See this was the thing. After such a long pursuit, she finally loved him.
Most people in life are blessed, so blessed. Love comes to them in the form of a face and figure, and many times in a life. But it didn’t really happen like that for Asa at all. Of course there are some who whispered that the monks ought not to be looking for love in the first place, but he was of a faction of monks that did not hold that serving God and loving women might be mutually exclusive.
He found her. He had lived beyond thirty years. “I am older than Christ, and I liveth still, without love,” and then he found her. But her heart did not find him till seven years later. She accepted his attentions and knew his feelings, but she was not a one to set aside her many diversions and suitors. She was a busy one, and this tormented Asa. But he waited.
“I will show her constant love,” he said, and made himself her first and last resort, depending on her situation. He supplied her every need and want, and catered to her whims. She spent the morning accepting his gifts, and the night lavishing those gifts on others who appealed to her more.
Still he waited.
And as day follows night and the earth rolls over, her heart softened and her mind cleared and she saw there was only one who had stood by her always. She saw also that she had spent year upon year lavishing torment upon his soul, for as day follows dark, so too, her neglect followed her smiles, leaving him destitute in the night.
Now everything was different and she handed him love. He was filled with joy, and walked home by the long way, past the pastures and the far side of the river, mind aloft and thanking God.
He came to house and it was on fire. He could hear screams from inside. He stood for a moment watching, not so much the house in flames, but rather his own life.
He ran to the home and went inside. The flames lept upon him with a ferocious glee till his skin sizzled. He dashed around the lower floor, and could smell himself with each breath. Nothing. He ran upstairs.
Did you know Asa had powers too? Of course, all the monks did. Asa could absorb pain. Often enough, it was not even conscious. He did not feel physical pain, and therefore, was most careful in everything he did, lest he accidentally hurt himself without feeling the injury.
Upstairs he found a woman and child, but they were now dead. He was too late. He picked them up and carried them through the fire, and they burnt as one with every step. Once outside he set them down by the river that ran nearby. He leaned over to drink some water and saw his own reflection. He was black as coal, a tower of ash, and no features to speak of.
He thought of his love, and how she might see him; she would speak fondly of him for his courage, but reject him for his appearance. He looked again at his reflection in the water, and tipped over and in. He was never seen again.
