The sea breeze brushed gently past as Ruger sprawled on the Old Recliner, drifting into a light doze.
Another drawback of the Sleeping Meditation Method was a cycle of not wanting to move after eating his fill. His body slept while his mind worked, and when he woke, he inevitably needed to eat a great deal. That was a compliment to Big Silly Hum and Serious Mouse: his hungry body was thoroughly replenished, and his mind found satisfaction in the delicious food. Then, inevitably, he began to zone out. He felt as though his mind was completely blank, a state he knew well.
That, too, was a pleasure. He adjusted his reclining posture slightly, then sprawled out again.
He really was a little Kobold with no ambition.
The breeze brushed through his fur, carrying away his fatigue.
Work and rest in balance.
The key gains from this latest venture flashed through Ruger's mind, and he rolled over.
Some things were different from before. For instance, he now knew that his teacher was neither beside him nor gone, but playing Rabbit Chess with Tuzel in the Inn. After confirming that he had completely lost his title as the best player, Tuzel had blamed his lack of skill on the Old Wizard whom Rabbit Mouth often mentioned. In Tuzel's words, playing the same person year after year had held back the growth of a Rabbit Chess master. Interestingly, his teacher actually agreed that Tuzel's skill had improved.
None of that was really the point. Rather, seeing his teacher like this gave him an inexplicable sense of peace.
His teacher's strange appearance before had made things feel somewhat unnatural, even though they had gotten along well. Now, everything felt just right.
Every choice is the best choice.
As the sea breeze blew past,