"Ah! Indeed what a sight this is. These aromatic herbs, thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, and the small ecosystem of insects flying, buzzing around them.

Now I'll have to make my way towards the flowers of our garden, the Abbot didn't give me any specific order, so I guess I'll go for my usual check routine."

Nestor hastened his steps, through the paved sections of the inner garden of ShadedValley's monastery. It was around midday, and the sunrays straight-up hit on the monk's tonsure.

After having watered and observed the flowers, Nestor proceeded back into his room, to continue the transcription of old volumes. He took a quick glance at his medallion and departed.

Today was the second of July. Nestor had plenty of time to write and benefit from the light of the long days of early summer.

Only, before the sunset wore completely off, he enjoyed spending a bit of time admiring the scenery down the hill the monastery was located. A field of poppy flowers was there and in full bloom.

Nestor has always been treated differently from his brothers, the other monks had been assigned to a specific occupation inside of the monastery.

They had a schedule to follow and had to ask the Abbot before performing something out of the ordinary. They couldn't simply leave the monastery as they pleased.

In the back of his mind, Nestor was very conscious of this. A disturbing factor, an unknown motive, why him?

He had always abided by every regulation, he never made questions and always finished the tasks assigned to him.

'It doesn't matter, I will keep going as always. I will hide my concerns in the back of my mind, they won't resurface ever again. At least I hope so.'

He took a deep breath and let the fresh breeze, signaling the approaching of the night, caress his face. His robe undulated at the soft wind, and the red poppies wobbled altogether, giving him both a feeling of serenity and sadness.

'Every year, they help me calm my thoughts, even though I'm getting old and aging, this scenery doesn't change.

It reminds me of how powerless I truly am. To nature, and in the grand scheme of things. Still, even among all my worries, I can find some peace of mind, here thanks to you'.

Suddenly a strong sense of drowsiness took a hold of his body, Nestor felt as tired as he had never before. Thus he quietly sat on the grassy field, he laid down, the sleepiness taking hold of him.

Soon after he felt his body sinking in and his mind drifting away. Strangely enough, his senses shifted completely from his body to the flower field.

From every poppy flower, each blade of grass, the crawling insects and small animals like the moles digging through the dirt. He perceived everything until the nearby woods cut away his awareness completely.

His body was no more, and his consciousness felt slowed down. For every thought he tried to make, a lot of time passed by, hours, days, and even months at a time.

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Seasons changed continuously, every so often other monks, and people from nearby villages and towns passed by the field. They often used part of it to cultivate vegetables like fava beans, cabbage, arugula, and turnip. During summer or the best days of spring, someone might come and observe the scenery as he did in the past.

Year after year, Nestor remained there, enchained to the field in both body and mind. There was nothing much to do, other than observing and listening to the rumors of the passersby.

He often pondered about his life, the choices that he made, the people he knew, and... fire. All of a sudden, a strange memory appeared in the back of his mind. Becoming a bit clear the more he thought about it.

Indeed, he already died, back there at the stake. Right now, he wasn't on Earth anymore, but in another place entirely. He had taken smiling uncertainty's offering hand and then had been brought back here, at the monastery.

"I knew you wouldn't let your past engulf yourself. After all, how could you forget about your own death.

Well, child of time, I will now show you your other two affinities as per your request. Now go, fulfill your destiny."

A child's voice suddenly filled Nestor's mind, assuring him of his previous speculation. The serenity behind the tone of their voice, felt almost alien to him, as a child should be joyous and euphoric. Yet, these carried the weight of the experience and vicissitudes of life that only a grown man could experience.

Nonetheless, the field of flowers suddenly disappeared from Nestor's awareness. Then two quick images flashed before Nestor's eyes.

The first, pictured him back in his room, copying an old religious tome. He was then praying to God, wishing for his brothers to stay healthy, and for the village's harvest to be bountiful.

He was thankful for the figure of this almighty existence, for the thought of someone always being on his side, protecting him in the most arduous of times.

Yet, even if he wished to, he had never been a true believer, a pious monk that never doubted the sacred teachings of the church. He simply couldn't stop the doubts, and uncertainties, even if he put them in the back of his mind, trying to forget them. They always come back, sooner or later.

Then, Nestor's sight changed completely, this time he was out in the open, in one of the villages nearby. Nestor was attending to a sick father, preparing a medicinal concoction. The man was the pillar of his family, earning their keep at the farms. To tend to his sickness, Nestor had remained at the village more than what the Abbot had permitted him.

'This man's life is more than a few days of fasting the Abbot will make me undergo.'

The crude medicine of the monk couldn't achieve the optimized result of modern medicine. Yet it still helped the patient in various ways, as the cold the farm had caught wasn't anything fatal, if treated with care, he eventually healed.

The happiness and gratitude that the villagers trasmitted him, reinvigorated his spirit completely. Thus Nestor finally abandoned the village and returned to the monastery.

Then, a child's face welcomed him once again. He was standing still, at the bridge of hope, near smiling uncertainty.

Nestor quickly retracted his hand and slowly bowed to the creature.

"Thank you for your guidance."

He then stood up and walked to the side, searching for his teacher Levante.

"I must ask you again, I tried to make my speech as serious as possible so that you truly considered your odds, what do you want to make of your life.

You still have a chance to go back, you might be able to find a good spirit even without smiling uncertainty's help."

Nestor however, didn't feel insecure at all. His mind was lucid and clear.

"Teacher, I appreciate your concern, but I am certain of it, now even more. I have been disclosed to have three affinities, one more prevalent than the others like you hinted before."

An expression full of surprise was embedded on Lenard's face, as Nestor's security and decisiveness weren't something ordinary. This strange creature was called the smiling uncertainty for a reason, whatever it showed you, it hardly left you a good sense of direction.

As you would often feel doubtful about the correct way for you to proceed, what would be the best choice to make. At this point your destiny was uncertain.

"From what you've told me, and my current understanding of the aspects of reality, the last two pictures it showed you represent, in order, the aspect of sacredness and the aspect of life.

As for the first one, which should be the one you have more affinity with, would represent the aspect of time!"