"Yeah, thanks to you... we only suffered minor injuries," answered the squad leader on behalf of all of us. "Let me introduce myself, my name is Nurlandawa, the leader of this troop. As my thanks, can you tell us what your name is, sir? and which division you come from?"
"My name is Alberto Camui, I'm not part of the state army or anything else. I'm just a news writer who accidentally crossed paths with you."
News writers have that kind of power? who exactly is this person?
"If I may ask, where are you going next, sir?" asked Nurlandawa. "Our group intends to go to the nation's capital. If you have the same goal as us, maybe you can go with us. With the strength you have, maybe we will feel at ease with this trip, then in return we will provide a place to stay overnight and food for you to rest later."
"I appreciate your good intentions, sir knight. I will gladly accept it. You can walk in front, I will follow you from behind."
"I am very grateful for your humility, sir."
After that, Nurlandawa turned around and gave orders to all his troops to immediately treat anyone who was injured, then continued our journey towards the capital. To reach the capital, we had to pass through a forest, and once night fell we decided to rest for a while, to relieve our tiredness.
Nurlandawa ordered several of his troops to take turns taking breaks, to anticipate attacks by wild animals in the forest and attacks by bandits. Hearing from the conversations of the troop members, this forest was more famous for bandit attacks than attacks from wild animals. The wild animals in this area are known to be quite passive and rarely attack humans, maybe that's why the bandits took advantage of this moment to loot the group that was resting in this forest.
While resting in the tent, I suddenly woke up from my sleep. The night was still long, I saw the campfire still burning outside the tent, curious about what the troop members were doing, I decided to get out of my tent with the intention of hearing the troop members' stories. But as soon as I opened my tent, I only saw Alberto trying to push the wood with a wooden branch together with Nurlandawa, while the other troops were fast asleep around him.
I thought none of the troops were on guard, they were actually fast asleep. The only ones still awake were the two of them, Nurlawanda and Alberto.
"You still not asleep, kid?" Nurlandawa asked, realizing my presence.
"I'm not used to sleeping in a place like this," I answered honestly.
"You'll get used to it, it's hard the first time," said Alberto, moving his hands on the wooden branches he was making into a chair. "Come sit with us!"
I followed his directions and sat next to Nurlandawa.
"Is that the child you mean?" Alberto asked Nurlandawa.
"Yes, although I didn't see him directly, people close to the mayor said that he has quite a potential in the future."
Alberto smiled, looking at me, "Don't let the word 'talented' that comes out of these people's mouths influence you. Because it will kill you in the future, keep thinking that you are just a person fighting against ignorance. Ignorance is a sin," he said. "And let's continue our previous conversation Mr. Knight. Even though we know the beginning and end of our life, even though that is how the scenario must play out and there is nothing that humans like us can change. But that doesn't mean we have to feel sad and despair about it, we have to always feel happy with our monotonous life, that's the key."
I didn't know what they were actually talking about, and didn't understand where the conversation was going, only that Nurlandawa and Alberto seemed to be arguing about the unclear meaning of life, the reason for our existence, the reason for our destiny, about human freedom and happiness. in the obscurity of life. And all I can do now is sit quietly, listening to the conversation between the two of them.
"The only way to face an unfree world is to become so truly free that your very existence is an act of rebellion," Alberto said, then his eyes glanced at me. "And do you know what rebellion is?"
I didn't expect that he would bring a small child like me into the flow of the complicated conversation between the two of them. I thought for a moment and they were silent waiting for the answer to come out of my mouth. Once upon a time I read a book about a rebel, and that book was quite famous among the bookish people in the village.
I explained to the two of them about the general rebellion of the people in my village, and based on the theory of the book I read, "As far as I know, a rebel is someone who rejects and opposes me to the obedience and policies made by a state government authority," I answered , hope that my explanation can be understood by them.
The sound of burning wood accompanied by burnt wood ashes flying in the light wind, "I'm not saying it's a wrong answer, but the true meaning of a rebel is someone who loudly says 'no' to life and at the same time also says 'yes' to obscurity life. And also don't ever try to find the meaning of happiness and the meaning of life, you won't get it," he said very enthusiastically.
"Then why do we live other than to look for those two things?"
His pupils were dilated, he took the glass that was beside him, "Take a cup of coffee and just enjoy your life," he answered as he drank the coffee in his glass.
It didn't feel like it was dawn, Alberto with his magic power extinguished the fire that was burning the wood as soon as the light began to illuminate the entire forest area. The troops have awakened from their long sleep, starting their activities again; making breakfast, tidying up the tent. And the last person to wake up was Elena who came out of the tent with her personal servant and sat near the three of us.
Two members of the squad distributed the cooked food to everyone and Nurlandawa was the last person to receive the food.
"Eat until you are full, all this food is a blessing from the Goddess," said Nurlandawa loudly, offering praises to the Goddess. "Praise the Goddess Ingriyani, the Goddess of all beauty, the Goddess who gave us this fertile and beautiful land, thanks to you we can eat this delicious dish, thanks to you we can also enjoy the beauty of this world."
Everyone looked down and closed their eyes, including Elena and her servant. Among all of them who looked so solemn, there was only Alberto who immediately ate his food without praying first.
"She is the one who always expresses equality, she is the one who does not discriminate between races, all creatures look the same in her view. I'm Nurlandawa, as the leader and representative of this troop battalion, thank you, Goddess, for all the pleasures you have given us. .. Amen!"
"Amen!" I said together with everyone in unison, then started eating our food.
"Sir, sorry, why don't you join us in praying to the Goddess? Why do you eat your food straight away without thanking the Goddess?" asked Nurlandawa. The questions he asked were the same as the questions that were in my head.
However, Alberto calmly answered. "I only have a little time, I don't want to lose it with the gods you all worship."