The Musafir
Onion Bones
“The Malay language of the people in Javadvipa has certainly been mixed with the mother tongue that is there. Doesn't the western Javadvipa with the eastern part have a different mother tongue?”
MANTINGAN nodded once. “Indeed there are western and eastern languages, Father. But languages from the east are rarely used in Tarumanagara.”
“Yes, of course. Taruma belongs to the western part of Javadvipa, right? And as far as I know, there is almost no civilization in the eastern region of Javadvipa.”
The two entered a lush forest, the talks were continuing.
“Then with the absence of civilization that, the eastern region of Javadvipa became a safe place for the rebels who lost the war to evacuate.” Tapa Balian then took a deep breath. It was so fresh air when they were in the forest. “But from what I've heard, Punawarman will hunt down the rebels even if it gets to the wormhole. The iron-handed king certainly does not want chaos to re-occur in his country, so the rebels must be destroyed until the roots are not to grow back in the future.”
The mantan then dissolves in his contemplation. How long has he been in the middle of the ocean? Why is the news of the Punawarman who will eradicate the remnants of the rebellion heard to this place?
“Father, if I may know, where are we now?”
“Ah, yes! I forgot to tell you.” Tapa Balian patted his own forehead while chuckling softly. “Currently we are within the kingdom of Onion Bone. To be more precise, we are near Balian Valley. My home and place of forging is near here.”
“Onion Bone Kingdom, yes ...”
Mantingan had heard the name of the Kingdom of Onion Bones. However, his knowledge was only limited to the location of the kingdom which was east of Suvarnabhumi.
“Actually more on Indigenous Unity than government, Anak,” Sergah Tapa Balian. “For there is no king and led, but by grandfather.”
The mantan nodded his head slowly. “This place is similar to the name of Mr, is there really a connection with Mr?”
“Ya, so to speak.” Balian site laughs blandly. “But let not the child regard this as something extraordinary. Onion Bones are very different from Tarumanagara, the name of a region can be taken from something famous in that region. Along this northern coast, I am the most famous person as a reliable iron forger.”
“According to all these explanations of the Father, I have come to assume that the civilization in Suvarnadvipa is quite far behind the Javadvipa civilization. Is this really my assumption, Father? For I have heard that the children of Suvarnadvipa regard magic as their plaything, does it not mark an advance of civilization?”
“You may have caught me wrong, son.” Tapa Balian shook his hand. “Suvarnadvipa is different from Javadvipa, but that does not mean left behind. Isn't a difference always interpreted as a mistake?”
“Ah, Father, forgive me who originally spoke.” Mantingan stopped looking down, half-spoiled. “I am just a stupid young wanderer who is and will continue to study, so forgive me if my questions offend Mr.”
“No. I am not at all offended, rather pleased with your bold question.” Tapa Balian let out a laugh before asking Mantingan to return to walking. “So often I find travelers who say they are looking for knowledge, but totally hesitate to ask people who are smarter, so that the adventure is just for fun. However, I rarely meet people like you, who are really curious about everything that contains knowledge.”
“Child too low. From the way Children speak, I know very well how you are not including people whose lives are only looking for pleasure.” Tapa Balian stopped when he arrived at a vast meadow. His index finger pointed at the two hills visible in the distance. “There are so many that I want to talk to you, Son Mantingan, but we better talk after arriving at my residence. Starting from here, we should increase our alertness. We will intersect with the tiger crossing path.”
Mantingan nodded his head before putting on a hard face look as if on alert. While it is true for a warrior like himself, a tiger is not something that can be considered a threat. However, he is currently disguised as a layman, who however considers a tiger as a big threat that should be really wary!
“Child guard back and right side; daku will keep front and left side. Also alert your sword, we do not know when it is needed.”
The mantle drew Savrinadeya's Sword from his belt. The command of alerting a sword is the same as pulling a sword from its cage!
They followed the path that pierced the meadow. The mantan pretends to pay attention to the surrounding, although it does not need to be done at all because he has planted the Science of Hearing Dew Drops that are able to see the appearance of objects around him without the need to open his eyes.
His attention turned to the Tapa Balian in front of him. The old man still put up his vigilance, although it seemed right that he had gotten used to going through this path.
In his mind, Mantingan clucked in admiration. Tapa Balian clearly does not include people from the martial jungle, if you look at the way he fought when attacking six beach robbers just now. However, his level of vigilance had equaled the vigilance of a swordsman, who was always on full alert no matter what the circumstances.
Until Mantingan heard the sound of the thickets of the bush from a distance. The crackling that was too soft and barely even let out a sound at all, it was clear that whoever or whatever made the sound was slumping around.
However, Mantingan did not report this to Tapa Balian, for however far and small the voice was. If he reports his findings, people as smart as Tapa Balian will certainly find a strangeness in Mantingan, which will always lead to suspicions that although small still will be dangerous in the future.
The ruffled sound was heard more and more clearly in Mantingan's ear, which signified that whoever or whatever made the sound was moving closer. He continued walking, waiting for the sound to get closer and closer.
Until the arrival of the arid sound if it had been within eleven spears, so that it entered into the reading of the sound into being by the Science of Hearing Dew Drops, so that it entered into the reading of the sound into existence, and so Mantingan found a tiger even when he had not turned his head.
“Mr, there is movement behind!” Mantan whispered with emphasis, which goods could certainly be captured by Tapa Balian as a sign of danger.
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note:
Thanks to those who helped me with my promotion!
