Chapter III: Alun-Alun Training Ground

Sound of crying baby heard inside a house. The sound clearer as door opened. More you get inside; more you feel all inside the house is just baby crying. You keep walking inside the house and finally, you find a room, where you can see, a mother with sorrow eyes, sitting on wood chair, soothe the baby in her arms in the dark.

Anyone who saw the scene would definitely fell silent for a moment then do their best to cheer both of them, whether hug the mother or just put your hand on her shoulder then you can pat the baby head or maybe you can try make funny face.

But no. you can't do that. You could try to pat baby head or make funny face and sounds but the baby can't feel or saw or hear it. You can try to put your hand on mother's shoulder but you even couldn't touch her, let alone try to hug her. No matter how hard you try, no matter how much you want to reach them, all you can do is just watch her sorrow eyes and baby cry.

You finally decide to move your eyes around the kitchen, maybe you can find a glimmer of light, no matter how small the light. But no, all you can find in the room is the mother, the baby, and a photo on the table close to a flower.

In photo you saw a pregnant woman, the woman face same as the mother, side by side with a man in military, laugh tenderly, seem they have a happy life. Then you put all your concentration on the man and realize, you and the man have same face shape, same nose, same lips, same eye colour and eyebrows, even have same haircut as yours. And then you feel a water in your eyes, you feel the water getting heavier, then you saw what you wear, a boots, and a green uniform with lots of pocket to carry your magazine, typical military uniform.

Then you realize, there is a hole in your uniform. From the hole, blood flowed out. Then a water fall to the ground. You look up to the sky, try to find a rain clouds. But no again, the water you saw, is flowed out from your eyes. Then you reach your eyes, feel the tears with your hand. You close your eyes with your hands, open your mouth, scream as hard as you can.

You feel a pain within your scream, a pain in your heart as it broken. Then, next thing you heard is a sound of chair moving, you feel a gentle and warm touch on your head you then a kiss on forehead come afterwards, then come a hug and whisper, "Welcome home, honey". You open your eyes, realize the mother is the one hug you. Next thing you realize, you really open your eyes this time and find yourself sleeping on other woman lap.

***

Felix open his crying eyes. He feels a gentle and warm touch on his head. He saw on the mirror, he sleeps on Karine lap while she stroking his head. "Good morning, honey," said Karine while the sky was still in dark, only the moonlight shone at that time. However, her gentle's voice calms he down.

"I'm sorry," he responds

"It's ok, my dear"

One long silent create a calming atmosphere for Felix and Karine.

"… can I ask you one thing?" Felix trembling's voice out after that long silent.

"Yes, honey. You can ask everything. I'm here for you,"

"… Could you let me pass this one night like this?" his trembling's voice out again while this time his hand gripping the bed sheet.

"Yes, of course you can," she answers with smile that Felix couldn't see but can feel, "have a sweet dream. My sweet heart."

"… Thank you," then Felix try his best to back to sleep. Hoping this time, he has a sweet dream.

***

In the morning, as the sun arise, after breakfast in dining room with the King, all the hunter does their own task. Felix and Brengos who in charge of lead Kingdom Army's, straight to army camp in Alun Alun, Karine make her hand full of logistic preparation, while Durok and the bald man in charge in Commanding the Special Communication Division.

"I'm surprise you can build an army camp within one night, Commander Hunter Brengos," said Felix

"That's Kingdom Army for you, Idol Husband, Felix Ismawan," Brengos reply

"Did you mock me?" Felix turned to Brengos

"Well, you start first. We already use call ourself by names, without any title. Actually, you're the first one call us by name," Brengos unexpectedly a friendly person despite he is the Commander of Army.

"We didn't see each other in two years and me and Karine little surprise you become a Commander and you lead this mission, so yeah, it will better if we call you Commander Hunter or Commander at least," he tries to make an excuse.

"Hahaha. Speaking of surprise, I'm surprise you can debate His Majesty back in Throne Room and War Room. Well, I more less agree with a communication strategy you propose, ROOT. Good one,"

"Thanks. Speaking of good one, what you said about Hunter Division is draw my attention. How you do it? And you mentioned Curriculum. I want to know about it,"

"Yes, as I said yesterday, to anticipate if the Monster arise again, I propose King Yudhayana to established Hunter Division. Any Hunter within Kingdom would receive an education to use and control their power by joining army. The best method is by making a Curriculum for them," Brengos explain while showing a thick book in his chest, "this is Curriculum book,"

"Look like it quite heavy,"

"Not if you can use Float Skill or Hand of Steel on this book," he shows to Felix a transparent wind that help Brengos carry the book, "Here, I give you one. Maybe you can write a review and show me where it lacks," Brengos give the book to Felix. That he seems difficult to hold it.

"Thank you. I'll do it if I have spare time. Speak of Hunter, you find ten Hunter in total?"

"Well, yes but actually no. I found about fifteen Hunter. However, five of them is infant, only ten in their teen,"

"Oh, you not take them all to Army?"

While turning his eyes to Felix, Brengos said, "For official reason is to let the infant get good nutrition and so on, but, for personal reason," he stops, "you'll know it for sure," Brengos smiling.

Realized Brengos smile, Felix nod, "yeah. You're good guy Brengos,"

"Hahaha, thank you then," they both continued their walk to camp while mostly Felix read the book carefully.

***

"Speaking of Power," Felix close his book and hold it with his left hand, "what power the Hunter you find?"

Brengos turned to Felix, "You can ask themselves if you want," while Brengos said that, Brengos point a corner in training ground, close to camp. In that corner they saw two old man watching three teens, two boy and one girl do a sparring. Two versus one plus one. Two identical people, a blonde girl and a blonde man, doing some Skill attack while flying against a defensive young man, shirtless, well-built body with muscle. Just like Durok, Just like Durok. 'Like Durok? His acquaintance?' Felix guess the connection between this shirtless young man and Durok

Felix and Brengos greet two old man, one with white ducktail beard and one with glasses no beard, who seems watching those three teens fight. Those two old man salute to Brengos and to Felix then they stop the Power sparring and call them to give advice while Brengos and Felix watching.

"Leon and Lea! good combination you two. You two already mastered Float Skill as Air Hunter. However, you two should make a distraction attack. If you face one opponent, you can attack from both sides, front and back or right and left and lure them. Lure your opponent into space that you can hit," said white-ducktail-beard-old-man.

"Yes sir!" answer Leon and Lea

"Lanang! I see you cannot hold your Human Soil longer. That why you had trouble facing them. Try to hold it longer, it will benefit you in battle!"

"Yes sir!" said Lanang.

"Now, Commander Brengos and Hunter Felix come to visit. Go salute them," white-ducktail-beard man order them.

"Salute Commander Brengos and Hunter Felix," now all three young man and woman turn to Brengos and Felix.

"Salute. Introduce yourself, Private" Brengos said.

"My name is Private Leon Brommen. From Hunter Division. I'm from North Mountain in North Region," blonde boy introduce himself

"My name is Private Lea Brommen. From Hunter Division. I'm from North Mountain in North Region," this time blonde girl. 'So, they really a twin' Felix thought

"My name is Private Lanang. From Hunter Division. I'm from Dudung Village, in Southeast Region.

"Salute to Private Leon, Private Lea, and Private Lanang," Felix salute.

"It such an honour to meet Commander Brengos, and Hero of Kingdom of Wahsa, Hunter Felix Ismawan" Leon without hesitate.

"Thank you, so glad I meet the future generation willing to serve for the Kingdom,"

"So, how the training?" Commander interrupt.

"As you see Commander Brengos, all Private Hunter already mastering the First Stage, to let out the Power. Now, they into Second Stage to use Skill that need more concentration and more Power to use in wider area or longer duration such as Float, Maze of Mist and Human Soil," white-ducktail-beard-old-man response.

"Great. Still, we need to speed up the training and make them mastering Stage Three as soon as possible so the Hunter ready to fight in this mission," Brengos seem to be disappoint. He seems expect them to mastered Second Stage right now.

"Don't worry Commander Brengos. I believe this three Hunter would mastering Second Stage and Start training Third Stage before the mission started," the old-glasses-man try to convince him.

When Brengos open his mouth in respond to statement before, Lanang come forward

"Don't worry Commander, I'll become Master of Earth as soon as possible and be ready for this Mission," Lanang said it loud, "And one day, I'll become the best of Master of Earth, and then would defeat Commander and Hunter Felix as Master of Air and Master of Fire. I'll become greater than any Master!" he glares at Brengos.

Brengos and everyone silent for a moment, waiting for each other break the ice.

Suddenly Brengos he spreads his hands to Lanang and mumble, "Steam." He let out a white-hot steam, hit Lanang directly.

Lanang who was blown away from the attack felt hot sensation all over his body. He tries to stand with his foot, then put both of his palms on the ground, and mumble,

"Earth Wa-" couldn't finish his sentence, Brengos already on his right side with Float Skill and mumble,

"Wind Arrow," Brengos attack hit made a scratch on Lanang's left arm

While Lanang startled by Brengos Skill, the Commander try to land a final blow, two shouts heard

"Air Shield" an invisible shield protects Langang from direct hit.

"Hand of Steel" out of nowhere, Durok pops up and targeting Brengos with a punch but failed as Brengos move from his place before. Durok attack cause a large hole in the ground Brengos standing before.

"Oi oi oi Brengos. What did you do to my villagers?" Durok stare at Brengos

"I just want to teach them a proper combination of First Stage and Second Stage skill you could use," Brengos said calmly, "and to demonstrated a sudden attack,"

"You little-"

"Hold it, Durok!" When Durok ready to repeat his attack, the bald-hunter who in charge of Communication Mission, stop him, "Commander Brengos, do you want to weaken the force?"

"Vice Commander Katob!" the white-ducktail-beard-old-man and glasses-old-man salute to bald-Hunter, Katob.

"If you want to demonstration a sudden attack, you should pick someone on your level," Durok square off, challenging Brengos.

"Stop it Durok!" Katob do his best to stop him.

"How can a sudden attack work if the target standby and ready for it?" Brengos said, "however, I would accept your invitation,"

Both Brengos and Durok standby in their position, ready to attack. When they take a step forward, an ice attack with a chat

"Hail" a solid and pointy ice attack Durok and Brengos but they can deny it

"Ice Prison!" the training ground turn into ice and trap Durok and Brengos. She trap them by turning their feet to the waist to ice sculpture.

"Stop it both of you. This is not the time you fight each other," a woman voice heard, and Felix recognize the voice.

'Karine!'

"All of you should be shame. We're in a precarious situation. Behave yourself," Karin said while glare at Brengos, Durok, and Felix. They finally realize, they have become centre of attention. And when Brengos and Durok loosen their tension, Karine release them.

"I'm sorry Durok," Brengos reached out his hand and apologize

Durok who hesitance to accept, finally reach Brengos hand with fear to Karine, "Yeah, me to,"

Satisfied, Karine now walk to Felix. ask for an explanation, why he not try to stop them, until a shout calling Durok and Katob was heard from Alun-Alun Gate followed by the sound of horse.

A soldier gets off from the horse that carried him, he gives a report. "Vice Commander Katob, Hunter Durok, I've got Emergency Message from Bird Division in Badeis Region,"

"What it says?" Katob ask

"It said 'The Enemy arrive in Badeis Region'" the Messanger explain

"The enemy? How big?"

"Yes, according to reports, there're a army of Green Giant with high five times adult," the report make a fuss in crowd. Aware of it, Felix cease the report, and suggest to continue in Commander Tent.

Aware of the crowd, Brengos call everyone to get the sword and be ready at Alun-Alun Gate.

"You," Brengos pointing his finger at the messenger, "come to Commander Tent,"

Felix, Katob, Durok, Karine and the messenger follow Brengos to his tent.

"Glad you propose the ROOT," Karine whisper and smile to Felix. Seems she forgot about the previous accident, Felix though.