The Metal Military Academy
Chapter 11: Atan

“He wants to be free, and he won't give up just like that.”

Shadow so remember how difficult Astan was to fight with his own circumstances. The illusion of the system makes Astan storm with him in the past, as well as the re-emergence of Astan's memories from childhood.

Of all the complete memories that make the Shadow aware of something.

“Starting from there, I accidentally saw all the memories of Astan in the past.”

“Everything?”

The shadow nodded at Ardan. “Everything. I just found out that Astan and his parents are from a desert country. When he was a child, the territory of their country was being contested, both of Astan's parents died in the war. And then again, they died in a state of being slandered as traitors.”

Ardan was surprised to hear that. All this time, Astan never told what kind of grandparents Ardan used to be. If his past can be this bitter, it's appropriate that Astan is reluctant to talk.

Talking about the tragic death of both his parents on the battlefield in a state of being slandered would only open the width of the old wounds.

“Her uncle Astan who took Astan to refugee was shot dead. In the end, aided by a local foundation, Little Astan was evacuated to another planet. He was placed in an orphanage. It was there that Astan met your Aunt Arni who was then a toddler and her sibling Suda. At first Astan was shy, but in the end they became friends.”

The shadow lowered its head while wiping away a drop of tears that came out on the edge of the other eye using the shadow arm. Remembering the memory of Astan's childhood that he accidentally saw made him this semelancholic. Though the Shadow is not human, the existence of the heart and its feelings are questioned.

“Suda and Astan have worked odd jobs at their young age to meet their increasingly difficult needs, especially they also need to buy all the needs for Arni. Astan once took care of Arni when Suda was sick, even almost comatose because it protected Arni from electric shock. He... really loved Arni like his own sister.”

“Gosh, God...”.

Ardan was completely at a loss for words. It is unexpected that his father's childhood was passed very difficult. Starting from the loss of a family in wartime, until almost comatose for protecting the younger brother of a person he already considered to be his own sister.

Trying to hold back sad, Bayang again told me, “They continued to be good friends until Astan decided to enter akmil and they were reunited after the ship incident.”

“From that memory my conscience arose, Dan...” Shadow shakes. “During this time, I've been weighing on Astan's life that was already messed up. When everyone was complaining about their lives, he faced the cruelty of the world with a smile. Only a madman would think of him as naive. She has very mature thoughts on how to deal with the rigors of life.”

“With all my remaining strength, I tried to prevent the deletion of memories in Astan and hack the artificial system. In the end he was free. And amazingly again, he gained a very extraordinary strength,” Shadow explained excitedly.

“You know what power it is, Ardan? The Power of Controlling Cosmic Energy. That power is able to make Astan utilize the energy in the universe for him to control, he can make weapons and mystical creatures using the cosmic energy. Because of that power, he managed to escape from the evil organization that was after him.”

“Since then, we were good friends and adventured together. There were a lot of things we went through during the adventure. Sometimes I like to see him hunting in the dungeon with his friends, helping Astan train his strength, and much more!”

Ardan asked again because he felt something was awkward, “Since Dad got the power, does he still use the System?”

“Still,” replied Shadow without hesitation. “The only source of power at the time was from the Life System. So, he was forced to use the System to strengthen his abilities.”

“Nah...! Long story short, after your father was very strong, he fought against the army of system users and defeated the creator of the system itself until finally the Life System was eliminated.”

Eye Bayang had glanced towards the digital clock on the nightstand. “Y.... Although my story sounds unrelated, but I have to shorten the story because soon you ‘kan will go to the academy.”

Ardan sighed, “Haaah.... Youre right. Must be Aunt Arni and the others waiting in the dining room. Though, I would love to hear the full story of your and Dad's adventures in the past.”

Ardan nodded with a smile. His hand took the headband belonging to the late father that Arni had given earlier from the box. He moved from the edge of the bed, stepping in front of the closet mirror.

When he arrived in front of the mirror, he stared at his reflection there. At first glance, he is similar to his father, Astan. Orange hair is messy, high body athletic, and skinned rather mature sapodilla. But the color of his eyes was different and there was no wound at all on his face like Astan had back then.

Ardan slightly lowered his head, then tied the headband cloth on his head. Once attached, he looked back at his reflection in the mirror. His confidence level is increasing. He felt that there was a father near him, watching and always supporting his every step to continue forward.

“OK, Dad! From now on, I will carve a history of my own struggle,” said Ardan confidently, then turned to the Shadow. “What do you think, Shadow?”

The shadow instantly created a thumb on his flaccid body. “Very impressive! I'm sure one day you can be as good as your father.”

“Meh~. I don't want to be like Dad.”

“Eh?”

The shadow is confused. Wouldn't a child want to be his father if he was a great man? Unexpectedly, after hearing the story of Bayang, instead of being motivated, Ardan was reluctant to imitate the greatness of his own father.

Accompanied by a narcissistic grin, Ardan continued, “I will be myself, and must surpass the prowess of my father!”

Then, Ardan turned back to the mirror, pointing at it as if he was facing the other person.

“Isn't that so, Dad...? Catch that.”

One Shadow's eyes immediately sparkled in amazement at him. Ardan does have a barbaric nature like Astan, but he has the confidence passed down from his mother, Sania. A perfect combination for the Shadow.

“Woah...! You challenged your own father, Ardan? You're naughty,” nosy Shadow.

Ardan wags his hair dramatically. “But handsome. Unch.... Unch...”.

“Hey, who is teaching?” sewot Shadow.

“And I learned a lot from you, man.” Then Ardan blinked one eye.

Both of them laughed with their jokes. It was unexpected, Ardan and Bayang could be this familiar in such a short time. Ardan's extroverted soul is able to make the atmosphere initially awkward so fluid. In fact, the Shadow had been afraid of making it.

“Oh, yes. By the way..”.

After laughing together, Ardan shifted the subject when he remembered something.

“On Father's strength. Yesterday I defeated a monster that had exactly the power that Father had.”

Shadow's laughter stopped immediately upon hearing Ardan's words. If he had dealt with Astan's strength, he would have to seriously respond to it.

...~*~*~*~...