EVERNA Ring of Fire

DANURAH Part 3

Whatever it was, now Sthira could only sigh. He took his eyes off Arumi and walked down the deck of the ship. His eyes shifted from a vast expanse of sea to a sailing ship of this type called Pinissi. It is said that Jayandra seized this ship in a naval battle against the Akhsar Kingdom a few years ago.

The Pinissi is equipped with two main mast and seven sail strands, namely three at the front end, two at the front mast and two at the rear mast. It was twenty-three meters long, nine and a half meters wide, three and a half meters tall and towering to thirty-five meters. After joining the Jayandra Fleet, the ship was named Jalaruna.

Sthira. Want to not want him amazed to see this beautiful and tough ship. The next moment, his attention was diverted and centered precisely not on the ship, but on one of its passengers. Precisely, on an orange-haired girl who was unwinding, standing while leaning against the deck fence.

That was Nirya, her head held up and her eyes were closed. The girl's smile expanded very sweetly, as she breathed the fresh sea air as much as she could. His hair and clothes fluttered in the wind. In Sthira's current eyes, the cheerful Nirya was more beautiful than the serious and stiff Arumi. All the movements of the Swarnara girl that attracted the young man Kalingga approached step by step.

Until finally Sthira found words of greeting to Nirya. “Tak are you windy here, Nirya?”

Nirya looked over with a smile. “Oh, my injuries from Megaswari have almost fully recovered. I guess I can fight again when I need to.”

“Haha, I don't think we need to fight at the moment, thanks to Arumi's assertiveness,” Sthira responded, trying not to look tense by leaning back on the deck fence.

Nirya sighed. “Yes, thankfully Arumi can be relied upon when not under too much pressure to disturb, even damage her personal life.”

Sthira's laughter broke. Yes, he could not remember the last time he laughed so hard and loose like this. During knowing Nirya, let alone Arumi anyway, the three of them talked about almost always about serious things or related to the mission. When jokes spread, Sthira always holds back laughter.

Gasped, Sthira's laughter stopped instantly.

“Lho, what's up, Sthira?” Nirya gave a full question mark.

Sthira stroked her hair. “Eeh... Just a little ship shake jerking alone kok.” Though Sthira only realized Niryalah who had made herself laugh earlier.

Maybe, maybe Sthira just realized also he felt more comfortable with Nirya who is what this is. Arumi seems smarter and more mature than Nirya. But it makes the girl seem to always wear a mask, hiding her unstable identity, which was actually revealed in Megaswari.

Arumi impressed still hope on his career and reputation as a senopati in Jayandra. Although now he is undergoing a mission that will make his future uncertain, explained Arumi looking for safety. If he and his friends fail and their mission must stop in the middle of the road, Arumi can still go home and return to serve in Jayandra as senopati.

However, what about Nirya who had lost everything and Sthira who had left everything behind? Only this mission is the present and the future for both of them. To stop in the middle of the road means to die.

Yes, death would indeed be the best option than watching one of the countries in Antapada destroy other countries that have been weakened. Watching what Mpu Galahasin feared come true.

“Oi, why daydream?”

Again Sthira was aghast, rebuked Nirya again. But this time Sthira said nothing. Just say no, let alone confess.

“While thinking of something?” Nirya's lips sideways, her forehead wrinkled. “Don't... It's about the continuation of our mission again, huh?!”

Sthira. “E-eh... no! No, kok! I just..”

“What only? Never mind, admit you're thinking about Arumi! I'm ready to be asked for an opinion.” Next to Nirya's eyes was blinking mischievously.

“Trauma, depressed, then soluble in grief?” Nirya's smile disappeared instantly, changing into words. “Yes, I should be like a woman in general, hiding my true feelings in all sorts of guises.”

“But, what...?”

“Whatever you think, Sthira, I'm still an ordinary girl. Of course you know since the first time we met, ‘kan? I cried when my house was destroyed and my teacher was killed. I cried when I found out that many of my townspeople were victims of disaster. I cried again when the Jayandra Fleet was destroyed, Arumi lost her parents and fell victim to the citizens of Wulantra. Even before this all happened, I always cried seeing the effects of the prolonged war between the island nations. Seeing the people of Antapada suffer. So, can be seen my life is indeed full of crying.”

Sthira just stared at Nirya, not daring to comment anymore. His premonition said, what he would hear the following was probably the most important thing he would remember until the end of his life.

With a gentle smile Nirya said, “Thankfully, before all my cries were drawn out, Master Panigara gave me valuable advice. He said crying would not solve the problem. It is natural to cry in reaction to the sadness we feel. It is precisely the person who holds back his tears while grieving that tends to rely on reason rather than his human conscience.”

Feeling insinuated, Sthira said, “But it's still reasonable, ‘kan?”

Nirya shakes. “Teacher Panigara did not explain that far, but I think it is still reasonable. Now, more importantly, he told me ways to overcome my grief, so as not to drag on. First, he said, ‘train yourself diligently, master the field you are in.’”

Sthira nodded. The results of Nirya's perseverance have been seen many times in every fight. The proof, the three of them were still breathing and moving freely at this moment.

“The second, ‘do keep praying, and trust me there is definitely hope for a better future.’”

Hearing this one, Sthira's forehead wrinkled. Is prayer enough to bring hope? He wanted to protest, but he was forced to undo it because Nirya's explanation had not been completed.

“And third, ‘when the opportunity to overcome the cries and create new hope comes to you, welcome without hesitation.’” Nirya ended her explanation. “That opportunity and hope I have welcomed, for I see it in you, Sthira. I'm sure Arumi must have felt the same way as me when she said she agreed to join us. Only, he can still turn into doubt at any time.”

Sthira was unable to speak anymore. For a moment his eyes were very itchy, and he wiped away the tears that had quietly slipped out of there. Nothing Nirya sees now. At least, Now Sthira is sure, in his “mission crazy” to fight for one hope, he is not alone. There were two other tough warriors who held the same hope and trust, going hand in hand and saving lives with him.

Moreover, Nirya, the smile on her face was implying sincerity, not innocence. That sweetest smile was probably only aimed at a Sthira. Could Nirya have been...?

Sthira. No, it was not the time that he thought about, let alone made decisions about things that were personal now. Admittedly, Sthira was very fond of her conversation with Nirya, and at the moment Nirya was clearly more interesting than Arumi. But what about next? Maybe in the next moments revealed again other things in Arumi – in addition to the level and intelligence – more interesting than Nirya.

Maybe yes, maybe not.

Maybe Sthira will never know for sure.

At least, let Sthira enjoy this moment with Nirya.

When the cool sea breeze hits, it brings new hope.

And the sounds of seagulls chanting prayers, may peace throughout Antapada be surely created, through this “Mission Ring of Fire”.

Image Source Astana Giri, Danurah - Puri Agung Peliatan, Bali (Google)