Grizzled

Episode 22

The animated series I was watching had to be cut off in the middle of the episode because my laptop screen was suddenly black without warning. I see the battery indicator, dying, needs to be recharged. Stretching and then crawling lazily near the nightstand at the end of the bed, I looked for a laptop charger among a pile of chaotic books mixed with other life cables –such as mobile phone chargers, power banks, and earphones. Instantly I remember the cause of my marathon watching animation since 5 hours ago. Like the conditions above this nightstand, that's how all the hassles filled my mind.

A lot of things are happening today and more will happen. The case that befell the Eagle, the problems in the gray world, the writing competition that I was semi-conscious about immediately I could handle it, the UTS schedule next week, all hit me at the same time. Not to mention other duties. I remember how my head wanted to explode until I decided to entertain myself watching this comedy animation for the umpteenth time. Ah, maybe I can't laugh because of the same joke, but at least the tension in my head is a little saggy. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I completely forgot and the whole problem just ended.

Because of that I did not study and forgot to ask Nike my PR book. I'm sure he's asleep by now, but maybe tomorrow morning when he opens his eyes is the first cell phone he's looking for. I intended to send him a message before my phone on the edge of the nightstand fell slammed followed by my diktat books one by one hit him. While cursing my sloppy self, I immediately picked up the thing and wished him well. The screen flashes weakly in night mode when I reactivate it. Thankfully, there was no serious damage.

The main screen displays the time at 23:57. Hundreds of chats from the class group came in, fussing over the Indonesian language that tomorrow is very sudden. I yawned while checking the buried messages. Four hours ago Mr. Hanri called me, asking for testimony on the case that befell the Eagle.

I told you all the chronology of my discovery in the Eagle bag, all my suspicions, and my demands that Mr. Hanri prevent the spread of the slant. Cursed I typed everything then Mr. Hanri replied.

“Alright, I will think about it clearly. Everything needs a process. There are some things to prove. We can't accuse someone without proof, can we?” Mr. Hanri re-typed then I immediately replied.

“If I am needed, I will also help,” reply.

“And we can't fully trust someone before there's proof, right?” As soon as Mr. Hanri's message right before my message came off. My sleep is gone for a moment. Ha's? What say?

I wanted to reply immediately but Mr. Hanri left the chat.

 ****

Vaguely a speck of light is visible at high altitude. Not bright enough –can be spelled dim– but in the sky that is pitch light is still light, illuminating the surroundings.

I woke up with my head beating. My twitching gaze slowly normalized after a few seconds of gathering consciousness. The smell of damp and gloomy atmosphere around me was nothing foreign anymore. It was no surprise that I would be sucked into this horrible world after a few minutes ago asleep in my home world. Ah, until when will this nightmare continue to interfere? Oh, maybe not, it's more than just a nightmare!

For a moment I looked up, noticing the source of the dim light that was none other than the full moon several meters high from the top of the second floor roof. It was a little higher than the first time I saw it. Again I repeat my words, it should be beautiful to see the moon this close, but what is with the light?

A monster roar sounded from a distance, far away, seemingly in the back corner. My position is now in front of the stairs near the UKS. Normally it would take a long time for the monster to reach me, but since I remember he had teleportation ability then he might appear in front of me right now. No, I don't want to, I have to join the Eagle and the Sakti that are now out of nowhere.

I hurriedly climbed up the stairs when a commotion suddenly broke out from the tree line. A violent whirlwind seemed to be combing through the trees, toppling them some, then crashing through the rows of teacher room rooms and the front lobby. So massive even the second floor of the building collapsed. Geez, that second floor corridor end is my class! I gaped at the sight of something that was thrown with the whirlwind was still able to move. Sekti incarnate monsters, even he woke up refreshed as if the dam had no effect. While the one who released the whirlwind earlier seemed to fit my guess, Sakti. Not long after the eagle appeared.

“Heh! You said you didn't want to kill your own brother?!”

“Ah, yes, just relax. He won't be killed just because of that.”

“Then why did you forbid me to beat him up, huh?!”

“No, no need! Let me do it myself! Better you quickly find Shira!”

“While you're having fun yourself here? Unfair!”

I smiled wryly looking at the bacot. It should be nice to see Sakti and Eagle working together with each other, but .. ah, it seems like a stubborn and unruly Eagle indeed. There is no way anyone can reconcile with someone like him, even if there I am very curious.

I don't know when this fight started. What was clear was that Sekti monsters were back to attack the two from any direction, utilizing his teleportation technique to appear wherever he pleased. Lucky Sakti and Eagle are both tough fighters. However, unlike Sakti, Eagle is more master of melee combat. It was too risky to face a creature as vast as a Sect monster. Stupidly, why am I watching? Without me knowing my position on the second floor is actually very threatened because if affected by their fight, this building may fate like the front building earlier, devastated.

Just as I was about to move suddenly the Eagle was thrown, its body fell on the room behind me. I was almost hit too when I was too late to duck for a second. I could feel my knees trembling at the dust puff along with the fall of the walls of this room. The weak groans inside forced me in.

“Lang? Lang! You're still alive, aren't you?!” manya panic. He was motionless, lying on his back helplessly, his body drenched in sweat with a few bruises here and there. Red liquid seeped from his nose.

“Argh, your prayers have not been answered. I'm still alive,” hiss Low Eagle. I am glad there is still an answer from him. Who expected him to die?!

“Such jokes are not very funny at a time like this,” I replied half confused, suddenly stupid for not knowing what to do. Before much to do, the floor on which I stood swayed.

“What ...”

“Awas!”

The eagle only pulled my head down. The next incident was so brief when I thought this building was completely collapsed. All the pain hit me instantly with the rubble of the building that overcame me. I didn't have time to worry about the Eagle who had been injured before. This condition must have made her condition worse.

“Shir, your feet are downed beams,” says Eagle. I could only peek at him from the fissure that had protected my head earlier. Half of our bodies can be said to be safe, not entirely hit by ruins, but ....

“But if you move just a little bit, the unstable debris up here will completely collapse and hoard us completely,”. I gulped, fully understanding the consequences.

“So please ..”

“Good, I understand ... I will stay like this until ... until when?” my many. The eagle is equally passive, he himself may not know.

“Sakti won't be long. He will immediately clean up the monster and help us,” he replied pretending to know. Once I felt his hand in my hair move slowly as if to say, “Hold!”

Ten minutes passed without changing position for a single moment, the pain slowly began to creep up as if gnawing along the arm of my right leg. I just bit my lips. Out there the noise never subsides. I can't imagine how bothered Sakti was to face the monster alone.

“Is this just my feeling?” I break the awkwardness.

“What?”

“Monster Sekti seems like today more ferocious. Its incredible durability is increasingly unusual.”

“Yes, even the high-intensity sound waves that are the weakness are also no longer working,” replied the Eagle, “what is there no way to tame the creature?”

“Sakti never mentioned it. He always said that there was no other way but to avoid. As if it was indeed impossible to tame that monster.”

“If so, you might not like it, Shir. Looks like they will fight until dawn.”

“What?!”

“That monster's after us, he knows we're stuck here. While Sakti can not stop driving it so that the monster does not approach us until dawn, until the phase of the brutal monster Sekti ended,” explained Eagle. Until dawn? Keep it like this?!

“Yang is right! Are we really just waiting for Sakti? I hope there is a little gap for us to get away from here safely,” I replied I could not hide the anxiety, accidentally moving my legs a little. The ruins above us crackled. I closed my eyes tightly, prepared for all possibilities.

A gust of wind suddenly felt around us, blowing dust and even the ruins that almost hit me and the Eagle. The weight that pressed my feet was lifted, but my feet felt nothing, numb.

“I .. sorry I took too long! I hope I'm not late,” said the voice I've been waiting for.

“On time,” answered I tried to wake up assisted by helping Sakti's hand while the Eagle was still coughing.

“Yeah, Shira! Your leg! Ouch, Eagle is also injured!” serik Sakti never looks this sweet, “I can treat it, but not here. Come on, move to the next room!” kata Sakti once again carried me on his back. He also helped the eagle who struggled to stand up.

“You managed to dispel that monster?” asked the Eagle grimacing occasionally to endure the pain.

“Iya, but not for long,” answered Sakti then a roar that I did not want to hear roared from a distance, “tuh, right ‘kan?”

“Sial! This room cannot be opened!” said Eagle.

“After it again!”

We shifted to the nearest door when the Sekti monster looked not so far away. Sakti could have just run away, but the struggling Eagle dragging his feet did not. I just closed my eyes and prayed, hoping my life wouldn't end here.

“Shira, you can go down,” Sakti said resuscitated me. Apparently when I opened my eyes we made it to the cubicle. I subconsciously hugged him tightly like a frightened coward. The eagle just slashed down on the floor helplessly. The monsters outside were still raging trying to break down the door that Sakti was holding. I'm afraid he can't hold it alone.

“Yes, it seems like this is indeed difficult,” replied Sakti understood something I was thinking about.

“I can still endure the pain, really! Let me help!” my word.

“I doubt it will work, the monster already knows our position. He will only get wider,” replied Sakti.

“You mean we should move on and remove the trail? It's also impossible, we've been trapped here and I'm sorry, I can't walk anymore, ” replied the Eagle.

“Ah, maybe you guys forgot that I can also teleport,” Sakti said sounds a bit of a relief.

“Oh, right! You can move to any room!” pekikku happy as if saved.

“Yes, while in the room, my strength is reliable. Come on, everyone hold on!” kata Sakti's. I bow my hand to the Eagle. The three of us are connected. Just when the door of the room shattered, we had already turned into purple fireflies that faded towards somewhere.

A strange sensation arose when I felt gravity again. Our teleportation was a success. We moved to another room that was a little better. The opposite time system to the outside proves that this room is intact without gaps, not intervened by night time outside.

“Puh, you guys okay?” tanya Sakti's.

“No, you can see for yourself,” replied the grumbling Eagle.

“Eh, don't get mad, dong! Didn't I tell you not to fight close-quarters with the monster. He had so many opportunities to pull your neck and then throw it strong,” answered Sakti.

“Yes sorry, I have no wind power like you that can be controlled from afar. Ah, I'm not that cool. I know!”

“Already, Lang! No one disputes your coolness! Sakti also did not expect you to get hurt like this. Ah, ouh ..” pekikku shocked. Sakti started her healing technique on me.

“Joints on your knees slide, Shira. It might hurt a little. Hold yes!” kata Sakti while gently touching the area in question. Gentle, but the pain after that made me have to bite my lips to hold my screams.

“These heads don't slide right, Sakti? If so, please fix it too. It would be very troublesome if ...”

“The weakness of Shira's head is her memory. He doesn't care about details and doesn't want to remember things that he doesn't think are important. If there really is a problem with the head, it is likely that Shira can't remember you, with me as well. You want it like that, Eagle?” tanya Sakti's. There's no answer. I myself was surprised Sakti could read me that far.

“Eh? Well, so awkward, huh? Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I thought the Eagle would arrogantly as usual and say, ‘doesn't it matter Shira remembers me or not?’ I mean, hey, I was just kidding. You guys still like to joke, right?” tanya Sakti doesn't feel good on her own.

“Is it okay you let the door be like that?” ask the Eagle to swing the steering wheel. Sakti is still busy recovering my legs.

“It's okay, I use locking technique. Looks like Shira already knows the technique ‘kan?” answer Sakti.

“Yes, as I recall, the last time you tried it didn't really guarantee safety. Is it really okay to be left that way?” I said repeating the question.

“Nothing, our position is already quite far from that monster. May he not find us until dawn,” Sakti replied. Ah, I hope! I hope it's dawn soon.

“Already, Shira. Try moving your feet,” Sakti said ending the cool touch on my feet. I comply. Just being touched like that can heal, cool right? Sakti would probably be a famous healer if he lived in my home world.

“Thank you, my leg recovered like it never got hurt!”

“Good, now it's Eagle's turn.”

“Then I will be guarding the door!” my answer. Sakti approached the Eagle, checking his back. He said the eagle's back rib was broken. I shuddered I couldn't imagine it.

“What sword is still embedded here?” tanya Sakti's.

“Don't know, maybe yes,” replied Short Eagle.

“Wah, worth it. Normally you would have fainted if this happened, but it seems like the magic sword gave you a lot of power,” explained Sakti. His hand on the Eagle's back let out a white light with a sound like the bad luck of the wind. The eagle whimpered occasionally, his appearance was very chaotic. The new Sakti healing technique was completed at one point. I'm sure there are many more parts of his body that are injured.

“Why are Sekti monsters so angry today?” my many.

“Oh, it is common after winter when he hibernates a lot. He became more aggressive afterwards, maybe just for today,” Sakti replied.

“Good, I can't imagine if every day he's like that. Can-can all the rooms in the world are destroyed unceremoniously,” comments Eagle.

“Although so, Sekti will fix everything when he realized, you know!” said Sakti smiling little.

“It was also surprising. Why would he want to fix something that would later be broken again? Ah, you monster labile!” my answer. Sakti chuckles slowly.

“Sekti understand the rooms here are Sakti shelter. After all, if he realizes, he does not want to ruin everything and try to catch us, Shir,” replied the Eagle, “so said Sekti in the ancient book that I had read.”

“Wah, Eagle can already read it? Just incredible! I hope the next full moon mystery way out of this place is solved!” kata Sakti enthusiastically. I'm stunned, full season?

“Eh?! What's up?!” exclaimed the Eagle in shock when Sakti suddenly fell down next to him. I don't panic less either. This is not a normal thing for a Sakti.

“It's okay, I'm just tired. I don't have a hibernation period like Sekti, so ..” Sakti paused, trying to normalize his breath, “... so I have no energy stores that can be wasted like Sekti. I would be exhausted if my energy use reached its limit. You guys take it easy, I .. I'm just exhausted,” Sakti replied reassuring us. It is true that Sakti seems to be okay, but the condition of the Eagle has not fully recovered when Sakti itself fell.

“Oh yes, I'm glad the Eagle broke the password in that ancient book. Please, fight both of you ..” said Sakti looking at me and Eagle alternately, “I like you and will probably be lonely when you are gone, but I'd be happier if the first soul to make it out of here is you two.”

Sakti's current smile looks so sincere. I can't even look at him. For a moment I forgot that he was from six hundred years ago and had hoped that he could be present in my real life after we were released later. Ah, I forgot about it.

“I hope after this there will be no more lost souls in this place. You are the last and this is also my last full season, for the next full season is our fight of life and death. The way out should already be revealed,” Sakti said.

Lf it doesn't?

“If not ... then there will be a new pair of monsters in this world ..” replied Eagle. Sakti closed his eyes, not wanting that to happen.

The next full season? What can I find with an eagle in just one month?

.Seriate.