At D Ground of Doramai School, Pretty, Tain, Khan, and Precious were sitting together.
Everyone looked tense—
Except for Precious, who looked surprisingly relaxed.
Tain crossed her arms.
Tain:
"So that's how it is, huh…"
Pretty nodded quietly.
Pretty:
"Yes…"
"If you fail Grandfather's test, then…"
Her voice slowly faded.
Pretty lowered her head and stared at the ground, her face filled with worry.
Meanwhile, Precious was sitting on a stone slightly above them.
Suddenly—
He jumped down energetically.
Precious:
"Haish!"
"So we just need to pass the test, right?"
He stretched his arms confidently.
Precious:
"All we have to do is impress Grandfather Kaji."
"What's there to be so worried about?"
Khan frowned.
Khan:
"And you think Grandfather's test will be that easy?"
Precious shrugged.
Precious:
"No."
"But how hard could it really be?"
Tain sighed.
Tain:
"Yeah, but…"
Precious suddenly smiled at her.
Precious:
"You don't need to worry."
"You'll definitely pass, sis."
Tain looked at him seriously.
Tain:
"I'm not worried about myself."
"I'm worried about you."
She pointed at him.
Tain:
"I'll pass because of my spirit."
"But what about you?"
"What if he gives a task that's impossible for a human?"
Precious calmly looked at her.
Precious:
"Don't worry, sis."
"I'll pass."
Pretty suddenly grabbed his hand.
She smiled softly.
Pretty:
"If you say so… then you definitely will."
She stood up happily.
Pretty:
"Then let's go."
Everyone nodded.
And they all left together.
Sunday Night
Inside Sharta Park.
The park was crowded.
Many people were walking around, chatting, and enjoying the night.
There were games, food stalls, and bright lights everywhere.
Near the park entrance, Precious and Tain stood in line.
They walked forward until they reached the guard.
The guard raised his hand.
Guard:
"Your tickets, please."
Tain blinked.
Tain:
"We… don't have one."
The guard shook his head.
Guard:
"Then I'm sorry, but you can't enter."
At that moment—
Khan suddenly appeared.
Khan:
"They can go."
The guard looked confused.
Guard:
"…?"
Then he recognized Khan.
Guard:
"But sir, those two don't have tickets."
Khan spoke calmly.
Khan:
"They are my special guests."
"Is there a problem?"
The guard immediately bowed his head.
Guard:
"No, sir!"
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Sorry, sir."
He stepped aside.
Khan then walked inside with Tain and Precious.
Meanwhile, some people nearby whispered.
Random Person:
"Isn't that the child of Pintu Sharta?"
Random Person 2:
"Yeah… who are those two?"
Random Person:
"Special guests… maybe they're important people."
Khan led them toward the Park Authority Hall.
Inside, many important people had already gathered.
On one of the sofas sat Kuku, Pretty, Kaji, and Pintu.
Khan entered with Precious and Tain.
Khan:
"Grandfather, I've brought them."
"These are the two."
Kaji slowly stood up.
He walked closer and stared at them carefully.
Then he snorted.
Kaji:
"Hmph."
"I thought that since they're the grandchildren of my friend Satu, they would be something special."
"But I see nothing special."
He folded his arms.
Kaji:
"Anyway, before the test begins, I want to say something."
Pintu frowned.
Pintu:
"What is it, Father?"
Kaji pointed at Tain.
Kaji:
"I could accept this girl marrying Khan."
"She seems fine."
Then he pointed directly at Precious.
His voice became harsh.
Kaji:
"But this kid?!"
"How could you possibly get engaged to him, Pretty?!"
He glared at Precious.
Kaji:
"Don't you see how… how scary he looks?"
"His eyes are terrifying!"
He looked angrily at Pintu.
Kaji:
"How could you engage my little goddess to this scary brat?!"
Pintu tried to explain.
Pintu:
"It's not like that—"
Kaji waved his hand dismissively.
Kaji:
"Hmph!"
"Anyway…"
"You are the one who fixed Pretty's broken skill, right?"
Precious thought quietly.
Precious (thinking):
"Honestly… it would have healed on its own with time."
"I didn't really do anything special."
Kaji continued.
Kaji:
"That's why I'll give you a chance."
Tain whispered to Precious.
Tain:
"Uff… I thought he wouldn't…"
Precious bowed his head politely.
Precious:
"Thank you, Grandfather Kaji."
Kaji immediately snapped.
Kaji:
"Hey!"
"I'm not your grandfather!"
"Don't call me that!"
Precious nodded respectfully.
Precious:
"Yes, Sir Kaji."
Kaji sighed in frustration.
Kaji:
"Now let's begin Test One."
He muttered quietly.
Kaji (whispering):
"At least this kid has good manners…"
Kuku asked curiously.
Kuku:
"Father, what kind of test will it be?"
Kaji smiled slightly.
Kaji:
"Simple."
Soon, everyone moved to a stadium inside the park.
In the middle of the field was a pond.
Kaji pointed at it.
Kaji:
"Inside that pond is the reflection of a fish."
"That fish is flying very high in the sky."
Everyone looked confused.
Kaji continued.
Kaji:
"You must use a bow and arrow to hit that fish."
"But you must aim using only the reflection in the pond."
Pintu immediately protested.
Pintu:
"That's impossible!"
Pretty also looked shocked.
Pretty:
"Grandfather, how can anyone do that?"
Kaji raised an eyebrow.
Kaji:
"What?"
"You told me to test them."
"So I am testing them."
He turned toward Tain and Precious.
Kaji:
"You two."
"Do you have a problem?"
Tain hesitated.
Tain:
"N-No, sir…"
Precious shrugged.
Precious:
"Not me either."
Kaji gestured forward.
Kaji:
"Then go ahead."
Tain walked forward.
On a table nearby were a bow and a single arrow.
She picked them up.
From the sidelines—
Khan shouted.
Khan:
"Go, Tain! You can do it!"
Pretty cheered too.
Pretty:
"Go, Big Sis! You can do it!"
Tain took her stance.
She looked at the sky.
Then she looked into the pond.
Quietly, she spoke to the spirit living inside her body—
Quefer, a fire-grass hybrid spirit.
Tain (whispering):
"Can you do it, Quefer?"
A voice answered calmly.
Quefer:
"Easy for me."
Tain nodded.
Tain:
"Then take control."
Suddenly—
Tain's eyes changed color.
One eye turned red, the other green.
Quefer had taken control of her body.
Through the reflection in the pond, Quefer stared at the fish.
It was a silver fish, flying high above the clouds.
After a few seconds—
She released the arrow.
SHHHH!
The arrow shot upward at incredible speed.
Far above the clouds—
It struck the fish perfectly.
Quefer released control of Tain's body.
Tain flipped lightly and landed.
Tain:
"Done."
Kaji's face froze in shock.
Khan looked incredibly proud.
Everyone else cheered happily.
But inside Kaji's mind—
Kaji (thinking):
"How…?"
"How did she do that…?!"
He quickly cleared his throat.
Kaji:
"Okay! Okay!"
"There are still more tests!"
He pointed at Precious.
Kaji:
"Now it's your turn… scary-eyes brat."
Pretty glared at him angrily.
Kaji suddenly looked nervous.
Kaji:
"I-I mean… Precious."
Precious calmly walked forward.
He picked up his sword.
Kaji frowned.
Kaji:
"Hey!"
"You have to use a bow, not a sword!"
"Pick up that bow and aim for the fish!"
Precious calmly replied.
Precious:
"Sir… this is also a bow."
Suddenly—
His sword transformed into a bow.
Everyone except Pretty stared in shock.
Pretty proudly crossed her arms.
Pretty:
"Hmph!"
"That sword is very powerful."
"Didn't you know?"
"It can transform into six other weapons."
Kaji blinked in disbelief.
Kaji:
"Oh…"
He shook his head.
Kaji:
"Anyway!"
"Don't use that weapon!"
"Use this bow instead!"
Precious looked at the normal bow lying nearby.
Precious:
"If I pick this…"
Before he finished—
Kaji shouted angrily.
Kaji:
"Just pick it up!!"
Precious grabbed the bow.
CRACK!
It instantly broke in his hands.
Kaji's eyes widened.
Kaji:
"Huh?!"
Pretty sighed.
Pretty:
"Grandfather, Precious is very powerful."
"Except for his sword, I've never seen him use another weapon."
"Because they all break."
Kaji whispered to himself nervously.
Kaji:
"A-Are you serious…?"
"Is he some kind of monster…?"
Then he sighed.
Kaji:
"Fine!"
"Use your own bow!"
Precious nodded.
He raised the transformed bow.
But—
He didn't look at the pond.
He didn't even look at the sky.
He simply released the arrow.
BOOOOM!
The arrow shot upward with terrifying power.
It tore through the sky itself, scattering the clouds.
The clouds disappeared—
And the water above them suddenly rained down onto the ground.
The arrow struck the fish.
Then continued flying upward—
Straight into outer space.
Precious scratched his head.
Precious:
"Oh…"
"It's gone."
Everyone stood there completely drenched in water.
Kaji was frozen in absolute shock.
Outside the stadium—
Water had flooded everywhere.
People were soaked.
Kaji stared at Precious with disbelief.
Kaji (thinking):
"What is wrong with this kid…?!"