Grizzled

Episode 38's

“Devil creator of this place," said Sakti.

"Yesterday I had a chance to face him and was rewarded with this shredded wound,” Sakti still consistently whispered, “dia bothered to come here because she started to be curious about the two of you. Lost souls have never been able to last as far as you guys before, so it's only natural that he's curious.”

“Then he intends to finish off me and Shira with his own hands?” ask Eagle. The atmosphere became a little tense with the change of the topic of conversation.

“No, hopefully not. I hope he still believes that you will die at the hands of monsters so that he does not have to dirty his own hands to finish you off. Otherwise, the devil is tired of lost souls ending up the same. So, there's a chance he'll keep you alive until the third full moon fight. Don't worry, okay?” sakti said but I refuse not to worry. The idea of the creator of this place had already messed up my mood.

“Don't a pair of orange dots yesterday?” my guess.

“Come, Shira! He can take whatever embodiment he likes. The one he used most often was a black shadow like a plume of dense smoke. It was the embodiment that benefited him the most because of the many powers he could wield in that form. When it is dark around you maybe only a pair of pink fire eyes are visible,” answered Sakti. I gasp.

“So right, that orange point!” the Eagle clenched his hand.

“We have unintentionally followed him! He already knows us, Lang!” reply worried.

“Luckily in such a form, he could not see your face or hear your voice. He could only see a creature that still had a physical body when he was in a human form in the original world, but that was too suspicious, too, so he chose to still appear with the form of thick smoke even though he finally could not greet you.”

“Shortly, Sakti! What did you say? His human form in our original world? She can resemble a human?” I just don't believe it.

“Where's your gear from earlier, Shir?! Sakti says the devil can take whatever form he likes,” replied the Eagle without me half-literate. The Eagle's thump was not something that was most alarming at the moment. I hope the demons aren't the people around me! May he be far across the ocean! Please, I don't want to meet him!

I saw Sakti smilingly watching me. I forgot something I thought I couldn't hide from him.

“It's not certain, Shira, but it's very likely that the devil is all around you. Logically there is no way you can get in here if you are outside the trap he set,” Sakti replied.

“Trap? What trap?” ask Eagle.

“I think you already know from that ancient book,” reply Sakti.

“Information from there I can only get gradually, last time I read about six keys in six directions,” replied Elang.

“Well, that's it, Eagle! The six keys in the six directions were the traps he had set up to randomly attract a pair of white and black souls to get stuck in this place!”

Meet me! One clue as to the cause of the crack of light sucking in both of us has been obtained!

“The devil purposely installed it? Means he did plan for us both to get lost here!” timpal.

“Of course he planned it, Shira. The devil wants to prevent the prophecy of a turning point. There should be a pair of souls killed in this gray world every six decades, but he could not choose who to draw here. That's why the six-key trap covers a non-narrow area to capture multiple souls and select a pair of them randomly,” is obviously Sakti which feels like it makes my head want to explode.

“Ah, I don't understand! I don't understand about the six-key trap! What is the turning point prediction? I feel like I have wasted your explanation because of my ignorance, Sakti! I'm sorry!” whinekku sorry. Though Sakti has shared more everything he knows than Sekti Pemurung who told me to read the ancient book myself –while I can not read it. I really need to read that book!

“Quiet! I'll tell you!” the Eagle looked distant. In his head must have sprung a lot of guesses because obviously he knows more things.

“It's okay, study little by little,” Sakti replied patting the top of my head but it wasn't enough to make my feelings improve. I always wondered. Why was it that only the Eagle could read it when the book was on me for the first time?

 ****

Class was a little noisy when I just got there. It should have been natural because I arrived at the earliest five minutes before the bell came in and almost all had come to enliven the atmosphere. However, the morning commotion had me pecking at the door.

Friends prepare their various brushes and paints. Sindi and Nabilah who were a little panicked nudged me together while scrambling out of the classroom. Oh my, change of schedule. I forgot the fine art classes that are usually ahead of the weekend are exchanged today .. and the painting projects on that canvas as well. ******! I'm not ready for anything!

“Heh, young man! Pamali is standing at the door! It's hard to tell your taste!” chirps Marvel who was chatting on Yuanda's bench with Yasinta as well.

“There's a problem, Ra?” ask Yuanda.

“My painting equipment missed,” I replied half sleepy.

“Nah, right! You lost a bet with me, Vel! I thought Shira would forget! Ahahaha! Don't forget to treat me to gado-gado!” yasinta looks very happy. Since when did my misfortune become a betting material?!

“You cheated, Yas! Shira's closest friends clearly knew such a thing! Maybe Shira told you last night that she would forget to bring her painting equipment!” refute Marvel.

“You think for what reason I planned to forget something as important as this, Vel?! Ah, dammit! This full day schedule does not fit into the old schedule! Maple book today nothing I brought!” my grumbling is upset but Yasinta is getting excited.

“Jackpot! Is that right again my guess?! Haha, fruit ice treat as well! I'm sorry you lost a big deal on business like this, Vel!” the word Yasinta makes Marvel even more sullen. I was just frowning, I didn't think she was really happy on top of my suffering.

“So seriously you do not bring even one kind of paint color or brush used?” ask Yuanda.

“Buy in co-operative may be there, Ra, but stock is limited. Quickly buy!” marvel said it gave a little hope. However, the return of Sindi and Nabilah by bringing new painting tools while bringing news that the paint and brushes in the cooperative are exhausted. Ah, yeah never mind! In the art room there may still be used paint and brushes, maybe anyway.

 ***

The eagle had instructed the friends to immediately descend into the art room near the library. Unlike the library which is a new modern-style building with glass doors, the fine arts room is just a regular classroom with one large window facing the volleyball court. Intentionally designed minimal windows so that the walls are wide to display various two-dimensional works. Ventilation of air and light on the walls are rather high enough to keep this room from the impression of stuffy. In the back there is a shelf where three-dimensional works and remnants of – practicum materials such as brushes and used paint that I looked for.

“Sitting is free! Keep clean and neat! Do not forget to clean each place before leaving the room!” exclaim Eagle while sharing the canvas.

“Yes! Don't forget who hasn't paid the canvas dues! Better get paid soon so that your paintings are good!” sahut Arnita, class treasurer. Canvas debt affects the value of painting art huh? Ah, the underworld treasurer always had a theory that anyone obediently pay dues, really his natural talent.

In the end, there was not much I could find. The primary color paint I was looking for was almost dry. Only white can be used. Luckily Yuanda donated black paint and one of the brushes she had. Ah, she's so nice! I became a little helped, though I don't know what I could paint with only white and black paint. I went back to my chair by the window that someone else had filled.

“Excuse me! That's my place!” I said scolding the kid who started sketching this. He looked indifferently.

“Free seating, remember?” he answered with that annoying face. It is hard to make peace with the eagle.

“The one with the initial intention of sitting here is me! Look at my stuff I put here first. So please, move!” I said try as decently as possible.

“My stuff is used. Get out of there, I love that place!”

“Sorry, if I like it too?”

Oh, don't you want to give up?!

“When you can share a place and stop fussing over trivia!” reply Rehan. I just grunt. The eagle has not yet lifted its legs. I had to take a chair and sit behind him. Unable to bargain, since the first day of art class, by the window was my favorite place. Many friends know and rarely take that place, but today someone is deliberately looking for a cause.

Almost ten minutes my hand hasn't moved, haven't determined the object I want to draw. What can you do with white and black? Chess board? A zebra? Suddenly I found a little look. Rehan was surprised to see me just starting out. I don't know, I was curious. Could it be that I can finish before the turn of the clock bell?

Sixty minutes went by, I didn't see much left-right. Occasionally pestered Rehan to ask for another color paint.

“You painted the character of The Thing Fantastic Four huh, Ra?” guess Rehan's watching my work.

“Hm, it's similar, anyway!” my answer is still seriously applying paint.

“Oh, isn't it? Then what?” ask Rehan again. What had appeared in my head was the figure of Sakti with the face of half a monster, extending a hand trying to get out of the crack of light that was about to swallow him. That's what I'm painting right now, a portrait that's predominantly white and black. Rehan was busy with his paintings. I'm still trying as closely as possible to build detail on the eyes and the fluttering white mane of the figure of Sakti. Many times I made the mistake of grazing the black area when applying white paint, making Sakti's hair look gray. I was a little annoyed at my carelessness, sighing for a moment while loosening my hands. Other details are not too worrying, especially the expression of Sakti's eyes that seem to speak and his hands feel real being stretched out, I want to reach.

“You impressed him not to be released, Shir,” comments Eagle who somehow from when it was next to me, without worrying about starting to discuss it in the middle of class like this, but if anyone hears they won't understand what we're talking about.

“Yes, in that flashback I also felt that I was not going to be released. The choice facing Sakti is too bitter compared to the reality of his release from that place,” my answer is still looking at this semi-finished painting. I was a little misbehaved to be stared back by the eyes of Sakti which is actually not real.

“Sakti handsome ya!” my murmur turned out to be heard by the Eagle.

“Hm, but his hair is like grandfathers!” reply Eagle.

“Dih, that's a rare hair color, you know! She matches the white color in her hair, I like!” my bell.

“Stay cool black, Shir! Before Sakti was trapped in the gray world, her hair color was black. You don't remember Sakti ever saying that?” said Eagle, “ you should paint black instead of gray hair color like that,” said Eagle again.

“Ah, I don't know! It was my fault!” I answered half in despair.

“White does seem clean and holy, but he is so vulnerable. Stay the most powerful black!” said Eagle grinned without being seen, “ in contrast to white who could not maintain his identity around other colors, black will not change just because it mixed a little red, blue, or yellow. Black will only change because of white.”

I was silent to hear it. What is he really talking about?

“Your analogy is good,” I replied agreeing despite not knowing exactly what his words meant. The eagle just slicked his shoulders.

“That rhyme I read in Sekti last night,” replied the Eagle back to his chair by the window, tidying up the painting of a faceless girl who was crumbling with an abstract brown background. It was astonishing when he could paint without any paint stains on his hands or clothes while what happened to me was quite the opposite. Ah, this paint stain on my skirt could be gone or not?

The remaining thirty minutes felt like five minutes. I haven't done much detail on the background of my painting. Luckily Bu Yulita was in the interest so that the collection of this task was left to the class leader. Maybe the Eagle can be compromised to give me another ten minutes.

“Can't, Shir. After this language hour. Mr. Hanri is never late for class,” replied the Eagle.

“Yes, Lang, I get it. Wait a minute, let me stay last. You and the others go to class first, okay?” I asked while I kept working.

“Already, Ra! Mine is not finished either,” Rehan said

“Yes, this can be continued next meeting,” timpal Eagle.

“Next meeting? Next sunday? We're UTS, guys, remember?” my answer.

“Means next week again! Bu Yulita said it doesn't have to be done now, really, Ra!” rehan. Ah, these people can't understand! Once it's in front of the canvas, I can't move on until it's completely finished.

“Really? Miss Yuli said that? Can't be trusted! My hunch says that the value of this task will appear in the report card insert after UTS,” I replied still stubbornly. I was traumatized by the value of D in the art task because Bu Yulita suddenly changed the deadline at will. Friends couldn't learn from last semester's events, when we asked about an unfinished project that should have been continued, but Ms. Yulita said the project had already been assessed. After receiving the report card insert then we classmate see the value of D in our art assignments. Really, the red value was too conspicuous and very damaging to the scene on my report card.

The eagle and Rehan finally actually went back to class. I looked at my painting which was finally finished as well even though today I have no capital. Ah, next time I want to repay Yuanda's kindness! Immediately I cleaned my place and washed my hands. As planned, I went out ten minutes after the turn of the clock. Mr. Hanri looks like he just came out of the teacher room walking towards the stairs to my class. I hurried to run but I won't be able to get ahead of him.

“Hayo, Shira! Where have you been? Isn't hanging around at the turn of the hour not allowed?” reprimanded Mr. Hanri realized I was walking not far behind him.

“Ah, it was art class, sir. I picket, so have to help settle first,” answered me make an excuse.

“Oh yes? Picket alone? Weird!” he said he was suspicious. I just grin. Well, it's impossible to fool the school's spy chief. Cases of serious violations he can know let alone my little lies like this.

“Sorry, Sir. I finished last,” answered I finally confessed.

“Tck-tck-tck! What good is Shira punished huh?”

“Eh? When I stay punished? I'll be on time, sir, not late!” my dispute.

“Ah, how about you make a novel framework!” said Mr. Hanri no matter my protest, “after all you have no further news about the race to make a novel that we have agreed at that time!”

“Eh? What race?” I pretend to forget. Please, soon UTS and the third full moon boundary are very close! I was avoiding any unnecessary activity because ... well, the gray world risked my life.

“Wah, indeed evasive intentions huh? You have a lot of old manuscripts. Too bad to be abandoned and kept secret. Who knows if the competition is included, your audience who has not been more than the number of students of this school can go up,” replied Mr. Hanri. Eeeh?! Mr Hanri knows the number of my audience?! That means ....

“Where do you know my author account?!” my question was to hold back the call and a bunch of other questions, but Mr. Hanri just smiled and entered the classroom, saying hello. The question was still circling in my head. Mr. Hanri had said that he would still collect the skeleton of the novel before UTS next week. Ah, nice! Dependents increase!

Something better I soon realized. I did not bring any Indonesian books, nor any other maple books scheduled in one day. Ehe, fuck!

.Seriate.