“Forbidden romance in the monastery”

After the death of the old emperor, marquises and marquesses warred with each other over dominance in the region. True peace wasn't present anywhere, not even in the Mayu’s Monastery, which was situated on an isolated mountain peak.

The monastery took its name after Mayu, a legendary goddess, said to appear as a white tigress. Her two sons showed up as two tiger kittens. They were named Presence and Absence. One day, Absence went missing. Presence cried tears that turned into rivers streaming down the mountain peak. They irrigated farmland, allowing villagers to get rich and build magnificent cities. In an attempt to thank the goddess and her sons, commoners built Mayu’s Monastery. Its walls protected one precious artifact: Mayu’s necklace. She used to wear it on her neck in both forms. The stone embedded in the pendant had two sides: one was jagged, and the other one smooth like the surface of a quiet lake. The necklace reminded everyone that there are both harsh and easy times in life. It was also said to transform negativity into positivity. Because of this unique quality, many prominent people visited the mountain monastery. They confided in monks, hoping to receive a blessing. The monks let them touch the necklace. This small ritual really made a difference in several prominent people's lives. So, the necklace became the object of everyone's desire.

The monks needed to protect it from thieves. Hence, they invented their own martial art. It became the pride of the mountain monastery, which remained safe for many centuries.

However, after the sudden death of the emperor, a turbulent period dawned on the empire. With no one to fear, rogues started plundering buildings, and many young men came to the temple, begging monks to teach them some of their martial art so that the young men would be able to protect their wives and children.

Monks agreed and taught them a few techniques, but the majority remained secret. The Mayu’s Monastery was supposed to remain a bird sitting on the trees' tallest branches. It was meant to be close enough to the people, to affect them with its singing, but far enough to avoid being caught in the cage, or shot.

*

Yet, not everyone important for the region's religious community was born inside the temple complex. A notable exception was Isamu, the grandson of the elderly master ruling in the times of the emperor's death.

It wasn’t clear when exactly Isamu was born, but it didn’t matter. He left his family home around age ten. His grandfather prepared him to take over the temple after his own death. Isamu had a critical mission to fulfill: to protect the grounds from the soldiers of Duke Ozuru. Duke Ozuru was a local ruler who favored another religious belief, which came from the east. He proclaimed he would come into possession of the necklace and end the cult of Mayu and her sons. There was no emperor to stop him, so it was just a matter of time when he would attack.

Isamu didn't feel prepared even after ten more years of intense training. He was a quiet and reserved twenty-year-old person who would resort to diplomacy and avoid bloodshed at all costs. He was characterized by high personal culture and looked like a prince. He wore an elegant, sapphire blue robe, consisting of several layers. His silky, smooth hair was tied into a man bun and adorned with silver. He had indigo eyes observing the world with a contemplative gaze, and his face appeared both delicate and noble.

Isamu loved poetry and was a talented calligrapher. He felt most inspired in spring, which turned the mountain monastery into an otherworldly paradise. The leaves of the trees trembled gently under the pressure of passing showers, and blossoms lurked out from between the mists. Even the small droplets of water falling from the bamboo gutter had their own charm as they hit translucent puddles on the ground, splashing around.

*

One day at sunset, the abysses secluding the monastery mountain from the rest of the world filled suddenly with tumultuous clouds. The skies, a mix of storm sapphire and sunlight gold, appeared heavy and metallic. They reminded Isamu of a classical painting gifted from another continent to his grandfather. His grandfather never hung it on any wall as he found it too distracting. It seemed that the picture took revenge, and its colors escaped the dusty warehouse to be painted outside.

*

It rained for days and days. The sun showed up only from time to time, checking up on Isamu, who was preparing his breakfast in the kitchen. He finished cutting tomato and salad for his sandwich, then put away the wet knife. Drops of water shone in the natural light. Then, all of a sudden, a rumble o thunder roared in the sky. It didn't take long for an ocean of water to fall on the monastery grounds.

Isamu realized he should double-check the doors to avoid the corridors from getting flooded. He walked to the entrance and was surprised to see his grandfather and one other monk there. A pile of wet rags lay between their feet.

“Good day to you,” he greeted them. “What is this?”

“Someone almost drowned in the Lake of Excellence on their way here,” the monk said.

Isamu glanced down and realized to his terror that the pile of wet rags was actually a person.

“Is it safe to take a look at him?” Isamu turned to his grandfather.

“Yes,” the elderly master responded. “He was found without weapons or poison.”

Isamu knelt to peel off layers of fabric and take a look at the stranger. As he did, he was struck with the man’s traditional beauty. He had aristocratic features and long black hair with an oriental flair. He might have been a lord or a prince – definitely not a soldier. Yet, he was gravely wounded, like he had just escaped from a battle. He was breathing with difficulty and almost didn’t react to Isamu’s hands softly touching him.