Jaka Umbara; The Wind Warrior

Departure to Batu Cave

On the appointed day, Jaka and Nyi Dewi accompanied by Laras went on their journey to Batu Cave located on the top of Tinggling Hill to meet someone.

All supplies have been carefully prepared to be enough for a few days of travel. Vehicles that support their journey are also available. Jaka brought the horse he used to ride, while Nyi Dewi rode Ki Pucung's horse with Laras.

"Uncle, Auntie! We're leaving!" Ride the horse and get ready.

"Raden, be careful on your way!" ki Pucung's Message. Jaka nodded.

"Remember to remain vigilant every time you pass through a vulnerable area" said Nyi Pucung added to her husband's message.

Nyi Dewi led Laras to ride a horse, then after he took a horse.

"Auntie, we'll leave you guys a peck as long as we're gone."

Nyi Pucung nodded with a smile, even with Ki Pucung.

"Better still, remember to always listen to the words of your Brother and your Mother during the journey!" last message by Nyi Pucung.

"Okay, Auntie," said Laras nodding in understanding.

"We left first" said Jaka pulling the reins of his horse.

"Go!"

Nyi Dewi also pulled the reins of the horse and followed Jaka who had driven the horse in front of him.

Ki Pucung and Nyi Pucung let go of them, standing in front of the peck until their shadows disappeared in the view of the two.

...***...

On journey..

"Bakyu, look at that!" exclamation Laras full of enthusiasm as he saw the expanse of rice fields so wide. Awesome looks adorned his face. The view seemed very memorable to him.

The expanse of rice fields looks like a giant staircase made naturally.

Since childhood, Laras had never seen such a beautiful sight for him.

"By the way, don't move much! Don't bother your mother!"

Laras did not touch Jaka's words. Jaka glanced at Nyi Dewi. Nyi Dewi only gave a small smile, as if he told Jaka, that it was only natural for Laras who never came out paddle, feeling amazed at the sight he first saw.

...***...

It had been three hours they rode the horse by feeling the direction that must be taken to Bukit Tinggling. They don't know exactly which direction they're supposed to go.

Jaka and Nyi Dewi drove the horse slowly. Laras fell asleep leaning on Nyi Dewi.

"Grass!"

"Hm!"

"Which way should we go? Does Kangmas know where to go to Batu Cave?"

"I'm not so sure, Nyimas. I asked Grandpa, but Grandpa said he didn't know where he was."

"Well, which way are we going?"

Jaka suddenly remembered something in his mind.

"Nyimas, what if we go visit Uncle Suwira and Aunt Lasmi" Jaka proposed to Nyi Dewi.

"Are they not often traveling to various places to find or deliver medicines? Perhaps they knew or had heard of the place."

Nyi Dewi confirmed Jaka's proposal. He also astonished. Why did he not think of Suwira and Lasmi.

The two of them immediately headed to Runggal Village to meet Suwira and Lasmi.

...***...

The morning had already passed by the time Jaka and Nyi Dewi arrived at Runggal Village.

The two almost reached the residence of Suwira and Lasmi after taking a day trip overnight with rest several times.

Baras suddenly woke up from his sleep because he felt the sunlight that hit his face.

"Mbakyu, where are we?" asked Laras rubbing his eyes.

"We are in Runggal Village, we will rest for a while. Is Diajeng still sleepy? Go back to sleep if Diajeng is still sleepy!"

Laras shook his head and covered his evaporating mouth.

"Nyimas, you wait here," said Jaka down from his horse looking for Suwira or Lasmi as soon as he arrived, while Nyi Dewi still sat on the horse's back with Laras.

At that time Jaka only found Lasmi who was drying medicinal ingredients next to his residence.

"Auntie.." said Jaka to Lasmi.

"A, Raden!" Sahut Lasmi is surprised by Jaka's sudden arrival. He immediately paid the tribute he always did when Jaka visited his residence.

"What brought Raden here?"

"There was something I wanted to ask my Uncle and Aunt, so I came to visit here. I didn't tell you in advance when I was visiting. Please Auntie take it."

"Ah, it's okay, Raden! Don't hesitate! We will always welcome Raden however."

Tidying the container where to dry the medicine. "Come, Raden! We're in!" take Lasmi to Jaka.

"Is Raden alone?" ask again.

Follow Lasmi. "No! I came with Goddess Mayasari."

Lasmi and Jaka came back to the front. Right in front of his residence, Lasmi saw Nyi Dewi and Laras who had descended from his horse.

Nyi Dewi greeted Lasmi when the two met. And so is Laras.

"Come, come! We'll just talk inside." Inviting Nyi Dewi and Laras to enter his residence.

Lasmi brought him some drinking water and some fruits he had to serve.

"Auntie, where's Uncle and Lembing Wuluh? Are they not home?"

"The servant's husband hasn't come home from delivering the medicinal ingredients, Raden. It should be back soon. As for Wuluh, she is not here. He just said he wanted to go find his brother."

While talking, suddenly from outside, Suwira's voice came.

"Official, I'm home! Are we having another guest?" Hurry in.

"The back!" Lasmi stood up as Suwira entered. Jaka and Nyi Dewi both stood, as well as Laras.

Suwira who had entered and found Jaka in her sight became shocked instantly.

"Uncle," said Jaka.

"Has Raden been here a long time?"

"No! I arrived not long before Uncle came."

Suwira nodded. Look at the people who are with him. "Ah, this must be Goddess Mayasari!" welcome to recognize the face of Nyi Dewi. Nyi Dewi smiled as Suwira still recognized her. "and so.." Suwira confusedly guessed a person who felt foreign in his memory.

"Uncle, this is my sister, Laras," said Jaka to introduce Laras.

Suwira frowned. "Isn't Raden's sister Dewi Mayasari?" Glancing wife. The two look at each other. Lasmi was surprised by Jaka's words.

"ah! At that time, there was a reason that I could not tell you, said Jaka. "we are actually not brothers, only together in one college," he added.

"The taste is so," said Suwira mangosteen. "deservedly, we also had thought at first, that Raden and Dewi Mayasari were a couple," recalls Suwira remembering when Jaka first came. Jaka just smiled. Nyi Dewi looks embarrassed to hear the words of Suwira.

"By the way, you say hello to Uncle Suwira!"

"Uncle.." said Laras sungkan.

Suwira paid the same tribute as he did to Jaka. Lasmi paid her respects. It made Laras feel confused, but he did not dare to ask.

Suwira and Lasmi chat with Jaka long enough to let go of his longing for Jaka.

On the sidelines of their conversation, Jaka expressed the intention of his arrival.

"Uncle, Auntie, my intention for visiting you is to ask you something" he explained. Suwira and Lasmi both listened carefully.

"What does Raden want to ask us?"

"Have you ever heard of a place called Batu Caves?" ask Jaka.

"Stone Cave? What's that place, Raden?"

Suwira and Lasmi looked at each other.

"I don't know either. Someone asked me to go there. He said the place was on top of Tinggling Hill."

"I've never heard of it, Raden. Have you heard of it, Kakang?" lasmi asked her husband.

Suwira tries to think in her memory blades about the place Jaka asked.

"Tinggling Hill.." Mumbled softly while twirling his eyeballs, trying to think hard.

"Gee! I remember!" suwira said later, "i've heard of it from a merchant who lives around the Salatiga forest."

Upon hearing Suwira's words, Jaka sighed at once. Relieved. His mind suddenly became bright. He was no longer blind, he thought.

"He said that Tinggling Hill was located almost at the eastern end. The travel distance is quite far. It takes at least a month by riding a horse to get to that place from our village" said Suwira.

"Does Uncle know the direction to get there?" tanya Jaka looked at Suwira expectantly. Suwira nodded back.

"When we meet the intersection at the end of the village road, take the direction that leads to Darmalaya Hill. After that, Raden will find a small river opposite which there is a path. That path is the path that ends up next to the Royal Palace."

Jaka was so focused on listening to Suwira's words.

"I think Raden memorized that path?"

Jaka nodded in understanding. He knew very well the direction said by Suwira, because he often passed the road if crossing the Duchy Village. Suwira continued his words.

"After passing through the Royal Palace, within a few days, Raden will meet Tumenggung Village. Then, continue straight through several small villages to pass through the Salatiga forest, and also Bale Kambang Village after. After that, Raden will see the foot of Tinggling Hill not far after Bale Kambang Village. That's the direction I know, Raden," explained Suwira.

"Alright, I will try to follow the direction as Uncle said earlier."

Jaka and Nyi Dewi spent the night at the Suwira and Lasmi residence on the advice of Lasmi who was worried when Jaka was about to continue his journey that night.

The next day, after saying goodbye to Suwira and Lasmi, the journey resumed.

...***...

After traveling for two days, they reached the border of Alas Sewu Village.

Alas Sewu Village is a large village where the royal palace of Suryalaya is located. The area is five times wider than Runggal Village.

Their place was only about two hours from the royal palace.

"Kangmas, can we stop by the Royal Palace for a while and visit Grandpa? I happen to want to see Patih Laya to ask you something."

"All right! I have also promised Grandpa to bring along Laras when I will visit him again."

"You, are we going to the Royal Palace?" Listen to the talk of Jaka and Nyi Dewi.

"Yes, we'll stop by for a while to meet Grandpa."

"Is the Royal Palace as big as our Padepokan? Or is it bigger, Kanda?"

Nyi Dewi almost laughed by Laras question. Jaka pinched Laras's cheek when he heard Laras' question which he thought was funny.

"Later you'll see it too. Have you never seen or heard of it at all?" ask Jaka. Laras shook his head, then fell silent in Jaka's arms.

"Milk.." Laras looked at Nyi Dewi with a reddened face.

"What's up, Diajeng?"

"Din, Dinda wants to pee," said Laras lirih.

Nyi Dewi was about to ask if he could still hold it. However, after he saw Laras' face, it seemed like it could not be delayed any longer. Nyi Dewi then glanced at Jaka. Jaka who blushed in shame over Laras' speech caught the sight. He immediately pulled off his horse.

Nyi Dewi went down and helped Laras get off the horse he was riding with Jaka.

"Kangmas, stay here!" said Nyi Dewi looking at Jaka. Jaka could only be speechless looking at Nyi Dewi's sharp gaze at him. Then Nyi Dewi led Laras a little away from Jaka's place to settle his affairs.

A few days later, both of them returned. Jaka swiftly helped Laras up the horse, then took the horse and immediately spurred it. Nyi Goddess followed him behind.

They were soon at the gate of the royal palace. The pace of the horse is still relatively slow.

Laras catches Jaka's hand in order to hug her again while continuing to smile. Jaka let it go without saying anything. He seemed to feel relieved after completing his affairs.

Not long ago, the gate of the royal palace of Suryalaya was clearly visible.

"Greetings, Raden!" greet the two palace gate guards when they find out who is about to enter the royal palace.

The two then suspended the spear he held so that Jaka and Nyi Dewi could pass through the palace gate.

"Kangmas, it seems like Kangmas doesn't need to show the objects given by Ayahanda anymore?" asked Nyi Goddess after passing through the gate of the royal palace.

"Really! That thing I don't need to show you anymore. Grandfather told them to remember my face so that I could enter immediately upon coming to the palace."

Nyi Dewi. "It seems like they already know Kangmas well," continued Nyi Dewi slightly laughing. Jaka laughed when he heard it.