Maria

A few months ago…

Maria hopped out of a bright yellow taxi that she had hailed from home a little while back. After handing over the fare to the taxi driver, she hurriedly made her way to the grounds of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Nakhoda Ilusi University (UNI). The place seemed calm, but it was actually buzzing with students who were almost her age. As Maria strolled by, she flashed a friendly smile at a bunch of students chilling under a canopy in the faculty compound. Surprisingly, they smiled back and even waved at her. Truth be told, Maria didn't really know them. They had only crossed paths a few times before. But as she looked closer, she recognized their faces. They must be a bunch of first-year students, still revelling in the carefree world of late teens.

Maria walked into the lecture hall, scanning the room for her friend Suria. Normally, Suria would be here early, but today there was no sign of her. "Where is Suria?" Maria wondered to herself, realizing that the lecture would start in just fifteen minutes. The rest of the students had already taken their seats, filling up the room. Maria quickly sent a message to Suria.

Maria: Where are you? Are you coming to the lecture today?

Suria: Sorry, I'm feeling sick. Can't make it.

The chatter among the students abruptly ceased as a distinguished man entered the lecture hall. He was impeccably dressed, though his face showed signs of age with a few wrinkles. This man was Professor Alex, a long-serving lecturer at Nakhoda Ilusi University. He greeted the students with a warm smile.

"Good morning, everyone," Professor Alex addressed the room, his voice sounding slightly different today.

"Good morning, Professor Alex!" the entire lecture room chimed in unison, mimicking the way school students respond to their teachers' greetings. Professor Alex couldn't help but smile at their playful behaviour; it warmed his heart and brought a sense of amusement. Glancing at his watch, he realized it was time to begin.

"Today, I won't keep you all for too long," Professor Alex began, his voice slightly hoarse and his throat feeling a bit sore. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but I'm sure none of you want to listen to my lectures with this scratchy voice early in the morning." He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in.

"Rest assured, our class will end a little earlier than usual today," Professor Alex announced, eliciting smiles from some of the students.

Professor Alex opened the file he had brought, and as he did, the lecture room lights dimmed, and the LCD screen flickered to life. A series of captivating images flashed across the big screen, instantly grabbing everyone's attention.

"Now, I'm sure most of you have heard countless times about the history of our beloved country, Ilusi, back when you were in school," Professor Alex began, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "And I'm willing to bet that some of you absolutely adore this subject, while others couldn't care less." He paused for a moment, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "If you ask me, well, I'm definitely in the 'like it' camp. Otherwise, why on earth would I be standing here?" The room erupted in laughter, the tension easing as the professor's joke landed perfectly.

"But, let's be honest," Professor Alex continued, his tone becoming more serious. "When it comes to exam time, even I have to admit that my fondness for this subject wavers a bit." A few students couldn't help but giggle at the professor's candid confession, their shared understanding creating a sense of camaraderie in the room.

"However, history is incredibly important because it allows us to learn from the past. Everything that occurs in the present is connected to events that have happened before. We are shaped by our past experiences, making history a valuable guide and teacher", as Professor Alex emphasized during his lecture. Maria couldn't help but reminisce about her school days upon hearing his words. History was always one of her favourite subjects, mainly because her teachers had a knack for sharing captivating stories. However, just like Professor Alex, she despised taking exams for this particular subject.

She still vividly remembered the historical facts of her country's past that she had learned earlier. From the initial settlement on Ilusi Island to the arrival of Harek, a figure who had transformed Zuria into a global focal point, the merger of Ilusi Island with Zuria, the subsequent independence of Ilusi, the visionary leaders who had shaped Ilusi's development, and even some of the tragic events that had impacted the world community. All of these details were still deeply ingrained in his memory.

Her favourite subjects were Harek and the Zuria Foundation. The teacher who had imparted this knowledge to him was Mr Shahril.

"Today, we're diving into another crucial chapter in the history of Ilusi. As we all know, Ilusi used to be a part of Zuria. That's why it's essential for us to delve into the history of Zuria's kingdom. Our focus today is Harek's Arrival to Zuria," Mr Shahril enthusiastically began her lesson.

"Back in the day, Zuria was nothing more than a humble village, bustling with hardworking farmers," Mr. Shahril curiously questioned, "but what sort of economic system did they have in place?"

"Back in the day, Zuria was nothing more than a humble village, bustling with hardworking farmers," Mr. Shahril curiously questioned, "but what sort of economic system did they have in place?"

"A self-sufficient economic system!" answered all the students in the class, including Maria.

"Good! The emergence of Zuria as an empire began with its establishment by Harek, a prince from Kasturi. Harek had a family connection with the Pasadianka Kingdom, which was a very large kingdom for several centuries," Mr. Shahril explained. "Harek and his followers had to leave Kasturi, which was under Pasadianka's rule. In the year 1200, his entourage arrived at Batang Hati, which at that time was under the power of the Sara-Sara kingdom," Mr Shahril pointed to the mind map attached to the blackboard.

"Harek intended to master Batang Hati. However, in 1202, he had to leave due to threats from Pasadianka, who had good relations with Batang Hati. Around the same year, Harek moved west and finally reached a beautiful and peaceful area. The people in the area were farmers, and Harek saw the potential for development. He named the state Zuria and was determined to develop it," Mr Shahril explained at length.

"Alright, folks. That wraps up our lecture for today," Professor Alex announced, concluding his talk. After expressing his gratitude to the students, he swiftly packed up his belongings. The lights in the lecture room were still on when Maria went to fetch Professor Alex, who was still standing at the podium.

"Hey, Maria," Professor Alex greeted as soon as she approached him.

"Did you bring the book I wanted to borrow?" Maria asked, her face beaming with a smile.

"Sure thing!" Professor Alex replied, reaching into his black satchel and retrieving a book and some notes. "Here's the book and some notes for you to peruse."

"Thanks, Prof!" Maria exclaimed, returning the smile.

"So, where are you off to after this?" Professor Alex inquired.

"I'm heading to the cafe because I haven't had breakfast yet," Maria confessed.

"Wait, you haven't had breakfast yet?" Professor Alex asked, raising an eyebrow. Maria simply shook her head. "Well, next time, make sure to grab a bite before coming to class," Professor Alex advised. "Anyway, I've got to run. There's something I need to take care of."

"Alright, see you later," Maria bid farewell. Professor Alex nodded, flashing another smile, and hurriedly made his way out.