EVERNA Ring of Fire

MARDANI Part 2

Long story short, after going around gathering information, Nirya got a clue about the whereabouts of the current ruler of Swarnara.

King Swarnara, Tanakara has died in the eruption of Mount Barkajang that destroyed the city of Ringidatu. The only member of the king's family who survived this disaster was Tanakara's middle daughter, Marantika. The people of the overseas territories have claimed Marantika to be the new queen of Swarnara.

The problem now is that instead of temporarily evacuating to Mardani, Swarnara's most important trading city, Marantika is hiding in the makeshift capital while in the woods.

The man who knew the exact location of the hidden city was named Hang Tajiri, the richest and most influential merchant in Swarnara. It just so happens that Tajiri lives in Mardani City.

After going through a tortuous process, Nirya and the messenger finally managed to meet Tajiri. Queen Pirimatha's gold medal was enough to convince the merchant of Kalinga's intention to make peace. So, Hang Tajiri sent one of his trusted servants to guide Nirya and the messenger to the hidden city.

Tracing the path in the forest that stretches between the City of Mardani and the ruins of Ringidatu City, Nirya not the least relaxes his vigilance, always ready with a chain of unsheathed twin. Even under the hot sun, danger can lurk and be ready to hit at any time.

The guide, a swordsman who seems to be quite old, said, "Don't be too uptight, Nak Nirya. This forest is notoriously quiet and very safe, unlike the forest near Mount Barkajang which is inhabited by creatures like kerlawar or something."

Nirya wanted to refute by saying that the bats may have moved to other forests after Mount Barkajang erupted. But one hunch that came out thanks to the abundant experience made Nirya flinch.

"Behold, there are many enemies lurking in front of us!" exclaiming Nirya while stopping her steps.

"Whatchu mean? Don't make it up, this forest...!" The guide did not have time to continue his words because an arrow had stuck right at the midpoint of his forehead. He collapsed lifelessly, making Nirya's mission more difficult than it should have been.

Nirya's predicament intensified when a large group of humans and demons surrounded her and the messenger Kalingga. The calf fence was so tight that there was no room at all to run. The only way to survive is to break through the siege and run as fast as lightning, but it is rather difficult to do so while protecting the weedy Kalingga people who are much more adept at tongue-licking than real-life shiny.

One of the men stepped forward. His head was bald, the area around his mouth and chin was overgrown with a rough short beard that seemed to be shaved gratuitously. It felt like Nirya knew that face, but her forehead wrinkled the sign she was not sure.

The bald man who looked like the leader of a bandit mob exclaimed in a contrived voice, "Well, well, there seems to be an easy prey coming at us today." Suddenly his eyes widened and his smile widened. "Let's see who this is, guys! This is our ex-sister at Perguruan Kerambit Bayunara, Nirya 'the crybaby' Panigara!"

At that time Nirya also remembered the identity of the bald man. "Gosh, you... A badr?" His tone changed from shocked to furious. "Basic traitor college! I just happen to be looking for you. I should have thought I'd find you here, near where your daughter is!"

"Huh! Marantika is now queen! He ordered me and the Bayunara Elite Army to guard his hiding place without a penny. Of course I refuse to be totally. We'd better scoop up the treasures of the rich people passing by here. Thus, we can live a luxurious life without having to wait for war!"

"Once a traitor, a traitor." Nirya shook her head while clucking. "The Maheshas wanted to punish you, so he moved someone to save me from the burning college house, took me on a terrible adventure and arranged a reunion between me and all of you here. It's time you pay for all your crimes."

"Huh, how arrogant of you!" hardik Badar. "Do you think that once you've developed, you've been able to subvert us all by yourself, little girl?"

"Of course I can. Last warning, all of you repent sincerely. Get out of here and live honestly, or divine retribution will end your history today!"

But none of the bandits left.

"Come on, we'll shut the little girl's mouth! Let him feel the consequences of playing around as an ambassador of the gods!"

The call of Badr was greeted by the ferocious cheers of the other bandits. Then like a pack of hungry wolves they all charged towards Nirya.

Nirya pairs of horses, the kerambit untainya ready to dance and hit dozens of the brackets.

Suddenly, a man dressed in a blue hood advanced as fast as lightning through Nirya. The transparent crystal blue sword in the man's hand flashed, slashing the bandits one by one until it collided. Not more than a minute, only Badr remained among the horde that still stands.

But Badr had darkened eyes. He continued to attack towards Nirya, ready to match his kerambit with the strength and speed of the Wind Split Cloud. "Death to you, ghost of Bayunara!" shouting hatches.

There was nothing more to say, Nirya replied with the style of Wind Splitting Clouds as well, running as fast as lightning welcoming Badr. Entering the attacking distance, both menybetkan kerambit to their respective targets. They only stopped after a few more steps, in the position of their backs to each other.

Still wide in disbelief, Badr held his stomach which was now drenched in his own blood. Apparently when there was a clash earlier, Nirya deliberately ducked very low. In addition to avoiding the rambit of Badr, Nirya deliberately slashed right in the sword incision wound of the mysterious man earlier.

"H-my life has failed." With that last word, Badr broke his breath and collapsed on the ground.

"Rest in peace, Guru Panigara and his fellow students" Nirya said after witnessing the fall of Badr. "The traitors of the college have paid for their deeds with their lives."

By this, it means that Niryah is the only heir to the Science of the Bayunara Kerambit in his generation. The sustainability of this combat science that has proven its toughness now depends on his hands.

What appeared to Nirya next was the figure of a mysterious man who was memapah the messenger Kalingga. The messenger did not suffer any significant injuries, but the tension of the fighting atmosphere just now no doubt made the entire body of the forty-year-old man tremble.

However, there was one strange feeling that possessed Nirya back then. I think he's also met this white hood before.

Politely Nirya greeted the white hood, "Thank you for helping us, sir. My name is Nirya and I'm escorting a messenger from Kalingga..."

"I knew. Good to see you again, Nirya," said the white hood as he opened his hood. It turned out that he was a magic swordsman who had met Nirya in Nurbaiti City. Her long blue hair that was beautifully scattered by the wind, her two eyes that were different in green-blue and her face that was almost like the face of an angel could not be forgotten.

"A-astaga, Minata?" Nirya suddenly raised her kerambit again. "But aren't you Sabailuha's partner, the guardian of Mount Ratauka? Why are you helping me? Don't you take revenge on me when..."

Minata gently brushed off Nirya's kerambit using her hand. He said, "Listen to my explanation. After Ratauka erupted, The Srisari punished us. Sabailuha and I separated, and Sabailuha was given an independent body. I still hold the Ratauka Key Water Script, while Sabailuha is duty free and goes wild."

"Ah, so it seems." Nirya could not hide her smile. He did not dare to imagine what would have been done if the fierce Sabailuha who had wiped out Jayandra's Fleet poured his revenge on Nirya. "Then, how did you come and help me?"

"Whether this is a coincidence or not, I decided to move from Nurbaiti and become a traveller swordsman. While I was staying in Mardani, I saw the announcement that Hang Tajiri was recruiting mercenaries. I applied for the job and was immediately accepted because my devotion exceeded all other applicants."

Nirya nodded. As for the magic, Minata does not need to doubt.

Minata continued, "It turns out that we were assigned to find the hiding place of the royal family members and the refugees from Ringidatu. It was me and another swordsman who discovered the secret town of Queen Marantika in this forest. But my colleague turned out to be about to betray and sell the information to Jayandra for three times our reward. So I was forced to kill my partner and pass on the important information directly to Hang Tajiri."

"Oh, so that's why you earned Hang Tajiri's trust."

"Yes, so he sent two trust drivers, not one to control you. What's more coincidental, how can you be a messenger bodyguard from Kalingga? You're a Swarnara, and with Si Sthira you're on a 'dangerous mission'. What's been going on all this time?"

"The story is long. Maybe I'll tell you when this job's done. Honeyta then you should return to duty again, serve Hang Tajiri."

"Not really. I'm just a paid swordsman who's not tied to Tajiri devotion. Tell you what, when we get back to Mardani later, I'll stop at Hang Tajiri. That way, you can tell me all your great adventures while we travel around Antapada" Minata said.

Nirya Panigara smiled her sweetest smile at Minata, saying, "I love your proposal. Well, as a first step, there's a queen we should meet. Let's continue this journey."

Arumi Dyahrani by Andry Chang