KEEP BUANA (Rise of Darkness)

Black Centipede Group

"Thank you, sir. thank you.." the girl prostrated while continuing to say thanks to Gentayu.

She was too happy to feel alive again after two months of being 'bed flowers' with a broken feeling of seeing her sister starve every day no one took care of her. Her sister is currently only 5 years old, too small to be able to take care of herself. They have only been together for four years. Their father died when their mother was pregnant with his sister due to an accident. Their father used to be an employee of a limestone craftsman. His job is to mine limestone rocks to be processed and marketed to the city. When mining that accident hit him. The limestone quarry, a cliff over a hundred meters high, collapsed and stockpiled several workers, including their father.

His mother died a year later, when his sister was not even 1 year old. Her mother's death is thought to be due to the same illness that this girl had. However, they and the residents of even the healer who used to handle the treatment of his mother did not know that his mother and this girl were not ordinary sick, but sick from being exposed to poison.

Currently, the girl still continues to prostrate before Gentayu, as well as her sister who joined in prostration while her mouth did not stop continuously chewing her food. Gentayu who felt uncomfortable with the condition immediately helped this girl to wake up.

"Wake up. You have, you have not fully recovered. You still have a lot of rest. At least for the next three days. I promise I'll take care of you until you get well. Oh yeah, what's your name?" Gentayu finally managed to get the girl back to her bed, but the girl refused to be wedged.

"My name is Lestini. And my sister, if you don't know her name yet, she's Jasri." The girl finally introduced herself and her sister while returning to her bed.

His body is still very weak, but what makes him sure that he recovers is the pain that attacks the palms and soles of the feet, elbows to the chest, the entire head to the neck, and the pain that strikes the palms and soles of the feet, both knees to the groin and calves, as well as all joints that lost energy have now recovered. His limp body was the result of him not getting any food intake at all for more than two weeks. Indeed, for the past two months no neighbors or relatives have visited and cared about their circumstances. I don't know what's going on.

"The village is being terrorized. That's why you're like no one cares. The villagers are terrified.." Gentayu seemed to understand the feelings of the little girl before him.

Then he relayed information about the condition of their village lately which he received from the village gatekeepers. Of course he did not tell me that he had crippled the strongest hero among the guards.

"So, there is no need to be sad." he said closing the conversation while rubbing the girl's head and her sister alternately.

There are points of water that flow more and more rapidly from both corners of the girl's eyes. It felt, it had been a very long time since the last time anyone noticed and cared about the condition of the two of them in this rickety hut. In her heart, this girl was very grateful that there were still good people who were willing to help her, even though they did not know each other at all. The girl promised in her heart, that she would repay the kindness of the young man before her someday. Even if it had to be at the cost of his life.

"Sir,... Can I. I know your name?" Lestini, the girl finally ventured to ask the identity of the person who had helped her. It feels disrespectful when there are people who have been helped, but instead do not recognize the helper itself.

"Gentayu. You can call me Gentayu. Uncle's call like the one your sister called me to make me feel old, hehehe.." Gentayu asks Lestini not to come with his sister calling him by uncle's call.

"I guess our age isn't too far away either. So, I'll be your sister starting today. We're family. How's it?" gentayu said with his friendly smile.

There was a warm feeling in Lestini's chest as Gentayu called herself to be a big sister to them. There is a sense of happiness, but also a sense of doubt and worry. After all, Gentayu to them was a stranger they had just met. Looking at his abilities, it was clear that Gentayu was not an indiscriminate person. How could this young man be willing to raise him and his sister as a family? Wouldn't their presence be a burden to Gentayu? The thought raged inside Lestini's head. While his sister, Jasri has now gone out of nowhere with food still left in hand.

"Why silence? Are you and aren't you willing to be my sister?" Gentayu saw the look on Lestini's face turned sad after a moment and a bright smile on her face.

"Oh. no. No. I don't, Tu. I mean brother. We, we're ready!" Lestini shook her head.

Of course he does not want Gentayu to be misunderstood. "Just, I'm afraid our presence will only burden you.." Lestini finally said honestly voicing her thoughts.

"Haha..." Gentayu even laughed.

"No sister will be a burden for her brother.just the brother will feel burdened when he sees his sister sad. No, no need to question anymore. Now rest. This is food for you this afternoon" Gentayu again took out packets of food and some medicinal plants as if from a vacuum to near the fireplace used as a kitchen.

"You can re-train your body to move by means of light activity first. I guess, cooking food does not include light. That's why I prepared this meal. You can cook water to brew this medicinal plant. Then this one, this honey bitch, can be mixed into the medicine. Later, eat first with Jasri. Don't wait for me. I'll be out for a minute. Maybe I'll just be home by late night” Gentayu advised.

The place Gentayu was headed to was a food stall some distance from the former market of this village. According to him, food stalls are the most appropriate place to hear and know many things. At least, that was his experience as a royal teliksandi.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

"spread out!" the command of one of the five people dressed in black gave the command with his left and right index finger pointing upwards.

Four of his companions immediately shot up the surrounding trees and leapt among the branches nimbly. They had been circling around the forest on the outskirts of this village for quite some time because they had lost track of the two people they hunted.

They believe that the two people wanted will not go to the village because it will make them easily recognizable. Yes, they will be easily recognized because their appearance is different from the people on the island of Big Gold and the island of Padi.

The people of the two islands are indeed quite close in interacting especially in the trade and other cooperation sectors, so the presence of the two women they pursue will look striking when in the middle of the population. Both are indeed not from one of the islands in the archipelago group, but from the Central Continent.

They are whiter and cleaner skinned, with both eyes narrow. Their clothes are also different, both material and appearance. Of course appearing in the crowd of the village is not a good idea for someone who is hiding.

The leader of the group of hunters was Sundari. A confidant of the Nini Wisa, one of the Elders of the Black Centipede who led this Ghost Centipede division.

These five people were indeed members of the Ghost Centipede Division, one of the elite group of the Black Centipede that had 50 members of the Mumpuni Sakti level swordsman and several others were at the level of the title Swordsman.

The Black centipede itself has several divisions or parts with different tasks. They even had a fundraising group, consisting of novice swordsmen and the highest was the Madya level swordsmen. Usually they commit various crimes to get the gold pieces and treasures needed by the Black Centipede, ranging from robbers, scruples to become assassins.

Sundari was trying to find his quarry by returning to the riverbank while his four companions were still focused inside the forest. Suddenly, just before sunset he heard a scream from a woman not far from where he was. Realizing the possibility that it was the voice of the woman he was chasing, Sundari did not wait anymore and immediately shot towards the source of the sound. Not far from the riverbank, he saw the two women he was chasing were facing thousands of poisonous bees attacking.

Apparently, all this time they hid not far from the poisonous beehive. The bees were disturbed when one of the women accidentally fell into a hole covered in grass that turned out to be a beehive. Because the nest was not far from the river, the two immediately jumped into the river in a deep enough section to save themselves. The sound of their cries as they jumped was what Sundari had heard.

Unfortunately, unlike ordinary bees who are afraid of water, these bees do not leave immediately after the victim goes into the water. The bee had just left after a long wait and the two women did not come to the surface. Of course, when both appear in a limp condition because they hold their breath in the water for too long.

This condition is very beneficial for Sundari. But he didn't want to take the risk of snatching the two by himself. However, the two women who were in the water were also great warriors. They could be desperate and forced to run from the pursuit of the Ghost Centipede only after being ganged up by the five. Their individual strength was indeed within the same level, that of the Swordsman Sakti level. Only experience makes their ability distance visible.

Realizing himself would not be able to face both, Sundari immediately released a signal in the form of throwing balls into space. The balls were released by a special tool similar to a small arrow. The balls themselves immediately burst into white powder into space and make a special sound as a sign of the request for help from other members of the group.

DUM..! TAR!.! ... DUM.. TAR! ...DUM..! TAR'S!..

The loud voice made both women who had just come out of the water aware that danger was threatening. They can no longer run away and hide. Already late. The only way is to attack the person who lit the warning before the invited help began to arrive.

**Nb. Sorry for all the imperfections in this novel. I hope my readers are happy with my first book, Yaaaa...😅

Thank you and appreciation to the readers who have taken the time to provide support to the author in the form of likes, comments and constructive criticism, as well as Vote.

Stay healthy all**..