"Kama! Step aside!"
Kamaniya stopped just in time. She had almost thrown a punch at one of the men. And she stopped just in time to see Yada charge forward with all his might.
The woman was stunned to witness Yada's haphazard and reckless self-defense skills, which were quite different from when he faced Latuhayu the other day.
"What on earth is this?" Kamaniya hissed angrily.
"Yada could die in such a ridiculous fight," she thought to herself.
Kamaniya stepped aside, her sharp eyes observing the uneven duel.
Yada, with his poor combat abilities, fought against the three assailants. Within a short period, the situation turned just as people had expected.
Yada crouched on the wooden floor, constructed to ease visitors' access to Gong Cave. Using his back and hands as shields, he withstood the kicks from the three attackers.
"He could really get killed," Kamaniya hissed with frustration.
Her anger flared up when she noticed that Yada was no longer moving. Clenching her fists tightly, Kamaniya restrained herself from rushing in.
She waited for Yada to lose consciousness completely. Once she was sure that he was no longer moving, Kamaniya quickly approached the three thugs and delivered a powerful punch to the face of one of them.
Silence ensued as the man Kamaniya hit stumbled and collided with the roadside barrier. The other two gaped in disbelief at the strength of a seemingly fragile woman.
"How dare you hit our friend!" one of them roared in anger after recovering from their shock.
Kamaniya didn't respond. She moved with astonishing speed. The woman hardly budged as she skillfully dodged attacks from the remaining two men without relying on any specific fighting techniques. She barely even flinched when one kick swung harmlessly past her body.
Then, with a flick of her fingers, Kamaniya targeted the nearest man's ankle. It wasn't a random flick; she aimed at specific nerve points and used her sharp nails to puncture the area.
A loud cry echoed as the man collapsed to the wooden floor. Only one opponent remained, his eyes wide, staring at his two fallen friends groaning in pain.
"W-who are you?" Instead of retreating, the man expressed fury towards Kamaniya. He refused to accept that a seemingly fragile woman could defeat his two large-bodied friends.
"I am your worst nightmare," Kamaniya replied coldly.
She had prepared herself to face the last man as he charged forward. One of Kamaniya's hands reached for his neck, while her other hand quickly pulled his arm. Focusing all her strength on her opponent, Kamaniya easily subdued the last assailant.
Three men lay sprawled on the floor. To ordinary people, Kamaniya's actions might not have caused deep pain.
But this was Kamaniya. A woman from another world who had lived for five hundred years. She had forged herself in the renowned Lembah Perawan with its magical powers.
Kamaniya's physical strength far surpassed that of Earth's men. Her punch could match that of several grown men combined. The groans of the attackers were undeniable proof of the silver-haired woman's physical prowess.
Kamaniya paid no attention to the thugs she had just taught a lesson. She walked towards Yada, ready to lift him up. However, someone's shout interrupted her intentions.
Two men dressed in brown uniforms hurried towards them. Kamaniya was taken aback. Her mind quickly concocted reasons to avoid arousing suspicion.
"Are you alright?"
Kamaniya was bewildered, her mouth wide open.
[Why are they asking about me? Yada is the one who's unconscious here.]
"Come on. Let's take your friend to the health station." One of the uniformed men spoke quickly into the walkie-talkie on his shoulder.
Kamaniya could only wait. She watched as several people arrived with a stretcher. Internally, Kamaniya winced at the way they handled Yada.
[I could have carried him out much faster.]
Kamaniya thought with a half-smile. Gracefully, she followed behind the Gong Cave guards.
Kamaniya glanced coldly at the three men still groaning in pain on the floor. When their eyes met hers, they immediately looked away like frightened worms.
"They're thugs who often hang around here," the health officer explained once Kamaniya was in the clinic.
"You're lucky your boyfriend could withstand their kicks. He'll have bruises and contusions all over. Do you want to report it to the police?"
Kamaniya blinked. It wasn't the first time she had been asked if she wanted to involve the police.
[The legal system in this country seems to work well. Every criminal act is punished by the police. It's very different from my world, where people often take justice into their own hands.]
Kamaniya licked her dry lips, listening to a series of unfamiliar words that she didn't understand.
Interrogation, autopsy, documents, and more. In an instant, the woman felt mentally exhausted.
"I'll consider whether to report to the police or not after he regains consciousness," Kamaniya said, trying to put a stop to the incomprehensible ramblings of the health officer.
"Alright. If you need a medical certificate, I'll provide one." The health officer moved away. Before leaving Yada's bedside, he added, "Your boyfriend has impressive strength. He could withstand the thugs' attacks."
Kamaniya's expression remained neutral as a wall. She didn't refute the notion of Yada being her boyfriend.
"He'll wake up soon. His head is uninjured; only his back and legs were attacked. He'll be alright."
Kamaniya nodded.
"By the way, I like your hair color. It's beautiful."
Unconsciously, Kamaniya's hand reached up to stroke her hair as she watched the female doctor walk back to her desk. Then, she drew the polyester curtain to cover the bed. Her gaze turned melancholic as she observed Yada's disheveled state.
"Thank you for helping me," Kamaniya said softly.
"Whether here or in my world, why do you always come to my aid?"
Kamaniya gathered the courage to touch Yada's back hand but retracted it after less than five inches. She let out a long sigh.
"But you are not him. You are you. You two only share a resemblance in appearance. Your attitudes are vastly different."
Another deep breath escaped Kamaniya's lips. "My hairpin seems to be missing. I don't feel its energy at all. Where is that object now?"
Her gaze returned to Yada. "And who are you really, Yada? You couldn't even land a proper punch when dealing with those troublemakers. Yet, you easily defeated Latuhayu."
Kamaniya shook her head. "Latuhayu is a thousand times stronger than all those thugs combined. It's strange. Why didn't your magical powers manifest earlier? Are you only connected to Latuhayu's magic?"
The woman couldn't find an answer. She moved her plastic chair back, causing a faint creaking sound in the six-by-six-meter health room.
She pulled back the polyester curtain, but the attending doctor was nowhere to be seen. The room was practically empty. Kamaniya walked towards the wide-open window. The gentle breeze played with the edges of the neatly tied white curtains beside the window.
Unaware to Kamaniya, Yada's eyes slowly opened. His gaze met Kamaniya's back as she stood facing away from him. A soft voice from Yada was heard.
"So, his name is Latuhayu? How do you know that cursed creature, Kama?"
Yada closed his eyes again. Overwhelming fatigue engulfed him, and he sank back into the realm of dreams.
Yada found himself transported to another dimension. He stood in front of a structure resembling a Majapahit-era palace. The walls were a blend of wood and stone. Large trees were scattered on either side of the road, encircling the well-compacted ground.
There were no signs of modern equipment. Everything appeared traditional. A large stone mill could be seen behind a wide-open wooden door, revealing the antiquity of the place.
As Yada stepped inside, he was greeted by the sight of a group of women wearing kemben and jarik, traditional Javanese attire commonly seen in the region.
Yada walked further in, and strangely, the women of various ages seemed oblivious to his presence. They continued their activities as if he wasn't there.
"Princess Kamaniya, the lemper is ready. Do you want to eat it inside or outside?" A soft Javanese voice came from one of the attendants. Yada recognized her position by her kneeling posture and the polite Javanese language she used.
Javanese language had different levels of formality. The soft Javanese language was used to address someone older or of higher status. Yada furrowed his brow when he realized that even their language belonged to an ancient form of Javanese.
Two other attendants sitting behind the first one were holding wooden trays containing snacks wrapped in banana leaves. Yada assumed those must be the lemper, a traditional snack made of glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk and filled with minced chicken.
He shifted his gaze. Strangely, he felt his heart racing, eagerly waiting for the wooden door to open.
Yada dared not blink, anxiously wondering who would appear. His curiosity was answered when the thick wooden door shifted, revealing a woman he knew very well.
"Kamaniya...." He was stunned, his gaze fixed on the extraordinarily beautiful woman who was dressed more modestly than the attendants. Although her attire wasn't made of expensive fabrics, Yada could still determine her social status from the style of her clothing.
"Let's stay outside. The evening air is cool, and I'm waiting for someone." Even her voice was familiar to Yada. His heart fluttered. For some unknown reason, an intense yearning overwhelmed him, causing an ache in his heart.
He followed Kamaniya gracefully as she walked towards a mango tree. She looked the same as the Kamaniya he knew all along. No, not exactly the same.
Yada furrowed his brow. This 'Kamaniya' seemed more relaxed, laid-back, and had a more radiant smile compared to the Kamaniya he knew in the real world.
"Am I in a dream?" Yada wondered, mesmerized by Kamaniya's bright smile, which could warm even his heart.
He was still enchanted by the warm version of Kamaniya when the sound of galloping hooves caught his attention. Yada turned, and so did Kamaniya.
His heart was instantly pricked with jealousy as he saw Kamaniya's wide smile and joyous expression. She quickly stood to welcome the rider.
Yada was struck with surprise as the rider approached and finally stopped at the front gate. A gallant figure dressed like a Majapahit warrior dismounted from the horse.
The clanging of karambalangan, the metal layer worn between the armor and undergarment to protect the chest, resounded as the rider ran towards Kamaniya.
"Wait a minute," Yada staggered back, "why am I here? Is that me? Why am I hugging Kamaniya?"