I returned three days later as requested by the Master and his Apprentice to pick up the Hak'len they'd promised to make for the anniversary of my brother's death.
The items required by the Master while not unusual turned out to be rather troublesome in acquiring. I had myself running through back end pipes through the Empires to get in contact with the one person I knew to have everything I needed.
While she was upset at being woken up at what said was an 'ungodly hour' in the morning, upon giving her my request she gave them to me without question and the best wishes she could garner at the time.
An ancient type of paper used in ancient history, supposedly before we even came here. A special type of brush, made from hairs as fine as the best down, and a small block of Ink used with ritually melted snow.
I wasn't sure of the purpose of the items the Master had for them, however it warranted putting my face in Empire and in front of their corresponding police detachments.
Like the last time I was out of breath by the time I'd finished hiking to their small cottage at the summit. The Master was sitting at the table with a second place prepared. His apprentice wasn't outside this time; I figured he was inside packaging the Hak'len.
"Please sit down Master Oritsu. It is good to see you've returned as promised. We have prepared the four portions of Hak'len. My apprentice is finishing the safe packaging of it now," The Master said pouring tea into the cup in front of me as I sat down.
"I thank you again Master for this honourable charity you bestow upon myself and my remaining family," I said bowing in my place, before sipping gingerly at the steaming tea. Its warmth spreading throughout my body, warding off the slight chill of the day.
Nodding the Master sipped his tea before continuing, "If you have brought the items I've asked for then the honour is shared Master Oritsu."
Putting the cup down, I carefully pulled out the items placed in a protective wrapping. I placed them next to the Master so he could see them for himself. A minute passed before he leaned down to pick them up and unwrap them, placing them on the table carefully. He then leaned across to a small bowl filled with water and mixed it carefully with the Ink using the Brush.
I watched intently, as I had never seen the Master perform this rite, which I didn't know of that's what it was at the time. With surprising dexterity, he unrolled the paper and painted out several flowing lines of characters that I couldn't recognize. Finishing he laid the Brush down carefully and closed the box containing the Ink.
He then carefully scattered a blackish dirt or sand over it and then blew it off and rolled the paper before handing it to me.
"This will allow you to proceed within the State to visit the place of your brother without penalty from authorities. This is something I've only ever done two times before as Master of Tea and know it shall not happen again for you Master Oritsu," the Master had sad quietly, his blind eyes gazing intently into my face.
The shock of what he had just done left me dumbfounded as I floundered for the appropriate words of thanks. Luckily the Apprentice walked out of the cottage carefully carrying a cloth wrapped package in his arms. Bowing he handed it to me before sitting at his place and pouring a cup of tea.
I looked at the Master and bowed as low as I could before quietly thanking the man with every ounce of my being. I then stowed the packed Hak'len in my pack and left the cottage and the summit.
It was ironic I found later on, that I never had to use that scroll of paper and its strange writing to get through State space to the place where my brother was buried. However I later had it framed and keep it locked in a vault safe that only I have access to.
Every year since then I open the vault and look at it and bow to the memory of the Master and bow again in acknowledgment of the new Master of Tea before leaving to visit my brother's resting place with my parents.
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