Chapter 8 : Warior Princess

it was big, rectangular building.

it did not have lawn and terrace like the typical Ancient Humans residence, its design was so simple that in a glance it literally looked like a white huge box, but one could be sure that the construction of this structure was well planned, catering the basic rooms a human naturally should have in their house, unlike those in the Se-Panjang district which example was Old man Wirya's house.

the materials used in the construction seemed like a mix of white paste, clays, and solid steels. at least those were what it looked like from Rani perspective, a little girl with very few knowledge of civil engineering.

They walked for few minutes, closing distance to their destination, before a figure appeared in their sight from the right side. the figure was slowly heading to them, an old woman, almost fell to an elderly category. right after that, She talked to Rani and Gita.

"it has been so long since the last time You were here, I heard You lived in the merchant district, why didn't You visit this mother of yours sooner, my child.... ?" a thin, blonde old woman, whose gold hair almost turning all white, greeted them

She wore a thick grey coat bearing an emblem of two white doves on back to back position, which had yellow background. She looked genuinely concerned about something but trying her best to hide it.

"I'm here to use the underground training room of my mansion. I hope You don't hinder me from going into my own house, like sister Pita did, mother." Dyah Gita slightly bowing to the old woman, paying her due respect to the one giving birth to her.

"I see, is the little girl behind You lord's Raja daughter ? it is my pleasure to meet You young Lady......" the old woman closed her eyes and extended her wrinkles on her forhead to recall the girl's name

"Rani, Maharani, daughter of Raja, or the fourth child of Lord Maharaja, it is my honor to be in the presence of the infamous Warior queen Lady Dyah Suhi, I will be in Your care from now on, esteemed elder." Rani gave a deep bow, She was as old as her father so She deserved her utmost respect.

"You were just a baby the last time I saw You, You even inherited the angelic face of Your late mother, I'm glad You are fine growing by Yourself, it must be hard on You.

Your father was known to be cold and overly dutiful, He would prioritize The nation over his own family if You have a hard time feel free to come to me , I'll try my utmost to help You, I owed Your late mother alot when She was alive. She must be smiling among the Ancient Humans in heaven seeing how well You have grown, my Lady." old woman Suhi gave back Rani's bow with a slight nod and smile.

from just this interaction, 'She had to be a warm and caring mother, right ?, but why ? why was My master forced to flee from her own family ?' Rani couldn't put her finger on this.

"mother, we can have a long talk after Lady Maha's training, may we go now ?" Gita didn't wish to waste time, at least not before her jobs had been done.

They could continue this discussion in a more comfortable space, but right now, They were in the middle of the main road of southern vicinity of aristocratic residential district. where clan Dyah's residence complex was located.

"sure my child, go now, I will prepare some refreshments and snacks for You, so come to my house when You have done your training session." She was waving her wrinkled had while turning her back, a warm smile hanging on her lips.

"let us enter my house Lady Maha, It will be a bit dusty and untidy but I hope You would understand."She led Rani towards the door, Gita pushed it to the right, and a creaking, loud metal sound echoing through out the street. immediately getting the attention from some of Dyah's clan members and passerby who were doing their daily activities in the surrounding.

upon entering the big, white box building, what could be immediately seen was a table on the right corner.

its color changed to that of dust. then in the left side, a bed fit only for one person to lay on. spider's web could be found in almost every corner, what was beyond five meters from where They stood, only darkness could be seen.

Gita entered and open the two windows located in the far end of the house aisle, and right away, sunlight came pouring in from outside. one of the perks of being wealthy in this era was, You could have a residences in the brightest place, where sunlight was abundant. in a World with near eternal polar weather, this one particular perk was luxury.

how could this kind of sunny place be formed ?, well it was of course from artifacts, it was made by the last surviving Ancient Humans before They followed their kin to heaven, only City states or nations with deep root and direct ties to the Ancient Humans could possibly have this sort of artifact.

"over here.." Gita gave a hand signal to follow her through a secret passage, there were steep stairs leading underground, it was still completely dark. so Rani had to really watch her steps if She didn't want to roll over to its bottom, eventhough it would surely be faster to get to the bottom that way.

after She felt She had arrived in their destination, suddenly, Sun rays poured out of a mirror, it gave light to the room. Rani needed some time to adjust her vision in this bright place so She felt dizzy for few seconds. following that, She could make out Gitas's figure near her.

"These are mirrors, They can reflect light and appearance of things opposite of its clear surface, even the grand Palace does not have them, I found four of them in the ruin near the Niso great plain's southern edge, I believe there was a signboard that read as..... Jak-arta ? doesn't matter, the important thing is , it can bring the light from surface to this underground.

I installed them the first time I came back here in secret, so that damned sister of mine, Pita, doesn't shamlessly snatch them away from me."

when Gita mentioned the last part of her explaination, utter disgust could be clearly seen

"These are.... amazing... not even the greatest inventor of Terraria City state, Panca, would be able to remake them, I'm sure of it."

mesmerized by these four ancient artifacts, Rani's eyes shone from the sunlight reflection.

"enough with being bewitched by them, we shall start what We came here for."

"yes master. but I did not bring my katana."

"Have You gone through Mutation my Lady ?"

"not yet Master, I will have it two years later when I have my ten years anniversary. by the way master, please call me Rani, without designation, just Rani." She clenched her hands and bumping them to each other in front of her bowing head.

"alright, perfect, it's good that You have not tasted the power of Mutation , otherwise, You would rely on them too much, by then it would be difficult to build You foundation from the ground up, let's just start by fighting each other. Your artifact is a katana right, there happens to be some wooden sword left in the drawer behind You, bring two of them here."

They started taking position opposite to each other. both hold a wooden sword.

Rani made a stance as Low as possible, so that She could maximize her childhood-strength. compared to an adult power Gita possessed, Her strongest attack by no mean would be enough, still, She could rely on her speed and swordsmanship was taught by her oldest brother, Meru. She would do her best, like She always did.

She jumped straight to her master, her legs length was unconvincing. what convincing was, the power contained within her muscle, one of her jump covered five meters, in a matter of 2 seconds, She had directed a thrust on her master abdomen.

Gita, rather than blocked Rani's attack spun from left to right, while her hand holding the wooden sword swung the opposite direction, from right to left.

a complete counter attack, She tried to get Rani without even directly looking at her. Rani thought if it was someone else , especially her classmates, their neck would get smacked instantly.

Rani reflex gave her a chance to fight back, She made her stance even lower, and bowed so deep until she could face the icy ground. then Gita's shadow coming to her left, it was her master ankle, She was not in the right position to make another jump to the right side to avoid these chain of counters, so Rani was forced to block her master's ankle.

crack !!!!!!!!! woosh....!!!... boom!!!!!!!

Rani was flown into the right wall of the underground room. She felt her back was torn apart, some of her ribs should have some fracture by now, because She got pain every time She tried to breath. Her consciousness was falling, but She refused to succumb, with her wooden sword, that was broken in half, with much difficulty She tried to stand up.

"cough ! cough ! ughhh...., uueeghh!!! cough ! ha... ha.... ha...., gulp, ha.... , mastehhh, You...., did You use Your Mutation ? cough !"

" I did not, it was normal for an Evolver to have physical strength ten times than normal Human, if I were to activate my special trait just now, You were definitely going to kiss this World good bye, I swear it was my pure strength as an Evolver , You wouldn't get to Your current miserable State if You were an Evolver Yourself, but the outcome would still be the same.

You wouldn't be able to avoid my chain of counter attacks. what important was Your techniques. Your body control was still half baked. always remember, You can't always block an attack, so make sure to always be prepared to be in position to retreat. If You were forced to face a Titan class Mutant sometimes in the future, You will understand the value of my advice."

Gita stood up right, leaning on the wooden sword which tip thrust to the ground. She had an unamused look on her porcelain face, Gita felt disappointed by her pupil who suspected that She was cheating.

"My apologize for accusing You, master, please forgive this insolent disciple of Yours, I will make sure to carve your advice on my brain." with her limping body hand and congested breath, Rani tried to kneel to her master.

"excellent, then again, we have to treat You first, it seems I still put too much strength even though I believe I held back half of my power, I'm sorry for that"

Shudder.....

'Ha-half ???!! that was half You say ? without Mutation being actived ??!! just how big is the difference in our pure strength ?' eight years old Rani could not believe what She just heard

"let's go back to the surface, My mother will certainly be able to heal You with her

Mutation type : psychokinesis

Special trait : Advanced Regeneration "

Gita approached Rani, grabbed Her waist and pull her up, She half-carried Rani's body, helping Rani to climb the stairs was the priority now.

"Master, can I be as strong as You ?" Rani was still panting , She asked her beautiful master.

"of course You can, I even planned to make You stronger than me for the time being, so that You won't experience the same fate as me." Gita beautiful face turned gloomy, like there were dark clouds hanging in front of it.

"So You have returned Gita..."

a woman voice, so despicable that made the master's and disciple's ears, itch. She stood in same room from where They had entered Gita's house previously.

"Sister, I suggest You go back to wherever c*nt hole You came from right now, before I mutilate Your body and present them to our beloved mother."

Gita hissed heavily, She tried to held back her burning anger.

Dyah Pita, She was her sister, the siblings shared the same blood, but not the same nature, one was honest, the other was shrewd. just like oil and water.

"shouldn't You say it after finding out whether You have the capability to do that or not ?, just because You were hailed as an Adventurer, doesn't mean You are stronger." Pita put a smirk, so irritating that everyone would want to rip it off the moment They saw it.

spiteful, Gita laid Rani down, and told her

"hold on for ten minutes, I am going to throw a trash off, fast and clean." by the time She finished her line, Gita and Pita blured from Rani's sight.

to be continued