Prologue
I feel so detached. Maybe it is just a brief irritated feeling when I want something but I don’t know how to get it. Life is like an open sewer with so many pipes that flows within intersecting and crisscrossing, and we probably just have to choose whenever we come across the turn. My name is Maerk, and I am the last race of the Wings. Which choice did I choose? The impossible one. Only, for those majority that decided to assume it impossible.
Chapter 1
*cicadas chirping*
Laying on my bed, in my 3x3 meter room, I slowly open my eyes. Today is Monday, and as always, I begin my usual chant.
“Let loose the Hell”
Still in my hugging bolster posture, I whisper the chants for 3 times. Oh what a wonderful day it is. Rushing to the bathroom, I get my needs taken care of quickly. I am not a morning person, but really, I think I want to be, if I have the motivation. Unfortunately, I don’t.
I live in a modest apartment for someone with low income family like mine can afford. It is so modest with only a room, and a bathroom. For of course I think I’m lucky enough to have my own bathroom, unlike the unfortunate ones that is forced to use public bathroom for the entire residence in the lower floor.
But apparently, the luck is not just that, my room window also face in the direction of the city. That add to my preference, because I like to look at the view, it is so relaxing God dammit! Ok, wow, I need to relax.
As you probably know, I live alone, I think I don’t need to emphasize it. But, at my age, 20 years old, it is pleasant to have a life outside of parent’s observation. Furthermore, in the country like my own, it’s easy to live alone, because I can omit the struggle people in 4 seasons country has. Either I will have rain, or very hot weather. So, not so challenging.
Hmm, looking outside my window, I look at the direction where the chirp comes from while chewing my leftover sandwich from last night. It is not usual to hear cicadas chirping with the location of my apartment in the 3rd floor. I peer to the foliage of the tree at the left side, I think the sound come from the upper part roughly there. Whatever, let the insects do their businesses.
Having my clothes neatly done, I check my face for the last time. So handsome. So cool. Okay, done. I remember to also take my phone and bag with me, and hurrying to go outside. Right now is 9 a.m., so I jog to reach my campus. The road is crowded as usual, with the town being known as The City of Students, it’s not surprising. The real name of my town is Yogya, being part of Fort Province, within the flag of Twinrest Country.
Within 5 minutes, my campus is within sight now. Being the most prestigious campus in the country, it serves as the model of education for the whole nation. But, for being a developing country, of course the facility is not so advance. Even I include this campus as backwater institution if compared with institution in most developed country.
Entering the campus gate, I am greeted with big statue of a frame cube. The edges is just straight cylinder, connecting the 8 vertex that are shaped as the real cube, although the tiny ones. This represents the existing department, and the definite intent of showing that by working together, we can stay strong and make solid foundation.
Bypassing the Big Cube, I continue my jog toward my department. By the time I reach and sit in the lecture room, the clock is exactly at 9.30 a.m. and the lecturer comes through the door and signaling the students to keep quiet.
“Okay students, start the warm up.” said Mister Yano as he puts the books on the front table.
After that, everyone in class close their eyes and have their backs straight up. This is a warm up that lets people to enter their most focused mind. But, for me, this is useless, because my mind is always focused and alert. So, I just imitate others to not allow others suspect me. What can I do anyway? It is mandatory.
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Once 10 minutes has passed, the teacher says to end the warm up and asks for our attention. This class is about to learn how to sharpen our mind and use that to tap and widen our ability in judgment and decision making. As we know, human brain usage of 10% is bullshit, it’s just a perpetuated myth. Our brain actually always use all of its parts and there is no dormant parts of the brain. Hence, this class teaches us to depend on our most amazing asset, the brain, and use it to push humanity toward sustainable life. But, little did they know that with the advance of humanity, the ‘other’ is forced to reveal themselves.
After the class, the students scattered and a student is heading toward Mr.Yano. Before I leave, I make sure to greet my friends here, there are not many, because this class is optional. As I just slowly walk toward the exit door while overhearing the student and Mr.Yano conversation.
“Sir, is there no other way? I think my friend still wants to stay.” a female student said.
“I’m sorry but the decision has been made, the upper management said it clearly. It’s for your friend’s good.” replied the teacher.
“I know that, but I just don’t want to leave her alone!”
“Who said she will be alone? You should be proud to know someone that will enter ‘that’ place. It’s the most astonishing place to be. And of course she will meet others like her.”
As I exited the class, I’ve stumbled upon someone. I quickly regained my composure and apologize to him.
“It’s okay.” said the man and leave right away.
What happened to me? I should not have this kind of situation due to my constitution. Maybe I just feel so tired of this kind of routinity. Whatever.
Class ended at 12.30 p.m. and right know is the time to really have some fun. I walk straight to my favorite place, the practice hall. Inside, there are many kind of martial art training, but I train in the martial art that focuses on striking with legs and dodging agilely. As for my hand? I train it to hold sword. So, whenever I have duel practice with the other in the practice hall, I am the one who take challenges the most. Because whatever the type martial art you train with, everyone can challenge other as long as the challenged approve. Due my unique preference of martial art, and the winning streak that I keep holding, I’m known as the loose devil. It’s not like I beat them so savagely, but because I have fun whenever I’m challenged. Because of that, I unconsciously have wicked grin that everyone said can make other to feel uneasy. “It is not my fault you know”, I keep telling people that. But it’s okay because the challenger keep coming, even from practitioner outside of my training hall, I’m still happy.
“Hi Ark! Someone comes again today to challenge you! Bahaha! People nowadays just keep getting bored to have easy life!”
“Ah so embarrassing. Just keep it down old man!”
“Bahaha, come come, change your clothes quick, and finish that victim of yours!”
I go to changing room and pick my usual training uniform. The uniform consists of pants and clothes, like the usual P.E. uniform, with each of them dominant of black with few white stripes going vertically. Actually it’s a modified uniform, because I chose to have the fabric from something that has high durability and elasticity, so it will not be ripped easily and can stretch wonderfully according to my movements. Lastly, I pick my practice sword from the corner of the storage room.
The one who called me earlier is called Jiddan, he really is an old man, easily noticed by his white hair and beard. Actually, he is my senior here. When I first enlist myself to learn martial art here, he already practices here for 5 years. The fact that in his age, he decided to learn martial art is because of his playful thinking, assuming that he still is in his prime years. But his pale brown and big body is enough to intimidate someone, not like mine, because I fall under the mesomorph body type with slightly light tone of pale brown skin.
Standing in the arena, I glance at the surrounding practitioner to look for my opponent. There he is. I think so because the one I am looking at is grinning widely. I gestured to come at the arena I’m standing on.
“So, you are Maerk Yarvi? Greetings, my name is Igna Batara. Pleased to meet you.”
“Hello, you can call me Ark. Pleased to meet you too. Let’s start.”
Igna nods.
I ready my stance. Because of my preference, my stance is unique. It is the result of my tinkering with the basic stance of Tav and sword wielding. Tav is the leg focused martial art that I took. While I successfully incorporate both basic, I also create the one and only stance of my style. I stand with my left leg slight bend forward and my right leg at the back. My right hand is holding the practice sword and in parallel with my right leg, means I ‘m not holding it up.
I inspect the opponent this time. Igna also have his stance ready, with his hands making claw like shape and holding them in front of his chest. His legs also bending forward more than me. Although I’m shorter than him, with his style, I become taller now.
And so, my duel begins.