Chapter Text
I recently received a letter. It was completely unexpected; I don’t even remember anything distinct about the day I received it. The only thing I can recall was Angela knocking on my door and handing me a neatly folded envelope.
“This came for you, Genji! It’s rare to see letters these days, isn’t it?”
It was quite endearing to see her so excited over something so simple. It was true, no one really uses letters these days. I wondered who might’ve gone through the effort to write and send a handwritten letter to me. Opening it was all it took to answer such a question, and I found myself pleasantly surprised.
“Dear Genji, my former student.
I hope life as an agent of Overwatch is treating you well. I don’t mean to disturb your duties, but I humbly request your presence at the Shambali monastery. There is something I mean to discuss with you personally. The monastery offers a better environment for my intentions, otherwise I would have come to you. If you have the time to meet me once again, I look forward to continuing our lessons.
Sincerely - Zenyatta.”
It was written in elegant, flowy handwriting. It was so much like him. Even though my helmet doesn’t allow for my emotions to show on my face, Angela could somehow tell I was surprised. She smiled softly.
“Who is it from?”
I meet her gaze, clutching the letter tightly in my hand as if I fear I might somehow lose it.
“It’s from Zenyatta,” I answer with uncertainty in my voice. I was certain this letter had come from Zenyatta, but I was simply confused.
Confused and even slightly worried as to what might be the reason he would call me back after all this time… what lesson was he talking about? Was there something I had been missing all these years he’d never told me? Was I supposed to discover it on my own, or was he sick of waiting for me to come to him?
Whatever it may be, I already knew what my answer was. I was going to see him. For Zenyatta, I didn’t need an explanation; I trust in his will completely. Whatever he asks of me, I will do it. I owe him so much; I owe him my life.
“Zenyatta? That is a pleasant surprise. The hand-written letter makes some sense now.” She chuckles lightly.
“Indeed. He’s asking me to come see him at the monastery. Do you care if I go?”
She tilts her head and raises an eyebrow; “Go to him, Genji, I know what he means to you. I just hope he isn’t in any trouble.”
I shake my head. No, the letter didn’t give any indication he was in any trouble. Something was certainly off, however… I couldn’t pinpoint what. Was it for clarity that he hadn’t gone into detail in his letter? Or was there something so important he just had to inform me in person?
“I am sure my master is fine. Besides, I’ve told him many times that if he ever needed anything, he should never hesitate to ask Overwatch for assistance.”
“Good. That applies to you, too. If anything happens, you call us for backup, yes? No trying to be flashy in front of your master.”
Angela jokes, giving me a teasing pat on my shoulder. I turn my head away in embarrassment. She knows all too well that I’d try to impress Zenyatta if given the opportunity, and most likely do something incredibly stupid because of it.
“I… I won’t.” I answer sheepishly.
After that, I quickly inform some of the other members that I will be departing shortly for Nepal. I don’t go into too much detail and leave it to Angela to inform anyone else I couldn’t get to. While his note wasn’t urgent, I still want to get there as fast as possible. The lack of explanation had me second-guessing. This talk of what “intentions” Zenyatta had only made me less assured. I hold so much respect for Zenyatta, I trust him with every fibre of my being. Whatever new lesson he is entrusting to me, I want to make sure I don’t leave him waiting. His patience may be endless, but my curiosity is already burning bright.
I am lucky that Sojourn understands my need to leave, even if it means trouble for her when putting together teams for certain missions. She doesn’t pry as to why I feel the need to depart so soon if the letter had no sense of urgency, she simply organised for a carrier ship to be prepared and told me to be back soon. I thanked her profusely and told her I’d make it up to her when I returned. Hopefully, with some new skills that would benefit our goals. She just laughed and told me to relax.
I didn’t pack much besides clothing, my homemade armour polish and some food for the trip. Zenyatta’s training typically involves limiting material possessions, so there was no point in bringing any of my gaming devices.
The flight to Nepal goes by quickly. I decided to spend most of that time meditating, stretching and refreshing my fighting stances. There isn’t any certainty that the new training Zenyatta has in store for me is combat-related, but it never hurts to revisit old material.
Flying over Nepal fills me with a deep sense of nostalgia. I see the mountain ranges ahead, where the monastery lies at its very peak. I look forward to seeing everyone again, not just Zenyatta, but the other monks were also quite kind to me.
By the time I’m there, I’m feeling confident and calm. I’ve eased my worries about Zenyatta’s vague letter; he was never the type to fully elaborate on his words. Especially the more philosophical ones. He always loved to watch me try to figure out the meaning of his proverbs. Challenging for me, entertainment for him. If he wishes to explain himself, then I will be ready to listen.
I haven’t made the pilgrimage to the monastery in some time, but each step awakens a new memory within me. Not all of them are pleasant, of course, but as I climb higher, I start to remember what this place has done for me- what Zenyatta has done for me. I’m not sure how I could ever repay him. I owe most of who I am now to two people, Angela and Zenyatta. With Angela, I feel comfortable, we are close, and a great team too. With Zenyatta, I can’t help but always be in awe of him. I am unsure if I will ever truly reach his level. He quite literally transcends limits; there is always a part of me that will feel intimidated by him.
I climb and climb until I finally reach the monastery. I am greeted with familiar smells and sounds. Incense burning, candles flickering and wind-chimes swaying. I feel a sense of great calm wash over me. This place tends to have that effect. I enter the main area, searching for any of the other monks. I see the shrine to Mondatta, with offerings, blooming mountain flowers in pots and ceremonial candles. I take a moment to pay my respects before I walk further into the monastery.
The next room is where I see him, kneeling, as if he was waiting for me all this time- dormant.
“Master.”
His head tilts upwards, his gaze breaking from the candle in front of him. His face cannot express emotion, much like mine, but I can tell he is smiling.
“Genji, it is good to see you again.”
He presses a single finger into the wick of the candle, snuffing it before he stands. I bow to him, as low as I can manage without toppling forward. When I glance upward, he is returning my bow. I let out a sigh of relief. Everything feels so familiar, everything feels so right.
“It is good to see you too.”
He reaches his hand out and gestures for me to follow him. I obey without question and join him at his side as we walk further into the monastery. “You called me here, master. Whatever you need, I am ready.”
I can’t hide my eagerness or my excitement; a part of me hopes that Zenyatta senses it and relents. As much as I enjoy his mysteries, I wish he’d tell me outright what my purpose is here.
“In due time, Genji. First, why don’t you tell me how your journey has been since you first departed from here?” Zenyatta asks calmly, immediately deflecting into a different topic. I chuckle internally. I should have known this would not be easy. Nonetheless, it will be nice to do some catching-up with my master.
We spend some relaxing quality time together. Walking, meditating silently, observing the distant mountains and the lights of the towns and cities below. I tell him about my time with Overwatch, the new allies we’ve gained and the progress we have all made together. I hint at the idea of him joining, but he is quick to catch on. He turns me down politely, a common occurrence. A part of me wishes I could fight alongside my master, but I know he is almost above such a thing. He's never been the kind to stick to one place, to one team. But I'll never stop asking- just in case.
When I arrived, it was quite late in the night, so he suggested that I get some rest and we would begin training in the morning. My excitement to reunite with my master must have blinded me to how exhausted I truly was, and as soon as he brought my attention to it, I almost felt my body become heavier. I agreed, and he showed me where I would be staying. The quarters he had prepared for me were quite lovely; he’d even gone out of his way to get a green quilt. I chuckled and thanked him profusely. He wished me a good night’s rest and then departed.
I feared that a whirlwind of curious thoughts would keep me awake, but the exhaustion prevailed, and I was able to drift off to sleep quite quickly.
In the morning, I was met with a burst of energy. What was my master planning to teach me? His lessons shaped a lot of my values today. What would he tell me next? Will I return to Overwatch as an even stronger warrior, even more at peace with myself?
I enter the main area where Zenyatta is already waiting for me, poised with his hands behind his back.
“Good morning, master, what will we be-”
He shushes me.
“First… breakfast. I apologise if I have made any mistakes. I have not had to cook for a guest in some time.”
He gestures for me to follow him to the monastery’s dining area, which is very underused considering its inhabitants do not require food. Despite its underuse, the area is still very well-kept. I see what my master has made for me- fluffy pancakes. I can’t help but feel a slight sense of amusement. Perhaps this life-changing lesson I am waiting for will be contained in these pancakes… or perhaps I need to calm down, and take things slow- just as Zenyatta would have taught me.
Eating isn’t usually the most pleasant experience for me, especially in front of others. However, I feel no shame or embarrassment in eating in front of Zenyatta. I carefully remove my face-plates, which separate with a quiet “hiss” of pressure. My jaw is almost entirely prosthetic, but it is comfortable enough to the point I can chew and eat without much difficulty.
Zenyatta lowers his gaze out of respect, or perhaps he is praying- sometimes I cannot tell. The pancakes are quite nice. I can't help but wonder if I'm supposed to be looking for something, a hint at what I will be learning. I'm trying to remain calm, but a part of me is always buzzing with a sort of excitement when I am around Zenyatta.
I finish my food, and Zenyatta instructs me to clean up after myself- simple enough. Cleaning doesn't hurt. But it doesn't stop at just dishes. Before I can ask him more questions about our agenda, he hands me a broom.
“What is this for, master…?” I ask with a hint of confusion.
“Your lesson for today… a tidy monastery leads to a clear mind.”
Well, I certainly haven't heard that one before. I decided not to question it and get to work. I sweep throughout the monastery, working my way through each area. I am then informed I will be sweeping in everyone's living quarters, too. I still don't question Zenyatta; his methods can be strange sometimes, but there is always a reason behind his actions.
…right?
I clean everyone's quarters, including my own, sweeping up dirt and fallen petals and leaves from various plants. I do a good job, of course. Afterwards, I'm feeling quite proud of myself, and my mind certainly felt clearer.
Once I finished, the broom was swapped out for… a watering can?
“The plants around the monastery are due to be watered… the presence of thriving nature can aid one's vitality.”
That sounds reasonable. So I obey again. I spend the rest of the day going around the monastery… watering plants. I greet any other monks I see, who seem either confused or amused by my given task. But I know better than to question Zenyatta, he wouldn't call me here for chores… would he?
Well, it seems that he would.
Multiple days passed following a similar routine, and each day that passed, I found myself growing more and more frustrated. My master had me climbing statues to polish every area. Shovelling snow off the thousand steps to the monastery. Every possible chore he could think of was given to me.
I'd just finished going around cleaning candle wax and replacing ceremonial candles with fresh ones when I finally snapped. Why was my master making me do this? Had he called me back here just to run errands? There was a point where I worried he may be in trouble… but he just wanted someone to water plants for him?
Before every chore, he'll say a short line about how cleaning refreshes your soul, or something along those lines- then I'm off to do yet another task. I know my master loves his mysteries, and I'm very sure this is amusing for him, but it gets to a point where I must question his methods.
Zenyatta is capable of ‘joking around’, but I admit I won't be laughing if he tells me he just wanted someone to tidy the monastery for him. I am missing out on opportunities to carry out my duties for Overwatch to water plants. I could be helping people, making a difference. I hoped that was what I came here to achieve.
I make my way to his usual meditation area above a shallow mountain pond. I find him there, floating and meditating.
“Master… I need to speak with you.”
I call out. There was a time when I would not dare to interrupt my master's meditation, but this calls for it. He turns slowly to face me, his stance relaxing.
“What is it you wish to speak about, Genji?”
I hesitate for a moment. Am I thinking too hard about this? Am I rushing ahead? Am I really about to accuse my master of using me to do his monastery chores…?
“Master, I am confused about my purpose here. You called me here, stating you had lessons for me, but all I have done is… clean. If there is a lesson in these tasks I am not seeing, please… I need your guidance. It hurts me to question your teachings.”
I slowly sink to my knees, almost on autopilot. I am begging.
Zenyatta's legs unfold, and he floats down to the ground. He walks to me slowly before dropping to my level on one knee.
“Genji, please forgive me. I have not been completely honest with you… Come with me. I owe you an explanation.”
I twitch. I've never heard him sound so… uncertain. He always speaks quite monotonously, so I can pick up the slightest inflections in his voice. I rise to stand on two feet without hesitation. Zenyatta is peering away, as if he can't even face me. Something is… wrong. My frustration quickly melts away and is replaced by concern and curiosity. When Zenyatta starts to walk away, I make sure to follow close behind.
He wordlessly leads me to the monastery's quarters and then to my own room. I wonder what might be in my room that is so important.
“Shut the door, please. I would like for us to have this conversation privately.”