Phase 1: Rise of the Orphan Blade
Chapter 1: The Crimson Vow
Part 3: Forged in the Arena
Kerisforge Stronghold pulsed with the Nexus's heartbeat, its coral halls a crucible where Rentap Buana's vow would be tempered or broken. At sixteen, he stood among novices, Taming Jiwa glowing at his side, its jade light a beacon in the dawn. The rusted kerambit at his hip whispered of Jaya and Mira's betrayal, their plea—find them—a fire in his scars: kirin's mark on his chest, cuts on his forearm and thigh, a fresh bruise on his side, a scrape on his shin. The coral orb in his pouch hummed, the rune pouch and Lila's bead clinking softly, grounding him as ley lines thrummed beneath the fortress. Rentap had faced Blood Island's wraiths and Idris's coral keris, but Kerisforge demanded more—a training that would forge him into a Kirin Blade or cast him aside. Under Kadir's steady gaze and Master Zainah's unyielding scrutiny, Rentap stepped into the arena, Aisha and Rizwan at his side, their kerises ready. The Starlit Kirin's rune flared in his mind, and the tide of his destiny surged, calling him to prove his steel.
The novices' quarters were a blur of coral bunks and jade-lit lanterns, the air thick with salt and anticipation. Rentap had barely slept, his cuts stinging, the mantra Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim his anchor. Visions haunted him—Jaya's blade splitting shadows, Mira's eyes pleading, kirins soaring over a jade sea. Aisha's quiet resolve and Rizwan's sharp grin had steadied him, their presence a spark in Kerisforge's vastness. Dawn broke, and Kadir's staff tapped the coral floor, summoning them to the training arena, a sunken coral pit where adepts sparred, their Silat forms weaving jade waves. Master Zainah waited, her coral armor glinting, her voice a blade. "Training begins, novices. The Nexus waits for no one."
Rentap followed, Taming Jiwa pulsing, the arena's jade veins glowing like the reefs of Blood Island. Novices gathered, their kerises gleaming, while adepts and sentinels watched from coral ledges. Idris lingered at the edge, his arm bandaged, his sneer sharp but silent. Aisha's coral-etched keris rested at her hip, her braid tight, eyes scanning the pit. Rizwan's humming keris swung loosely, his grin undimmed. Kadir planted his staff, the ley lines humming, and Rentap's scars ached, but his vow burned—find the betrayer, protect the Nexus, honor his parents' light.
Kadir's voice cut through the arena's hum, deep and steady. "Kerisforge forges blades, not dreams. Rentap, Aisha, Rizwan—you'll train as a unit. The Nexus demands unity, strength, Silat that sings with the ley lines." He gestured to the pit, where coral pillars rose, etched with Nexus sigils, a training ground for Astra-Nusantara Silat. "Master Zainah will drill you. Fail, and you're no Kirin Blade."
Zainah stepped forward, her eyes piercing Rentap. "Blood Island's vow means nothing without skill. Show me Taming Jiwa's worth." She drew her own keris, jade light flaring, and demonstrated Storm Claw, a crescent slash that sent jade waves rippling, coral dust swirling. "Begin with forms. Sync with the ley lines, or falter."
Rentap gripped Taming Jiwa, its pulse syncing with his breath. He stepped into the pit, Aisha and Rizwan flanking him, their kerises drawn. The coral orb glowed, amplifying the ley lines' hum, and Rentap wove Storm Claw, his blade slashing in a tight arc, jade light trailing. The form was shaky, his forearm's cut burning, but the ley lines responded, a faint pulse syncing with Taming Jiwa. Aisha's Storm Claw was precise, her coral-etched keris weaving jade waves with grace. Rizwan's was fierce, his humming keris slashing with raw power, coral dust kicking up.
Zainah's voice snapped. "Sloppy, Rentap. Your blade wavers. Again!" She struck, her keris flashing, a Sky Fang thrust aimed at Rentap's shoulder. He parried, Taming Jiwa clashing, sparks flying, the impact jarring his bruise. A new cut bloomed on his bicep, blood hot, but he countered with Veil Tide, cloaking his steps, dodging her next strike. Aisha and Rizwan joined, their Silat forms weaving, jade waves merging, but Zainah was a storm, her keris blocking each strike, her voice sharp. "Unity, novices! Fight as one!"
Rentap's heart pounded, the Kirin's rune flaring, a vision flickering—Jaya's blade uniting allies. He shouted, "Together!" and wove Star Whisper, syncing with Aisha and Rizwan's forms, their jade waves aligning. They struck as a unit, Storm Claw slashing, Sky Fang thrusting, Iron Surge powering their blades. Zainah parried, her keris a blur, but she nodded, stepping back. "Better," she said, her tone grudging. "Rest, then spar. The arena tests your bond."
The sparring match came at noon, the arena packed with novices, adepts, and sentinels, the ley lines roaring. Kadir chose Rentap's opponent—a novice named Hafiz, broad-shouldered, his coral keris etched with storm runes, his eyes cold. "Hafiz doubts your unity," Kadir said, staff tapping. "Prove him wrong, Rentap, Aisha, Rizwan."
Hafiz stepped onto the coral platform, flanked by two novices, their kerises gleaming. "Blood Island's runt," Hafiz sneered, blade raised. "You'll break."
Rentap's blood surged, Taming Jiwa glowing, the coral orb pulsing. Aisha's gaze was steady, Rizwan's grin sharp. They stepped up, kerises drawn, the crowd roaring. Zainah raised her hand. "Begin!"
Hafiz charged, his coral keris slashing in Iron Surge, a heavy arc aimed at Rentap's chest. Rentap rolled left, coral scraping his shin, and countered with Storm Claw, Taming Jiwa slashing, jade light clashing with coral. The impact rattled his bicep's cut, blood seeping, but he pressed forward, Veil Tide cloaking his steps. Hafiz's blade grazed his shoulder, a shallow cut burning, coral dust stinging his eyes. Rentap cursed, spinning, Sky Fang feinting, Taming Jiwa thrusting at Hafiz's arm. The novice parried, his storm runes flaring, pushing Rentap back, boots skidding.
Aisha flanked Hafiz, her coral-etched keris weaving Star Whisper, jade waves rippling, striking his side. Hafiz grunted, a cut blooming, but his allies struck, their kerises slashing at Aisha. Rizwan intercepted, his humming keris powering Iron Surge, blocking one blade, coral chips flying. The second novice's keris nicked Rizwan's forearm, blood dripping, but he grinned, countering with Storm Claw, his blade a blur. Rentap's heart raced, the Kirin's rune pulsing, a vision of Jaya's unity burning. "As one!" he shouted, syncing with Aisha and Rizwan.
They moved together, Star Whisper weaving their jade waves, ley lines humming. Rentap struck with Storm Claw, Taming Jiwa slashing Hafiz's thigh, jade light bursting. Aisha's Sky Fang pierced Hafiz's guard, nicking his shoulder. Rizwan's Iron Surge disarmed one novice, his keris clattering. The second novice lunged, his blade grazing Rentap's side, a new cut flaring, blood hot. Rentap roared, Veil Tide cloaking him, and struck with Star Whisper, Taming Jiwa disarming the novice, jade waves surging. Hafiz faltered, his keris trembling, and Rentap pressed Taming Jiwa to his chest, jade light flaring. "Yield!"
Hafiz panted, bloodied, and nodded. The crowd roared, the ley lines calming. Kadir's staff tapped, Zainah's nod sharp. "You fight as one," she said. "Kerisforge sees you."
Rentap staggered back, Taming Jiwa lowering, its pulse steady. His side bled, his shoulder and bicep cuts throbbing, a new scrape on his knee from the coral. The coral orb glowed, the rune pouch and Lila's bead grounding him. Aisha wiped blood from her cheek, her keris sheathed, her voice calm. "We're stronger together, Rentap." Rizwan clapped his shoulder, wincing, his forearm bandaged. "Told you we'd keep up, Blood Island."
Kadir approached, his staff glowing. "The Nexus binds you three. Train harder, Rentap. The Kirin Blade's path is unforgiving."
Zainah's eyes softened, her voice firm. "Rest, novices. Tomorrow, you train with adepts. Prove your vow, or Kerisforge will break it."
Rentap nodded, Taming Jiwa sheathed, the Kirin's rune pulsing. The arena cleared, novices dispersing, Hafiz limping away, his allies silent. Kerisforge's spires loomed, coral halls alive with purpose. Rentap followed Aisha and Rizwan to the quarters, ley lines humming, his vow burning—find the betrayer, protect the Nexus, honor Jaya and Mira. The spar was won, but Kerisforge was a forge, and Rentap Buana, orphan of Blood Island, was being shaped into something greater.
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