It was hectic. Tremors were felt every once in a while. The situation inside the hospital is tense.
Medical personnel scrambled frantically, tending to the injured. The building shook violently. The windows were rattling and medical equipment clanging together.
The emergency power supply kicked in with a deafening roar, casting the hospital into a dim red glow. Screams echoed through the hallways as patients clung to their beds, unsure of what was happening.
It was as if panic had spread like wildfire throughout the hospital, along with the sickening crunch of falling debris. Reverberating explosions were heard coming from the Gears Arena, where the Summer Tide Festival is held.
I woke up in a hospital bed, disoriented and confused. The blinking lights added to my confusion.
I couldn't recall what had happened earlier, and trying to remember only caused me more pain. All I could see in my mind was the image of myself falling down a shaft.
And to make matters worse, I could barely feel my legs. I tried to take a look, but my weakness prevented me from getting up.
The nurse pushing my bed abruptly turned, leading me into what seemed to be an operating theater. She attached a piece of medical equipment to me, and hurriedly left the room, screaming for a doctor to come.
A young man wearing a surgical mask with a stethoscope hanging over his neck entered. The name tag above his left pocket reads, Dr. Ahmed Qulat. After pulling the surgical gloves on his hands, the doctor picked a scalpel and started the operation on my left leg.
Dr. Ahmed ordered the nurse beside him to administer the anesthetic as I focused my view on the machine next to me. There was a graph on its screen. The line was going up and down steadily.
I saw the lights of the operating room slowly fade as the anesthetic took effect. The pain in my legs was also fading, along with my consciousness.
All of a sudden, I heard a sharp beep even though I was barely awake. Dr. Ahmed ordered the nurse to charge the defibrillators. The beep grew faster and louder until it became a constant, steady tone.
After a few controlled electric shocks were delivered by the doctor, he gave in and accepted the situation. My heart was beyond the means to 'restart'.
I experienced total darkness. My heart had stopped. While in utter void, I thought about the precious things I had while I was alive. My father, my faith, and… a girl?
◈◈◈
" Beep… Beep… Beep… "
「 Me (wondering) 」
"Did I die?"
The door burst open, and a man rushed in. His face was a jigsaw puzzle that my mind was struggling to piece together.
His eyes held a flicker of recognition, but to me, he was a stranger. Despite feeling familiar, I had no idea who he was.
I tried very hard to remember, but my head hurt. I held them with both my hands and closed my eyes trying to endure the pain. After hugging me softly, the man spoke up, interrupting my thoughts.
「 Man 」
"Zanno, you're awake!"
"Thank god..."
I looked at him blankly, still unable to remember who he was.
"Do you know who I am?"
I shook my head, feeling a bit embarrassed and confused for not remembering.
「 Dad (teary) 」
"It's me..."
"It's Daddy."
"I thought I'd lost you forever, son."
I opened my eyes and looked at him, trying to focus on his face.
「 Zanno (whisper) 」
"I..."
"I can't remember."
"Where am I?"
「 Dad 」
"You're in the Steam Ward, Zanno."
"You were... injured, but the doctors managed to save you."
I felt a wave of confusion wash over me as I tried to piece together what had happened.
「 Zanno 」
"Injured?"
"What happened to me?"
Zanno's father hesitated for a moment before he spoke.
「 Dad 」
"Something terrible happened during the Summer Tide Festival."
"I think you were caught in the aftermath."
"The rescue team found you near an old elevator shaft in one of the mines."
「 Zanno (disbelief) 」
"I don't..."
"I don't remember."
My dad's voice quivered as he described the scene in the Gears Arena. How Raja Rimba and his bonecan friend triumphed over the demon Raf il-Cul, and the brave gladiators routing the zak'nagis.
I struggled to comprehend the enormity of what my dad was saying. A demon appearing at a festival, searching for a particular person? But as he continued, the details began to take shape in my mind.
The Gears Arena, the Summer Tide festival - it all started to come together. And then there was Raja Rimba, the champion who never gave up despite the odds being stacked against him.
「 Dad 」
"Zanno, I know it's a lot to take in."
"But you need to rest now."
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. It was all too surreal, like a dream that I couldn't wake up from. But it was real. Dad was only telling the truth.
「 Zanno 」
"So, what do I do now?"
"How do I get out of here?"
「 Dad 」
"You can't leave just yet, Zanno."
"You need to... recover first."
"But don't worry, I'll be here with you every step of..."
"I mean... I will always be here by your side."
Noticing something odd about what Dad said, I pulled the bed sheet covering my legs. My left leg was in a cast and I could not feel them.
The hair on my arms stood on end as if someone walked over them with cold feet on a winter's day. Something was not right.
「 Zanno 」
"Dad, why can't I feel my legs?"
"What happened to me?"
Dad's face turned pale, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and worry. He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
「 Dad 」
"Zanno… The demon attack."
"It caused a collapse in the mines, the one you were caught in."
"Your left leg was crushed by the rubbles."
My heart plunged as his words sank in. Crippled? I couldn't believe it. My mind raced, trying to process the reality of my situation. How could everything change so drastically in an instant?
「 Zanno 」
"Will... will I ever walk again?"
Dad's voice wavered as he tried to find the right words.
「 Dad 」
"The doctors say it's too soon to know for sure."
"But they're doing everything they can to help you recover."
"It will be a long and challenging journey, but you're strong, Zanno."
"We'll get through this together."
Tears welled up in my eyes as a mixture of fear and frustration coursed through me. The weight of my new reality pressed down upon me, crushing my spirit along with it. I cried so hard until I fell asleep.
◈◈◈
Waking up the next day, I found myself in a different room. I was transferred from the Steam Ward to the Recovery Ward as my vital signs were showing improvements. There was an empty bed beside me.
「 Nurse Jasneeta 」
"Now you go back to bed!"
"And don't let me catch you again!"
Startled by the outcry, I turned my head toward the door as an irritated nurse pushed it open. A middle-aged man walked in hesitantly, heading for the empty bed.
「 Nurse Jasneeta 」
"STAY!"
The man climbed onto his bed. His face looked familiar but I was sure that I had never met him before. He then smiled at me while pulling out some chocolate from underneath his blanket.
「 Rachmat Sulong 」
"Hey there kid."
"My name is Rachmat."
"Rachmat Sulong."
"Here, have some chocolate."
"I managed to smuggle them in just now."
"Hehe..."
「 Zanno (surprised) 」
"Rrr… Rachmat?"
"Rrr… Raja Rimba?"
「 Rachmat Sulong 」
"Ahh… Yes."
"That's my arena name."
"Hehe."
It was him. The champion. But he somehow looks older. Decades of years older. I was confused as the Raja Rimba I knew was around his mid-twenties. The perplexity gave me a headache again.
「 Zanno 」
"You look… old."
"By the way, my name is Zanno."
"I am your biggest fan!"
Honored meeting a fan, Raja Rimba grinned and gave a thumbs up. He then started explaining what happened to him.
His story about the demon parasites was grim but other than that, it was inspiring. I listened carefully as my jaw slowly dropped in awe.
「 Raja Rimba 」
"Yes, Zanno..."
"That was my story."
"Those life-sucking slugs..."
"They drained my vitality and aged me significantly."
As Raja Rimba continued to jabber, his voice carried a mixture of determination and wisdom. He recounted his training in Mythrilius Exodia, facing countless opponents to rise in the ranks as a gladiator.
「 Zanno 」
"That's incredible, Raja Rimba."
"You are the best!"
「 Raja Rimba 」
"Zanno, life will throw unexpected challenges at you, ones that may seem insurmountable."
" But remember, it's not about how many times you fall, it's about how many times you rise."
" You have the strength within you to overcome any obstacle that comes your way."
"Believe in yourself and never give up."
His words resonated deeply within me, igniting a newfound determination. Even though I was confined to a hospital bed, I felt a flicker of hope and resolve burning within my heart.
Raja Rimba's story reminded me that heroes come in all forms and that the strength to face adversity lies within each of us.
「 Zanno 」
"Thank you, Raja Rimba."
"I will recover…"
"And walk again."
"Just like you!"
[ Hope Experience Point: +1 ]
Raja Rimba nodded, his eyes filled with pride.
「 Raja Rimba 」
"I've no doubt that you will, Zanno."
"Remember, you are never alone in your journey."
"There are always people who care about you and are ready to support you every step of the way."
And in that moment, I knew that I had found a mentor, a friend, and a beacon of hope. With those words of encouragement from Raja Rimba, my spirit soared.
His belief in me ignited a fire within, propelling me forward on my journey towards recovery. I knew that it wouldn't be easy, but I was ready to face the challenges head-on.
As I lay in the hospital bed, I began to visualize myself taking each step with renewed strength and determination. I imagined the joy of regaining my mobility and the freedom that would come with it.
I looked around the room, realizing that I wasn't alone. Nurses and doctors bustled about, caring for patients, offering support, and guiding them toward healing. The presence of these compassionate hearts reassured me that I had fate by my side.
「 Zanno 」
"Thank you, Raja Rimba."
"You are my hero."
"I will never forget this."
Raja Rimba smiled warmly, his eyes shining with pride and admiration.
「 Raja Rimba 」
"You are stronger than you realize, Zanno."
"Keep that fire burning within you."
"And remember, if ever doubt or despair tries to cloud your path, reach out and lean on those who care about you."
"They will be there, supporting you every step of the way."
As I settled back into my bed, I knew that the road to recovery wouldn't be easy. It would require patience, perseverance, and the unwavering support of those around me.
But armed with the strength and inspiration I had gained from Raja Rimba's story, I was ready to face the challenges ahead.
" Creeaak… "
The door opened during my emotional conversation with Raja Rimba. Dr. Ahmed walked in, with my dad bearing a sullen look on his face. I feared for the worst.
「 Dad 」
"Is there something else we can do, doctor?"
「 Dr. Ahmed 」
"I am truly sorry Mr. Starr, but this is the best for everyone."
I was discharged hours later. No follow-up treatment. Nothing. Dad pushed me home in a wheelchair, with every step he took, shattered his heart. Still stunned by the turn of events, I was speechless along the way.
It seems that during my accident in the mines, I came into contact with zak'nagis. Parasites that came from them managed to invade my bloodstream through my injured leg. The doctors were beyond the means to treat me.
Even though they confirmed that it was not contagious, I was put under indefinite home quarantine until further notice. A precaution, before the doctors figure out the next course of action. The hopes that soared earlier came crashing down after Dad told me of the news.
I guess Raf il-Cul's title as the Lord of Anguish fit him. Even though he was defeated by Raja Rimba and his friends, the demon managed to live up to the name. Sowing seeds of despair all over the people of Cardinal Peaks. And I was one of them.
As we arrived home, the situation settled heavily upon us. The silence between Dad and me was filled with a mixture of disbelief, sadness, and uncertainty. I couldn't comprehend the gravity of what had just been revealed.
The image of the zak'nagis parasites invading my bloodstream haunted my thoughts. Knowing that the doctors were unable to treat me left me feeling helpless and scared. The once hopeful horizon now seemed clouded with uncertainty.
Being placed under indefinite home quarantine added another layer of isolation to my already shattered world. I understood the need for precautions, but it only served as a stark reminder of the danger that lurked within me.
「 Zanno 」
"Dad..."
"Will I get better?"
Dad's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he looked at me, filled with anguish and despair. He could not find the right answer to my simple question.