Dawn broke, but its warm light felt cold as it touched the frozen floor of Ritsuki's home. He had lain there all night, embracing his mother's lifeless body, letting the silence and the metallic scent of blood seep into his soul. Slowly, consciousness pulled him from the abyss of numbness. He rose—and with that, the brutal truth struck him again: his mother was gone, murdered.
With what little strength remained, Ritsuki lifted his mother's frail body, carried her to the bedroom, and gently laid her on the bed. He pulled the blanket up to cover her peaceful, pale face. Then he returned to the living room, sat cross-legged on the floor, and began eating the cold slices of pizza—the silent witnesses to the tragedy of the night before. Every bite felt like swallowing shards of glass, but he kept eating, tears flowing silently despite his effort to hold them back.
Why? his heart screamed. Why does God hate me so much? What sin have I committed to deserve this?
When the last bite was gone, the emptiness in his stomach was replaced by the fire of rage. He stood up, eyes swollen but sharp. The investigation began. His gaze immediately fell upon the gaping hole in the roof.
"The killer came in from there," he muttered. "When I found Mom, her blood hadn't dried yet. That means... it happened right before I came home." He collapsed weakly, clutching his face. His sobs threatened to rise, but he forced them down. "No way... Mom's Potential was incredibly strong. Who... who could have done this?"
He began cleaning the floor, wiping away his mother's blood with a rag. Each stroke felt like tearing a fresh wound in his heart. In the midst of this painful act, a familiar voice called from outside.
"Ritsuuuuh! Let's go early! I forgot to do my homework!"
It was Zidane. Ritsuki's heart pounded. His clothes were still covered in blood. Panicked, he stripped off his shirt, threw on a sarong nearby, and cracked the door open slightly.
"H-hey, Zidane," he greeted hoarsely. "I think... you should go ahead. I'm... not feeling well."
Zidane squinted. "Sick? That's unusual. Normally you'd still push yourself even if you were half-dead."
"Hehe, yeah... this time's different. Please tell the teacher for me, okay?"
"Alright, I'll—" Zidane froze mid-sentence. He caught a glimmer of tears in Ritsuki's eyes, despite the boy's forced smile. Instantly, Zidane grabbed both of Ritsuki's shoulders. "Oi, what's wrong? Why are you crying? It's because of yesterday, isn't it!?"
"N-no, it's not that..."
"Then what!?"
Ritsuki forced a faint laugh. "Just... cutting onions."
Zidane stared, unconvinced—but the faint smell of onions drifting from the kitchen made him hesitate. "Cutting onions? Whatever, just get some rest." He turned to leave, suddenly remembering something. "Ahhh, my homework!" he yelled, running off. "See you later!"
"Yeah... see you," Ritsuki whispered to his friend's fading back. "I hope we meet again."
After locking the door, silence reclaimed the house. Ritsuki spent the next few hours thinking, reflecting, until at last, a decision took shape. With iron resolve, he gathered all the money left in the house—his and his mother's savings. Seven million rupiah, an enormous amount for a six-year-old child.
He went to the city, bought camping gear, supplies, and one expensive item: a magical storage box crafted by a third-level mage, worth four million rupiah, known as an Internal Space.
"With this... I can't just stay still."
As dusk painted the sky, Ritsuki left his home for the last time. He tied his black hair into a high ponytail—just like his mother's—and wrapped her red scarf around his neck. His destination was Jaggra Forest, a forbidden place teeming with savage monsters.
But just as he was about to cross the warning gate, a voice stopped him. "Where do you think you're going, idiot?"
Ritsuki flinched. Zidane stood there, eyes sharp with suspicion. "Zidane!? How did you—"
"My Potential can sense lies through emotion," Zidane cut him off. "And my nose is very sensitive to the scent of blood. I knew something was wrong since this morning."
"So... you followed me?"
"No. After you went shopping, I went into your house. My guess was right."
Ritsuki gave a faint, bitter smile. "Then you know what I'm planning."
"Suicide!? Don't be stupid, Ritsuki! Going into Jaggra Forest alone is the same as dying!"
Ritsuki turned away, eyes fixed on the dark forest ahead. "You've always protected me, Zidane. Thank you. But from now on, I need to become strong in my own way."
"But not like this! You don't have any Potential—how can you fight monsters in there!?"
"Zidane, have you ever heard of The Assassins?" Ritsuki asked calmly. "A legendary group of mercenary killers who don't rely on Potential, but on technique, tools, and intelligence. I found it in one of my mother's notebooks."
Zidane fell silent, trying to process what he just heard.
"I'll travel," Ritsuki continued. "I'll search for masters all around the world. I'll learn every ancient martial art. I'll become stronger than anyone... and I'll find the one who killed my mother."
Zidane looked at his friend, eyes filled with a mixture of admiration, worry, and sorrow. "Then... I'll go with—"
"No," Ritsuki interrupted firmly. "This is my journey. I can't rely on you forever." He smiled—the first genuine smile that day. "We'll meet again someday. I promise."
Zidane snorted, but a faint grin tugged at his lips. "Heh, idiot. You'd better not come back a burden."
"Shut up, moss-head."
Their brief laughter broke the tension between them. The sky was almost dark. "It's getting late. I have to go," said Ritsuki, jumping over the warning fence.
"Wait!" Zidane shouted. "I heard there's an old Silat dojo beyond this forest. Maybe you can start there!"
"I've heard that too!" Ritsuki called back, already running into the darkness. "Thanks, Zidane!"
That night, Ritsuki pitched his hanging tent between two large trees. After testing his Internal Space box—putting a rock in and pulling it out again—he ate his rations in silence, accompanied by the strange noises of the forest.
"My journey... begins here," he whispered, staring at the compass in his hand.
The next morning, he woke to a low growl. Beneath his tent, two forest wolves with glowing red eyes stared up at him hungrily. Without fear, Ritsuki descended, pulling out the kitchen knife he had brought from home. This was his first trial.
"Haaaaaaa!"
With a battle cry that shattered the morning calm, he charged at the wolves.