"No, no..." The monk fretted, "I don't want to push these events to the side, it would be easy to  forget, they aren't exactly displays of good behavior.. in the eyes of Herzland saints, if that offends less." He smoothed out his robe over himself, leaving Ardnt completely and assuming some self control. "But I'd like to pay them mind in preparation for the coming days when I learn better how to treat you, or teach you... In the meantime, no one should be on their knees at least, wouldn't you agree?" An anxious smile made it's way across his face, hoping his own semi-bitter reminiscing would come across as something more appropriate. Jokes were easy to make, even if they didn't come off as sincere.<br/><br/>Luitwin knew he'd have no trouble urging the man to walk again, with as high as tensions were between them. "We'll keep doing circles, if anything we'd be lucky if you passed out. Tonight  may be my last hours bound by my vows to the abbot and staving off sleep is of little concern to me." It was necessary anyway, another monk finding Ardnt walking on his own might cause a fuss, even if it wasn't likely that many wandered this time of night.<br/><br/>"Your wound really is a worry though, maybe not to you, but I'd very much enjoy seeing such an impromptu and underprepared job come out without a mark. But that's just the nature of a surgeon's medium. The cutter's wood at least stays put. You can never be sure with a person." Luitwin drowned his nerves in idle chatter and little ramblings. "With a steel stomach like yours, I feel you'd take quite well to an honest procedure, far unlike those you found on the battlefield. But I feel you wouldn't argue if I said those hands were unfit for guiding a scalpel. Would end in a lot of frustration and severed carotid, you agree?" He lost count of the rounds he made around the inner cloister's tree, branches clipped short so that they didn't beat around the roof or walls. Though each time he found it a more comforting sight than Ardnt's gaze, this little oasis in their abbey didn't challenge him, instead offering familiarity throughout the few decades he'd stayed here.<br/><br/>The lights that lined the halls sputtered, having meant to be snuffed out for a night's rest long ago. When Ardnt was ready, or at least when he caved and let himself be escorted back, the monk went quiet. All he parted with was a detached stare as he searched his own thoughts and let the gerettet in on a personal thought, standing at the foot of the cot. "I ask that you don't be so married to what life has made of you... God's laws taught me control over myself above all else, as he teaches all his followers control over the human body. My past sins may not be as great as yours by any means, and time has otherwise been cruel to you... But I wouldn't place you above God, Ardnt. Wonders can be made with a strong will." He pulled the edges of his robe around himself tightly, eyes cast down with a furrow of his brow, but he eventually forced himself to walk back to his room and leave the man in whatever peace he had left.<br/><br/>--<br/><br/>Of all the monks helping the patients in the early hours of morning, Luitwin wasn't among them. He woke up in a sweat a little before dawn with his face stuffed away in a stiff pillow, linens hiked up around his belly and legs like shaking willows. It was a long night with little sleep, most of it spent writhing, then tossing and turning. If it weren't for all the loathing he'd have thought he were a boy again, touching himself and pouring all that frustration and confusing into his own hands. Luitwin didn't even have the willpower to leave his room and wash, maybe splash some water on his face in the process to cool down and think straight. He chose to wallow in it along with the self-pity, waking up feeling filthy in numerous ways.<br/><br/>A long bath made him feel presentable where he wasn't comfortable, and he was content with at least looking like he had it all together before meeting the Abbot. Their talk was brief, as they had become the past few years as the father reached his late years.<br/><br/>"It's historic?" The monk inquired, lifting a brow at the name and committing it to memory: Kirche Rotvogel. "An old name for an old chapel. It's priest is eager to travel inland and trusts that your experience makes you a fitting substitute, with my recommendation." Luitwin nodded along to the abbot's words, still getting used to the prospect of leaving this place. But he parted having been given heavy suggestions that he should take up the priest on his offer and visit. It meant that his gerettet would be alone for most the day, or at least watched by stranger monks who were more concerned with keeping him in their peripheral than letting him do any work. Luitwin at least had the mind to ask the father to relieve brother Siegmar from his duties long enough to give his gerettet something to do, bring in the week's worth of surplus and refill casks of water for the balneary. Anything to keep him from getting aggressive with the other monks, let alone the neighboring patients.<br/><br/>--<br/><br/>Luitwin only returned in the evening hours, most of his day spent surveying the rural church, woodlands bordering it's field and roads like cobblestone crooks. It was old, and small for a chapel, but to a monk it was a mansion. Even the deacon's quarters were like a royal's compared to the cramped, stone box he called home. The chancel was modest and lined with seats strapped with rust colored felt, little chairs more plush than his bedding for sure. A second building meant for patients, guests and gerettets alike meant his own was welcome too, and perhaps that distance would have Luitwin resting easier at night.<br/><br/>There was little to think about as he stepped out before the abbey again. Not a word of complaint, even if it was just due to his narrow frame of reference. The monk would be rid of that title and his vows before he would depart, but for now he thought it best to track down Brother Siegmar, and Ardnt by extension. It wasn't difficult when he looked during the hour in which patients were cleaned up in preparation for supper.<br/><br/>"Thank you Brother. You've been a great help again." Luitwin thanked him in a rush, honest and so relieved he didn't even consider that it was obvious he was worried something would've been wrong in the first place until he took over for Ardnt and the two had a short walk back. He had his gerettet's top robe in arms again, Siegmar also having assumed the man would actually wear it, though Ardnt seemed rather set in wearing as little as permitted.<br/><br/>"You were in good hands I hope? This abbey may have been home for me, but that little cot seems like poison for Alrian blood..." Things had been troublesome ever since they arrived, making their short days on that ship seem pleasant by comparison. Ardnt having fought from inside that cell must've been an omen of sorts. "I was at the church, I doubt you wish to leave for your sentences, but if you're willing I find it a much more suitable place for your rehabilitation. A room of your own and few hands make for plenty of chores." In the patient room, their few guests were having fresh bandages applied and medicine administered. Dim sunlight poured in and it all sort of amazed Luitwin with how fast time traveled when he wasn't cooped up in the monastery day in and day out.<br/><br/>He left so that Ardnt could eat in as much privacy as the setting allowed, enjoying his own dinner and thinking of the changes in diet that came with promotion. Surely more variety than fish and lentils, though a plain tongue and a small stomach like his wouldn't appreciate pork so much as Ardnt may. When excused, the monk gave a small greeting and warning before sitting himself on the empty cot aside the man. "Have you a clear head today? Better than last night, I mean... Surely that's at least an easy task. Your wound too, it runs deep enough that you should tell me if there's any internal pain. The sutures have endured a lot of stress though only God knows what ailments can't be seen at the surface. If you have an ache it's still worth it to tell me. A soldier of Alriah doesn't need anything to kill the pain, does he?"