Stoicheion: Awakening

Chapter 1: Beginnings

[Arvin]

First and foremost, in this world, there are two types of people. The one who is in control and the other one who is being controlled. For me, it doesn't matter whether I was the one who is in control or the one being controlled. Not to mention that I was born into a rich family despite not knowing who I was.

But then, the thing mattered.

It was on that day when everything changed in my life. I was just having training with my grandfather as we always did. And then the next thing I knew, I was put in this situation; a situation in which I will decide the fate of the world, a very big responsibility, a big burden to my life. When I got that amulet, the big change in my life began.

I'm Arvin Ian Ortel Raymundo, born from an influential family here in Stoicheion. Tall, slightly dark, and most of all, handsome. I'm the son of the current president of the nation, and despite that, my relatives don't want anyone to know who I was to the public. They want me to live just like a regular boy, who has a normal life and a normal way of living.

So they sent me to grandpa's simple home. It's a compound filled with nurtured plants and trees and polished rocks; and even though you try to get away from it, you can never get out. Of course, unless you find the exit gates. Talk about living normally.

At 5 a.m. (which I say is freaking early but I got used to it anyway), I was in the garden area of the compound which has bonsais with great designs, big trees with fruits, and a vegetable garden where we sometimes get the food that we eat. It was time to train with my grandfather. I was still trying to get myself together just after waking up and my fuzzy bed hair says it all. I was wearing black pants and a black shirt. My grandfather was wearing the same too.

I cannot deny my grandfather's youthful strength despite his appearance. He has this bulky body which explains why he still has these bumps which I could identify as the muscles on his body. His youthful body is much more emphasized with his tanned skin. You wouldn't even think that he is a very old man considering his white hair and cracking voice. His name is Amon. My parents said back in his days he was a martial arts master, and so, they want the title to be passed down to me. Haha. Screw normal life... not.

"Ready?" My grandfather asked,

"I was born ready." I answered with confidence flaring into my eyes.

I love challenges, and I won't hesitate to back down and get over with it. We bowed down as a sign of respect to each other, and that was the signal that the fight had started.

I started to charge at him to blow the first punch that will land on his body, specifically his chest. I thought I almost had him but he was able to dodge the charging attack. It was so close that I think I felt that I touched his skin. He was very fast in responding quickly to the punch that I just did. It was a total fail. Every punch that I throw him won't even land on his body. It felt like he was playing with a nine-year-old kid who wants his candy back.

"Arvin is that all you got? It seems like you've been weak for the last 2 weeks" My grandfather boasted.

"Oh, I'm just getting warmed up." I threatened him as I continued throwing punches.

"Arvin, don't punch like a puss. Give it all to me! Use your whole body, boy!" said my grandpa who looked like he was getting annoyed by the actions I was making.

Alas, he fell into a trap... or something like that. It's all going according to plan.

Just right after he said that I charged again at him as I jumped and delivered a kick flying straight to his face. He was able to dodge the first one but when I rotated my body, he was out of luck when I kicked again at his chest, followed by a kick flying straight to his face again supported by the foot that was stepped on his chest and another one on the crown of his head which brought him down to the ground, laying down. It was a perfect roundhouse kick after all. Anyone hit by my roundhouse kick will either be unconscious for days or will go home having bruises, especially on his face. Just kidding, but I'm not lying about the face though.