ADJOINING REALM
THE BEGINNING OF A LONG JOURNEY

"What do you mean?" Ask Mbah Turahmin while looking at Wajana with a surprised face.

"Darto just finished one business, Ki. He is the same as Kanjeng Darma, his destiny is not only to take care of the problems experienced by his family," said Wajana while returning Mbah turahmin's gaze.

"So, what should I do from now on?" Sergey Darto looked at Wajana with a disappointed look.

"Didn't the snake say anything before it died? I mean the male snake that became Gending's snake mate?" Continue wajana.

"No, he died in just one strike. Even before seeing the attacker," Ki Karta chimed in while mimicking the Darto movement when archery.

"Really?!" Sastro opened his voice with wide eyes.

"Yes, he I killed from a distance. He died before he even knew he was being attacked" replied Darto as he sat back down.

"Thank you then. He's stronger than Gending's snake, if only you had to fight him at the same time.." Said Sastro stalled, he imagined Darto would lose again if only the male snake realized his presence first.

"What matters is over, and the results you can see for yourself. I won without the slightest injury" Darto was a little unhappy, because Sastro seemed to underestimate himself.

"Yes, Dar. Sorry I just feel scared if anything else happens to you. Either way, you're our only hope. Only you are strong against them, and we've been waiting to meet you for a very long time," sastro then approached towards Gending's body which was still lying on the couch. Then he said, "Better, we bury Gending's body for now."

Hearing Sastro's request, Ki Karta said goodbye. He resigned to go to his house, to pick up some of the equipment needed for the funeral procession. After that, Ki Karta walked alone to leave Darto with three old men in the hut to wait for his return.

"Areally what Gending couldn't die before?" Said Darto after seeing Ki Karta's back has disappeared swallowed by darkness in front there.

"If he could die, he'd have killed himself a long time ago, Dar. We know exactly how badly Gending wants to die. Each time he dies his soul returns to his body again, and in exchange for his death the serpent child in his body replaces his death. You could say that there are thousands of Gending's lives, and countless number of times Gending has pierced his body every seven years," said Wajana trying to explain what they have witnessed so far.

"So we have to kill the snake first? So Gending can die?" Tanya Darto is back.

"That's one way, Dar. But instead of having to bother killing one by one the snake puppies, we better kill the covenant owner directly. If one of the two people who made the death agreement, then the agreement was considered to be over" Simpal who had listened to the conversation of two young men in front of him.

"Thank you, Dar. Thanks to you we can be free, Gending can also go home quietly. He really wanted death for a very long time" Sastro said. He looked at Darto's face with a sad look and also sparkling eyes.

"You're on your own, right, who said? If that's my destiny? So why are you thanking me? If that's what I'm supposed to do?" Ask Darto with a face. He was already able to control the emotions in his chest, and did not want to look happy when he received the exaggerated thanks.

"Yahhhh..." Sastro could not answer any of the statements that Darto asked.

Hearing that question, Sastro and Wajana exchanged glances. They were silent for a moment then nodded at each other and said the same word simultaneously "Main King."

"The male snake is equal to the commander, he has a baby kingdom just like me, Dar. It's just that he's on top of me, he's the right hand of a figure you've probably heard of. His name is Banaspati," continued Wajana then looked at Darto's face with a straight and gripping gaze.

Heard that. Turahmin was immediately aghast from his sitting position. He stood up with a face that looked agitated, as well as eyes that were wide-eyed from being so shocked by what Wajana had just said. Scroll of sweat straight out from his temple, he looked terrified as he said "Don't joke you! You want my granddaughter to fight that thing?"

"What's the matter, Mbah?" Timpal Darto was short, he was confused by the attitude of the always calm Mbah suddenly put on a face so frightened.

"He is a creature that even lived before humans stepped on the land of Java! You know there are ancient books that I have read, all of them tell about the cursed creature. There is one passage that says if he even scorched one village in just one night, just for the reason that he was bored!" Ketus Si Mbah. He seemed angry because considering his grandson had to face a figure who became a scourge even for thousands of years.

"There's still hope, Ki. Kanjeng Romo friends are not weak, one of them is also the King in this land. He is older than banaspati, and he will definitely give a hint if he meets Darto" continued Sastro while turning his gaze towards Mbah turahmin.

"Who?" Ask Darto.

"You know, she's the lady-in-waiting on this island, she's the oldest creature in the land. You must often hear his name when watching leather puppets," said Wajana while holding Darto's shoulder with both hands.

"Yes, Dar. We should ask for instructions from the Semar kanjeng at the foot of the merbabu mountain," continued Sastro.

"You know that figure?!" Sergey Si Mbah with wide eyes.

"He's Abah Romo's friend" Sastro answered briefly.

"Darto had heard from Abirama, if Kanjeng Darma even balanced against the oldest king. Maybe what he meant was Semar, Mbah," replied Darto as he turned to Si Mbah with a probing gaze.

"Well... It's all so complicated, Dar. The Mbah could not possibly help anymore from now on. I am on a very distant level from the two creatures that Sastro and Wajana told me about. But even if I can only give a little help, I will give all the best, from what I can do," continued Si Mbah, holding Darto's head. He rubbed his granddaughter's head in worry, but felt a little proud of her granddaughter's destiny.

Seeing Si Mbah who had agreed to Darto to do what they asked. Sastro and Wajana immediately smiled, he felt proud that he would follow the long journey of the young man in front of him. All the conversations that night were finally ended, Ki Karta and Ujang, Gayatri and Asep had come to bring full equipment. That night they buried Gending's body next to the reot hut, where he died.

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