In-Yeon could smell the mischief that had been visited upon his few possessions before he got to where his trunk sat in a drying pool of urine. He clenched his fist and spun around. The likely suspects were snickering in the corner. In-Yeon was tempted to pull up a spinner to dump the stinking mess on their heads but checked himself. He did not need the kind of trouble such an action might bring. Not when there was still an investigation and an open competition to get through. He collected a mop bucket from the supply closet and got the mess off the floor.

He dragged his trunk outside to give it, and its meagre contents, all a good wash. It was dark by the time he finished and he was still left with a pile of wet cloths he knew would not dry over night. He spread everything out on the bushes lining the dormitory compound and sighed. Since his dorm-mates proved themselves to be so unreliable, he couldn't trust them not to take further liberties with the small wardrobe he had brought to the capital. A breeze rustled the nearby branches and he had to quickly grab some of the smaller items before they were blown away.

His pendant warmed up. He touched it and then wondered if there was someway to put its warmth to use. He thought about the mantras for the different elements and was ready to experiment. The stones poking into his thin slippers reminded him of the importance of proper anchors so he stopped for a minute to think things through. A tune his grandfather liked to hum came to mind and he organized the pattern of his request to the elements around its melody. He let his awareness sink into the purpose of his task and was soon lulled by a warm breeze.

The next thing In-Yeon became aware of was a bright light shining in his eyes. He shielded himself with his hand and grumbled, "It's not morning. It can't be morning."

"It's close enough boy. Now, do you think you can settle down your breezes?" A patient voice asked as the lantern lowered.

"Oh. Right." In-Yeon took a breath and settled back into the rhythms he had used to call the warm breeze up. He then brought his little song to a conclusion and lifted the anchors he had used to hold things in check. His cloths all fluttered into a pile right beside him and he patted them with satisfaction.

"A little late for doing laundry, don't you think?" There was a touch of humor in the monk's tone.

"I didn't mean it to run so late. It was a long day and not very pleasant at the end." In-Yeon kept his eyes on the ground as he bowed and then started to gather up his possessions. The monk squatted beside him and helped him fold cloths and put them into the trunk. "Don't trouble yourself Brother, it must be late for you."

"It's no trouble. Did you want to tell me why all your things suddenly needed a wash?"

In-Yeon's hand stilled for a moment. He thought of many different ways to answer this question but fell back on what he hoped would be an acceptable dodge and said, "It is really not worth mentioning."

"I see. And the working you just did?"

The term "working" startled In-Yeon and he stayed very still for a moment. He could not tell by the monk's tone whether or not he was in trouble so mumbled, "Mostly a matter of curiosity and again, not really worth mentioning."

"If you say so but I would be happy to hear more about your little piece of curiosity later. Now run along. The rest of the boys should be getting up by now."

The Dorm-Master stood waiting just inside the doorway. He greeted In-Yeon briskly and then asked, "What did the Temple-Master want?"

"Temple-Master?" In-Yeon turned around and saw the smiling monk waving back at him so bowed and waved back.

"Yes, the Temple-Master, what did you talk about with him?"

"Laundry?" In-Yeon was stunned to think the Sun-Temple's Master just helped him put away clothes. He could see this wasn't enough of an answer for the Dorm-Master so gave him a bit more to think about. "He was wondering why I needed to wash all my cloths at once after I had been out on my half-day. I think he might have guessed why but you would probably know for sure, wouldn't you? It can't be the first time something like this happened, not with the way your usual pets were acting." In-Yeon bobbed his head slightly and walked through the door.

A wave of exhaustion hit him as he was eating breakfast. It did not help the Librarian decided to chastise him in front of his dorm-mates.

"I did not return your crystals so you could try experimental workings. If I get the slightest sense you have pulled on an element while you are still here, you will regret it. Regret it. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir. I understand." In-Yeon answered quietly and then stifled a yawn as he bowed low.

The Librarian march away still muttering his vague threats.

"Crystals? You have crystals but you are younger than me," one of the bigger boys said and pounded on In-Yeon's back.

"Second terrace, remember." In-Yeon said with a slight menace in his voice. The boy pounded on him again so he grabbed the boy's wrist and bent it back fast enough to make it clear he could break it with very little effort and said, "Now leave."

The boy rubbed his wrist as he stepped away. He looked to his supporters and wheezed "Did you see that?" He put his arm up but the other members in his group started to shrink back as In-Yeon scowled at them.

The gong signaling the end of their meal break sounded and the boys filed off to their classes. In-Yeon waited until almost all the tables had cleared before making his way over to the dish drop. He had instantly regretted his momentary temper and knew he would owe his training master some form penance but at that moment he was too tired to care. It felt for most of his life he had just walked away instead of confronting those who wanted to put him down and maybe a small part of him thought he deserved such treatment. But not anymore.

His new self-confidence gave him enough energy to get to the scriptorium on time. Unfortunately, the copy job in front of him couldn't hold his interest. The supervising monk managed to get the brush out of In-Yeon's hand before it left a trail down the fresh page. He could not do much about the marks the boy's face accumulated as he rested his cheek in the page with wet ink.

"Boy," the monk touched In-Yeon's shook shoulder at the end of the class. "You can't over-indulge on your half day. It was your first break so I will let you make up your work over the week but next time there will be consequences." He then handed over a cloth and indicated where In-Yeon had script impressions.

"I am sorry. I did get carried away yesterday." In-Yeon bowed low and then tried to get the ink stains off. He did his best but by the way his uncle laughed when he saw him at lunch it was clearly not enough.