The Lightning King

4

"As you know about my father's character. Well, that's what I am, Legar."

"Until this old time you haven't raised a single disciple?" Eyang Legar widened his eyes slightly.

"Then, those three young people weren't your students?"

"Your question tone is still like a dozen years ago, Kakang. Don't be suspicious like that. The three young men claimed to be students. But, I myself do not claim to be his teacher," Selasih said, glancing at the little boy standing beside Eyang Legar.

"You're still the way you used to be, Selasih. Still like to be humble and happy to joke," the plain selak of Eyang Legar.

"I'm not kidding, Kakang Legar," argued Nyi Selasih.

"You can see how they used to attack you. There's no speciality in the least, is there? You know, Kakang. That's the style I created in passing, at their insistence. The three of them did have a strong will to learn the science of canuragan."

"If that's the case, why don't you lower your intelligence a little?"

"Eitherway. To date, I'm not interested."

"Pity them" said Eyang Legar, very slowly.

Nyi Selasih widened her eyes. His ears were already trained, hearing also the speech of Eyeang Legar.

"If you feel pity, only Kakang raised them as disciples" said Nyi Selasih.

Eyang Legar frowned, then smiled loosely.

"My science is not good down on good people, Selasih. You got it, didn't you?"

"And that kid next to you?" Nyi Selasih looked at Jaka's eyes. Nyi Selasih was surprised. He felt his heart rustle strangely as his gaze hit the pitch-black eyeball belonging to the little boy standing beside the blue-robed grandfather.

"ah! Let's go inside, Kang," broke up Nyi Selasih trying to cover up her shock while grabbing the hand of the little boy next to Eyang Legar.

Back Nyi Selasih was surprised after the skin of her hand came into contact with the skin of Jaka's hand. There was another air coming out of the thick little boy's skin. Is this boy going to be his disciple, as his late father once told him?

Nyi Selasih continued to wonder inwardly, while continuing to lead Jaka's hand into the main hall.

*

"You can tell me, who's that little boy, Kakang?" urged Nyi Selasih after returning to take Jaka to the bedroom.

"Do you like him?" eyang Legar Fishing Line.

Nyi Selasih did not answer the question of Eyang Legar, the Life Hunter Ghost. A figure of the black faction who has been insyaf.

"I'm afraid you don't like him and you don't want to raise him as a student. Didn't you promise that, Selasih?"

"Until I find someone who is really fit to be my student, Kakang," said Nyi Selasih.

"That means there is no possibility for Jaka Sembada to be your student?"

"His name is Jaka Sembada, Kakang?"

Eyang Legar nodded his head as he rubbed his almost partially whitened beard.

"So good name. He must be your son, Kakang," guessed Nyi Selasih.

The Life Hunter Ghost took off his laughter slowly.

"Since my failure to marry you, Selasih. Never once have I dealt with a woman" said Eyang Legar.

"You." said Nyi Selasih, bowing her head.

"There is no other woman I love but you, Selasih. That is the message of the Creator that cannot be sued. Uh! Forget the past that only makes us sad, Selasih," said Eyang Legar slowly, holding Nyi Selasih's back with both palms.

"As the successor to our relationship, I want you to go down all your power to Jaka. He's a child full of privilege. And I hope you like it."

"But...."

"Without you asking, I will explain the origin of the child, Selasih," cut off Eyang Legar who then set his gaze towards the window that was not tightly closed. The blue-robed grandfather's eyes seemed unblinking towards the window. His old eyes that still looked fresh like they were about to penetrate the concentration of the night.

"I don't know why that night it felt so strong to come out of hiding" said Eyang Legar slowly.

"After all, I didn't obey him. But as the desire grew stronger, this leg finally stepped. I used the usual steps when I went down the mountain. But over time, the steps I had not used for a long time just got faster, without me wanting at all. After I realized, it turned out that I had far left the foot of the mountain."

Eyang Legar stopped his story for a moment. His eyes now turned to Nyi Selasih's face. It seemed that the old woman was expecting that Eyeang Legar to continue his story immediately.

"I stopped when I faintly heard the sound of quarrels, which then continued the fight. This I can guess from the sound of guns clashing. At first, I didn't want to interfere. I've promised not to deal with violence since we split decades ago. However, my other feelings led me to witness the battle. I was able to suppress the invitation, but I was unable to get out of it. I gasped when I heard a woman's scream. Even I remember you right away, Selasih. I snapped my legs quickly, but I stopped it again when the name of the woman was called someone" continued Eyang Legar.

"Who's the girl's name, Kakang?" cut Nyi Selasih.

"If I don't hear it wrong, it's Purwakanti."

"Open-killing?" nyi Selasih was a little surprised

"You know him?" search for Eyeang Legar.

"The name Purwakanti is not just one in this universe, Kakang. Continue your story," said Nyi Selasih.

"I swung back at full speed, when I heard the cry of a baby. Then, I stopped in front of the house that turned out to have been devoured by fire. While the baby's cry was getting stronger piercing the ears, as if telling me to break through the ring of fire that had soared high. I did, Selasih. The ring of fire is kuterobos. And in it I found a tiny figure on the bed. While elsewhere, the figure of a man's body I saw lying. And not far from him lay a golden-yellow sword...."

"Golden sword?! It must be Sempani," muttered Nyi Selasih slowly.

"Sampani...?" rework of Eyang Legar.

"Yes, yeah. That name was also mentioned when the fight I heard from a distance. Chalice. You know that guy, Selasih?"

“Surely you also know Purwakanti?"

Nyi Selasih nodded.

"He's my best friend's son. Name, Seroja. And the good boy who was sleeping in the room must be Purwakanti's son, Seroja's grandson. And that means, that nice boy is my grandson too."

The blue-robed grandfather nicknamed the Life-Hunting Ghost stared deeply at Nyi Selasih's face. As if, he was looking for solemnity from the words of the old woman before him. While from the face of Eyang Legar also emanated a beam of joy.

"That means he's my grandson too."

"I promise to take care of him and go down to all my abilities, Kakang Legar."

"Thank you, Selasih.... It turned out that my hope was granted," the eyeballs of Eyang Legar seemed to sparkle.

"You have not told the state of Purwakanti at that time, Kakang Legar. You didn't tell me you saw the body."

"Yes. In the house that was engulfed in fire I found no other figure, other than the figure of the man you made sure named Sempani."

"That means opening up the possibility that Purwakanti is still alive."

"It could have happened."

"The back! In the battle, your ears were able to hear the names Purwakanti, Sempani, and Jaka Sembada mentioned. Is there another name you heard?"

"There's."

"Who?" nyi Selasih urged, impatiently.

"Gandewa and the Four Demons Goa Corpses"

"Gandeva?" mummy Nyi Selasih. The forehead of the older woman over sixty years old was wrinkled.

"I think that name was once known to me. Oi! Wasn't he the one Ki Seleguri had introduced when I brought Purwakanti to Red Soka College?"

"He was Purwakanti's older brother. Then, what does that have to do with the Four Demonic Goa Corpses?"

"I don't know who Gandewa is. But the Four Demons of Goa Corpse I've heard of his lunge," the old woman said as her mind glared far away.

"The day is getting late, Selasih. My description you no longer need. Now I beg myself. I am sure that in your hands Jaka will be present as a warrior of compassion, who always defends the truth and fights against ignorance."

"Hopefully, Kakang. Later, if the right time has come, the Lightning King's heirloom will be handed over to him."

"Heirlooms? Your father left an heirloom? What heirloom?"

"Eitherway. I dare not open it myself. But according to the father, the heirloom was in the form of a book, a belt, and two yellow bamboo pieces as big as the thumb of an adult man, along the span of a three-year-old boy," explained Nyi Selasih.

"If I may guess, the book contains the lessons of pagan science and some studies left by the ancestors of the Lightning King."

"Your guess didn't miss, Kakang. According to my father, the contents of the book a quarter of which have been revealed to me."

"An amazing book then. I am sure, Jaka will be able to master the lessons contained in it. He's smart and has a will."

"Hopefully your faith comes true, Kakang," said Nyi Selasih.

"I'm saying goodbye now."

"Thank you, Brother."

"Hip!"

Just once, the blue-robed grandfather's body shot out rapidly from before Nyi Selasih. So high science lightens his body, so that it briefly disappeared from view.

Meanwhile, the night is getting older. The cold wind grew stronger.

*

The night is getting further and further away. Even the signs of dawn about to break were already getting stronger. In a room that is quite spacious, looks a woman who is old enough to pacing from one end of the room to the other.

The woman's forehead, which was about sixty-two years old, looked wrinkled. The skin of his forehead that was already wrinkled seemed to go up. It indicates that he is thinking about something that requires a lot of consideration.

"Who is the boy that father meant?" the loosely dressed, white old woman moved the wrinkle on her forehead into a question that echoed in the corner of her heart.

The old woman, who was named Selasih, now gave a fleeting smile, to a belief embedded in her heart. He was actually happy to get a boy whose presence had been waiting for many years. However, it is not only that that makes the grandmother dressed loosely in white has fun. There was something else that made him happy. Namely, the existence of the boy who was waiting for was still related to his past life.

The long-awaited boy turned out to be the grandson of his best friend, who was already like his own biological sister. Even the late King of Lightning once confirmed Seroja as his adopted son. And that means, the boy who is now sleeping in his room is his great-grandfather. As for Nyi Selasih, Jaka Sembada is her grandson. Because, he himself still considers Purwakanti, the mother of the boy, as his biological child.

Nyi Selasih's smile grew back. And this time accompanied by his footsteps to Jaka's room that rolled with a regular breathing rhythm. The loosely dressed, white-colored old woman lightly stepped on her feet, barely making a sound. The light of his eyes that still remain sharp, unfettered to face the hard but soft face of Jaka who was sleeping. There is a desire to embrace the body that has been waiting for her.

However, Nyi Selasih expressed her wish. He felt unbearable to disturb the sleep of the boy who might be too tired, having traveled a long way with Eyang Legar.

Recalling Legar's name, there was a sudden sense of draining that filled Nyi Selasih's heart. The name of a man who has gone the wrong way, but has repented because of himself alone. But, his penance did not present what was expected. A repentance that the white people never accept.

"Uhhhh...!"

Nyi Selasih tries to cast away the shadow of her past with Eyang Legar. The Lightning King's only daughter looked back at the little boy who was not distracted by her sigh just now.

Nyi Selasih was surprised when her eyes seemed to be able to pierce through those tightly closed eyelids. And the boy's eyeballs seemed to be pulling him closer. And strangely, Nyi Selasih's heart immediately rippled strongly. There was another shock that struck the heart of the loosely dressed, pure white old woman as her hand suddenly seemed to be moved by another force.

Nyi Selasih tried to resist the strange movement. But the stronger it resisted the strange movement, the stronger the strange movement attracted it. Nyi Selasih finally decided to follow the strangeness that actually made her heart wonder. Let alone that strange movement carried his hand through every curve of the body of this approximately ten year old boy.

Nyi Selasih felt that the muscles of the little boy he felt like a moon came out, like the muscles of an adult man who was doing full power. Even when he touched the bone structure of the ten-year-old boy, the joy of his heart multiplied .I felt that the bones were so perfect.