6 War Monk

Doevm screamed his lungs out until he grew tired. His stomach growled at him. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything in days. He was getting a headache from how much he was suffering. He could just go drink from the river or steal a couple of vegetables, but he was supposed to be a two year old boy. If he was smart enough to go drink from the river, people might doubt him. Despite his choice, his determination wavered. It was a risky gamble. If he waited too long and died he would reincarnate and his handwork for two years would be for nothing. Not to mention, each time he reincarnated, the world changed more from what he knew it to be. This life would bring him the most advantages. He had to bet everything on it. He swallowed his saliva and kept screaming. Hours passed until his throat was completely dry and his voice hoarse.

Just as his vision was getting fuzzy again, he sensed a magician in the crowd of farmers. He cursed and sealed his own mana away. Then he waited for the inevitable. A pair of heavy footsteps grew louder. Someone knocked on the door. "Is someone in there?" the mage's deep voice boomed.

"Help." Doevm wheezed. He let his headache and fatigue take over and passed out.

...

Doevm felt the same warmth as when he set himself on fire. 'Oh, I'm dead,' he thought as he waited in darkness. Death's hand stretched out for the second time. Doevm relaxed and let his soul drift to the afterlife, but then he felt a tug. He looked away from the gates to a golden threat attaching him to the earth. Death squeezed, but Doevm slipped right out of his grip and was pulled back to the world of the living. He opened his eyes. Above him was a massive figure in a brown robe. It only took one of the man's massive hands to wrap around Doevm like a blanket. In his black eyes, a golden glint flashed. The warmth faded, and Doevm felt all the pain and hunger return.

"Who are you?" Doevm asked.

"I am but a simple passing monk." the burly man replied.

'Simple my smooth buttocks. You're a war monk, and you guys love battle.' Doevm thought as he put on a fake smile. His fatigue was gone, and the wounds were all healed, leaving scars all over his body. The crusted and infected scabs fell off like a lizard shedding its skin. The monk held out a water pouch and some dried meat to Doevm, who immediately stuffed his face.

"You must have been hungry you poor soul. My name given to me by the war monks is Ashtehar."

"Doevm." Doevm said in between bites.

"What happened to you that you ended up like this. If I arrived a second later, you wouldn't be here." Ashtehar took off his hood, displaying his shiny dome in all its glory. Doevm had to squint, as all the sunlight in the room seemed to reflect off it straight into his eyes.

"I'm waiting for my mommy." Doevm lied. "And I don't know where my daddy is. He's usually home by now."

Ashtehar's eyes went wide: "Are you sure you're the only one here? I thought I sensed... nevermind. How long have you been waiting my child?"

"Two or three days." Doevm smiled like it was some proud accomplishment. He pointed to his crib, which he had been using as his bathroom for proof. Ashtehar paled and picked Doevm up.

"I'm going to meet with the lord of this place. I'll bring you with me and see what he can do. How does that sound?"

"Woah, you know the lord?" Doevm gasped as dramatically as he could. Inside, he was smiling. Rena should be found by now, and then his fate would be to serve the lord anyway. This was only speeding up the process. Now he just needed to get away from this damned monk.

The war monks do not follow the arts of Buddhism. They developed their own martial arts through embracing the path of blood. Their fists can develop as tough as mithril and can bend blades. Their secret techniques are only known to the oldest and wisest of the sect. In the last five hundred years or so, they developed a way to integrate magic into their techniques to physically enhance their bodies and toughen their fists even further. Wherever a war monk goes, he leaves a pile of corpses. If Doevm wanted to combine magic and fighting prowess he would choose this fighting sect, however that would be too easy.

If Doevm used magic to enhance his body (after reaching maturity) he could move mountains. He could take a few steps and be in a different city. In his previous life, he had fought them many times over their techniques, but he never succeeded. His only option, if he wanted to learn their magic, was to become a slave for the sect and live according to their twisted ideology.

"By the way." Ashtehar said. "Does your town have a magician?"

"No, why do you ask?" Doevm enjoyed looked down at all the pedestrians from the top of Ashtehar's head rather than looking up at them.

Ashtehar frowned: "You've never had anything inexpiable happen to you? You've never seen anything floating around?"

"I think something like that did happen once." Doevm put a finger to his chubby cheek. Ashtehar yanked him off his head and held him at arm's length. In his beaty eyes burned a religious dogma. His massive hands squeezed, making it hard to breath.

"Tell me child."

"Y-you're scaring me." Doevm tried to squirm out of his grip, but the monk was firm.

"I know, it is scary, but you must tell me so I can take them to my monastery. We must spread the word of our cause." He shook Doevm around. "Tell me! Those born with magic are blessed. We must take them in no matter the cost. They are chosen, and we are the prophets that must train them."

"My mommy, she's the magician." Doevm spat out. The grip lightened. "She took her hands and put them in front of my face." he began. Ashtehar leaned in.

"And then what did she do? Act it out."

"She put her hand on my face like this." Doevm did as he described on Ashtehar's face.

"Then what?" Ashtehar's grip tightened again. He stared at Doevm like a predator staring at its prey.

"And then, she pulled my nose off!" Doevm pulled his hand back and gripped around his thumb. He laughed and pointed to his thumb. Ashtehar stared at him. "Get it?"

"No, what happened next?"

"That was it." Doevm repeated the act and pointed to his thumb again. "She grabbed my nose off my face by making me think her thumb was my nose."

Ashtehar dropped Doevm: "You're walking from now on. I have no respect for someone who cannot see the value of our sacred arts. Trickery is not tolerated in our sect. If you were my disciple I would have you whipped. I sensed mana when I neared your house. Where is your town's magician?"

"We don't have one!" Doevm shot back. He stood straight up, which was a little ridiculous because he was as tall as the monk's knee and said, "We are poor. Even if our town had a magician, no one here can afford to pay for a magician's services. We all work in the flower fields every day. If we mess up or get injured at work, we die instantly. That's what happens in the rose fields." Doevm thought back to his old life and to his darkest moments. Fake tears poured out with his frustrations. "And that's probably what happened to my mommy and daddy! They're dead, I know it. Who leaves their child for days on end without food or water?"

"Child, what is your name?" Ashtehar picked Doevm up and put him on his shoulders again.

"Doevm."

"You must have been scared. I'm sorry I treated you poorly. One of our teachings is mercy to those who are ignorant. You deserve my mercy. Let's go to the lord. I'll lay down my name for you. Don't worry, when the night comes, you'll be in a new home." They walked down the gravel path and passed the rose field. A crowd was standing around where Doevm dumped Rena. They didn't even look sad. They just stared at her like it meant something to do so.

"What would you do if you found someone with magic who doesn't want to learn your ways?" Doevm asked.

"What a foolish question." the monk said. "Crush him. He who ignores the gift of the goddess is a madman. Even if he refuses, we'll beat our beliefs into him." The two passed the rose field and found themselves at a large metal gate with two guards. "We have arrived. This is where you will stay."

Doevm smiled on the inside. 'This is my new beginning. This mansion is the first step to strength.'