Castro had come off age and gotten used to the environment. A lot of Monk Pat’s sojourners did refer to him as a mysterious child. There were some uncommon trait that he did limn that it had restricted the in flow of people into the temple. Sir Herbert had been one of the secret father of the child paying monthly visit to the temple and also consult the monk on some personal issues. Sir Herbert’s life hadn’t remained the same since he knew the monk and a lot of personal problem had been solvable.

Monk Pat was done having his morning prayer and he ambled down the steps up to his temple. Castro walked up to him. It was his birthday and there was a long time promise the monk made to him. It was a day he had been looking forward to. The first thing standing up from his bed was to go to the temple because he knew that where the monk would be. There were a lot of things he had heard from people who had come around the forest and was eager to know more.

Most of his questions had been turned down by Monk Pat because he didn’t want him to grow with that kinda mindset of grief. When the monk turned and saw him, he smiled, his mustache didn’t make it obvious.

“Castro. How are you?” Monk Pat asked.  

“I am fine, father. Do you enjoy your night?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Today is my eighteenth birthday. You remember what’s you’ve promised to tell me about my origin and some mysterious dream I do have.”

The monk walked him to the nearby where a wooden chair was made. His hand was clutched around his neck as they walked to the chair, once they sat down, he removed his hand. Castro looked into his eyes. He had really looked weary and jaded. He had lived long enough. Monk Pat already knew the kinda death that he was going to die.

“Ok, let me tell you a story…” the monk began from when the prophecy about his coming to earth was prophesy.

They were seated for more than three hours while Monk Pat was telling him the story of his birth to how his mother died and how the death of his father was also destined. Sir Herbert wasn’t also exempted with the role he played in saving the life of Castro but he was powerless in saving her mother, Belleza.

It was an emotional moment for Castro. He didn’t even care about the nefarious fate the he was birthed with, what pained him most was the death of his father and mother. He believed it was all orchestrated by the government. Also learning the Humphrey’s family had turned the presidential position to family inheritance, it pained him to his bone marrow. Everything that he wanted to do was in his psyche.

“Castro. That’s all. I believe you’ve come off age to hold this tight in your heart and I believe you’ve gotten the emotional intelligence to held this in your heart and control your pains.”

“Thank you, father. Thank you!” He said.

While they hugged tightly, Sir Herbert was already at the entrance of the temple with his beautiful daughter. He had really grown old and had been contemplating on resigning from the position.

When Castro lifted his head and saw him, he looked at monk Pat and tweaked his head back to Sir Herbert and smiled. Sir Herbert had no idea of their smile. He understood Monk Pat will to keep most of the events from the boy and he wasn’t aware that it had been disclosed to him. It was Monk Pat that even demanded for his presence because it was Castro’s birthday. Sir Herbert had forgotten. He was always invited yearly when it was his birthday.

Monk Pat when on his toe to meet him as he walked gently to meet him. Castro follow his suit and they walked up to Sir Herbert.

“Welcome, Sir Herbert.”

“Thank you. This is one of my daughters, Olivia. I bring her here because of her insistence to visit the monk whom I do visit at the countryside,” Sir Herbert said.

“Wow. That’s great. She looks very much like you and beautiful.”

“Thank you. Castro, how are you?”

“I am fine, Sir Herbert. Thank you very much for saving my life. I will repay you for what you did for me. I am very grateful.”

Sir Herbert was left awestricken and he gazed at the monk with his mouth wide opened. He never knew that it had been disclose to him. Olivia the daughter of Sir Herbert was also confused because she never had the idea of what happened. Everything that happened had been a long time secret between Sir Herbert and monk Pat.

Monk had always insisted that Castro was found in the forest dropped by the gods when people wanted to question his origin. He was already lost looking at the monk and there was an absolute silence. The monk knew and thought of breaking the silence.

“Today is Castro’s birthday. That’s why I invited you here and I am glad you came with one of your daughters.”

Sir Herbert began to nod his head, “Huh! I forgot again.”

Sir Herbert wasn’t a great reminder of great occasions including his family’s. It was only a few times that he remember Castro’s birthday before he turned 18.

“Castro. I am glad your guardian have told you everything you need to know. I will implore you to always be for the people irrespective of the situation you might find yourself. Always be for the people and fight for the people.”

Castro nodded. Monk Pat led the way to his personal shed where he did receive most of his visitors. Monk Pat had been living an average life since he became monk and had turned down diverse request to have a more quality building in the environment. Monk Pat brought out the natural palm wine that he was always given by the palm wine tappers who did pass through his temple before going to their farm. Sir Herbert loved it so much that he did request to take some home.