The Thousand Mask Warrior

Rajah Garuda Sentanu

Jayaseta and his entourage of litter women and slaves are now in a cottage. This cottage is in the western part of Betawi fort. On the right left even the front and rear are filled with other wooden buildings belonging to the Chinese people that are used as a variety of shops. Such as grocery stores, taverns, even body care stores.

They followed Salman's grandfather the Flying Dancers' Knife's orders to follow him away from the road where they had fought. The Walanda company troops from the fort will definitely be directly targeting their hordes. How not, twenty company men were slaughtered.

The young woman's face smiled sweetly at Jayaseta. Her menor makeup was inversely proportional to her knotty smile and timid gaze. His multi-layered, flowery clothes did not seem to fit him. A layer of long jar that coiled around his body must have been much more fitting.

Pratiwi can't bear to not say hello to Jayaseta, “Kakang.”

Jayaseta frowned behind her mask. Suddenly he just opened his mask, “Pratiwi?”

“Iya kakang, adinda is indeed Pratiwi,” said the girl shyly.

The slaves looked at Jayaseta in disbelief. It was true what people said that the Thousand Mask Swordsman was a young boy behind his mask. Jayaseta himself doesn't care much about this. He was surprised because he had just met Pratiwi for a moment.

“Why is adinda here? And why was Adinda on that stretcher?” jayaseta said in wonder.

“Two times the leg helped adinda. Adinda was confused how to reply,” Pratiwi replied again.

It is clear that Pratiwi does not want to make Jayaseta stupefied again. Soon he told as much as possible what happened, “Kakang, after the leg left Cerbon, the company's men arrived. He said they wanted to find the leg, the Thousand Mask Swordsman.

“It seems they want to demand a reply. But when they did not find the kakang, they instead forced the villagers to give their daughters to be brought to Betawi for the Walanda people.”

Both of Pratiwi's eyes glazed over. He did not cry, but it was clear that the sadness was hanging.

“Didn't the Cerbon people dare to go against the company's orders? What about the Sultanate of Banten and its soldiers?” answer Jayaseta.

The voice that appeared later was the voice of Salman's grandfather, “Cerbon has a fairly close cooperation with Betawi. Together they feel threatened by the kingdom of Mataram. So the arrival of the company's men in Betawi did not surprise them so much. Even some company nyeleneh requests they participated.

“Originally you know young people, the rest of the hordes of Hell Earth Needles that the ruler of Cerbon captured have now been released because there are insiders helping them. They deliberately target young Cerbon girls to be used as mistresses or mistresses of Walanda.”

Hearing this Pratiwi couldn't help but cry. And so did the other three young women.

“They forced the sister to go to Betawi and became the property of the company people,” Pratiwi said later.

“Adinda is unable to fight. The debt that surrounds the family of Adinda makes the younger sister can not do anything,” said Pratiwi while holding back tears.

“Beched!” jayaseta is anxious.

But he then looked at Pratiwi and the four other women, “You will change your clothes. I don't really like seeing your looks,” Jayaseta said with a little joking.

The four women, including Pratiwi, immediately carried on with a smile, “Good young master,” said another, “Good kakang,” said Pratiwi.

Jayaseta deliberately made them to go for a moment to change their clothes because they wanted to talk more with Salman's grandfather. After all, it is also true that he does not like their makeup and clothing styles at all.

“Grandfather, who exactly are these grandfathers and slaves? Why did grandfather also become a slave, but even follow up against the guards? Grandfather was not a weak person at all,” Jayaseta seemed thirsty with all the news and complete stories about this incident.

“He he he,” the grandfather chuckles.

He then continued, “I did deliberately pretend to be one of the slaves. My goal was clear from the beginning young man, I was one of the people who fought to free this nation from the people of the company. When I first saw the disc you threw, I remembered Bharata. His artificial iron from the past is always bad, ha ha ha ..”

“I mean grandpa, Bharata's Grandpa Keling?”

“Hah? What did you say? Grandpa Rivet? Ha ha ha .. apparently that's the nickname you gave him?” said Salman's grandfather.

“Ya grandpa. Then obviously I'm not wrong, grandfather is Salman, the Flying Knife Dancer?” jayaseta is excited.

“Of course. That name is already attached to me.”

Finally the story flows. Salman's grandfather explained that he was preparing to attack the convoy of company men who were ordered to bring young women from Cerbon to be presented to the companies. The only way was to become a slave and prepare a stretcher equipped with weapons.

When the grandfather pretended to be exhausted and fell, he actually wanted to take his secret weapon and finish off the company's bodyguards.

Coveted granddaughter also arrived, Jayaseta helped the grandfather to attack the companies all-out. Unfortunately, they had to lose the slaves who did not know about this problem and only went to war because they also felt that life was too long miserable.

“Let my grandson, come with me to fight against the company. They are foreigners who want to control the land of Java. After Betawi maybe later Banten, Cerbon, Mataram, Bali, even the land of the Malays on the island of Samudra will they control,” said the grandfather excited.

Jayaseta smiled bitterly and shook her head.

“Then what about the attitude of Mataram who attacked Surabaya and burned Giri Kedaton? Isn't that also an act of arbitrary mastery of grandfather?” answer Jayaseta.

The grandfather wanted to answer but it was canceled because the four ladies of the palanquin had returned.

If Jayaseta's heart had not been bound by Almira's charm, of course Jayaseta would have realized that Pratiwi was also a young woman who was so beautiful. And charming.

In his youth, Pratiwi has shown the beauty of his face and the beauty of his body. How not he was clearly selected to be one of ‘handaran’ for the company.

The clothes of the company woman he was wearing now have been replaced by a sheet of batik jarit alone wrapped into Pratiwi's body covering the chest up to his thigh. His shoulders and back were naked. On his waist was bound a cloth that served as a belt. Her long hair was only inferred modestly to the back of her head. So do the other women who wear similar clothes.

Grandfather was silent. Not because of the women, but he decided not to explain further to Jayaseta about their conversation earlier. Though if Jayaseta knew that he and Bharata, the Grandpa Keling, had chosen a different path.

Eight years ago, in 1628, he was in his forties. In that ripe age, he participated in leading the Mataram army to the Betawi fortress with Tumenggung Bahureksa and Prince Mandureja but met with failure.

When Sultan Agung ordered the executioner to punish the two leaders, he also fled with other younger troops. Finally, he escaped the decapitation of seven hundred and forty-four Mataram troops.

Some of Mataram's men and those defending Mataram then moved in and defected to the company, such as members of the Hell's Earth Needle and some members of the Five Blood-kissing Demons.

Salman himself refused to be put to death and decided to keep fighting against the company. Salman also wondered why Bharata did not tell him everything about himself. It is also possible that Bharata would not want to have an unpleasant feeling if Jayaseta knew that he was a former Mataram soldier who had killed his father and destroyed his homeland, Giri Kedaton.

***

Sumringah pratiwi. She smiled sweetly in front of Jayaseta. Jayaseta himself is also happy, unfortunately not because it has the same taste with Pratiwi. Jayaseta is only relieved that he managed to save others again from the crime of the company people.

Regarding Salman's grandfather's offer to fight the company, frankly that's not what he wants. It does not matter whether the company, the royal forces of Mataram, Banten, Cerbon or any other government if it commits arbitrary actions it is certain that it will be ahead to prevent it.

The fragrant aroma of tea evaporated in front of Jayaseta's face. He smiled as Pratiwi placed the tea cup made of Chinese ceramics on a table in front of him. Pratiwi returned a smile to Jayaseta. Pratiwi's heart rumbled to see the good looks of the hero.

“Thanks Pratiwi,” said Jayaseta.

“Sama-sama Kakang,” reply Pratiwi.

When looked at, Pratiwi was indeed unable to hide his charm. No wonder the company's men took it to be handed over to the foreigners to be used as entertainment for their depraved lust.

“Kakang, sorry for the sassness of Adinda. But from the beginning of our meeting, sister did not know the name of the brother,” Pratiwi asked while looking down shyly.

“If kakang pleases, can you know the real name of kakang? It is not appropriate for Adinda to ask this, but she will also not be able to sleep quietly if she does not know the name of the helper adinda,” said Pratiwi later.

Jayaseta chuckles, “Adinda Pratiwi don't overdo it. I just do what needs to be done. But all right, my name is Jayaseta, adinda.”

Pratiwi smiled again and though still shy, he raised his tiny face and tried to look Jayaseta in the eye directly. The radiance of love appears again in the heart of the pratiwi, “Thanks brother Jayaseta.”

After taking down the company's entourage, Jayaseta, Salman's grandfather, the slaves and the four litter women stayed at an inn belonging to a Chinese man. At first the Chinese did not want to accept this group.

Moreover, it turns out that the owner, Abun, has difficulty speaking Malay or Java. Fortunately Jayaseta eloquently explained everything in the Hokkien dialect. Abun finally believed and reversed with his original attitude, he even gave all the needs of the group to put them in hidden rooms so as to avoid the pursuit of the company team that might soon find them.

The sweet, thick, and concentrated tea was slurped slowly by Jayaseta. The fun is amazing. Fighting is not a fun thing basically. Fighting is exhausting, exhausting and mind draining. The science of silat when taught from the beginning has the same philosophy, which is to defend yourself or defend the weak. The fight must always be avoidable or indeed if it must be done, it must be done quickly and precisely in order to solve the problem as soon as possible. Pratiwi's tea made Jayaseta realize how tired he was at the moment.

Pratiwi sits next to Jayaseta, “Kakang Jayaseta,”.

Jayaseta looking at Pratiwi, “Ya adinda.”

Pratiwi apparently brought a bundle of batik cloth which he then opened. Jayaseta saw a fairly long keris with a beautifully carved handle that seemed to be made of ivory.

“Kakang, if kakang deign, please kakang receive keris from this sister,” Pratiwi give that beautiful keris to Jayaseta.

Jayaseta at a loss, “What is this adinda?”

“Adinda already has this keris since childhood. Adinda's grandfather is said to be a champion in Swarnadwipa who gave this to the younger sister. When the younger sister was taken away by force, actually the younger sister had brought this kris secretly. But she did not have the courage to use it. Maybe warriors like kakang are entitled to have it,” said Pratiwi at length.

Jayaseta received the kris and took it out of the sheath. The keris bar is long and has a curve of thirteen. It's so beautiful and looks so sturdy.

“Kakek adinda named it Kyai Lucky Island. Adinda does not know what magic this keris has. But clearly only people who have kanuragan it seems to deserve it, kakang,” continued Pratiwi.

For the sake of seeing the beauty of the keris Jayaseta so not happy.

“I don't think I deserve this, Pratiwi. Adinda gave me a pair of clothes. I even tore it up. Now adinda gives me a keris that means so much to my sister,” Jayaseta said as she gave it back to Pratiwi.

“Take the kakang. Adinda. And indeed kakang need it more than adinda,” said Pratiwi forced.

Jayaseta again grasped the long keris and felt its beautiful handle and sheathed it back. He smiled at Pratiwi and thanked her.

***

Grandfather Salman stood in front of Jayaseta in the not-so-large living room of Abun's inn. There are only two wooden chairs and a small round table in Chinese style.

Jayaseta standing bare-chested. He was wearing only black knee-length pants. Even his hair was just rolled up. Jayaseta's eyes closed, while her breathing went up and down regularly. Jayaseta is in perfect concentration of mind and body.

“Repair your breath well. Once you feel capable of becoming the master of your own body, slowly invite the curse poison of Kyai Plered. Nagataksaka will fight Kyai Plered's poison. Let them fight for a moment, but try not to fall too deep into their battle, my grandson,” Grandpa Salman said as he pulled out his secret weapon knife from behind his belt.

“When they fight, I will put Garuda Sentanu on top of the Nagataksaka Rajah made by Bharata to undo the curse of Kyai Plered,” said Salman's grandfather while channeling his inner energy into his right hand that had held a throwing knife of his.

Pratiwi stood in the corner of the guest room watching Jayaseta and the grandfather with a worried and agitated face.

Pratiwi ngeyel to participate when the grandfather offers Jayaseta for “treat him”. Jayaseta had previously told at length all the things that had happened to him, especially regarding the curse poison Kyai Plered that was in his body on Pratiwi. Jayaseta feels Pratiwi deserves to know about this.

The grandfather had known from the beginning that something was different about Jayaseta as he fought with the company's mercenaries and had also successfully warned Jayaseta to control the poison, intent on freeing Jayaseta from the curse.

Therefore, he immediately listened to Jayaseta's story from the beginning he got the poison curse of Kyai Plered's heirloom spear until Grandpa Keling enlisted Nagataksaka to tame the poison. Salman's grandfather then nodded and understood Bharata's reason for asking him to help Jayaseta.

Grandfather Salman felt the need to give the Garuda Sentanu tattoo to strengthen the resistance and expel the power of the poison curse of the Kyai Plered spear.

“Let me see the disc Bharata gave you, my grandson,”.

Jayaseta hands over all three discs, one of which has been sompeled.

The grandfather chuckled, “Heh heh heh, I told you that the iron made by the old man was bad.”

The grandfather then took out a square-shaped object wrapped in white cloth. When the cloth covering it was opened, a beautifully carved colorful wooden box was seen. My grandfather opened the wooden box.

In it Jayaseta can see various sharp objects made of iron. It seemed like it was a variety of secret weapons, a kind of throwing weapon. Not surprising because all day Jayaseta saw the deftness of the Flying Dancers Knife in using a secret knife as a throwing weapon. One of the sharp objects he took out was a disc.

This disc, although similar in size to the three discs given by Grandpa Keling, looks heavier and sturdier. On the inside of the circle are beautiful golden carvings. Salman's grandfather handed the disc to Jayaseta.

“Take this Jayaseta to replace your sompel disc,” said the grandfather while once again chuckling.

It's been two weapons given by others today to her, Jayaseta thought. Without hesitation and willing to talk Jayaseta accepted it.

“This disc is heavier than the three Bharata discs, but it is certainly much stronger and sturdier. The strength of this iron I made is five times stronger than your butut disk, he he he. When you throw it well it can produce cutting power that is very dangerous for your enemies.”

“Thanks grandpa.”

“Consider my gift to my best friend's student,” reply to grandfather.

It was then that Salman's grandfather asked Jayaseta to come to the small living room of the inn to infuse Garuda Sentanu with his wounds.

***

The figure of Grandpa Keling and Grandpa Salman is actually a similar scratch to the image that is fed by deep energy. The inner energy is also accompanied by prayers to the Great or Almighty God in order to get the best results.

Rajah Nagataksaka is a deep energy that as the name implies is described as a powerful Nagataksaka but ‘nakal’. Flowing wildly in Jayaseta's body and inhibiting the rate of poison Kyai Plered.

While Garuda Sentanu is a power in a more ‘bijak’ but very strong, exceeding Nagataksaka's strength. Salman's grandfather is deliberately cut down to help remind Ngataksaka who is too wild and naughty to help Jayaseta' body. In addition, he was also intended to not only confine the poison power of Kyai Plered in Jayaseta's body, but also destroy it.

When when Nagataksaka Jayaseta was presented concentrated his inner energy in a cross-legged state, Garuda Sentanu was presented standing.

Jayaseta clenched her palms together on her chest then clenched her hands together and placed them beside her body. He regulated his breathing and felt pure air enter the center of his chest. With that pure energy he also blew up the energy so that the inside of his body jerked. With this, it ‘fishing’ Kyai Plered to exit.

Sure enough, Jayaseta's body stretched. But he tried to control it with the power of Nagataksaka. The scratch on his left chest was like a light, as well as the arrow wound on his right shoulder. Not only that, all of the scars scattered on Jayaseta's body also lit up like small flames.

Grandfather Salman smiled meaningfully.

He concentrated his inner energy into his right hand then onto his throwing knife. He approached Jayaseta and began to incise another wound on Nagataksaka's face.

Jayaseta growling. His body seemed to be burning to the crown. But on the other hand, he felt a chill slowly seeping into his body from his left chest.

Grandfather Salman increased his concentration of power to the diagram. Now the wound incised by the grandfather has formed a picture of the claw of a garuda. It then continues to form the wings, neck, head and continues down to form legs and claws on the other side to grip Nagataksaka.

Extraordinary energy had seeped into Jayaseta's body. He could already feel that in a moment he would be free from the curse poison of Kyai Plered's heirloom spear. Soon the poison will leave his body forever and he will not have to worry anymore the poison will come out at any time to control himself.

Jayaseta's body was turbulent, but not because of the pain but rather the comfort and power of the extraordinary.

The grandfather himself now lives to close the Garuda Sentanu tattoo on the claw. Just stay in line again until suddenly he shouted loudly, “Aaakhhhh ...!”

The grandfather stopped his rakahan and had not had time to close his last scratch. Now he fell to his knees. His mouth was spitting out fresh blood.

***

Jayaseta flinched and opened her eyes.

On seeing him the grandfather in front of him fell to his knees in a very sad state. While not far behind him, Pratiwi was standing with two hands holding two daggers covered in blood.

Her face that was so beautiful and innocent was now on the back of a faint smile that was cruel and frightening.