CHAPTER 10 - CHOSEN ONE

The monastery felt unusually quiet. Meditation was from dusk to midday, but unfortunately, Ada had overslept. The monks usually didn't mind as they considered sleep another form of meditation. She sat on her new bed untangling her braids as she thought of her current situation.

She successfully escaped the monitors three days ago and somehow got here. Well, Hasim knew the way.

"But how," she said to herself as she massaged her sore feet and tied her hair in a messy bun. Monasteries didn't have mirrors as the monks believed in focusing on the world instead of yourself.

"I need a bath," she said after tying her hair completely.

Half an hour later, she was down at the mess hall clothed in full habit. The shorts felt quite baggy. Her legs felt uncomfortable in the sandals. The robe fit nicely except for the inner garb which seemed to hold her breasts too firmly. Looking around the mess hall, she saw Tomasso and Hasim sitting at the farthest table from the door. As if being the only female at the monastery wasn't uncomfortable enough, now she had to make her way past everyone.

"I have questions," she said immediately after she got to the table. She looked at her companions as if assessing their fits. Hasim looked quite natural in the habit. He even shaved his hair to complement the look. Tomasso on the other hand looked messy. He had no inner garb on, and half the robe hung down his left shoulder revealing half his chest.

"You too" Tomasso continued gesturing for her to sit. His accent was barely noticeable. Like it had vanished.

"I will answer your questions in time," Hasim said in a calm baritone. "For now, eat."

"Why not tell us as we eat" Tomasso nudged.

"It's not good etiquette to…"

"Screw good etiquette" Tomasso yelled kicking his sitting stool aside.

"Toma. Relax" Ada said grabbing his arm. The monks in the mess hall stared at them briefly before continuing their meals.

"Patience" Hasim spoke once more "All will be revealed in due time."

"Time's already due for me thank you very much," Tomasso said sitting back down and ruffling his robe in the process.

Ada looked behind to check if the monks were still staring. The robes of the monks came in black, and others came in brown. The younger ones seemed to have black robes and shaved heads. She inferred that Hasim belonged to this segregation. This meant he was from the monastery because he knew their traditions so well. Tomasso wore a black one too. Only he didn't observe the proper way of wearing it. The older demographic wore brown robes. Some had shaved heads, others didn't bother. She was the only one who wore a grey robe.

"That part will be answered too," Hasim said to Ada with a big smile plastered across his face.

Breakfast seemed too long as Tomasso kept bugging Hasim. Finally, Hasim took them aside so they could look around the monastery. They walked past a bunch of hallways, most giving a glimpse of the environment outside the monastery. All Ada could see were mostly clouds. Occasionally there were rocks. They looked like hills, but she couldn't tell for sure based on her positioning. They walked past the halls leading to the dorms when Tomasso spoke up.

"Are you going to tell us now?"

"I'll make this as brief and clear as possible."

"Go on"

"This is the western Turin monastery. Three others like this are located halfway around the world, but accessing them…"

"I thought clear and concise meant something" Tomasso grumbled

Hasim muttered under his breath before continuing

"Ada. This might sound strange but the sages asked me to look for you. The sages are the monks who have achieved enlightenment. Anyway, you have a great destiny. I have no idea what it is or what it may lead to, but honing your skills and practicing your magic here would be most beneficial to you"

"Tomasso. Frankly, I brought you here by accident"

"What do you mean accident" Ada and Tomasso asked.

"I was supposed to bring someone else, but things went out of hand and I couldn't get to him," he said sighing

"So you're saying me being here is a mistake," Tomasso asked in a soft voice

"I'm afraid so"

"Oh," he said and paused "I'll take my leave then," he said walking away

"You didn't have to put it that way," Ada said scolding Hasim

"The monks taught me to be honest. And frankly, he was getting on my nerves" he said as Ada ran after Tomasso.

"You don't have to listen to him"

"But you heard him. I'm not meant to be here. I'm a mistake. Again" he said that last part softly

"Toma, you know he didn't mean it like that"

"No. They never do. Him. My parents. They never MEAN it like that" he sighed punching the wall.

A brief silence echoed through the halls.

"That hurt didn't it"

"Yes. Very much so" he replied

"Look, I'm sure he didn't mean it that way"

"Don't you have some chosen one stuff to be doing"

"Don't be like that Toma…"

"Just…give me some time to think," he said walking away

"I'll see you at dinner then," Ada asked after a brief silence. The only reply she got was the bleating of mountain goats. Wait. Mountain goats.

She finally found a big enough window to look around the monastery. Those weren't hills. They were mountain tops. They were on a mountain.