in its braid, He wore black paints, thick and baggy, that tied at the hip with a red sash. On the top, Yotto wore a light brown, sleeveless GI top, that overlapped and tied in the front. For shoes he sported a pair of closed toe slippers, that crisscrossed up the calf and tied at the shin.

 Yotto chose clothes that were loose and comfortable, for whatever challenges he might face on the road. He also picked the black and brown earth tones, knowing those colors would draw much less attention than some brighter tones.

 The blond monk sat cross-legged on the hard wood floor, focusing on his morning meditation. His bedroll was already rolled up, and put in a small pack, along with a change of clothe. Yotto also had a small, single edged knife tossed into the pack. The small knife wasn't much of a weapon and Yotto only brought it incase he needed the tool. The monk remained in his room the entire morning, meditating and focusing his mind for the journey ahead. That morning, before the sun reached its peek, Ken knocked on his door. "Come in." Yotto said, standing to his feet. The door slid open and Ken stepped inside.

"Its time Yotto." Ken spoke, a little remorse present in his voice. "There are a couple people who'd like to speak to you before you leave, my friend." Ken said, motioning to Arty and Master Poe standing outside.

"Of course." Yotto said with a deep smile. It truly warmed the young monks heart to know at least there IS some who care for him, even if so many others hate him. Yotto snatched up the small pack and stepped outside to his friends.

 Both Arty and Master Poe stood off the walkway, just outside Yotto's door. His best friend stood holding a tightly wrapped package, shifting his weight from foot to foot. His master stood next to him, leaned on his walking stick with a polished wooden box, tucked under his arm. " I'm glad you've come to see me before I left." Yotto said, dropping his pack and giving Arty a hug.

" I wouldn't miss it..." Arty replied, "...here, I grabbed some dry jerky from the kitchen." He said, handing it over.

" Thanks Arty..." Yotto said, placing it in his pack. "...I'm really going to miss you my friend."

"You better, or I'll kick your butt myself." Arty said with tears in his eyes, and the two both shared one last laugh.

 Yotto turned to Master Poe, who still stood leaning on his walking stick, smiling at his two students. The wooden box was still tucked under his other arm, and Yotto had to admit, he was curious to its condense. " Master Poe, I'm so glad your here." Yotto said with a deep bow.

"This is the most important day in all your nineteen years..." Master Poe's said with a laugh, "...where else would I be my boy?"

"I will never forget all the lessons you've taught me, master." Yotto said in a humbled tone. Yotto noticed his beloved Master Poe looked more frail and weak the past few days than he normally was.

"Use them well, my boy..." Master Poe said with a smile,"...the knowledge is there...Its discovering when to use it is the key." Poe said with a wink.

 Master Poe removed the box from under his arm and held it out to Yotto. "I have been working with Master Dei Son for months forging this. It was going to be a gift for you when you became a senior monk..." Master Poe said with a smile,"...now its that and so much more." Yotto looked at his master with a confused look. What could he have meant by that, he wandered, but pushed the thought out of his mind and opened the case. The blond monks eyes lit up as soon as he seen the condense.  Inside the case was the most beautiful pair of combat sais he had ever seen. They were about thirteen inches long from crosspiece to point, and shined like polished steel. The handle was tightly wrapped with crimson red cord, the same color as his sash. The most beautiful feature was the polished dragon head on each of the sais hilts, a true sign of the clan he belonged to. Yotto just stood there speechless, holding his new weapons. " I knew from the first  day I seen you disarm everyone in your class with the sais, that THIS would be your weapon of choice." Master Poe said to Yotto's shocked face, leaning heavily on his cane.