Chapter 12

MEMORY

In one of the hills overlooking the Raison Sea, Ray sat comfortably on a wooden chair. He was currently watching the calm sea from the deck of a wooden house, one of many such houses built on the hills overlooking the sea. These houses were exclusively for those who could afford them, like a combat family with deep history. The ‘Eh’ family owned a few such properties and sent Ray to one such place to rest and heal.

Ray was sipping from a cup of hot tea and enjoying the view when a boy sat beside him. He glanced at the boy and a small smile formed on his face.

“Why are you smiling?” The boy asked Ray.

“I’m just happy to see you.” Ray answered after taking a sip from his cup.

“Are you feeling?” The young boy probed further.

“It still hurts most times, but I feel here I can finally find what I was missing.” Ray replied while looking towards the view of the calm sea.

“And what was missing? You were the champion, I doubt there is anything out of your reach.” The boy asked.

“You” Ray replied calmly and looked towards the boy.

The boy too turned his head and looked towards Ray, surprised.

“I thought you were happy.” The boy voiced his thoughts.

“Quite the opposite in fact. The less I saw you, the more unhappy I was.” Ray replied.

“Why?” The boy could only ask.

“My whole obsession on becoming the champion was that I could see you everyday, but the more I stayed a champion, the less and less I saw you.” Ray answered truthfully..

“So you lost willingly?” The boy followed up.

“No… no… he won fairly. I could see the fire in his eyes, his intent to be the champion was pure and he won through his skills. I wasn’t even sure I was going to see you again, but you came and I felt relieved that I lost.” Ray put aside his empty cup and stood up.

“So you are relieved you lost? You are weird, you know that?” The boy snorted.

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“The only thing that kept me going was you. I can’t lose you again.” Ray’s voice cracked. He went on, “The day I lost you and your mother, my world ended. I didn’t want to live anymore and went into that match every intention to kill myself. But, I saw you appear before me and I didn’t want to lose you anymore.”

“You should move on.” The boy said.

“You are my son… how can I let you go?” Ray asked to which he didn’t want any reply.

“So… you’re going to compete again?” The boy asked.

“Of course… I have to get my championship back.” Replied Ray.

The boy smiled after hearing his answer. Both of them kept watching the view until the sun set over the horizon.

Inside the city state of Raison, a man knocked on a door of one of the rooms in a guesthouse. This guesthouse was located close to the Order of Combat Committee office building in central Raison. The Order of Combat Committee of the Order as the locals called it, controlled and supervised the armed combat sport in the city.

The man who was knocking was wearing a simple grey tunic and a white loose fitted pants to match it. The door finally opened and a groggy Hemon peaked his head out.