The Explorers of the Universe

The Underworld of Mordoc

At midday, Asteria and Sikka rest near the stream. Asteria looked for fish with a spear she carried from the cave. It had been an hour and a half that he was tracing the shallow area of the river. Observe every crack of stone, wood, and holes on the riverbank. Asteria just got a frog the size of his hand grip as a menu backup if he did not get a single fish.

“The years I lived in the sea, and it turned out that spearfishing was not as easy as I thought. Especially in a river where the water is not calm like this,” said Asteria inwardly. He regretted never trying to find a fish with a spear. He often went to sea, but everything he followed used a net and an occasional fishing rod to get fish.

Sikka threw her foot into the river. He took a spear from Asteria. Sikka roamed the river even into the unexplored territory of Asteria. An hour passed, Sikka managed to get 3 plump freshwater fish as wide as an adult's finger.

“After meals we should hurry to the Underworld Nation. If we speed up the pace, we will arrive within 3 hours of travel,” Sikka said while waiting for the grilled fish to mature.

Asteria keeps the coals burning. “How can you catch them and be made into a collision?” ask Asteria.

“At that time I and two people from the Underworld were looking for tree sap that could be used as fuel. That afternoon we finished the search. We promised to meet under a big tree, but I didn't meet them there. I waited. But suddenly 4 big men ambushed me, smothering my mouth, tying my hands and feet. They're carrying me like they're carrying an****hunt. I was taken to that cave.”

“Surely your two colleagues were confused when they came and did not find your whereabouts,” said Asteria.

“For sure they were interrogated a lot by the Chief,” replied Sikka.

“Why do you divide the group into Upper and Lower Nations?” ask Asteria while taking the fish that has been burned. He presses the fish with his index finger to find out the level of maturity.

“I don't really know our early history of dividing life into bottom and top. I only know that I was born in a family living under this land. In the vastness of this land, there was a huge hole as the entrance to the underground cave. There is a very large room that can accommodate thousands of people. The lower cave was naturally formed. But for hundreds of years our nation made other rooms and spaces so that in many artificial spaces as a place to live every family. We who live under the cave are called the Underworld Nation, and those who live above are called the Upper Nation.” Sikka began to eat the grilled fish that Asteria gave him.

“Since long ago I knew the Underworld and the Upper Nation could never be at peace and cooperate with each other. The Upper Nation felt as a nation guarded by the Gods, and they considered the Lower Nation to be God-cursed humans. For we of the Underworld do not worship the God they worship. We believe in Sang Hyang Esa, not the Gods that the Upper Nation glorifies. This difference in belief makes the Upper Nation regard us as heretical humans. They consider us inferior and damned. Their number is 3 times more than the Underworld Nation, maybe also more,” explained Sikka.

Asteria looked at Sikka. “In my place there are many beliefs, and there are also those who do not believe anything. My people consider the difference is a natural thing,” Asteria replied.

“Where are you from? You can also fly. Are you falling on God?” ask Sikka.

“I am from Planet Sankz unimaginable distance from here. And I have absolutely nothing to do with God or God. I have come here to seek new powers or weapons to fight the Sky Force that will destroy my planet for many years to come. Have you ever heard of something that has great power, stored in the lake?” ask Asteria.

“I've never heard of any object that has such power. If you are looking for a lake, there is a lake that is considered sacred by the Upper Nation. His name is Lake Dewa, the place of the Ceremony Presentation later. We of the Underworld have never gone there because we are considered to be dirtying the lake which they think is a gift of God,” said Sikka.

“After I deliver you, I will go to the lake to make sure that it is the lake that King Luid taught,” said Asteria.

Asteria and Sikka continued their journey after finishing their lunch and released the Asterian frog.

They arrived at a large hole lined with wood so that wild animals do not enter as they please. On one of the cave lips there is a wooden staircase to go down the cave and go inside.

Sikka guided Asteria into the cave. Light from outside gives some light to the cave room. Inside there were some people who were skinning ferrets and cleaning fruits to eat. Seeing the presence of Sikka and Asteria, they cried out in joy.

One of them told Sikka's arrival to his two men. Sikka's mother and father came with a feeling of pleasure and a face that held in anxiety. They hugged.

The Chief expressed his gratitude for the kindness of Asteria to save Sikka from the Upper Nation. Sikka told everything to the family, the Chief and the Underworld Nation that existed at that time.

The asterisks are taken to the main room. There the people of the Underworld gathered and felt strangely in Asteria's clothes and clean skin.

Late in the evening, the people of the Lower Nation lit torches on the walls and cave rooms. After the introduction to the Underworld Nation, Asteria sat in front of the cave fence. He enjoys the view of the sky and the dark forest.

Sikka came with grilled meat and a hot drink from an unknown spice.

“This drink will give you freshness and immunity from disease,” Sikka said.

Asteria. He drank the spice water in the bowl of coconut shells. It tastes a little bit bitter and smells strange. But in order to appreciate Sikka he drank two sips, then ate grilled meat to cover the discomfort in his mouth.

“It's night, you'd better get some sleep. The Chief wants to talk to you in the morning. You just rest,” said Sikka. He went back down the stairs into the cave.

Asteria. He had already finished his task of saving Sikka. Now it's his turn to continue his main mission coming here. Tomorrow, after he met the Chief, he would go to the God Lake that Sikka was referring to.

Early in the morning, Asteria met the Chief of the Lower Nation Tribe in her private room. There they talked about the intent of Asteria's arrival to Mordoc and the problems the Underworld faced. The Tribe Chief was thinking of a way for the Upper Nation not to take the girls from the Lower Nation as their offerings.

“The ceremony of their Sacrifice will be held in the near future. Tomorrow or at any time, they could have come here to take our girl forcibly. Knowing Sikka's escape will make them angry. And they do not hesitate to take forcibly if this is the case,” complained the Chief.

Asteria.

“If they have come to take force, they will also do the roar at will. Slaughter anyone who fights.” The chief imagined the attack would happen.

Hearing that infuriated Asteria at the barbaric actions of the Upper Nations Tribe. He has to do something. After that brief meeting, Asteria decided to leave. He did not say he would go to the Lake of Gods. He only said he would go to find another place for the Underworld to live. He promised to return soon.

Asteria flew out of that underground cave. Removed Tribal Leader and Sikka who began to worry about his tribe.

Meanwhile, far away in the forest, precisely in the cave where Sikka was imprisoned before, more than 70 burly men gathered with angry faces. They prepared whatever weapons they had. They were ready to attack the dwellings of the Lower Mordoc Nation.

[Next Part 30]