The Musafir

Chitra Anggini and Dara Arguing

Do they not have a trade agreement that has been acceded to with drops of blood as a sign of swearing to death?

And behold, Mantingan did not keep his trade promise with Dara. He no longer supplied the Light Magic Throw he had promised to Dara's trade union. How regretful Mantingan, because even under these circumstances it is not very possible for him to fulfill the order of Magic Throw. He did not go to Kotaraja to trade.

“No need to think about at all, Mantingan. Your presence here has paid for everything.” Dara smiled sincerely. “But Dara must tell you, your Magic Throw is the most sought after thing in my trade union. For a piece of hers, they were willing to bid at a very expensive price: breaking through two thousand pieces of gold!”

Mantingan was not too surprised when he heard the number. However, he was very happy. At least it can pay for a little bit of guilt.

“When I decided to auction the last five ejections, the price jumped sharply. Ten thousand gold pieces for each sheet!”

The mantan nodded slowly with a fluffy smile on his face.

“I will only take advantage of one tenth, then—”

“Save all that money, Dara. After ruining our agreement, I feel I have no right to accept even a piece of bronze from you. Think of it as the end of our trade cooperation, Dara.”

Now Dara frowned. “Last cooperation? Mantingan, you do not mean ...”

When Dara was no longer able to continue the words, there Mantingan nodded his head. While putting on a gentle smile, Mantingan explained, “I have a lot of tasks I haven't finished yet, Dara. For quite a long time later, I felt like I could not sell the Magic Throw to you. I can't tell you in this place, but I hope you'll be willing to listen to it in my dorm.

“Do you have a problem, Mantingan? I will help you as much as I can!”

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

MANTINGan smiled softly hearing that. Dara is not just chatting, she really wants to help. It was not apparent that the above-average-looking young lady looked eager to seek the attention of Mantingan. After all, a friend who wants to help. However, it actually made Mantingan change his mind.

“After I thought back, you do not need to listen to my babble, Nyai. What kind of help do I dare to hope for you? Really, you've helped me so much all this time. It would be outrageous if I still expected help from you.”

A pair of eyes belonging to Dara stared at Mantingan's late-goal. “What would make you speak like this, O Mantingan whom I have known for a long time? You have saved my life many times in the past. You also have triggered all changes in a Dara, from black to white. No matter how much I try to repay you, it will never be enough.”

“All the things I have done for you do not need you to reply, Dara. Do you still remember what I said?”

“Yes. And I also still remember your other words: never hinder those who want to do good.”

The coat smiled wryly. Yet deep down in his deepest mind, he felt an incredible warmth. The mantle no longer felt that he was standing alone. There is Chitra Anggini, and now also added with Dara.

For a warrior who is fit to take the path of salvation alone, without friends, without brothers, without anything reliable in precarious circumstances other than himself, what is more valuable than a friendship?

His teacher, Kiai Kedai, once said to him:

“When you set foot in the martial well, you will know how much a friendship is worth more than all the possessions you have.”

How now he realized the truth of his teacher's words. Treasure cannot buy a swordsman's life, but a friendly relationship is capable of doing that.

Realizing how Mantingan had been immersed in his mind, Dara concluded a wide smile. “Let's go immediately to your dorm or my dorm. I will listen to you, and you have absolutely no right to obstruct me if I give you help.”

The mantang nodded his head.

***

“Dara ...”

CHITRA Anggini sizzled softly when he saw Dara standing with Mantingan in front of the door. Either the hiss is meant to greet or to express dislike.

“Eh, Chitra Anggini? Why are you here?”

“This is your room? Isn't this Mantingan's room?”

“One for two.” Chitra Anggini raised his chin. Challenging. “Do you not like, huh?”

Dara did not reply, but turned to Mantingan. His eyes clearly showed that he was demanding an explanation.

“We have an important task, Dara, then we are forced to take just one room to stay together ...”

“You have no intention of following a Love Event with her, do you?”

“No—”

“Who said?” Chitra Anggini cuts sharply. “Mantingan, after thinking about it, we will more easily infiltrate by following the event.”

“That's true, Mantingan?”

“Why do you always ask Mantingan? Does my being here not seem to you?”

The mantle raised both his hands. Let go of a little bit of killer lust. Chitra Anggini and Dara fell silent instantly, even their bodies began to tremble.

“Chitra, Dara, please understand. We're not playing around here. I don't care if you have any animosity before, but after here, you can't show that hostility in front of me. If anyone doesn't like it, then with a heavy heart I'll let you go.” The content of Mantingan words is still quite friendly, but the tone of his voice is very cold. Puncture and vibrate the eardrum. Both Chitra Anggini and Dara were equally surprised, they had never seen the Mantingan for a moment.

Meanwhile, Mantingan again drew his killer lust along with the exhalation of breath from his nose.

“Come, Dara. And Chitra, my traveling companion, I hope you will consult together.”

The two women nodded obediently. Chitra Anggini took a few steps back from behind the door, giving way. While Dara walked in while trying to smile at the woman. The mantle quickly locked the door, not forgetting to buy a piece of Magic Throw on the door leaf to prevent something unwanted.

Mantingan will take three benches as a negotiating place. Intention, to be more comfortable and smooth talking. But apparently, Dara and Chitra Anggini have agreed to sit melaseh on the floor.

“In order not to be too rigid, Mantingan.” Chitra Anggini stared at Mantingan with a thousand meanings, making the young man only able to agree to it. Sit cross-legged on the wooden floor.

After pounding a few times, Mantingan opened the conversation, “As we know, our meeting was completely unexpected. It was as if everything happened unintentionally. But I think of it more as destiny, a destiny of friendship that allows us to regroup. Chitra Anggini, if you ask for an explanation, then know that I found Dara unintentionally while walking outside the dorm, or rather it was Dara who found me.”

“I've been looking for you for a long time, Mantingan.” Dara chimed in with a haru smile. “If you had known, Mantingan, I would have spread my people all over the island in Dwipantara, even to Champa there. Hope one of them finds you. But who would have thought that I myself would find you?”

Once again Mantingan cleared his throat. The look on Chitra Anggini's face is no longer pleasant. “This me who is too low is actually not worth looking for by famous people like you, Dara. But since everything has passed, and in the end we can meet here, I express my deepest and sincere gratitude to you. I clearly knew that in order to find myself, there were a lot of resources you were wasting.”

“What all that means, as long as it's dap—”

“Quite berbasanya,” cut Chitra Anggini with a riled face look. “When do we get into the main negotiation? I'm really hungry, and you two may have eaten together outside the dorm. Basic indeed.”

Mantingan was about to advise Chitra Anggini not to say the same word, but Dara had already made a voice to reply to the woman.

“Chitra, what makes you say that? Do the two of us look like we've been having fun outside the hostel?”

“You came together with a big smile. Who would not have guessed that you had done such a pleasure out there?”

Mantingan rubbed his face while taking a deep breath. The debate between Chitra Anggini and Dara continues. It's getting hotter, actually. But this time, Mantingan no longer issued a murderous lust or cold words, even he did not try to stop the two adult women who somehow still behave with childishness.

Let it. Until they get tired and stop themselves.