Noble

  Chapter Five

  Part One

  He walked through the streets, in his arms were a bundle of books he had just recently purchased. It was late, so the streets here were empty. The only things lighting the way were the hanging lanterns, that swayed slightly in the cool night breeze. There was a sudden bark of a dog in the distance, he grumbled, someone really had to teach that dog how to be quiet.

  He rounded a street corner that opened up into a wider street, his home wasn’t too far from here. He tightened his robes as another gust of wind blew past him, brushing through some wind chimes, creating a peaceful yet eerie sound.

  He glanced behind him, noticing a dark figure duck back behind the corner he had just walked round.

  “Who’s there!” his voice was gruff.

  When no one answered he continued walking down the street. He was only a few more paces away from his front gate. When suddenly darkness filled his vision, as a potato sack covered his head. He let out a cry of surprise. Dropping his books, his hands went to the sack over his head but found it was already tied securely.

  He felt himself being pulled with considerable force, he didn’t know where to. He was thrown to the hard ground, hitting his head on something hard. Knocking himself out.

  *

  Line was once again awake before the sun was. She was already in the training grounds, hitting against the chosen wooden dummy for that day. Her fists and legs yet again sore from the rhythmic hitting against the hard wood. Her back no longer hurt from the canes she took a few nights earlier, so she could move freer than before.

  Arasha moved across the veranda and disappeared through a rounded doorway. It was strange of her to be seen this early in the day, so Line immediately knew that something was wrong. She stepped away from the dummy and followed after Arasha.

  “Arasha!?” Line called out to her.

  “Line?”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Arasha looked as though she was contemplating something, before she took Line’s arm “come with me”

  “Alright”

  Line allowed herself to be led through the monastery. But when she saw Divan, she became even more worried.

  “Arasha. Why did you bring Line with you?” Divan was immediately on the offensive.

  “Just chill” Arasha said.

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  Divan glared at Line, but followed Arasha’s instructions and joined them. They continued in silence and came to a part of the monastery that Line had only been to once before, and that was five years ago when she had first officially joined the monastery. The scent of sandalwood began to permeate the air here, she knew that master liked this smell the most.

  They followed the smell to its strongest, and came to a set of large round doors. Arasha knocked against them a few times, before the doors opened on their own. Through the doors was a darkened chamber, but as soon as they stepped through the door way, candles alit themselves.

  The candle light flickered against the many murals that plastered the walls of this chamber, depicting a few people in monk attire. The floor and ceiling were carved with intricate looking runes, all with their own purpose. Sat at the back of the chamber was the master monk.

  He looked up at them through his silver eyes. Strands of long grey hair, fell from his unkempt bun. Long ivory white robes flowed around him, giving him the air of importance. He slowly stood, revealing his height. He was very tall.

  Arasha and Divan fell to a knee “Master” they both said in unison.

  Seeing them both do this, Line slowly did the same.

  “you called for us”

  Line glanced at Arasha, she was still holding the bow head down and talking at the floor.

  “indeed” despite his age, his voice was strong “blood magic”

  Line’s head snapped up at him, as did the others.

  The master continued “the runes that were set up to detect blood magic flared”

  Blood magic was seen as a cursed magic, it was highly against the law to practice such thing. But it was also known that only certain bloodlines could actually use blood magic, so a few decades ago the king of then had ordered complete annihilation to those families, which later became known as The Blood Purge. No one should be able to use blood magic in this age.

  “if there truly is a blood sage, what would you have us do?” Divan asked.

  Master sighed “this monastery was originally created to detect such things. It was only later that the monks here became inspectors. The history of Candour Monastery has long been forgotten”

  Arasha frowned at him “so...?”

  The master shrugged “it’s pointless to do anything now”

  “Pointless?”

  Master nodded.

  “Then why did you call us here?” Divan asked.

  “I was bored”

  The three of them looked at each other. They knew that the master was quite the enigma, but they assumed that he would be more serious in a situation like this.

  “listen, when you have a prolonged life like mine you will come to understand”

  “prolonged life?”

  He nodded “I was just a monk when Candour Monastery was built. After my master died in the blood purge, and after a series of debates, I was appointed as the new master” he looked at Arasha “this is also another reason I asked you here, I almost forgot. Arasha, you will become the next master” he said that last sentence so nonchalantly.

  Arasha’s eyes widened “What?”

  “There is a lot to prepare for, time to learn. I have always wished that I had gotten time to comprehend what was needed of me. This is how it should be, but my master’s death was unexpected. So I was unprepared. But you, you will not”

  “master, I...”

  “you two will leave, there’s more to discuss with Arasha”

  **

  Line and Divan stood outside the master’s door, they were standing so long that night had become day. Now that the sun was up there were other high monks passing through this place, completely unbothered by the two standing completely silent. But that silence broke, not by what they were waiting for, but by Ali.

  “Line? Here you are. I’ve been looking for ages”

  “Ali? You’re up earlier than usual. What happened?”

  “we’ve been called upon. We need to go”

  “go where?”

  Ali smiled “to go solve a murder”