Time to Realize it's Time to Rise!

"Have you heard about that school?"

"You mean Galsonmejer Academy?"

Life at a typical high school in the city center carried on as usual, except for students enthusiastically discussing rumors about a mysterious school that purportedly appeared only at certain times and was nestled within the surrounding forest.

"Yeah, that's the one. They say it's a school for demons."

"But the architecture is unbelievably beautiful."

"More like a fortress for astral beings."

Listening to conversations like this sometimes made Ihatra think it might be better to attend a place like that—better to befriend real demons than the human-like ones who had just beaten him up during break time.

"I hope those demons really exist and are strong enough to obliterate human flaws."

"I wish I could become a demon like that."

*

It hadn't even been a full year since Ihatra was asked to leave behind his miserable life as an ordinary human, always bullied by his father. All of this happened and made him question the decisions he had to make next.

This longing brought his mind back to where it all began...

*

"Perhaps it's time you knew the truth, Atra," said a handsome, wise 56-year-old Javanese man. His face radiated warmth and kindness, with sharp yet gentle eyes. His black hair, now streaked with white, added to his mature appearance. His posture was upright and robust, reflecting physical health and strength. His attire was simple yet captivating, reflecting a depth of soul and wisdom.

This was in stark contrast to the 16-year-old teenage boy with a slight hunch and frail body. His appearance was unremarkable, with a skinny, diminutive stature. His face was plain, with a tendency toward pale skin and expressions often marked by anxiety or shyness. His small yet sharp eyes and often disheveled short hair added to his impression of a troubled teenager.

"Am I adopted?" he asked in response to his father's statement, running out of ideas about what else could go wrong.

Braakh. Suddenly, the strong Jepara-carved wooden door, made of sturdy teak adorned with traditional motifs like flowers and geometric shapes, and finely detailed carvings showing the high skill of its craftsmen, burst open from the outside. Two older siblings, with an extraordinary fate gap from him, burst in without saying a word.

"You can't do this, Dad! Don't burden our family!" said his older brother, Casugraha. A handsome Javanese man with olive skin, standing 187 cm tall with an ideal posture. His face was sharply contoured, with proportional features. His usual confidence and calmness now showed concern.

"Exactly, Dad. It would be reckless to tell Ihatra. He's just a normal human who's not useful, let alone given more responsibility," continued his eldest sister, Varsha. A beautiful 26-year-old Javanese woman with long, flowing wavy hair that shimmered healthily. Her yellowish skin gave a warm and bright impression. Standing 167 cm tall with a proportional and elegant figure. Her eyes, though sharp, exuded gentleness, reflecting grace and firmness in every move. Remembering she was a former contestant in one of the country's most prestigious beauty pageants.

But their father, standing at the pinnacle of the Tjokroaminoto family's power, had his own considerations. Something young Ihatra had not been able to understand since yesterday afternoon with his two eldest children.

"Our family is actually a family of wizards."

"Huh ...?" Ihatra responded with an incredulous look.

In contrast to his two older siblings who immediately slumped and dropped their bodies on the sofa. Bruukh. The atmosphere of the night with a storm outside felt tense. The strong wind chased, howling around the corners of the buildings. Thunder rumbled through the sky, illuminating the rolling black clouds with blue electric light. Heavy raindrops soaked the windows, creating a monotonous rhythm that clattered on the roof. The rustling of fallen leaves and broken branches depicted the ferocity of an untamed nature. The entire atmosphere emitted a refreshing scent of wet earth, adding a layer of realism to the dramatization of an angry universe... and what their father said that night in the family living room made it seem like lightning struck Ihatra's head.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll be part of the Galsonmejer Academy of Radiant Exemplars. The best formal magical education location organized by the Indonesian witch order, Ishanaditi Mahanaga Adimurti."

"You all must be joking, right?" Ihatra asked, looking at his father and also his two siblings who could only remain silent and turn their faces away because they didn't know how to react. They both knew the fact since childhood.

Even so, thoughts of how pathetic Ihatra was as just a normal human wouldn't change. Especially as a witch?

*

After that, everything happened so quickly like a flash that there was no time to think. And suddenly he was in a life-threatening situation...

"If only I hadn't complained about the bullying I experienced at school to Dad. I wonder what would happen to me now?"

Weak Ihatra could only imagine if only the decisions made in the past could be changed. Would the future be more satisfying?

"Let me go..."

"Eh?" He panicked, looking left and right. There was nothing else he saw except chaos and destruction. Even spilled the blood of wizards who were no longer able to fight.

"Let me go!"

He continued to run, searching for the source of the voice, but hadn't found it yet.

Until he slowed down his pace. He began to hear the sound of water drops that had no shape in his head.

"NO! NO! NO!"

He grabbed his head with both palms. Pain that he had never imagined suddenly appeared as if clutching and continuously pressing his skull. Trying to destroy it from within.

"PAIN! SO PAINFUL! PLEASE HELP ME!!!"

Bruukh. His body fell on the school lawn that was no longer tidy. He could no longer clearly see the hustle and bustle of the wizards, the scenery, and the school buildings around him.

Draph draph draph. A horrific creature that managed to leave the thousand-year-old gate broke into him and stood right on it. With three pairs of legs shaped like spider legs and the upper body of a black half-goat human form, the figure looked at him with a pair of yellow eyes.

Let me go...

Now, that voice was no longer heard from outside him. Everything turned dark, and his consciousness seemed to vanish, swallowed by fear. Without any incantation recited, something burning surged from his hands until it unleashed an attack on the main villain of all these events.

What really happened? he asked himself. Ihatra felt increasingly aware that he was not the same as before. He really changed into something different!

The evil entity in front of him smiled broadly and said, "Ho ho ho, finally we can meet again."

This is not me! Dirga, help me!

Ah, if I can go back a few hours. If this happens, will I still think it must be done?