Chapter 32

"Masukis"

“I challenge you,” were the words that started it all.

Among the halls of Acquisition, there’s one reserved for a very specific use. At the center of that hall is a large elevated area where two people stand, both of them threatening the other as best as a glare can do. Surrounding that circle are scribes from Acquisition, even those from the other classes, brimming the hall to witness the big fight.

Yes, the “big fight”.

On the challenged side, there’s Ranlan, the number one scribe from Jade, and number one in the entire Acquisition. On the other, there’s Zethran, the big bad challenger.

Although Karyat stressed it as a friendly spar, I doubt anyone would actually think of it like that. A fight between the top scribes— naturally anyone, especially these competitively hardcore monks, would think the results will determine the ranks. If Ranlan lose, they might actually end up switching numbers.

Don’t you dare lose, Ran!

It seems as though she heard me because she suddenly shoots me a glare, as if to shut me up.

Why? Everyone else is cheering too.

By the way, it might seem like a kids’ bout on the surface, but may I remind you that everyone here are vimic experts training to be warriors, with punches that can bring down brick walls and stone pillars, as was witnessed just this morning. One punch is all it takes for someone to kill someone, especially if those ‘someones’ are the top scribes of Jade.

So, to prevent anyone dying from a bout gone too far, Rules of the Spar were made. If I remember correctly, those rules are;

One, keep your “barriers” up at all times. This includes the audience outside the fight circle, because who knows?

Two, the fight is over when one side is thrown out the ring or has their barrier broken. Alternatively, one can resign from the spar.

Three, try not to kill anyone.

Those are the rules of the spar... or at least, that’s how I remembered it. The real rules are much longer than that, but meh, that’s basically what they say.

Right now, it’s as if the room is vibrating with all the vimic activity. Every person here has a layer of vi protecting their bodies. Every single one, except for me, the one at very top of Jade... if the ranks were turned upside down, that is. I don’t have any barrier not because I’m confident or rebellious, but because I can’t conjure one, or even know what it even is for that matter. The mentors keep saying “barrier this, barrier that,” and I keep shouting at them in my head, “bar my ass!”

Ahem. Anyway, since I’m practically naked compared to the others, I decided to hug the wall and stay as far away from the circle as possible.

Atop the arena, Zethran pulls on a tight stance— his head low with his fists raised high in front of him. His body is slightly moving from the movement of his toes, bouncing like a rarebit. A huge, ugly-ass rarebit. I can almost see the energy bursting out from him. With someone of his size, his stance becomes more menacing than it is on anyone else.

On the other side, Ranlan is the polar opposite. Her arms are calmly put in front of her as if she’s rubbing an invisible ball. Aside from her arms swaying teasingly, her body is barely moving, making her seem so open and relaxed. And then...

...There it is. That smile. Is it a taunt? A show of confidence? No one, not even those in Jade and the mentors, know the meaning behind that smile of hers.

Zethran’s form may be intimidating, but to tell you the truth, I’d rather fight him than his opponent. There’s no emotion in her movements whatsoever, thus making her actions impossible to predict, impossible to counter.

That’s it. Impossible to win against― that’s the kind of feeling she gives off.

I’d laugh at the scene if it weren’t for the tension in the air. It’s always amusing to see the little one taking control with just her composure.

Identify.

⌠n□□□Δ□⌡ ┤Vim Rate├

│54│ │82%│

Σ⌠Δ□∞⌡ ┤Pull Rate├

│11│/31

Name

Zethran

Titles

Species

Human

Age

17

Gender

Male

Mana Affinity

Mana Pool

Skills

Vimus – Perception |Novice|

Strengthening |Adept|

Affiliations

Drachwhyr Monastery

⌠n□□□Δ□⌡ ┤Vim Rate├

│55│ │84%│

Σ⌠Δ□∞⌡ ┤Pull Rate├

│5│/18

Name

Ranlan

Titles

Species

Human

Age

19

Gender

Female

Mana Affinity

Mana Pool

Skills

Vimus – Perception |Novice|

Strengthening |Adept|

Affiliations

Drachwhyr Monastery

Surprise, surprise. There are two monsters on the ring.

Their pull rates apart, their physical abilities are way beyond a normal human’s. Their skills seem very close, so it might come down to their wits and composure, which, so far, Ranlan seems to be ahead in.

“Ready.” “Ready.”

As the two sound their readiness, Karyat shouts out, “Start the fight!”

--- --- ---

It happened so quickly.

While Karyat was still on the first syllable of his words, Zethran already made his move.

He’s fast— faster than conventional physics could’ve allowed. With one swift step, he closed the distance before launching a back kick at Ranlan. The kick landed, or at least it seemed like it did. Then I realize she’s already stepped away from it, her face one tride away from connecting with her opponent’s strike.

Zethran isn’t stopping his attack there. Spinning his body, he follows up with another kick, and then another, his large frame enabling him to launch his attacks outside of Ranlan’s range.

With Zethran’s every attack, Ranlan steps back, always just barely enough to dodge the attack. They’re moving too fast for me properly see, but even I know that Ranlan isn’t winning. She’s been doing nothing but evading his attacks. At this rate, she’ll be cornered.

Come on, Ran. Fight back.

“Look at her hands.”

Ah‒

The heck... Douqi?

This hooded guy just appeared out of nowhere. Did he sneak up on me?

“Look at her hands.”

Eh?

“She hits back, and Zethran will never know.”

Her hands...?

All I see is her backing away without a fight, still with that smile on her face like a wordless taunt. Her hands are just doing nothing either…

…except that when Zethran attacks, she seems to do quick flips with her palms, as if she’s parrying his attacks. Is that what Douqi meant?

Regarding that guy, his face is as expressionless as ever, obscured by that hood he never takes off. His eyes, unlike mine, seem like they know where to look. As expected from the number three in Jade, he can probably read the tide of the fight.

I think this is the first time I’ve ever heard your voice, I said to him.

“Unlike you, I do have a voice,” he replied without even sparing me a glance.

Uwaah... as dark as ever, this guy.

“Fight back!” Zethran’s shout came from the circle.

He’s still not letting up, chaining his attacks in a series of ferocious punches and kicks, each strike faster than I can perceive. If I was at the other end of those, I’d probably be an unidentifiable mess already.

Ranlan, though, is still as beautiful as ever. Zethran can’t lay a finger when she’s dancing like that, but so far, her “taps” don’t seem to be having any effect on Zethran either. Meanwhile, with every of her opponent’s strike, Ranlan gets pushed into the edge of the circle.

Little by little, the girl is driven back until she’s on her tiptoes, right on the edge.

One side of the crowd cheered, while the other screamed. A knowing smile flashed Zethran’s face as he launches the final strike.

…Should’ve been the final strike, but something else happened instead.

Even if you ask me, I’m not sure what happened. Zethran’s kick was already midway, but then he was kicked instead. I think. That’s what it looked like.

And now their positions are reversed. No, more than reversed; Ranlan is turning this into a game where she’s the only player.

Spinning her body, she barely touches the floor with the tip of her toes before she’s in the air again, landing two strikes with each spin.

Gone was that smiling girl, and in her place is a merciless whirlwind of kicks. For every attack Zethran made against her, she returned three.

Spin after spin, she chased after Zethran relentlessly, until―

“Shit!”

The entire hall held their breath as Zethran steps off the edge and falls flat on his back. Looking down at him, Ranlan decorates her face with the cheeriest smile I’ve ever seen on her.

“I win.”

--- --- ---

I amusedly watch as Ran skips her way through the crowd and towards me. She stops in front of me with her arms crossed and a brow raised.

Didn’t break a single sweat, did you, I said upon noting her hearty expression, so relaxed despite the brutality she just went through.

“I heard you, you know. I was happy you were cheering for me―”

Your welcome―

―then I saw you hiding all the way back here.”

Uh, well... I bleed, unlike the rest of you.

After that, she just stares at me in silence, making me think that she’s waiting for me to say something.

Err... what?

“Do I have to ask?”

Oh, uhm... congrats for the victory.

“Not that, tinwit,” she slaps my head. “Look around you.”

Look around me?

If there’s anything, the crowd seems to have diminished somewhat after Ranlan’s fight, probably because the battles after aren’t really as interesting as number one and two. One other thing I’ve noticed is that some people from Jade are looking this way, at Ranlan...— no, they’re looking at me?

…Oh. ‘That’.

“Well?“

Well...

“Will you tell us what happened?”

Erm... probably not?

“You’re not allowed to talk about it?”

Yeah, basically…

The meeting concluded that the demon matter is to be kept a secret until they’ve made the proper preparations for evacuations and countermeasures and all that stuff. It’s the same as what Orlev decided back in Lephander. Telling people now might cause panic and collateral, so right now they’re just putting the valley on alert.

“So, umm.... what did you think about the fight?”

Ah, she dropped the topic. How understanding.

It was cool! I was hoping to see some trash-talk before the match, though.

“Trash-talking Zeth? That’s how you get killed in a friendly spar, my friend.”

So she said, but she seems like she’s actually thinking about it now.

You were so fast. I don’t get why you didn’t just finish him right at the start.

“It’s harder than it looks. I knew I wouldn’t win in a battle of endurance, so I had to finish him in one succession of attacks. I needed to get accustomed to his pace first and make sure I end it in one turn.”

I see, I see.

I have no clue what she’s talking about.

“...But I guess I really could’ve beat him earlier.”

Why not, then?

“I just had this feeling that he was pulling his punches.”

I look at Zethran in response. The burly hulk somehow noticed my stare and returns it with a glare of a thousand deaths.

Impossible.

“As I said, it’s just a feeling. Anyway, you might get called, you know,” she noted, cocking her head at the arena.

Nah, he wouldn’t call me, I said as I glance at Karyat who is arbitrating the current match.

Earlier, I made sure to tell him nicely to not call my name for the spars.

“He’s nice, don’t you think?”

Who?

“The new mentor.”

“New?” Karyat is only our mentor until Douzhen is back, you know.

“Back from where?”

Ah, so she hasn’t dropped it.

“...Just kidding. Still, it’s a big change of pace. With Douzhen, it’s like our classes are held with a whip behind us. Karyat is much more laidback. If only he can continue as our permanent mentor, right?”

Really? I prefer Douzhen.

“Huh? Are you serious?”

Yeah... why do you sound so surprised?

“Tell me why you like him better.”

I don’t know. I just... like Douzhen better.

“You’ve said that, but what’s the reason?”

The reason is‒ the reason’s not important, okay? I just prefer Douzhen as our mentor.

Geez, why is she so fussy about this?

“Are you a masochist?”

A what?

Great, another monk terminology that I don’t know.

“Wow, I never thought you’d be into that kind of thing...”

Like I said, what’s a masukis?

“Alright, wrap it up!” Karyat waves his arm from the middle of the hall. “Everyone go back to their own classes. As for you Jades, gather around.”

Thanks to Karyat, I couldn’t ask Ranlan what I wanted to know and we cut our talk short to go to him. The Jade scribes then sit surrounding their mentor as they wait expectantly for the news they’ve been waiting for.

“I know what you’re all thinking about. You all want to know what’s behind the fuss this morning.”

Everyone nods in approval, while I just rest my head to a random guy behind me.

Just get this over with, Mentor.

“I can’t tell you much for now, but I need you all to stay alert. You’re not like the other scribes and I can guarantee that Jade will have a part in the coming crisis, so prepare as you will. Train hard, become better in every way you can because your lives might depend on it. Class dismissed.”

--- --- ---

“I have to go home…” Ranlan said in woe.

Go home, then. Karyat already dismissed us.

“But I don’t want to leave you alone. What if Zethran tries something while I’m gone?”

You always have to be the hero, huh? I said softly.

“Sorry?”

I smile at her as cheerfully as I can manage.

You don’t have to worry about me, Ran. Trust me. I’ve faced bigger guys than him.

“Really…?” She eyes me doubtfully.

Really. Now go, your family needs you.

“…If you say so.”

I can see reluctance dragging her feet as she walks out the hall. She really is a worrywart, just like someone else I know. Honestly, that girl. How can she worry about me when she has so much else to worry about?

Ranlan told me about her circumstance once. She was born from a humble pair of farmhands, though her father passed away to a disease years ago. Her house have loads of little ones and no father to support them all, so as the big sister, she had to take over the role.

Every morning, she’d wake up before the sun does to milk the cattle. After Acquisition, she’d plow the fields until way past her bedtime, sleeping only after the night crosses over to the next day. That’s like… one-fourth of my bed time?

Not only that, she also has five little brothers and an ill parent to take care of. Even then, she still has the time to train and keep her place at the top of Jade.

That kind of person is my friend, and she is worried about me being bullied. Really, the levels of problems are worlds different.

Take care of yourself before taking care of others, I said to no one in particular.

By the time the sun is setting, most of the scribes have gone home and the hall is mostly empty.

Umm, mentor. I’m just going to go wait outside, okay?

“Don’t go too far,” Karyat replied.

I can somehow feel my classmates’ curious stares after they heard that weird exchange, so I end up scurrying out the hall. When I’m out, however…

Guh―

Someone pins my shoulders pinned to the wall, and from the large looming figure, it’s obvious who it is.

…Zeth.

Shite, I thought he’s gone already. Was he waiting for me all this time?

“Listen up, you slag, because this is the last warning I’m giving you. Get out of Jade. You don’t belong here.”

Why don’t I belong―

Whoops. Stop it, Fay. Just nod quietly.

“Why? You ask why?”

Uh…

“The only reason you’re here is because an elder referred you. You fucking cheated, that’s why.”

How about Douqi? He’s Douzhen’s nephew. Not to mention Anlon─

-Thump-

He punched the wall right by my ear as he leans down at me, dumping his breath on my face with every word.

“Douqi. Third-best of Jade. He climbed his way up from the bottom of Acquisition. He worked to get his place. You didn’t.”

…And did you?

Nooo, no, no, no, no. Just no, Fay. Stop talking.

“…Me?”

Uh-oh.

“I. Earned. It,” he voiced, anger and impatience apparent. “I trained and I bled. I kept going even when my skin was coming off, just to get into Acquisition. I deserve Jade, and so does everyone else here. Everyone but you. Did you know? Ranlan works the farms to stay in Acquisition. Anlong trains night and day to keep his position in Jade. Kerdah has to graduate a drachtal to get treatment for his parents. To some of us, Jade is everything, but you don’t care for that.”

He pushes a finger to my chest. “You have everything handed out to you. You don’t know anything about survival. You don’t deserve Jade.”

…You’re right.

“What’s that?”

I look up to meet him in the eyes. You’re right. I don’t deserve Jade, unlike you guys who’ve worked so hard to earn it.

“Hah! So you do understan―”

But the thing about life is, I lean in to his ears, not everyone gets what they deserve.

Then I knee him in the nuts and book it.

--- --- ---

Two minutes and three falls later, I finally decide to stop running.

Huff… Hwaa…

…Okay, I lied. It wasn’t by decision.

At least I’m safe now, I think. Zethran doesn’t seem to be following me. Or maybe he’s just hiding again, lying in wait until I let my guard down―

“Hey!”

Ffffucking shite―

Instead of Zeth, teacher’s face is there in front of me.

“Ehehe…”

T─Teach…

Ah…

Aaah….

My butt is all muddy, now.

“Jumpy little rarebit, aren’t you.”

I─If a beast suddenly attacks you, you’d naturally jump out of the way…

“And present yourself to the beast by sprawling on the ground? Wait, why are you so sweaty?”

I was just… running.

She suddenly takes out her staff and starts waving it around at our surroundings.

“Is it the demon?! What are you running from?!”

…Karyat?

“Oh.”

She walks over to me. Thinking she’s going to help me up, I reach my arm out for her. Then she brings down her staff on my head.

Ow!

“You promised to wait with him.”

Yes, I know. I’m sorry.

“I said specifically, ‘don’t go running off on your own.’ So what were you doing, again?”

Running off on my own.

“Precisely what I told you not to do.”

Ugh. Thinking back, it’s probably better if I’d just run back into the hall and get Karyat like the little bitch I am.

Again, I’m totally in the wrong and I’m sorry.

“Never mind, let’s just go home,” she said with a sour tongue.

Yes, ma’am.

--- --- ---

Some minutes later, the lights of the laboratory building finally comes into view.

What now? I asked. More writing lessons?

“No, let’s just call it a day.”

Okay, then. Here’s fine, teacher. I can get to the house by myself.

The ‘house’ is actually teacher’s residence that’s only a little walk up the hill from here. Only I sleep there, though. Teacher sleeps in the lab because I kicked her out.

…No, it’s not like that. Bad wording.

All I did was tell her that I wanted my own bedroom so we can sleep separately. You see, the nightmares… they’re getting worse by the day, and I didn’t want to make her worry. So I asked for my own bedroom. I didn’t know whether to be glad or sad when she understood quickly.

I guess we did travel together, after all. There’s no way she didn’t witness my “bad sleeping posture” during that time.

…Hmm? Teacher, I’m fine on my own from here, I said when I realize she’s still walking with me.

“Oh, no. I’m sleeping at the house today.”

Eh?

“What? Can I not sleep at my own home?”

She seems serious. Is it because of the demon? Do I not get privacy even in bed? Damn you, demon.

There’s only one bedroom, though.

“Uh-huh.”

And only one bed.

“Uh-huh.”

So you’re finally going to ‘attack’ me?

“Uh─huh… wait, what?”

You mean you’re not?

Usually, she’ll just yell “NO!” like that, but instead, she smiles impishly at me,

“Only if you break your promise.”

I just did, though.

“Promise me something new, then.”

Like what?

“Promise me you won’t go after the demon.”

Okay. I promise.

That is the one thing I can promise. I’ve had enough demons and lifers for life and afterlife. That’s like a lot of lives. Going after a demon is the last thing I’d do, and no one can make me. No one.

…Except maybe that guy. He’s a hundred times worse than any lifer.

Ah, come to think of it, there’s something that’s been on my mind for a while.

Say, teacher…

“Hmm?”

What’s a masukis?

“What?” she turns at me with wide eyes. “Who taught you that word?!”

A friend, Ranlan. She told me I was a ‘masukis’.

“Your friend… do you think your friend is telling the truth?”

Yeah, she’s trustworthy. She’s number one in Jade, after all.

“I see….” she mumbled, looking into the distance as if deeply envisioning something.

So… what does it mean?

“Eh? Oh, erm… it means that you’re, uh… someone who… follows orders, I guess…”

Am I?

“W─Who knows?”

If that’s what it is, I kind of see where Ranlan is coming from. She probably said that because I said I preferred Douzhen over Karyat, and the former did give out a lot of orders while he was mentor.

“We’ll see if you’re really a ‘masukis’ tonight.”

Sorry?

“Ahem. It’s nothing, Fay, It’s nothing…~”

=== === ===

--- --- ---

=== === ===

Something happened in the Hall of Elders that night.

The sounds of a desperate fist, knocking on the ancient door, echoed through the hall long after the valley had gone to sleep. When someone finally opened the door, the mysterious knocker fell flat into the floor inside.

“Who are you? Identify yourself,” the guard demanded.

The man was too fatigued, and from the looks of his bloodied clothes, too injured to answer. He did manage a whisper, though. The guard had to lean in near his face to hear it.

His voice was soft and rasped, but what he said then, the guard would never mistake those words.

“Demon… is coming…”

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