Winsled, one of the highly admired monks of Ludshom paced his study. Nine watched his benefactor and mentor walk slowly around the room. Winsled was old. How old some asked? Nobody knew. But he had everybody in Ludshom beat. Nobody dared to ask him. Everybody respected him and gave him his space and peace. Unlike every other monk in Ludshom Winsled had long white hair growing down his back. His boney arms stuck out of brownish robe he wore. He looks frail, but powerful at the same time. He was there before everyone and he would probably be the last to leave.

Nine stared at Winsled watching his every movement, studying his actions and reactions. Winsled saved Nine from ruining himself as a kid. Nine was an orphaned as a baby. His father had long ago passed away. His mother still lives. He would check up on her periodically. She never knew though. His mind was far past the mother and son relationship.

Nine had run away from three orphanages, stealing and running with gangs. The city police had him labeled with his friends as little badasses. The police locked them up and sent them to juvenile camps only to serve a couple of months, get sent to another orphanage, and run the streets again.

It all came to an end when Nine and one of his so-called friends tried to steal a bag from Winsled. It was the first time Nine had seen a monk. The hit looked easy. Just grab the bad and run. None of the kids knew what the bag possessed, but he wanted to know badly.

They all watched the man walk in and out of shops. He never bought anything and this confused Nine. The old guys must have gone in seven to eight stores only to leave them without a purchase. Nine had eyed his closest friend Chase with a quizzical look on his face.

"He hasn't brought a thing." Nine said curiously.

"I know," Chase said as they watched from the roof.

"Maybe we should pick another guy" Chase stated, looking towards a few tourists who got a kick out of visiting their boring city l.

"Naw. There's something in the bag. He hasn't sat it down yet." Nine had his mindset that day. His mind had never been so focused in his life. Then the opportunity came. Winsled walked into a secluded alley as Chase and Nine quickly slid down building pipes to the ground.

"The old guy is almost in the darkest part of the alley. Come on," Nine said jumping from shadow to shadow. Once Winsled walked into the darkest part of the alley, Nine and Chase pounced on their victim. Nine grabbed the bag from the old guy with ease. Like taking candy from a baby he had once thought.

They ran to the end of the alley. "I'll see you at the fort," Nine said holding the bag under his arm like a football. "Okay," Chase said running in the opposite direction.

Nine ran like crazy but slowed down when he didn't hear any of the police whistles in the distance. He started walking with the pedestrians on the sidewalk trying to blend in. As soon as he got close to another alley he stepped in. His adrenaline slowed and that's when he noticed how light the bag is.

"Huh," was all he could muster. He snatched the bag from under his arm and opened it. There was nothing in it. Nine felt light headed. That's why the bag was so easy to snatch from the old man. There was nothing in it.

He leaned his head against the building wall frustrated. He thought his mind was playing tricks on him. He inspected the bag one more time before he threw it away.

A single sheet of white paper stood out from the brown paper bag. Nine grabbed it and stared in disbelief. He felt like he was dreaming. He had to be dreaming. The paper had writing on it.

"I've been waiting on you Nine."

Nine still has that paper, on it the same writing that his benefactor Winsled wrote the morning of the same day Nine took the bag. He smiled to himself as he watches Winsled pace. He was eleven then. So much time has passed. Winsled looked the same, if not younger.

Winsled looked over at Nine and smiled. "You saw no signs of him coming to you before this incident?" He asked with a strong voice.

Nine shook his head, "No. He just popped up and sat across from me," Nine said still confused from the encounter.

Winsled sat down behind his oak desk in a swivel chair, leaned back and stared at the ceiling for a moment. "He would be your very first apprentice.."

"But.." Nine interrupted but stopped when Winsled held his hand up. He has the respect of every man Nine has seen him encountered.

"I know you feel that you're not ready, I was in your position."

"But you can handle situations like this better than me. You intimidated me without so much as a word. I tried to do the same with the American kid. He's just too strong. I couldn't touch him when I tried."

Winsled thoughts were still thinking about the matter. Nine had said the kid was tossing boulders as though they were pebbles. It took decades of practice to keep that type of focus.

Nine chuckled to himself. "I thought I was being a little too harsh," he said looking at Winsled. "He performed acts that you performed on me. He's dangerous though. He doesn't know what he's capable of. I don't think he knows that he was on my platform."

Winsled brought his hand to his beard and started pulling on it. Nothing was making sense. He looked at Nine. He had long since matured from the ruthless kid he once was. Winsled knew Nine could handle himself.

"Nine, it is not for me to choose if you should start a friendship with the American. I can't walk your shoes. Do what you feel. Your decision can only help you in two ways." Winsled held up two fingers. "You learn of making the mistake of either having or losing in the future. Don't mess with the kid's life if you're not comfortable. Being uncomfortable only leads to mistakes."

Nine knew that having an apprentice was like having a child. You would have to watch him grow every step of the way. Nine look up at Winsled.

"I don't trust myself. I've never dealt with America people. I used to steal from them before I met you. No other type of context has been made on friendship levels." Nine sighed loudly. "If you'd seen his these kids were running around you'd see my position," Nine said making excuses.

Winsled leaned back in the chair and laughed a deep laugh. Nine was serious. He knew he would have to spend a lot of time with the kid. Winsled noticed Nine's serious expression and stopped laughing.

"I was in your shoes once upon a time. It will be a good learning experience for you both. Trust me." Winsled's expression got serious for a moment. He looked at Nine and asked, "Can he precede any other levels then the subconscious dream state?"

Nine shoulders sagged. "I don't know," he said telling the truth. "But I doubt it. He can create his own scenery with ease. His mind control is incredible." Winsled had to admit that he had not heard or witnessed anyone so young with that type of power over themselves. Winsled stood and walked to the window overlooking Ludshom. "Nine, meditate on your decision. You have time to watch this special one from a distance." Winsled said nothing else. Silence filled the room and Nine knew that his time had expired with Winsled.

Nine turned and walked out of the room that held no pictures of documents that showed its use.