Jumanji exited the academy with calm steps, gliding through the corridors indifferent to the surrounding clamor.
In his right hand, he gripped a metallic case containing the cores, and in his left, a wooden box holding the seeds. His mind had already raced home, where his spiritual farm awaited him to lay the first foundations of his coming glory.
He had barely distanced himself from the academy walls when the silence of his path was shattered by the appearance of three human ghosts who intercepted his way, forming a tight semi-circle around him.
At their forefront stood Byron, the son of Elder Kyona. He stood out in his pale yellow robes that the wind whipped insolently, while the rays of the sun toyed with his face, intensifying the look of false vanity in his eyes.
From the first moment, Jumanji perceived their malicious intent, yet he remained as still as a mountain unswayed by the wind. His exaggerated coldness made the scene appear as if he saw nothing but a void before his opponents.
Byron arched his eyebrows in mockery, standing in a posture that suggested dominance, and spoke in a commanding tone dripping with condescension:
"Stop right there, Jumanji...
Set the boxes on the ground peacefully,
and we promise no harm shall befall you."
His companion's laughter rang out as he chimed in, exchanging cunning glances with Byron:
"Yes, heed Brother Byron's advice; leave the cores and seeds and escape with your skin.
These resources are too precious to be wasted in the hands of 'trash' like you; they befit only those who know their true worth."
Jumanji took a single step forward. It wasn't an offensive move, but one that radiated absolute confidence. He uttered a sentence that made Byron's blood boil:
"Get out of my way now.
My time is far too valuable to waste teaching insects how to choose their prey...
An Elder's son shouldn't die like a vagabond in a deserted alleyway, should he?"
Byron's eyes reddened, and his breath came in ragged gasps of fury. He hissed like a serpent: "You bastard! Do you think your sharp tongue will protect you from death?"
The second youth backed him up, clenching his fists until his knuckles cracked: "Yes... he's practically begging for his end! Let's break his bones first, then take the boxes. No one will ask about 'trash' lost in the tribe's backstreets."
As for the third, he attempted to maintain a facade of composure. Stepping forward, he said in a tone he tried to keep steady: "Jumanji... leave the boxes and no harm will come to you, I promise.
Just leave the cores and seeds and depart in peace before the fellows lose their minds."
Nearby, Kairos and a group of elite youths were leaving the academy grounds when their eyes fell upon the cornered Jumanji.
A smile of long-awaited spite crept onto Kairos's face, and he murmured gloatingly:
"Let's stop for a moment... Let's see what this 'trash' will do against Byron's wrath."
One of the youths beside him laughed loudly and added: "That trash isn't even worth the effort of looking at, Brother Kairos. His mere presence pollutes our path."
Kairos replied, crossing his arms with pride: "I know that well, but I crave seeing him broken; I want to see his false pride crushed underfoot."
The youth cackled again: "You're absolutely right. Seeing this 'spoiled brat' swallow the bitterness of humiliation will be the perfect end to our day."
At that moment, Jumanji narrowed his eyes slightly and exhaled a long sigh that carried every sense of boredom and weariness, as if he were facing a bothersome fly not even worth the effort of raising a hand. Then, he spoke two words that struck their ears like a thunderbolt:
"How trivial..."
Time seemed to freeze for a second. Byron's eyes widened in a mixture of shock and malice, only for Jumanji to continue in a tone dripping with icy indifference:
"Step aside, you stray insects. My gaze looks far beyond you; I might step on you by mistake without even sensing your existence."
"The spoiled bastard never changes, but a few blows will rearrange your mind!" Byron roared before he and his companions lunged toward Jumanji like poisoned arrows.
Despite Jumanji's lack of physical strength to face these youths combined,
he did not surrender to the silence of the weak. He chose to hurl those words as if they were blades.
Jumanji was no longer the boy who had entered the tribe a week ago.
Only a few days had passed since his arrival, but something deep within him had shattered, replaced by a hardened pride, as if his soul had been born anew.
And all of this had happened after his departure from the tribe's private spiritual farm.
But before their treacherous hands could reach him, a steady and authoritative voice pierced the air, dispelling the tension and freezing all movement:
"Jumanji... I've come to fetch you. What took you so long to come out?"
Jumanji turned his gaze toward the source of the voice to see Jinhi approaching with confident strides, his sharp eyes cutting through the ranks of the onlookers.
In that moment, the three youths were forced to retreat; the presence of Jumanji's elder brother was not something to be trifled with.
Despite their withdrawal, their features dripped with deep-seated hatred and resentment.
Byron could only whisper to himself with bitterness: "Damn it... he slipped through our fingers this time."
Jumanji nodded in affirmation and said calmly:
"I'm coming." He then moved toward Jinhi with steady steps, never looking back or sparing even a glance at the three whose cauldron of rage was boiling over.
In his eyes, these boys represented neither a threat nor any significance.
After what he had witnessed in Mahinour's memories and the ancient knowledge he had gathered, these individuals had become far removed from affecting his inner peace or disturbing his foresight.
Jinhi cast a scrutinizing look at Jumanji, then glanced at the youths with a warning stare, muttering a question: "What is wrong with them?"
Jumanji replied with total coldness as he continued walking forward: "Nothing..."
Jumanji intentionally spoke the word loudly so it settled in the ears of the three like the heavy beat of drums.
To describe their existence and their attempt at betrayal as "nothing" was an insult more painful than physical blows.
His words made their blood boil as never before, realizing that this "spoiled brat" looked at them as if they were invisible air.
Byron fumed as he glared at Jumanji's receding back, hissing with venomous hatred: "Nothing? I'll show you what 'nothing' is... The next time we meet, I will grind your pride under my heel."
His companion gripped his shoulder provocatively: "Don't worry, Byron. He will taste humiliation soon enough, and his brother won't protect him every time."
Kairos also looked on, then said: "Let's go."
In another distant corner, Mahinour watched the scene in silence, his eyes filled with contemplation and confusion.
He muttered to himself in bewilderment: "Why is time accelerating like this? Only days have passed since my return, and I haven't even started moving, yet everything concerning Jumanji is beginning to spiral out of control."
Mahinour knitted his brows as he analyzed the scene: "Why is he so unnaturally calm?
Even the quality of his spiritual farm has changed;
I remember clearly that it was of average quality, so how did the scales flip?
From the incident of the tree in the Great Farm to this lethal coldness now,
and even the 'Bramble' he chose inside the Academy...
Everything is different from what I know. Did I make a mistake that altered the course of things?"
He continued his wandering thoughts: "No, that's illogical.
Nothing in the world has changed except Jumanji's path, as if he suddenly veered off to walk a trail never drawn for him.
And though these changes might seem slight to some, in the science of the future, they could turn the world upside down.
Jumanji is tearing up the map in my mind; will this affect the fate that awaits us all?"
A dark spark flashed in his eyes as he wondered: "Should I kill him?"
But he quickly dismissed the idea: "No, killing him now might change too many things I cannot predict.
Perhaps it's best to watch and let things take their course; as long as he remains within the tribe's borders, he won't be far from my sight.
I'll let him walk his new path... for now."
***
Jumanji and Jinhi arrived home. Upon entering, their eyes fell on Galvan, who sat with dignity, an ancient wooden box on the table before him.
The two boys had barely stepped inside when Galvan called out in his resonant voice: "Jumanji, come closer."
Jumanji complied, stepping forward with steady, calm strides.
Galvan pushed the wooden box toward him, adding only two words that carried the weight of expectations: "Do your best."
Jumanji took the box and opened it slowly. His eyes glowed with the reflection of three cores; two were copper, while the third was silver, radiating a captivating luster.
Jumanji's knowledge did not fail him here; he knew perfectly well that a single silver core was equivalent to ten copper ones—the very resource he desperately needed at this critical moment of establishing his farm.
Jumanji nodded in appreciation, bowing slightly in a silent gesture of respect before turning to leave.
But his father's voice stopped him again: "Don't you want to know the outcome of the Elder Council meeting today?"
Jumanji paused, remembering the teacher's talk at the Academy about this fateful meeting that would determine their future.
Although he already knew what had happened, he asked calmly: "What happened?"
Galvan replied, leaning back with a mysterious look: "First, the gates of the spiritual farm will open tomorrow to receive the girls.
The other matter is that the Academy has decided to hold an 'Experience Exchange' with the Brown Bear Tribe and the Carp Fish Tribe six months from now."
A brief silence followed before Galvan continued in a sterner tone: "But it isn't a friendly exchange as it seems; it is a true test of tribal influence and the strength of the new generation.
"This came after each tribe sent a special envoy, and we could not refuse given the current balances.
As for the rewards, they will be unprecedented. That is why you must give your utmost effort; I am counting on you, Jumanji."
Jinhi turned toward him with an encouraging look and added: "This is a golden opportunity to teach those boys a lesson.
If you need anything, do not hesitate to tell me."
No sign of surprise appeared on Jumanji's face; his memory and the visions he carried had already foretold this collision.
After hearing Jinhi's words, the idea of requesting some much-needed resources crossed his mind, but he chose silence, knowing that questions would rain down upon him from every direction.
Jumanji took the initiative to change the subject, looking at Galvan and asking seriously:
"Can I obtain my full resource allocation for the next six months right now?
I don't want to waste any time going back and forth to the Academy."
Galvan and Jinhi were astonished by the boldness of the request. His father murmured in confusion: "Why? Do you not intend to go to the Academy?"
Jumanji answered in a decisive tone: "Why should I waste my time there? Developing my spiritual farm is now the top priority that outweighs anything else. If I need anything, I will tell you."
Galvan furrowed his brow and said: "But the laws are strict; you must attend for at least a month. This is a mandatory obligation for all youths who have recently opened their farms."
"Father, you are one of the Elders, so do not tell me you are unable to arrange such a thing.
You can simply tell the Tribe Leader that you will personally oversee my training; that way, no one will dare to object."
Silence hung over the room for a moment as Galvan sank into deep thought, before finally answering: "Very well... I will present the matter to the Master, but I cannot guarantee his absolute approval."
"The attempt itself is enough," Jumanji nodded coldly before turning and heading toward his room on the upper floor.
A heavy quiet settled over the place once Jumanji's shadow vanished, until the father broke it, asking in a worried tone: "Haven't you noticed that Jumanji has changed completely since that trip to the forest?"
Jinhi whispered in confirmation: "I discussed this matter with Taskast; she told me he disappeared from their sight for a full hour deep in the forest, and she herself does not know what happened to him in those minutes."
Galvan knitted his brows and said in an authoritative tone: "The important thing now is to watch him closely. If you notice him needing anything, tell me immediately."
"Understood, Father," Jinhi murmured before he too withdrew to his room, leaving behind questions that filled every corner of the house.
**[End of Chapter]**