Mukhalis: Hero of Bentala
7. Natural Elements

No matter where they passed, Madiarta took Suluh to a forest that the boy did not recognize at all. Penetrating the concentration of bushes and soon they arrived at a spacious courtyard with an old house. Biloba trees circle the area. The golden-colored leaves were blown away by the wind, flying everywhere.

"You think I'll easily accept you, young man?" the grandfather seemed to pluck the branch lying on the ground. "With your tool, I wonder what you can do."

Suddenly the object was thrown by Madiarta at high speed, aiming directly at Suluh. The shocked young man reflexively clasped his hands together in front of his face, letting the branch hit the metal torch until the wood was split open. Even though it was grandfathers, his strength was still incredible.

"Not bad," said Madiarta again stepped into the house. "Try to dodge, your hands will break easily if you keep holding on behind them."

Suluh was silent. His subconscious automatically does so because of the trauma that has plagued the child. At first glance, the memory of Rehan who pounded him until helplessly recalled. It brings forth a glimmer of anger in the heart of Suluh.

"Alright," exclaimed the grandfather after putting his fishing gear on the stairs. "Let's start."

Madiarta approached Suluh with gentle steps that the boy replied in a hurry. Both of their hands extended out, glancing them watch out for action. The torch began to fret and sweat began to pour out. I don't know what kind of attack the grandfather will launch, making Sulah's chest even more crowded.

Madiarta quickly fell down with her right hand but was able to be fended off by Suluh. The grandfather was not impressed at all, he then spun around and struck Sulah with his left palm. Suluh had held back but Madiarta's attack power was very strong causing him to slam a few meters.

"Still not yet," lamented Madiarta approaching the sprawled child. "You don't mean it yet."

"Rise!" That loud shout forced Suluh to stand with great difficulty. His body feels heavy, both of his artificial hands look peyot. The grandfather kept walking while scolding, "Do you want your world to be trampled on?"

Suluh refused, he did not accept. The emotions within him were billowing. His trembling legs could stand, from both eyes a gaze full of ambition. At a glance the scene poured a smile on Madiarta's face, understanding that Suluh would not give up easily.

"Good," the old man made a fuss. "We continue."

Madiarta again launched a series of attacks on children who had difficulty withholding all the complicated techniques. Madiarta's movements seemed to flow beautifully, as if dancing with the rhythm. Incredible agility could not even be captured by the eyes of Reed, repeatedly hit by the collision. But the fire inside the young man did not fade.

Over time, Suluh can compensate for the game of Madiarta. Start reading and pausing little by little. Still it was not comparable to the hit received, almost made Suluh collapse helpless. While the grandfather did not look tired, the stamina he had was unexpected and not without because he held the status of a mentor in a famous school.

With a single kick, Suluh was made to retreat a few steps by Madiarta who opened her voice, "You don't know how to fight back. Did you just take all that shit all this time?"

Suluh's breath was panting, unable to respond. The grandfather then added, "That's why you are weak. Fighting doesn't mean you're avenging, it's a basic form that you still glorify your pride."

"Unless you do let your dignity be humiliated," Madiarta's words ignited Sulah's anger instantly. He hit Madiarta with a fist but his efforts were in vain. The grandfather without effort meant holding with his palm and scuttering the torch until it collapsed without twitching.

"You still have a lot to learn" said Madiarta who was still standing before Sulah. "One of them is to control emotions."

Sulah felt guilty, he shouldn't have done such an uncivilized thing. "I'm sorry, Teacher."

Madiarta's face that exuded a terrifying aura was slowly replaced by a calming smile. He reached out his hand, something that was never taken a moment by Sulah. The old man with his hair full of unkempt gray hair said, "What's your name?"

The boy took the grandfather's hand and stood up. "I'm the Reed, Master!"

"Ten," he who was right in front of the torch pressed both palms in front of the chest. "From now on you are my student."

Madiarta passed by, stepped a little to reflect on Suluh and said, "Are you hungry?"

Stifled torch, unable to find the right sentence. The old man continued, "I still have fish yesterday to burn."

"Ah, let me do it, Master!" Sulah quickly followed Madiarta who darted next to the house.

Suluh insisted on helping Madiarta, starting from preparing firewood and other cooking tools. Even with the direction of Madiarta, Suluh mix the spices carefully, do not want to destroy the image of the taste of the fish. However, when Suluh was about to make a fire with two branches that touched, it stopped Madiarta.

"Ten, did you know that the power of Prana can be manifested into other elements?" exclaimed the grandfather who was sitting on the chair.

Sulen shook his head, not knowing what was meant at all. "No, Teacher. I even just found out about that."

Madiarta stood up, stepping closer to Suluh. "Stay away!"

Nimbly Sulah shifted backwards, letting the grandfather do anything. He repeatedly took a deep breath with strange hand movements. That unusual pattern was then felt by Suluh. Eve felt a little heated up suddenly and with a single push, something came out of Madiarta's hand.

The fire that burned the wood.

The torch who witnessed it was fixated, unable to speak or react. It's like those who call it witchcraft. They are rumored to be able to levitate, mysteriously extinguish the fire just by extending a palm, and healers are rumored to make the water go downstream as directed.

"Prana is a raw natural element" Madiarta said still silent on the spot. "He can change into another form."

"Teacher," said Suluh who still does not believe. "I thought it was a myth."

"Not many people can do it," Madiarta returned to her seat. "No wonder it's just a rumor and a myth."

"Therefore, Prana will probably help us in our daily lives" said the grandfather turned his head towards Suluh. "But at the same time it becomes a frightening specter when used for damage."

"But, Master," replied Reed immediately burned the fish that had been pierced. "Is it possible that we can control more than one element?"

The grandfather looked up, watching the towering trees along with the leaves being hoisted by the breeze. The sky was bright blue, no clouds were passing through at all. On the sidelines of the beauty, black tabuns also color the air. It took a few seconds for Madiarta to reply to Suluh's question, thinking of the right response.

"I don't know," the grandfather chimed in a small tone. "To be able to change to just one element is very difficult."

The torch raises its head, trying to understand while turning the fish upside down. Madiarta then exclaimed, "But there is still a possibility of succeeding."

"If the scale of Prana man is beyond the capacity of his body" added the grandfather while closing his eyes.

On the other hand, Suluh who get new knowledge can only be imagined. How strong he will be if he can master the natural elements. But at this time, Suluh had to focus on martial practice and feel the presence of Prana. There's still a lot he doesn't know.

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