ASTAKONA [COURSE EIGHT]
Chapter 10

That night, when Zara was busy packing her belongings, she felt a strange vibe affecting the room. Bhai's words during the day continued to echo in his ears, and this irregularity was also felt in the statues of Bhai he had defeated. How could the statues know about the events involving the head of the Hige and the Astakona academy?

Zara muttered the question in her heart, full of curiosity. He decided to meet Bhai who was waiting outside the house.

They walked up into a forest. Not sure if that was the way, Zara just followed Bhai. However, as the forest darkens, a feeling of anxiety envelops Zara as Bhai's steps suddenly stop. His eyes stared intently at Zara, but something felt different. A strange red color shone from his eyes, and his hat was removed, revealing a face unknown to Zara.

Her heart thumped, and unknowingly, Zara pulled the hand from the fake Bhai's grasp. He felt fear and confusion. "Who are you really?" whispered with doubt.

The clouds that covered the full moon passed brightening the forest area with a disguise of light.

The figure of Bhai confronts him with a terrible smile, his face becomes clearly visible and it is the Morkus, the cruel and bloodthirsty killer of Zara's friend!

"You. you're Morkus! Why are you disguised as Bhai?" uajr Zara, but his face was filled with fear and anger.

Morkus just laughed viciously. "Oh, little girl. I wonder what kind of Tias you are. How could I be afraid of you. But I won't let you talk!" His threat, and his red eyes, emitted a terrifying evil aura.

Zara bit her lips, clenched her hands, and tried to calm herself down. "I won't tell you anything! And I'm gonna make sure you don't hurt anyone else!" he said with determination.

"So what do you want? Wanna kill me? Seriously? No one in this world can kill me! I'm the one who's gonna kill them! HAHAHA!" Morkus laughed arrogantly.

A feeling of anger culminated in Zara when she saw the arrogance of Morkus. Without a doubt, his bracelet turned a fiery red, and a smoldering flame shot out from his hand, directing his attack towards Morkus. However, Morkus managed to dodge quickly.

"Huh?! Do you really intend to kill me?" morkus asked with a look of wonder.

"AHA. Look around!" reply Morkus with a confident attitude.

Zara and Morkus are now surrounded by a black-robed band, ready to act if anything happens to its chairman, Morkus. They were a loyal support team to assist Morkus in his plan.

Morkus quickly moved closer to Zara and suddenly exhaled a strange powder that made Zara lose consciousness. He also fainted and fell.

In a state of unconsciousness, Zara dreams. He saw Kedidi coming towards him with an anxious face, trying to wake him up.

However, in the real world, Morkus is on his way to where Zara is, intending to end it forever.

Suddenly, Zara's bracelet turns golden, and all of the gems within it change color to the colors of all of Astakona's elements. A dazzling golden light illuminated the entire surrounding area, making the black-robed batch temporarily blind.

Morkus raised his hand to signal his group not to act. He knew that the golden light could harm them.

As the golden light died down, Morkus and his army left, leaving Zara still unconscious at that spot.

When Zara finally wakes up in the morning, she realizes that she is outside the house and no longer in the woods. It turned out that he had only experienced pseudo-vision the night before.

Zara immediately ran towards my Ningku town to look for Bhai. Upon finding her, she is shocked to see Bhai tied up in front of a shop.

They told him that Bhai had drunk and damaged property around the weekend, so they tied him up so as not to cause further trouble. They revealed that Bhai had been bound for three days.

Without hesitation, Zara immediately unbinds the bond that binds Bhai. However, while trying to wake him up, Bhai did not show any reaction. Zara got a floating bucket, took the water from the well, and poured it over Bhai's face in hopes of waking him up.

Finally, Bhai woke up and saw Zara standing before him in a stern manner.

"Bhi, what happened to you?" ask Zara worried.

Bhai smiled weakly. "I'm sorry, Zara. I can't remember many things, but I know I've made trouble and troubled you."

Zara tried to calm Bhai. "Don't worry, Bhai. What matters is that you're conscious now. I'll help you recover."

With Zara's help, Bhai finally recovers from her drunken influence.

Amidst the calm atmosphere, Zara sat with Bhai at the lake, where they often practiced. He tells what happened last night, how he suddenly met Morkus, a figure that is difficult to track and very dangerous. Bhai looks rather surprised to hear the story, as if he does not believe that Zara can actually meet Morkus.

"Even if it's hard for me to trace her whereabouts, how could you possibly meet her?" bhai said with astonishment.

Then, Zara tells about the black events she experienced with her tragic friends. Perhaps Morkus came to take revenge for his bravery in challenging Morkus.

Bhai frowned at the story and felt grateful that Morkus had not succeeded in doing anything to Zara.

"Honestly you managed to avoid it" Bhai said with relief.

Zara nodded, feeling grateful for the unexpected help she got back then.

Bhai realizes that Zara's life is currently in danger if she continues to be outside. Bhai wisely suggested that Zara look for a safe place, and there was no place more appropriate than Astakona Academy.

However, for Zara it was very difficult for him.

"It's hard, but it's the best way for you, Zara. The academy is a safe place for you to tap there the controls are very tight" Bhai said seriously.

Bhai also asserted that Zara was always careful and sensitive to the circumstances around her. The existence of Morkus and the black-robed group will threaten Zara's safety, and Zara must always be vigilant.

Determined to provide the best protection for Zara, Bhai decides to take her to Astakona Academy. At that time, Zara will get better training and education to protect herself from harm.

Next month is the time for the admission of new students to the academy, and Bhai applies for permission to Mak Zalilah to take Zara there. Mak Zalilah sincerely gave his permission, and he did not mind if Zara wanted to go and stay in the academy. For him, the most important thing was to lose the burden for him.

In the month leading up to the academy's opening, Bhai diligently taught Zara things. Starting from the laws of the world Astakona, village selection, learning system, and curriculum. Zara studied earnestly and diligently absorbed all the knowledge taught by Bhai.