Chapter 24
It turned out that Erick Vildy also met a general who was in charge of guarding the pedestrian bridge at the intersection of the six reincarnation paths. As soon as he saw a red light flickering from Erick Vildy's eyeballs, the guard general immediately bowed in salute.
"My respect to Red Star..." said the general.
"Stand up... Stand up..." said Erick Vildy immediately raised the guard general. He did not expect that at the intersection of the six paths of reincarnation like this, the three lucky stars would truly be respected and admired. "I'm not that great. I just happen to have been entrusted with the red star by Silver God and Ruby Goddess who are in the god realm there."
"Yes... Whoever is entrusted with guarding or entrusted with the three lucky stars, we must show our respect, Sir. Look… With the power of Red Star, those unclothed beings, some of them have already started wearing brown clothes and some have even started wearing colorful clothes."
"Does… Does... Does the color of their clothes determine where they are born?" asked Erick Vildy again.
Just as the guard general wanted to open his mouth to explain, he suddenly saw Yellow Star standing behind Red Star. Spontaneously he immediately bowed and saluted.
"My respect to Yellow Star..."
"Stand up... Stand up... Don't hesitate... Don't hesitate... I'm not that great," said Erwie Vincent, setting up the guard general.
"Wie…! Wie…! Wie…! You are here, huh. Finally I've found you... Finally I've found you..." said Erick Vildy immediately grabbed his first brother into a hug. A few tears of compassion flowed down and soaked Erwie Vincent's yellow night pajamas.
"I'm fine, Rick… How about you yourself? Are you okay?" asked Erwie Vincent looking at his eldest brother from head to toe. "The poison isn't in your body anymore, is it?"
"Looks like nothing more, Wie. I remember I was finished as soon as the poison reached its climax. I remember falling asleep in a long sleep. Once I woke up, I was here. I thought I was dead. I joined the ranks of the people dressed in brown. The guard general said, I am not on their list. That means I'm still alive, aren't I?" said Erick Vildy giving a little explanation.
"I also felt I've finished. As soon as those evil demon black snakes pierced my body, I also felt I fell asleep in a long sleep. Once awakened, I was already here. However, I'm still wearing the night pajamas I wore last time. I shouldn't be dead, should I?" said Erwie Vincent with a relaxed smile.
"I think there's someone in the human realm who's snatched our three lucky stars from that Dark Stone Demon's hand and returned them to our bodies. I don't know who he is…" Erick Vildy looked bent.
"I think so. Now how do we find Die Die and return to our realm? If we haven't died, of course none of the six paths we can take to get back to our realm, right?" Erwie Vincent also looked slackened.
"Oh yes... You haven't explained where each of these six routes will lead to, have you, General?" asked Erick Vildy turning back to the guard general.
"Those without clothes will go to the hell realm, because of their evil deeds and because of their hatred while alive. The ones in black head towards the animal realm because of their ignorant energy. Those in gray and brown clothes will go to the demon realms and the genie realms because of their energy of greed and hatred as well. Those with colorful clothes will be reborn into the human realm. The one in white will be born into the realm of the gods. That's it, Red Star, Yellow Star… All of them will carry their own karma and pass it on to the next life according to their respective karmic energies," said the general, bending his body slightly.
"Well, Red Star can neutralize the energy of hatred in this universe. Some of the creatures without clothes have already worn gray or brown clothes, and some who wear brown clothes have already worn colorful clothes. On the other hand, Yellow Star can neutralize the ignorant energy in this universe. Some of the creatures in black are already wearing brown clothes and some are wearing colorful clothes. Look over there…" said the guard general pointing to the intersection of the six reincarnation paths in front of Erick Vildy and Erwie Vincent.
"What, what awaits them at the end of each of these six paths, General?" asked Erwie Vincent gently and casually.
"There will be a pedestrian bridge like this too," said the guard general pointing to the bridge they were standing on at the time, "After that, there will be courts that judge and decide their sentences and where they will be born. In the final judgment, once it has been decided where they will be reborn, their bodies will automatically change into a beam of light according to the color of their respective clothes and will immediately move to their next realm. That's it, Red Star, Yellow Star…" said the general ending his long explanation.
Erick Vildy and Erwie Vincent continued to stare at the crowd of people who were in their respective paths with dreamy eyes. No one spoke at all.
Suddenly, Erwie Vincent's eyes fixed on a young man who was on the path of reincarnation into the human realm. Obviously the young man was dressed in green, and from behind he looked exactly like Erick Vildy and Erwie Vincent. Erwie Vincent lightly tapped his eldest brother's shoulder and pointed to the young man in green. Erick Vildy's eyes widened at once when he realized who his middle brother was pointing at.
"It must be Die Die, Wie... Yes... Yes... No doubt... Those green night pajamas only belong to him..." said Erick Vildy turned again to his middle brother to confirm his assumption.
"Let's look over there for a moment, Rick..." said Erwie Vincent.
After saying goodbye to the general who guarded the overpass, the two brothers immediately moved to the point where their youngest brother was.
***
"Sir…"
"Mam..."
"Sis..."
"Bro... Can I ask a question? Where will this very long route go?"
Erdie Vio tried to get the people around him to talk, but no one really bothered him. With empty, hollow eyes, everybody continued to slowly move in one direction. Erdie Vio was getting confused. Where would this path actually lead? What if he got the wrong track and couldn't come back?
Erdie Vio finally arrived at a gate. There was a large gate in front of him. There was absolutely no writing on the gate. Erdie Vio was confused again.
Erdie Vio met a yaksa guard at the gate. The yaksa looked at him and realized that Erdie Vio was different from the others.
"Wait a minute!" came the cold and serious tones of the yaksa guard's voice. Erdie Vio stopped and gasped in place.
"You are different from the others, Sir. Your eyes and life energy are still full. You shouldn't be here. What is your name? Let me first check on my list of names," said the yaksa guard continued to stare at Erdie Vio with a deep frown on his forehead.
"Erdie Vio... Erdie Vio Makmur..." said Erdie Vio while pressing his lips together. He was forced to stand beside the gate and let the others pass first.
"There is no Erdie Vio Makmur here… Absolutely not, Sir. You're still not dead, Sir. You are still alive. You shouldn't be here. Please go back to the front and follow the directions there to return to your body in the human realm," said the prosecutor closing his book of life and death again.
"Is it true…? Is it true? I'm still alive? You didn't check it wrong, did you?" asked Erdie Vio, starting to show his enthusiasm and spirits again. Green light flashed from his eyeballs. Seeing that, the guardian yaksa who was standing in front of him, knew immediately who he actually was.
"There's no way I checked wrong. You are not dead, Sir. You are Green Star messenger from the realm of the gods up there. How can you be dead, Sir? The Yaksa Guardian of the Gate salutes the Green Star…" said Yaksa the Guard immediately bowed and saluted.
"Stand up... Stand up... I'm just an ordinary human being entrusted the green lucky star by Silver God and Ruby Goddess from the god realm up there. How can a god like you pay homage to an ordinary human like me? Impossible… Impossible…" said Erdie Vio hurriedly standing up the yaksa guard.
"Anyone who is entrusted with three lucky stars from the divine realm above, we must respect, Green Star. Now… Green Star, where are you going?" asked the yaksa guard again.
"Mmm…" Erdie Vio pondered for a moment, but the next second his signature smile full of enthusiasm and joy had returned. "Since you said I was alive, of course I want to return to my body in the human realm and look for my two brothers."
"Look no further, Die," said Erick Vildy from behind.
"We were looking for you and now we've found you, Die," said Erwie Vincent also standing behind him.
Slowly, Erdie Vio turned away. He found the figure of Erick Vildy in his red pajamas and Erwie Vincent in his yellow pajamas. A smile began to bloom on the lips of the youngest brother. He lunged at his two brothers. He let a few tears of compassion roll down freely.
"Rick…! Wie…!" shouted Erdie Vio, immediately grabbing his two siblings into his arms.
"Are you okay, Wie? Are you okay?" said Erdie Vio, stroking the middle brother's stomach and chest.
Erwie Vincent exploded in casual laughter, "Please, Die... I know you miss me so much, but there's no need to rub my stomach and chest all over..."
"Are you all right, Rick? The poison isn't there anymore right?" asked Erdie Vio as well as stroking his eldest brother's stomach, chest and neck.
Erick Vildy exploded in his crisp laugh, "Please, Die. There is no poison. The poison is gone. Did you manage to beat that Dark Stone Demon?"
"I'm sorry, Rick, Wie… I failed to beat him. If it hadn't been for him playing poison from behind like that, I would have defeated him. I felt I'd been falling asleep in my long sleep. As soon as I woke up from my long sleep, I was here," heard Erdie Vio's long sigh, "I'm really useless, Rick, Wie. Not only could I save you, but I also couldn't keep the three lucky stars out of that Dark Stone Demon's hand."
"It is okay. The proof is that luck is still on our side, right? There is someone in the human realm who has snatched the three lucky stars from the evil demon's hand and returned them to our bodies. I wonder who he is…" said the eldest brother putting his hand on the youngest brother's shoulder.
"So now we can go back to our bodies, right – in the human realm?" asked Erdie Vio a little worried.
"If we want to return to the human realm, what did the gatekeeper say earlier, Die?" asked Erwie Vincent.
"We have to return to the front of this intersection of six reincarnation paths. He said there are directions. We just follow it and automatically we can return to the human realm," said Erdie Vio pointing to the front.
"Okay… Let's go back to the front of the intersection of the six reincarnation paths. Later we will see how," said Erick Vildy to his two siblings.
The other two E's nodded firmly. Three E started walking forward, breaking through the line of the crowd of people who were about to be reborn into the human realm. Erdie Vio looked at the faces of the people in front of him. Everyone looked forward with a blank, vacant look. Now he began to understand why the gatekeeper yaksa said he was different from the others, and immediately concluded that he was still alive.
"What's the matter, Die...?" asked Erwie Vincent with his relaxed smile.
"So many died today. All of them will be reborn into six different realms. They don't have another chance anymore in this life. Meanwhile we still have a chance to come back and defeat Dark Stone Demon," said Erdie Vio with a dreamy look.
Erwie Vincent seemed to smile casually, "That's it, Die... This world... Every day, every minute, and even every second, life and death come and go."
"Suddenly I feel the three of us are lucky people among the sea of tens of thousands of people who are here. At least we still have time and opportunity, Wie, Die," said Erick Vildy as he walked, looking over the white horizon with his wandering eyes.
"Okay... We go back to our bodies first and we face Dark Stone Demon together," said Erdie Vio, wrapping his hands around his siblings' necks. "With the three of us together, this time I'm sure we can beat him."
The 3E walked in unison towards the intersection of the six reincarnation paths. The remaining steps were taken with a true story about who the three of them really were and what the three of them had got to do with Silver God from Erick Vildy and Erdie Vio to Erwie Vincent.
The brotherhood, solidarity and closeness of 3E was getting closer now.
***
Two hours passed. Ruby Goddess, Melisa Rayadi and Sabrina Marcelina's eyes were still swollen when suddenly they felt the Silver God's accessories and robes start popping up again one by one. Ruby Goddess exclaimed spontaneously with joy.
"Rin! Mel! Look at this! Look at this!" Ruby Goddess said, calling Melisa Rayadi and Sabrina Marcelina so that they came closer to her. Spontaneously the two names that were called immediately jogged closer to Ruby Goddess and Silver God.
"Wow…! The Silver God's mighty accessories and robes that have withered just now are looking fresh and popping up again one by one," said Sabrina Marcelina with a pair of astonished eyes.
"Does... Does... Does that mean 3E has hope in defeating Dark Stone Demon, Ruby Goddess?" asked Melisa Rayadi with her eyes starting to blink and sparkle.
Ruby Goddess nodded with enthusiasm and spirits, "Yes, Mel, Rin… What happens to 3E will have an immediate impact on Silver God. Look… The god's spirit started to rise again. All accessories and mighty robes are starting to refresh. I'm sure everything will be all right, Mel, Rin. Three E will defeat Dark Stone Demon and they will return safely."
There was a hint of hope and expectation that began to flare up again in the eyes of Melisa Rayadi and Sabrina Marcelina.
***
The rays on 3E's bodies began to dim. Slowly, the three of them began to open their respective eyes. The night wind blew gain. The dark horizon still roared above them. Three E, of course, was a little stunned and shocked to see the figure of Aldo Morales and Dark Stone Demon in front of them.
"Rendy Ibrahim? Aldo Morales?" Erick Vildy and Erwie Vincent couldn't believe their eyesight.
"That damned demon borrowed the body of Rendy Ibrahim who's died, Rick, Wie. He sacrificed his own allies to achieve his selfish and greedy goals!" said Erdie Vio with a sharp glare at Black Stone Demon.
"Welcome back to the human world, 3E... Congratulations on fulfilling your duties in eradicating the evil demon that threatens the future of the human realm and the realm of the gods..." said Aldo Morales with a cynical smile on the corner of his lips.
"Aldo Morales? You... You... You returned the three lucky stars to the three of us? Why…?" Erwie Vincent looked at Aldo Morales in amazement.
Aldo Morales laughed for a moment, but then he looked at Dark Stone Demon with a gaze, "The debt of dreams is paid with dreams. He has destroyed my only very precious dream. Instead, I have ruined and destroyed his dream which is also very valuable. The debt of life is paid with life. He still owes me one life. And, the three of you who will help me collect it."
"Hah? So is it Black Stone Demon who killed Stella Kuangdinata? As I thought…" said Erdie Vio, staring at the evil demon with a gaze.
"He borrowed Rendy Ibrahim's hand to finish off the girl I really love… He not only used Stella for his own selfish ends, but he also took her away and got rid of her when he didn't need her. Can that be forgiven? Of course not, is it?" Aldo Morales's eyes were glaring sharply at Dark Stone Demon.
"Shut up, Aldo Morales! You're damned! You're nothing more than a demon like me! I will reclaim the three lucky stars and destroy you together with 3E! I will destroy all of you!" still heard the screams of Black Stone Demon that echoed in all directions.
The evil demon started charging towards Aldo Morales and 3E. Aldo Morales himself began to turn into a mass of black smoke and disappeared from the place. Forced 3E to face and become the opponent of Dark Stone Demon. There was a hands-and-feet fight between the evil demon and 3E. Explosions of the force energy waves occurred several times in the air and on the ground.
Black Stone Demon swung his two hands in the air. He formed a roll of earth and rocks which he directed to 3E. Three E's was immediately confined in the roll of earth and rocks. Erdie Vio again remembered what happened to him in the previous fight.
"Be careful, Rick, Wie… Within this roll of earth and rocks there are toxins that will enter our bodies without us knowing it. I let my guard down here and a moment later I was poisoned," said Erdie Vio warning his siblings.
Erick Vildy nodded firmly, "Don't worry, Die. My red light has a poison barrier. If it's not entered by mouth, I can still handle it."
The eldest brother directed his red light in all directions. The middle brother also aimed his yellow light at the scrolls of earth and rock that enclosed them. In an instant, the scroll of earth and rock that enclosed 3E shattered instantly. This time, the youngest brother swung his hand in the air. By shaking his hands, he managed to break off many branches and trunks of trees. With another sweep of his hand, a green light flashed from his right hand. The green light immediately directed all the branches and tree trunks towards Dark Stone Demon.
No doubt, Black Stone Demon was hit by the incessant blows of branches and tree trunks. Black blood was gushing out from his mouth. Dark Stone Demon laid helplessly on the ground now.
"I won't lose… Dark Stone Demon can't lose to three ordinary humans. I can't possibly lose…" said Black Stone Demon still trying to stand up straight.
Opening his hand and aiming it once more at 3E, Black Stone Demon emitted his black energy again at 3E. Erick Vildy blocked the energy by emitting a red wave. There was a battle of energy waves in the air.
Erwie Vincent whizzed into the air. With once sweeping his hand through the air, numerous small yellow swords were formed. The small swords immediately shot as fast as lightning towards Black Stone Demon. Black Stone Demon that had no preparation was of course immediately hit by the attack from the yellow star. Again, Black Stone Demon was slammed backwards. He was slammed into the black rocks behind him. There was black blood gushing out of his mouth like a fountain.
"Give it up, you rascal demon! You have arrived at the end of your path. Get out of this human realm! You are not welcome here at all," came the screams of Erick Vildy who was thumping amidst the swishing night wind.
"We're not going to finish you. Therefore, get out of this human realm immediately! Get away from here as far as possible!" said Erwie Vincent in a gentle yet relaxed manner, but his eyes were glaring sharply at Dark Stone Demon.
Erdie Vio stared at Dark Stone Demon with dark eyes, "Is this your dream that you are proud of, Dark Stone Demon? I told you before, didn't I? If you are too greedy and only rely on strength from outside, forever you will not get whatever you dream of."
Dark Stone Demon stared at 3E before him with a gaze full of hatred and dissatisfaction. It was clear that he still couldn't accept his defeat. His laughter sounded out into the dark, starry horizon that night. Suddenly the tip of the highest star that night began to fall to the ground. The pink light seemed brighter and brighter in Black Stone Demon's eyes. The figure of Ruby Goddess appeared in front of him now.
"Ruby Goddess... Ruby Goddess... Ruby Goddess... You're coming to meet me, aren't you?" Dark Stone Demon couldn't stand up and walk perfectly anymore. He could only crawl step by step until finally he reached where Ruby Goddess was standing.
"B… B... Black... Black Stone God..." called Ruby Goddess and this time she didn't mention him as a demon anymore. "Is all this worth? Is it worthy that you do this and end up getting nothing at all?"
"Really worthy... Of course it's worthy..." came the stammering words of Dark Stone Demon. "For Ruby Goddess, anything is worthy. You're coming here to meet me, aren't you, Ruby Goddess? You want to say you love me, don't you? Right, Ruby Goddess?"
Ruby Goddess bit her lip and looked away in another direction. 3E looked at each other for a moment. It turned out that Black Stone Demon's love for Ruby Goddess was so deep, so great. However, what a shame… Love that was so deep and so great was just useless because it was completely unrequited. However, Ruby Goddess could not repay Black Stone Demon's love. After all, Ruby Goddess only loved Silver God alone.
"I… I won't be here long, Ruby Goddess… I don't have much time left, so is my chance to see you. I just want to hear... just want to hear you say... say... say you love me, Ruby Goddess... Can... Can... Can you tell me now? If you are ashamed to reveal it in front of them, it's okay... You can... can... can whisper it in my ear, Ruby Goddess... Say it, Ruby Goddess... Say it, Ruby Goddess... That is the last sentence I want to hear from you..."
Ruby Goddess shook her head quickly. It was clear that she was in a dilemma of choice at the time. The tears she allowed to roll down, dropped down and wet the face of Black Stone Demon who was now lying weak and helpless in her arms.
"I… I… I…" Ruby Goddess looked difficult to find the right words to say to Dark Stone Demon.
"It's okay… It's okay… If you have trouble expressing it, it's okay, Ruby Goddess. What is clear, do not shed tears for me, Ruby Goddess. Don't shed tears for me because I feel… I feel… feel you don't deserve to cry. I… I… I was happy enough in my last moments, I can see you one last time. I… I… I'm quite satisfied because I will die in your arms," returned Dark Stone Demon's stuttered sentences.
"Thank you, Black Stone God… Thank you… Thank you for all your love for me so far. I can't say I love you, but at least let me thank you for all your love and concern for me so far. I… I… I don't think I deserve your love like this, Black Stone God. I don't think I deserve all your love and sacrifice at all, Black Stone God. Because in the end, I still can't say I love you. I can only say thank you… Thank you…" There was Ruby Goddess' crying and small sobs here.
There was a smile of helplessness and a weak smile appeared at the corner of Black Stone Demon's lips.
"I am very happy to hear your words, Ruby Goddess. It's okay... It's okay... By hearing your words, everything becomes irreplaceable. Thus... Thus... Thus, I will leave without a trace of regret..."
That was Dark Stone Demon's last sentence. Slowly, starting from the feet, black smoke began to envelop. The smoke continued to rise up to the body, neck, hands and finally the head was covered by black smoke. The whole body of Black Stone Demon disappeared without a trace from Ruby Goddess' embrace.
"Go in peace, Black Stone God… Never look back again to your life this time which is full of pain and suffering. If... If there is another opportunity in the next life, I want us to be good friends – like brothers, like soul mates, like 3E's closeness and cohesiveness – no longer as enemies in war."
Tears of compassion rolled down another drop from Ruby Goddess' eyes. After that, a calm smile appeared on the corner of her lips.
The 3E swept their three rays in various directions. Automatically, the other dimensional worlds that Black Stone Demon had created vanished instantly and they returned to the realm of reality. The sun began to appear on the eastern horizon. Three E looked at one another for a moment. It seemed that the three of them were holding hands, welcoming the new day that had come, in the new year, with new opportunities, with new hopes and expectations.
There was a pale sunshine on the horizon of the eastern hemisphere, but it held the promise of a bright day.
***
Erick Vildy stood in front of Eternal Solidarity studio. As soon as she saw the idol's prince stretching out his hands, Melisa Rayadi immediately flew into the warm embrace.
"Do... Do... Do you miss me?" asked Erick Vildy while stroking the head of his beloved princess.
"Yes... But not as big as my pain when you were not there, not as big as my anxiety when you barely came back, and not as big as my waiting when suddenly I felt all hope and hope would disappear," said Melisa Rayadi still buried her head in the warm embrace of the beloved prince.
"Sorry, Mel… Really sorry, Mel… Now Black Stone Demon has been successfully stopped. In the future, you will no longer need to feel the same anxiety, pain, and waiting," said Erick Vildy looking at the adored princess with eyes of a million love and tenderness.
Just like the scene of the eldest brother, Sabrina Marcelina also plunged into the warm embrace of the beloved prince when she saw Erdie Vio standing in the courtyard of the Eternal Solidarity studio and stretching out his arms.
"How... How... How did you pass the time when I wasn't around, Rin?" asked Erdie Vio, also stroking the head of his beloved princess.
"Feeling my heart being chained, feeling like you can't walk forward or backward, Die. The times without you are the times I won't want to live again in the future. If you really love me, Die, make sure moments like those won't come to my life again…" Sabrina Marcelina let her few tears of compassion roll down the green night pajamas of her beloved prince.
"I dare not promise, Rin… However, I will work on it, Rin… Dark Stone Demon has been successfully stopped. One day with me in the future, time will run very fast for you, Rin. I can confirm that…" said Erdie Vio with his trademark smile filled with joy and enthusiasm.
Sabrina Marcelina nodded gently. She buried her head again in the warm embrace of her prince.
Love and happiness rose in the hearts of Melisa Rayadi and Sabrina Marcelina.
The morning sun competed with the stars of thousands of love in Erick Vildy & Erdie Vio's recesses of souls.
***
Seeing the nurse bringing breakfast into Julia Dewi's room, Erwie Vincent offered to bring her breakfast. After taking a shower this morning, he immediately appeared in a yellow shirt and brown trousers and immediately left for the hospital where Julia Dewi was being treated.
Happiness slowly enveloped Julia Dewi's mind when she saw that her beloved prince had safely returned to reality.
Erwie Vincent put the breakfast in front of Julia Dewi with the relaxed smile that has become his trademark.
"Hungry? Here's your breakfast this morning, Jul… I have added a little spice of love," whispered Erwie Vincent beside the ear of his beloved princess. He sat on the bed next to his beloved princess and reached her into a hug.
Peace crept into Julia Dewi's desert of mind. She immediately laid her head on the prince's shoulder, "Of course I'm hungry, Wie... Hungry because I spent too much energy worrying about your situation, Wie... Hungry because I was too tired of wandering the crossroads of six reincarnation paths looking for you, Wie..."
A hint of guilt bit into Erwie Vincent's mind. He tightened his embrace.
"Being with me later, you don't have to be that tired anymore, Jul. Dark Stone Demon was successfully stopped. Later we will only concentrate on our little family, Jul. Do you agree?" whispered Erwie Vincent softly again in the princess's ear.
"And of course your two brothers, Wie. Apart from our small family, your two siblings are your main priority, right?" said Julia Dewi, showing her smile.
"Of course, Jul..." came the crisp tone of Erwie Vincent's voice. "I told you, didn't I? They both are my soul mates. We won't be separated again. I'll tell you slowly later."
"If two of them are your soul mates, what am I to you, Wie?" Julia Dewi hooked a smile again.
"They are my soul mates, while you are my love mate. Simple, isn't it?" said Erwie Vincent with a smile casually.
Julia Dewi burst into laughter.
"Can you feed me, Wie?" whispered Julia Dewi in her prince's ear.
Erwie Vincent landed an affectionate kiss on the forehead of his beloved princess. Food began to be fed into the mouth of his beloved princess.
Love and tenderness slipped on the coast of Julia Dewi's mind.
Love and happiness bit Erwie Vincent's inner bud.