The Halls of the Master

[Brian]

The temple that master Oki Bi resides in is just as ancient, it is said, as the sword that Kesir carries.  In the center of the Empire's capitol, it is the only building that rises to the height of the Imperial Palace.  A square large enough for an army to camp in fills the space between the temple's northern gate and the palace's southern gate.

Travelers and pilgrims pass through this space, along with occasional vendors hawking roasted apples or breaded fish.  Children run around the periphery of the area, but guards patrol the center, and shoo the children out of traffic.

Currently, the square is fairly deserted, only perhaps three hundred people wandering across the area.  The sun is rising to the east, spreading light across the temple's terraced floors, the huge sweeping roofs covering gardens and training areas across the temple.

Kesir is currently carrying a note, which was sent to him in the field.  But Kesir remembers seeing Master Oki Bi collapse in the go-stones of a tea-house.  The note summoned Kesir back, to speak with Master Oki Bi.

[Dracos]

Kesir moved swiftly, his face outwardly calm and focused, though the signs of his worry would be visible to those who knew him in the swiftness of his stride as he traveled over the beaten dirt ground of the square.  Turning, he moved quickly towards the temple, climbing the slight stairs and entering past those opening the doors to the courtyard as the early dawn sun rose.  Nodding slightly to them, he paused but a moment before his brief vision pressed him onwards, forgoing for a moment formality of greeting to his brethern in order to quickly continue his journey.  Passing through the temple with a grace of years of training combined with the familiarity that had been trained from years of life here, he moved swiftly to his master's chambers, seeking sign of him there.

Dracos

[Brian]

The other monks all recognize Kesir, and nod their heads at him in passing.  It doesn't take Kesir too long to find Oki Bi's quarters.

The elder monk doesn't look old, even though he must be.  And what age he shows just seems very ... slight.  Like it shouldn't hinder him in any way.  Just the slightest hints of wrinkles next to his eyes, next to the spark of wisdom that burns brightly within.

He looks currently healthy, and is sitting up in bed (the door is open) when Kesir arrives.  A physician is speaking in low tones with the master, but their conversation concludes as Kesir enters the room.

[Dracos]

Kesir's training briefly took over as he promptly bowed low to his master.  "I have received your letter, Master Oki Bi and came as soon as I could."  He kept his head down in the bow while speaking to partially hide the worry, even if he knew it would be picked up on anyway.

Dracos

[Brian]

"Good," Oki Bi says softly.  While Oki Bi may be towards the end of his life, he doesn't look weak -- not yet.  "There is time left.  Time enough for you to learn what you must."  He shakes his head, smiling.  "You look weary, and the dust of the road is still on you.  Sit, a go-board can be brought, and we can discuss your journey."

[Dracos]

"Certainly, Master." Kesir responded in respectful terms.  "My ears sing with joy to hear your voice again." Kesir moved to Oki Bi's side, standing beside, not asking for a chair, paying close attention to every motion of Oki Bi.

Dracos

[Brian]

Oki Bi laughs quietly.  "But it is not my voice which is to be heard, now.  Tell me of your journeys."

Kesir regales the elder monk of his journeys over the next hour, being brought a cushion, and eventually, some tea.  After the telling of stories, the sun has risen higher, and the monks in the temple are bustling about their tasks.  A go-board lies next to Oki Bi's pallet, a game half-finished waiting for the players to return to it.

"Kesir," Oki Bi says, after the final story has been told.  "I am growing old ... but no so old that there is no time left.  I have, however, a task for you.

"A charge ... and a test.  One which all who bore your sword have faced.  I speak to you of something you may have suspected ... but there is a trial for those who bear your sword.  It has a meaning you do not truly know yet ... are you prepared, Kesir, to learn what that meaning is?"

[Dracos]

"I am as to a blank slate, carve upon me the wisdom I am unaware of." Kesir responded, his eyes switching from gleeful at the game to serious as his master's words warrented.  He folded his arms, listening.  "The chance to further my own understanding is a gift."

Dracos

[Brian]

"Of course," Oki Bi replies, gesturing to the Go board.  "All in life has the same total sum.  A game may be played in many ways with a similar looking result ... without truly being the same."

The current game being played looks, to Kesir's eyes, to have an equal chance of either white (Kesir) or black (Oki Bi) winning.  It's currently black's move, and each player has captured seven pieces.

"The thing to remember is this, Kesir.  Balance exists in all things, but is more complex than simply good or evil.  The sum total is the same ... and even this ... is balance."  He places a single black stone on the board, which now places two white stones in jeapordy, or as the Go term is named, 'atari'.

Kesir can see a few responses to that move, however, thanks to Oki Bi's setup, any attempt to reinforce the area will actually end up weakening it.  Beyond that, the game dissolves into chaos, and becomes unreadable.

"You must journey, Kesir.  You must travel afield, and seek to see the balance in yourself.  But then realize that you yourself, are balanced precisely because you, too, are a stone on a board."  Oki Bi nods.  "And in seeing this, you shall either be made ... or broken."

[Dracos]

Kesir nodded, making a move while pondering the words of Oki Bi, moving for a moment on instinct, where his perception failed him at a way to counter the move effectively.

"As I must, I will.  You have helped me forge my mind and my body.  Logically, I shall find a way to survive, and even if I break, it shall be yet another lesson of the world for those who will follow.  Tell me, Oki Bi.  In which direction would you have me travel?  I can see only part of the board with my sight."

Dracos

[Brian]

"But that's exactly it," Oki Bi says, gesturing at the board, which has -- somehow -- changed, reverting back about four moves, and giving Kesir the chance to avoid the setup Oki Bi had taken advantage of only a few moments ago.  "You must go to what you cannot see.  You musty explore the unknown."

[Dracos]

"I must...travel past Eastmoore.  I must see where the limits of my understanding are in manners that I cannot predict."  Kesir ponderously concluded, watching the board carefully and examining not the route he already took, but the other routes he could take, knowing even if he could see the trap he fell into before, it was no good if he walked blindly into another trap.

Dracos

[Brian]

Oki Bi nods.  "That is ever the case," he says quietly.  "The world is vast, and you must see more of it to be ready for the future."

[Dracos]

Kesir moved a piece.  "I will set out before the following dawn, Master."

Dracos

[Brian]

Oki Bi nods again.  "Then it is good.  Let us worry about tomorrow tomorrow, and today, enjoy the life that we have."  By this, the venerable master probably means that Kesir should visit the city and the temple a bit, and not spend all his time with Oki Bi.  There'll be time left later, after all.

When Kesir next glances at the board, he's taken with a profound sense of intensity.  Something about what Oki Bi said may be, perhaps, truer than even he realized.