The Thousand Mask Warrior

Khun Wanchay Na Ayutthaya

Datuk Mas Kuning let out a long sigh. He was completely unexpected with all these events, not even going through his mind.

"I gave permission to the people from the other side of the land to work freely in the land of Sukadana. I also allowed them to follow you, Dara, and Jayaseta to the land of Temenggung Bear" he shook his head in concern. "I do not accuse all Javanese who come to Sukadana of having bad intentions. If I were like that, I would be like the conflicting Sukadana officials and imprison me. However, I should be more sensitive and more responsible with all my decisions," the Datuk said guiltily.

The injuries on the Datuk's body already looked very improved. Even basically, for an aged person like Datuk Mas Kuning, the speed of recovery is amazing.

The sadness and regret of the Datuk comes doubled because they know that the group who left for the ulin-wood fortified village was reduced almost entirely.Past time the Datuk returned at this late age. The death of Karsa, the news of the death of the old friend, Temenggung Bear, and the grandson who was exposed to witchcraft clearly made a sense of sadness that attacked repeatedly.

Not much can be returned to reduce the disappointment. Everyone feels more or less the same.

"But if that is the line of the Almighty, I as a human being can do nothing but live and face what lies ahead," the grandfather tried hard. Not why, his age is not young, he should spend a lot of time to get closer to God. But circumstances say something else. He seems to have to pay off a debt in his turbulent youth and a burning spirit.

"We must focus on healing Dara" continued the Datuk.

***

Cuca Bangkai can be read since the time of the kingdom of Daya Sidiniang located in the Sangkiang mountains led by someone named Patih Gumantar and was established in 1340 AD. Patih Gumantar has a close relationship with Mahapatih Gajah Mada from Majapahit kingdom.

At that time also, the Tartar Kingdom led by Toghon Temur Khan, who had controlled almost half the content of the earth, was still curious to be able to control the countries around the archipelago.

The Tartars ruled China and formed the Yuan Dynasty. At the time of his grandfather's reign, Kublai Khan, the Tartar empire was in its heyday, although the attack on Java which was in the change of power from Singasari to Majapahit and neighboring kingdoms such as Dai Viet, Champa, and Bagan countries of the Burmese people failed.

So in the time of Toghon Temur Khan, there was an attempt to again try to subjugate these kingdoms .

In order to fulfill the oath of the Mahapatih, namely Amukti Palapa which was spoken at the ceremony of his appointment to become Patih Amungkubhumi Majapahit in 1336 AD, uniting the Nusantara region under the banner of the Majapahit kingdom and holding back the power of the Tartar Raj, the Patih asked Patih Gumantar for help to go to the land of the Siamese people who had just transitioned from the Sukhothai kingdom to the Ayutthaya Kingdom who managed to subdue him.

Patih Gajahmada asked Patih Gumantar for help especially in dealing with the sorcerer Tartar who was included in the part of the soldiers.

The shamans asked for power from the evil god called the black tenacious group. These shamans have incredible knowledge. They did not immediately intervene in a war, but gave spells, spells and amulets so that the Tartar troops could not be sick, not easily injured, quickly recovered from injury, and so on, have the courage without the slightest fear, and move faster and stronger.

Facing magic must be with magic. Patih Gumantar with his extraordinary Cuca Bangkai strength assisted by several soldiers of Daya selection, crossing the sea with the Javanese Majapahit forces under the leadership of Patih Gajah Mada, against the shamans, who were, makes Tartar's army weaken like a living corpse.

Fighting is inevitable, but proved Tartar soldiers are not people who can be underestimated, let alone shamans. Patih Gumantar needs more warriors with magic.

Patih Gajah Mada then had the thought to try to ask for help from soldiers and Ayutthaya magic people who were able to master the magic of Cuca Bangkai.

For Majapahit, the neighboring foreign kingdoms in the country of Siam are called at that time such as Syangka, Darmmanagari and Ayodhyapura is the ancient name Majapahit for Ayutthaya is a satata partner. That is to say the kingdoms were friends of Majapahit parallel, not conquered areas, in addition to other kingdoms such as Champa and Cambodia, the land of the Khmer people.

The fourth Majapahit king, Hayam Wuruk, ascended the throne in 1350 AD with the title Sri Rajasanagara and soon entered into its glory. While the kingdom of Ayutthaya was formed a year later, namely in 1351 AD with its first king, U-Thong or another name king Ramatibodhi First.

So obviously, the request for help from the chosen people to be able to master Cuca Bangkai was immediately welcomed and tried to be fulfilled by the king of U-Thong.

Of the dozens of Ayutthaya soldiers, finally there are only five people who are able to control Cuca Bangkai, the rest of the many who surrender, injured, even forced to die not strong to learn the magic.

The war continued, so the Tartars were finally pushed back from the gates of Siam. Their shaman was overwhelmed by the Cuca Bangkai, while his troops were exposed to a lot of magic so that they could not fight like true soldiers, had to die at the hands of the soldiers of Java, Daya and Siam.

The defeat of the Tartars was also exacerbated by the loss of much of their holdings in China by the Han Chinese emperors Lin'er and Xu Shouhui and the various rebellions and attacks of the Ming dynasty.

The defeat and expulsion of the Tartars from the land of Siam still had a bad impact on the combined forces of Java, Daya and Siam. Especially Patih Gumantar who lost more than half of the army, even his magic army was only one person left, equal to five Ayutthaya soldiers who were left one anyway.

"With the death of Patih Gumantar at the hands of the Biaju people, then the master of witchcraft from the land of the Power people could be said to disappear. But after finding your story that the magic of Cuca Bangkai was then used by one of the important commanders of Biaju, it could be the time of the conquest of Sidiniang, the Biaju people were able to learn it, from one soldier Daya who still survived. The science continues to be passed down to the commander," said Datuk Mas Kuning.

"However, he has been killed, Grandfather. If what Datuk means is to seek healing from the person who mastered the magic, it seems we will find a dead end. It is impossible to find Biaju people to be asked for help, especially they are clearly hostile to the Power tribe under the leadership of Temenggung Bear," Jayaseta said.

Datuk Mas Kuning nodded in agreement. "True, we cannot ask the Biaju people for help, but we still have hope in Ayutthaya" replied the Datuk. The room became full of whispers.

"Bears often tell me about the descendants of one soldier who mastered the magic of Cuca Bangkai. Even reportedly, he did create a culture in his family to preserve Cuca Bangkai by generations. I also finally followed the news about the descendants of the Ayutthaya warrior without breaking up. About three years ago, the only descendant of the warrior bloodline was a man named Wanchay. He lived in Ayutthaya, lived as a priyayi or nobleman known as Khun Wanchay Na Ayutthaya, or Lord Wanchay of Ayutthaya," explained the Grandfather at length.

"Hamba will be there, Datuk. I will visit Ayutthaya." Jayaseta said sure. "But, there's something I need to do first before this long journey back I do. Servant wants to marry Dara Cempaka, Grandpa."

Everyone in the room could not help their surprise, including their joy, or confusion, or their ignorance.

Dara Cempaka looked up, but then looked back down, closed his eyes, a mixture of happiness, confusion and mixed various other flavors. Datuk Mas Kuning stared at a pair of Jayasetas and found steadiness in them.