hey hey, here's another chapter!

When Ray awoke, he saw Wu waiting by the large rocks beside the shop. Quietly, he got up from his bed and searched for any clothing that was not already on his body. He found and wrapped up several rice cakes. Folding the extra clothing, he piled the items together and decided to bring more. He grabbed a knife and another larger knife. You never could have too many knives.

Using a spare cloth as a bag, Ray tied a knot to hold his belongings with just one hand. He stuffed the sack of money in the basket of food, carrying that as well. He kissed the tips of his fingers, feeling the jagged wood of the door frame. He would miss this place, no matter how long he was away.

"Are you ready to leave?" Wu asked the moment Ray approached him. Ray nodded quietly. "Then let us leave. I hope you have prepared yourself for a long walk."

"Um, I suppose so. Although, as we pass by, may I say my goodbyes to the elder and pay my respects?" Ray asked, shifting his hold on the basket. Even though he ate as much as he could the previous night, the basket felt just as heavy as when he first received it. Perhaps he was weaker than he initially believed.

"Of course," Wu said. Both men waved at the farmers already awake to begin their day's work. Wu waited as the elder whispered her blessings upon the young man and as Ray prayed over a stone with carvings. Nodding, Ray told him he was ready.

"You weren't ly-lying when you… when you said it was a long ways away," Ray panted. Wu stood where he was, patiently waiting for the other to recover. They had left early in the morning, and it was almost sunset. The only break they took was for lunch, which had been hours ago. "Do you do this to… to other people? Make them walk long distances with y-you?"

"Actually, yes. But they're usually not as tired as you, most likely because you live the farthest away from my monastery. And they are rarely malnourished like you are. Tell me when you're ready," Wu said, sitting on a rock to join Ray, who laid on his back on the ground.

"So there are other people like me? Something 'burning' or whatever inside them?" Catching his breath, Ray sat up and crossed his legs.

"No, that is just you. Everyone that I had discovered has something different. One could move mountains or solely the land itself. Another could flood the world, and yet another could freeze it. Everyone is different, but that is what is so beautiful as they train. We'll see that in you as well." Wu stood up and began to walk again. Ray scrambled to his feet.

"Wait, training? What do you mean by that? And where even is this monastery that you claim as yours?" Although it was rather childish, Ray crossed his arms and stomped his foot.

"To answer your first question, you will soon see." Wu had a twinkle in his eyes as he continued to speak. "And look up." Ray did as he was told. He gasped.

High above them was a building that was surely the monastery. Wu climbed up the stone steps that had been obscured from Ray's sight. He groaned. This was training in and of itself!

Ray barely reached the top. His legs were burning and his arms ached from carrying his belongings and food. It was hard to catch his breath. It was so pathetic, really. Wu, on the other hand, was completely alright. He wasn't even breathing any deeper than before. He held out his arms and took the basket and bag from the smaller man. He opened the large, heavy double doors. Ray's jaw fell open once more.

He didn't know what he expected to see, but it surely was not an entire training course that was currently being used by several people of different ages and skill. (The skill part was quite obvious; one little girl with thick, blonde hair struggled with the punching bag, while a man with a thick helmet dodged swinging swords left and right.)

"Hello, my dear friends. I have returned and with someone else. Where is my brother?" Wu asked the closest person, who was the little girl. Her large blue eyes smiled with her mouth.

"He's inside, preparing the tea!" she announced, pointing in the direction of an open sliding door. Wu jerked his head in that direction, gesturing for Ray to follow him.

"Thank you, Aurelia. Keep training with the others. Ask for help when you need it," Wu advised. The young girl nodded and immediately latched onto the arms of an older, extremely muscular man. Ray could hear her laughter and her rapid-fire talking. Wu slid the door shut. "Garmadon, where are you, brother?"

"I am here, just finished with the tea. Would you like some?" a man with brown hair, most likely Garmadon, asked. Ray couldn't help but notice his eyes: they were an ethereal golden color. He hadn't noticed it before, but Wu's eyes were the same. They even seemed to change color in the shifting light.

"Yes, please. Serve some for Ray as well. He needs his energy," Wu said, kneeling down at a low table while Garmadon poured the hot drink in four ceramic cups. "Ray, this is my brother Garmadon. Garmadon, this is Ray."

"It is nice to meet you," Garmadon greeted, bowing slightly as he knelt down. Ray bowed as well and blew on the surface of his tea.

"All the same to you." He pointed at the fourth cup. "Is someone going to join us?" Garmadon nodded.

"Wu had told me he found someone- obviously, that someone is you- and had told me to find somebody here closest to your age. She will tell you almost everything you need to know. She is currently busy, but she will join us eventually," the brunet explained.

"While we wait, tell us about yourself, Ray," Wu suggested.

"Uh, alright." Ray told them the name of his village (Ignacia) and his age (freshly turned nineteen). He told them of his dream to be a blacksmith, which did go on for a few minutes to be completely truthful.

Just as he was about to mention his family, the door slid open and a very young woman ran into the room. She had long, dark hair and prominent cheekbones. Her olive skin was fair and even, which made Ray feel only a bit self-conscious of his sunburnt face. (He had forgotten to wear his hat several days ago when he went to work in the fields, and his skin was still healing.) The most spectacular thing about her were her eyes. They sparkled and shimmered, yet became pools of darkness all the same. In all, she was a very beautiful woman. Ray was sure everyone knew that, especially herself.

She knelt down to join the three men and bowed, clapping her hands together in a way of prayer.

"Sorry I'm late. I was intent on trying to reverse the flow of the stream. Hello, I'm Maya," the woman greeted, finally taking notice of the small man. He nodded in her direction.

"I'm Ray. It's nice to meet you," he said.

"You too."

"Maya, I suggest you take a break from training for two reasons," Wu spoke up after a long sip of his tea. "One, you are pushing yourself too hard and trying to do it all right on the first try. A Master of Water should not be like that. Go with the flow."

"Yes, yes, 'go with the flow.' Heard that one hundreds of times before," Maya muttered, drinking her cup of tea, definitely cooled by then.

"And two, you are going to show Ray around the monastery and inform him of all he needs to know. Answer whatever questions he may have," Garmadon continued for his brother. Maya nodded curtly and smiled at Ray.

"I might as well get to know you now. How old are you?" she started off.

"I just turned nineteen a week ago," he answered.

"I will as well in three weeks," Maya said, taking a dainty sip from her cup. Ray chuckled. He hoped all would go well.

I just realized how short the next chapter is going to so sorry in advance oof