Role

Chapter 4

The applicant was nervously fidgeting with his robes as he awaited the
elder Obelkonol. He was tapping his feet when his mentor finally entered
the room. Before he could even get seated, the applicant blurted out "I
was attacked!" After a slight pause for genuine concern, Obelkonol looked
the young one over and asked "When did it happen?" said Obelkonol. "I was
walking back to my room when I was suddenly accosted! He came out of
nowhere, master, and knocked me out! I awoke with my hands and feet
tied....it, it was horrible!"

That was when Obelkonol first broke his stoic view and smiled softly.
"Were you hurt?" The applicant was taken aback and answered, "Well, not
really...but what does tha-" "And was anything taken?" Again the
applicant didn't understand the question in context. "Well, no but I
was-" Obelkonol pressed the issue and asked "Did anyone else witness
this?" "Thinking back sir, another elder may have been seen but..."
Obelkonol smiled softly and almost laughed a little.

"Let me tell you a story, Jimmy. You see, there was this class once given
in the monastery. Open to the public as always, we had a strange young
man attend who waited in the back. As the instructor walked forward to
the class, just as he was about to engage he tripped on something and
ripped his robe - right up the back! Oh the crowd roared for a moment but
in that moment we had all learned something valuable - we laughed
together. In the young man's defense, he had a valid reason. It wasn't
really that harmful and yes, it probably had a hint of disrespect but it
was meant only as a simple prank....something us old stoic men forget
when we're alone in the mountains for years. Now over time, it's gotten a
little out of hand maybe - new students are usually "hazed" a bit to
spark some bonding and sure, the occasional prank may interrupt studies
or even cause a bit of chaos but we live near a harsh world Jimmy. People
come to kill us for no good reason and the lesson to be on your toes is
nothing bad to pull from this. Every time that young man visits, it's
like a sheep dog inside the chicken roost - it may ruffle some feathers
but it's not a fox. Now.... your pride may hurt, but you are generally ok
right?"

The applicant looked almost shameful that he hadn't gotten the point but
Obelkonol rose with a soft sigh and patted the young man on the shoulder
reassuringly. "It's ok boy, we all need to learn sometimes the harder
way. It's in your best interest to learn from this - keep your eyes open.
You never know what can come at you. If you want to be an elder someday,
sometimes you just have to..." With a quick motion, he lashed outward
into the nearby wardrobe and latched onto something! A young avian begin
to laugh and slowly exited the wardrobe, wiping a tear from his eye.
Obelkonol ruffled the avian's head feathers and said, "Sometimes to
prevent violence - simulate it."