My feelings were troubled. For a moment I stared out the window that I had left open. Finally, like running out of internet quota and then finding free wifi, that was how relieved I felt when I heard Jagoan's whinny. Immediately I just approached the front door. I wanted to run towards him, but I stopped myself when I saw someone approaching him first. Bara got off the Jagoan and immediately started chatting with him. Their conversation looked serious so I didn't dare interrupt. I just stared at them from the dim light of the night.
After the conversation was over, I hurriedly closed the door and pretended to sit in the living room. Bara came in.
"Oh, you're back. Is everything okay?" I said.
"Yes..," he answered briefly. Then he sat down. The atmosphere seemed awkward. "It's late at night, aren't you going back to your room?" he said casually, essentially shooing me away. I immediately got up and went to my room in a bad mood.
In the room, I couldn't close my eyes right away. "Huh, how come he didn't chat with me at all. Didn't he think how many days he left me here without a single friend?" I grumbled a little annoyed. But soon that suspicion disappeared when I thought about how tired he was. He had just come home from war with a few days of not resting. Yes, he needed sleep. To make sure, I peeked out the bedroom door. Sure enough, he was asleep on the guest chair. "He must be really tired," I muttered as I returned to my bed.
***
In the morning when I came out of the room, the living room was empty. The embers were gone. It was clear that he had continued his mission.
This time Bara heads to the Satya Manggala Kingdom. Meanwhile, Gajah Mada's group of soldiers is in the middle of attacking the kingdom that Bara had invaded yesterday, namely the Jalasutra Kingdom.
I know the struggle is hard. Therefore, I can't complain about how bored I am in this room, without friends. Actually, I am happy to be alone in my room for days, as long as there are gadgets and internet to accompany me, or I can watch movies that I like. Now this?? Forget about gadgets and internet, there is no electricity...
________________________
The full moon looked normal.
How can it stay round when I don't feel full. I'm completely lost. Empty.
How could he appear there so jokingly.
Together with his group of friends - the clouds - they looked at me sadly.
Even looks like laughing at me
Huh, I could eat him raw if he was a round meatball!
I'm not excited, instead
Butterflies surround me happily.
The tulip greeted me with a smile.
The ants walked in line, dancing here and there.
The frangipani leaves waved inviting me to inhale the scent of the flowers.
Oh no! I want to run away from those who have no sense of taste!
__ ______________________
***
Suddenly I heard the sound of my bedroom door slamming open. Was it the aunt who brought the food? But usually, she just put it in front. I turned to greet her. It turned out it wasn't my aunt. She came closer to me. Even though I didn't know her yet.
"Are you a soldier here?" I asked curiously. He didn't answer right away.
As the distance got closer, only one meter in front of me, he said, "Hmm, you are easy to recognize, because you are different."
I didn't understand what he meant. But I wasn't really worried about his presence because he didn't look like a bad person. It just felt strange that someone suddenly entered this room. Bara had never entered here while I was in there.
"Get ready," he concluded.
"What do you mean?" Once again, my question was ignored. Instead, he smiled and looked at me. I admit, his smile was indeed sweet. I guessed that he was around 30 years old, like most of the young lecturers on my campus. His build was tall and sturdy, similar to Bara. The difference was, this man had lighter skin than Bara.
Suddenly without me suspecting, he lifted my body. He carried me as if I was a fashion store mannequin. He kidnapped me!!! I tried to fight back and scream, but strangely my whole body felt frozen, unable to move. My voice also didn't come out. Even though my eyeballs were wide open. Really like a mannequin, I could only remain silent and surrender to being carried by him.
In the dark of the night, he ran up the wall of the royal palace. He could easily step out while carrying me. Outside the palace wall, a horse was waiting for him. He put me on the horse's back. Then, he mounted the horse and immediately sped away.
***
When I opened my eyes, I didn't know where I was anymore. I didn't know. I wasn't interested in observing this place either. What was clear was that the man was with me.
"You just woke up. I made you some jasmine tea to relax your muscles…" he greeted casually.
I couldn't believe what kind of person he was. He kidnapped me, but he acted so friendly! "Do you think I'll be grateful for the trouble you took to make me a drink?!"
"Of course not, I don't want your thanks. Drink it to calm yourself down…"
"No need to beat around the bush with me, what do you really want??"
"Relax, I don't want anything from you," he said as he walked out.
A few moments later he returned. "Oh yes, sorry for making your body unable to move last night. If you want, instead, now you can move around outside. Look, isn't it beautiful?" he said while pointing towards the yard.
I couldn't understand it anymore, he kidnapped me but let me walk around. Without asking any more, I went out.
This place is beautiful. Green grass with beautiful wildflowers. Unfortunately, the sense of enjoying the beauty is not functioning. And no wonder he is not worried about me running away, this place is surrounded by hills. I have to climb the hill if I want to escape. And it will be seen soon if I climb it.
There was only one gap in the road that seemed to be the way out of this place.
After making sure he didn't see me, I crept towards the only exit. After passing the exit, a vast forest and a calm spring like a small lake appeared. Very clear. I was tempted to approach and touch the water.
"I thought you would come here. Isn't that water refreshing?" he asked, surprising me.
I sighed, "Are you worried that I would run away? I know you are like other warriors who want the Galaxy Keris, right?! But you caught me wrong, I don't have the keris, so let me go!"
"I know the keris is not with you. I just used you to get it."
"Bara won't know I'm here!!!"
"He knows. He will be here as soon as his task is finished. So be patient and wait for him..."
I don't know I don't understand his way of thinking. I'm frustrated with him.
He also approached the spring, "This is 'Telaga Dahaga'. The water is very fresh. Your thirst will be quenched, drink it…" He drank the water from the spring. "What's your name? Let me introduce myself, I'm Arya," he said while extending his hand. I was very surprised to find out that he was Arya, Bara's older brother. Therefore, I forgot to shake his hand to introduce myself. I was stunned with a blank stare.
"So, you already know about me," he said when he saw my expression. "I don't care what you think about me."
"You will use the Galaxy Keris to face your younger brother and your adopted father?? How could you be so cruel. I can't believe you would be so cruel as to sacrifice your family."
"All struggles certainly require sacrifice. At least, now I am more grateful because I have an important reason for my sacrifice. Unlike those soldiers who gave their lives just for the ambition of their superiors."
"Hey, they are fighting for the unification of the archipelago..!"
"Then, after the archipelago is united, would it be better if the entire region is dominated by one leader who knows what his character is?!" he said with a cynical smile. "Is that achievement comparable to who knows how many millions of lives have become victims of war?!" he said even more fiercely.
I was silent for a moment hearing his reasons.
"But by joining the opposing side (Manunggal), you will also increase the number of war victims, Arya," I tried to persuade him to stop his intentions.
"Joining Manunggal or not, it will be the same. The people who are sacrificed will always be there, whether they like it or not. At least, with Manunggal I am trying to stop its authoritarian rule."
"Authoritarian power is not necessarily the case, Arya. If Majapahit was able to unite the archipelago, it is not certain that its king would be authoritarian in leading."
"You don't need to lecture me about how rulers lead. You know nothing about their leadership."
"I know enough about how the ruler leads. It's the same in my world, they lead by..." I suddenly couldn't continue my sentence. I was confused about how to explain the politics of leadership in my world. Well, I didn't study that material in depth, so it's not right to explain something I don't master. "The point is, no matter how the king leads, you don't have to fight your brother. He's a good person…"
He responded to me with a smile, "You may have been fooled by him. Be careful, don't fall in love with him. He is like Gajah Mada who has sworn the Palapa oath."
I quickly retorted, "Hey, I'm not in love with him…"
Palapa Oath?? The term seems familiar. I dug into my college memory to define the term. I hadn't finished searching in my brain, but was interrupted by the sound of Arya's coughing.
"Hey, you're bleeding..! Do you have TB?" I asked when I saw the blood on the corner of his lips which he immediately wiped away. He ignored my question and immediately invited me back to his house.***
I can't imagine how the brothers faced each other for their lives. And what would happen if the Keris Galaksi fell into Arya's hands. Even without the keris, Bara would have lost.
After breakfast, Arya took me to the lake. It turns out we were waiting for Bara's arrival. And Arya's prediction was right, Bara arrived within the time he had determined.
Arriving at the lake, Bara leads Jagoan to drink the fresh water. Afterwards, Bara and Arya look at each other in a frozen stare. There are no words of greeting for Bara. Arya is not as friendly as yesterday. The atmosphere is calm, but not everything seems okay.
Arya stood beside me, while Bara stood beside Jagoan. I didn't know how to act. "Hey Jagoan, you must be tired, huh..." I said trying to lighten the mood and I stepped forward to stroke Jagoan's head. However, Arya pulled my arm.
"You are my prisoner. So, don't move away from me," his expression became stiffer. He didn't seem like the Arya who talked to me yesterday at this lake. I was quite surprised by the change in his attitude. They fell silent again, just staring at each other sharply. I became increasingly anxious about this tense atmosphere.
"You don't have a choice. You can't defend the keris," Arya smiled now, but her smile looked cunning. And suddenly Arya took out her sword and pointed it at me. "If his heart was pierced by a sword, the dagger would disappear too, wouldn't it?" his smile widened. It turns out that Arya knows the secret of the Galactic Keris. Yes, of course, he understands because he used to live with Surip's grandparents.
"Bara, you can use the thousand steps technique like that time..!" I shouted remembering the criminal who had also threatened me with a sword.
"That's a kid's move," Arya whispered into my ear, still with his sly smile.
I know how stressed Bara is. Without the Keris Galaksi, he is pawning Gajah Mada's trust and also his life. But it is true, Bara has no choice. Arya is indeed smart and great.
Finally, Bara reluctantly threw the Keris Galaksi. Arya jumped nimbly – looking like he was flying – to grab the keris.
Bara immediately turned around and patted Jagoan, signaling him to get ready to walk. He didn't even look at me. Maybe he was hiding his disappointed expression for losing the Keris Galaksi. I was disappointed in myself. I didn't know what to do.
Arya waved his hand at me as he walked away. Jagoan and Bara walked back to Majapahit. Bara didn't say anything to invite me. I hadn't walked yet, still standing, and said, "I'm sorry Bara." He didn't respond to my apology. If I had another place I could stop by, of course I would choose it. Unfortunately, there wasn't, so my feet followed him. We boarded Jagoan and returned to Majapahit without a single word of conversation.
***
Several days passed, Bara was rarely in this joglo room. Even though Jagoan didn't go anywhere. Bara wouldn't travel far without Jagoan. "Maybe he's busy having a war discussion. Or, is Bara very disappointed with me because the Keris Galaksi was released because of me?"
I was also very disappointed in myself. I couldn't keep the keris. How would I go home to face grandpa…
This was the first time in my life that I had such a deep sense of guilt. This feeling was really uncomfortable. Therefore, after trying to consider, I decided on an action. "Yes, I must act..!" I clenched my fists, my determination was firm.
***
I quietly approached Jagoan, negotiating with him to go with me. But he was quite stubborn. I had persuaded him with a bucket of fresh food, but he didn't give in. "How annoying, Jagoan is just like his strict master..!"
Finally, with my cleverness, I managed to trick Jagoan. Earlier, I took Bara's clothes that were left on the chair and showed them to Jagoan. He must have thought that I was going to take him to meet his master.
I also went out of the Majapahit palace with Jagoan.
About half a day's journey, with my rapidly improving horse riding skills, I had arrived at my destination, Telaga Dahaga. That's right, I wanted to get my keris back, no matter what!
I entered the small house in the hilly area. My eyes widened happily when I saw the Keris Galakasi in the middle of the table surrounded by offerings. It seemed like Arya was performing a ritual on it. While there was no host, I immediately took the keris. Finally, my lips could open.
However, as soon as I was about to leave, Arya appeared from the room, "Wow, there's the Princess…"
I ignored him and ran immediately. He calmly followed me. "You dare to come here alone," his smile began to fade. I don't know why he likes to smile so much. Even though I was scared to death. I ran as fast as I could. Seeing me running, Jagoan approached me. I quickly got on Jagoan. Without being commanded, Jagoan stepped on the gas. He was like a car that drove fast by itself without a steering wheel. I held Jagoan tightly and believed that he must know the way to the palace.
We heard the sound of horse hooves following us. It turned out that Arya was getting closer to catch up. The hero tried very hard to spur his steps. This was the first time I knew he was running this fast.
Arya's horse also didn't want to lose. It was likely that his horse was also as great as Jagoan because they grew up together.
Arya is getting closer. The hero is also increasingly using his strength. Even though the hill road is narrow. If you take a wrong step, you could fall down there.
Unexpectedly, Arya threw his sword and it stuck right in front of Jagoan. The incident made Jagoan have to brake suddenly. Unfortunately, I was not as ready as Jagoan. Jagoan's reins slipped from my hand. I fell into a ravine that fortunately was not deep. Because of the incident, Arya was able to approach me. "You're quite troublesome for me. Eh, actually it's not you who's troublesome, but Jagoan. He's the only horse that can beat Satria, my horse." While he was talking, I was in a sitting position, trying to crawl away from him. Seeing my movement, his smile disappeared, now his expression changed to serious, "Stop playing around with me. I still have a lot of things to do." He stretched out his hand with the intention of asking for my keris. I felt very cornered. My brain couldn't find a way out. Without thinking, I took out the Keris Galaksi from its sheath. Arya was quite surprised. He also reflexively took out his sword to ward off the powerful energy of the Keris Galaksi.
I understand that I can't use the Galactic Keris for long, I don't have enough energy. But I have no other way out. I drew my keris, as did Arya with her sword. We drew our weapons at each other.
The Keris Galaksi began to absorb Arya's energy, along with my energy that began to decrease. My vision was starting to blur. Arya was able to ward off the energy of the Keris Galaksi which was imperfect because it was used by me who had no inner strength.
My vision dimmed, the keris slipped from my grasp. This condition made Arya's sword come closer to me. His sword was getting closer to my body. I surrendered to what happened.
Suddenly, something blocked the sword from stabbing me! Something big. Although it was blurry, I could still see what it was. The big thing was Jagoan. Jagoan blocked Arya's sword that was about to stab my body.
The hero acts as a shield. Arya's sword that should have stabbed me, now knocks down the big shield. The hero collapses!
With the remaining strength, I tried to drag my body to approach Jagoan. I managed to reach him. Our eyes met. My eyes were already soaked, but his eyes were not wet at all. His eyes only blinked weakly. The big horse in front of me was no longer moving. His eyelids were also blinking more slowly. I hugged him with incessant sobs. As time went on, his heartbeat could no longer be heard. His eyelids were closed. Even though his blood was still flowing freshly through the sword stuck in his chest.
I also forgot about the Keris Galaksi which fell who knows where. The Keris disappeared, the Hero disappeared.
***
___________________
In silence, his gaze stopped, white and blank.
Her flowing hair drifted quietly in the gentle breeze.
It's not beating.
Silence.
I didn't think this would happen.
He goes.
Forever.
And it's because of me.
I can't put into words your courage. Something I don't have.
I salute your sacrifice.
I bow my head to you, my savior.
Goodbye, Hero. My regards to you. May you be happy in the afterlife.
I will follow later, at a certain time.
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