Second World

Paytowin headed to the Temple of Courage, but before he went into the temple, he heard a womanʼs voice calling him, ”George!”

He turned and saw Grace walking over. She was by herself, which was odd.

”Where is your entourage,” Paytowin asked with a laugh.

”I chase them away,” Grace answered.

”You can do that? I would have thought that they will still insist to follow you even if you ask them to go away.”

”They did try. Iʼm just too lazy to bother any other time.”

”Oh? What did you do?”

”I beat one up until his HP is critical.”

”I could imagine the guy enjoying the beating.”

”Sickly enough, he did. So I just kill him. This causes the other to back off.”

”What the… you killed him? You know it is not permitted in this place! You will be thrown out if the people in charge here find out.”

”The others will keep their mouth shut. He is not fighting in the tournament anymore, so other people wonʼt notice if he is gone. Also, the guy wore Amulet of Rebirth, he only loses one level.”

Paytowin shook his head and said, ”Well, I have always known you for the tomboy and the hardheaded girl you are. Completely different from the gentle you who I saw in the television.”

”The one in the television is not the real me. Wait, you watched my show?” Grace asked.

”You are famous, everyone watched you.”

”Not Lone Wind, though.”

Paytowin shrugged, ”How do you know? Perhaps he watched as well.”

Grace didnʼt comment, she just stared at Paytowin, which caused him to feel uncomfortable.

”Um… Do you come to me because you need something?” Paytowin asked after the uncomfortable silence.

”I saw you are pretty tight with that guy,” Grace answered.

”Which guy?”

”The guy with the multi-class. The one who beat me up in the team match earlier.”

Paytowin shrugged again, very uncomfortably now. ”Well, you know me. I like to make friends.”

”No, you donʼt. You were mean to most people. Only after hanging out with Lone Wind that you started making friends with others.”

”I donʼt understand why you brought him up…”

”Cut the crap! He is Lone Wind, isnʼt he?” Grace cut Paytowinʼs sentence.

”Yes, he is... Oh, darn! Donʼt tell him that you found out from me. Why do you think he is him anyway?”

”I saw him using that triple slashes he liked to use, then I remember he did a fist bump with you before the match…. Also, he had known that I am the Grace who used to play with you two, hadnʼt he?”

”Um… That…”

Grace gave him a hard stare.

”He knows…” Paytowin said weakly. ”Why do you suspect so?”

”He masked his alias when we first met, even though it would have been obvious that his alias will be easily exposed since we both joined the tournament. Damn him, does he really donʼt want to hang out with me so much?”

”Uh… Please donʼt misunderstand him.”

”Why? Did you talk to him about me?”

”Um, I did…”

”What did he say?”

”Well, after learning the real world you. He said that you might have misunderstood your feeling because you are too sheltered when we hung out together. Now that nothing was holding you down, he wanted you to explore your freedom to make sure, first. He thought that if you knew he was nearby, it would prevent you from doing that.”

”Do you believe that?” Grace asked.

”Sister, I date girls for fun. I am never into this deep relationship shit. Please donʼt ask my opinion,” Paytowin replied, praying for this conversation to end soon. While in his mind, he cursed Jack. What was the guy thinking? Didnʼt he know that Grace was the most perceptive amongst the three of them? It would be a wonder if she didnʼt find out his identity when they participate in the same match.

Grace took a deep breath. After some silence, she said to Paytowin. ”Donʼt tell him that I know he is who he is.” She then walked away.

Paytowin watched her leaving. ʼCrap… What have I gotten myself into?ʼ He thought.

*

While Jack was heading to the agora to wait for Paytowin, he walked over to a secluded spot near the edge of the mountain where his grandfather was training Leavemealone. Leavemealone was doing some shadow boxing while Domon was watching by the side, giving some remarks once in a while.

”He is a very serious student, isnʼt he?” Jack asked as he stood beside Domon.

”Yes, he is,” Domon answered.

”Reminds me of senior brother Leo,” Jack said.

Domon didnʼt say anything.

”You think he would have a chance against Wong?” Jack asked.

”Who will have a chance against me?” Jack heard a deep voice from the back. He turned and was surprised to find Wong standing not far away. Leavemealone who heard Wongʼs voice stopped and looked over. Domon stayed still without looking back.

Wong approached. He then stood on Jackʼs other side opposite Domon. Jack felt weird to have two martial art grandmasters flanking him, but he was more bewildered to find that he could almost not sense Wong. The guy was as if he didnʼt exist there.

”Your concealment technique was quite good,” Domon said.

”Thank you for your compliment,” Wong said. ”You know, I have always wondered who amongst us is the better martial artist. Itʼs a pity you quit when I make my debut in the world championship. It would have been glorious to have taken the crown from a ten-years straight champion.”

”If I have joined, it would have been eleven-years straight champion,” Domon uttered.

”Hahaha!” Wong laughed. ”Too bad you are not in the Rogue section. Otherwise, we no longer have to wonder who is the better fighter between us.”

”I donʼt need to wonder. I have always known.”

”Haha… So, are you training this little cub who I have beaten before in the hope of defeating me?”

Leavemealone clenched his fists after hearing Wongʼs remark.

”No need to be so eager, boy. Looking at our placements, we should meet in the final. If, you managed to win before the final, of course. I hope you do, so I can beat you up again. This time, in front of your new teacher.”

”I wonʼt lose this time,” Leavemealone uttered.

”Heh,” Wong grinned. He then turned around. Before he left, he said to Domon, ”I hope we can spar someday.”

”Considering that you have lowered yourself and sold your service to the devil, we will,” Domon replied.

”Hehe. I will be looking forward to it.”

Wong then walked away.

Jack watched the old martial artist disappear between the trees, the other two heavenly enforcers were nowhere to be seen. Actually, Jack never saw the three interact with each other. The three were in one camp but their relationships were not more than workmates. Jack was glad if that was truly the case, a group tied by such a shallow bond would be easier to go up against.

”What is this concealment technique?” Jack asked his grandfather.

”Can you sense his presence using your mana sense just now?” Domon asked back.

”Only a little, and also after he is standing right next to me,” Jack answered.

Domon nodded. ”A concealment technique was one that manipulate chi to hide oneʼs presence. Only a perfect chi-sensing can sense a person with this technique. This is an ancient technique developed by assassins from the past, who like to hide and strike from the dark. Iʼm rather surprised that guy is proficient in that technique.”

”This technique can be useful. Can you teach me?” Jack asked.

”I know the technique, but I must admit, that Wong is better in it than me. But yes, I can teach you if you are interested. However, you must first touch the basics of mana manipulation.”

”I want to learn it as well!” Leavemealone exclaimed.

Domon smiled. There was nothing happier for a teacher than having eager students, but he didnʼt let his feelings show for long. His face turned stern and uttered, ”First, you have to beat up that guy who has just called you a little cub! Now, get back to your training!”

”Yes, master!” Leavemealone bowed and resumed his stance.

ʼTruly an obedient student,ʼ Jack thought.

”Are you going to join us in training?” Domon asked Jack.

”No, I have an appointment with someone,” Jack said.

”Donʼt slack off on your training,” Domon said.

”Yes, master,” Jack grumbled.

Jack went to the agora where he was supposed to meet Paytowin. The dude wasnʼt there yet. So, he sat cross-legged at one corner and started training as his grandfather asked him to. In his meditation, he tried to manipulate the mana around him.

When he arrived in this place, his mana sense had allowed him to sense that this placeʼs mana was denser than other places he had visited before. With denser mana, he should have an easier time manipulating mana in theory. He had been doing just that in his free time since yesterday.

He closed his eyes and felt the mana around him. He started to send his thought to a tiny portion of it. He had learned after many experiments that it was easier if he tried to influence a few mana. He guessed like any other practice, he should start small before building up.

As he asserted his ʼdominanceʼ to this small portion of mana, he started to give them direction to move. If he asked them to do too complex a maneuver, they started to slip from his grasp and broke free. Then he would have to start all over again.

While he was immersed in the training, he heard noises that became louder each time.

”Jack!”

He opened his eyes and saw Paytowin in front of him.

”The hell, man. You can even sleep while sitting?”

”Sorry,” Jack told Paytowin. He had gotten so carried away that he didnʼt sense his friend arriving.

”Come with me,” Paytowin said.

”Where to?”

”Iʼm going to take you to the ancient battleground.”

😉