theshojinmonk-blog

[theshojinmonk-blog]

Lee Sin tried to breathe slowly to rid of his headache, to no avail. He continued walking despite the pain, and breathed a light sigh at Sona's touch, as if letting the tension out of himself. "It happens whenever I think too much about magic." The monk who had renounced his previous pride had difficulty thinking of the old art for too long. It hurt him, not only the memories of his fault, but the idea of magic itself. It was unlike the martial arts that the monks taught him--magicians, sorcerers, Summoners even, never did feel the pain they inflicted through their ways.

The Shojin monk understood what his own hands could do. For anything outside of that, he did not wish to dwell no longer. If his victims didn't understand the magical arms that he would use, then how could he understand their pain, then know when to stop? Magic would poison the sturdy monk--it would make him merciless, a monster.

The man's head throbbed once more in pain, so much so that he had to stop in his tracks for a brief moment. "It doesn't help when our mission is to seek a magical power source...", he grumbled through his teeth, to hold his head in both hands, as somebody slowly crushed his head in.

The monk could usually turn off pain with his will, but this was of a different sort. Yes, this was self-inflicted. His old-self fighting with his steel and stubborn one. He knew what was happening, but he needed a little break to settle everything in his head. In fact, the monk felt weak, and sad to ask the question, but he knew he had to. "Can we take a break?"

See/Say No Evil (Lee Sin/Sona)

It was true, every great piece of amazing magic needed an apparatus of sorts. Sona was no exception she realized, gazing for a moment at her precious instrument. Though she would never admit it, sometimes she swore her etwahl was alive. During the most lonesome and coldest of nights, she would rest her head on the familiar brass strings. An indescribable sense of warmth would fill her frame, along with the pulse of a heartbeat. 

“Seems.. foolish, almost..” She sang with a sense of hesitation in her song. It was apparently a race for all the champions to get there first, and not all of her comrades were as pure and innocent as Lee and herself were. What were to happen if, say, Leblanc got to it? Or Veigar? She glanced in time to see Lee rub his head, and she reached a hand out to pat the man’s bare shoulder. “Are you alright, friend?”

[theshojinmonk-blog]

The monk walked slowly, feeling the cool air around him, He assumed it was from the greenery around them, which dampened the echoes of his feet as he walked. Although he didn't see the beauty of what was around him, the monk felt at peace in this place outside of the Institute of War. He didn't sense or feel wicked or overwhelming magics, and this put him at peace. His old art he no longer held in awe, but something he would forever hold in contempt.

With Sona's song, the going was quick and easy. Another melody soon introduced itself, and Lee Sin heard her voice. His pace slowed slightly as he thought, bringing himself to Sona's side. 

"The League is filled with Summoners trained in powerful magics, and some of these magics need a power source. This is the case for novice Summoners, or those in training--the ones that control and summon us do not necessarily need a large power source. On Summoner's Rift, this power source is called a Nexus.

Perhaps that is what they're sending us to. Another Nexus, or a potential one at that. If the power source is anything but magical, then I haven't heard any political fights over it where the League would have to intervene..."

Lee Sin rubbed one temple lightly with his hand, trying to clear the headache he had. It was always so when he thought of magic.

See/Say No Evil (Lee Sin/Sona)

And at Lee Sin’s remark, Sona followed the monk with a smile on her face. A certain sense of grace was evident in the way she swayed forward, the eternal gift of music keeping her forever afloat. Her gift of music kept an energized aura of magic between the two of them, allowing them to travel further using less energy.

The silence that followed was to be expected, and it wasn’t an unnatural or uncomfortable one. Much to her surprise, the surrounding area was gorgeous, and it was a land she hadn’t explored before. “So.. what do you think it is?” Came her first question after some time into their journey, her song quiet and seemingly in tune with the energizing tune following them.

[theshojinmonk-blog]

The Blind Monk stood pondering for a good amount of time before Sona came and strung her melody. It was a melody worthy of a trek. Perhaps that was a reason why Sona had this particular song in her arsenal. Lee Sin had heard the song many a times on the Fields of Justice. Both when facing a team with Sona opposing him, and when on a team with Sona on his own. Here, before departing, the familiar song did not sound like a prelude to war.

Here, outside of the Fields of Justice, and without control and commands of Summoners, Sona's song appeared almost happier. Lee Sin was not surprised. He nodded an agreement. "Let's go then."

From the main hall of the large building, Lee Sin lead the way down the steps of the Institute of War. The monk heard his way around, and thus the steps down the building. They made good time with the music inspiring a quicker decent. Before long, Lee Sin was able to feel his way South, and lead the way.

The monk wasn't a man of many words. But, on a journey with others, he supposed it was courtesy to attempt conversations and to engage in them. Lee Sin would talk--but he couldn't find words to do so.

So, he just walked, and as Sona appeared to be the one who kindled the first conversation, he would alight if she came to spark the second.

See/Say No Evil (Lee Sin/Sona)

A journey to Kalamanda- how exciting! Sona felt her body shake with excitement at the prospect of being the one to unearth the rumored relic. What was it? What would it grant? Anything? Was it some kind of test from the summoners? Many questions, and no answers- for awhile it would seem. She floated into her own quarter, opening the door with a powerful stroke of her etwahl. 

In harsh contrast to Lee Sin's room, Sona's was filled with trinkets and the like. Notes hung on the walls, and during her free time Sona enjoyed sitting in her room playing some of the song's summoner's were into. Wasting no time, the mute grabbed a simple backpack from her closet. She tossed in a couple plain dresses, and some food. The pack felt far too heavy on her back, so using her powerful magic, she had it follow behind her as if controlled by some ghastly strings. Spotting Lee Sin, the musician hovered near him, eyes trained on the path before them. A pluck of her strings, an ethereal purple energy roamed from under Sona. A song of Celerity, she could practically feel the energy surging in her hovering frame. "Shall we be off then?" 

[theshojinmonk-blog]

Lee Sin nodded slowly, listening to Sona. Two days travel was assuming that they would travel by foot, of course. Lee Sin noted that the direction was South, and prayed that other things wouldn't head that way as well. The saying of things heading down South was bad, and the monk hoped that the saying was not linked with a bad omen. However, as he was taught, all things were connected--there have never been any exceptions.

The monk acknowledged her last song before she left, and he gathered his own things in the room. The room was a lounge in the quieter part of the Institute of War, where Lee Sin could drink tea in peace. He gathered his now empty cup of tea, and made his way to his quarters. The League provided Champions with a pretty large quarters, in Lee Sin's opinion, and it was comfortable enough. 

The room itself was plain and wasn't decorated. The monk found no need to, for he couldn't see anyway. As he walked, his footsteps reverberated through the room, and he was able to hear his way around. He found the leather bag he was looking for and packed. A bag of tea leaves, a couple of spare robes, and a small pot and cups.

After a second thought, he bagged a large coil of rope, and a couple of cloth wraps. The wraps would be enough for first aid, if need be.

The Shojin Monk left his room then, robes swaying slightly and his bag on his back. He waited for Sona at the main hall of the Institute of War, before pondering a bit on the mission itself--the power source, and Kalamanda.

[theshojinmonk-blog]

See/Say No Evil (Lee Sin/Sona)

The blind monk smiled lightly at the melody that followed, and he felt as if he had led the other to the answer. "Precisely.", he spoke. "You yourself had the answer--I only to show you the way."

Lee Sin felt the Maven of Strings recognize the message from the Summoners as well, and he felt her lift her hand to him, in an unspoken agreement. It was not an offer, for they both found a friend to confide in. Lee Sin--and Sona as well, he suspected--sensed that they could work well together, as comrades with handicaps.

However, he did not take her hand, for Lee Sin was not one of that sort of manner. He brushed her hand in a light touch, before bringing his own back to his tea, He drank the shallow remainder, to talk to Sona. "Shall we depart then? I expect they'll need us."

[theshojinmonk-blog]

((Going to go for now, I'll be back at night.))

[theshojinmonk-blog]

"I look forward to seeing you setting yourself ablaze once more."

The Shojin monk took a calm breath, before answering the assassin of Noxus. "I believe Ionia will act faster if there comes a second time.", he addressed Talon's comment, "For all of us, I hope there isn't one."

[theshojinmonk-blog]

Sona smiles towards Lee Sin, the gesture being unseen of course. "You and I are one in the same." Rings through the air in reply to Sona's fingers commanding the instrument before her.

Lee Sin felt the warm greeting--the smile--and heard the following song, a song of friendliness and kinship. The blind monk did not see as everyone else, but things for what they truly were. He heard Sona's voice through her song, and returned a greeting. "Not only in disabilities, but the light one sees when lacking something."

The message from the Summoners ringed through Lee Sin's mind. He wished to go to Kalamanda to help, and perhaps--perhaps he found himself a partner.

[theshojinmonk-blog]

"Hey there, kung-fu master! What's up?"

The blind monk took a sip of his tea, before turning to the sound of Vi's voice. "Tea, and serenity. Maybe it would please you to sit and settle down every now and then.", he welcomed showy detective, "It has renewing wonders."

[theshojinmonk-blog]

Tea (Opening Post)

Blindness did not mean he did not see. The blind monk carefully tapped the table where he sat, before picking up the hot kettle and pouring himself a cup of tea. He placed the brass kettle back on the table without burning himself, and cradled the cup of tea within his hands, taking a drink.

There was something special about tea. It was the epitome of balance, for it not only woke one's body up, but soothed their soul. It was unlike the health potions used in the Institute of War. It did a different type of healing, and this type was the sort that the Shojin monks taught Lee Sin. Internal healing, which he sought after that one fatal incident.

The blind monk took another sip of his brew, unseeing, and silent. He breathed a sigh of relief, before emptying the cup, and pouring himself another cup of tea. And so he would sit here, until he was needed.