The sun had slowly began to fall, the evening has come. As for Beck, he had already repeatedly running onto the same tree for the sixtieth times already. His head was bleeding due to him accidentally grazed his head on the tree. His breathing was heavy and unstable.
"Shi... Still no improvement..." Beck groaned.
Seriously, how do they do this? Been training for hours but still no improvement. Yet Roxza made it looks so easy...
For a moment, Beck thought of giving up for the day and went home just as it is. But there was also a part of him that was unsatisfied with the result. Because all the accidental teleport that happened, he wants to know the secret behind his own ability. Why would he teleported to unknown planets that he never even heard of, and met with unknown creatures and civilizations instead of anywhere around earth that he at least have heard about?
The question that formed in his head was like a fuel to the fire. He got his energy up again to train but this time, he remembered about something Roxza mentioned, Must have a strong mental. I guess, my mental isn't in the right place... I can feel that I am afraid myself... Stop that! Stop being afraid! So he tried one more time to concentrate and conjure mental image of the place he wants to teleport to.
One deep breath was taken, and he released his breath slowly. The process was repeated two more times to calm himself down as he tried to focus on bringing this training to success. "One more..." He began to throw a step forward again, and began leaping towards the tree once more.
Focus... Imagine... He keep those words in mind as he keeps on towards the tree. As he was about a foot away from the tree, his sight began zooming in a little. Next moment, the marked tree was gone, and his feet felt like skipping the ground for a moment.
A clear smirk began to form on his face as he turns around, seeing the marked tree behind him. Excitement gone over his head, feeling like exploding any moment. "Y... Yessaaa!!!" Excited scream to celebrate the first success.
Just as he finally thought of finishing, a 'what if' thought crossed his mind. What if that was just a fluke? No, I can't go back yet. Gotta try for some more times! He went back to his original spot to continue for some more. After that, he even try teleporting to someplace else and... He succeeded to exit the forest by teleporting from his spot.
. . .
Beck throws his own body onto the bed as he entered his bedroom, despite being drenched in sweat. His face was clearly showing sign of exhaustion from the training.
The sun had already gone from the sky as the moon right in the middle of the sky, the night came. And Beck shutting his eyes, slowly letting himself melt into the exhaustion.
"Wake up. Dinner has long ready." Voice of Jonathan, calling him out broke the calm. But Beck was still hasn't broke out from the sleep entirely. "What makes you so tired, really...? And why's your head bleeding?" He frowned, worrying about his son.
"Huh? Oh... Got chased by dogs on the way home... And accidentally grazed against a wall when I tried to climb a fence in an alley." A made up excuse to avoid suspicion of course.
"Yeah... Good thing that you're fine. Come down, eat. Then, take a shower before sleep. And wash your wound." Jonathan walks away and went down to the dining room. And so do Beck soon after, even with his sleepy eyes.
The night passed by normally except for him sleeping extra early than before. The next day, Beck spends most time just laying on his bed, playing with his phone or sleeping due to him still feeling exhausted and in pain from the previous training. It seems that he was pushing himself too much.
And just like that, a day had passed. It is weekdays again. Monday, the beginning of business day or for Beck's, first day of school of the week. Beck went to school as usual with Henry. But a surprise actually waiting for him at the school hallway.
Once arrived, they both went to the locker area to grab some notes and textbooks. As they were walking a large group of students can be seen gathering in front of a locker. With all those commotion, of course Beck got interested too. He slowly slithing through the crowd to see what causes the commotion. And as he passed through them, he saw that the cause of it was a locker that seemed to be destroyed, ravaged as if something just exploded inside.
Isn't that... The one locker I hid in... Sweats running down his temple. Gotta get out from here! He quickly slips out from the crowd sneakily, escaping from it.
As the commotion keeps on being larger, the bell suddenly rang for the first class of the day. A disciplinary teacher shout from the end of the hallway, telling all students to get into their own classes. All the students quickly scattered and went into their classes, including those who were hassling at the ravaged locker just now.
The presence of the disciplinary teacher actually calmed Beck a little. Finally, they stopped being a busybody... Even though I don't really like you but... Thank you, teacher. He salute silently.
Unbeknown to him, there was someone noticed his strange reaction towards the crowd just now.
. . .
A couple of Yorkan was walking in the forest with spears in hands. Patrolling the forest for any kind of danger that might approaching and endanger the Valenicry tribe. They make sure to not let themselves come any near to any open path in the forest to avoid the eyes of people using the path to cross the forest while at the same time, also keep their eyes on the path. This will let them know if any of their enemies are using it as a way of transportation so that they can prepare themselves to ambush or move their camp away from their current whereabout.
"Hey, Bvark." One of them called for the other one as he just replied with a glance of his eyes. "Do we really have to live in hiding our entire live? By 'we' I mean, the entire tribe. How do we even give our children and even grandchildren a safe and happy future like this?" Even with that rambling, he could only sigh knowing that their power are nowhere near strong enough to maintain safety in open.
Bvark was silent for a moment. "You're right, Karf. With out current situation, there's no way for us to secure our children's future so..."
"Hm?" The rambling one wonders why his friend let his words hang without ending his sentence. He lifted his head look at Bvark.
A quick thrust goes into his abdomen as eyes widen in surprise of betrayal by his partner. Everything was silent for a quick moment. The once rambling one became silent, out of word, when his parnert's dagger went through his abdomen.
"Sorry, Karf..." Bvark whispered in cold voice.
"...ark–" Blood spurted out from his mouth. His lower body is slowly being covered by his own blood.
"I'm sorry... Really sorry." Bvark pulled out a small knife and slash Karf's throat with it. "This is to secure my child's future."
Back at the Valenicry camp, a couple of warriors are preparing to leave for their patrolling shifts already but was stopped by Vratvah. The other patrolling squad had already move out to patrol perimeters, but the last one was held back without them knowing the reason.
"Commander, why?" One of them voiced out.
"The previous patrolling squad 4 has yet to return." Vratvah keep his eyes on the main gate as he talk.
The both of them quickly look around upon hearing their commander. "Karf and Bvark aren't here...! This is too much of a delay already–"
"Layn, Urvuk! You both go recall all the patrols now!" Vratvah quickly gave new command without a slight hesitation. He look at another warrior. "Kaine, inform the leader of our situation!" Then he rushed to the barrack and gave another command to the remaining force. "All warriors! Stand up and get ready on each corners!" Without a single question voiced, all warriors quickly grabbed their weapons and rush to the corners of the camp. And Vratvah soon went to the main gate and get ready for any confrontation.
As all warriors is getting ready, silhouettes of the patrol squads that were moved out can be seen running back towards the gate. Layn and Urvuk had successfully called back all the squads.
Not long after, Roxza silhouette appeared from behind the big figure of Vratvah. "What's the situation?"
Vratvah bowed his head a little, showing respect of power towards the leader. "The previous pstrolling squad 4 hasn't returned until now. We're preparing for any kind of possible confrontation."
Roxza was getting nervous underneath his mask. Despite being the one who hold the instant transportation ability as the leader of the tribe, the burden of responsibility of a leader sure does bringing his spirit down. The responsibility that one must hold to lead isn't something that a young person can exactly do. But suddenly, a hand reach his back.
"Don't worry. You're not the only one holding that burden. I am here." Vratvah whispered.
Roxza didn't let out any voice but that's more than enough to show Vratvah that he regained his composure as a leader again.
Sounds of creatures running wild can be heard from afar. "Incoming!" One of the guards shouted to the other warriors behind to inform them. All the warriors lifted their weapons in ready. But unexpected of them, those that come from the front are only around three men on horses.
Th– three people...?! Vratvah was completely taken aback by it. Then, a realization hits him like a rock That means– He tries to turn around and change his position but it was too late already.
The screaming of their people can be heard loud and agonizing, filling the ears of the warriors in front. Soldiers had already infiltrated them from behind and began slaughtering the villagers. Roxza did not delaying even a single second to run towards the soldier with his dual blades and began counter attacked.
"Warriors!" Vratvah shouted. "Keep your composure and fight back!" Most of the warriorrs leave their post and went into the camp to fight back the infiltrated soldiers.
Unbeknown to them, the real danger wasn't the infiltrated soldiers but the three cavalries that were coming from the front. The guards at the gate were ready to fight but without them even got the chance to attack, a javelin went straight through the head.
The other guards lifted their shield to block themselves from getting pierced the javelin, but another cavalry knight cut through with a swing of an axe. And another cavalry knight broke through quickly with swings of his sword mercilessly, not giving a slightest chance for them to fight back.
Vratvah noticed what happened at the front and went rush ahead to stop them. He jumped and swing downward his sword to the knight holding the sword, and got to throw him off of the horse. In that split moment, a javelin went flying towards him but he managed to evade it from landing on him. However, it still managed to graze his arm a little. The other guy with an axe swings his axe downward as Vratvah blocked it. A kick was dealt to his abdomen and throws him back. Out of sudden, it became a 3 v 1 death match between them. The odds clearly wasn't on Vratvah's side.
Even with most force went and protect the villagers, it was clear that their force is losing. More and more people dying in front of Roxza's very eyes as he froze up in fear.
"Roxza!!!" A loud shout of a familiar voice unfreeze his body. "Take all the people and run away!" Vratvah shouted again.
"Not letting you to do so!" The knight with sword lunges towards him.
But without he even able to react, Vratvah's fist had already reached his face and throw him away. "And I, am not letting you pass." Vratvah's cold voice sent chills down their spines.
"This won't take long. Let's kill him quick." The one with axe said with arrogance.
Elder Broyak reached for Roxza. "Roxza, you have to bring us all out now."
"But how about other warriors? How about Vratvah?!"
"They're sacrificing their life now for the survival of our clan! The survival of the villagers! We have to escape and don't let their sacrifice goes to vain!" Elder Broyak urging him. "Use your instant transportation, bring alm the villagers far away from here. I've marked all the remaining villagers with spiritual link. So, please... Run away."
With the burden of survival of his clan and the urge of the elder, he knew that he had to escape. But the heavy burden in the heart of leaving his brother, Vratvah was holding him down.
Elder took notice of that, and grabbed his nape. "Listen here, Roxza! It's either you escape with them, or all of us die tonight! Goddamnit!"
Despite Broyak's harsh words, Roxza can see the tears welling up in Broyak's eyes. That makes it easier for him to decide. "Alright, elder... I will bring us all out now." He keep his eyes closed as his body lit up in green light, and so do the other surviving villagers except the warriors fighting. And everyone gone in a moment, leaving the warriors behind.
Vratvah was taken down on one knee with his sword as his last stand. All the three knights were also heavily injured and not able to move their bodies no more moreover to continue the fight against Vratvah. But it was clear already that they're winning as they're soldiers quickly surrounded Vratvah's dying body. They were ready to finish him off and kill him at once.
"Don't... Don't kill him..." The knight with sword stopped his soldiers with his short breath. "Bring him in alive..."
At the other side of the forest, a green light was covering a small part of the forest as the last survivors of Valenicry tribe and Roxza himself appeared. They managed to escape from the village successfully.
Roxza puked out blood as soon as they landed. The instant teleportation of almost the whole village took a heavy toll on his body. But he just brushed it off as he wiped his bloody mouth. Eyes wanders around the surrounding. Something is missing... "Where... Where is elder Broyak...?!" No matter how he looks around, there's not even a silhouette of the elder.
The rest of the villagers fell silent.
"W– why...?" Roxza asked.
A villager stepped out and decided to talk. "Elder Broyak... She decided to stay..."
"What..."
"She said that it'll take a great toll on you just to get us all away from the village. That's why she didn't want to be another burden for you..."
"Why didn't she–" Before Roxza even get to finish his sentence, his vision blacked out and the surrounding sounds were slowly fading to complete silent. He fainted but the villagers caught him before he falls flat on the ground.
. . .
"Okay, students. That's all for your class today." The teacher said while packing up his things. And so do the students in the detention class. "It's late already. So make sure to go back straight home and do your works instead of loitering around somewhere." He gave a light advice before leaving the class.
Beck gets up and stretches his body while groaning loudly. Class was taking too long. My back ache... His hand carressing his back as he straighten his posture.
"Hey, you!" A girl suddenly shouted from the class door with her hand to the front. She looks like pointing towards someone in the class.
Wait, the only one in class right now is me... Is she pointing at me?
"Yes, you there! Who else is here?"
Oh... Beck was taken aback as to why the girl called for him so suddenly.
When dumbfounded, of course one would want to know why. Therefore, "I'm sorry, why are you suddenly pointing at me? Did I do something wrong?"
The girl start approaching him like a final boss, but tiny... Like a dwarf... Or maybe a gnome... Or even maybe like a fairy... Anyway, she lifted her finger again and point towards Beck. "I saw your face thhis morning." Her eyes locked eye to eye Beck's.
Normal people would've been startled and panic already but not Beck... Beck was totally forgot what happened in the morning and seriously dumbfounded again. "What face?"
This guy... Seriously... Beck's reaction totally frustrated her.
"Listen here, girl. You suddenly appear out of nowhere and now you're bothering me. Telling me that you saw my face in the morning or anything. But what face, girl? What face?" Beck is feeling annoyed by her presence already.
"Don't call me 'girl', student. I'm a proud student council member. My name is Aleyna Hawthorne." Her hand proudly on her chest as she introduces herself.
Wah, this girl is really consumed by fantasy... Even the way she introduced herself sounds like something came straight out from a manhwa... No wonder she suddenly accusing me of– That was the moment that realization hits him like a truck. This morning... The locker... Sweat began to slide down his temple. Nervousness is overwhelming him at once.
His sudden change in posture was noticed by Aleyna. "Wait a minute... You're sweating." She narrows her eyes suspiciously, looking at the face of her suspect
"O– of course I'm sweating you fool. It's hot in here." Even though Beck managed to came out with an excuse and voiced it out with normal voice, his eyes refuses to look at Aleyna's. So, he looks slightly below to avoid her eyes but then notices something. And a question aroused in his mind. "Are you a boy?" That was the moment he finally manage to look eye to eye with Aleyna again. Not knowing that his question will bring doom to himself.