EVERNA Ring of Fire

NURBAITI Part 1

As residents of Ringidatu and a swordsman, it is only natural that Nirya often travel to Mount Barkajang for training, forging physical and fighting power. He was one of the very few people who ever climbed the volcano, even to the top.

In fact, it can even be said, the frequent climb Nirya Barkajang made him know the mountain like his own home. That's why Nirya has the right to inherit a chain of twin kerambit, a mountain climber tool that is very useful and very suitable for the agile figure himself. Therefore, Nirya became a guide on her journey this time, this bright morning.

However, along the way the orange-haired girl's heart was unceasingly beating. Perhaps it was because of her traveling companion, Sthira was dashing, handsome and charming. Maybe because the person he guided will bring disaster in Swarnara, but Nirya believes Sthira will be the savior of all Antapada through “sakan” this. Probably because of both reasons above.

“Nirya, are you sure this is the right path to the caretaker residence of Mount Barkajang?” sthira asked suddenly, disperse the reverie of Nirya.

Smiling innocently, Nirya replied, “Eeh, yes, I know exactly, Sthira. Take it easy, Elder Rahli Marus is a friendly and understanding person, although his thinking is still conservative. Who knows, if we manage to persuade him, he will hand over the Key of Mount Barkajang willingly.”

“If he refuses?”

“Ngg, I think there are many ways we can try. He was a familyless hermit, a kara. Because I visit her often, she considers me her own daughter.”

Sthira frowned. “Yes, I hope you're right, Nirya.”

The footsteps of Sthira and Nirya continued to tread the path through the dense forest. The slopes of Mount Barkajang have been seen in the distance, on the sidelines of the grass. They must be getting closer to their destination.

Suddenly Nirya whispered to Sthira, “Be careful, I think we're being watched.” The comrades complied, and their footsteps both slowed down.

Nirya held up, raising her gaze to the left-right. Some creatures appear to have sprung from their hiding places on the branches of trees.

Recognizing the small figures, Nirya again whispered, “Her cup they are open, bat-winged apes who live in this forest. Strange, a lot of roses that appear, when usually they only move in small groups.”

Sthira responded to Nirya's words by unsheathing her huge machete. “That means they are unfriendly and will attack us at any time. Prepare your weapons, Nirya.”

“T-but all the roses in this forest are my friends, impossible they are.!”.

“You still consider them friends, but they're not!” Sthira made her point. “Hunus your kerambit, or you must be dead!”

Shall? Nirya holds the handle of a pair of her kerambit tightly, hoping she does not need to use it on “ her friends” this. Could it be that the instincts of the dwarves sensed the intentions contained in the minds of Nirya and Sthira? After all, Mount Barkajang is a blighted habitat, and any threat to that habitat must have triggered resistance in their animal minds.

So Nirya sat down, I'm sorry, guys. For the good of all Antapada, you must make sacrifices. Sure enough, the bats were shouting noisily while banging on the chest and jumping around, full of threats.

There was a strong urge within Nirya to restrain Sthira, persuading her to abandon the whole mission.  But the fellow instead advanced, swinging his machete and emitting lightning prana as a counter threat. Whatever the purpose of Sthira's mission, whoever dares to stand in his way will surely be destroyed.

The reaction of the animals is obvious. Challenged like that, they flapped the wings of bats, then leapt and flew from the trees, besieging the two humans on the ground.

“Sthira, just avoid it, don't kill them!” Keeping his words, Nirya leaped very agilely from tree to tree, each movement of the girl was very similar to the bullfighters who were indirectly her teachers.

On the other hand, the movement of Sthira although fast but not too agile. “I try, but I dare not guarantee!” It twists from the jaws full of rows of sharp fangs of a rose. But a second slap of rose claws scratched his cheek, barely adding a new scar next to his tiger-fried tattoo.

Sthira reacted by twisting the body, accidentally swinging his machete. The blade of the machete that hit the rose stomach that clawed at Sthira just now continued to dart mercilessly. The poor animal fell to the ground with a torn body, almost two apart.

Hearing the ferocious roars of the other bats, Nirya clucked in annoyance. Forced, he swung to one tree while slashing two attackers at once, hooking the tip of the creak to the branch of one tree and then swinging up the branch of the tree while kicking one other candle until it bounced.

The bats clearly did not give their enemies a chance to catch their breath. Just as the legs of Nirya were tracing branches, at least three kerlawar came snatching from three directions. Nirya's teeth gurgled with regret, accompanied by both arms that played the chain of cambite until it turned like a pair of wheels. Not only broke the opponent's direct attack, the kerambit blade made the body and blood of the three roses fall and drip towards the ground like rain.

Bathed in blood red drops “former friends”nya, Nirya had to go ahead. The bullies kept on aiming and lunging at him, and Nirya did not have much trouble avoiding them.

When Nirya's eyes were fixed down, she gasped to see Sthira being overwhelmed, surrounded by at least five roses that blocked her run and eyes. The swing of the heavy large machete so it looks more sluggish, it is very difficult to hit one of the aviator animals, like trying to swat the fly with his bare hands. On the contrary, the strike by the enemy did not incise a significant wound thanks to the body of the swordsman who protected prana, but it could come one life-threatening attack at any time.

Taking advantage of the golden opportunity, the rose bit more strongly, immersing its fangs deeply to finish off the human. Suddenly the action stopped, along with the stick of the kerambit blade on the back of the rose.

Sthira looked back and saw Nirya at the far end of the chain. With two hands the man opened the bite on his shoulder, then tore the jaw of the kerlawar up to the throat and threw the carcass in one direction. He then ran towards Nirya, then smiled with gratitude at the guide and his helper. But Nirya's face remained grim, not replying at all. Naturally, there are still many of these very troublesome besiegers.

Nirya herself was now moving on the ground, busy paving the way for her comrade. The five bats that were victims of the two men's attack were enough to make all the other surviving winged apes fly away.

“Haha, the strength of both of us scared them!” exclaimed Sthira while smiling satisfied. “I'm not wrong I took you, Nirya! You are a good fighter!”

Instead, Nirya kept running while shouting, “Salah! They gathered to make the final attack! Look!”

Suddenly, dozens of flying roses clustered as if fused together, charging towards Sthira and Nirya like a gale. Nirya's face was pale and felt even more intense pressure from the traitorous disciples of Bayunara College.

At that instant, Nirya heard Sthira's exclamation, “Come, Niryaa!”

Without a second thought, the orange-haired girl tousled and rolled to the side. What he saw next was Sthira crashing forward like flying with a straight sword, leaning towards the top. His entire body and sword seemed to be wrapped in a lightning prana shaped like a bluish-white dragon snake that glimmered dazzlingly.

The two powerful forces then collided, spreading a deafening bang. When all the greatness of the action and the impact was subsided and dissolved, it appeared that only Sthira was still standing upright, both hands still stretched out straight grasping the sword. His body looked smoky, apparently it was the rest of the opponent's prana and attack power, as well as the blood evaporating. Can't take it anymore, Sthira fell down.

Nirya stood up and approached her partner. Seemed all over Sthira's body full of cuts, her clothes torn. Nirya swiftly took out a wound healing ointment and applied it to the wounds of her colleague.

“Thank you, Nirya,” said Sthira after Nirya had finished treating her. The young man briefly recovered with the prana from within his body.

Then the mighty young man stood up, “Come, we go on.”

“But we have to recuperate after the fight earlier..!”.

The Nirya protest was responded by Sthira with a headband. “I still feel there is a great power watching us. And I think he'll strike when we're off guard. Come!”

Sthira then walked while holding Nirya's wrist. The innocent girl's cheeks had met red as she touched each other's hands with the dashing young man. But when she glanced around, Nirya's whole body felt pained.

How not, the carcasses of crumbling kerlawar appear scattered on the ground. Those animals who had become friends then suddenly turned into enemies, even dying to kill the two “ destroyer”. The more thoughtful, Nirya's heart was increasingly possessed by a sense of doubt that stifled conscience.

How many more lives and lives must be sacrificed for the realization of one word, peace?

Especially when arriving at the slopes of Mount Barkajang, the arrival of Nirya and Sthira greeted the old man with hair and a white beard. Rahli Marus the hermit looked at the young man as a wolf threatened his prey.

“Not to be pleasant, Nirya. I know that you and your partner are here with very bad intentions, ” Sergah Rahli with a hoarse but quite loud voice.

Nirya refuted, “The two do not understand, listen to our explanation first..”.

“Free! No matter what your goal, abstinence brings disaster and takes many lives! The fellow bullies have tried to drive you away and threaten you, but you have instead gone ahead, even killing them! Just think, the animals and demons just disagree with your misguided plan. So since you've already met me, my answer is definitely you should die!”

While saying that, the thin body of Rahli Marus slowly enlarged and changed shape.

“Don't daydream, Nirya! We had to knock out that ‘your friend’ and snatch the Key of Mount Barkajang from him!” exclaiming Sthira while mounting the horses.

“I'm sorry, elder!” Finally Nirya made up her mind, clasping her chain twin kerambit tightly.

Photo credit: Elephant Mina