The Musafir

The Musafir

PUAN Darkness had never expected much before, but getting such a scathing answer then scratched his mind.

With a slight tremble, he said, “About that matter, I should indeed ask you for forgiveness. But, try to imagine even a little in my position at that time. The strength of my group is too weak, we are forced to borrow greater strength from outsiders. I can only rely on the thinking power I have to set up a strategy for the sake of a scheming, to achieve a goal that I consider noble to be together.”

Mantingan shook his head while breathing regretfully. “But however, I must admit that I feel lucky to have been trapped. If it were not so, I would never have been able to kill a king who was under tremendous pressure at that time. It could be that the Pair of Moon Swords was still in his hands at the moment. I also appreciate you who did not intend to take a pair of mestika weapons.”

Smiling, Mrs Darkness replied, “I have promised not to object to anything you wish to question. Ask your heart.”

“Where is Chitra Anggini?”

The question is perfect to make the Darkness Mistress back silent. The mantle does not change the question. Once the young man is strong, then I am who he should be.

“It is not me who must answer that question for you, Hero Man.” Mistress of Darkness smiled. A smile capable of breaking down the hardness of anyone's heart. “Let him who claims to be Raksabhuni explain it to you. But it would be nice if you do not welcome him in this room.”

“Raksabhuni?” Tetiba's mantle remembered the man from the desert peninsula. Wasn't he the one who wanted to write all his stories? “I think I should meet him where?”

***

The tea room of the palace is amazingly beautiful. The grandfather to the grandfather who once led the Koying must have paid great attention to this room, because of how much they need it as a place to think or just rest from the fatigue of government affairs.

The room is located on the edge of a fish pond that is quite spacious. Fresh green lotuses floated quietly on the surface of the water, some of which had even bloomed, some of which had bloomed, coupled with water spiders who like have mastered the science of lightening the body so that they can easily sit on the water with their legs.

Rashid, or Raksabhuni, was seen sitting cross-legged behind one of the small tables with several cups and a teapot on top of it. Although his eyes looked far away towards the fish pond, he clearly knew that Mantingan had come to him.

“It feels like we have not met for so long, Rashid.” Mantingan greeted as he was already quite close to Rashid.

Gazing at the Mantingan, the thick-bearded man let out a wide laugh. “Not too long actually, but it does take so long. Sit here and enjoy a cup of tea, brother.”

The mantle sat cross-legged right in front of him. Rashid immediately poured the tea into one of the cups. The cold air of Kotaraja makes the steam from the warm drink more and more so.

“You're here to question your girlfriend's whereabouts, aren't you?” asked Rashid who was not answered anything by Mantingan because such a question does not require an answer. “I will tell you about it at the end of our conversation, because how much the reality about the woman will surprise you enough. First I have to tell you some other important things before we really part.”

Despite being eager to get word of Chitra Anggini as soon as possible, Mantingan is aware that Rashid knows what is best for him. It is not worth doubting the arrangement of the storytelling of an accomplished storyteller.

“Now, Mrs Darkness has taken over the settlement. With a little help from the outside forces, the tissues of the intoxicating drug dealers had left the place. If his actions seem too easy and fast, then we must consider all kinds of ways that the Dark Lord did with his secret network in the underground martial world.

“The residents there have agreed to dub you as ‘The Young Hero of Resurrection’. Of course they don't know what your name is. A large stone statue was being carved in that place. Even more amazing, they put flower offerings and a little food in a place that has been agreed as a temple of respect for you. This will be a very interesting thing for me to write in your travel story.”

The mantan did not experience any change in the look of his face. Not because he is not happy, he just does not have enough care or feelings to respond to it. After everything he had gone through three days ago, his mind seemed to have gone numb, almost numb.

“The next thing, regarding your story itself, I did not change the line-up too much. You're quite talented at composing words. And after I read the full story of you in the appendix, I have proposed a title that I think is very suitable for him: The Musafir.”

Forehead Crimped mantle. “Musafir?”

“It is the language of my land to call those who wander or simply make pilgrimages to distant places with the aim of seeking the meaning of life. I think all your journey is not just about going through the fight to the fight to find satisfaction, but you are actually more looking for meaning and lessons from every fight you go through. While reading all that, my narrow eyes are wide open.”

The mantang nodded his head. “If you want it to be like that, then just make it.”

“But, the manuscript is not without its own problems.” Rashid continues his story with a bad face, “news about you who commit treason can not be covered up again, even though Mrs Darkness has tried hard for it. Soon, the news will reach Javadvipa, and you will most likely not get a fragrant name again. I can't just spread your manuscript to a wide-ranging delusion. It will only have a bad effect on the authenticity of your manuscript. Possibly, I will hand it over to a trusted person or college in Javadvipa to maintain the integrity of your story, so as not to be meddled in the hands of the government.”

“Not a problem. Just do what you want to do.”

Mantingan did not find it difficult when he heard that his name would no longer be fragrant. Such grief was never comparable to the death of his teacher as well as Tapa Balian. It never will.

“You will take care of me earnestly, Mantingan. If only eternal life were possible, I would have contributed my entire life to keep the manuscript to at least two thousand more years from this time.”

The mantle did not answer, only smiled. Although it sounded exaggerated, he knew that what Rashid said was not just an empty joke. He meant what he said, but could eternal life really be achieved by weak beings like humans?

“Now I have to answer your question about your female friend named Chitra Anggini. He just left me a letter without saying much. I want you to read it yourself, but of course after you feel ready to receive all his statements in the letter.”

The mantle clenched his forehead once more. Why did Rashid say as if Chitra Anggini was carrying such terrible news in his letter?

As he knew the question in the young man's mind, Rashid immediately handed him a palm filled with writing.