Chapter 2: Avatar
LOCATION: FOREST BETWEEN ASTEA AND ASRAIL
"Baticcus, that bastard, he did hurt you?!" Leilin's ranginh voice echoed the whole room.
"Mother, calm down I already handle him." Eijin said while sippong his soup.
"Already handle him?! He put bruise in your face!"
"Because I let him. I don't want to cause commotion."
"But you still did." Eiro butted in.
"Shut up, Eiro!" Leilin and Eijin both said in unison. Eiro rolled his eyes and continue eating.
'My opinions really doesn't matter with this dragons.' Eiro cried in his thoughts.
Leilin forcefully slammed the table. "Tsk! This never happened when I'm in Astea! Those retards know their places and never dared to deal with other people's business! If I'm in Astea I'll beat their asses into pulp!"
"But you left, mother. You can't go back now." Eijin whispered.
Leilin was the strongest warrior before she left Astea. Everybody respect her because of tremendous strength and knowledge in fighting. No one go against her words and policies. Even the Astean Council acknowledged her. Every Astean adored her.
"Calm down, darling. Eijin knows what he was doing. He's smart ass kid." Eiro said and ruffled Eijin's hair.
"Eiro! Stop it!" Eijin whined.
"It's father, brat." Eiro clicked his tounge. "Come on, call me father, I'll teach you witches' sorcery."
"Okay, father." Eijin smiled at Eiro innocently.
If Leilin was the strongest Astean warrior in her times, Eiro is the most intellectual Asrailan. He was called "Nocuous Brain of Asrail" during his time. He mastered the all sorcery that the whole region of Asrail have. He led his region into its peak, together with the Asrailan witches and wizards. He's the most skillful wizard before. Some Asrilan even say that he's the scariest opponent you should not to be battle with.
"Look at our son, Leilin! He's not respecting me!" Eiro cried at Leilin.
She sighed and patted Eiro's head. "Fine, fine. Eijin respect your father." She just riding on Eiro's childishness.
Eijin plastered a disgusted expression in his face. "Fine."
"Okay! Later, son! I'll you 2 more magic styles!" Eiro felt engertic suddenly.
'Simp.' Eijin and Leilin thought.
"By the way, I heard that the quest will happen soon." Eijin stated. "The gossipers in the market were talking about it earlier."
"Really?" Leilin was amused. "Ahh, quest huh? So nostalgic. I still remember the first I got in the divine land."
"Yeah." Eiro butted in. "That was when again? 15 years ago?"
"Yeah." Leilin answered. "It was the 45th opening." She smiled bitterly.
The opening of the divine land or what they called 'God's Quest'. It was a sacred quest that only happen every three years.
The whole quest will happen inside Amateus, the divine land. Land above Astea and Asrail, yeah, it was floating right above the two lands. It was the land were they said the King lives. The King of the two regions, Astea and Asrail and the king who was appointed by Yarmi, the god. Everytime the quest will happen, the divine stairs will appear at Astea and Asrail, connecting both regions to Amateus' gate.
The quest was created to find the right opponent for the king. The player who'll conquer the whole quest will be given the chance to fight for the throne of Yarmi. The very first God's Quest happened 150 years ago and the reason why they're looking for opponent for the king is still unknown. It was an mysterious quest but because it was the only way to step on the divine land that's why many people dared to enter.
"This year..." Eijin catched the attention of the two. "I've decided to join the quest."
Silence. The out of the blue declaration of Eijin took his parents in shock.
"Are you serious?" Leilin asked. She's trying to comprehend what his son stated.
Eijin nodded. "Of course."
"But..." Eiro still finding right words to say. "You're just 13 years old, Eijin."
'13 years old. In their eyes, I'm still a kid.' Eijin thought.
"My age is acceptable. I know the rules."
"You barely even grasp the lesson we're teaching you." Leilin said. "You don't have proper lessons from Astea nor Asrail Academy. You're just sticking in what we're teaching you."
"You're the best warrior and wizard, right? Your knowledge are enough! I'm learning, you know that in my current state, I could even battle players who's older than me."
The atmosphere changes. Eijin knew that this would happened once he dropped the bomb. But, he's still gambling, betting his chances to make his parents agree.
Eiro shut his eyes closed. "But things changes time over time, Eijin. It's been 14 years since we last stepped on our own region. We don't know what's the development regarding the power and the sorcery level of both Astean and Asrailan."
"Your father was right. Your still 13 years old. Just wait for 3 more years, after that we'll let you join." Leilin held Eijin's hands. "Listen to us, Eijin. The God's Quest was not a joke. Once you enter, there's no possibility that you'll come back alive. Amateus is not as divine, serene nor peaceful as you think."
'I know. I knew it from the start but I can't wait for three more years.' That's what Eijin was thinking.
"I'd decided already, mother. Those words meant nothing to me. I know how what I want to do." Eijin said firmly.
"And you're thinking of joining the quest?" There's a hint of sadness within Leilin's voice.
"Yes." Eijin said with certainty.
Silence. The blissful atmosphere diminished in instant. Grunger's lost their appetite to eat. No one's taking courage to talk. Their still coping with Eijin's words.
Eiro sighed. "You want to enter?" He broked the silence.
"Yes."
"With your current state, are you confident to stay alive?" Eiro asked with humorless eyes. Eijin shivered, it was the first time he saw his father like this.
"Y-yes..." he's trembling. Based from Eiro state, he's releasing magic particles.
"Eiro! Don't provoke him!" Leilin butted in.
"No, I'm not." Eiro stqred at him intently. "To be honest, you won't stand a whole week within Amateus with that power and magic that you inherited from us."
"How can you say that at your son, Eiro?!" Leilin lost it.
"You know the living phase inside, Leilin. Do you I'm just fooling around when I said those words. I'm not."
"Then... then..." Leilin can't find right words.
The tension was no more centered at Eijin, but now at Eiro. The words his throwing deep and heavy. No one can spot the playful Eiro earlier.
'I never thought I'd be seeing father like this. I no more wonder why no one go against him.'
"Don't sugarcoat things, Leilin." Eiro said. "Eijin."
"Y-yes?"
"When is the opening will happen?"
"S-Six months from now..."
'I knew it, they won't allow me. Maybe I'll escape through Astea diring the opening.' Eijin thought.
"We still have a lot of time." Eiro stated. Both Leilin and Eijin lifted their heads up.
"Huh?" They both said in unison.
"I mean, six more months, it's enough to make you prepared for the opening."
Eijin's eyes almost popped out from its socket. "You'll let me join?!" Happiness was present in his voice.
Eiro chuckled. The playful him was now showing. "Of course I'll let you! You've never been this certain with your decisions before, that's why I know we can't change what's on you mind."
"But, darling..." In contrary, Leilin voice was filled of gloominess.
"Come on, darling. Your son's maturing! He's showing the same interest we had before!"
"But..."
"Shh... let's just support him. Let's give him the proper guidance before entering Amateus."
Leilin just smiled in defeat. "Fine, what can I do when both of you already decided." Leilin looked at Eijin. "But son, since you've decided to enter the upcoming opening, you must ready yourself with the consequences."
"We will make sure that you'll learn all the things we've know during that period of time." Eiro added. "You ready?"
Eijin smirked. "Never been this ready."
5 MONTHS AND 30 DAYS BEFORE GOD'S QUEST
The next morning.
Eijin is panting because too much exhaustion from his sparing with his mother.
'Damn these old dragons! So this is what they meant by teaching all their knowledge?!' Eijin thought on himself.
"Hey buddy, tired already?" Leilin smirked at him. "You're eager to enter the divine land but you can't even launch a punch on me!"
"How the bloody hell could I do that?! Your body is presence less like damn air!" Eijin complained.
"I told you, feel the elements around you. Make your body part of nature. I already told you to be the 'avatar' of these elements." Leilin stated.
Eijin sighed and closed his eyes. He started to concentrate and to breathe. The way that he exhaled and inhaled air were equal to each other. Eijin visualized that he's part of air, the first element he needs to embodied. In his current state, he can control the 4 basic elements: water, fire, earth and wind. But being part of the elements are different story.
When Eijin felt that air can pass through him and that his body's floating, he opened his eyes. With the help of air element, he can now feel his mother's presence.
His crimson hair is floating in the air. In that moment, he attacked Leilin again.
With the air, he fastened his speed and tried to punch Leilin but his mother was way faster than him. She catched Eijin's fist then smirked.
"This is it? I thought you're---"
Eijin float his body through the air. The first move was a trap for Leilin. He maneuvered his young body through the air then placed himself at Leilin's back to choke her using his right arm.
But Leilin's read his movements, with her strength, she held Eijin's fist tightly and throw him away.
"Ughhh!" Eijin's almost hit a tree but he used his feet to stop his body from hitting it. His body's still felt light and he used it to make another attack to Leilin.
His feet was against the tree's body, he pushed himself towards Leilin. But like earlier, Leilin either catched or dodged his attacks. So Eijin lauched non stop blows and attacks to Leilin.
"This is foolish! You can beat me with these petty attacks!" Leilin said while dodging Eijin's attacks.
Meanwhile, Eiro smirked while watching the duel of his wife and son. He was beside Saskia and Sasti, who's eating the grass that Eijin prepared for them. Just by watching the fight, he already knew who'll win this round.
'That's right, show us that you're capable in entering that damn land.' Eiro thought.
Eiro scratched Saskia's head."We already know the winner, right Saskia?"
"Meeeeeeh!"
"How about you Sasti?"
"Meeeeeeeh!"
"Good girls! Here! More grasses for both of you!" Eiro said and feed the goats.
Back to the duel.
Leilin were stepping backwards due to non stop attacks from Eijin.
"Damn it!" Leilin cussed when she felt something hit her ankle that made her fall. But it shouldn't happened since she embodied the air element.
'The air embodiment undone!' Leilin thought.
Due to Leilin's fall, Eijin grabbed tree branch he got earlier when he was thrown by Leilin. With his speed and body which embodied the air, he went on top of Leilin before she could activate embodiment and held her hands. He made sure that his grasping it tightly and point the tree branch onto Leilin's temple.
"Surrender." Eijin said with dominance.
Leilin just stared at him for a moment, conprehending the sifuation that she engaged with. A minute later, Leilin laughed so hard.
"HAHAHA! I surrender!" Leilin said in defeat.
Eijin smirked and let go of his mother's hands. He get up and extended his hands towards his mother.
"10 - 1, loser." Eijin said then smirked.
"Fine, you got me this time, brat." Leilin shook her head and accepted his son's hands.
"Psh, you know where I got that trait."
"Eiro~" they both said in unison the gigled.
"Hey! I heard that!" Out of the frame, Eiro appeared.
"What? It's true! He has your attitude, darling." Leilin said then wiped off some dirt in her dress.
"Whatever!" Eiro rolled his eyes. The two laughed.
"You really got me earlier, Eijin. You're planing that since the beginning, aren't you?" Leilin asked after.
Eijin smirked. "Book of Embodiment: Air Element By Niccolo Saxhirin, page 304, second paragraph. Quote, 'The air embodiment process could be undone once the player was using his full body to cover his body from attack. Once the process was undone, the player's body was no more part of the element and could now be affected by other tangible goods', end of quote."
"You memorize that?" Eiro asked with amusement.
"Not just that, the whole book." Eijin answered as if it's just nothing.
Leilin and Eiro was amazed by what Eijin just said.
Eijin added, "I thought you'd notice the scratches I made with you during our earlier fights. I measure the level of your concentration with my attacks and I could only shaken a bit of your concentration with a full head on attacks. With that, I concluded that your embodiment process was not that tough during head to head battle."
"That's why, you attack me with full power?" Leilin asked.
Eijin nodded. "Mere petty attacks couldn't restrict your concentration, so I use my full power."
"That's risky." Eiro butted in.
"A fight without risking is not a valuable fight." Eijin said. "Right?"
His parents can't help bit to stare at Eijin.
Eiro was the first to speak, "Getting cocky, eh? It's just the start, brat."
Eijin looked at him cockily, "I know, old man."
"Come on! It's father you brat!"
"Nyeh, nyeh! Old man!"
Eiro run after Eijin who's bullying him again. Leaving Leilin in their fight ground, dumbfounded.
Leilin later smirked.
'He's just 13 years old but he holds great future ahead him. I can't wait to see what will Eijin accomplished in the future.' She thought.
-DriewNrocinu
DN's Note:
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