TCO: Chapter Six

The next morning Gyan woke early, eager for his first day of san training. Jalena's previous words about taking his training skills to a new level remained at the forefront of his mind.

Although he had not seen her since the night of the ceremony, she wove in and out of his thoughts, their conversation at the falls replaying in his mind. He knew they would train together now, but didn't know when that would be.

He yawned and attempted to put Jalena from his mind as he dressed in his training gear. He looked around the room he was assigned to share with Aderes and stared for a moment at Aderes's empty bed, untouched since Gyan arrived at the domusé.

The room was smaller than his room at home and very plain in comparison. Gyan had posters of famous artists and musicians adorning his walls and other childhood keepsakes displayed sporadically around his room. He had first assumed the rooms at the domusé were plain so that each warrior could decorate their rooms as desired but was informed differently by their meditation guide, Asana. She stated that the house was to remain in its original state to help prevent warriors from forming attachments that would interfere with their duties.

Most of the bedrooms were positioned next to each other on the second floor with each door opening to a shared indoor balcony. The rooms overlooked the front room with staircases, one on each side of the balcony, leading down to the front room.

In addition to the walls remaining bare, the furniture in the domusé was almost nonexistent. Eight red lounge chairs were centered in the front room, positioned around a circular navy rug nearby a fireplace. The dining room, which housed a long rectangular table with ten chairs sat to the left of the front room, where it connected the front room to the kitchen.

A private meditation room sat at the back of the house, downstairs near the garden. Unlike the rest, this room was modestly decorated. The walls of the room were deep violet. A long, gold curtain hung across the back wall, with each side pulled back by violet ties. The curtain framed a gold sculpture of a star that stood against the wall. The star sculpture was surrounded by eight white candles that remained lit throughout the day and night. Many large gold pillows were arranged in a circle on a navy rug similar to the one in the front room.

Gyan made his way downstairs and pushed through the kitchen door, leisurely surveying his new surroundings. He paused in the doorway when he saw an elderly woman standing in the kitchen.

"Master Gyan," she greeted. The woman, who stood staring out the kitchen window with a cup of hot tea in her hand, did not turn around.

"Oh…sorry, how did you—? I am not yet a master," he sputtered.

The small woman shrugged. "It is only a label, not an indication of truth," she replied calmly. "You are up early."

"Is it too early to eat?" Gyan didn't think to consider if there was a specific schedule for their meals. "I thought I would grab something small to eat on my way to the chinálei to train." He motioned to the large platter of fruit and bread on the counter.

"It is never too early, Master Gyan, to do what you mean to do…or too late, for that matter." The woman smiled and continued to stare out the window.

"Have we met before? You know my name, but I don't recall yours."

"No, we have not met, Master Gyan, but I know of all the light warriors…I am Affera."

"Affera," Gyan repeated with a nod. "Do you work here? I mean are you our cook or…? I do not remember you being here when Asana introduced us to the other workers."

"I work when I am needed. I will certainly be near, especially for conversations with you." Affera took another sip of tea.

Strange. Gyan stared at Affera with a puzzled expression. "I am unsure about your thoughts on my availability for conversation, Miss Affera. I plan to spend as much time as possible at the temple studying or training at the chinálei… Although I am sure your conversation is very rewarding and that I shall be at a great disadvantage if I miss any of it," he quickly added.

Affera lightly laughed and turned around.

Gyan gasped. A chill rushed through him as her gold eyes met his and Affera studied him intently. It wasn't the color of her eyes that surprised Gyan as much as it was the feeling he experienced when he looked into them.

"Come…sit." She gestured to one of two chairs at a small table in the corner of the kitchen. "Only for a moment," she added when Gyan hesitated.

Affera sat in one of the chairs as Gyan took the one across from her. "Master Gyan, you will not be able to resist a good conversation, for you're as much a philosopher as you are a warrior, and this, dear one, is one reason you are meant for deeds not always understood by others."

Gyan's eyes widened in surprise at her assessment of him.

"Besides, one is unable to master all they are meant to if they lack the understanding of the connection between the training and the philosophy behind it. When understanding breeds with knowledge, wisdom begins to become intertwined with skill, extending your capabilities even further than where you currently reside. Our conversations, although few, will be of great value for establishing that understanding."

Gyan's interest in Affera heightened. "Initially, I thought everyone was as naturally curious as I was about the meaning behind a warrior's purpose," he said as he glanced out the kitchen window. Daylight had begun to seep over the horizon. "But…."

"…there are not many who are as curious," Affera finished for him.

"They more just accept it as the life they are meant to live and not why or how it all fits together."

"You may meet few who seek a greater understanding because it is not their path or in their nature to do so. Yet, fulfilling relationships with a few will be all you need to satisfy your thoughts."

Gyan nodded, thinking of Jalena. "What you said before…about understanding the meaning behind my skill… Did you mean that it will help me to see a larger purpose for the use of my abilities?"

Affera nodded. "Your search for meaning behind all things will assist you in discovering an understanding of why you have incarnated at the time that you did. Never doubt your depth of thought and where it is leading you. It does not arise within you randomly but with purpose."

"You certainly don't speak like a cook or one that I have ever met, anyway. I guess you never said you were though."

"Labels are rarely an indication of truth nor encompass the power within," she repeated, smiling at him. "Some of the greatest minds are overlooked if more value is given to status rather than wisdom."

Gyan nodded in understanding. His mind began to form more questions about what Affera meant by having a broader purpose as a warrior.

As if she knew what he was about to ask, Affera held up her hand in front of her. "Another time, Gyan."

"You know what I'm about to say?"

"Not quite everything, Master Gyan," Affera replied. "Rest assured, your questions will be answered at the right time. As you move forward, both the question and the answer are vital to understanding personal behavior."

"What do you me—?"

"I must go now," Affera said abruptly as she stood.

She smiled at him and walked out the kitchen door the led into a garden. Gyan, confused by her sudden departure, watched Affera from the kitchen window until she passed the edge of the garden and was out of sight.

Seconds later, Brogan pushed through the kitchen door, wearing only lounge pants, his hair partially standing on end.

"Wha'd'ya say?" He mumbled sleepily, rubbing his face and yawning.

"Nothing," said Gyan. "Just talking to myself."

"Too early in the morning for that, mate."

"You're right. I'll see you at the chinálei."

Brogan grunted a reply as Gyan grabbed some fruit and bread on his way out the back door.

On the walk to the chinálei, Gyan pondered the things Affera told him. He did not understand all of what she stated but decided, like Brogan mentioned, that it was too early for deep thinking. As he walked the long path to the temple, enjoying the view of the ocean and early morning breeze, he noticed someone down on the beach walking near the water.

"Where've you been?" Gyan shouted down as he recognized Aderes.

"Wait, I'll come up!" Aderes took the path leading up to Gyan.

"You didn't sleep at the domusé last night," Gyan said as Aderes joined him minutes later.

"I did but it was late. I did not want to wake you, so I slept in the meditation room."

"Well, you didn't sleep very long if you were up and out of the domusé before me. I was up before everyone else."

"You know I don't sleep well," said Aderes, shrugging.

Gyan nodded.

"So, what happened at the falls?" asked Aderes. "I haven't seen you since I left you there, waiting pathetically for Master Jalena." He laughed.

Gyan smirked. "Not quite. She showed…a little after dawn."

"Are you sure you weren't dreaming?"

"Oh, I'm sure."

Aderes stared at Gyan. "Wow…maybe you're better looking than I thought—either that or she is mental."

Gyan laughed. "Probably both."

"Well…what happened?"

"We just talked some."

"Boring."

Gyan smiled and shook his head. "Worth it."