Phase 1: Rise of the Orphan Blade
Chapter 1: The Crimson Vow
Part 2: Kerisforge's Crucible
The sea churned beneath Rentap Buana's skiff, a restless beast of jade and shadow, as Kerisforge Stronghold loomed on the horizon. Its coral spires pierced the dawn, glowing with veins of jade light, a fortress carved from the Nexus's heart. At sixteen, Rentap stood at the prow, Taming Jiwa pulsing at his side, its seven waves catching the sun like a blade of fire. The rusted kerambit hung at his hip, a jagged echo of Jaya and Mira's betrayal, their plea—find them—burning in his chest. His scars—kirin's mark on his chest, fresh cuts on his forearm and thigh—stung with salt, but the coral orb in his pouch glowed faintly, syncing with the ley lines' hum. Rentap's vow, forged on Blood Island, had brought him here, to the crucible of the Kirin Blades, where he'd prove himself or break. The sentinel's coral boat led the way, her spear raised, and Rentap gripped Taming Jiwa, the Starlit Kirin's rune flaring in his mind, a beacon for the tide ahead.
The skiff sliced through waves, coral reefs pulsing below, their jade glow mirrored in the fortress's spires. Rentap's heart raced, the mantra Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim steadying his breath. Visions flickered—Jaya's blade clashing with shadows, Mira's eyes pleading, kirins soaring over a jade sea. Kerisforge was no myth; it was a call, its halls forged to guard the Nexus's light. The sentinel, clad in coral armor, glanced back, her eyes sharp. "Kerisforge tests all who enter," she said, voice cutting through the wind. "Your vow is your blade, Rentap Buana. Wield it well."
Rentap nodded, his cuts aching, the rune pouch and Lila's bead clinking softly. Blood Island's trial had bloodied him, but Kerisforge would demand more. As the skiff neared the docks, coral platforms rose from the sea, etched with Nexus sigils, bustling with novices in jade tunics, adepts in coral armor, and elders with starlit staffs. The air thrummed with ley lines, a pulse that synced with Taming Jiwa's glow. Rentap stepped onto the docks, boots crunching coral, the sentinel leading him toward a coral archway carved with kirin runes. The fortress loomed, its spires a challenge, and Rentap's vow burned brighter—he'd find the betrayer, protect the Nexus, become the Kirin Blade his parents believed in.
Kerisforge's heart was a coral arena, its walls pulsing with jade veins, the air thick with salt and steel. Rentap followed the sentinel through bustling halls, novices whispering, their eyes on his bloodied tunic and Taming Jiwa's glow. The hierarchy was clear—novices trained, adepts sparred, elders watched with piercing gazes. At the arena's center, a coral platform rose, etched with Nexus sigils, where two figures awaited: Kadir, a grizzled mentor with a staff glowing faintly, and Master Zainah, her coral armor glinting, her eyes sharp as a keris's edge.
Kadir's staff tapped the coral, his voice deep. "Rentap Buana, Blood Island's orphan. Taming Jiwa names you, but Kerisforge forges you. The Nexus stirs, and we need blades, not vows alone."
Zainah stepped forward, her gaze slicing through Rentap. "Your parents were legends, but legends die. Show us your steel, or leave."
Rentap's jaw tightened, Taming Jiwa pulsing hot. He wasn't here to bow. "I'm ready," he said, voice steady, the Kirin's rune flaring. A murmur rippled through the crowd—novices, adepts, a few sentinels. Two novices stepped forward, drawn by Zainah's nod: Aisha, her coral-etched keris gleaming, her braid tight, eyes calm but fierce; and Rizwan, his humming keris gripped loose, a grin sharp as coral. They were his peers, but their stances screamed skill.
Kadir raised his staff. "A test, Rentap. Face Idris, a novice who doubts your place. Prove your vow in the arena."
From the crowd, Idris emerged, a lean novice with a coral keris and a sneer. "Blood Island scum," he spat, blade raised. "Taming Jiwa's wasted on you."
Rentap's blood boiled, but the mantra steadied him. Taming Jiwa glowed, its jade light flaring, and he stepped onto the platform, coral dust swirling. Aisha and Rizwan watched, their kerises ready, while Kadir and Zainah stood as judges. The arena hummed, ley lines pulsing, and Rentap's scars ached, but his vow was his shield. Idris would learn what Blood Island forged.
Idris struck first, his coral keris slashing in a tight arc, a Silat form Rentap didn't know. The blade hissed, coral light trailing, aimed for Rentap's chest. He pivoted, Veil Tide cloaking his steps, a fluid dodge that blurred his form in the jade-lit arena. Taming Jiwa flashed, countering with Storm Claw, a crescent slash that met Idris's blade with a screech. Sparks flew, coral dust stinging Rentap's eyes, the impact jarring his forearm's cut, blood seeping through his sleeve. Idris grinned, pressing forward, his keris weaving Iron Surge, a heavy thrust that forced Rentap back, boots skidding on coral.
"Too slow!" Idris taunted, lunging, his blade a blur. Rentap ducked, Sky Fang feinting, Taming Jiwa thrusting at Idris's shoulder. The novice parried, coral clashing jade, but Rentap spun, Star Whisper syncing with the ley lines' pulse, his movements fluid, anime-style jade waves rippling. He struck again, Storm Claw slashing Idris's tunic, a shallow cut blooming on the novice's arm. Idris cursed, his stance faltering, but his eyes burned, unyielding.
The crowd roared, novices cheering, Aisha's gaze steady, Rizwan's grin wider. Rentap's breath burned, his thigh's cut throbbing, but the Kirin's rune flared, a vision flickering—Jaya's blade splitting the tide. He wove Iron Surge, Taming Jiwa powering a downward slash, jade light bursting. Idris blocked, his keris trembling, coral chips flying, but he countered with a spinning kick, a Silat move Rentap hadn't expected. The kick grazed Rentap's side, a sharp pain flaring, a new bruise forming. He staggered, coral dust choking his lungs, but rolled forward, Veil Tide cloaking him, and struck with Sky Fang, Taming Jiwa piercing Idris's guard, nicking his thigh.
Idris roared, his keris slashing wildly, a desperate Storm Claw. Rentap parried, Taming Jiwa clashing, jade waves surging, and countered with Star Whisper, his blade a blur, weaving ley line energy. He struck Idris's wrist, disarming him, the coral keris clattering on the platform. Rentap pressed Taming Jiwa to Idris's chest, jade light flaring, his voice low. "Yield."
Idris glared, panting, blood dripping, but nodded. The arena fell silent, the ley lines' hum softening. Kadir's staff tapped, Zainah's nod sharp. "Enough," she said. "Rentap Buana, you stand."
Rentap stepped back, Taming Jiwa lowering, its pulse calm but fierce. His side ached, his forearm and thigh cuts bleeding, a new scrape on his shin from the coral. The coral orb glowed, syncing with his breath, the rune pouch and Lila's bead steadying him. Aisha approached, her coral-etched keris sheathed, her voice calm. "You fight like you mean it," she said, a faint smile breaking her stoic mask. Rizwan clapped Rentap's shoulder, grinning. "Not bad, Blood Island. Let's see you keep up."
Kadir's eyes softened, his staff glowing. "The Nexus sees you, Rentap. Train, grow, forge your blade."
Zainah's gaze lingered, her voice firm. "You're no legend yet. The Kirin Blade's path is blood and steel. Rest, then train at dawn."
Rentap nodded, Taming Jiwa sheathed, the Kirin's rune pulsing. The arena cleared, novices whispering, Idris limping away, his sneer gone. Kerisforge's spires loomed, coral halls buzzing with purpose. Rentap followed Aisha and Rizwan to the novices' quarters, coral walls glowing, ley lines humming. His vow burned—find the betrayer, protect the Nexus, honor Jaya and Mira. The test was won, but Kerisforge was a crucible, and Rentap Buana, orphan of Blood Island, was only beginning.
---