Months had passed since Justin's arrival. No person stepped forward to claim a little, lost blonde boy last seen in the deserts. For some unusual reason, Justin did not seem willing in helping his caregivers with locating his family. Whenever the topic was brought up, the boy was suddenly timid. It was eventually accepted that the boy had been abandoned, and now his caregivers were considering a more permanent home for the boy.

Justin sat upon an uncomfortable wooden chair in a priest's office, his hands folded perfectly upon his lap. He tried earnestly to keep his legs from swaying, as his feet didn't quite rest against the floor. The priest sat behind his desk, shuffling through the stacks of papers set out before him. The boy's attention had wandered, to the window in that room: a plain view of the trees outside. He looked over toward the framed paintings on the wall: some old people dressed with incredibly elaborate clothing.

"Justin," That mention of his name caught the boy's attention. His wandering eyes fixed upon the priest once again. "I have good news for you. There is a family willing to take you into their home. You can live with a mother and a father, and have some brothers and sisters," The priest smiled to him, sure the news would be received well.

"I'll… have to leave here?" He quietly asked, those eyes of his wide. The idea of being in such a family… he hated it. Especially if he wasn't the sole child. This living, in comfortable solitude… he'd become accustomed to it, and even enjoyed it. The expression upon the priest's face was now solemn, he was sure any young child would enjoy being showered by the attention of two parents and a family.

"But, Justin…" The priest was interrupted by that boy's sharp words woven with tears.

"I don't want to leave!" He was not going to listen to any reason besides his own. Before the priest could speak, Justin had climbed down from the chair and left the office. He ran off into a direction he didn't normally take off toward: his aimless running lead him to the dormitory where monks dwelled. His running had cooled to a brisk walk, but still quite upset about hearing such news. Most of the room doors were open, besides one dormitory. Justin peeked in as he walked by… only to stop, and have a second glance.

His second glance confirmed the person he thought he saw: Luke. Justin moved closer to the doorframe, spying on this monk once again. It seemed like that monk was practicing his fighting technique once more, throwing punches toward some visualized opponent.

"You're quite nosy, child." The monk mentioned once he realized there was a visitor. Justin stepped out from his hiding place, standing out before the doorframe.

"I was just checking," Justin replied, as he cleared a few tears in his throat with a shuddered sigh. "to see if it was really you." Luke stopped in the middle of his kata, looking back toward the tiny shadow which crossed his doorframe.

"Why, you're a mess, Justin." The monk had observed the trails of tears that streaked down the boy's cheeks. He held out his hands toward Justin, and caught him once the boy invited himself into the room and dashed into those awaiting arms. "What troubles you so?"

"He said, he told me… I was going to leave here!" Returning to that subject from beforehand caused Justin to become more hysterical. His fingers tightened upon that monk's cotton robe, the fibers were coarse to the touch. It seemed to irritate his eyes further as he pressed his face into the cloth.

"You'd rather not?" Luke's inquiry was answered by a vicious shaking of Justin's head. He frowned with that answer, leaning forward to pick Justin up beneath his armpits and lift him up off the ground. The monk hadn't strained the slightest with the boy's weight. He was set down upon the bed in that room, comforted by a few strokes of his hair. "You realize this is a place for the faithful. To live here, you must devote yourself to a life of servitude. I do not think you are at the age to make this decision."

Justin settled down into silence, watching Luke as he spoke. His eyes looked over toward a scar which had dug a deep grove into the skin of the monk's arm. There wasn't a word uttered concerning such a mark. Instead, he stared back up to Luke, not at all convinced with his words. A sigh followed while Luke pulled over a nearby chair, sitting in the seat backward as his arms folded over the backrest. He looked the youngster eye-to-eye, and spoke to him in a calm tone.

"I have a deal to make with you. I can take you into the brotherhood as my novice. I will determine if you are suited to such a lifestyle of devotion." Justin's eyes lit up at this suggestion. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Luke. "—But, there is a catch. If I deem you as unsuited, you must leave here. For good. Forever. I won't give into any tears of yours; you must realize this. What do you say to this?"

Justin eagerly nodded at this proposition, speaking up after swallowing the lump which had grown in his throat. "It's a deal!" He agreed, quite thrilled at such an opportunity. Luke lifted up his closed fist, holding out his fist to Justin with his knuckles out. For a moment, Justin stared toward that fist, confused by the gesture. Slowly, he copied the move, his fist closed tight while he held up his own hand. Luke gently bumped his fist against the smaller set of knuckles and smiled.

"You just leave the priest to me." Luke confirmed with Justin, retracting that hand to lean upon the backrest once again. Some time had passed since a weapon had joined their brotherhood: he was sure this youngster would be a valuable addition to their cause.