Hey guys... long time no see.
It's been almost three months since I last wrote a story, and it's been a week since my exam has ended, and now I have enough time to write stories. But, why not the Vindicate story? Well, my friend... I'm sorry. I still have no idea how to continue it... took a week more, maybe... to think about it. Once again, I'm sorry. I know, I've promised, but it'll take longer, and I do not want you to wait any longer.
But, after this I'll continue the Vindicate story, this time I'll try... but for now, happy reading...
Hope you like it...
"Is this over?"
It was a question that flashed first in my mind. After we got out of that creepy place. Blood and corpses in the dim lights.. in the two cold rays.
We rushed home, hoping her parents don't know about this incident. But sooner or later... they will find out, right? We can not hide this forever.
"But.. how?"
I saw Martha who was sleeping soundly on my shoulders, the wind stroking her feathers. Maybe she was tired, or even scared. I've no idea what had happened to her in that creepy place. But, blood and the pile of corpses have proved enough.
I tried to forget this tragedy, and look at tomorrow in this strange land. Well, at least I was somewhat relieved, the local authorities have handled it, along with its contents. I'm sure the orphans are now safe. And I think... it's all over.
"Is she sleeping?" Blu asked me, looking at Martha who was on my shoulder.
"Yes." I replied briefly.
The quiet atmosphere of the house, make us think her parents have fallen asleep. But we're not sure if her parents have not known about it yet.
We saw a window that was still open. That's where Blu and I got out. We jumped in and went through that window, with Martha still sleeping on my shoulder.
"What should we do now, Blu?" I asked, after putting Martha in her bed.
"Better for now. For tonight's incident we keep it a secret for the three of us. I just do not want to make her parents worried about it." Blu replied, in the silence of the night.
A cold night breeze went through the open window. We both fell silent for a moment, staring out the window... staring up at the black sky.
"And..." Blu continued, "I'm also afraid if we've been too deeply involved in this problem."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Blu reached into his pocket, and pulled out a piece of paper... or a memo more precisely when I read it. There was a sentence on it, a sentence that makes me realize that all this ... is not over yet.
Chapter 17: The Winds of Change
The next morning...
"Hooaaammm..." Blu and Jewel yawned together at breakfast time with Martha and her parents.
"Are you staying up late? You two look still sleepy." asked Virginia, Martha's mother.
"It's okay." Blu replied.
"Maybe we just are not used to the time division on this planet." Jewel continued.
"Yeah right... ah, usually on earth now is still dawn." Blu continued, a bit stammering.
They both still haven't told about the incident last night. And apparently, Martha's parents don't know anything about it.
"Really?" Said Oswald, Martha's father. Looking at the wall, more precisely he looked at a wall clock, "It's five o'clock in the morning. Well, then you can get used to the time here."
"Yes..." replied Blu and Jewel in unison.
"Well, actually we didn't sleep at all last night." Blu said in his mind.
Jewel stared at Martha who was silent while enjoying her breakfast, "Is she still traumatized by the incident last night?" Jewel murmured in her mind.
"Mom, dad..." Martha said, "You should be silent while you're eating."
"Ah, right..." answered her parents in unison.
Blu and Jewel just paused while staring at each other, thinking the same thing.
"I'm finished..." Martha moved from her seat, "Mom, dad... I'm going to school." she immediately walking out, leaving Blu and Jewel behind.
"Then..." Blu said.
"We are going to school as well." continued Jewel.
"Okay, have fun!" exclaimed Virginia, "They look weird, aren't they?" she asked, after they walked out.
"Of course not." Oswald replied, drinking his drink, "They'll be fine."
A bright morning, glistening light in the orange sky without a cloud. On a lonely street, Blu, Jewel, and Martha walked calmly in the opposite direction of the orange light. No words, no sounds except for the breath of their breaths in the cool air.
"Hey Martha... are you okay?" Jewel began to speak, as they stopped at a railroad crossings that composed of transparent green solids, covering half their bodies, prevents no one from passing through that barrier.
But... no answer...
Martha just fell silent, until a levitation train drove quickly ahead of them. So fast that their eyes couldn't keep up with the speed of the train, and caused the bederuous wind. Shortly after the train went away, the transparent green barrier began to disappear.
"Yes, I'm okay." Martha answered, and then they started walking again.
The silence come back on them... No one said anything else...
A bright morning shrouded in silence between the cool air, they just walked on the streets are still quiet. They don't want to discuss the tragedy last night, and hope this morning they can forget this bitter memory.
However, it seems this morning they will only accept the bitter reality again...
"Wh-what?!" muttered Blu, startled, staring at what was in front of him.
"Is this school being reconstructed?" continued Jewel.
The magnificent building that became the main building at Guivick School, where thousands of students came to study. From children to teenagers, this school already has a long history, in addition to its famous students, this school is also famous for its buildings were labeled as the highest school in the Midtown area. But well, again, that was once. Because now, the building is only four floors, no more than an ordinary school.
Among the buildings still looks gondolas that are still in use. The reconstruction phase seems to be unfinished, but the students have started studying... well, the remaining students.
Two thousand students, now only less than four hundred students left. The wide school yard now feels more quiet, and spacious.
Martha was silent for a moment on the quiet school yard, not as busy as ever. Only a few students were seen walking toward the Guivick building. The building that used to be tall, until it reached the clouds... it's now only a small building that looks unfortunate.
"Guivick School is collapsing now...!" Martha murmured, noticing the unexpected sight in front of her eyes. Hoping to hear and see this school rowdy in the morning, it's just.. this school makes no difference when she comes to this school at night, "No... more precisely is torn down!"
"What do you mean?" Blu asked her.
No wonder, Blu was so curious about what happened. He's with Jewel just a transfer student... students from other parts of the world, deep in the galaxy. Only two days they arrived here, and a lot of complicated things happened. After an unpleasant night, the next morning, they see something they don't understand.
"That is... a punishment." Martha replied, "Every school on this continent is bound by five principles. First, never pass a student who is not qualified. Second, never deny the principal, unless they are wrong. Third, always develop the amount and quantity, both students and teachers. The fourth principle is to limit the development of each school... never expand or enhance the school building, except on condition. And that condition becomes the fifth principle, that is... getting recommendations from the center to expand or enhance the school building."
Martha lowered her face, and mumbled in her mind, "This punishment... must be caused by the principal."
Then...
"And they are five troubling principles, aren't they? Apparently, the wind is already approaching us... the wind of change." Came a male voice from behind the three of them, an unfamiliar voice to Blu and Jewel, but not to Martha. Once seen, she immediately knew who that bird is.
"Kosun?!" Martha cried, staring at a red, white-winged bird. His sharp beak and talons, a slender and tall body, an athletic body, with a black crest. Two black eyes staring sharply at the three of them.
"Oh... there are two new students, eh?" his soft voice, his friendly manner.
"Who are you?" Asked Jewel, curious.
"What...?!" Kosun looked surprised, "You don't know who I am?"
Blu and Jewel shook their heads...
"Hmm..." Kosun smiled a little, "Well, maybe it's because I rarely attend school, and you two also new students here. well, let them who tell you." he lifted his wings in the lonely schoolyard, and it's made the students' attention go to him.
"That is..."
"Kosun!"
"Yeah right, that's Kosun!"
"Oh god... It's hard to believe."
"He's back."
"He's really back, our hero."
The deserted schoolyard, now turned into the cheers of the students who saw Kosun. The faces of the gloomy and lackluster disciples, now seemed enchanted after seeing a bird familiar to them... a bird whose fame is famous among them.
"Kosun?" Jewel still looks confused.
"Eh... you still don't recognize me?" Kosun looked more surprised, and looked moody, "How long did I leave school?" he murmured somewhat disappointed.
"Well, let me tell you." Martha said, "He..." pointing towards Kosun, she began to introduce him, "He is Kosan, a..."
"That's enough, Martha." Kosun interrupted, "Thank you... pretty bird."
"Pretty bird? Hmpf... it no longer works for me." Martha replied coldly,"But, you are welcome."
Kosun just laughed awkwardly...
"He's a strange bird..." Blu thought in his mind.
"And a teaser..." muttered Jewel.
"Let me explain ..." Kosun pulled out two small flags from his pocket, "With these!"
"Flags?" Blu and Jewel look confused.
"Yes, right..." Kosun smiled confidently, "I challenge you two to take this flag from the roof of the school building. You are lucky because this school has lost part of its floor, this challenge should be easier."
"Eh?!" Blu and Jewel looked at each other with puzzled looks.
"Hey look! Kosun will challenge those two new students."
"It's a very rare moment."
"Can those new students do it?"
"No way, surely Kosun will win this challenge."
"I feel excited!"
The students are back again, and noisy...
"So...?" Kosun asked, then he lifted his wings, and pointed his wings at Blu and Jewel, "Blu... Jewel... accept my challenge!"
Blu and Jewel just paused, not knowing what to do. Meanwhile, Martha just stared at them from the library porch, "Geez... always like this."
"Come on... new students!"
"Accept the challenge."
"You don't want to be a loser!"
"So?" Kosun smiled narrowly.
Blu sighed, "Well, there's no other choice..."
Jewel smiled cheerfully while looking at Blu, then lifted her wings, and pointed towards Kosun, "Alright... we accept your challenge!"
"Hurray...!"
"Yeah, that's what I want to hear."
"Is not there a teacher who wants to stop them?" Martha thought in her mind.
"Eh...?!" Blu was surprised, "Why did you accept his challenge? I was just wanted to refused it."
"Don't worry..." Jewel looked at Blu with a smile, "We can do it."
Blu just sighed...
"Okay! So, this is the rule..." said Kosun, explaining the rule.
Five minutes later...
"Two flags have been placed on the roof of the building." Kosun continued, "The rule is very simple, take the flag as fast as possible. One bird who does not get a flag has to go up and down the stairs... thirty times!" he exclaimed, emphasizing at the end, "But still, you're lucky. Because this school is now only four floors. Be thankful."
"Yes, yes... now we do it, and end this!" Blu said coldly.
"That's the spirit!" said Jewel.
"Okay...!" Kosun shouted, "But, before we begin... we need a referee."
Seconds later...
"Why me?" Martha said irritably.
"That's because... you're the only one," Kosun replied, smiling at her.
"Stop teasing me!" Martha replied coldly.
"Kay..." Kosun bowed helplessly,
Silence just before the challenge begins. The students looked at them, with a strained look. An entertainment in the morning before the studying activity started.
The morning challenge on the second day for Blu and Jewel...
"Ready..." Martha lifted her wings, "Begin!" As she lowered her wings, the students' boisterous voices came back.
Kosun ran very quickly into the school building, leaving Blu and Jewel who were still standing at the starting line.
"So quick..." muttered Blu, in amazement.
"What are you doing here?! Hurry up, the game has started, you know!" cried Martha.
Blu and Jewel stared at each other, before finally starting to run... toward school backyard.
"You think the same thing with me, Blu?" asked Jewel,
"Yeah... I guess." replied Blu, smiling.
Meanwhile, Kosun is already on the third floor. He still ran up the stairs, his breath not panting. He has an athletic body... his heart strength, his lung capacity, his endurance, his stamina makes him easily reach the fourth floor.
"There is no sign of them. Are they left behind? Or maybe I'm too fast for the new students?" he thought to himself.
"Fighting!"
"Defeat those new students!"
"Come on!"
"Yeah... thank you!" Kosun greeted his 'fans', both from female and male students. He confidently ran up the last stairs.
"Alright... this is the last stairs, with this I will arrive at the roof first. I'm sorry, new students... but it looks like I am the winner." he mumbled.
Kosun opened the door, ran to the roof of the building... but he was surprised. He saw Blu and Jewel already on the roof first, while holding the flag, Blu and Jewel smiling triumphantly.
"Welcome..." said Jewel, somewhat teasingly, "Lord Kosun."
"We've been waiting for you." Continue Blu.
Kosun doesn't say anything. His eyes only show a sense of disbelief that two birds in front of him are Blu and Jewel. His beak is gaping, his wings and legs are shaking. Staring at them both in amazement.
"How could it be? I didn't see them going past me." he thought to himself, "So, how did they get here first?" then he realized one thing... he saw many gondolas still used for the reconstruction of the school building. Given this building is still the stage of reconstruction.
Then he smiled and murmured, "I see..."
He walked over to them both, clapping, "Congratulations to both of you, Blu and Jewel. You are selected as 'Mukon'... the participants of the great festival."
.
.
.
.
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The second Arc, "The Great Festival"
Begins...