Buji closed the book he held in his hands and left it rest beside him as he sat at the edge of his bed. The book's cryptic aura lingered. It could speak volumes when opened, who knows?
Once again, his mind drifted back to Emra's earlier invitation. He hadn't seen it coming, but the deed was already done. And now that it was here. he found it difficult to turn down the invitation—especially not when it came directly from Emra. Not her father, not anyone else. Emra!
Being closer to Emra, he was guaranteed of some kind of protection, right? Or, maybe her school surely consisted of people like her. Surely, a school that hosted people like her had to be on another level… of strength, if it must be added.
'Do I really want to do this or not? Why am I feeling this invitation is more of a challenge than an offer?' Unfortunately for Buji, his doubts were still stubborn and unyielding.
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
He took a glance back at the book lying innocently on his bed. Its presence now felt somewhat intentional, as if it had served as a tool to coincide with the decision he was about to make. As if it had been planted to guide his decisions.
Maybe? Or, it might be an elaborate tool to lure him into accepting the invitation.
'Seek answers, explore mysteries, and ask questions. That's the natural world for you.'
His thoughts betrayed his imagination, reminding him once again of his father's words. He imagined being a hunter, not just to take down animals but monster. Then, he remembered once again what Emra had read to him, the Evolution.
"Brrr!" Buji gritted his teeth to a sudden realization.
She didn't make something clear to him. She didn't read anything about the awakeners that had direct contact with the curse.
'But, why?' That part lingered in his thoughts like an unresolved puzzle.
He imagined upon certainty that those awakeners didn't just vanish at the spot since it would have been written, at least, as a means of showing the effects of inhaling the curse's smoke. Instead, no clue about what happened to them was given, or did Emra deliberately skipped over it?
But that didn't seem likely. She had said that any confusion will be clarified when he enters the academy.
'Now what? That's her another way of making me long to enter the academy. This becomes more interesting and I feel like giving it a try.'
At this thought, his eyes darted to the clock on the wall before him. 11:15 p.m.
"Damn."
Buji sank back onto his bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as the gate of doubt opened.
'If the invitation was a sort of trap, it won't be coming from Emra… right? Besides, she already warned me that there are risks involved, so, there's no ulterior motive.'
Despite being cautious, life always had a way of pulling him into situations he tried to avoid. Staying out of conflict, plus his reserve demeanor often shielded him, except that things happen. Making it look like he was never cautious, never the type to disregard conflicts. Only his reserved demeanor was dominant in his actions, retreating quite often and got beaten most often.
Making him look very weak. So, that was his weakness.
Another thought came to his mind. The analysis his father was trying to make while they were in the car, shortly before the incident took place.
Maybe there would be a hint to make him make his decision. Back then, it felt like an odd lesson, but now, it held a glint of relevance.
How does seeking answers, asking questions and experience have something to do with the two of them in the car then? His father had made it sound so straightforward, he should have explained better then.
'Anyway, may his courageous soul R.I.P.'
Back to the analysis. He was getting nothing, no idea was coming.
But something came into his mind. They were only two in the car and his father's question based on observation.
He was not sure, but thinking about it now, he only observed that his father drove the car discussing with him while he was more of a passenger, playing in the car.
'What do they have to do with S.E.A?'
Buji rose from the bed again and sat at its edge. His glanced at the book, as if trying to figure out something. Then steadied his stare later at the empty wall before him.
"Yes. Simply put, my father drove me because he knew how to and I knew not how to."
Buji thought that his analysis was earth-shattering but that was only what he could reason out at the moment.
"Seek, Explore and Ask."
It helped, in a way.
He only ended up hoping on logics that his father wouldn't have found the brand of car to drive if he hadn't sought to find such. One more thing, he couldn't have been able to drive if he hadn't given it a try to learn how to.
'A try? Hmm… I see.'
Everything now seemed to play at his foreground, but this time, he had decided to play with it, even if it will cost everything.
"Well, I'm not sure I'm ready to use everything, cause there will be Emra at his side at all times. Although, it's shameful how I rely on a girl who is a year younger than me. That won't make me to lose what I have anyway, she will be mine."
'Uhn… what am I thinking?' Buji hit his head several times to erase the thought that just started to creep in.
The decision Buji decided to make, and keep up to, was a hard one. But there was no second to it, or an alternative too. It only had to be his acceptance.
So, he decided he was going to accept, and taste what life looks like in the academy.
"I mean, if Emra's father could be this rich as a hunter, there was more to it than danger." He was starting to see it as more of opportunity rather than a trap.
Living with the Zin family had really been another opportunity he held unto since his new regime as a new member of the family.
You're welcome. Feel at home…
That, and synonymous ones had been the statement then. Only Emra had kept to her words—taking care of him but not as a brother. Not as a brother! She had made it clear for him from the start.
"I wonder what her definition of care really entails," Buji muttered. He shook his head sharply, trying to banish the thought. It was ridiculous and yet… Buji sighed and collapsed back onto the bed.
This time, he couldn't disobey the fact that sleep tugged at the edges of his consciousness. The day had been exhausting, so, he was tired.
'One step at a time,' he thought to himself as his eyes began to close at intervals.
Few minutes later, Buji was fast asleep.
***
Early the next morning, what startled him into waking up had been a loud, deliberate knock at the door.
"Emra, always too early," he grumbled groggily, his voice thick with sleep.
After no answer from Buji, the knock came again, this time louder.