Hans the Blind Witch of the Aksara
Aksara 4: Leaving the House, Stepping into Mystery

Two guards stood guard in front of the entrance of the parlour, both of them were certainly veterans of General Lionel's confidence who were ordered to guard the parlour. Both of them looked on with focus and looked around. The two were unaware in the four corners of the parlour, only a hundred meters away from them, a small bud was growing and absorbing the air and jiha around greedily.

The four trees then grew bigger, one meter, two meters to become taller trees around him. Other trees hibernate when winter comes. But this newly grown tree emits a different aura, although not so pronounced but if someone who has jiha feels it he must know that this tree is alive!

The small but numerous leaves lined up on each branch of the rising acid tree, the open-floor crags forming a shady area around the forest. The falling snow did not dare to touch its surface and instantly melted when it entered the area around the tree.

The snow melted and was greedily absorbed by the roots that sprung up from underground, writhing like worms. It made the tree grow until it finally reached twenty-five meters high. Jiha in the air continues to thin, due to the enormous absorption of the four trees growing in just a few minutes.

Some characters appeared on the tree's main trunk, characters that were flickering, and then dim—like fireflies.

This tree is not an ordinary tree, but a magical creature that managed to form uma and even form his character.

The script written there is,

[1] Hanacaraka script for 'raksaka' sanskrit meaning guard.

The strange set of symbols are four universes, spelled as 'raksaka' or guardians. Acidic fruits the size of a hanging rice sack. Uniquely the tree only has a maximum of two pulu five pieces of acid, with three bubble protrusions that can be seen from the outside. The three seeds were so magical, all three were beating at the same time, just like a human heart! The sight would certainly surprise anyone who saw it, but a thick fog enveloped the tree and prevented people from seeing what was really happening.

Inside the parlour Sister Evelyn walked out with a serious look, she stood on the front porch of the parlour, right on the balcony before the first descending rung. He looked towards one of the four trees.

**

The Emmasse Royal Family Castle!

Bernard was sitting right next to General Lionel, he looked so nervous. It was not without reason, the gaze of the entire dining room towards him was so cold and full of rejection. The large dining table was able to accommodate more than thirty people, the dining table was oval in shape with a length of thirty-three meters, with two big seats at each end, one belongs to the General and the other belongs to his wife.

"Don't eat more, this meat is the flesh of magical beasts that contain jiha and many other minerals that are good for the growth of your body." Said Lionel softly as he placed the piece of meat onto Bernard's silver plate. The plain boy just nodded, awkwardness clearly visible on his face and the way he behaved. The child is usually innocent and what it is, trying hard to keep his actions.

Lionel's family clearly did not like Bernard's presence, none of Lionel's sons at home received the same treatment. On the contrary, Lionel was cold and rarely spoke to them.

Their view contains various meanings—anger, jealousy, frustration— makes Bernard who is often called 'rubber stomach' is losing his appetite even though the food is so luxurious and delicious in front of him.

For some reason, the food in the parlor feels much more appetizing than the food in this place!

Bernard sat down, forcing his mouth to chew on the meat and porridge of a warm potato from his silver spoon.

After the meal is finished, no one goes away this is a rule and an ordinance of the life of nobles and the descendants of the king—Tuan/the king of the house went up and left the new dining table the guests could go along.

They were waiting for General Lionel, who seemed to be talking to Bernard. This made Bernard even more uncomfortable.

"Oh?! You guys can go I still have a lot of things I want to ask Bernard" General Lionel swung his hand double so the others would go as they pleased. But instead of leaving, the atmosphere became quiet and two other Lionel boys stared at their mother.

"LIONELS!" The figure of a beautiful woman with silver hair was staring at him from the other side of the dining table, her silver hair was a marker of noble blood flowing within her body.

Lionel turned his face and looked at the woman, his forehead flinched, his aura and his gaze cold, unconsciously his jiha seemed to come out by itself. The woman flinched, she never thought Lionel would not hesitate to let go of his jiha.

Even so, the woman seemed to be unconcerned, "You can't ignore us like this!! We are your family too! I am your wife, and these two children are also your sons!"

Hearing that, Lionel seemed to gasp, then let out a long breath.

"All right, I'm sorry."

"You two come here, come closer"

"Let me introduce you to your sister"

Bernard was Lionel's first child, while the other two were Mia's. Both are a pair of twins, Aaron and Aaric both have a similar level but Aaron has a larger posture than Aaric. Aaron has a face similar to Lionel's father but has silver hair belonging to his mother. Aaric also has the face of Lionel but with the posture of his mother.

The way the two saw Bernard was still cold and full of rejection, but both remained obedient and followed the orders of the father.

"Aaron, Aaric! You two must obey your brother!"

"Because he is the one who will take care of you, especially this year he will go to the Royal Academy, and next year you will definitely need help from him!" Lionel looked at his two twin sons, trying to look as gentle as possible. The academy is open every year, and only nine-year-olds are accepted there.

"Yhmmp! We don't need his help!" Without further ado, the words of the father were answered tightly by Aaron.

"Yes right, so am I!" Aaric's sister added shortly.

Bernard who was trying to look friendly and full of smiles became silent without knowing what to do. Even so, he was not angry and tried to assert his presence.

**

Hans propped up his chin with his right hand, while he leaned against the window of the horse-drawn carriage. The carriage occasionally shook from the uneven road, its eyes looking at the entire forest and the road it was traveling on. Before long the town of Withered Pole looks full of frenzy, seen the bar owned by Uncle Wiggin in downtown Withered Pole.

He voraciously swallowed up all the memories and memories in every corner of this city, a city he probably would not visit again in the next few years.

Until we meet again, Withered Pole!

The horse-drawn carriage glided ever faster, unknowingly the town of Withered Pole only became a shadow that was then covered by thousands of snow-clad trees. The carriage was so quiet, Mr. Atkinson was still busy with the book he read.

Before long the tremors in the carriage and the quiet atmosphere put Hans to sleep, Mr. Atkinson lowered his book slightly and smiled warmly.

The carriage continued to accelerate, splitting the desolate atmosphere of the forest.

Hans was awakened by the sound of the door creaking, the moment the carriage had stopped, he rubbed his two eyes lifting his body. Seeing that the train was empty, he lifted his bag of clothes, a shabby red bag—where his clothes and belongings were.

'Plak!'

His shabby bag made a small sound when he involuntarily dropped it, when his eyes opened he was dumbfounded. The house of lord Atkinson was lifted off the ground, the castle of three interlocking tower chambers forming a triangle now rises more than ten meters above the ground. Hans was still in his daydream, thinking of the answer to how the house could be lifted? Or rather, the house was hanging on a large tree that was now towering over thirty-eight meters, the house was hanging around the tree like a waist bag.

What kept Hans glued to was, a huge head turned around and looked at him. The tree has a head!

Thousands of leaves seemed to move in the direction of the big tree, the leaves that were previously scattered on the surface of the grass and snow were now floating and stiffening.

'Glup'

Hans gulped, he retreated slowly and his legs trembled. It was as if strangeness after strangeness had approached him ever since he had known Mr. Atkinson. Fortunately, the figure of Mr. Atkinson was seen opening the door of the house that was hanging,"Hei Hans! Let's get on!" Said Mr. Atkinson loudly.

As Hans turned around to see the horse carriage that was behind him, but the carriage was gone, the wheels were not left without going anywhere.

Still doubtful he was just standing where he stood, the big tree turned its face away and no longer paid any heed to Hans. Mr. Atkinson swung his hand, characters seen popping up and sinking into the ground.

[2] Hanacaraka (Aksara java) for 'angkura' or bud in ancient Javanese.

Before long buds grew under Hans' feet and took him up the house, today was the first time he saw the Script directly, he was transfixed to see the tree that carried him up. When he reached the balcony of the mysterious house, he fell silent and asked innocently, "Sir, what was that?! It's like I've seen it in a book my parents gave me!"

"Well!" Mr. Atkinson was surprised, he did so to give Hans an early introduction to the Script and its functions. But to his surprise, the boy had already seen him.

Has he seen it? In the book of his father and mother?

"Is that Hans?" Ask Atkinson again in doubt.

"Yes!" Hans nodded and took off a small voice sign he agreed.

The boy then took the shabby book from under his shirt, it was quite thick and old, on the cover there was no writing except for a seal in the middle. Miraculously when Hans' hand held the book, the seal then disappeared and he was able to open it.

When Hans opened it the contents of the book were visible, but when Mr. Atkinson was about to see also the book was immediately closed.

"Hmmm.." It made Mr. Atkinson's gaze serious, then looked at Hans.

"Hans can I borrow your book?" Mr. Atkinson asked a question.

Hans without covering up the doubt from his face asked with a hint of fear, "You won't ruin it right? It's my only parent's legacy,"

Seeing that understood Mr. Atkinson and smiled, "Oh course, calm down Hans I won't do anything, I just want to see him up close!" His tone was calm and without hiding anything to convince Hans.

Hans examined every corner of Mr. Atkinson's face and found no strangeness, Atkinson certainly did not realize the boy before him was able to catch every expression even on the smallest part.

His pupils did not change, his tone was calm and clear. His eyebrows and nose did not expand and his body did not show any strange.

"All right." Hans then passed the mysterious book to Atkinson who held it carefully, occasionally looking at the little boy's facial expression and laughing in his heart.

Children~

He sat inwardly when he saw Hans' innocent nature without hiding anything through his expression. Atkinson held onto the shabby book, he was intrigued by the slight splash of jiha as it closed on itself. It was as if the book had its own way of thinking.

He tried to open it with his physical energy without jiha, but the book did not budge in the slightest. He gave up, and poured a little jihanya into the book.

"Aah!" He involuntarily let out a small scream, his hand holding the book was injured, right at the fingertips where he was draining his jiha. It felt exactly like a bee sting, his shock had not disappeared but he was again surprised by the book he had previously held now disappeared.

And it was already within Hans grasp that was two meters away from him.

It was certainly not Hans' movements that were unusually quick, but seeing the shocked expression on the boy's face he finally understood. The book can move itself.

"hmmm"

Mr. Atkinson took a breath, thinking he had seen many strange things in the world, but only this time he saw something like this.

"Hans looks like someone left a seal on the book, maybe your father or mother,"

"He didn't seem to want anyone else to know the contents so put the seal there, so anyone who tried to forcefully open it with jiha would make it disappear and come back to you." Atkinson explained, he gave an explanation that actually made Hans more confused.

"Seals?"

"Yiha?!"The boy's face is now seen filled with question marks, a combination of surprise and confusion about what is happening to him. A boy who at first did not understand anything, was now dragged deeper into the sea of question marks.

[1] Hancaraka inscription for the Sanskrit word 'raksaka' which means guard.

[2] Hanacaraka (Aksara java) for 'angkura' or bud in ancient Javanese.

[Announcement]

I taught myself the writing of the Javanese script (Hanacaraka) that we will meet from the beginning to the end of the story, thankfully some understand.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Don't stop improving yourself, happy all national exams. May all pass, if only the national test as young as the song 'pure milk national' lol.