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The Master of the Monastery

Rukiya marched into the master's quarters having had enough of the eldest monk's reclusiveness. She had lived knowing that the elder of the monastery was well respected for his wisdom and knowledge. She studied his teachings more than any other man or woman that took residence in the mountain refuge.

But she had never seen him, nor any other for that matter. He always stood veiled in a bright cloak of crimson and gold. His speech was old and hoarse, unbecoming that of a true man. He had lived longer than the others who would be considered elders, which begged the question: "Why is this man still alive, and why does he the head of the household?"

She stomped into the room to see the master sit up in his isolated chair, "Sileius!"

The man shifted his head up in his chair. His face obscured by the heavy sewn linen.

"What is it you seek?" Sileius hissed.

"I need to speak with you."

Sileius brought his arm to grab the cane at the side of his chair. He then got up out of his chair in an awkward stand.

"What about?"

"I need to know who you are."

"I am Sileius, a humble scribe of this monassstery."

"And yet you live after so many years. You have knowledge more than many men. And I struggle to comprehend why."

"Must you be so concerned with me? Indeed, I am old and only so able to move about on my own. But you are young and lively. You need not try to comprehend age. It will come naturally. Enjoy your youth while you can, and ignore the extent of another's life."

"You wear a veil of lies. Show yourself unto me."

"Dear, Rukiya. I am naked under this fabric and it is awfully cold. Don't force me to suffer in my own home."

"I just need to see your face."

"I cannot show you such a thing."

"Why? Is it that hideous? You yourself wrote that beauty is vain."

"You are a diligent student. But- there are some things I refuse to give others knowledge of here." Sileius began pacing around the room. His movements were stiff and rigged. He hunched over a bit, trying to regain balance on what seemed a walking wooden framework covered by a blanket.

"You? Refusing to share knowledge here? This is a place of shared wisdom. You do wrong to hide secrets here."

"This place is a secret in of itself. Few know of it, for few return to their homes to share it. People like to keep what is important to themselves a secret. I- being one of them." Sileius stopped a bit of sorrow in his voice.

"What's wrong?" Rukiya leaned forward, concerned for her elder, yet still suspicious.

"Heh," Sileius stood up straight, "Everything. The world is full of wrong."

"It sounds to me that you don't consider yourself a person."

"And what makes you think that? I sometimes forget what I'm trying to say. There are some sorrows that come with age, like forgetting how to - um - ssthpeak."

"Now you're just being stupid."

"Indeed. It helps relieve the stress of this cold place. A little humor to warm the heart."

"You keep avoiding my request. Show me your face." She stepped forward threatening to see it herself.

"I won't let you."

"You? Not let me? I'm going to see who you are even if I must force it."

"Try as you may. It won't be so easy." Silieus raised his cane in defense.

"I've studied your martial art manuscripts. I know your techniques more than you. And, given your age, I doubt you will be able to stop me."

"I sense you will discover the truth soon enough. But you won't like it."

Rukiya rushed Silieus and reached for the linen covering his face. Silieus sweeped her aside with his cane and pivoted to face her. He stopped his spin with a lanky leg.

Rukiya turned and attempted her move again, once again foiled by Silieus's cane. She felt her arm puppet her away.

"Don't make me get rough with you old man!" She uttered.

"You're the one being sssooo difficult, Ruki." Silieus voice sounded a bit funny.

Ruki charged him once again, finding his lanky, jagged movements unbecoming of an aged person.

Silieus rolled around Ruki and clumsily regained his balance. A few creaks could be heard from his bones. Ruki struck at his arm. The cane fell from Silieus's stiff hand.

Silieus quickly adjusted his stance, falling down and propping himself up with what apparently was his only good arm. He extended his legs a bit back to balance on three limbs. His back sagged a bit, hinting to his frailty.

"Give up, Silieus?" Rukiya snickered.

"My dear. I may be old, but I'm still capable of handling a young brat."

Rukiya fumed at the man's remark. She stepped forth and reached for his veil again, assuming Silieus incapable of warding her off.

To her surprise, Silieus swung himself to the side, lithe as a jaguar.

"How are you doing that?"

"I like to keep nimble and exercise. Nnhh, as uncomfortable as it is, it would hurt a lot more if I didn't."

Ruki jumped at him. Silieus weaved himself away. She began chasing him all around the room, unable to keep up with the spritely monkey. She then tried to strike him with a kick, of which Silieus expertly reflected upon her.

She spun around and fell to the floor.

"I don't know what 'manuscripts' you've been studying, but, clearly, they weren't mine. Or perhaps they were something from my youth? I can't remember."

"You scoundrel!" She barked as she got back up.

"Now, now. Don't be so angry. You'll lose focus and hurt yourself."

"You will show me your face, deceiver!" Ruki lashed out once more, this time putting an effort to fight Silieus rather than chase him.

Silieus fought back with incredible flexibility, throwing his head around and swinging his hips to provide force enough to counter with his legs and arms.

Ruki struggled to land a blow, feeling her attacks only return upon herself as Silieus blocked them with well-coordinated punches and kicks. She then tried grappling the elder.

Silieus hooked her arm and threw her across his leg, flipping her over harshly on her back. "I'm growing tired of your persistence Rukiya. I will not show you my face."

She flung herself back up like a ninja. "You will!" She attacked him again.

"Will not." He countered.

"Will too!"

"Will not."

"Will too!"

"Will not!"

"Will too!"

"Oh, come now, we're acting like children! Be an adult and stop this nonsense." The two began sparring rapidly. Ruki attacked with both arms, while Silieus gracefully fought her off with one open palm.

"You be a brave man and show me your face!"

"Can't you just accept and respect my preference not to be seen? Is it too much to ask not to be harassed?"

"Yes it is! When you're trying to hold a secret from everyone!"

The two continued to battle in the secluded chamber. Silieus easily outmatched Rukiya, but Rukiya wouldn't give up. She need to know who this man was, for he was the one that inspired her to become so much more than she ever hoped to be. In him was a wealth of knowledge she had taken to know, but this one thing she lacked. She didn't know who he was in the flesh.

For so long she thought of him as a father, but she only knew a reclusive elder. It hurt her spirit to know that he wouldn't let anyone near, despite so much he gave to everyone around him.

She fell once more after fighting nearly an hour. She was bruised and bloodied from her efforts.

"Pleasssse, Rukiyasss, don't- break youssself," Silieus spoke out of breath.

"I must know!"

"I- I- can't let you see me."

"Why?!" She got up once more, nearly falling from exhaustion.

"Just leave me be. Your killing yourself."

"Don't leave me in the dark. I will find you out!" She got back up and threw herself at him.

Silieus limped back to avoid her, but she smashed into his leg, causing it to split in to. She tumbled over while Silieus stumbled away.

She looked over to see Siliues's leg lying severed from his body. She gasped in horror.

Silieus began falling apart from inside his fabric, yet no cries of pain emanated from the old man.

Rukiya stared at the severed leg for a while before realizing something. It was fake.

She saw Siliues struggling to right himself. His remaining leg couldn't balance properly without the other.

He fumbled with his arm, trying to stand up. Rukiya got up and hobbled over to the downed elder.

Silieus saw her approaching and abandoned his fumbling attempts to restore his inner framework.

She reached with her hand once more to take the veil off his face, but Silieus shot up once more and halted her with his arm.

"No-" He pushed her hand away. "Let me. It is clear to me that you desire to see my face above all else. But- I'm afraid of what you'll see. For I am no man." He let his arm fall to the floor. The fabric sagged around his thin body. He stood tall like a stalk of bamboo, before melting down a few feet.

A tail parted the red and gold vesture in two revealing a teal scaled underbelly. It reached to the head of the cloth and withdrew its fabric over the scaled creature.

"I am a serpent." Silieus declared. His scales were a dark emerald, speckled with patterns of weaving diamonds. His eyes shined a bright green, reflecting the hues of a paradise far from this frozen place.

Rukiya gasped. She felt heartbroken to know that who she thought so fondly of was not even human. She had been deceived for so long. Images of some bearded father had been ingrained in her imagination, but this was disgrace to her eyes. How could a serpent, of all creatures, be the one she loved?

She collapsed and brought her hand to her face, trying to wipe away the pooling tears.

Silieus held his head down in shame. He had for so longed wanted to confess to these people, but he felt he would only be excluded for it. He thought that if he contributed his mind to this place, that he would be accepted. He thought wrong.

"I'm sorry, Rukiya." He let his cloth fall away as he motioned a little closer to the crying woman. A cold breeze washed over him, signaling that he was no longer covered by deceit. "I didn't want to hurt you."

Ruki sniffled. "No." She realized the heart that was in her master. He just wanted to be accepted. And she knew that it wouldn't be right to make his fear a reality. "I'm sorry."

Siliues raised his head in hope.

Ruki continued, "I didn't know... You seemed... so human."

"But... I am not. I-I must leave. There is no place for me here." Silieus slithered out of his disguise and turned to go.

"Don't leave. I - I never thanked you. For all that you mean to me."

The snake stopped and turned his head.

"I've read every one of your writings. You have a love for humanity and all its aspects. You embraced philosophy in such a way, that I too fell in love with thought. You studied our physique and helped curate a way to live healthy lives. You wrote poetry blended with deep truths to keep us high in spirits. And never once did I learn who you really were, until now. Thank you."

Silieus looked into the woman's eyes. He felt her begging him to stay. The cold breeze entering the chamber told him of the emptiness the world had to offer, if he so chose to leave this woman broken behind him.

He slithered back to her.

"Thank you," He spoke with a broken voice, "I never thought to hear such words from anyone, not out of my covering."

She smiled at the thought of bringing Silieus closure.

Silieus smiled and brought his tail to Ruki's chin. "And for that, my dear, I shall stay."