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After he got home with Kaizo, Izumo and Hakuren began their time to check the CCTV with Mr. Satriya--before they can inform this to the Principal--Mrs. Kimberly. They went to the monitor room, searching for the camera that surrounded the area. "There, I remembered that the one who stole the camera will be erased of the files but it could be at the file server. It might gave us a clue, here's the footage--we have to search fast," Mr. Satriya muttered, pressing the buttons to start playing the file--the other teachers were the witnesses that it happened today, which gave them a goosebumps and nausea and so anger.
It was few hours before the basketball game, few minutes later... someone peeked inside the camera room--inside of the janitor's closet that contains a cleaning items as well as some emergency tools. Someone peeked inside, looking around as he went through the drawers and started searching. "Damn it... even if I'm the owner of the cleaning closet, I never expected myself entering here... so fucking full of dust..." he grumbled in his native language. Mr. Satriya narrowed his eyes, the voice of a grown adult male was not his--which meant he was already inside the school.
After a few minutes...
The same figure entered the classroom, the black coat with the hood hiding half of his face as he started observing the area carefully--carrying a flash drive with him. After some time has passed... the same figure headed to the locker room and that's where the recorded video ended. "Damn it, not enough evidence..." he groaned in his thought, wondering how can he find where the locker room video file in stored. Until, they saw the figure went to the locker room, hoping he was prepared to see him in despair.
Time flies until it showed the figure escaped through the locker room and leaving him inside, sneaking through the crowd. "Sh-Shit... is this real?! Oh God, Rudy!!" Mr. Satriya screamed in shock after he just played the scenes, including Izumo and Hakuren feeling almost traumatized as well; although Mr. Satriya is a Math teacher from MYP and Hakuren can tolerate him, but sometimes... he has his own characteristics and not acting so polite from time to time. Hakuren growled, she had enough of him--now this man needs to be arrested. "If he has backups... I swear, I have backups to support Riyanda during this case."
Mr. Satriya indeed born in wealthy family, although his father is the retired police general, he was somehow lazy to become an officer or government or so and he chose to be a teacher and it happened after he graduated from high school. "Let's gather some evidence before bringing this to the police, I have the money so they will work--seriously fuck the police, thank God we're smarter than these dumbass," Izumo scoffed, Hakuren felt relieved of her friend--wait, did he know about this?
Wait, nevermind.
Few days later, Ren was sitting on the chair in front of the the judges while the trial began. He refuse to see Mr. Rudy who was with the lawyer, while Ren had to testify without a witness that can be bring to the court. "Mr. Riyanda Tjahyana, do you have anything you have seen the defendant do things that makes you feel the trauma affected your personal life?" the prosecutor asked, and Ren nodded a bit as he hold the microphone.
"Yes..."
Ren answered tiredly since the , keeping his face hidden through a mask and hoodie over his head--he didn't want anyone to recognize him as he wasn't ready to get bullied again, he feels embarrassed of what the whole people will think of him... but the only relief feeling is he knew he and his friends can protect his identity. Mr. Satriya and his friends never told anyone's name, Mrs. Chandra also told the police that the identity has to remain secret but she need to make sure what has been happening must be addressed correctly as possible.
"Well, Mr. Tjahyana... can you tell what your response on the act or crime he did to you?"
The main judge spoke, as he waited patiently for his answer. Ren inhaled deeply, before he exhaled heavily... he spoke with a low voice: "It was... humiliating, degrading, and dehumanized. I know... that he was taking an advantage of a situation to prove a point that he was dominating me, I didn't knew what would going to happened until I saw him staring at me as my teacher did his job... he was... my former teacher in my previous school when I got bullied for my heritage... I didn't expect he would be..."
Ren trailed off, his eyes still avoiding the sight of the predator who hid under that innocent act. He doesn't give the defendant the satisfaction, he has his friends that have his backs, and they supported him for this whole nonsense trial. Ren was quite pissed because he hates these kind of law, he thought that these people... thought themselves as God and judges would be unfair and just making this trial into pure comedy... but what makes him not take it as heart as well is how they find a lead from another suspect! It happened too much that Mr. Rudy had been exposed as a predator for countless times already, but still--no one believes him and refuse to deny the fact; now it will be revealed because he's NOT the only one who suffered here.
The judge stared at him with a slight frown, knowing how damaged or badly damaged Ren's mental state were, the trauma that still lingering, and he knew... he has to stop this. It makes him wondered why this girl testified to the male criminal, he even have heard this and seen how much the victim wanted justice--the only thing he hope to happens now, to be exact. Another victim testified, it was... a Chinese-Indonesian girl in a sport jersey, almost similar as his--he even saw her hair bun was similar and wears a cap, though it was probably coincidence and she wears a mask too. "Mr. Tjahyana, we all know that this is a difficult case. Can you describe more details of his actions or things that you observed from Mr. Rudy?"
Ren clenched his fist tightly, before he slowly nodded his head. "He... would make his words seductive, followed by threats to my friends' safety... and I had no choice to follow him... his words may be the sweetest, he always do the dirty hands... which I'll never explain. He even admitted that... this ISN'T the first time he has been doing and I understand that some male teacher can have a dirty side than ever," he was sobbing quietly, so ashamed that every detail will haunt him until the last drop. "It was... terrifying... more worse, he has wife and kid too but I don't understand what that man felt, even though her husband doesn't admit that he would cheat, but she would know of his act... after the incident, he erased everything off the internet... I'm sorry, Mrs. Winata... I'm sorry too, Mrs. Winata's daughter..."
His child didn't deserve this, even if he didn't knew of his teacher's true colors at all. Ren looked down, his eyes shadowed by his own bangs... he felt so ashamed. He hoped these allegations will make the rapist in jail, but at the same time... he just wanted him to be gone and away from his life. "Alright, Mr. Tjahyana. You have done well, you may leave the bench now," the judge ordered softly, Ren sat back on the seat with his four friends were supporting him so hard and feeling quite worried to see him like that.
Ren keep his head down the whole trial, realizing that it would be on the news and net--at least he doesn't need to interact with the media, this is how he became unknown to the public once again. It has been four weeks, he can't even count how many days he has been resting from all of this mess--until the final verdict was declared:
"Death sentence, one week probation."
He couldn't believe what he has been hearing... he has heard stories of people who killed many of his former schoolmate but no one ever been considered as death penalty for a sexual assault case--yes, Mr. Rudy has been accused of four case and his own rape towards Ren was the most recent case. Ren could sense Mr. Rudy's anger, he was ready to be sent to jail for good. "I hope you get railed by those prisoners," Kaizo muttered at the former teacher, since the prisoners hated sex predators and won't hesitate to beat them up. "(How dare you insult me in front of the court)!" he snarled in his native tongue.
"Enough! Put him in the prison now, he's done here."
The judge announced, which the crowd applauded by the result as Ren finally stand up and take off the hood from his head and taking off his mask--revealing his broken but soft olive-blue eyes; relieved to finally let it out and felt... saved. The media did showed his face by accident, but it was meant to be so that the truth of the incident to be known and saved by countless people. He was panting softly, watching the rapist and former teacher getting dragged to the police car--after a few moments, it closed up and disappears into the distance. 'No way! It's Riyanda Tjahyana?!' the people were surprised to see Ren was here, he still feel scared but at the same time--feels a relief that he shouldn't hide anymore.
Ren finally broke down in tears, a sense of relief and he has gone through and suffer all of these bullshit. Hakuren and Izumo hugged him tightly, Kaizo also joining in and stood behind him; whispering comforting words to the poor Student Council President... he didn't deserve this. After all, his position as Student Council President (plus with his friends) will end next year when they reached the 12th grade. During the election of Student Council's next year president, they just have to vote someone trustworthy and also strong person as possible to be a new president. Mrs. Kimberly must have a new council, and that's the whole of next year.
Two months later...
Ren watched the calendar for a moment, his olive-blue eyes stared blankly at the wall before sighed. 'It has been two months of chaos that I've been through... including our lives... but we will face this together...' he thought, looking at the windowsill as he prepared the incense burner kit that he bought from Malaysia. 'Looks like my days as part of Student Council will over, it's about time to let my other friends join if they wished. Hopefully I can clear the air before I graduate and get ahead...'
He glanced at the Student Council office for a moment, as much he didn't enjoy his year as a President--he still cherished the memories of the events they held. 'Well, the student body will choose the President for the next year and we will gather again and this will have to be done again, but hopefully I can rest for now and continue my life. Either I want to return and stay here or... no, I have no choice to choose my own life before becoming whatever or... a God...' he thought, watching the trail of smoke floating upwards and emitted the aroma. He wondered when he will face those voices in his head... 'Even Nanda is missing, is she alright or still investigating something... if she's a spirit, I might consider if there are more spirits in this world than Gods?'
***
Ren wondered where the fuck is Nanda, what is the God of Wealth doing and why did she went missing this time? He keep searching for her in the temple of hers. His precious Floating Restaurant of the Gods, then Sakura because the God of Birth definitely know where is she--but she didn't know and made Ren even more because it's been a while since he met her. Urgh, not only she always make fun of him and tried to annoy him as she knows his (deep) self-awareness. "Shit... why is she going everywhere again? She keeps leaving without even getting permission! Sakura will be angry at her..." Ren cursed in slight annoyance, but mostly worry and anger.
He can't control or order Nanda to go and visit him because this god was being a pain in the ass, calling her late-husband's name 'Kuran' and that already ticked him off (even though he accepted the fact that he was Kuran's reincarnation, doesn't mean she had to mention HIM specifically... every time...) every time they talked because he has a love-hate relationship with her, sometimes they get along pretty well as the carefree mischievous god and sometimes they insult each other. At first, their bickering results... horrible results to each other if it escalated--especially this woman's seductive talk.
Ren was in the Student Council's office, he know that it's still a long time for his duty as President to end--so does Kaizo, Izumo and Hakuren because their positions in the union also ended during the end of their grade after several years of leadership until they hand over the responsibility to the ones that have worthy leadership and moral behaviors. "Finally, our assignments are over... now what event should we held as our last activity here?" Ren asked to his friends, which it has been three years--five years had passed, and they now need to finish their Student Council duty because of their senior status which is the 'minimum requirement' to hold their authority.
Izumo whistled, counting the cash before auditing them as he finished checking the receipts (money, fundings, etc). "Around four months before this shitty day ends," he replied before glancing at Kaizo carrying some folders and Hakuren yawned as she finished with her documents of the new members, transferring students and responsibilities such as disciplinary stuff and votings for the next election. "Our job has done for some while," she mumbled. But she is right, today the two of them were so free to take time off and taking a rest by relaxing a bit. Ren walked out of the room, decided to roam around campus for a bit because he was bored--fucking tired being stuck in meetings for two hours just for talking about future activities of school clubs and what nots.
"So, about the Hakusan Kobe guy... how was it?"
Kaizo asked, seeing Hakuren opening the laptop on the desk. "Konami said she and her friends will handle it on their own, so we won't have to join their group and went into the danger unintentionally. However, I found out some information about Nanda--the God of Wealth who happens to be participating back in the warring states of deities in the history," Hakuren explained, sighing softly as she continued to make the reports for any students' violations of rules and regulations that made by their Headmistress to prepare the documents before handing over their post to their successors or next student in line to take them--only a few remain. "Then... the one who start the war is Liu Bei, the God of War."
Yeah... Nanda did told him about it, but not specific about the war itself--she needed time to heal her wounds and broken heart. His name is also mentioned, but only slightly (this made him happy that he's still at Nanda's mind). "Ren, are you okay? Do you need to talk with us? Is this because of the whole thing about identity switch, or... are you concerned of Nanda?" Hakuren asked, putting a cup of tea in front of him. Ren blinked, before he scoffed. "Huh? What makes you think this is my fault? For sure I was worried about her," he replied, not paying too much attention with his inner self and the past trauma he suffered--thanks to being an adult twice (what, the second time of his life is starting already?).
Ren frowned, he already trained himself to become stronger so he will be able to defend himself--save for that incident that made him down and his arrhythmia almost relapsed by that shit. He hissed a little when his heart aching of pain, it's his mind--that's why. He don't want to believe and had to see them again, the moment he found himself; half-naked, helpless and had to survive from the deadly situation again. "Did you meet your past life Kuran?" Izumo asked.
"Yeah... that God of Pledge? I did, but in my dream--he said Nanda can't see him no matter how many times he tried to make apparitions to her," Ren replied, his friend nodded--but it was somewhat upsetting to hear that Kuran tried so many ways to get a sight from her. Ren was holding the heirloom on his hand, solving the burr puzzle like usual before leaving it (losing his interest again) on the desk. He wondered how the heirloom was passed to him and not the next bloodline, wasn't it supposed to be the eldest son gets the heirloom as a symbol of leader and authority in the family?
They heard a crash outside the school, making the students screamed and panicked as they immediately goes out from the office and saw the black and red meteorite. Ren's eyes widened that he sensed the dark energy from there, making him felt something within him awakened. His heart beat rapidly as his bones were burning, his skin felt like it was melting and being burned from the inside out. He felt his insides being twisted, torn apart and crushed by his own power source. "Dammit..." Ren cursed, clenching his fists as he tried to suppress the pain that was tearing up his body--his ruby-gold eyes were shimmering in red color--he felt inhumane and wrathful--as if Kuran's power possessing him as his black pupils sharpened and turned more menacing and vicious. He was lost in his thoughts before he realized that he hasn't mentioned about this incident to Sakura yet... but he needs to control this power of his. Even if it means controlling his emotions and physical condition.
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Ren felt like he was going to awaken as something more than humane, he clenched his chest that he was heaving for air--his eyes were shimmering red as he let out a deep chuckle. The voice doesn't seems to be Ren's voice when it came out from his mouth, it sounded like a monster's growl--he reached his hands in front of him and grabbed the meteorite, dragging it closer to him. He closed his eyes, concentrating and focusing his mind on the meteorite as he tries to calm down his raging power.
And it awakened him.
The meteorite has been destroyed into pieces with his polearm, revealing the God of Pledge's weapon beneath as it was a powerful weapon; a polearm with embroidery of lightning patterns on it that glows in red light; it is a replica of one of ancient Chinese weapon called 'Cosmic's Wrath' that was lost in time, this is the legendary weapon of a god that will awaken another god, the Exuvia--the Phantom Beast. Combined with Ren's polearm, Kuran's soul is sealed in this weapon; it will be unleashed when the Exuvia is summoned--now that Ren has awakened his past life as Kuran, it possessed his vessel and awakened again as it was needed.
Kuran's presence is dangerous and deadly; he will be able to manipulate the laws of physics and reality itself, causing disasters and calamities to happen. He was not only the strongest deity, but also the most influential and powerful one in the pantheon, as well as the most cunning one. He is very manipulative and crafty, he knows every single secret of his enemies and uses this knowledge to gain advantage over his opponents. However, he can be kind and gentle when he chooses to be, making him more popular amongst the people. He is also the creator of the Five Gods and the leader of the Gods.
Ren couldn't feel anything, his consciousness was taken over by his past life--due to the effect of the heirloom that made him weak, so he can't move his body, but Kuran can sense his surroundings. But he can hear his thoughts and feelings. As a God of Pledge, Kuran has three weapons. The Cosmic's Wrath--which has the ability to control the laws of physics and reality itself, summoning his Exuvia companion--a dragon known as Chiyou--and a pair of celestial staff that can destroy his enemies. "Ren!"
"Shit, this isn't him!"
Hakuren yelled, she didn't expect Kuran has possessed him after his powers awakened; her eyes were widened of his vicious aura emitting and released from the shadow beneath his feet. His eyes were glowing with sinister red color and his pupils are slit, before he saw the horde of Phantom Beasts has appeared from the portals above the skies. The meteorite was destroyed as they shielded the debris, while Sakura arrived and protecting the three of them. The God of Rebirth wasn't surprised, which she sighed with a pout. "Kuran, you're scaring the humans in this school!" she protested, he chuckled. "Those things need some disposing and I'm not going to let the weak mortal to take the fate of death, Sakura," he replied, taking a step forward.
Kuran shrieked in pain when Ren's soul within him holding him back from making an action and suddenly, a young woman appeared behind him; wrapped her arms and pressed her chest against his back. His smile turned soft before glanced at her, her arms wrapped around his neck as it revealed to be Nanda. "I missed you, my dear," the woman whispered. Kaizo had to summon his katana while Izumo also unleashing his tanegashima, before Hakuren unleashed the ice attack towards Nanda as she growled. "Not our friend, you bitch! Get off of Ren!"
Nanda clicked her tongue as she made an invisible barrier to save them from the flames before she punched Hakuren to the ground, laughing of irritation. "I can't believe you guys attacked me and fucking called me a bitch?!"
Kaizo sensed Nanda's rage, he doesn't know the consequences--or he feared the worst and still madly in love with the woman. He knew this one true, that once the deity goes angry, it's going to be war--FUCK, THIS SHIT IS NOT GOOD! "Nanda... truly betrayed Ren's trust," Sakura said with a frown, as she also summoned her talismans and throwing them away while she raised her hands. "Hakusan Kobe!" Sakura called, which she made Nanda widened her eyes before seeing Hakusan appeared and froze on their feet. Izumo was about to attack her as he charged to fire his tanegashima, the gun barely fired the bullet towards her.
Konami was surprised of what the fuck is happening here, before Kaizo yelled at her. "Konami! Shūhei, Heinrey, and Shiro will be your responsibility! Hakusan will come with you guys!"
"W-WHAT?!"
"Hakuren's fire won't be able to penetrate Nanda's magic, and we can't stand a chance against her! She's a war general, you know what the fuck is going on! We're losing control and can't win from this--Kuran's dangerous because he's Nanda's husband!"
Konami nodded, before she escorted her friends out from the school as the teachers shouted to leave the school grounds. "Riyanda Tjahyana, stop this!" Kaizo shouted Ren's real name, while Kuran laughed. "His name will always remain Riyanda, not as that goddamned asshole--" then something cut him before he glanced around his surroundings and searching for the source that attacking him, he snarled in slight annoyance when Kaizo was trying to protect them because a certain someone jumped into the scene to deflect his and Nanda's attacks. "You know how much Nanda just wanted to be with you, right?"
The tall young Indonesian fellow stated while he was present, playing with the tile on his fingers. He has a light ashen-blonde short hair with long bangs while styled in similar overgrown mullet, his eyes are shimmering light silver while being covered by his dark magenta spectacles with chains and he has alabaster complexion. He wears a black and dark turquoise formal shirt with black belt-like choker around the collars of his shirt, black vest, black straps and belt over his white pants that tucked into his knee-length black boots. He wears a furred black formal coat with white furs and green-yellow batik patterns underneath, with his sleeves rolled to his elbows and has brooches and badges on his chest pockets--along a fancy black hat with feathers and accessories on them.
"Sadana... Tanuwijaya, you!"
Sadana chuckled as he has present before their eyes, which he came here for a reason. Kuran tried to defeat him by using his polearm plunges, but the mysterious man swiftly avoiding and dodge every attacks he got with ease. "... And why are you here again, mortal? How did you know Riyanda?" Nanda asked.
"He is very special to you, right? This isn't about you anymore, Kuran... Riyanda Tjahyana may be a vessel--but he's not a puppet. Now, listen to this... you are messing with the wrong human when he never does anything. Time to tell the truth," Sadana explained. A piece of tile then conjured out from his fingers as he wrote his signature on the surface of the tile--it was the name of the man who made the title of a god. "You asked how did I know him? Simple, I gave him a piece of me--a piece of my title--when he left for a journey," the blonde replied, laughing when he realized a part of him was still present within him; seeing Kuran was going to harm anyone around him.
"Now, it's time to get you off from this kid."
***
The moment he woke up from his sleep--he was on the grassy ground of the hill in the dawn where the camp resided, Ren had a headache, he felt his entire body was sore and exhausted. He heard someone calling his name, he groaned tiredly and sat up--he turned his gaze to see his best friend Kaizo approaching him worriedly.
"Ren!"
Kaizo yelled, kneeling in front of him as he saw how terribly injured Ren was--his appearance went back to normal as Ren's hair color is dark brown with amber highlights like usual--his clothes consists of white shirt, black denim jacket and black cargo pants tucked into his black boots--his olive-blue eyes has a light glint on it and he has porcelain complexion like usual. "W-What happened...?" he asked, seeing Izumo and Hakuren arrived as well. Ren realized that Kuran didn't possess him anymore, no one can see him but Ren himself only--he hissed as he felt the wounds on his head and his entire body aches. "Where's everyone?" he asked, looking around him. "I don't feel anyone here...?"
"They were fine, we're not far from Surabaya city though," Kaizo replied, his eyes widened in shock as he stared at Ren. "Ren... are you okay? You were possessed and... you attacked the Phantom Beasts!" he said, which made Ren confused--it make sense because he couldn't recall what happened before he fell unconscious. He stood up slowly and shook his head, coughing a little--suddenly his arrhythmia was gone; how come? "Huh? What are you talking about?"
Kaizo facepalmed himself and said; "You scared us, dude!" Ren blinked once, looking at him with a weird expression on his face. "At least, you were alright when we found you. Did you seriously went crazy and attack the Phantom Beasts?! Sakura saved everyone thankfully with the guy named Sadana, so we're okay," Izumo yelled. Ren sighed in relief when his best friend gave him the update of the news, until he began to think about Nanda... why he can't sense her? Where is she? As if her presence no longer exist.
"It's good that everyone is fine..." he whispered to himself, before he looked at the sky and his expression turned grim. "Ugh..." he groaned in anguish as he looked at the skies, the sun is already rising and it was bright outside. "I'll be fine, you go take care of the others, okay?" Ren told him, Kaizo sighed as Hakuren added. "We're fine, okay? Just let me help you get your shit together."
Ren hissed in pain when he stand up from the ground, his concussion didn't fade away as he tried to calm himself--he sat down on the tree log nearby the camp as he realized that he didn't wear his glasses... and his eyesight becoming clearer than before--he could see clearly without his glasses. 'So, I'm no longer possessed by Kuran...' he thought with curiosity and his eyes widened in surprise. 'The heirloom has reduced its power after it was used, so it can only control me for a short period of time.'
Ren thought, his eyesight becoming clear that he doesn't need to squint nor put on his glasses anymore. He looked at the sky, still feeling exhausted and his headache was still there--he looked at the black rocks near the camp, his eyes stopped on one of them and he stared at it intently, he felt a weird sensation when he looked at the rock; it looks like he want to crush it but he hold it back for the sake of his strength and he asked. "Did... Nanda?"
"Nanda betrayed you, Ren."
Kaizo growled, his best friend started to freak out as he took a deep breath to calm himself. "You actually realize the shitstorm now?" he asked, seeing Ren's expression grimaced into shock and started to shake his head. "You really need to stay calm, Ren!" Izumo snapped, when he saw the anger and dismay visible in Ren's face. "Wh-What? No! That's not true!" he exclaimed loudly.
Kaizo was the witness of the incident, he remembered when he was trying to restrain Ren--he never expected what will happen next; Ren picked up his weapon, it glowed in amber colors while holding the meteorite--after the weapon manifested itself, Ren used the polearm on him--but he knew this isn't Ren; it was Kuran who possessed him. He closed his eyes when there was a Phantom Beast trying to kill him and Ren, before his eyes widened to see Nanda was...
'Nanda... how come...?' Ren thought, he could tell that Kuran's beloved wife really did this on purpose. After seven months, she was just using him--seems it was all just a trick from the beginning--and Kaizo will never allow his best friend will get hurt. It was all an act, her seductive and honeyed personality that made his heart fluttered--yet her action made him more furious that she betrayed his trust and now... Nanda was killed in front of him and the rest of his classmates--turns out one of the Phantom Beast killed her and Kuran.
Ren slowly broke into tears, which Kaizo quickly came to comfort him with concern. Sadana watched from the distance, seeing the heirloom still in Ren's hands--he approached them after he evacuated the students with Sakura's help. Hakuren consoled him as Kaizo held him tightly, standing up as they planned to leave. It had been a terrible day, and now... they had to move on from here. At least, their stuff are safe as they had to stay in Floating Restaurant of the Gods--their only residence for now. "My condolences, Riyanda."
Sadana spoke with a sad smile, holding his hat and putting the hat on his chest. It made the group turned to him, seeing him the one who saved Konami and the rest of their friends. "Huh? Have we met?" Ren asked, as he was confused to how Sadana able to know his name--otherwise, he has never met anyone who carries the same title as him. Before he was born, when he was living as a normal mortal in a secluded area, where mortals refused to communicate with Gods and Goddesses. And his old self had wished to live in peace, he was born into a simple life--never expected to be brought back to life by their own god and met another supernatural deity as himself. "Like me, we have the same title."
"You aren't a mortal, are you?"
Sadana chuckled at Ren's suspicion, before he explained. "Hm, people call me a demigod of tiles. But, I'm a Vidyadhara, I hold the Core of Deva within me--you and your friends here... are Vidyadharas too, and you gain a blessing from the Devas," he introduced himself before his gaze fixed on him, seeing how betrayed Ren was towards his own past life and Nanda who fucked up his life. "Also, I know you must be upset--but that's not all... your grandparents got killed by Kuran and Nanda," Sadana whispered, making Ren opened his eyes in horror, hearing the worst news he had received from him. 'Sh-Shit...' he muttered in disbelief, feeling his trembling hands--can't control the emotions as Kuran's power were going havoc.
Izumo clenched his fists, how dare Ren's past life betrayed him like that? Then, he heard Sadana continued. "Don't fret, I cut off your connections with Kuran so you won't be connected to his life force. Of course, you have always been connected because you were born in his vessel but you are not the same as him," Sadana said with a smirk, noticing a piece of tile on his fingers as he tossed it to Ren. He caught it with his hands as he realized something, his entire body was calm. "As long as that holds you back, you can stay yourself... because those two had been ultimately killed by their own sins."
Ren tried his best to stop himself from crying but he failed when he felt the tears running down his face--his emotions overwhelming him as his best friend comforted him, holding him tight in his arms. "I'm so happy, I'm finally free... I can be myself now," he murmured in relief, before giving Sadana his thanks. "Thank you."
The tiles from Sadana's pocket suddenly disappearing into his fingers as he turned around before glancing at them, he may be untrustworthy--but he managed to save his friends after the storm of rage had blown to each other. Ren sniffled, before he felt the three of his friends hugged him while Sakura followed as well as a friend, the four of them in a tight hug. Ren started to let his tears streaming down his face as his sobs, he tightened his embrace; he does feels relieved, he's no longer trapped and can be his true self.
In the Floating Restaurant of the Gods...
Ren couldn't sleep soundly since he got back from the Floating Restaurant of the Gods. He had a dreadful dream last night, causing him to wake up tired and exhausted. His dreams were filled with dark memories and nightmares, making him groggy throughout the day. Ren still unable to forget Nanda's memories because he missed her so much--how he can't abandon and erase the memories of her from his heart. He remembered how Kuran's wife was so worried sick every single day, thinking that he might not survive the next day. Ren tried to recall Nanda's words that he said before he died, when he was telling him about her wish to stay together with him, no matter how long they lived together. He still remember her fragrance and scent, even when he didn't call her--he still sense her presence as if she was watching him--but now she's no longer on his sight like he used to do.
But now, it was different. Whenever the Chinese-Indonesian think of her, he gradually broke into sobs and tears start flowing down his face. It hurts. He doesn't know if he was sobbing because of Nanda's betrayal or because he misses her. Now it hurts him even more, he ended up broke the mirror that reflected her face--he slammed it on the ground; broken into pieces with cracks everywhere. Every times he looked at the mirror, he felt the cold shiver up his spine and his skin burning. He doesn't want to feel this way anymore, every times he tried to open his wounds--he would lose control of himself. Ren feel overwhelmed by his feelings as he gripped his chest in tears, crying his heart out like how a person would cry when they couldn't endure the pain anymore. It is normal for a person to get sad, but it is also normal to cry or scream.
Ren wished he can move on and forget about Nanda , but the memories keeps coming back which deeply hurts him--he was scared to sleep and he even scared to dream of Nanda which made him unable to sleep. He kept tossing and turning on the bed, he eventually stopped for a moment--before he whispered quietly. "Why do you make me unable to forget about you, Nanda?" Ren whispered, sitting up on the bed and looking up at the ceiling. "What do you want from me? Why do you keep haunting me?"
He sighed heavily, staring at the ceiling for a while before he stood up and walked outside of his chamber.
Ren went to the balcony of the pavilion to look at the oceans in the nighttime with stars and the moon above, he still feel a bit drowsy and tired after having a cold shower earlier. He sat down on a chair and stared at the ocean with his eyes half open, listening to the sound of waves hitting the shoreline. He can't even forget when he caught Nanda was sleeping beside him when he wake up in the morning, without his knowledge and often told her to stop it. She was so cute when she was asleep--her eyes are closed and she looks innocent, looking at her sleeping face makes him miss her more. There were times when he woke up in the middle of the night and saw her sleeping beside him, her arms wrapped around him as if she always like that with her husband. However, at this rate--after Nanda's death--he can't even bring himself to sleep again.
And now? He ended up spat at anything related to her, such as mirrors and other things in the temple. Because when he looks at those mirror, all he can think of is how beautiful Nanda's smile and giggles--even her beautiful scent of her hair smell so nice--and her soft and gentle skin that was always cold. Ren can't even tolerate hearing her name without wanting to punch something. It hurt a lot and also very difficult to get over it when Ren knows that Nanda will be never come back, ever. He thought it would be great if the guilt came because then he can deal with the feeling, so he decided to forget everything and focus on the present. "It's okay, I'm fine," Ren muttered, trying to convince himself quietly.
"This is nothing, I'm just scared of dreaming about her again, that's all."
He's finally free from her, even though he still cherish some good memories instead of the bad ones.
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