"No sir. I am not lying." In-Yeon kept his head bowed as he continued, "You can check my things but it would be easier just to send a message over to the training yard. They will tell you my stones are in safe-keeping. It is all part of their training regime. None of them wear their crystals sparing. Trainee Park said it keeps them from getting a habit of reaching for an energy boost."
"Who warned you?" The Chief Librarian fumed.
"Sir? I don't know what you mean." In-Yeon sounded completely bewildered.
"Oh, never mind," the man said and stalked away.
The Training-Master gave In-Yeon a secret thumbs up before asking the group to break into pairs. Each move, and its counter, were announced in a familiar pattern leaving time for In-Yeon to keep puzzling over the way the masters were behaving now the Temple-Master's retirement had been announced.
"You don't suppose frog-face wants to take over as Temple-Master, do you?" In-Yeon's opponent whispered and did an impression of the way the Chief Librarian's lips drooped down.
"Don't know, and don't care." In-Yeon said in short breaths as he launched an aerial move at his partner's defense.
"I thought for sure you would be supporting the Herbalist," his partner's whisper came out a bit loud and he winced as In-Yeon landed a kick.
"Sorry," In-Yeon said as he moved to the next posture in their sequence.
"Enough chatter!" the Training-Master shouted as he changed up both the sequence and the pacing of the announced moves. By the time the set finished all the boys were gasping for breath. In-Yeon hugged the ache in his side and made he way back to the dorms. He watched the usual jostling for position in the bath line with distain and hoped he would be able to leave the Sun Temple sooner than later.
"Bet-cha won't be so smug once there is a new Temple-Master. Scoring well in a tournament won't give you special privileges anymore," one of his dorm-mates sneered.
In-Yeon edged away slowly and tried to get his back closer to the wall but the boys who had waylaid him before his math class surrounded him. In-Yeon braced himself for the onslaught by throwing deep anchors. He held his own against the two attackers he faced directly but could not defend himself from the kicks coming at him from behind. His ears rang from a blow landed on the side of his head and he struggled to stay on his feet. All he could think was how he needed to get away without falling down and the next thing he knew he was wrapped in a pillar of air lifting him slowly out of his attacker's reach.
The boys continued to try get at him with one jumping up to latch onto his ankle and another picking up stones to throw. That was when In-Yeon's temper got the best of him and he gave a mental push. The winds around him sped up and the pipes above him burst. In only a few seconds they were all facing a menacing waterspout, gaining energy with each spin. In-Yeon clung to his anchors and started a calming waters mantra. When some of the pressure released, he switched to trying to settle the winds. He imagined he could hear his Grandpa's advice for keeping a steady beat. Another voice joined in with his chant, then another, and finally the spout collapsed into itself and the winds stopped. In-Yeon smiled his gratitude before he passed out.
"You can see how dangerous energy work can be. We can't have him wandering around the temple unattended." The Chief Librarian announced loudly.
"Yes, I agree he is not safe here on his own. Not when older students can gang up like that." The Herbalist said as he pointed to the group who had been cornered by the waterspout.
"Well, he needs to learn to respect his elders," one of the drenched boys said before the others could silence him.
"So, you admit to attacking a junior?" The Training-Master frowned.
"No matter the provocation, unconstrained energy work can not be condoned." The Chief Librarian insisted.
"Even without his crystals In-Yeon kept the manifestation under control. Looks like he burned himself out keeping things in check so I will take him along to the infirmary." The Training-Master scooped up the sleeping boy and walked away slowly.
"The investigator from the conclave can follow-up, but the boy needs discipline." The Chief Librarian looked around for supporters but found everyone but the Herbalist had scattered.
"You can express your concerns to his new training masters. I believe they are expecting him on his next half-day," the man in dark green robes said placidly.
"How can you say that? If he is to become a guardian, he must train with temple adepts. He can't be left to his own devices."
"You know as well as I the secular students are guests, not acolytes, or even affiliates. It is his family's wish to send him to a training yard. It is not our place to interfere." The Herbalist was firm on this point.
"Well, we will just have to see what the council will say. Especially with another unsanctioned working on In-Yeon's record." The Chief Librarian wrapped his robes tightly and strode away.
The Herbalist sighed heavily then went to the infirmary to check on In-Yeon. He arrived just as the man from the conclave finished wrapping a silver chain around the sleeping boy's wrists and locking it to a loop connected to shackles on the In-Yeon's ankles. "What is this?" he asked.
"Just a precaution. We have no idea how strong he has become." The investigator nodded to the healer.
"I see. And this is an approved treatment for a guest who may have drained their own life force to protect others? Good to know." The Herbalist spun on his heels and left before his anger unleashed his own windstorm. He went to the gardens to meditate before the council meeting.
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