Saying a Prayer

Eliwood wandered around the crowded black market in search of a place he could be alone. He wished to do his morning meditation but couldn't find a suitable spot. He needed quiet but he also wanted to find a spot in the sun. The Flame could be felt in one's soul much easier in direct sunlight. This crowdedness was the reason the young monk tended to avoid cities. The ever-present din of people chatting and salespeople calling for attention, meant he could barely hear himself think let alone meditate.

He walked and walked until he no longer could hear the noise, paying little attention to his actual surroundings. Eliwood ended up in an alleyway that was covered in trash. The ground was muddy and there were flies swarming the leftover bits of food. This would be perfect. Nobody would disturb him during his time here.

Eliwood found a busted hunk of wood that he could sit on and laid it down in the mud. He flipped his scarf over his shoulder so it wouldn't touch the ground when he sat and took up position on the piece of wood. The sun was just peeking through the tops of the buildings in the alley but it was plenty. The scattered rays tickled the monk's skin as he closed his eyes and began focusing.

The heat of the sun quickly melted away his thoughts and left his mind clear. He unconsciously took deep breaths, filling and emptying his lungs completely each time. Every breath grew hotter and hotter until Eliwood felt that he was breathing fire itself. When he first became a monk this process was incredibly painful but over time it became therapeutic for him. The overflow of chakra that is poured into the lungs makes each breath more difficult to take than the last, but to a master, the act of slowly increasing intensity became second nature and allowed for deep meditation.

He could feel the flames in his lungs and was fully engrossed in his meditation that he did not hear the footsteps approaching him.

"Umm, excuse me son." The sudden voice was indeed able to pull the monk from his meditation. "Could I ask what you're doing back here?" The voice asked.

When he looked up Eliwood saw that it was an old man wearing an apron stained in grease. The man must have owned the little restaurant Eliwood was currently seated behind. He didn't seem scared by the monk, only intrigued. With his morning prayers said he no longer needed to be there.

"I am truly sorry sir. I was just doing my morning meditation. I needed a quiet place to sit you see." He began to explain himself when the man put his hand up to quiet the flustered monk.

"No need to get all hot and bothered, I was just wonderin why you were sittin in the mud. Ain't no law against alley sittin, but hows about you come and sit inside. Hot meal in it to keep an old man company." The man extended a hand for Eliwood to stand up and he opened the back door of the restaurant.

Inside was small and dingy but the aroma of food was overpowering. Eliwood's mouth began to water just upon entering the door. The old man gave him a large helping of eggs with roast duck. An odd combination but delicious all the same. In exchange for the food he regaled the man with stories from his time as a monk and a wanderer and even about his one time stint as a fisherman. Eliwood had met many people along his travels and told his story many times, but this time his audience seemed fully engrossed. As if this old man had had no one to talk to for a long while.

The young monk was happy to brighten this kind man's day, and he was thankful for the delicious food. He promised the man he would come by again if he was ever in the area and with that, the two parted ways.

(EXIT)
(WC 679)
Claiming 3 stamina

Claiming up from C to B in Wind Style: Air Pistol (1100 + 600 = 1700)

I think that jutsu only requires 1,600 words, but that doesn't matter to much

Approved.