As was the case every year, within a few months after Deschule another Vle entered the monastic life. There was something about the season that brought priests to such dedication to the Great Master’s Word that they felt called to become a monk. It wasn’t always an easy transition, however: priests, by nature, were Vle for Vle, very involved in other’s lives.
A monk, however, had to be the opposite.
Hyran listened from his pew toward the back of the chapel as a light-skinned priest from Kelwome became a brother, remembering the vows he’d taken. This was a good opportunity to check one’s progress in upholding those vows, and Hyran decided he was doing really well— with the vows he still agreed with.
“Do you vow to remain on the monastery grounds at all times, except those proscribed by the abbot?”
“I do.” Hyran decided he didn’t really hear the tone of certain conviction, but rather the tone of a rote ‘How much longer will this take? What other parts of my life can I possibly vow away?’ It was typical, and if others heard, they understood as well.
“Do you now renounce all connection with your past and future, to live only in the present as a servant of the Great Master?”
“I do.”
“Do you now renounce all involvement with the outside world, to concentrate on the Word of the Great Master as your sole concern?”
“I do.”
“Do you now dedicate your service to The Great Master, to do all things according to his Will, to respond to adversity according to his Will, to live your life according to his Will?”
“I do.”
“Valans, I now consecrate your life to the Great Master, in His name and the name of his father, to be his humble slave in this world and the world beyond. Amen.”
Everyone chorused, “Amen,” and then stood in applause. Valans now turned, looking surprised and flattered at the welcome he was receiving. Then, the abbot bid him go meet everyone, and the expression changed again: “Everyone?!” Hyran saw him say. Indeed, that was the custom, though it was impossible for him to remember everyone’s name,
When it was his turn to shake the new brother’s hand, Hyran, simply said, “Welcome,” and then made to move on. But the abbot stopped him. “Not so fast, Hyran.”
“Yes, Father?” he replied, using the honorific as he was supposed to.
“I would like you to initiate our new brother.”
....! That was just one step from being a mentor (and a step away from being a gardener)! Somewhere in the crowd, Allega chuckled loudly. “Y-yes, Father,” Hyran stammered, “B—”
“You have a complaint, Son?”
“N- no, I simply was going to say that there must surely be better, more... orthodox choices than I.”
“Well, then,” replied the abbot, “you had better work hard and become more orthodox.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Now, relax. You’ll do fine.”
“Thank you, Father.”
The abbot moved on, introducing Valans to the rest of the monks gathered there. Hyran just stood there, thinking about what he was going to do about this. How much more orthodox should he be? Or, should he just be true to himself, never mind the abbot? The advantage is that he’d probably not end up a mentor. Or a gardener, for that matter.
The, he realized he should probably stick with the small greeting retinue. He snapped out of it and moved over to Valans’ side, and just watched, smiled, and endured the winks and chuckles of the other monks. Finally, Valans had met everyone, and it was just the three of them. “Well, Hyran, what do you think you will do first?” asked the abbot.
Hyran had absolutely no idea. “Uh, well.... I thought I’d take him to a pub down in town and get him nice and drunk, before we go stand on the steps of the cathedral and preach damnation theology.”
The abbot’s face remained as impassive as stone. “Ha. Do you even have a plan, yet?”
“Well, I suppose, I’d better show him where he’ll be living, unless he already knows,” Hyran guessed. “After that, I thought it would be good for us to talk theology in the library.”
“I would think you could talk about that absolutely anywhere.”
“So would I,” agreed Hyran, though that was as close as he could get to implying that he didn’t agree with the ‘no leaving’ vow.
“So, a tour of the place would be nice.”
The abbot had second guessed him. Hyran had intended to give the tour along the way to Valans’ quarters. “Of course, Father.”
“Well, have fun. If you have any questions, Son, just ask anyone, and they will be able to find me.”
“Thank you, Father.”
And with a blessing movement of his hand, the abbot moved off pontifically. Hyran just stood there quietly, watching him absent-mindedly while he thought about where to go first.
Finally, he said, “He’s very supportive when you’re new. Enjoy it while you can, and try to make it last.”
“Okay, I’ll remember that,” said Valans. “You make it sound as if this place has some politics.”
“Is there a place that doesn’t? Well, this monastery really isn’t bad that way— I’ve heard of worse. And it’s very easy to not get involved. Some may try, but if you’re non-descript, they’ll ignore you.”
“Are you non-descript?”
Hyran laughed. “Come, talk with me, and judge for yourself...”
