“Hey, Master!” Zander called out. His master, still deep in prayer, simply raised a hand, motioning for Zander to sit beside him. Zander obeyed, settling down while the others stood by, watching in silence.

“Master, there are others behind me,” Zander added, glancing back at Yí Yù and the little girl.

The master silently gestured for Yí Yù and the little girl to join them. Without a word, they sat down beside Zander, quietly taking their places in the peaceful atmosphere of the room. The master, dressed in simple orange robes, had six dots marked on his forehead, a traditional sign of his devotion. A string of prayer beads hung around his neck, gently swaying as he continued his silent prayer.

Yí Yù hesitated for a moment before asking, “Should we pray too?” Zander gave a brief nod, and they all bowed their heads, joining in the quiet reverence. The statue stood tall and serene, surrounded by softly flickering candles, their warm glow reflecting off a small tea table set at the center of the room.

Suddenly, the master clapped his hands loudly, the sound echoing through the room, causing it to tremble slightly.

“All right, I’m done!” he shouted, breaking the silence with a grin. The loud clap startled everyone except Zander, who remained calm. The master quickly stood up and began pacing around the room with energetic strides, speaking loudly, "Ah, it feels good to stretch after a long prayer!

“Zander!” the master exclaimed, grabbing Zander by the back and dragging him around the room in frustration. “It’s been days since you left! Where on Earth have you been?”

“Sorry, Master,” Zander replied, his tone apologetic. “I had trouble finding the mountain.”

“I don’t believe that! Not for a second!” the master barked. “You’ll need to pray twice a day for three weeks as penance!”

“Fine, fine,” Zander sighed, resigned to his fate.

Yí Yù and the little girl shifted uncomfortably under the master's piercing gaze. He regarded them with a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny. “Who are these two?” he asked, his voice steady and commanding.

Zander gestured toward Yí Yù, saying, “Well, this is Yí Yù; he’s a priest from a nearby village. And, oh little one, I never asked for your name.”

With wide, innocent eyes, the girl replied, “I’m Mila.”

“And this is Mila. They came from a village that was destroyed.”

The master’s expression softened. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he said as he walked over to them. “Please, stay for dinner. I would love to hear everything you all went through.” Yí Yù and Mila exchanged glances and nodded in agreement for the invitation.

A few minutes later, they all gathered around the tea table, the aroma of delicious food wafting through the air. The table was laden with freshly baked bread, succulent fish, vibrant fruits, and the special stew the master had been simmering. The atmosphere enveloped them in a comforting embrace.

The master set down four cups of steaming tea in the center, filling the air with a soothing aroma. As they gathered around the table, a lively conversation ensued, laughter and stories intertwining.

Yí Yù glanced at the master with curiosity and asked, “So, Master, what is your name? I never asked.”

The master smiled warmly, his eyes twinkling with kindness. “I am called Master Zen the monk of the four cardinal directions”.

“Monk of the Four Cardinal Directions? Ha! What does that even mean?” said Yí Yù

“Meaning I know a lot about the world around us,” he said with a calm smile. “I can feel the cool winds from the north, the warm fires from the south, the wise waters from the west, and the strong earth from the east. Each direction has its own story, and I’m here to listen and learn.” said master Zen

“Wow, seems like an important job,” Yí Yù said, his curiosity piqued.

“It is,” he replied, nodding. “But you don’t understand the weight of those words. I must learn everything about them. There is more to them than just directions. For example, going west symbolizes the search for a better end. Over the horizon, you will meet and embrace death”

Zander said, his mouth full, “Great… Wisdom Master,” before choking slightly.

“Goddamn it, Zander! I told you to stop stuffing your face!” He hit his back hard.

Zander spat out the food. "Sorry, it was just so good!"

Master Zen turned to Yí Yù, his gaze steady. "So, you two came from a village. How was it destroyed?"

Yí Yù looked down, the painful memories flooding back. “It was the god Mercury. He came searching for a shard I possessed. I refused to give it to him… and I suppose my defiance was a costly mistake. He ordered his army to kill everyone… except me”.

Master Zen nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm... Mercury, I've heard of him. He’s the son of the planet lord, Saturn. He was killed in the battle. What about you Mila”.

Mila chimed in quietly, “My parents were killed by a massive creature—half lion, half man.”

Master Zen said softly, “I’m truly sorry. That must be difficult to overcome.”

Mila nodded, her voice steady but filled with sadness. "Yes, it is. But my mom always said that no matter how hard things get, I must keep moving forward—even in the face of something as terrible as this."

Master Zen said, "Your mother must have been very wise. But you don’t seem too saddened by it."

Mila shrugged slightly. “I guess I’ve learned that if I keep dwelling on it, I’ll only feel worse. I hate being sad, so I try not to think about it too much.”

Yí Yù turned to Mila, his voice soft. “Maybe I could learn from your approach. It might help me deal with my own grief.”

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“Of course, Mr. Priest. I think it could really help you,” Mila replied.

Master Zen glanced over at Zander, only to find him fast asleep, his head tilted back and a soft snore escaping his lips.

“Ah, it looks like this fool fell asleep early,” Master Zen said with a chuckle as he stood up and gently carried Zander to his room.

“Master Zen,” called a small voice.

He turned around to see Mila, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“I wonder if we could stay for now,” she said softly. “We don’t have homes to return to, and I don’t think it’s safe to go to another village.”

Yí Yù stayed silent but nodded in agreement with Mila.

Master Zen smiled. “Of course.”

“Really?” Mila asked, her eyes lighting up.

“You’re welcome to stay as long as you like,” Master Zen replied warmly. “Heck, you could live here until you're old and gray, if you wanted.”

“I don’t mind, as long as you don’t cause any trouble,” Master Zen added with a shrug. “Besides, you’re safe here. No one can track you down in this place. “It’s cut off from most of the world,” Master Zen continued. “You’ll be hidden here, away from all the dangers outside.”

Master Zen continued carrying Zander to his room, his steps quiet and careful. Mila glanced over at Yí Yù, and the two exchanged a look—both feeling a deep sense of relief and gratitude.

The sun shone brighter than ever, casting a golden glow over the land.

The sky stretched endlessly, clear and serene like the calmest ocean waters.

The grass stretched taller than ever before, swaying gently in the breeze, each blade as vibrant as emerald.

Soft clouds in the sky, gently swaying in the breeze as it soaked up the sun’s warmth.

Three years later, Zander’s journey began atop the mountain where the Monk of the Four Cardinal Directions lived. Every day, Zander trained relentlessly, determined to grow stronger than ever before. Master Zen taught him new magic and techniques, sharpening both his skills and his mind. Mila, once a small girl, had grown older and wiser under the careful guidance of Master Zen.

She was happier now, more grateful to be surrounded by people who cared for her. Being with them made her feel like she had a family again.

Yí Yù overcame his grief from the loss of his village. Now, he travels to different places, healing others and creating new, powerful medicines along the way.

“All right, Zander, let’s see it,” said Master Zen, relaxing in a hammock that Zander had crafted. With a swift leap into the air, Zander multiplied, creating several clones of himself in an instant, each one mirroring his every move.

“Now, can you control them?” Master Zen asked, watching closely.

Zander nodded and instructed one of the clones, “Go fetch a carrot from the kitchen.”

The clone immediately obeyed, dashing inside and returning moments later with a carrot in hand, offering it to Zander with precision and speed.

“Great! Hey, clone, can you grab my book for me?” Zander asked confidently.

The clone quickly darted off to retrieve it. As it disappeared inside, Master Zen suddenly chuckled and muttered, "Damn, I forgot to tell him which one."

The clone returned, holding the book in its hands. Master Zen glanced at it, then smiled.

“Oh, never mind—it’s the exact one I wanted,” he said with a satisfied nod.

Mila stepped outside, carrying two cups of tea in her hands. She approached Zander and Master Zen with a gentle smile. Zen reached out and took one cup from her with a grateful nod, while Zander quickly grabbed the other. Master Zen took a sip, a gleeful smile spreading across his face.

“This... is perfect, Mila,” he said, savoring the warmth.

“Yeah, this is really great,” Zander chimed in, taking a sip of his own with a nod of approval.

“Thank you both,” Mila said warmly, her heart swelling with gratitude.

They all settled down together, sharing stories about the challenges and triumphs they had experienced over the past three years. As their conversation flowed, Master Zen eventually turned to them and asked, “So, what do you both want to do in life?” His gaze was curious, inviting them to share their dreams and aspirations.

Zander paused for a moment, contemplating his own dreams. Before he could respond, Mila exclaimed, “I want to be the empress of a castle!”

Zander raised an eyebrow and chuckled, “Hold on now, Mila, that’s quite a big dream. You’re only sixteen! What do you know about being an empress?”

“Well I have had this since I Was little. My mother and father said the same thing to me. That it’s a massive dream. But I feel like I'm ready for it”.

Master Zen glanced at Zander, noticing the deep thought etched on his face. “Zander, it’s perfectly fine if you don’t have a dream yet,” he said gently.

Zander furrowed his brow in concentration, then suddenly brightened. “Mhhh…I got it!” he declared. “I want to see the entire world!”

“Oh, another big dream!” Zen exclaimed with a grin. “Can you explain more?”

Zander nodded enthusiastically. “I want to see the whole world! I want to explore everything—oceans, creatures, monsters, and all the wonders out there. I want to experience it all!”

“Both of your dreams are truly amazing,” Master Zen said with a warm smile. “I have an idea for how you two can start pursuing those dreams.”

Both Mila and Zander leaned in, excitement sparking in their eyes. “For real?” they asked in unison.

“Yep! I mean, you’ve both been here for a while, and I don’t want you to hold back on them,” he replied, his tone encouraging.

“We’re still so young, Master, and I don’t want to leave this place so soon,” Zander said, his voice filled with hesitation.

“I love it here with all of you,” Mila added softly. “You’ve all become like family to me."

“I understand your hearts, both of you," he said calmly. "But the journey ahead is part of your growth, I don’t want this place, or myself, to hold you back. You haven’t gone out to find your true dreams yet. So, when the next three sunrises come, I want you to go. Go and become something great.”

Both Zander and Mila bowed deeply to Master Zen, gratitude and resolve in their hearts. The next three sunrises came and went, and on the final one, their journey truly began. Mila and Zander stood in their monks' robes, the fabric gently swaying in the morning breeze. Nearby, Master Zen and Yí Yù stood side by side, watching over them. Zen descended toward them.

He says “ Nice Nice. you two look like real monks”. While pulling out two journals for both of them. Yí Yù stepped down, handing them two small pouches of purple powder. "These are for any trouble you might face along the way," Yí Yù said with a gentle smile.

Zander looked at Yí Yù and asked, “Don’t you have a dream you want to follow, Yí Yù?”

Yí Yù smiled warmly. “I’m living my dream right now—helping people, traveling the world to make a difference. And now, I get to help two of my favorite children by giving you my father’s medicine.”

Master Zen approached them, placing his hands gently on their heads.

“Before I send you both off, I have one final mission for you,” he said softly. “I want you to draw everything you discover in the world. Take these journals, and when you’re done, bring them back to me. Show me all that you’ve found. There’s no need to rush—enjoy your life, and along the way, earn your dreams.”

Zander glanced at Mila with a smile. "When we meet again, I hope you’ve become an empress."

Mila smiled back warmly. "And I hope you find everything this world has to offer. So you can show me."

"Alright, you two, be on your way," Master Zen said with a gentle nod.

In an instant, Zander and Mila vanished, the air shimmering as the monk used his power to send them off on their journey. Zander slowly opened his eyes, waking up to the sounds of the jungle all around him. He stood up and took a deep breath of the fresh, earthy air, feeling energized by his new surroundings. He pulled out his journal and started drawing the lush landscape around him.

As he walked forward, he climbed higher and realized he was on top of a mountain. The view was amazing, showing endless jungles that went on forever.

“Great,” he said.