Dragon Star Dahanapura

Episode 4 Travel

Arya awakens her father just before the rooster crows. Ki Demang deliberately did not sleep all night, to keep watch and wake his only son. No guards were told, apart from Ki Lurah Seno, to keep the security and not cause any uproar by morning.

Sekarum deftly prepare a package of boiled ketella for the provision of travel. In addition, do not forget clothes and picis as food supplies. "Le, this symbol of yours does not require you to be a great swordsman, nor tell you to be the successor of the family" said Sekar with watery eyes.

"Be what you want, make yourself useful to others, occasionally come home here" said Sekar while hugging his son.

Unable to hold back his tears, releasing the departure of his son. As tight as he felt, like a big rock. But fully he realized, since Arya was a child, this is what he was most afraid of.

Not much different from Sekar, Ki Demang seemed to take a few deep breaths. "My son, you're old, take good care of yourself, remember your Romo and Simbok messages" Ki Demang said as he gave a small bundle, containing 5 golden slices.

Ki Lurah who had been not far away, led 2 dark brown horses with bangs and blond tails. A horse was handed over to Arya and the other he rode alone. Indeed Ki Lurah was sent to deliver Arya's departure to the border of Kademangan Daha.

The horse given to Arya is a horse of choice that is self-treated since still belo. (Belo is the name/term used by the Javanese against foals). The horse was named Bonggol

Not long after, two horses galloped together through the cold early morning of Daha City, towards the western border. They only reached the border at dawn and began to spread in the eastern horizon.

"Den Mas, until here I deliver Den Mas" said Ki Lurah momentarily to the border of Daha academy.

" The life of the martial world is very cruel, there are no definite rules. It is the strong who are in power", continued Ki Lurah.

After saying goodbye, Arya continued her journey towards the sunset. According to estimates, he will arrive at Klotok Hill in 2 days trip. There are two most frightening locations for residents in the Panjalu region, namely the Prohibition Forest or locals call it the Wonojoyo Alas and Brantas River banks.

Both of these locations are famous for stealth waiting, medi and genderuwo. Many people did not survive after entering it.

Likewise with Arya, not the slightest shadow is drawn in his mind, that he will pass through two of the most frightening areas in Panjalu. He did not know what to do, because the only way to Klotok Hill is to pass through Wonojoyo Alas.

As a young man, and lacking experience in the martial world, he became hesitant to pass Alas Wonojoyo. Not feeling the height of the sun has passed the tip of the spear, Arya decided to stop for a moment, just filling her stomach and looking for grass to feed her horse.

It stopped on the trail, the outskirts of the Keling river. The river is a source of water for some residents of Keling Duchy. Then he opened the provisions given by Simbok, and began to chew the boiled ketella that had been cold.

Sometimes he regretted not so fond of kanuragan science since childhood, when faced with the current situation. The only thing he could rely on was his brain intelligence, and his skill in the art of building.

Just this time, he felt extremely lonely, and had no plans whatsoever other than to head straight for Klotok hill. He kept a thousand questions, which he was unable to convey to the Father. But that's how Arya, not unwilling to ask her father, but rather to respect and carry out the orders given her father.

Ki Demang had already said to seek the answer to all the questions to the holy Hermit there. That is what Arya will do. Curiosity is so excruciating, making him quickly want to finish the break and continue the journey.

Arya spurred her horse until the trip half a day later she reached the edge of Alas Wonojoyo. Along the way he did not meet with the resident settlements, so he could not stop for a moment to rest. The footpath that divides the base Wonojoyo overgrown with grass, showing rarely passed by residents.

"Bonggol, we have to go through this forest, to get to the destination immediately" said Arya while stroking her horse's hair. Bonggol neighed, as if understanding his master's will.

The average population prefers to rotate, if you want to go to the western Panjalu region and not pass through the middle of the forest. However, that does not mean that humans have never passed.

The existing footpath, shows that the forest was once passed by humans. Arya paused for a moment, looking up at the sky, estimating it would take her half a day if she kept pushing her horse to get past Alas Wonojoyo.

The sun had just slipped from its peak, and the approximate Arya, a surub (a time marker of the sun starting to set) he had exited Alas Wonojoyo.

The shadow of softness and dedemit as told by the inhabitants disturbed his mind a little, but then he sat up and continued to spur the Bonggol.

"Let's go Bonggol, don't stop, we can't stay in this forest" Arya occasionally slashed her belly.

Suddenly the Bonggol had a sudden and hard neigh, like a fright right under the Joho Tree. (The Joho Tree is a sacred tree, usually a reclusive person under the tree) After a quiet back Bonggol finally walked slowly.

Surprisingly, Arya's journey was like endless. He stopped in front of the sacred tree. Due to exhaustion, he finally decided to rest under the tree.

It did not feel the sun had started to rise, and the night was approaching. The breeze felt so cold, bone-piercing. Then Arya made a small fireplace in front of her. The provisions he brought stayed a little, only able to prop his stomach tonight.

Krik... kriik .. kriik..., the sound of the night beast began to be unpretentious, accompanying the solitude of Arya. Then he picked up a star medal and started doing the semedy.

Silence tonight, makes Arya quickly dissolve in roso ning (a sense of union between soul and mind, when this happens someone will not have any feelings for his wadag body).

In the roso ning experienced by Arya, she began to be able to feel the air around her, even though it was only half a fathom. He could feel the existence of the Bonggol who was curled up next to him.

He also felt, like there was a great power contained within the tree behind him.

*****

Elsewhere, in a cave on the slopes of Klotok Hill Slope, a sepuh, was undergoing tapa brata practice for 41 days. Tonight coincides with the 40th day, the sign of tomorrow at noon he must finish his speech.

A whisper (a clue in the form of a voice, another name of a wangsit), faintly heard, but not in his ear. More precisely, the whisper was clearly he was listening through the sharpness of his inner eye.

The elder was Ki Bajra Geni, the great hermit from klotok hill, who had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs. However, the whispers he received were just the opposite.

The vision he got, required him to raise a disciple who was the successor of Eyang Kamajaya. Ki Bajra smiled in his speech, he felt relieved because in the end there was Kamajaya's tutelage who became the heir of the Star Sword.

"Hmm.. It looks like Kamajaya's prophecy will come true, I can only train it", said Ki Bajra.

Kamajaya predicted that his descendant would become heir to the star sword and also be able to reveal the secret in dragon firecrackers. When that happens, then the heir not only matches his strength, it can even be far above it.

However, when that happens Bethari Durga will also reappear, spreading terror of fear, pagebluk and even death.

"Before that happens, the star sword must be found and not fall into the wrong hands" Ki Bajra said.

Then he remembered his teacher's message, that if Ki Bajra ever received a disciple who had a star stone, then he had to pass on all his knowledge.

*****

Update every day at 20:00 WIB.