Shivaratri: Destroy the Darkness

Chapter 3: Medangwantu Village

2023 Years…

In a house in a narrow alley. A small, unkempt house.

A middle-aged woman lies helplessly like an amben flower*bed flower. His entire body was completely paralyzed. Only his eyes could still move. A little dim light illuminates the room. Not long after, a young man came inside. Carrying a basin of warm water. A warm smile rose from his handsome face. Then sit next to the middle-aged woman.

“Bu, sorry today I am a little late to go home.” said the young man who is none other than Ganendra.

His left hand took a cloth. Dunk it in warm water. Squeeze the cloth slowly. He wiped his mother's body. Ganendra did it very painstakingly. Although he himself is also not a person who has a perfect physique. Although handsome, Ganendra is a person with a disability. His right hand was completely paralyzed and looked shrinking. Everyone who saw him would look at him with a strange look. But that didn't make him complain. For him as long as there was a mother figure by his side. There's nothing to complain about.

“Bu, I promise. After making a lot of money. I'll take mom to the treatment. So that mothers can return to how they were.” said Ganendra while holding his mother's hand.

Only a reply a blink of an eye could Ganendra's mother do.

“I imagine, someday. We'll walk together. Walk the road by the river. Ride the mountain, enjoy the sunshine together. Stepping on the green grass. Eat a lot together until our stomach explodes.” Ganendra said with a faint smile at the corner of her lips.

Again, the mother simply winked.

“So promise me ma'am, until then just hold on.”

But suddenly his mother's hand slipped from Ganendra's grasp. His mother's figure seemed to be getting farther away.

Ma!!! Mama!!! Don't go!!! In this world, only mother I have. Please don't go!!!! ganendra cried with tears.

“Arghttttt!!!” yell Ganendra loudly.

When Ganendra opened his eyes. His body was floating in a dark place. Right in front of him, Kalimakara was waiting.

“Kalimakara?!” ganendra lirih.

Ganendra then stared intently at Kalimakara.

“Fucking basics! actually, you brought me to what kind of place huh?!” ask Ganendra in a high tone.

“I told you, this place is called Swastamita. If in your world, you call this world.. dungeon.”.

“I want to cancel the deal. Take me back to where I came from.”

Behind Kalimakara's wandering mask, he smiled cynically.

“We have agreed and you have bound the spell of agreement. If you renege...” said Kalimakara.

His right hand pointed towards Ganendra's left hand which had a chain-like tattoo.

Yantra dhyana, said Kalimakara lirih.

Just then the tattoo that Ganendra had reacted. Colored like a flame. Suddenly Ganendra felt a heat in his left hand. The tattoo seemed alive and ensnared Ganendra's hand to feel the heat that spread.

“Arghttt!!!” Ganendra shouted in pain.

Kalimakara used his power to make Ganendra feel pain as if it was burning.

“You just need to bring me Tirta Amerta. Then a full chest of absolute gold pieces becomes yours.”

Ganendra who grimaced in pain, rethinking the deal that had been made. Kalimakara is not someone he can fight. Better to follow his words. After all, there's no harm. He can get a lot of gold. That is the purpose of coming into this world.

“Ba...alright..so stop this pain..” pinta Ganendra.

Kalimakara chuckled, then lowered his hand and said,

Yantra Ahimsa's…

A chain-shaped tattoo that was once colored like a flame. It is slowly returning to how it was. The hot air in Ganendra's hand was no longer felt.

“If you renege on a promise. You can feel the consequences.” threatened Kalimakara.

Ganendra could only hold his left hand on his chest.

“But, what if you renege on a promise. Not giving me the gift that I'm entitled to?”

Kalimakara again chuckles, “then by itself the spell binding agreement will be released from your hands.”

Kalimakara continued again, “aku asked you to join Ksatria Saka. Train yourself to become a strong Knight.”

Ganendra's memory drifted back. A moment ago he met a group of Saka Knights who were fighting monsters.

“Why should I join those silly Knights? Don't I just need to bring you Tirta Amrita? Ah... I mean Tirta Amerta?”

“Khukhukhu Kalimakara.

“Become a Knight Saka is a bridge to get Tirta Amerta. They know where Tirta Amerta is.”

Shadows are cultivated by Ganendra's eyes. The path he went through was not as easy as imagining getting a piece of gold in his grasp. Suddenly Ganendra's body floated back into his body. Ganendra's eyes were wide open. His eyes stared at the ceiling made of wood. The wall next to it is made of woven bamboo. Only a ray of sunlight came into the room. Where is he at the moment?

When Ganendra still regained his consciousness. The sound of the door creaking loudly. An old man went into the room where Ganendra was.

The voice restored Ganendra's consciousness completely. Then he got up from his sleep. He saw an old man wearing an all-white cloth wrapped around the body. Her hair color is in line with the fabric she wears. At first glance it looks like a person in the ancient kingdom.

“Si...who are you Old Man?” ask Ganendra astonishment.

The old man smiled faintly. He sat down in front of Ganendra and poured the drink into a glass made of clay.

“People here call me Buyut Wengkeng.” replied the Old Man while holding out a glass of water to Ganendra.

*Buyut Wengkeng

Ganendra stared doubtfully. He doesn't know this guy completely. Moreover, he transmigrated to a very foreign new world.

“Do not be afraid, drink first so that you can restore your energy.”

Even with doubt. Ganendra immediately denied the drinking water given. It just so happened that his throat was dry. I don't know when he hasn't gotten his throat wet. He glanced at the jug from the clay that was in front of Buyut Wengkeng.

Buyut Wengkeng smiled and let Ganendra drink it. Without further ado, Ganendra immediately drank it until it ran out. I think he's back alive. After feeling the tension.

“By the way – says where am I now?” ganendra asked after spending a jug of water.

“You are now in Medangwantu Village. The territory of the Kingdom of Ayodya.”

Hearing Buyut Wengkeng's reply. Ganendra just scrunched his forehead. Names that sound strange in his ears. A name that is not in its place of origin.

“Then where are you from and if allowed, what is your name young man?” ask Buyut Wengkeng.

“My name is Ganendra Abhirawa. I am not from this world.”

Heard Ganendra's words. Buyut Wengkeng was silent for a moment. Looking at the foreign youth who was in front of him. From the clothes that young people wear, it is not like in general in Medangwantu Village or Ayodya Kingdom.

“Then, what's your purpose here?”

Ganendra looked at Buyut Wengkeng intently. Looking at the old man who was in front of him, like a good person.

“I want to join the Knights of Saka.” replied Ganendra without a second thought.

Buyut Wengkeng was surprised. A second later, however, he smiled.

“Close with me young man.”

Not long after, the two of them walked out of the room. Right in front of him, Ganendra saw several men practicing various kinds of weapons and moves. Exactly the same as he saw the other day. Some can make movements like lightning. His body was so agile that it could move from one place to another. On the other hand, there are people who are good at playing weapons combined with agile and nimble body movements.

“Young man, do you know what a Knight Saka is?” ask Buyut Wengkeng.

Honestly speaking, Ganendra did not know much about what or who the Knights of Saka really were. He just shook his head.

“Gyaaah!!” Buyut Wengkeng ruffled his own hair.

“You don't know what or who the Knight Saka is. Why would you want to join?”

Ganendra plainly replied, “I just want to join.”

Ganendra's reply made Buyut Wengkeng shake his head.

“Alright...alright..it looks like this is the will of Hyang Manon. I'll explain.” Buyut Wengkeng cleared his throat for a moment.

“Knight Saka is a Monster-hunting Knight. A monster called Ditya has been messing with this place for hundreds of years. The duty of the Knights of Saka is to hunt down and destroy the Ditya. However, it is not as easy as turning a palm to become a Knight Saka.”

“Say, what should I do? To become a Knight of Saka?”

Buyut Wengkeng stroked his white beard, while shaking a fan made of dry leaves.

“You have to undergo heavy training. Each Knight of Saka has a level. Starting from the lowest level to the highest level.” said Buyut Wengkeng.

Then crouch down and draw something on the ground. Ganendra crouched down and listened to the explanation.

“Level 1 : called Eka – lowest tier. Skill : fighting with bare hands.

Tiers 3 : called Tri – low tiers. Expertise: agile and deft in body movements.

Tiers 5 : called Panca – intermediate tiers. Expertise: specialisation in the use of weapons (Swords, Arrows, spears or axes)

Tiers 7 : called Sapta – high tiers. Expertise: agile and deft in body movement,

expert in using weapons and have a spell/study.

Level 9: called Nawa - the highest level. Expertise: can summon divine beasts mounts of the Gods

Tiers 10 : called Dasa – legend tiers (The most mysterious level) equivalent to Gods"

Hearing Buyut Wengkeng's explanation. Makes Ganendra dizzy seven circumference. Even so, he had to remember his goal of coming to the Swastamita. Getting Tirta Amerta that he can exchange for gold pieces. Gold that he could use for his mother's care later. Will Ganendra survive in the new world?