KEEP BUANA (Rise of Darkness)

Moon Lotus

Ten days have passed.

Gentayu was still lying on the jade bed, in the cave house belonging to the old lady physician of his helper. Still not conscious.

His entire body was now encased in a crushed bamboo stem, from the tip of his foot to his neck. The medicinal fragrance came out from behind the bamboo that wrapped Gentayu. It was one of the old woman's healer's treatment techniques to recover the internal wounds along with all of her broken bones.

During that ten-day period, only three times did the physician's grandmother return to visit Anjani and Gentayu. The old lady healer would usually give some pointers to Anjani, hand over some medicinal pills and potions, then immediately leave them.

But that day, on the eleventh day, the old woman physician returned to visit Anjani. At that time the beautiful girl was pounding a medicinal herb to drink to Gentayu. The activity was routinely carried out by Anjani, concocting and processing their own medicines for Gentayu according to the instructions of the healer.

Thanks to the repeated and continuous activity, over time Anjani became a little understood and accustomed to medicinal herbs. At least, for similar injuries in the future, Anjani understood what to do to help.

“Good..You are getting more proficient and skillful in processing the herbs.” Praise the old lady healer for seeing the hard work of Anjani when she enters her goanya house.

“If my calculations don't miss, he should be awake by tomorrow morning. In the meantime, you can prepare these ingredients.” The old woman handed me a note in a sheet of palm leaves containing a list of medicinal plants that Anjani should collect.

It would not be difficult to gather all the medicinal plants on the list, as they were all available in abundant quantities around the cave house. At least, that is what Anjani estimated from ten days of experience collecting and concocting various medicinal plants for Gentayu.

The cave house, located on a mountain slope. Within a radius of not less than half a square kilometer around the cave house, there are betel nut plants lined around this area. The betel nut plant, intended as the natural boundary of the old woman's medicine garden.

However, outside the row of betel plants that restrict the garden belonging to the old female physician, there are other medicinal plant gardens stretching as far as the eye can see. Each of the gardens is seen also limited by a row of betel trees like in this garden, but with a land area that is narrower than the property of this old female healer.

Anjani was actually quite curious about the situation, but she had to suppress that curiosity to this day. Precisely, Anjani did not dare to ask the physician. ‘Let us, in time for sure the healer will explain.’ that is how he thought for these few days.

Not until an hour later, Anjani had managed to collect all the medicinal plants written on the list, except for one plant called the moon lotus. The plant should be taken from a pond in one of the depths of the forest. That place, according to the records given by the healer was not less than five kilometers from his current position. Far enough.

Anjani decided to return first to the cave house in order to hand over the crops he collected. The list of plants, different from the usual picked and processed in recent days. According to his estimation, this medicinal plant must be the ingredients to make unique medicinal pills like the first time Anjani and Gentayu arrived at this place.

When the door of the cave house opened, Anjani did not see the physician. But because this is not the first time, Anjani understood. He simply put all the medicinal plants gathered near the simple wooden shelf in the corner of the room before closing the door of the cave and going towards the pond as directed.

Anjani darted away from the goa house. His movements were as if he was running in the air for several hundred meters. It then slowly descended to the ground again to run to pick up the prefix before darting out again like before. It only took him twice to tread the ground, finally

Anjani managed to reach the edge of the moon lotus pond in question.

The pool is wide.

The entire surface of the pond was completely overgrown with lotuses, but all it looked like was an ordinary lotus.

Moon lotus? Ah, it seems that it still takes a little effort to find the plant among the lotus beds that fill this pond, Anjani thought.

Just as his feet were treading the ground, a heavy voice resounded.

The owner of the voice sounded angry. A snort sounded signifying displeasure as one entered the pool area of his territory.

Anjani frowned. The female physician did not explain the situation at all. He was only ordered to take the moon lotus plant without being explained about anything, including the figure claiming to be the ruler of this pond.

‘This is not good!’ his instincts stated that the situation led to danger.

“I'm sorry, mr. pool guard... I didn't mean to break through without permission. I was only instructed by the old lady healer at the top of the mountain there to pluck the moon lotus plant, nothing more, forgive me when it is considered to have been sassy.” Anjani suppressed her anxiety, as the figure of the owner of the voice had yet to reveal itself but a faint strong pressure felt by her body.

“Hmmph...! Get your medal out!” The mysterious voice's command, echoed once again.

Anjani is sweating coldly. Sweat as big as corn began to multiply onto his forehead, his back began to get wet.

“Me... medal?? I don't know what you mean medallion.I just brought this note..”.

Anjani nervously raised the note of the list of medicinal plants she received from the old female healer in her hand. His nervousness had even now turned into a feeling of trepidation that made his joints feel weak.

It was caused by the pressure getting stronger from the aura that was out of nowhere it came from.

“You don't have a medal, but presumptuous to enter this place?? Search Dead..!!” The voice turned into a high-pitched full of anger.

Hearing that voice alone, made Anjani's heart beat faster.

There was no warning, no appearance of the shape of the owner of the voice, suddenly a strong gust of wind from the left side blew Anjani's body, throwing him several fathoms back. As if, the wind swept over him like a dried leaf.

Anjani fell because he did not make any preparations for the condition at all.

His body crashed into the lush undergrowth behind him, giving rise to a slumping sound and the sound of a branch breaking. However, the strong wind did not stop there.

Another wind that was even stronger hit from behind him, causing a screaming sound when Anjani's body fell into place. With the face first.

‘BRUK!’

Anjani. The wind stopped.

Slowly, with the pain of his face crashing into the ground just now and leaving a bruise, Anjani got up.

“Master, Ancestor of the ruler of the pond.” he said stammered, interspersed with his efforts to stabilize the breath.

“I Anjani, came to this place because my colleague was seriously injured. We have been ten more days at the top of the mountain.Just today, I had to come here. Without knowing the identity of my master the ancestor of the pond lord.pardon me, but, I really need that moon lotus plant.” Anjani then knelt down at the end of her sentence, facing the pool.