Grizzled

#S2 Episode 15

“Hai, Shira!”

Kak Garuda's bright smile is not at all surprising, including its presence here. Although I heard from Elang that Kak Garuda should be working abroad, but I saw him shortly before Luska picked me up. So, it doesn't surprise me when he shows up. To my surprise, the woman next to him.

“Aquila ..”

Is he here? Seemed healthy enough after being seriously injured due to the tragedy of the explosion of the tower where he lived? So ‘kan the report I heard? I just wanted to ask a lot of questions before Aquila approached me first, brushing off the long hair that covered my nape.

“Look at yourself, Gar! This sign is permanent even after she returns to Nigra,” Aquila said flatly.

“Iya, Qila, don't suddenly touch Shira so, dong! She must be uncomfortable,” replied Kak Garuda pulling back Aquila from behind me. Oh, they know each other and seem to be close enough. I recall the words of the Head of the Council that both are indeed in one ally, somehow it could be so.

“I'm glad to know you're okay after not coming home for a few days, Shira! May you stay healthy body and soul for the days ahead!” kak Garuda said.

“Ah, i... yes, thank you for worrying about me, Brother!” I said, “but honestly the one to worry about is Aquila. Are you all right? I heard your wound was pretty bad.”

“Why should I be seriously injured?” aquila asked back.

“Eh? But .... due to the expansion of the Grey World, your tower of residence exploded even up to ...”

My words did not dare I continue to look at Aquila's changing gaze.

“Why do you even look like you know nothing?” tanyaku. Aquila just rubbed her tired face.

“Alright, the tower exploded. Now I understand what happened,” Aquila replied.

“Um, we should talk while sitting down,” Kak Garuda advised. We chose the nearest bench on the minimarket terrace.

“Actually this way,” said Kak Garuda, “Aquila got lost here after the old tower system suddenly activated the portal to mari.”

“I was dragged to Nigra the next afternoon after Luska picked you up from the tower,” Aquila replied, “hind a few hours, the Grey World expansion occurred, the tower was destroyed, it's only fitting that I can't activate the portal to return to Alba. Yeah, as it turns out that happened. I should have come back sooner!”

“Sorry, I have to tell you this ...”

“My grandmother died. Evidently. Had he survived the tower explosion, he would have remained dead to be the moons of beasts of the Grey World,” Aquila replied saying that without pressure. I thought he was going to fall down or at least be a little surprised because he didn't know his grandmother had died in the Dimensional Gate Tower explosion. Eh? Just sec.

My head immediately reacted, realizing an oddity. If Aquila had been in Nigra since before the expansion ... then who was the other person found seriously injured at the time of the incident?

“I am sorry to hear the news,” said Kak Garuda, “but you should not be surprised to see the reaction of this emotional girl. He doesn't seem panicked or anxious ‘ does he? That's how Aquila is!”

“Bodo highly!” answer the girl in question.

“Very different from me, I'm currently in a state of worry!”

“Worried why, Brother?” my many. The Eagle's brother let out a long sigh.

“Aang disappeared since last three days,” he replied.

“Aang? You mean Brother, Eagle?” I couldn't cover the shock. Three days, huh? After the last time I was with me at the edufair? Eagles are hard to contact!

“Ah, yes, Eagle. Somehow the point of time is the same as your pick-up to Alba, also the tower exploded. Looks like a lot of things happened these past three days!”

“Actually I also want to meet the Eagle. Has Brother tried to find him?”

“Aquila was late to return to Alba because it was my fault that asked her to help find the Eagle. He has a special sensitivity to feel the air of someone's existence.”

“Then? Turns out the eagle still didn't meet? It's been three days, aren't your parents worried?” my many.

“Lucky our parents are having affairs abroad until next week. I just need to silence our cousin who is in the class of Eagle so that he does not tell papa and mama,” replied Kak Garuda, “and for these three days we did not stop looking.”

“Unfortunately Garuda does not want to believe in my ability to say that the existence of Eagle is not detected anywhere, in all corners of this world,” replied Aquila.

“Yang is right! That means the Eagle is dead and obviously I can't take it! Your abilities may need to be upgraded!” refute Brother Garuda.

“Abviously I'm a computer device that occasionally needs an upgrade?!” grumbling Aquila, “asal you know, your sister's situation is even worse than just dying. If that's the case, I should have found the Eagle's body, but he's absolutely nil! You know what that means?”

“That means your ability needs to be upgraded, Qila!”

Aquila growled at the strength of Brother Garuda. I even looked at the two debates.

“That means your sister is not in this world! Whether alive or dead, it is likely that he is in another parallel world dimension!” aquila.

“Elang is in Alba?” my guess.

“How do I know! Since the parallel interunia portal was closed, it was not arbitrary who could activate it so that it was free to enter and exit Alba, let alone the Eagle who had absolutely no idea about the White Country!” answer Aquila. Damnit damnit! Since when did the situation turn out to be this complicated?!

“By the way, how did you get back here after the only gate tower connecting with Nigra's dimension vanished?” ask Aquila. Oh, I remember my own purpose. I told you everything from the beginning about my fate which was suddenly burdened with responsibility as the rightful heir to the throne of Alba. Aquila and Kak Garuda were momentarily shocked, but both kept the shock for a while and asked me to keep telling stories.

“Because my memory cannot be restored even after meeting Griseo, the Head of the Council allowed me to return to Nigra to pick up the Eagle who turned out to be a descendant of the Silver Knight, my comrade defeated the Grey World earlier,”.

“Wah, wah, waaaah!” exclaimed Kak Garuda finally vented shock.

“And I can return here without the portal of the Tower of Dimensional Gate by using cross-dimensional paper. Well, said Luska it's a new technology that is not many in number and its efficiency is still bad. I only bring in the necessary amount,” my connection.

“I have a guess about the disappearance of the Eagle, but too many oddities,” Aquila said. My serious gaze and Garuda's sister were enough to ask him to tell me the allegations.

“Possibly Eagle is already in Alba right now. There was a courtier who picked her up first, but ... why would Ladra still ask Shira to return to Nigra if it was like that?”

“True, Alba is not wanting to waste moon crystal energy to send me back here if indeed Eagle has been picked up first,” I replied.

“In addition, the Eagle disappeared since three days ago, the board members in Alba still do not know about the real role of the Eagle. If it's true that Eagle is in Alba, I'm sure it's not the internal party of the castle that picked him up,” said Kak Garuda further adding to my anxiety.

“Then who picked up the Eagle first?” muttered.

“There is only one way to make sure,” says Aquila, “we all return to Alba. I'll check the whereabouts of the Eagle. My power functions more optimally in my homeland.”

“The problem is that the cross-dimensional paper that Shira carries is limited, Qila,” replied Kak Garuda.

“But .. seems like enough for the three of us to wear,” I answered reached into the bag. Yesterday Luska gave me two, one I wore when I left. Luska left two for the Eagle to wear and for backup. In total I still have three.

“Good, let's make sure immediately!” said Aquila, “you don't mind going right now ‘ right? Anyway you're also interested in finding the Eagle.”

“Ah, well, I'm ready to go anytime. Luska will definitely arrange all my affairs here,” I replied.

“You turned out to be tougher than I thought. Good,” comments Kak Garuda. Heh, he wouldn't have said that if he knew about the drama this morning. The two received each piece of beige paper the size of a sticky note being from me.

“How does it work?” aquila asked seemed to observe the paper while occasionally sniffing it.

“Quite torn, we will decay into light grains towards Alba,” I replied.

“Then, we can not immediately wear it in the open like this,” replied Kak Garuda, “can-can we go viral after caught the CCTV camera minimarket disappeared into flickering.”

“True too. We better move to a quiet place first. Come!”

“Assyc! I returned to Alba after a long time not to there!” said Kak Garuda as if we were going on an excursion.

The three of us left the minimarket terrace, looking for another corner in this shopping complex that was minimal attention, but, hey. I don't know why I can never make peace with the crowd. In the middle of the traffic of people like this, there was always a feeling of anxiety as if a pair of eyes were lurking.

“We followed,” said Aquila suddenly as if justifying my feelings.

“Eh? I feel the same way. I thought it was just my anxiety.”

Brother Garuda watches around while still walking, “Yeah, this is, hell, the devil who has been eyeing Shira and Eagle since at the edufair that time!”

“Heee?!”

I have not been astonished for longer by Kak Garuda's words after he clapped his hands high into the air which made the crowd around frozen as if time had stopped. Everyone, walking people, vehicles, were completely unmoved in the last position of each, except for one person in the distance who was widening his steps running towards us.

I couldn't see his face when the man let loose a fierce wind that was peeling off the pavement layers, flying his hard material towards us. Brother Garuda swiftly pointed both hands forward, equally making a shield from the wind to protect the three of us.

“No need to follow! Let's say whatever Garuda says!” aquila hurriedly dragged me away.

“Aquila, please run Shira first! I leave it to you!” answered Kak Garuda who finally engaged in a close combat with a stranger earlier.

“Where's your paper? We go to Alba right now!” aquila said get ready with the paper.

“Kak Garuda left?”

“He can catch up!” the answer. Once again I had noticed the fight Kak Garuda who had moved to the crosswalk bridge. To be honest I didn't want to leave anyone else since the last time I left the Eagle and found out the end was like this.

“Garuda will not die easily! Believe!” reprimand Aquila once again. Do not want to make Kak Garuda resistance in vain, I also obey Aquila. After I ripped my cross-dimensional paper, this girl did the same thing.

My hometown, see you!

 ***

After the white space that lasted engulfed us for a few minutes, Aquila and I appeared somewhere. A room is like a kitchen with a table that I guess the dining table is in the middle. Shit, it's like the kitchen set-up at home! Just make a miss!

A middle-aged woman who had just emerged from the door rounded her eyes perfectly knowing that I was with Aquila. A basket full of cherry-like grains fell from his hand, making the red-red circle scatter on the floor. I thought he was going to yell at me with a burrow, but I obviously forgot my position in this place.

“Yes ... Your Majesty!”

The woman immediately fell low. Another one showed up, this time the man I guessed her husband. Wow, the mass representative who led the rally at that time.

“Nona Aquila ..”

“Tagsa ..” says Aquila turns out to recognize these fathers, “you should say hello to your queen first!”

“Ah, ma .. sorry, Your Majesty!” Tagsa took the same attitude as his wife.

“Um, it's okay, stand up! I should apologize for appearing at random in your house,” I replied unkindly.

“From now on I should also call you Your Majesty, but it looks like you are really unfamiliar.”

“That's why, it's okay to call me by name only.”

“No, no. I am still a role model for some people and in front of my loyal supporters,” replied Aquila.

“Oh? Opposition factions? Right, Aquila's the leader huh?” my many.

“Sorry, Miss Aquila is back with Her Majesty? I have been waiting a long time for a coalition and it looks like it will happen soon,” Tagsa said. Ouch, ouch! Political language I don't understand!

“Unfortunately no. I'm not trying to re-establish our propaganda. Just later. The situation is more complicated. I have to take His Majesty somewhere first,” Aquila replied.

“Eh? Eagle position has been met?”

“Already!”

Steady! I cannot hide my admiration.

“Good, let's make sure immediately!” another voice suddenly appeared.

“Bung? Garudaa!” tagsa is very happy. Thank goodness Kak Garuda managed to follow here without any defects.

“Hai, Man! Sorry for being such a brash guest who just comes and goes. Trust me I immediately want to have a reunion with the others too!” replied Kak Garuda embrace warm Tagsa.

“Sorry for being an unfriendly host. We should have prepared the best possible welcome for the three great guests. Speaking of reunions, sure! We'll reunite before Alba doesomsday! Hahaha!”

“Yes, sorry for this time we are in such a hurry!” ata Aquila put an end to these pleasantries, breezed out first, “excuse me!”

Me and Brother Garuda tailed behind him, saying goodbye to the host. The misty land of the land above the clouds welcomed my view after coming out of this box house.

“So, where is the Eagle now?” my many.

“Alba Castle interrogation cell,” Aquila replied without intonation.

“Ya .. am .. puuun!” reply Kak Garuda who looks most panicked at once. Yeah, I got it. Hearing the word interrogation was definitely not a pleasant thing, let alone someone being interrogated by themselves.

 ***

Luska welcomed my arrival with these two people with a hostile look –yah, that gaze was clear to Aquila and Kak Garuda.

“I told you to escort His Majesty while in Nigra, Luska!” ladra said, “my guess is always right that these opposition people will continue to target His Majesty.”

“Head of the Board need not worry,” I replied, “they both escort me well and this one ... Brother Garuda, my acquaintance since before knowing White Country. They're good people.”

Ladra's fierce gaze did not diminish because of my words, especially to Kak Garuda, but that's not my problem now.

“Oh yes, about my search for the Eagle, I shouldn't have to go back to Nigra. I honestly felt silly from whining around lonely while my friend was in this castle neighborhood from the same day as my pick-up. Know meaning? The eagle is here! In a room called an interrogation cell!” my clear.

“We can meet him now –since three days ago can also, anyway!”

“Alright, my business is done. Bye!” aquila turned away just like that. I was just about to hold him off, but Brother Garuda prevented me. It would be best not to force Aquila to be friendly with the internal people of the castle for now, he said. I just complied, shouting thanks that might have been heard.

“Oh yes, Garuda's brother is Eagle's brother, so let him see his sister. Both of them are both descendants of the Silver Knight ‘kan? I can't wait to meet the Eagle and hear back about the Grey World that is no longer in my memory,” said I then looked at Luska and Ladra alternately, “i will also charge an explanation of the reason the Eagle should be placed in an interrogation cell for three days ago.”

 ***

After the visit, the interrogation cell was not what I imagined with dark lighting and the only suspect's desk was highlighted by blinding lights. No, it's not. It is narrow and seems like a prison, but this is not much different from ordinary rooms, containing cots and one chair that seems to be deliberately prepared for me.

On the couch was a man lying with a bandage wrapped around his chest and left arm. I shut my mouth in disbelief seeing the bluish bruises on my chin and the bad-looking corners of my lips. This ... The hawk? Really?!

“This young man we found around the Grey World expansion site three days ago, Your Majesty,“ said Luska after a single beat, “ at that time we obviously did not know that he was named Eagle. We care for him secretly here ...”

“ ... You hid the Eagle from Shira because you thought the Eagle was me who was a madman, who was not proven to have the strength of a descendant of the Silver Knight. Goody! Thank you for saving my sister's life!” timpal Kak Garuda's.

“Sama-sama,” replied Luska half-heartedly.

This commotion teased the one lying helplessly. Groaning softly, the Eagle slowly blinked his eyes. Brother Garuda prevented him from moving much, but the Eagle's gaze had already fallen on me. His back was already upright even slightly leaning forward as if confirming something he saw from me.

“Lang?”

Honestly, I can't see how he is. It would be stupid if I asked him if he was okay? No, maybe not, or obviously not.

“Shi .. ra ...” his mumbling stammered. My eyes were like trying to keep them open, looking fragile and weak, but he still had the strength to pull me in.

The next incident was felt in a short moment. When I realized, my nose had hit the collarbone bulge and my hand in order to hold the body tilt by accidentally touching the chest wrapped in bandages awkwardly. The gentle pressure on the back of my head still held this position for a few seconds. All I want to do is say ... Heh? Aheeeeh?!

“Still alive ... You are alive .. thank goodness!” That is the weak whisper I heard. Ha ... should I say that ‘kaaan?!

“Waduh, don't bring a camera,” kak Garuda chirps bring things back to normal. I took a breath after I got out of ... Hm, I don't want to admit with a dead red face that the Eagle suddenly hugged me. If possible I'd like to borrow a pillow for a while to bury my face deeply.

The eagle was still silent, as mute as Luska who was just watching from earlier. The medics dressed as Doctor Kara came, said they had to check on the Eagle who finally woke up after three days. The three of us went out. Had I left awkward words like when visiting a sick friend like ‘hopefully soon recover’ that sounds like sampaaah once because I said with stuttering amazing.

I don't know if my tomato face subsided afterwards, but I guess it got worse when Luska asked.

“Are you two lovers?”

The bomb! He had no manners like Yasinta. Worse yet.

“Ti .. impossible!” reply immediately.

“Cannot be? Or don't remember?” ask Kak Garuda who I had forgotten his whereabouts.

“Ti ... don't know ...” I replied in the end.

.Seriate.