Without being told, Kamaniya already knew who Ken Dedes loved. It was none other than Ken Arok, a notorious outlaw known throughout the Kediri Kingdom and wanted in the entire country.
"Then, what does it have to do with me, Princess?" The silver-haired woman asked in confusion.
"The powerful shaman said I would meet a woman with silver hair who comes from a foreign land. She would free me from the Semar Mesem spell."
A cold chill ran down Kamaniya's spine. Ken Dedes' gaze was fixed on her.
Even without asking, Kamaniya already knew the answer. Frankly, she hated what was going through Ken Dedes' mind.
"All the characteristics mentioned by the shaman fit you. You are the one who will free me from my husband's prison."
Kamaniya fidgeted uneasily. An uncomfortable feeling started to tighten her throat.
"Princess must be mistaken. I don't even know why I am in this city. Clearly, I am not the person referred to by the Princess' shaman."
"But all the characteristics mentioned match. Your hair is silver, and your appearance indicates that you are not from Tumapel. And you helped me, Kamaniya."
"That's..." Kamaniya was confused.
"The bandits earlier were sent by Rama Magman who disagreed with my husband's decision to legalize gambling." Ken Dedes interrupted Kamaniya's words.
Kamaniya had heard the term Rama Magman from someone in the past. The title given to the leader of a group of villages was just below an Akuwu.
The Kediri Kingdom collected tribute from all areas under its rule. The Akuwu organized the regional revenue collected from Wanua (villages in ancient Nusantara).
These Wanua were led by Rama Magman or simply Rama. Given Tunggul Ametung's tyrannical actions, it was not surprising that the ramas under Tumapel grew to resent their leader.
"Alright." Kamaniya felt a headache coming on. "Let me understand the Princess' explanation. May I return to my room?"
"Of course. I will await your answer tomorrow morning," Ken Dedes granted her permission.
"What answer, Princess?"
"An answer as to whether you will free me from this cursed spell."
Kamaniya swallowed hard. A lump of heat stuck in her throat. Rather than dealing with an enchantment like Semar Mesem, she preferred dueling with sorcerers like Latuhayu.
So, Kamaniya excused herself and headed towards her room. But as soon as she entered the corridor, Yada blocked her path.
"Did I hear that right?" Yada's head jutted forward as though conspiring with Kamaniya.
The questionee narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Were you eavesdropping?"
"Of course. When else would I get the chance to witness a famous princess gossiping?"
Kamaniya's brow furrowed. Surprise struck her heart.
Yada had eavesdropped, yet Kamaniya didn't feel his aura at all. Her inner energy had already been restored.
Kamaniya should have been able to sense Yada's presence through the energy he emitted. However, what she felt earlier was just silence.
"Besides you, who else might have been eavesdropping?" Kamaniya's voice was icy cold.
"Only me. There's no one else, I swear, Kama."
Kamaniya snorted in annoyance. She continued walking, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the corridor lined with wooden walls and doors.
"Kama, don't be angry. I wouldn't dare reveal Ken Dedes' secret. Besides, who could I even tell in this time period?"
Kamaniya couldn't help but feel amused. Yada's words had some truth to them. Both of them were strangers in a small town, eight centuries away from the future.
"You could still be captured by the akuwu's soldiers and forced to spill the beans," Kamaniya persisted.
The woman had reached the door to her room. Initially, she hesitated to enter, knowing that Yada would be sleeping with her tonight.
But Kamaniya eventually decided not to care. Sleep is sleep. She was determined that nothing bad would happen, even with Yada sharing the same room.
"I can pretend to speak gibberish. After all, our Indonesian language is completely incomprehensible to the locals."
Kamaniya plopped down on the wooden chair in the corner of the room, next to a small square table containing a clay pitcher and similar plates.
There was boiled cassava on the plate. Still warm. It seemed that the innkeeper had placed the snack there while Kamaniya and Yada were outside.
"I'm still puzzled about how I can understand the language of every era I enter," Kamaniya admitted honestly.
"For you, it's not surprising at all. Your profession is a historical researcher. Ancient languages like the one spoken by Ken Dedes, you probably know their meanings."
Yada nodded. Pulling another chair from across the table, he joined Kamaniya to enjoy the still-warm boiled cassava.
"So, is the man Ken Dedes loves Ken Arok?"
Kamaniya raised her gaze. "You know?"
"Well, there are several theories about the legendary love story of Ken Arok and Ken Dedes. The one most people know is that they fell in love when Ken Arok rose to the position of akuwu, replacing Tunggul Ametung, who was killed by Ken Arok himself. But..."
"But what?"
"There's another source that claims Ken Dedes and Ken Arok had met long before the rogue seized power in Tumapel. They were already in love when Ken Dedes was still the wife of Tunggul Ametung."
Kamaniya recalled the incident when she followed Ken Arok to rob the residence of a local official. She saw Ken Arok rejecting several women presented to him, claiming that there was only one woman in his heart.
"Perhaps that's true," Kamaniya pondered.
Yada clenched his fist. "That would explain why Ken Dedes remained silent despite knowing that Ken Arok was the one who killed her husband."
"You mean, Yada?"
"Oh, you don't know the story? Ken Arok sneaked into Tunggul Ametung's room and killed him right in front of Ken Dedes' eyes. Ken Dedes could be considered the key witness to her husband's murder. But she chose to stay silent and paved the way for Ken Arok to become the new akuwu of Tumapel."
Kamaniya was astonished. She had no idea about that gruesome fact.
Her gaze shifted elsewhere, and she felt a heavy weight on her chest. The burden of breaking the love spell felt suffocating.
"If you are indeed the witch mentioned by Ken Dedes' shaman, you could also be considered as supporting their forbidden love story."
Kamaniya turned to Yada slowly. "The forbidden love story of Ken Dedes and Ken Arok?"
Yada nodded without hesitation. "To ease your heart, people in ancient times were accustomed to using black magic to fulfill their plans. As long as you allow history to stay on its course, it's no problem to help Ken Dedes achieve her desires."
"But what if I don't want to?"
Yada smiled broadly. "Then someone else will still help Ken Dedes unite with her new husband."
"Yada, seriously. How can you be so casual about it?" Kamaniya couldn't stand the constant smile on Yada's lips.
"Because it's fascinating, Kamaniya. Directly interacting with real historical figures is an exhilarating experience."
"Your obsession is strange," Kamaniya commented.
"And it will get even stranger after I'm done with Ken Dedes." Yada's voice was mysterious.
His gaze seemed to caress Kamaniya, causing shivers down her spine, but not out of fear.
With Yada, there seemed to be an undeniable promise of the future. Like an unbreakable seal. Kamaniya's inner self was fueled by hope.
However, she also suppressed her hopes as much as possible. Her lover from the past vanished, leaving behind a deep, gaping wound. Kamaniya didn't want to go through the same pain for the second time.
"Because I'm still curious about you," Yada spoke candidly.
Yada toyed with the clay cup, his smile still lingering on his lips, and his gaze fixed on Kamaniya.
Clearly, he was trying to charm her. Kamaniya scoffed internally. His iconic demeanor was back. Cold as ice.
"No need to dwell on that. Now, help me break Tunggul Ametung's spell," Kamaniya said matter-of-factly. Yada nodded, realizing it was time to get serious.
The world of magic was not something entirely new to Yada, but it couldn't be considered ancient either. The handsome professor had studied various forms of magic and occult sciences related to the ancient kingdoms, as they were deeply intertwined with the dynamism and animism of Indonesian culture.
"The first question is..." Yada spoke with utmost seriousness, "Is it truly Tunggul Ametung's spell?"
Kamaniya leaned back casually in her chair. She wasn't surprised that Yada asked such a question.
"There are historical sources that mention Ken Arok also delved into mysticism. Pelet, a form of black magic in Javanese society, has existed for thousands of years. It's a love spell that can make its victims infatuated with the caster."
Kamaniya nodded. Her direct encounter with Ken Arok had already provided a clear answer to Yada's question.
"I believe it was Ken Arok who cast the Semar Mesem spell. He had a mentor named Mpu Lohgawe, who was said to conspire with a skilled keris maker to overthrow Tunggul Ametung."
"And using Ken Dedes was part of their coup plan," added Kamaniya.
Yada nodded. "I've read some literature on breaking this love spell, but I've never practiced it."
"Because you're a scientist, not a sorcerer," Kamaniya teased.
Yada laughed. "Exactly. So, what do you say? Are you willing to practice black magic from Java?"
Kamaniya shook her head. Rather than delving into occult practices and mysticism in this era, Kamaniya was more interested in the fact that her inner energy had returned.
"No need for black magic," Kamaniya said quickly. With the grace of a queen, she rose and walked to the window.
The night sky was dark and starless. The half-moon provided the perfect setting for any dark arts to gather.
There was no breeze. The air felt slightly stifling and humid, even with the window wide open. The soft sound of water from the bamboo fountain in the pond adorned the silence of the night.
"If my powers have truly returned, I can break the spell without any rituals."
"What power, Kamaniya?" Yada couldn't contain his curiosity.
Kamaniya turned to face Yada, her smile widening with joyous excitement.
"I'll show you the true power of the Valley of Virgin. Be prepared, Yada."
Footnote:
Mpu = a title in the Javanese kingdom for someone with certain expertise.
Keris = a sharp, double-edged, straight or wavy-bladed weapon with a sheath.