Kai, Eris, Noah, and Marianna reach the bottom of the stairs that now lead to a long tunnel. As they walk down the tunnel, they start to hear chanting echoing ahead.

“Is that them?” Eris asks whisperingly.

“It is.” Kai replies.

As they make it out of the tunnel, they see a few dozen monks chanting in unison and walk in a massive well-lit cave with a large body of water and a massive stone building far ahead. In front of them were a few dozen of monks sitting in huts and at different campfires. Looking at the sight made Noah confused.

“I thought… they resided in a monastery.” He comments.

“That building up ahead is their monastery.” Kai replies.

Before the group could walk any further, the nearby monks begin to stare at them curiously and bewildered.

“Who are you people?” A monk asks.

“How did you all find this place?” Another monk asks.

“Are they with the Regime?!” A third monk asks with concern.

“Brothers! Brothers! Calm yourselves.”

A monk steps through the crowd wearing a purple robe with more designs than the other monks with gems on it and he wore a necklace with beads and a red amulet on it along with bracelets on his wrists. He walks toward the group and looks at Eris.

“Looking by the marks and the reason you were able to come here, I take it you’re the queen to be who will take Queen Furia’s place soon?” He asks.

“Yes, sir.” Eris replies.

 The monk then looks at Kai. “You’re Furia’s older brother. Correct?”

“I am.” Kai replies.

The monk then looks to Noah and Marianna. “I take it you’re her friends?”

Noah and Marianna nod.

“Follow me.”

The four follow the monk to a campfire several feet away from the other monks next to a tent and they sit around the fire.

“So,” The monk speaks. “It seems you all have questions, and I am willing to answer them. Also, my name is Ramon Quincetto, I’m the abbot of this monastery. And who are you three?”

“I’m Noah Knight.”

“My name is Marianna Collie.”

“And my name is Eris Gadison.”

“Pleased to meet you all. What is it you wish to ask?” Ramon asks looking at Eris.

“Well, I think Kai has a question he wants to ask first.” She replies.

Ramon looks at Kai.

“I was told that you have a monk that has a birthmark on the right side of his face.” Kai speaks. “He is… related to the former queen.”

Ramon gives a blank stare when he hears the statement. “And pray, where did you hear that from?”

“Ms. Ineza.” Eris answers. “She told us. Is he here?”

Ramon gives Eris a disingenuous smile. “Of course, Ineza would tell you such a story. The story she told you about the former queen and a former monk is a false—”

“I’m not asking if the story is false or not.” Eris interrupts. “Is he here, or no?”

Ramon decides to stay silent with a smirk on his face. Seeing that he was not going to answer, Noah huffs and stands up and look at the nearby monks.

“Excuse me, fellow monks of the Kyona Monastery!” He speaks loudly.

He catches most the nearby monks’ attention. “Is there a monk here by the name of Asuno?!”

There was a moment of silence until one monk raises his hand. “Yes. I am Asuno.”

“We would like for you to join us if it’s okay.” Marianna speaks.

“Oh no.” Ramon responds. “Dear Asuno has several tasks that he needs to take care of.”

“But Ramon,” Asuno responds. “I just got done with all the tasks you’ve given me.”

Ramon gives a disgusted look at the monk which makes him feel intimidated. “Then you may come over here, Asuno.”

Asuno walks over and sits far from the annoyed Ramon and next to the group. Kai looks at Ramon and becomes irritated with his behavior.

“You’re not good at hiding secrets, abbot.” He notes. “Maybe stick to what you do best.”

Kai stands up and goes to take a walk and signals Asuno to follow him, leaving the trio with Ramon.

“Now,” Eris speaks to Ramon. “I would like to ask you some questions.”

“About what, child?” He asks.

“About the three rules a queen is supposed to follow.”

Ramon looks at Eris inquisitively with his hands together. “Proceed.”

“Were the three rules made by Alpha, or by gentlemen such as yourselves?”

Ramon gives her a gentle smile. “It is tradition for all queens to follow and abide those rules. That’s how it’s been for many years.”

Eris was not satisfied with the answer and feels that Ramon is avoiding the question.

“That wasn’t my question.” Eris comments sternly. “Are the rules by Alpha or the monks?”

“It is to maintain purity for Alpha. If that mark is tainted, a new female will become marked. The predecessor is to be removed immediately when that is done.”

Eris notices that Ramon did not answer her question once again, but she then decides to entertain his statement in order to catch him in his lie.

“Hmm, is that so? Then answer this.” She speaks. “During Queen Askari’s rule in its entirety, when did Queen Furia get her marks?

“When she was 11.” Ramon responds.

“So, during the time of Askari’s reign and Furia having the mark, were there any other women that had the mark?”

“No.”

“And why is that?”

“Well, perhaps they weren’t pure of heart or weren’t pure at all.”

Eris looks at Ramon with a baffled look. “Really? Are you serious? You think all of the female population at the time were either not pure, or not pure of heart? Doesn’t that theory sound a bit farfetched?”

Ramon decides not to respond with Eris ignoring his silence.

“Anyway…” She continues. “When I was a child, I saw Queen Askari when her marks were red. Everyone in the town saw it. Even though with after all you said with the red or tainted mark, she did her duty well until she left this world. What kind of explanation do you have for it taking years for the mark to appear on another female, abbot?”

Ramon feels disgust with Eris’s question. Seeing his face makes Eris feel disappointed.

“I’m sorry, but this is what I don’t believe. When the mark turns red, then the queen is tainted. But if Queen Askari could continue her duties for as long as she did with the red marks, then something must be lost in translation on both ends. Also, from what I’ve seen here, for you to be the abbot of this monastery, it looks like you’re not a good example for the other monks. You haven’t been honest or truthful with us, and chose not to answer my question and trail it somewhere else. Why?”

Ramon gives Eris a smug look. “Young lady, for you to talk to me in that manner makes me question your state of mind, and perhaps you shouldn’t be queen when Queen Furia’s time is done. I fear that you will be a disastrous queen by how distasteful your actions are on this day.”

“Then perhaps you should no longer be abbot if you can’t answer me truthfully and if you can’t take criticism. Your position is in question as well. You’re not really a genuine person, and that is concerning to know.”

Ramon grumbles. “I’ll have you know that I got this position with hard work and due diligence! A child such as yourself has no right to question my actions! Learn your damn place!”

“RAMON!”

His attention turns to one of the monks while all the monks look at Ramon. “What is it, Devin?!”

“I did hear you disregard the queen-to-be’s questions!” He responds. “Now, you question Alpha’s decision to choose her?! She has the right to question our actions, especially about the rules!”

“How about you hold your tongue—”

“No! Cease, Ramon! Devin is right!” Another monk exclaims. “Our predecessors would be ashamed because of your behavior!”

“Also, you speak to her in a demeaning way!” A third monk states. “That is not our practice as monks. You are sullying your position as an abbot!”

“I fear we all would have to vote, because this isn’t the first time you’ve done this.” Devin speaks. “Our junior monks have been changing their minds of joining this monastery!”

Ramon glares at the monks. “I don’t need to hear this nonsense from you, Devin! My position is absolute because of our former abbot. It can’t be overturned!”

“That’s not true!”

Ramon turns to see Asuno who was coming back with Kai.

“Every monk and abbot know about this rule.” He speaks. “For whatever viable reason, it has to take majority of the monastery body to vote you out, no matter what position you have!”

“What made you think it was absolute?” Devin asks Ramon.

Ramon chooses to not answer and looks to all the monks that gathered.

“Are you saying you can do better than what I can do, Devin? Charles? Richard?!” He belittles. “Can any of you?! You, Asuno, are barred from becoming abbot!”

“And why is that? Why can’t he be?” Eris asks.

Once again, Ramon refuses to answer Eris.

“It’s because of Asuno’s parents.” Charles replies. “It’s because he is the son of the late queen and our former exiled brother, Barlow. It’s not much of a secret with us like you think it is, Ramon! You’ve made him pay for the sin his father committed when he came to us, making him do menial or more of the work. Therefore, with him being the “sin”, Asuno is barred from becoming abbot.”

“But we can adapt to change. We aren’t against it.” Richard adds. “We can disbar Asuno. He has shown his worth ever since he joined us.”

Ramon’s eyes widen in anger as he looks to the other monks then at Asuno who was with Kai.

“You all would go against the words of our former abbot and the others before him?” He asks.

“Don’t use guilt on us.” Devin sneers. “You certainly sully the position of abbot. No mistake.”

As Ramon decides to remain silent, Eris stands up and looks at the monks near and far.

“Monks of the Kyonian monastery!” Eris says aloud gaining their attention. “I know… that I am not a queen yet and I have no authority over anyone, but I would like to say this. I do not believe in the three rules. It sounds suppressive in what a queen can do with her body. Now, being chosen by Alpha, I know what type of responsibility is set for me. I give you my solemn vow that I will be true to the mark and to the people when that time comes. In order for this tradition to thrive and continue, we are in a battle to take the lands back from Yenish and her regime that really tainting the throne and the temples. Landon has taken back Oreads and Senuo has taken back Satori. As of now, debating what a queen can and can’t do, lying about a person’s upbringing, and saving face is not going to help! All I ask from the monastery body is for your support. Stand with us so we can take Elem back.”

Moments later, all the monks nod in agreement with Ramon looking in anger.

“You have our support, ma’am.” Charles responds. “We can help around Kyona and Bura as best as we can. As long as we are protected by the soldiers so they can escort us.”

“I’m sure my sister can give confirmation for that.” Kai assures.

“Oh, many thanks and may Alpha bless you all.” Charles praises. “Also, if you all were to come here again, rest assured a new abbot will be appointed.”

Hearing these last words come out of Charles’s mouth infuriates Ramon and makes him walk away into his tent that was near the campfire, leaving Eris, Kai, Noah, Marianna, and Asuno.