Shivaratri: Destroy the Darkness

Chased Time

Ganendra felt his surroundings appear pitch black. Just feeling the heat all over the body. He endured the pain alone. Deep down, he remembered his mother. Missed the figure of the mother who had caressed him as a child first. How's his mother doing now? Does Kalimakara take good care of his mother? The question kept popping up in his eyes.

Until a voice vaguely heard someone calling his name. A voice he knew well.

“Ganendra, can you hear my voice?”

Even though his body felt pain. His eyes were too heavy to open. Ganendra tried hard to get up. A light illuminated his body. Makes the heat throughout the body feel reduced. Slowly he opened his eyes. Although his gaze was still faint, he could see who was staring at him. Buyut Wengkeng who is always called Old Man by Ganendra.

“You're Apparently Old Man? If I can see you it means I'm still alive.” said Ganendra casually.

Buyut Wengkeng chuckled.

“You still have no manners towards parents.”

Ganendra just smiled. Next to him, someone was crying. That man is none other than Balin. He felt very guilty Ganendra had smallpox as a result of protecting him.

*baline

“Sorry..I'm sorry huaaaaa...” the cry of Balin exploded.

Although Balin's body stature is tambun but his heart is as thin as cotton aka crybaby. Ganendra is just grinning.

“No need to cry that hard. I'm not dead.”

“Huaaaa..but why did you save me? Your heart is so good.”

Ganendra patted Balin's shoulder while half whispering.

“I protected you because you promised me something.”

“He?????” Balin immediately shouted with a pouting face.

Ganendra laughed loudly. Make someone wake up from their sleep.

“You can still laugh a lot when you get smallpox like that?” ask someone who is none other than Sadana.

Ganendra saw Sadana lying not far from him. In the same room. Sadana's entire body was just as likely filled with spots.

“Eh, how can you?” ask Ganendra.

“Are you dealing with that monster?” Ganendra asked.

Sadana just kept quiet and chose to lie down. Buyut Wengkeng cleared his throat for a while and told the beginning of being in Karanglengki Village.

“After you disappeared with Ditya while at Ayodya's palace. Soma and Sadana felt guilty. They keep looking for you everywhere.”

“Eh??” Ganendra looked at Sadana who was pretending to be asleep.

Buyut Wengkeng continued his story.

“Until we heard the news that in Karanglengki Village got the terror of Ditya. Almost all villagers have been hit by malignant smallpox. No one dared to come here. But Sadana and Soma insisted on coming here. They think you might be here. Hope you survive the clutches of the Ditya.”

The story of Buyut Wengkeng. Ganendra commented on the thin smile at the corner of his lips. Buyut Wengkeng continued the story.

“Given the many villages that are getting more and more terror. Sadana and I along with some of the Saka Knights tried to help other villages. Incidentally, we passed through the forest while we were about to come and instead found you lying there with Balin who kept crying. Seeing that you were exposed to a poisonous visa, made Sadana immediately suck the poison in your body. But as a result he contracted.”

Sadana closed her eyes even though she was pretending. His face looks red. Why Buyut Wengkeng must be as detailed as it tells Ganendra. Sadana felt that his wife had just fallen. Without him knowing a smile on the corner of Ganendra's lips.

“Then, why are the other Knights infected? Did they fight that monster?” ask Ganendra.

The three-man Saka Knight chose to close his eyes. Pretending to sleep. Buyut Wengkeng reviewed a thin smile while stroking his beard.

“After learning Sadana was affected by poisonous visa. One of them sucked it. The others sucked poison on each other. One another does not want his friends exposed to wisa.” replied Buyut Wengkeng.

A second later, the sound of Ganendra's laughter exploded. Never before has he laughed so much. Make the others astonished.

“Why are you laughing so much? don't you know. The rest of the time we have is only two days. Remembering we were unconscious for a day. If you don't find a cure soon. We're all going to die.” Sadana opened her eyes immediately. Staring at Ganendra with a look of despair.

Ganendra stopped his laughter. Until the sound of agonizing moans from the other Saka Knights. The hot airs began to attack their bodies like caterpillars wriggling in the body. Buyut Wengkeng used the power of his Kadewatan to resist the poison so as not to give too much pain. Ganendra was silent for a moment. Not long after, a groaning sound rang out Sadana's mouth.

“Old Man, do you know the cure of this smallpox?” ask Ganendra to Buyut Wengkeng.

“Regarding treatment, I don't really understand. Just remember something about a powerful plant to treat something. But whether it can to treat this smallpox, I also do not know.”

“Ahhh really lousy Old Man.” muttered Ganendra annoyed.

Then she pulled her body back. Balin who sat beside Ganendra bowed lethargic. The heat began to be felt by Ganendra little by little. Small moans came out of his mouth. Until nightfall, they had not found a way out. Ganendra could only lie down and close his eyes.

*Would he really die this time*?

Questions like that kept ringing in his head.

...****************...

In such urgent circumstances. Ganendra's memory drifted when he was 10 years old. Ganendra also had smallpox. His mother painstakingly took care of and smeared him with a plant. Suddenly his eyes opened.

“I remember! Plant it!” he strives to get up from his sleep.

Balin helps Ganendra sit down.

“Guide me go to the forest. Looking for that plant.” pinta Ganendra on Balin.

“Are you sure?” ask Buyut Wengkeng.

Ganendra nodded, “we don't have much time. So there's no harm in trying.”

Balin then told Ganendra to walk outside the room. The Buyut Wengkeng. Afraid if until Ditya the other day back attack.

Shortly after arriving in the forest. Ganendra's eyes looked around. Look at the plants he's looking for.

“Tell how the plant looks like?” ask Buyut Wengkeng.

Although by holding the heat that is increasingly spread in his body. Ganendra gave orders to Buyut Wengkeng. They stayed a day to find a cure. Pus-mixed water began to burst out of Ganendra's body. He endured the pain that continued to creep.

“Old Pak, look for even pinnate many leafy plants. The leaves are even at the end of the stalk with a number of strands 8-16. The edges of the leaves are serrated, toothed, crowding, thin leaf strands such as skin are easily withered.”

Buyut Wengkeng trying to find to and fro around the forest. Balin also helped find plants as mentioned by Ganendra. They must hurry because the time they have is not much.

“Arghhtttt!!” ganendra's moans sounded loud.

The pain is no longer restrained. Balin started to panic. Buyut Wengkeng used his remaining Kadewatan power to endure the pain that Ganendra felt.

“Baline! Hurry up!” buyut Wengkeng orders while channeling his power in Ganendra's body.

As a result of using the power of his Kadewatan continuously the energy of Buyut Wengkeng also drained. They are time-hunted.

Balin was in a panic. He took a leaf and showed it to Ganendra. The young man just nodded. Balin again looking around the forest. Showing to Ganendra. But Ganendra continued to shake.

“Then which one???” tanya Balin was almost desperate.

Balin kept looking to and fro. Unheeded thorns hurt his hands and feet.

“Do not, the plant is rare huaaaa Balin was crying loudly.

“I believe you...” said Ganendra Lirih. His body is weak.

Hearing Ganendra's words, Balin felt excited. He continued to search and pluck some similar plants according to Ganendra's directions. He then thrusts in front of Ganendra.

Cold sweat soaked Ganendra's body. His eyes are getting blurred. But he tried hard to survive. He did not want Sadana and the others to just die. A moment later, he tried to raise his hand. Designating a plant.

“Cam..mix that leaf into water. Mash the mixture earlier and o... apply it to the chickenpox rash that spread in the body.” said Ganendra screeching.

“Is this plant really what you mean?” ask Buyut Wengkeng.

But Ganendra was unable to endure the pain in his body. His head was hollow and his eyes were closed. The voice of Balin and Buyut Wengkeng who kept calling him could not be heard. Ganendra drifted into the vacuum.

Will I really die this time? Ma....if I die, what about you…?

Then it all went dark.

...****************...

A beam of Rawi light slowly penetrates the gap of the room whose walls are made of rattan woven. His light hit the face of a young man who closed his eyes tightly. In his subconscious, his mother's gentle voice called out repeatedly.

Ganendras….Ganendras…

Ganendra felt he was in a quiet and comfortable place. As if asleep on his mother's lap. Her mother's soft hand stroked her head affectionately.

Is he really dead? ask Ganendra in heart.

Until a loud voice kept calling his name repeatedly. Ganendra was immediately shocked and opened his eyes. Rise from his sleep. His breath went up and down uncontrollably. Right in front of him Balin and Buyut Wengkeng smiled at him. They seem to have found a smallpox cure. When Ganendra siuman, the first time he asked the state of Sadana and the others.

Balin pulled Ganendra out of the room. Watching the atmosphere of the village that is busy pounding plants to treat the villagers of Karanglengki Village. Some of them are able to work as usual. Sadana and the other Saka Knights helped. Seeing that all Ganendra smiled happily.

“That plant, named Neem Leaf. Not a rare plant like you said Balin.” Ganendra said.

Balin just laughed and scratched his head which was not itchy. This time, Ganendra made it through the obstacle that almost took his life.

“Come back to Medangwantu and join Ksatria Saka.” invite Buyut Wengkeng.

Buyut Wengkeng, seeing the hidden potential that exists in Ganendra. The unyielding young man. The young man who was not aware of it. Has made others slowly no longer underestimate him.