Phase 1: Rise of the Orphan Blade
Chapter 1: The Crimson Vow
Part 4: The Kirin's Trial
Kerisforge Stronghold thrummed with the Nexus's pulse, its coral spires a beacon against the twilight, calling Rentap Buana to a trial that would etch his name or erase it. At sixteen, he stood bloodied but unbowed, Taming Jiwa glowing at his side, its jade light a defiant flame. 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, thigh, bicep, shoulder, and side, a bruise on his side, scrapes on his shin and knee. The coral orb in his pouch pulsed, the rune pouch and Lila's bead clinking, anchoring him as ley lines roared beneath the fortress. Rentap had faced wraiths, Idris, and Hafiz, forging a bond with Aisha and Rizwan under Kadir and Zainah's steel. Now, the Starlit Kirin's rune burned in his mind, summoning him to the Kirin Trial—a test of blade, spirit, and vow. As coral halls glowed with jade veins, Rentap stepped toward the crucible, Aisha and Rizwan at his side, their kerises ready, a shadow from his past lurking, ready to strike.
The novices' quarters buzzed with whispers, the air heavy with salt and steel. Rentap's wounds ached, bandaged but raw, the mantra Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim steadying his breath. Visions plagued him—Jaya's blade cleaving shadows, Mira's eyes pleading, kirins soaring over a jade sea. Aisha's calm resolve and Rizwan's fierce grin were his anchors, their unity a shield in Kerisforge's vastness. At dusk, Kadir's staff tapped the coral floor, summoning them to the Starlit Arena, a cavern deep within the stronghold, its ceiling open to a sky ablaze with stars. Master Zainah stood at the arena's heart, her coral armor glinting, joined by Elder Amira, her starlit staff radiating jade light. The arena's coral floor pulsed, etched with kirin runes, ley lines humming like a storm.
Amira's voice was warm but firm, cutting through the cavern's hum. "Rentap Buana, Aisha, Rizwan—Kerisforge tests your worth. The Kirin Trial binds you to the Starlit Kirin, the Nexus's light. Pass, and you're novices no more. Fail, and you leave."
Rentap gripped Taming Jiwa, its pulse syncing with his heart, the coral orb glowing fiercely. Aisha's coral-etched keris gleamed, her braid tight, eyes steady. Rizwan's humming keris swung loosely, his grin sharp. Idris and Hafiz watched from the crowd, their eyes cold, but Rentap's vow burned—find the betrayer, protect the Nexus, honor Jaya and Mira. The Kirin's rune flared, a vision flickering: a coral beast, its eyes jade, its roar the Nexus's call. The trial was no spar—it was a dance with the divine.
The Starlit Arena shimmered, its coral pillars rising like sentinels, jade veins pulsing in sync with the ley lines. Elder Amira raised her staff, and the arena's floor parted, revealing a coral altar etched with kirin runes. A jade mist rose, coalescing into a spectral form—a Starlit Kirin, its body coral and light, eyes blazing, antlers crackling with jade energy. Its roar shook the cavern, anime-style waves rippling, coral dust swirling. Amira's voice rang out. "The Kirin's Shade tests your blade and bond. Face it as one, or fall."
Kadir stepped forward, his staff glowing. "Sync with Taming Jiwa, Rentap. Let the ley lines guide you. Aisha, Rizwan—your strength is his."
Zainah's eyes pierced Rentap. "No novice has faced the Shade alone. Prove your unity, or the Kirin claims you."
Rentap's heart pounded, Taming Jiwa flaring, the coral orb amplifying the ley lines' hum. Aisha and Rizwan nodded, their kerises drawn, and they stepped into the arena, coral crunching underfoot. The Kirin's Shade lunged, its antlers slashing, jade energy bursting in a storm of light. Rentap rolled right, coral scraping his knee's scrape, and wove Storm Claw, Taming Jiwa slashing in a crescent arc, jade waves clashing with the Shade's antlers. The impact jarred his shoulder's cut, blood seeping, but the Shade recoiled, its eyes blazing.
Aisha flanked left, her coral-etched keris weaving Star Whisper, jade waves rippling, striking the Shade's flank. It roared, its tail whipping, jade energy grazing Aisha's arm, a shallow cut blooming. Rizwan charged, his humming keris powering Iron Surge, slashing the Shade's leg, coral shards spraying. The Shade's antlers struck, nicking Rizwan's side, blood dripping, but he grinned, countering with Storm Claw, his blade a blur. Rentap's vision flickered—Jaya's blade uniting allies—and he shouted, "Together!" syncing with Aisha and Rizwan.
They moved as one, Star Whisper weaving their jade waves, ley lines roaring. Rentap struck with Sky Fang, Taming Jiwa thrusting at the Shade's chest, jade light bursting. Aisha's Veil Tide cloaked her, dodging an antler slash, her keris nicking the Shade's neck. Rizwan's Iron Surge powered a downward slash, coral dust choking the air. The Shade roared, its antlers flaring, jade energy surging, knocking Rentap back, a new cut on his forearm burning, coral dust stinging his eyes. He staggered, the Kirin's rune pulsing, a vision of Mira's plea steadying him.
The Shade's tail whipped, striking Aisha's leg, a bruise forming, but she countered with Storm Claw, her keris slashing. Rizwan's Sky Fang pierced the Shade's side, but its antlers grazed his shoulder, a cut bleeding. Rentap roared, Veil Tide cloaking him, and struck with Star Whisper, Taming Jiwa slashing the Shade's antlers, jade waves surging. The Shade faltered, its form flickering, and Rentap pressed forward, Iron Surge powering his strike, Taming Jiwa piercing its heart. Jade light erupted, the Shade dissolving into coral mist, its roar echoing as the arena stilled.
The crowd roared, the ley lines calming, the coral orb glowing fiercely. Rentap panted, Taming Jiwa heavy, his forearm's new cut bleeding, shoulder and side cuts throbbing, knee's scrape raw. Aisha steadied herself, her arm and leg bloodied, her keris sheathed. Rizwan grinned, wiping blood from his shoulder and side, his keris humming softly. Kadir's staff tapped, his eyes warm. "You faced the Kirin's Shade as one. The Nexus binds you."
Amira raised her staff, jade light flaring. "Rentap Buana, Aisha, Rizwan—you are Kirin Blade novices, forged by the Starlit Kirin. Carry the light."
Zainah's nod was sharp, her voice firm. "The trial is won, but the path is long. Train, novices. The Nexus stirs."
Rentap's heart swelled, Taming Jiwa pulsing, the Kirin's rune glowing. The arena cleared, novices cheering, Idris and Hafiz silent in the crowd. As Rentap turned, a shadow moved—a cloaked figure, its eyes jade, its voice a hiss in his mind: Blood Island's son, the betrayer watches. Rentap froze, the vision flickering—Mira's plea, a shadowed keris. The figure vanished, the coral orb flaring, but the warning lingered, a chill in his scars.
Aisha's hand touched his arm, her voice calm. "You felt it, didn't you? The Nexus speaks."
Rizwan's grin faded, his keris tight. "Something's coming, Blood Island. We'll face it together."
Rentap nodded, Taming Jiwa sheathed, the rune pouch and Lila's bead grounding him. Kerisforge's spires loomed, coral halls alive with purpose. His vow burned—find the betrayer, protect the Nexus, honor Jaya and Mira. The Kirin Trial was won, but a shadow stirred, and Rentap Buana, Kirin Blade novice, was ready to face it.
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