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The Story of Zenith: Chapter 11
I woke up early the next day. I had acquired the habit of waking up with the sunrise since I lived on the streets. Although the first rays of dawn were beginning to break, the monastery still remained engulfed in a gloomy atmosphere. I didn't know if anyone would be awake at that hour.
I felt the need to use the bathroom, so I prepared to leave the room. Out of habit, I pulled the hood over my head, but then I remembered it was no longer necessary, so I lowered it. Although the room was dark, there was enough illumination to guide me through the walls. I followed the path I thought I had taken when Rajan accompanied me to the latrines, but it was a mistake. Amidst the darkness, my lack of knowledge about the monastery, and my inability to remember exactly which way was right, I seemed to be trapped in a maze. I felt lost, entering stone corridors that led nowhere, with wooden doors that were closed. All the hallways seemed identical. I spent so much time wandering through the monastery that dawn was even starting to break, allowing the sunlight to penetrate through the small openings in the walls.
As I turned the corner, desperate to find the bathroom or make my way back to my room, I came across a figure dressed in a habit with the hood up. I was so startled that I almost screamed, but I held back, remembering where I was. Once I regained my composure, I realized it was the mysterious raccoon who had shown complete indifference when I entered the cult. I apologized and timidly asked him where the bathroom was since I was lost. Without saying a word, he pointed with his hand towards a hallway behind him and continued on his way in silence. I was a bit perplexed and didn't know what to say, so I thanked him and headed to the bathroom.
The toilets were immaculately clean, as if they had just been washed. "Rajan mentioned that a member took care of cleaning the bathroom, could it be him?" I thought as I finished my business. The idea lingered in my head as I washed my hands in a basin of water.
At that moment, Lysander entered the bathroom and greeted me with a bow and a friendly smile, but without uttering a single word. "They definitely take silence seriously," I thought as I returned the greeting.
I waited for him outside the bathroom, longing to talk to him about many things, but fearing that he wouldn't open his mouth at all. After a few minutes, he emerged through the door.
"Sorry if I break the silence," I said with some bashfulness and fear, "but I'd like to talk to you. I have many questions."
"I'm glad you found the bathroom. It's normal for you to have many questions," he replied in a pleasant yet low tone, almost whispering. "But come with me before we talk. I'll show you the monastery now that there's enough light."
I nodded and silently followed him through the entire east wing of the monastery. He explained that this part housed the rooms (called cells), the library, and the latrines. I was able to recognize the hallways since I had been lost in them all morning. Now, in the daylight, the monastery didn't seem as large. I had definitely been wandering through the same corridors over and over again. Lysander told me that he spent most of his day in the library, reading, studying, organizing, and translating ancient texts.
Then, we arrived at the monastery's cloister. It was a small courtyard that connected all the galleries. There were benches and rugs where members could meditate and interact with each other without disturbing others. I saw the old otter talking to the anteater as they strolled, and I also saw the raccoon sitting in a meditative posture on a rug, staring intently at a small tree. "Doesn't he socialize with anyone?" I thought.
Afterward, he took me to the south wing, which was essentially the entrance of the monastery. There wasn't much to highlight except for the large wooden door. The rest was made of gray stone.
We also visited the west wing, where the vegetable garden was located. I could see different types of vegetables: tomatoes, onions, eggplants..., and on one side, a small enclosure with what seemed to be medicinal plants. At that time in the morning, the young lynx I saw last night during my induction was already there, tending to the garden with some tools. Upon seeing me with Lysander, she greeted me with a smile and continued her activity.
Finally, he led me to the northern wing. There was the grand hall where I was named a member, and behind it were the refectory and the kitchen. There was also a small storeroom for supplies. After completing the guided tour, we returned to the cloister.
"Well, that's it," said Lysander.
"Thank you so much for everything. Could you introduce me to the other members?" I asked.
"Of course. The otter's name is Amara, she's the oldest member of the cult. She has been devoted to this life for over forty years. We all deeply respect her, and she has become a spiritual leader for us. She taught us everything about living in this cult, and she will also teach you. The one talking to her, the anteater, is Tavshil. He takes care of cooking for all of us.
That one meditating over there, the raccoon, is Pashchattapa, but we all call him Pas. He is in charge of keeping the monastery clean, including the latrines and other less pleasant tasks. You'll usually see him meditating. He doesn't interact much with the other members, but he'll never refuse to help if you ask.
There's also Lyra, the lynx who takes care of the garden and acts as a healer. She was the one who treated you when you fainted. And Sampada, the gecko. She manages the monastery's resources and ensures that we never lack anything.
And well, you already know Rajan and me. Rajan takes care of all the tasks that require going outside, which is why he's the only one who doesn't live in seclusion in the monastery. He's responsible for the external maintenance of the monastery, bringing firewood for the kitchen, and when necessary, he goes to the nearest village to get the supplies we need, like candles, matches, or food that we can't obtain here in the monastery. As for me, apart from tending to the library, I assist Amara with rituals and teaching the members. Now you've met everyone.
As you can see, we all have a role to play in the monastery. We have willingly chosen these activities, but as you'll see while you live here, the old monastery requires a lot of care. That's why, in addition to the fixed tasks I mentioned, we rotate other responsibilities among the members. This way, we ensure that the workload is fair and balanced."
"You are very well organized, thank you for the explanation," I said with a smile. "When I observed you from outside the monastery, I saw several pilgrims leaving bags with offerings. Why do they do that?"
"We actually don't know for sure," they replied. "They leave supplies for us from time to time, and Rajan takes care of collecting them to prevent them from spoiling. Sometimes they leave money, which Sampada counts and keeps for when Rajan goes to the village. Other times, they also leave things like jewelry. These items, as you know, are not allowed here, so we store them until Rajan takes them to the village and donates them."
"Can I ask one more question?"
"Of course, go ahead."
"What's the story behind the raccoon? I mean, Pas, sorry," I said with some unease.
Lysander took a moment to contemplate before responding to my question. Then, he looked at me seriously and began to tell me the story of Pas.
"Well, I don't think he'd mind if I tell you why he's here. Before coming to the monastery, he had a job and a family he loved. He was doing well financially, was happy with his family, and they lived in a good neighborhood. He had an ideal life, so to speak. However, he had issues with excessive alcohol consumption. It was almost an addiction. This led him to face various problems, but despite them, he still maintained his seemingly happy life.
One day, his company closed a significant deal, one that would have brought them international recognition. To celebrate, he went out with his coworkers to drink on the outskirts of the city. They spent the whole night drinking and partying. When they decided to end the celebration, it was already 7 in the morning. Everyone was too drunk to drive, but still, Pas made the decision to do so. He didn't last long behind the wheel. Speeding, he disregarded a stop sign at an intersection. What happened next was a tragedy. He collided with another vehicle and was ejected from his own through the windshield because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
When he woke up in the hospital, he found two policemen by his side. He had lost his left arm, and the left side of his body had suffered severe burns. Desperate, he began screaming and crying over his situation. But the news that truly shattered him came later when one of the policemen informed him that he had killed a father and his little son, who was being taken to school. In that moment, he stopped screaming and crying, and he lost the ability to speak. He was sentenced to over twenty years in prison but ended up getting out earlier due to good behavior. His family had abandoned him, he had lost his job, his money, and the entire life he had built. But what truly shattered him, and continues to do so, is the fact that he killed an innocent child who was simply going to school.
Eventually, Pas arrived at the monastery and embraced our way of life. From the very first day, he insisted on taking on the most difficult and unpleasant tasks of the monastery, as if seeking some form of penance through them. We've tried to help him, and we continue to do so, but his soul is so broken that we haven't made much progress. However, neither Amara nor I have lost hope in him."
I was stunned by the story I had heard. It was extremely harsh, but what truly crossed my mind was the possibility that Pas was the driver who crashed into the car carrying Lucía's husband and son. The dates, the events, everything seemed to align. However, it didn't feel appropriate to ask either Lysander or Pas about it.
"Are you okay?" Lysander asked me, concerned when he noticed my lack of reaction.
"Yes, sorry, it's just a very tough story," I tried to conceal my thoughts.
"A tragedy, no doubt. Please, be understanding with him and respect his silence. Now I have to attend to my duties. Go speak with Amara so she can begin your training."
"Thank you very much, really."
We said our goodbyes, and I spent some time pondering Pas' story and how it correlated with Lucía's. Then I approached Amara, who was in the main hall. Amara spoke in a serious and solemn tone. She explained that the other members saw her as a leader, but she disliked that perception because hierarchies didn't exist in the monastery. Once you joined them, everyone was equal, without distinctions. Nonetheless, with her extensive experience, she took on the role of officiating rituals, guiding and teaching all the members, and mediating, in the rare cases it occurred, between disputes among the members. She explained the foundations of meditation and how I needed to master the technique correctly before facing my past. She spent an hour explaining how to sit, how to breathe, how to control the mind, and so on. Her explanations were masterful. When we finished, she urged me to personally get to know the other members and assist with any tasks that were within my ability.
Chapter 11! We have learned who the cult members are, and the story of the mysterious raccoon that leaves us with a shocking revelation: the possibility that Pas is responsible for the accident that affected Lucia's family, a connection that the protagonist can't help but make.
***
I've made the decision to take a couple of days off without publishing new chapters. I had never practiced narrative writing before, and suddenly I found myself writing, translating and publishing chapters for eleven days straight. Now I feel the need to take a break to reorganize the story and plan the next chapters. I greatly appreciate all the support I've been receiving and I hope you enjoy this new chapter. Thank you all!
Chapters 1 to 4: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52598222/
Chapter 5: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52601623/
Chapter 6: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52614097/
Chapter 7: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52627146/
Chapter 8: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52638429/
Chapter 9: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52653432/
Chapter 10: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52663897/
I woke up early the next day. I had acquired the habit of waking up with the sunrise since I lived on the streets. Although the first rays of dawn were beginning to break, the monastery still remained engulfed in a gloomy atmosphere. I didn't know if anyone would be awake at that hour.
I felt the need to use the bathroom, so I prepared to leave the room. Out of habit, I pulled the hood over my head, but then I remembered it was no longer necessary, so I lowered it. Although the room was dark, there was enough illumination to guide me through the walls. I followed the path I thought I had taken when Rajan accompanied me to the latrines, but it was a mistake. Amidst the darkness, my lack of knowledge about the monastery, and my inability to remember exactly which way was right, I seemed to be trapped in a maze. I felt lost, entering stone corridors that led nowhere, with wooden doors that were closed. All the hallways seemed identical. I spent so much time wandering through the monastery that dawn was even starting to break, allowing the sunlight to penetrate through the small openings in the walls.
As I turned the corner, desperate to find the bathroom or make my way back to my room, I came across a figure dressed in a habit with the hood up. I was so startled that I almost screamed, but I held back, remembering where I was. Once I regained my composure, I realized it was the mysterious raccoon who had shown complete indifference when I entered the cult. I apologized and timidly asked him where the bathroom was since I was lost. Without saying a word, he pointed with his hand towards a hallway behind him and continued on his way in silence. I was a bit perplexed and didn't know what to say, so I thanked him and headed to the bathroom.
The toilets were immaculately clean, as if they had just been washed. "Rajan mentioned that a member took care of cleaning the bathroom, could it be him?" I thought as I finished my business. The idea lingered in my head as I washed my hands in a basin of water.
At that moment, Lysander entered the bathroom and greeted me with a bow and a friendly smile, but without uttering a single word. "They definitely take silence seriously," I thought as I returned the greeting.
I waited for him outside the bathroom, longing to talk to him about many things, but fearing that he wouldn't open his mouth at all. After a few minutes, he emerged through the door.
"Sorry if I break the silence," I said with some bashfulness and fear, "but I'd like to talk to you. I have many questions."
"I'm glad you found the bathroom. It's normal for you to have many questions," he replied in a pleasant yet low tone, almost whispering. "But come with me before we talk. I'll show you the monastery now that there's enough light."
I nodded and silently followed him through the entire east wing of the monastery. He explained that this part housed the rooms (called cells), the library, and the latrines. I was able to recognize the hallways since I had been lost in them all morning. Now, in the daylight, the monastery didn't seem as large. I had definitely been wandering through the same corridors over and over again. Lysander told me that he spent most of his day in the library, reading, studying, organizing, and translating ancient texts.
Then, we arrived at the monastery's cloister. It was a small courtyard that connected all the galleries. There were benches and rugs where members could meditate and interact with each other without disturbing others. I saw the old otter talking to the anteater as they strolled, and I also saw the raccoon sitting in a meditative posture on a rug, staring intently at a small tree. "Doesn't he socialize with anyone?" I thought.
Afterward, he took me to the south wing, which was essentially the entrance of the monastery. There wasn't much to highlight except for the large wooden door. The rest was made of gray stone.
We also visited the west wing, where the vegetable garden was located. I could see different types of vegetables: tomatoes, onions, eggplants..., and on one side, a small enclosure with what seemed to be medicinal plants. At that time in the morning, the young lynx I saw last night during my induction was already there, tending to the garden with some tools. Upon seeing me with Lysander, she greeted me with a smile and continued her activity.
Finally, he led me to the northern wing. There was the grand hall where I was named a member, and behind it were the refectory and the kitchen. There was also a small storeroom for supplies. After completing the guided tour, we returned to the cloister.
"Well, that's it," said Lysander.
"Thank you so much for everything. Could you introduce me to the other members?" I asked.
"Of course. The otter's name is Amara, she's the oldest member of the cult. She has been devoted to this life for over forty years. We all deeply respect her, and she has become a spiritual leader for us. She taught us everything about living in this cult, and she will also teach you. The one talking to her, the anteater, is Tavshil. He takes care of cooking for all of us.
That one meditating over there, the raccoon, is Pashchattapa, but we all call him Pas. He is in charge of keeping the monastery clean, including the latrines and other less pleasant tasks. You'll usually see him meditating. He doesn't interact much with the other members, but he'll never refuse to help if you ask.
There's also Lyra, the lynx who takes care of the garden and acts as a healer. She was the one who treated you when you fainted. And Sampada, the gecko. She manages the monastery's resources and ensures that we never lack anything.
And well, you already know Rajan and me. Rajan takes care of all the tasks that require going outside, which is why he's the only one who doesn't live in seclusion in the monastery. He's responsible for the external maintenance of the monastery, bringing firewood for the kitchen, and when necessary, he goes to the nearest village to get the supplies we need, like candles, matches, or food that we can't obtain here in the monastery. As for me, apart from tending to the library, I assist Amara with rituals and teaching the members. Now you've met everyone.
As you can see, we all have a role to play in the monastery. We have willingly chosen these activities, but as you'll see while you live here, the old monastery requires a lot of care. That's why, in addition to the fixed tasks I mentioned, we rotate other responsibilities among the members. This way, we ensure that the workload is fair and balanced."
"You are very well organized, thank you for the explanation," I said with a smile. "When I observed you from outside the monastery, I saw several pilgrims leaving bags with offerings. Why do they do that?"
"We actually don't know for sure," they replied. "They leave supplies for us from time to time, and Rajan takes care of collecting them to prevent them from spoiling. Sometimes they leave money, which Sampada counts and keeps for when Rajan goes to the village. Other times, they also leave things like jewelry. These items, as you know, are not allowed here, so we store them until Rajan takes them to the village and donates them."
"Can I ask one more question?"
"Of course, go ahead."
"What's the story behind the raccoon? I mean, Pas, sorry," I said with some unease.
Lysander took a moment to contemplate before responding to my question. Then, he looked at me seriously and began to tell me the story of Pas.
"Well, I don't think he'd mind if I tell you why he's here. Before coming to the monastery, he had a job and a family he loved. He was doing well financially, was happy with his family, and they lived in a good neighborhood. He had an ideal life, so to speak. However, he had issues with excessive alcohol consumption. It was almost an addiction. This led him to face various problems, but despite them, he still maintained his seemingly happy life.
One day, his company closed a significant deal, one that would have brought them international recognition. To celebrate, he went out with his coworkers to drink on the outskirts of the city. They spent the whole night drinking and partying. When they decided to end the celebration, it was already 7 in the morning. Everyone was too drunk to drive, but still, Pas made the decision to do so. He didn't last long behind the wheel. Speeding, he disregarded a stop sign at an intersection. What happened next was a tragedy. He collided with another vehicle and was ejected from his own through the windshield because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
When he woke up in the hospital, he found two policemen by his side. He had lost his left arm, and the left side of his body had suffered severe burns. Desperate, he began screaming and crying over his situation. But the news that truly shattered him came later when one of the policemen informed him that he had killed a father and his little son, who was being taken to school. In that moment, he stopped screaming and crying, and he lost the ability to speak. He was sentenced to over twenty years in prison but ended up getting out earlier due to good behavior. His family had abandoned him, he had lost his job, his money, and the entire life he had built. But what truly shattered him, and continues to do so, is the fact that he killed an innocent child who was simply going to school.
Eventually, Pas arrived at the monastery and embraced our way of life. From the very first day, he insisted on taking on the most difficult and unpleasant tasks of the monastery, as if seeking some form of penance through them. We've tried to help him, and we continue to do so, but his soul is so broken that we haven't made much progress. However, neither Amara nor I have lost hope in him."
I was stunned by the story I had heard. It was extremely harsh, but what truly crossed my mind was the possibility that Pas was the driver who crashed into the car carrying Lucía's husband and son. The dates, the events, everything seemed to align. However, it didn't feel appropriate to ask either Lysander or Pas about it.
"Are you okay?" Lysander asked me, concerned when he noticed my lack of reaction.
"Yes, sorry, it's just a very tough story," I tried to conceal my thoughts.
"A tragedy, no doubt. Please, be understanding with him and respect his silence. Now I have to attend to my duties. Go speak with Amara so she can begin your training."
"Thank you very much, really."
We said our goodbyes, and I spent some time pondering Pas' story and how it correlated with Lucía's. Then I approached Amara, who was in the main hall. Amara spoke in a serious and solemn tone. She explained that the other members saw her as a leader, but she disliked that perception because hierarchies didn't exist in the monastery. Once you joined them, everyone was equal, without distinctions. Nonetheless, with her extensive experience, she took on the role of officiating rituals, guiding and teaching all the members, and mediating, in the rare cases it occurred, between disputes among the members. She explained the foundations of meditation and how I needed to master the technique correctly before facing my past. She spent an hour explaining how to sit, how to breathe, how to control the mind, and so on. Her explanations were masterful. When we finished, she urged me to personally get to know the other members and assist with any tasks that were within my ability.
Chapter 11! We have learned who the cult members are, and the story of the mysterious raccoon that leaves us with a shocking revelation: the possibility that Pas is responsible for the accident that affected Lucia's family, a connection that the protagonist can't help but make.
***
I've made the decision to take a couple of days off without publishing new chapters. I had never practiced narrative writing before, and suddenly I found myself writing, translating and publishing chapters for eleven days straight. Now I feel the need to take a break to reorganize the story and plan the next chapters. I greatly appreciate all the support I've been receiving and I hope you enjoy this new chapter. Thank you all!
Chapters 1 to 4: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52598222/
Chapter 5: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52601623/
Chapter 6: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52614097/
Chapter 7: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52627146/
Chapter 8: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52638429/
Chapter 9: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52653432/
Chapter 10: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52663897/
Category Story / All
Species Wolf
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 36.8 kB
Omg ! it's "Pas" the drunk driver oh no :o I must say I didn't expect it, all that is too sad T_T but I still like the story even if it's sad, can't wait to have the rest but hey, ^ ^' good break to you anyway, nothing better than a break it will make your story better hehe ;p *waits patiently while wagging his tail* :D
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