They have just started their walk when Damon breaks the silence.

  What's it like as an air monk? Monks live secluded, dedicated to their studies and practices right, do they have any women there?

  No it's like you said, my temple is men only. But there's female only temples near us. And there's shared festivals and such so we do interact, just not on a daily basis. There's also lots of regular villages not too far from my temple.

  Oh I see, not as bad as I thought then. Are you going to get married to one of the female monks?

  Considering our current mission I don't think I'll ever get married if it all goes well.

  Oh of course, my bad, I forgot.

  It's alright. Usually however monks don't get married, but those who do have to leave the temple complex and they can't return. The same goes for the women, but they're not monks, they're priestesses.

  I see. As you would expect then, quite logical.

  Any of you been married? You Damon? Or you Xenia? Amalsius asks the two.

  I don't want to get married yet. Seems boring. Besides, I have no interest in a man controlling me.

  Just find a weakling then, so you can be in control, Amal says, speaking with his mouth full as he's chomping down on some biscuits.

  I'll probably do that eventually, she says, annoyed by the prospect of marriage.

  I almost got married once, Felicity says.

  But the rat cheated on me. So we called it off.

  That sounds interesting, tell us more, Amal says as forces another biscuit under his mask.

  Well I met this guy when I was 14 at a banquet when I was still in training. He was handsome and charming, and the oldest son of a noble family so my parents approved of us seeing each other. He'd come see me on the weekends when I had free time. He'd bring me gifts, my favourite sweets or jewelry. Felicity seems happy as she recalls her memories.

  Then what happened? Xenia asks.

  We got engaged after two years, we were going to get married when I finished my training. But I found out he cheated. Throughout the week he'd see other girls. Not even just one, multiple even. Felicity says, clearly angered.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Men can't be trusted, my mother was right.

  You're not going to condemn all men because of one bad guy are you? You're young, it's too early for you to be this bitter isn't it, Zephyr says.

  I've seen it happen many times, I just didn't think it would happen to me, she replies, still upset.

  Don't female assassins usually sleep with their targets before they kill them? Wouldn't that be difficult in a marriage, Damon inquires.

  No. Usually they are killed before that happens. Besides I'm not mainly an assassin, they send me to steal things.

  Wow. That's horrible. So you lure a guy with a false premise and then you kill him in cold blood. Just awful. Damon looks visually distraught.

  Yes Damon. That's how it happens. It could even happen to you one day, Felicity says, teasing him.

  What about you Amal, you ever been married? She asks him.

  I got close one time, he says.

  What happened?

  I don't want to talk about it.

  Come on, I shared my story, it's only fair you do the same.

  Alright then, I was intending to ask a girl to marry me but I got sent to prison I never got the chance. She didn't know I was in prison so we lost contact.

  Prison? Why were you imprisoned? Damon asks him.

  Amalsius sighs.

  They suspected me of poisoning the water supply of certain districts and charging the citizens to be cured. They wanted to have me executed, but the king pardoned me, and they sent me to the army instead where I was forced to work as a saboteur. I had to travel to distant places and poison the farms and streams to weaken their armies and population.

  That's the same work I do, Xenia says.

  That's quite horrible, Amalsius, doing such a thing to innocent people. And you didn't even get punished.

  Is that why you hide your face? Subconsciously you're ashamed of yourself so must hide your face from the world? Felicity says, teasing him. The others remain silent yet unphased.

  No, I have no shame. Ehh... I mean, I am not ashamed of my past. I just like this mask, Amal says, nervously.

  It's not bad but it looks kind of out of place compared to all of us. You look so mysterious, Xenia says.

  I just look like a doctor, it's you who looks out of place Xenia.

  What's with your outfit anyway Xenia, out of all of us you look by far the most exotic.

  Yeah well I'm also from the furthest region out of all of you. All our warriors wear clothes similar to this.

  It's cute though, can you tell me how you got that skull on your head? Felicity asks.

  It's not supposed to be cute... It's supposed to be frightening. What about these bones and skull is cute to you? The skull is of a demon I defeated when I was only 12 years old. We cleaned it out and I wear it with honor to show my enemies what I'm capable of.

  You look cute because you're small, and the clothing accentuates your strongest features, Felicity says.

  I don't think she looks cute at all, more like a crazy insane person, it's very frightening, Amal says.

  What do you mean not cute at all? Are you saying I look bad?! She replies, somewhat annoyed.

  What, why are you getting upset over this, you said you didn't want to look cute.

  Yeah but not like that.