Chapter 14 - I'll Stay

Rangkabhumi's face turns serious. He is afraid that the neighboring kingdom isn't just trying to take down the fort, but they are planning to conquer the Chakradwipa kingdom.

 

"We won't be able to hold this fort against that big troop," says one of the soldiers.

 

Rangkhabhumi turns that one soldier, and then finds Bramasti also walking toward him.

 

"Bramasti! I need you to inform General Kagendra at Muncar Regency. Tell him about this situation, and ask for a back up."

 

Bramasti bows his head, and then rushes to get to his horse. He immediately leaves the fortress in such a hurry.

 

But oddly, he doesn't head north to the said regency. Instead, he marches his horse to a hill not too far from the fort while laughing so madly.

 

"Gyahahahaa! Just as what I need. Let him die at the hand of Galuguh. Soon, Arkadevi will be mine. She is mine!!!"

 

There is a simple hut at the hilltop, and it seems this is not the first time he has visited this place. Inside the hut, he easily finds a jug of wine under the bamboo couch, and then takes it out.

 

There is a seat made from a large tree cut on the edge a cliff. He sits there and takes a gulp of the wine while enjoying the view of the fortress from a far.

 

"Let's see how you protect this border, Rangkabhumi! Rest assured, I will look after your wife as you usually ordered me. Gyahahahaa!!!"

 

A little far from the hill to the west, there is the Talang Asri village in a valley. From his position, Bramasti can see a few soldiers trying to warn the villagers about the incoming danger.

 

Some farmers are seen running around leaving their paddy fields toward the village. But the youngsters move to the fort intending to volunteer themselves for Rangkabhumi's aid.

 

It's just that, even with their help, it still wouldn't be able to match the large army being deployed by the Galuguh Kingdom.

 

On the other hand, the village chief visits Rangkabhumi's house, informing Arkadevi about the situation at the border. However, Arkadevi opts to stay at home.

 

"There's no way I'm going to leave this place without permission from Prabu Jayantaka," she denies.

 

"Why?" the village chief looks baffled.

 

"It's the king's decree for me to stay here. After all, I know the king will not abandon us!"

 

She explains it with so much confidence without showing any anxiety in her face. But soon after the village chief turns away, only then does Arkadevi look so uneasy, trying to find her son, Adanu Raksa.

 

While most people move out of the village, Adanu Raksa ignorantly spends his time chilling in a certain cemetery area with his cows, not too far from his house.

 

Most people in Talang Asri consider this cemetery sacred, not a haunted or scary place. Adanu Raksa himself visits this cemetery almost every day, just to herd his cows to find food.

 

So far, he hasn't experienced anything odd in this cemetery. But today…

 

"What was that?"

 

He notices something strange in the bushes. He sees the air around that area is a bit swayed. This is the first time he finds something odd here.

 

After rubbing his eyes, he is surprised by someone rushing out of the bushes. It's a beautiful woman in all white clothes and shawls. She looks panicked as if trying to run away from something.

 

Adanu Raksa is quite familiar with all the residents in Talang Asri, but this is the first time he has seen this beautiful woman.

 

"Oh, hello!" He greets, naively waving his right hand.

 

But that woman keeps running while looking back a few times, until she is stumbled by a feeble and falls.

 

Adanu Raksa approaches her intending to help. But he notices something strange in her. The woman's face and skin looks a bit gleaming and almost transparent.

 

Adanu Raksa holds her hand. Somehow, the woman's skin is now looking normal, which makes Adanu Raksa start doubting what he just saw.

 

"Are you okay? You look so weary? Is there something chasing you?" Adanu Raksa asks.

 

The beautiful woman ignores Adanu Raksa's question, and looks up to the sky, seeming to worry about something.

 

"Oh, no! It's getting dark soon," she mumbles.

 

"What's wrong?" Adanu Raksa wrinkles his face. "Oh, I know! You must be running away from your home, and couldn't find a place to stay. Anyway, why don't you come to my house? I only live with my mom, and there are so many empty rooms there."

 

Still with a face looking so worried, the woman smiles then gently strokes Adanu Raksa's head.

 

"No, I'm afraid I can't stay with you!" She denies him politely.

 

"Why?" Adanu Raksa looks concerned.

 

But then, as if she just notices something odd in Adanu Raksa, that woman begins to observe his face intently.

 

"You? How can a child like you have such an overflowing spirit?"

 

"Huh?"

 

"It feels like you have a deep vessel with abundant spirit energy."

 

"Lady? What are you talking about?"

 

"Ah, no! Don't mind it! You must be a son of someone great."

 

"Yeah, I'm the son of Rangkabhumi, the greatest General of Talang Asri," replies Adanu Raksa proudly by puffing out his chest.

 

The woman smiles, and then brings her face closer to Adanu Raksa.

 

"Um, what are you doing?" Adanu starts to look awkward.

 

"Sorry! But I really need your help," utters the woman with cold eyes.

 

"My help?!"

 

And suddenly, the woman begins draining something out of Adanu Raksa's body. Some kind of white plasma comes out of his face and enters the woman's mouth. That woman keeps draining it until Adanu Raksa slowly falls to the grassy ground.

 

"What's wrong with me? Why am I suddenly getting so tired?" Adanu Raksa mumbles weakly before he loses his consciousness.

 

On the other hand, the woman's weary face turns so fresh, radiating some kind of dim light to her surroundings.

 

It's just so short, and her white pale skin turns so solid and blushed just like any normal woman's skin. She no longer looks that transparent in the slightest bit anymore.

 

She then comes closer to Adanu Raksa again, and whispers. "My name is Indri Kesvari. I'm sorry that I had to steal a little of your spirit energy. But you will be fine after a night of sleep. I won't forget this debt."

 

After giving a soft kiss on Adanu Raksa's forehead, she runs away and then floats so lightly in the air. Soon, she is shape-shifting into a white pigeon and flies into the woods.