“Yes we did” Monk Chen answered unknowingly interrupting Gabriel’s thoughts “We sealed your cores.”

  “Sealed my cores?” that answer confused Gabriel even more “How? Why?”

  “How? Have you heard of sages.” The monk didn’t wait for an answer “Why? You have the pale king’s disease, don’t you?”

  “What?” Gabriel asked again, the monk’s answer not clearing up the confusion in his mind.

  “You should come to my class” monk Chen saw the confusion on Gabriel’s face and mistook it for lack of knowledge “Of course you won’t join as a student but more as a teacher’s assistant. Think of it as preparatory training for college.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question. I would like to speak to my father now.” Gabriel insisted “I would like for you to call him right now, please.” a refusal would prove him right.

  Monk Chen watched Gabriel for a moment, to Gabriel the moment felt like an eternity and part of him was already preparing to run, where? He didn’t know yet but getting away from here would be good enough.

  “Alright, wait here. I will bring my phone.”

  Monk Chen stood up from his meditative position and went into his cottage. Gabriel watched him go, a little stunned. He didn’t expect the monk to accept so readily and now all the adrenaline was draining away leaving him blank on what to do next. He leaned back on his hands and sighed. He was letting his imaginations get the better of him.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “vice chancellor Nobunaga, hope the night is well?”

  “Leader Chen, what a surprise.” Nobunaga replied “You tell me, you are the one who called. Is Gabriel alright?”

  “He is the reason I have called you this night. You should talk to him, he insist on speaking with you this night.”

  Monk Chen handed Gabriel the phone, it was a tablet, on the screen he could see his father’s face. He looked haggard, there was sweat on his brows as though he had been working out except it was two in the morning.

  “Gabriel, how are you?” Nobunaga said “Are you alright? Are you in pain? Where does it hurt!”

  Gabriel tried to reply but he was so relieved all he could do was nod. He really wanted to say he was fine, to ask of uncle Zhao, to ask why he needed to hide. He wanted to ask a lot of things but he couldn’t, something had knot the words in his throat. A drop of water fell on the tablet and he understood the presence of the panic in his father’s voice.

  Gabriel quickly cleaned his face, he didn’t want him to worry besides the tears were of joy. How could he tell his father, he was afraid he had been abandoned. He felt so foolish now for worrying.

  “Gabriel, everything will be alright?” Gabriel nodded. “Leader Chen said you needed to talk to me about something. I guess you must have been really anxious since you woke up, right? You don’t need to worry about Samsara anymore. leader Chen has assured me, he will protect you. You just focus on recovering. Make sure to listen to whatever leader Chen tells you, alright?" Gabriel nodded.

  “Does this dispel your worries? You will only be here for a while. When you are ready I promise you will be able to go back to your father.” Monk Chen said after the call had ended and Gabriel nodded again.