Grizzled

#S2 Episode 20

The two swinging swords met, clashing against each other, creating a distinctive sound of metal clangs slicing through the air. In the middle of the combat arena, the two people who were training, Eagle and Luska, had not shown any signs of fatigue since close combat training began half an hour ago. The sword they used was only made of ordinary metal, it was also not sharp at all because it was only for practice.

On the other hand, the sword that activated the exit of the Grey World, the symbol of great power belonging to the descendants of the Silver Knight, that should be on the Eagle, was not there. More like it disappeared a year and a half ago. I know the Chief of the Council is doubting the Eagle a little. That's why Eagle was in the combat training arena, fighting Luska to test his physical abilities while I was with Kak Garuda practicing my telekinesis technique which would be of much use. Which makes me wonder, why should Kak Garuda? The answer was because he was the one in the meantime who had the same ability as me.

“You're not ashamed of the two of them, Shira? Very excited, huh! Your time just practicing the telekinesis technique ten minutes is lackluster?” kak Garuda said. I who was lying tired on the edge of the arena increasingly wanted to roll around, escaping from Kak Garuda who turned out to be very chatty during my training.

“The reality of moving objects without physical contact is more energy draining, Brother ... and I .. have not been friendly enough with my ability,” I replied.

“But I've seen you knock down billboards when we were attacked by strangers before running to Alba, remember?”

“Well, only occasionally, I don't use it often.”

“Oh, it's appropriate that you can only move objects, but can not control the direction of movement,” replied Kak Garuda.

After that he explained at length about how amazing it would be like later I could control the movement of air particles, creating a powerful whirlwind that I wanted to answer by refuting how troublesome it was to make such a thing.

“Come, focus, Shira! It all depends on your will! That power will be according if you acknowledge it and keep practicing using it!” said Garuda once again.

“Focus huh? To be honest there are various things that make it difficult to focus, Brother,”, I replied, sitting up staring at one of the people in the middle of the arena.

“Aang yes?” guess Kak Garuda, “padahat more handsome brother but you are more focused there!”

“Dih, it's not a matter of which is more handsome! Ouch, toolog, deh, sis, seriously!”

“Hehe, yes, yes ... What's wrong?”

“Does the Eagle have the power of a Brother? Like mine?”

“How does it look?”

“It seems .. no, but the physical endurance and fighting ability of the Eagle is quite good, anyway!”

“Well, you already know, there's still something bothering you?”

“If the Eagle is chosen against the Grey World, then why is it that Big Brother has that power?” my many.

“Knight Muda Garuda is also still a descendant of the Silver Knight, Your Majesty,” said Ladra suddenly appeared behind us, “maybe he still inherited a small part of the strength of the Silver Knight, he is still, while most of them are on swords that match with the Great Knights.”

“But the sword has not yet been found. Can the Eagle still fight without that sword?”

“Um, from the story of the Eagle itself, you used to have no power during the fight against the Grey World. The sword was also embedded in the back of the Eagle and can not be used,” replied Kak Garuda.

“That's why, Your Majesty don't worry. The greatest strength of mankind is a sincere mind and kindness. The sword is indeed important, but only useful at the last moment ‘kan?” answer Ladra.

I fell pensively afterwards, trying to put the supply of spirit and the anxious reliever from these people into my heart. The anxiety was not yet gone because I secretly understood the worry that Miss Yastra had hidden during the meeting. It was a sword that held great power. Can you imagine if the sword was abandoned and invited the interest of anyone who intends to use it for evil? Well, that's exactly what happened to my head.

Two people in the middle of the arena appeared to have ended their training with their chests going up and down gathering as much oxygen as possible. The Head of the Board greeted the two, inviting me and Kak Garuda to gather in the field in the middle of the arena.

“How was your training?”/“How is His Majesty's training?”

The two people looked at each other for a moment after unintentionally simultaneously asking the same thing.

“Take it easy! Shira is under the right coach! He will experience a lot of development!” replied Kak Garuda patting the top of my head slowly, making the two snort simultaneously.

“I've already noticed the abilities of the Great Knights, it's not worrying. Now I understand the reason His Majesty was able to be protected in the previous conquest of the Grey World was because His Majesty was with people like you,” Ladra said.

The eagle briefly sighed before continuing to speak, wiping away the sweat that made some of his hair fall on his forehead.

“For the umpteenth time I say, I don't need to be flattered. Should the Head of the Council know, the melee fighting ability that only relied on physical abilities was not very guaranteeing. Why does the Head of the Board believe that Shira stays safe just by being with me? It was the Silver Knight who protected me and Shira a lot,” replied the Eagle.

“Great Knights don't have to worry. His Majesty has now mastered some powers even though he has not been so proficient. The longer the power of His Majesty will grow,” Ladra replied.

“Then how? I heard this mission will really only send His Majesty and the Great Knight Eagle to the Grey World,” said Luska, “what is the Head of the Council seriously? We once brought a thousand troops and the returned only one tenth.”

“Do you think such a count happens when two legends go to war? Don't underestimate the thread of fate, Luska! Although it looks unreasonable, both have proven successful in winning from the Grey World,” said Ladra.

“Not, not so, Head of Board ... I am not underestimating. I mean, I mean .. I would love to go with His Majesty and the Great Knight,” said Luska.

Ladra smiled slightly, “Last-lately I heard many people say that, but everyone has a duty to fight in their own way, including you, Luska. You already have your own role!”

“Sorry, the Head of the Board has not informed me of my role. What's it?”

“Oh? Not yet? Ah, I did just send you a message a few minutes ago when you were still practicing,” Ladra replied, “ essentially you will fill the role of Great Knight in Nigra.”

“Haaa?!”

Luska and Eagle's voices sounded in unison calling for a piece of the shock.

“What do you mean?!”

“Begini, Great Knight. During your mission in Alba, your figure disappears in Nigra. Instead of causing anxiety and excitement, there should be a stunt double. I choose Luska to replace and take care of all your affairs in Nigra,” Ladra replied.

“Wah! I should have been given a stunt double too!” sahutku.

“Yes, His Majesty's stunt double is Aquila.”

“Please, I still don't understand any of this! How could Luska suddenly be me and handle all my business?!” protest Eagle looks so upset, “again I've disappeared for a few days. I'm sure there's been a furore! My cousin must have told my parents and they put up a missing person ad on the light poles!”

“You must have matched with WC suction ad huh, Ang?” timpal Kak Garuda's.

“Silence, Gar! You too! How could you so lightly leave your job the last few days, ha?”

“Why are you panicking now?!”

“Finally I thought this was just a dream like it used to be!”

Ladra looked carelessly explained because the Eagle was suddenly senewen himself.

“Yes, Your Honor. I can only rely on that hypnotist, but the effect is not permanent, very ineffective when it comes to going back and forth Alba to Nigra just to reactivate the hypnotic influence,” explained Luska, “besides that, I cannot hypnotize everyone who knows His Majesty or the Great Knight as a whole. As you know, it's very complicated to do it.”

“Listen, Shir! He himself said he couldn't!” said Eagle.

“However, it can be overcome with a stunt double scenario. Luska is a doll that will be made to resemble the Great Knight, planted with memories and subconscious belonging to the Great Knight in order to play his role properly,” Ladra explained.

“Wah? Can it be like that? You guys got the trick?” manya curious.

“Only make-over of face replacement and again make use of a small hypnotist. I've heard before that in Alba found a make-over technique that can change the appearance of someone according to the desired model, Shira,” replied Kak Garuda.

“Sort of plastic surgery, is that it?”

“More terrible again! The result is very satisfying because you can not distinguish which one is a doll and which one is the original model. That's why the technique was finally banned, but it seems like the technique is useful for now.”

“What Young Knight Garuda told me is true. We were forced to use the technique plus a mild hypnotist to overcome should anyone realize the strangeness due to some failure,” Ladra explained.

“Crazy! You guys are crazy!” the Eagle still did not accept.

“And about that memory planting ... lest through memory ribbon scanning like I had at that time huh?” charakkum

“True, we've got a copy of Your Majesty's memory tape track record. We just need to reconstruct it in Aquila's head so that your memory doesn't damage Aquila's own memory and can be recalled once the mission is complete.”

“It's even crazier! You want me to share my memories with Luska?! Finish my privacy!” said Eagle.

“It is not permanent ...”

“Bodo highly! From my privacy trampled ..”

“How expensive is your privacy, Great Knight Eagle? What is more expensive than the safety of people throughout the country?” tanya Luska half insinuated.

“Luska, nothing ...”

“Sorry, Council Chief, I just repeated the words Great Knight himself. He managed to melt the ego of several thousand Alba residents, but what about his own ego? Gosh, fighting yourself from the past is the hardest yes!” luska said then put her feet up. All I could see from the Eagle before finally leaving was the hardened jaw line when I looked at Luska's back.

 ***

Checking in the combat training arena this afternoon did not undo the schedule of the Eagle memory ribbon scanning agenda. The procedure still has to be done because it has become part of a plan that can not be changed. Luska will continue to replace him in Nigra and the results of scanning the memory track record are very much needed.

I was with Ladra to take these two men to Doctor Kara's room at the Medical Center. If there is no obstruction, Luska will be examined at once before the Eagle's memory is harmonized in his head. I really did not think because humans turned out to be like mobile devices that installed additional memory and then removed after completion. Scientist Alba is crazy! Crazy genius I mean.

Along the journey inside the instant portal carriage seemed really cold because it seemed like the emotional friction between Eagle and Luska was still going on even in silence. The head of the Ladra Council did not comment much. Ah, if only I could find a way to reconcile the two! When I was just about to start the pleasantries, the door of the portal carriage opened. We arrived in the hallway to Doctor Kara's room. The irritation on the Eagle's face grew even more intense. He was clearly still not willing if Luska knew the contents of his head while Luska herself also seemed unhappy when she had to replace the Eagle in Nigra.

I just sighed, deeply envious of the Head of the Council who was completely unaffected by the attitude of these two people. He no-nonsensely asked the young doctor to start the scanning session. Doctor Kara who seems to be not being herself invites the Eagle into the room behind the wall. This is how we do psychological treatment with patients. Meanwhile, Luska and I waited together in the front room because the Head of the Council had to meet Aquila. The old man seemed to struggle with handling things.

“Eh, Luska ..” I said breaking the silence that had unfeelably wrapped the atmosphere five minutes since Ladra left. The man next to me did not respond, signifying being far away in daydreams. Once again I called his name, then he realized.

“Sorry, Your Grace ... You talk something?” tanyakanya.

“You can't hate Eagle huh!” I said without further ado, “I think so because it looks like when you practice swords, as if you want to really finish off each other. If you have a problem with her let me tell her not to upset you .. and vice versa.”

Luska sighed for a moment, “Since the Eagle said it would take His Majesty away, I don't like it. I basically dislike anyone from Nigra who keeps His Majesty away from Alba. Please tell him not to plan at all to derail this mission.”

I just nodded, inwardly planning on only conveying half of Luska's words. It's gonna get worse when the Eagle finds out Luska doesn't want me to leave Alba someday, or does she actually already know? I don't know!

It didn't feel like more than an hour was passing, adding another hour. Ladra had returned when I was tired of half-dead waiting. Luska herself had run out of topics. We repeated another two hours with Luska allowing me to tamper with the communication device on her left arm. Total time of four hours, Elang and Doctor Kara have not yet come out. As we were guessing what was happening, the walls of the room shifted upwards. Doctor Kara appears while twitching her forehead and Eagle is still with her blustery face trailing behind.

“It's done?” my many.

“I'm sorry, Your Honor, it's really tarnishing my reputation. For the first time, four hours were wasted. No scan results I got,” replied Doctor Kara.

“Why? Scanner is broken?” ask Ladra.

“Not, Head of Board. I failed to take a psychological approach with the Great Knights because the magpies themselves unknowingly persistently refused to be read. I'm sure today's scan was not at all desirable."

The eagle is silent, not denying. The Head of the Council looked at me alternately with the Eagle, then looked at Luska who was snorting as she left the room.

“Maybe we rest first,” Ladra said following Luska out.

“True, I also need a break,” replied Doctor Kara. The eagle dropped his butt on the soft sofa next to me, rubbing his face, avoiding my gaze.

“Lang ...” call me slowly and the Eagle is still flinching in his position, “you must be stressed huh? Luska's just gonna borrow your memory for a second. Returned again, kok!”

“Returned again and completely kept confidential. When that memory was retracted, Young Knight Luska did not recall any piece of events from the memory of the Great Knight,” explained Doctor Kara.

“Tuh, said Doctor Kara. What are you really worried about? If there really is any personal information, I will ask Luska to keep it strictly confidential! He must have followed me!” the bujukku.

However, the Eagle is not a child who is easy to imagine. I didn't understand what he didn't want to share with Luska, but it seemed so important that he had to worry so much.

“Lang, I think you really want to help me finish all this and get back to Nigra,” talk to me once again. Next I saw the neck of the Eagle wrapped in a necklace with a metal pendant look flushed and the color was evenly distributed in his face and ears. Heh, does he have to be sick like this? When I checked his forehead it wasn't so hot. At least I'm not too worried.

“Iya, Shir, yes ...” whispered the Eagle later, grasping my hand that was still stuck on his forehead, “I do want to help you.”

The sad look of the Eagle left me petrified for a while until I heard Donter Kara exclaim.

“Finally!”

“Eh?!”

“Four hours with me without any results, four minutes with Your Majesty with all the results of the mapping complete. The important memory of the Great Knight when he was with His Majesty seemed to contain many stories about the past as well. Good riddance! I can process it immediately!” doctor Kara said with joy, removing the pendant that looks like a scanning device from the Eagle's neck.

The eagle itself was still half-collapsing helplessly when Luska and Ladra returned .. and I hurriedly pulled my hand from the Eagle's grasp.

.Seriate.