SAKYA PARAKA: THE LIBERATOR

Do I Have a Choice?

At the pendopo of the Sena ducal housing complex, Shinta was talking to her father who was sitting in front of her, "What are we going to tell him, Father?" ask Shinta lirih.

"Attribution often occurs on the way to the Varsani field and unfortunately it happens today" replied the duke of Sena taking a deep breath.

"Will he believe it? He will be very angry when he finds out the real thing" Shinta muttered, heard by the duke of Sena.

"Dad's goal was just to keep Shrie alive so that when Lokapatti needed him he was there to help. If he hates Father, I accept the consequences" said the duke of Sena.

"Why did you separate the two of them?" ask Shinta.

"Taking care of one person is easier. If they unite, they will be factors that Father cannot predict" replied the duke of Sena.

"Duke, Vaidya Shrie asked permission to meet." A soldier came in to give him news.

"Let him in!" the duke of Sena.

The pampered soldier. Not long after that Shrie arrived. Behind him Vatsa followed.

"Hail the Duke of Sena. I want to ask permission to go to the city gate to wait for my brother to return," Shrie said, bowing.

"Ah of course, Shrie. You are free to go anywhere. I wish your brother a safe return" replied the duke of Sena.

"Of course he will return safely. He can take care of himself." Shrie smiled widely. If they had known that his brother was one of the rulers of the Vanaya forest, they would have started to worship him. To date Shrie still can't understand why her brother had to hide and pretend about everything.

"I'm saying goodbye, Duke of Sena." Shrie leaned over and stepped out.

"Where are you going? While your brother is here."

Shrie stopped his steps. Looking towards the source of the voice and seeing Sakya who was walking towards him.

"Sir ...." Shrie ran over and hugged her sister.

"We've only been separated for half a day but why such an annual separation? But it's okay. It feels comfortable." Sakya laughed at Shrie's behavior. While the dukes of Sena and Shinta looked shocked and rose from their seats.

"You're back?"

The Duke of Sena looked at Sakya sharply as if he was beginning to doubt his eyes.

"Of course, do you think fifteen rakshasa can stop me?"

"There's rakshasa, brother? Take me there!" Shrie enthusiastically heard the word rakshasa. It had been quite a while since he had vented his anger on rakshasa.

"slowly. I've killed them" Sakya refused.

"Bu—kill them? K—you killed them all?"

What Sakya said all felt like nonsense to the duke of Sena. A human killed fifteen rakshasa, something that had never been heard of before, even he was sure that no one had ever thought of him.

"really. Since we'll be allies, I'll tell you what happened. Please sit down," said Sakya with a big smile.

"The story goes, I killed almost all the rakshasa except one. I command him to deliver the news that from this point on Lokapatti will not give them any more human offerings. From now on the city of Lokapatti is free from rakshasa slavery."

"You ... Do you realize what you've done?" shouted Duke Sena. Face reddened. Shinta thrust another cup of water at him.

"You will destroy the city of Lokapatti and kill all the inhabitants therein."

"Wait ...," cut Shrie. "You sacrificed the participants of the offering of the goddess Daru on rakshasa. How could you possibly be that old?"  shrie shouted as if in disbelief. How could they be willing to sacrifice the lives of others just for their own safety.

"Why indeed? You think I was wrong?I sacrificed fifty men to keep five thousand alive. My conscience is clean. If I had to choose again, I would choose the same thing," the Duke of Sena replied in wrath. Shinta thrust another cup of water at him. This time the duke refused to drink it.

The Duke of Sena did not feel guilty. Although it is not the best way but it is the right way at the moment. The path that ensures that humanity remains sustainable.

"Son, let me destroy this damned city. How could ...."

"Enough." Sakya raised her hand stopping Shrie's speech. "Duke Sena, I didn't say you were wrong, but now you can stop doing that."

"You don't understand the power of the rakshasa clan chief. When I was young as you, I was with a hundred other people trying to kill him. Just by himself he killed everything but me. I was left alive to lead this city and give it offerings. If he comes, this town won't survive."

The Duke recounted his bitter experience of how he became a duke of the city of Lokapatti.

"Well, if it's only about killing a hundred humans, I can also kill thousands of humans and my brother can kill more. You need proof? I can prove it ...."

"Shrie!" Sakya cuts back on Shrie's words. "Whatever has happened we forget it, now that we are all friends, let us speak wisely."

Wise? Wise your head. You brought a tiger into my house and now you're talking about sage ... Sump.  "Tell me why should I be your ally?" ask Duke Sena.

"Oh, I haven't finished telling ya. So after I took off the rakshasa, I met the Lokapatti warriors. I let them go so I can tell Balapati Mara as soon as possible. Sorry, Duke Sena but we both know how big his ambition is to become a duke. Ah, after he knew that the offerings had failed and the Duke was no longer the key to the safety of this city ... Ah, if he's as smart as I thought, I'm sure he's preparing his soldiers to come get you."

"K—kau ... Argh."

Shinta thrust another cup of water at him. This time the Duke of Sena took his sizable water spot and drank it straight away.

"Of course as a friend I wouldn't just take my hands off. I will protect you." continued Sakya with a smile.

The Duke of Sena really did not understand where Sakya came from. He did not think that in this world there was a man who had no limits of shame.

You put a tiger in my house and now you invite a crocodile too. Then, you said you'd protect me? You caused everything ah ...

The Duke of Sena felt his hair whiten completely. He tried not to talk for fear of vomiting blood. Although he thought it was a good idea to gush Sakya's smiling face.

The Duke of Sena was not afraid of death. Both by rakshasa and by balapati Mara. But the safety of her family, Shinta and her other children is the most important thing. He could not afford to leave them in danger.

"What do you want?"

"Let's be friends." Sakya extended her right hand.

"Huh ... Do I have a choice?" duke Sena drank his water.