Both Yolan and I nodded, taking in the unexpected advice from this creature of legend.
"Well, that sucks," my Harbinger chimed in, its voice a low rumble.
The Genderuwo turned to the Harbinger, its eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What exactly are you? Are you one of them? The ones who wear robes and have... that creepy smile?"
The Harbinger tilted its head, a gesture that seemed almost human. "A smile? Oh, this is just how I was formed. I don't smile; this is simply my default expression."
"So, what are you?" the Genderuwo asked the Harbinger, its curiosity piqued.
"I am this child's power," the Harbinger replied, gesturing towards me.
I looked at the Harbinger, a sense of wonder washing over me. It was true; the Harbinger was a manifestation of my own abilities, my connection to the unseen world.
"Why is your power outside of him?" the Genderuwo questioned. "Shouldn't it be within him?"
"He hasn't fully awakened yet," the Harbinger explained. "His eyes are still sealed."
The Genderuwo turned its gaze to me, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. "Sealed eyes..." it mused. "I might be able to help with that. I have a friend who specializes in such things."
A wave of excitement washed over me. Could this be the answer I had been searching for? Could the Genderuwo's friend help me unlock my true potential?
"Who is your friend?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Her name is Nyi Roro Kidul," the Genderuwo replied, its voice filled with reverence. "She is the Queen of the Southern Sea, a powerful spirit who rules over the waves and the creatures that dwell within."
A chill ran down my spine as I recognized the name. Nyi Roro Kidul was a legendary figure in Javanese mythology, a goddess of the sea who was said to possess immense power and wisdom.
"But... she's just a myth, isn't she?" I asked, my voice filled with doubt.
The Genderuwo shook its head. "She is very real, young one," it said. "And she may be the only one who can help you."
"But why would she help me?" I asked, confused. "I'm not even Javanese."
"It matters not," the Harbinger interjected. "The Unveiled are connected to all spiritual beings, regardless of origin. If Nyi Roro Kidul sees potential in you, she will aid you."
I nodded, a sense of hope rising within me. If there was even a chance that this legendary figure could help me unseal my eyes, I was willing to take it.
"Nyai Roro Kidul..." Yolan's eyes lit up with a mix of awe and curiosity. "I've always wanted to meet her. I've read so many stories about her."
The Genderuwo nodded, a hint of pride in its voice. "She is a wise and powerful being," it said. "Her knowledge of the spirit world is vast, and her mastery over the elements is unparalleled."
"Legend has it," the Genderuwo continued, its voice growing softer, "that she was once a beautiful princess from the kingdom of Pajajaran. But she was cursed by a jealous rival and her body was covered in sores and boils."
"Desperate to find a cure, she fled to the southern sea," the child spirit chimed in, their voice filled with wonder. "There, she bathed in the sacred waters and was transformed into a powerful goddess, her skin smooth and flawless once more."
"She became the Queen of the Southern Sea," the Genderuwo concluded, "a protector of the land and a guardian of the spirits."
I listened intently, my imagination captivated by the tale. Nyi Roro Kidul, the goddess of the sea, seemed like a figure from a dream, a mythical being who existed only in stories and legends.
"But how do we find her?" I asked, my voice filled with a mixture of hope and skepticism. "Does she even exist in the real world?"
The Genderuwo smiled, a mysterious glint in its eyes. "She is as real as the waves that crash against the shore, And she is always watching over those who seek her guidance."
"But how do we find her?" I pressed, my curiosity piqued. "Where can we meet her?"
The Genderuwo's eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement. "Her domain is the Southern Sea," it said. "But she is not always easy to find. She only reveals herself to those who are truly worthy."
"Worthy?" I echoed, unsure of what that meant.
"Yes," the Genderuwo confirmed. "Those who possess a pure heart and a strong will. Those who are willing to face their fears and embrace their destiny."
It paused, its gaze sweeping across the three of us. "But there is a time and a place where her presence is strongest," it continued, its voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "The full moon, on the shores of Parangtritis Beach. It is said that on that night, the waves themselves sing her name, and the veil between worlds grows thin."
A shiver of excitement ran down my spine. Parangtritis Beach was a coastal area renowned for its strong connection to Nyi Roro Kidul. It was a place of pilgrimage for those seeking the goddess's blessings, a place where legends and reality intertwined.
"So, we need to go to Parangtritis Beach during the full moon?" I asked, my voice filled with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.
The Genderuwo nodded. "Yes," it said. "But be warned, the journey will not be easy. The path to Nyi Roro Kidul is fraught with danger, both physical and spiritual."
I looked at Yolan, our faces mirroring my own mix of determination and apprehension. We knew that the road ahead would be perilous, but the potential reward – the unsealing of my eyes and the truth behind our family's legacy – was too great to ignore.
"We'll go," Yolan said, her voice firm. She turned to me. "Let's go back home."
I nodded, my mind already racing with the possibilities. We mounted the motorcycle, and I revved the engine.
Vroom!
The bike roared to life, and we sped off into the night, the city lights blurring into a colorful tapestry.
"Parangtritis Beach... that's quite a distance from here," Yolan remarked, her arms tightening around my waist.
"How about next weekend?" I suggested, leaning into a turn.
"That could work," she replied, her voice muffled by the wind. "We'll have to check with Dove and the others."
I nodded, my thoughts already turning to the challenges that awaited us on our journey to the Southern Sea.
< Chapter 071 > Fin.