KEEP BUANA (Rise of Darkness)

Watchgirl

“So, where are we going?” Matriarch Lim asked Gentayu.

Finally, the female leader of the Red Dragon or Seven Curtain sect forced to follow Gentayu because she saw two beautiful women from Hidama accompanying Gentayu's next trip.

“Entah what the old grandmother thought.” grumbled Yumiko when she found out the intentions of the sect head.

Matriarch Lim instead handed over the sect leadership to the wide-face elder or Elder Feng who was indeed the most powerful amongst the other sect members. Matriarch Lim later declared a good retreat as a sect member and returned to using her real name, Miss Hao Lim.

“My task is done, isn't it? The seal that was asked of me as a matriarch to guard her, was in the hands of the right person. Didn't the prophecy also state that the next exterminator of the devil is the heir to the fire? So, why should I limit my role if I can be more instrumental in the outside world?

I just hope, elder Feng can bring the sect for the better. Brother Gentayu has greatly helped my duties of increasing the strength of the sect. Maybe now is the time for me to try to help him.” Such is the reason that matriarch Lim gave up the leadership of the sect and chose to follow Gentayu.

Surprisingly, none of the elders tried to prevent it.

So be it, from that day Gentayu accompanied by three female warriors in his adventure.

“I want to visit my adoptive sister first then. “ Gentayu replied.

“You mean, sister Lestini and her sister?” chirps Sakuza who is answered by a slow nod by Gentayu.

“iya.. But, it seems that visiting first uncle Sabrang Giri is also not too bad. I would like to hear some of the latest information from the martial world, especially about the current kingdom of Lamahtang.

If it's true that the Demon Coral has one of the demon seals as delivered by the Sengkuang elder, doesn't it mean that sooner or later I have to face it? I think Uncle Sabrang with his trading network certainly has a lot of information that we can get.” Gentayu explained his plans for the near future.

Ki Sabrang Giri turned out to recognize Gentayu when inspecting the village of Seven Curtains after the battle against the fire lizard troops brought by Panunggul Sewu and Pandan Wungu. Indeed although not too long, Gentayu figure is quite prominent among warriors around the palace including in the eyes of Ki Sabrang Giri.

Their journey towards the main headquarters of the Sky Lantern which had now become a trading usha group was not too far away. It turns out that they also inhabit the other side of the Seven Curup Valley, on the edge of a lake whose water comes from one of the seven waterfalls.

The arrival of the four of them was welcomed by Ki Sabrang Giri. The old man introduced Gentayu as the former captain of the Lamahtang warriors to his subordinates. While Matriarch Lim was introduced as the head of the village of Seven Curtains because the two did not know each other before. Had Ki Sabrang Giri known that the village of Seven was a disguise of the Red Dragon Sect, of course his attitude would have been even more respectful.

“Ah.. this lady is really beautiful. Are these ladies the wives or lovers of our nephew Gentayu?” Ki Sabrang Giri spoke innocently because he did not know the relationship between the two female warriors with Gentayu. (Nephew is a common designation indicating the closeness of the relationship, not necessarily having family ties*)

Hearing that, Gentayu giggled but was restrained. While the two female warriors who were alluded to actually reddened her cheeks.

“Ahahahaa.. no, no. we, we are just bodyguards.. hehe yes. bodyguards..” Sakuza answered nervously. Because statements like this were indeed beyond his previous expectations.

Sakuza and Yumiko even in their home country never had a lover. Their harsh way of life makes them never think of the presence of a man in their life at all.

“So, what is the purpose of the Nephew here, if you may know?” asked Ki Sabrang Giri after speaking stale for quite a long time.

“Oh, look like uncle. It has to do with Lamahtang. We plan to continue our journey to Lamahtang. But, to be honest we do not have any picture at all about the last condition of the kingdom.” said Gentayu.

“More than that, uncle. I have business with Devil's Reef. There is an old debt that has not been paid. Also with a guy named Mpu Jangger.” Gentayu replied without elaborating on his meaning.

He was already furious when he mentioned the names of the two people he remembered were responsible for the chaos in the Lamahtang region. Not just the death of Commander Wiratama. Even the extermination of some of the plots included the death of his teacher. The flames of anger seemed implied on Gentayu's face, but the young man immediately let out a long sigh calming his emotions.

“From the information I have, there is a large number of troop movements will attack the Duchy of Bone Mesuji. I heard that the Duchy along with Serelo Pualam and Ujung Jambe fought. Supposedly, the current power of the palace is not in its strongest condition.” Ki Sabrang Giri explains some of the things he knows so far.

There is absolutely no mention of the movement of white warriors because Ki Sabrang has not heard anything about them.

That afternoon, Ki Sabrang Giri hosted his guests for lunch at one corner of his headquarters complex. The old man also gave food to Gentayu.

“Nakandaku, Gentayu. Uncle just has this. A little provision in the form of drugs that are efficacious in healing deep wounds. We do not intend to sell it freely because it does not want to be used by black people. I give you a gift, along with a bag of energy-recovery medicine. Honestly, these drugs were developed by our healers from his country Mrs Matriarch Lim.” Ki Sabrang said as he looked towards Hao Lim whose face immediately changed due to the call of the Madam.

“Nona, Miss Lim only, sir.” Hao Lim hurriedly corrected.

‘This old granny really feels young.’ chirps Sakuza in her heart.

‘Sok young’ Inner Yumiko.

Gentayu received the gift by bowing and kissing Ki Sabrang's hand in honor.

Not waiting for long, they immediately withdrew from Ki Sabrang's residence.

Two warriors are assigned to escort Gentayu's entourage to the gate of the headquarters that is not guarded. They continued their journey by riding, again the horse was a gift from Ki Sabrang giri.

The day was right at noon when the four of them drove the horses away from the headquarters of the Sky Lantern which is now renamed ‘Home Herbal’. The destination of their closest trip was to the royal palace of Lamahtang.

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

The day after Lamahtang's departure towards Bones Mesuji, the gate of the Royal Fort was showered with fiery arrows. The fiery arrows immediately engulfed the watchtowers on both sides of the gate.

The soldiers who were standing guard in a tired condition due to not sleeping for almost a week were helpless against the arrow attack. Dozens of soldiers were burned at their posts, some who had fled the flames were also killed by arrows.

The sound of bells and gongs of danger was immediately sounded from the top tower, not far from the front gate of the fortress.

“Serangaaaaa....!!! Kingdom of diseraaaaaang...!!”

The cries of the soldiers among the rescue efforts were heard, in the thick of the night which suddenly became brightly lit by intense fires at some point around the gate of the fort.