CHAPTER VI: WUKONG
It is said that nightmares or certain dreams are merely reminiscences, echoes of an inner life, moments or acts that we have lived in another existence, another idea of reliving the impossible, but not for everyone.
Martis stood before Sun Wukong, the figure that haunted his nightmares. He was there, in front of him, and it was not an illusion.
Martis looked at him with suspicion.
« Oh no, what is this abomination? » he thought.
After overcoming this, Sun seemed offended.
« Hey, this abomination has a name! »
Martis was stunned; he could hear what he was saying in his head.
« Wait, you can hear what I'm saying in my head? »
Sun looked at him with a disappointed expression, turned around, and raised his hands to the sky, shouting.
« Of course, I hear everything you say. Where do you think we are? In your mind! Well, our mind. »
Martis was even more confused; he no longer understood anything.
« Wait, what do you mean, we're in our mind? My mind is not your mind? You keep saying weird things since you got here; I'd like you to explain a little. »
Wukong jumped into the air and then landed back on his staff, maintaining his balance.
« Well, well, well, how to explain. You see, you and I, we are the same person, I am you, you are me, do you understand? We are one soul. »
This only confused Martis more and more; each explanation only blurred the picture further.
« Wait, Wukong, you're just confusing me now; I don't understand anything anymore. »
Wukong, tired of talking too much, climbed down from his staff, touched Martis on the shoulder, and said:
« Alright, this time I'll be more direct. 200 years ago, you were assassinated by some people, then our soul was banished to this world, and your dreams are memories of your past life, okay? »
Martis was surprised to hear that his dreams were memories of his past, but it was all still vague.
« I... I still don't understand. Everything you're saying is a bit strange. »
Wukong sighed and then sat on the ground.
« Ah, I have a feeling this is going to take a while. Sit down on the ground, I'm going to explain and share what I know. »
Martis sat on the ground, still a little suspicious. Wukong plucked one of his hairs and threw it to the left. A small puff of smoke appeared right next to it. When the smoke cleared, another Wukong appeared, this one looking depressed and tired. He looked at Wukong with a sigh.
« Tsk, what do you want now? »
Wukong pointed a finger at a tree, telling him:
« Go get me some peaches from the tree, please. »
Hearing this, he took offense.
« Aaah, you're pushing it a bit, boss, the tree is right behind you! You can go yourself! »
Wukong with a mocking look.
« No, I'm lazy. »
He turned and sighed as he walked towards the tree, muttering:
« That's not what I signed up for. »
Martis watched him walk away, then, intrigued, asked a question.
« Who is that? »
« He's a clown, and I already know your second question. No, I have no idea how they appear; I just throw a hair, and then it's done. » he replied in a hurry.
Martis didn't want to waste any more time and wanted to know everything.
« Well, we've taken long enough; I'd like you to explain better now. »
Wukong sighed, then, in a more serious tone, he began to speak.
« Well, 200 years ago, you were assassinated by several people, and your soul was banished from there. By reincarnating here, you lost all your memory, and the dreams you have are memories of what happened in your previous life. »
« If I understand correctly, the person I see fighting is me, and these dreams are memories? »
Wukong nodded, saying:
« Yes, you understood everything. »
« But wait a minute, I have another question. It's me I see in the dreams, so who are you? » Martis asked, bewildered.
Wukong thought for a moment before telling him:
« I suspected you would ask me that question. So, I'll explain: I am the entirety of your memories, the memories you lost, like the martial arts styles and techniques you mastered, or simple memories like names and certain moments you forgot. But upon arriving here, these memories almost got deleted, but since they resisted, they all compressed into a corner of your soul, and all that formed me. »
This explanation was not enough for Martis; it was all still not very clear.
« Yeah, I see, but why didn't you manifest until today? In seventeen years of existence, you only appear today? »
Wukong was about to explain when his clone arrived with the peaches and tossed them between the two.
« Here you go, and don't call me back » said the clone before disappearing with a frustrated look.
Wukong resumed, while eating a peach.
« If you want to know why I only appeared now, it's simple. To make a long story short and simple, I was like asleep, and what helped me wake up was when you remembered Erlang Shen, and I took advantage of that badass chick knocking you out to call you here. »
Martis understood better, even though he only had brief memories upon seeing him.
« Oh, I see, but I don't understand why you brought me here. » said Martis.
Wukong sighed with an annoyed look.
« Are you stupid or what? If I brought you here, it's so I can share what I remember with you, since your soul is trying to deny the memories. »
Wukong held out his palms to him with a serious look.
« Put your palms in mine. »
« Why? » Martis asked suspiciously.
« Well, it's to transfer my memories to you, you idiot. »
Martis hesitantly moved his hands towards his, saying.
« Your face doesn't inspire confidence, but I have too many questions in my head, and I need answers, so don't mess with me. »
« Understood » exclaimed Wukong, flashing a big smile.
When he grabbed his hands, Martis felt as if thunder was striking him. A flood of images came to his mind: gloves, fights, and many other things. Some parts of his former life came back to him. Then, when Wukong let go, everything stopped, and Martis fell to his knees, saying agitatedly: « I remember, I remember, I... I remember, I am... »
Then, in a calmer voice, he said:
« I am SUN... SUN WUKONG! »
Wukong looked at him with delight, saying.
« Good, young padawan, but that's not all the memories; it's just 1.3% of our memory, but the more people you fight, the more the memory will return. That's all I remember, for now. »
Then, like a madman, he shouted:
« And now wake up if you don't want to fall on your face. »
« Wait, why should I wake up? » Martis asked.
Sun replied: « Well, time passes very slowly here, so 15 thirds of a second, and you're going to fall soon. »
Everything around him gradually became completely white, as if everything was disappearing.
Before Wukong disappeared, Martis asked him.
« How do I come back here? »
Wukong shouted in turn:
« You just have to meditate!... »
Then everything turned white.
In the room, after Martis was propelled into the air, Halnea noticed that she had gotten carried away and had hit him a little too hard. She knew that for this, she would be insulted by the students. But what followed shocked the whole room. Before Martis touched the ground, he managed to catch himself just in time on the mat. The whole room was astonished. With a smile full of excitement, he laughed before saying.
« Hahaha, you're not going all out, are you? I wonder what it's like when you are. »
Seeing him, Halnea felt a shiver run through her body. Martis took a fighting stance, saying:
« Now that I have the idea and the memory in place, let's fight! »