Afternoon sunlight beat down on Arvin as he made his way through unfamiliar streets. He stared at the towering buildings, so different from the mountain peaks and the forest he used to.
(It's really different), he thought, moving carefully. After years of mountain solitude, the crowds felt overwhelming. Even the air tasted wrong - heavy with exhaust and other smell, instead of the crisp mountain air.
Whoosh
A bus roared past, making him flinch slightly. (Stay focused), he reminded himself, falling back on his training. (Observe. Understand. Just as Master taught.)
His trained senses picked up every detail as he walked - the way people moved through the concrete maze, the rhythm of traffic signals, the flow of crowds. Each observation added to his mental map of this strange place.
The signs around him used the same alphabet he knew from his hometown, but the words themselves remained meaningless - another frustrating reminder of the language barrier he faced.
RingRing
A clear bell tone cut through his thoughts. Ahead, massive iron gates swung open in a tall wall, releasing a flood of students. The building behind the fence rose three stories high, with a polished metal shield mounted above the main entrance.
(A school?), Arvin wondered, watching the teenagers stream out. Their uniforms was quite eye-catching - cream jackets, black vests, crisp white shirts, matching with checkered cream pants or skirt.
The students towered over his 165cm frame - most matching or exceeding his father's 180cm height, the tallest man he had known. (They're so tall), he thought. Their features varied: fair hair, dark skin, round eyes, pointed noses. He even saw someone who looked Asian, like him.
Although he had saw them a few hours ago, he still not used to such diversity.
Murmur
The way they moved caught his attention. Unlike the formal distance he was used to, these students laughed openly, touched shoulders casually, and grouped together without hierarchy. The scene reminded him of children playing in his neighborhood back home, though these people were much taller.
(So this is what school looks like. I wonder what they teach in that place.), Arvin thought. After kindergarten, he'd chosen to train with his grandpa instead of attending school. His grandma, a retired teacher, had noticed how quickly he learned and suggested home schooling him. Though his mother had worried about his lack of social among his peer, Arvin's test results and preference for his grandma's teaching had convinced his parents. But Arvin still enjoyed normal childhood activities, so he still play with some of his neighbors from time to time. That ended when he went to China, though.
People gave him a wide berth as they passed, some wrinkling their noses or quickening their pace. His unwashed state and torn clothes marked him clearly as someone who didn't belong there. The contrast between their neat uniforms and his current condition made him feel even more out of place.
Arvin continued walking for about fifteen minutes until he reached another narrow passage.
ThudCrack
Sharp sounds cut through his thoughts - the unmistakable noise of fighting. His muscles tensed automatically as he recognized the familiar rhythm. Years of combat training made him aware of the violence nearby.
The sounds bounced off brick walls, growing clearer with each step. They pulled his attention, echoing with a familiarity that crossed language barriers.
(Should I check?), Arvin hesitated, his master's warnings about avoiding unnecessary conflict weighing against another teaching - the duty to help those in need.
Crash
A pained cry cut through his thoughts. That sound made the decision for him. Despite his depleted energy, Arvin's legs carried him forward, his body preparing for whatever waited ahead.
_________________________
CLANG
The sharp sound of flesh hitting metal echoed through the alley as Jeremy crashed into the dumpster. His backpack cushioned some of the impact, but pain still shot through his shoulders. His glasses went flying, landing with a sharp snap that spread cracks across the left lens.
Heavy footsteps scraped against concrete as Tery's massive frame blocked the alley entrance. His letterman jacket stretched across broad shoulders, the school colors now looking more menacing than proud. At 185 centimeters, the former football captain used every bit of his height advantage as he loomed over Jeremy.
"Well, well. Look who we found skulking around." Tery's deep voice carried a dangerous edge that bounced off the narrow alley walls.
Three more figures moved to flank him, creating a wall of muscle that cut off any escape. The biggest one, even taller than Tery, crossed his arms and watched with cold interest. "Thought you could hide from us, didn't you?"
"Coach's son gets certain... privileges, you know?" Tery's words dripped with dark promise.
Scrape
Their shoes shifted against asphalt as the gang moved closer, their shadows stretching in the late afternoon light. "Yeah, like dealin' with little snitches," another added, cracking his knuckles.
"Heard your sister's been running her mouth." Tery took another step forward, his shadow falling across Jeremy's face. "Someone needs to teach you Fangs about respect."
Jeremy's heart hammered against his ribs, but at the mention of his sister, something inside him snapped. Despite his blurred vision, he lifted his chin and stared directly into Tery's eyes.
"You mean like how you 'taught' Elena respect?" His voice cracked but grew stronger. "Everyone knows what you did to her. Using your dad's position to force her into that situation-" The words rushed out like a breaking dam. "Cornering her after practice, threatening to get her kicked off the team if she didn't go along with your sick game."
Whistle
"Ooooh, listen to this guy!" One of the cronies elbowed his friends, their matching sneers visible even in the alley's shadows. "Think you're some kind of hero? Maybe you've been reading too many of those Captain America comics, four-eyes."
"Trying to protect peasant honor? What a knight," another laughed, the sound echoing unnaturally off the brick walls. Their taunts hung in the stale alley air, mixing with the acrid smell of garbage from the nearby dumpster.
CrackCrack
Tery's knuckles popped as his hands formed fists, his earlier amusement turning into something darker. A muscle jumped in his jaw as he stepped forward, the afternoon light casting harsh shadows across his face. His usual smirk twisted into something predatory.
"You know what your problem is, Fang?" All trace of humor vanished from his voice, replaced by cold fury. "You never learned when to shut your fucking mouth."
Jeremy pressed back against the dumpster, the cool metal reminded him that he had nowhere to run. His breathing echoed in his own ears as Tery's shadow stretched longer across the ground.
The alley seemed to narrow as Tery's gang tightened their semicircle around him. Jeremy knew, with growing certainty, that whatever came next would hurt. A lot.
WhooshTHUD
Without warning, Tery's foot shot out, connecting with Jeremy's stomach. The impact sent him crashing back against the dumpster, metal reverberating with the collision.
"Ooft, that must've hurt like hell," one follower commented, eyes gleaming. "Not showing any mercy today, eh, captain?"
"Hey-hey, with that power and speed, if Four-Eyes is lucky, broken bones will be the least of his problems."
CoughWheeze
Jeremy doubled over, desperately gasping for air. Each breath felt like swallowing broken glass, his lungs refusing to expand properly. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he struggled to stay conscious.
"Heh, what a tough bastard," Tery's face twisted into a frown. Something dark flickered behind his eyes. "If one hit's not enough, then..."
Swish
The second kick came even faster. Jeremy's survival instinct kicked in, making him lurch forward. He narrowly avoided the kick but smashed his face against the rough asphalt. Blood trickled from his split lip and nose, a dark bruise already forming on his forehead.
Whistle
"Nice stunt you got there, Four-Eyes," one of the gang sneered, though a hint of nervousness crept into his voice. They'd never seen Tery this angry before. "But you should've just taken the hit and passed out. You're not gonna like what's coming next."
ScuffStep
Tery positioned himself over Jeremy, his shadow completely engulfing the helpless Jeremy. His voice came out in rhythmic bursts, each word punctuated by a vicious stomp.
"Because that BITCH," Stomp "I GOT," Stomp "FUCKING" Stomp "EXPELLED!" Stomp
Each impact flattened Jeremy's school bag beneath him, papers and books crunching under the assault.
Tery pressed his pressed his leg as he let out his long outburst,"I MISSED MY FUTURE BECAUSE OF HER. MY FATHER WENT BALLISTIC AND NOW IGNORE ME. SHE SHOULD'VE JUST SHUT HER MOUTH..."
Despite the beating, Jeremy managed to lift his face from the asphalt. His eyes, though unfocused without his glasses, met Tery's with an unwavering gaze. That look - the same judgment he'd seen in Elena's eyes - made Tery step back instinctively.
Recovering quickly, Tery's eyes turned to ice. "You... What's with THAT look? Hmm??" His voice dropped dangerously low. "Seems I didn't beat you enough." He raised his leg once more, muscles tensing. "Then I'll beat you until you're as flat as that bag of yours."
Just as his foot was about to descend...
Ahem
The sound cut through the tension like a knife. Tery's foot froze mid-air, mere centimeters from Jeremy's back. All heads turned toward the source.
A young Asian boy stood at the corner, his clothes torn and dirty but his stance oddly composed. When he spoke, his words flowed in Chinese:
(Chinese) "Could you please stop doing that to him?" His voice was calm yet firm, hands moving in gentle motions to help convey his meaning.
The group stared at him in confusion, not understanding his words. However, Jeremy's eyes widened slightly - even with his blurred vision, he could somewhat understand the Chinese words.
"Look what we got here - some homeless kid trying to play hero," The largest of Tery's followers spoke with a menacing smile. The way he stressed 'homeless' dripped with contempt for every tear in the boy's clothing.
"He can't even speak English," someone added with a sneer.
Tery dropped his foot and turned to face the newcomer. A cruel smile spread across his face as he sized up what looked like an easy target. "Well, well... seems like we've got ourselves a two-for-one special today, boys."