Memories of a Thousand Years
Sacred Tree

The sun has gone down. Only a few hours later, he will disappear. Twilight. Twilight always reminds Nirmala of one thing. A wonderful memory of his happy childhood. Laugh with both parents. Just one time. That was the only thing he remembered. Nope. That was just one last great memory. Until everything turns gray. 

The twilight now looks so beautiful. But now she is not in the right place to enjoy her beauty. Several mounds of land lined up on the hill. Stone and wood. Decorate the wood debris that is still full of charcoal. 

The tears flowed again. "I miss you all" he murmured. The world is not friendly to him. Everybody hates him. Even cursed him to die. He knew it was just a misunderstanding. He'll understand. It's just that there was a time when he felt claustrophobic about it all. His two friends may not have a good relationship. Not like before. He knew it was just a misunderstanding. He can understand. There are many things Bayu has kept secret. There are many things that Dhika hates. 

"What should I do?"

Many things disturbed his mind. There are many things he does not understand. A lot of things make him cramped. He's resting on one of the wooden stakes. Hugged the peg and cried over it. 

Someone walked closer to him. He looked and saw who was in front of him. A handsome man was standing. His eyes are glassy. Lips trembling. "Mr Budhi??"

"For a long time no see, Nirmala"

Nirmala's tears streamed down the river. He got up and ran to her. Hugged it tightly. They're moved. Crying out. Spilling all the longings. Master Budhi was like a father to him. "I miss you every day. Mister doesn't want to see me?"

"I'm guilty of you. I dare not look me in the face"

"I understand what you meant at the time. I totally understand. You never meant to hurt me."

"I'm putting you in danger"

"No sir. Don't talk like that. I understood all the mister's intentions back then."

Nirmala took off her embrace. Wipe her tears with her sleeves. He looked at the twilight. And he's smiling. Thank God, always bring warmth over sadness.

They walked side by side leaving the tomb.

"Many things I want to talk to you about. But I'm sure it's not the right time."

"I also want to tell you a lot of things. I could never see you in town."

"Many things happened. I was sent back to the capital. The situation there is not good enough either. Especially regarding the Mongol army attack."

Instantly Nirmala remembered the thing that became her investigation a year ago. 

"Lord's inquiry back then was there no development"

"That's what I'm worried about. I feel like this is a bigger problem. More complicated than it looks."

"Is there new information?"

"Just a little. Maybe it's not even so affected. Strangely. The deeper we find out. It's getting harder to get it, too."

"What information did you get? As small as it could be if it could cultivate it might be useful someday."

Mr. Budhi sighed "I'll tell you this if I'm sure. By the way Nirmala, the Mongol army ambush at that time. I have to thank you. Thanks to your information everything can be under control."

"That's all I can do"

"There's a lot you do and it helps a lot. But Nirmala have you never felt anything strange around you?"

"What-like?"

"Do you trust your friend's friend?"

"...."

"Do you trust the people around you?"

"What's that little information related to that?"

Mr. Budhi frowned. He didn't answer. But his silence meant something else to Nirmala.

"So there's something to do with that. You feel like there's a traitor among my people?"

"May I be wrong"

"...."

"Have you met Bayu?"

"Hmm" Nirmala nodded

"How is he doing?"

"It's fine. You didn't think it was Bayu, did you?"

"I've known him for a long time. He can't possibly do anything wrong. But I don't know if there's any change."

"Why do you talk that way?"

"You can judge for yourself. You're his best friend. You should have understood him better."

"Of course I understand." Nirmala. A speck of sadness was implied on his face.

"We're splitting up here. I'm going back to the capital."

"alright. Uh sir I'd like to ask you"

"Ask what?"

"Capital government. Is there no action on the matter here?"

"Regarding that.His information is still very confidential. It's not that there's no action just. There are many things to watch out for. The problems in the capital are not a small thing. So it's gonna take more time to deal with this."

"But. I feel ....... Ah I understand sir."

"Don't get off track, make sure you're not among the bad guys"

"Mrs"

Mr. Budhi is gone. They split up at the intersection. Nirmala turned her gaze at something familiar. Which still makes him curious. A large tree stood tall in the middle of the meadow. Every time she looked at him she felt someone calling her from there. 

He stepped foot near the tree. Further than it looks. Bigger than it looks. And more creepy. His surroundings were filled with paper spell paper. 

His body trembled slightly as the gust of wind caressed the leaves. His rustling sound seemed to disguise something laughing behind it. Nirmala was getting curious. The longer it gets closer. 

Yellow flowering grass into a carpet between them. Surround that tree. A few piles of stones under that tree. Well-organized. Lie down with a white rose that has withered and dried. He knows what that means. Someone might die here. Or this tree was saved because of it. He remembered the word Bayu first. That there are two lovers who died. Maybe that's true. 

Nirmala should be home soon. It's already afternoon. Something stopped his steps as he stepped away. A whisper called his name. He looked at the tree. Someone was standing there. Pale-faced with my eyes. 

Who're you. I know you're not from here. You are not our nation either.

The voice echoed in his mind. As if that was a question from him. But the man's lips were still closed.

"Who is that? Who's talking to me?"

That'sme. She smiles. 

Spooky. Very creepy. Nirmala was glued to see that.

Why are you here? This is not your place.

"Who are you??"

You don't know who I am. But I know who you are. Rinaya, you're in the wrong time and place. 

"What does that mean?"

One big event will happen again. And you're in the wrong place.

"Genesis? What events?"

You'll know. You've been expecting it. And it's gonna be even more horrible. 

"What's? Ever before? When?" 

He smiled and then disappeared through the tree. 

You'll know. And you should go back. This isn't your place.

Slowly the atmosphere turned warm, the sun was very friendly. The shadow of someone standing behind him. Stare sadly at the stone mound. The wind blew as if stroking his wet cheeks. He's still very young. Nirmala knew the boy.

He looked at her. Then everything changed back to how it was.

"Wood??"

Nirmala ran home. I want to get there and meet the chairman. He must know something about this. 

He knows who he is. And maybe he also knew what the spirit meant. 

The night began to rain. Nirmala still ran home. The fog in the dense forest was getting thicker. His body was wet in the rain.

Nirmala hurried to open the outer gate. Some people are busy fixing their leaky homes. 

"Uncle, where's the chairman?"

Nirmala ran into the cave house. Tama sat playing some wooden blocks.

"Daughter see what I can do with this"

"Good, where did you see the chairman?"

"In his room. Why are you soaking wet."

He did not reply and immediately went to look for the chairman. He opened the carved wooden door. He saw someone facing the window. The rain was visible from there. He closed that window.

"What's wrong?" 

"There's something I want to ask you"

"Speak"

Nirmala swallowed "what happened in the past?"

"Well what? What are you talking about?"

"I met someone. No. gabe. Nope. He's ghost. He said something was going to happen again and it was more terrible."

The chairman smiled "Maybe it should be."

"Huh?"

"You look fucked. Clean yourself. We'll talk about this tomorrow. Go"

------------

Jaka was standing guard where Nirmala used to sit. A pretty steep rock. He sat down cross-legged closing his eyes. Centralize his mind. His inner eyes were glaring through the forest. It is almost as far as Parigi. But this time he focused his bathin vision only around the mountain. A lot of weird stuff happened. He has to focus.

Something confused him. Someone came through the energy wall. If it was ordinary people, they shouldn't have been able to go deeper. They'll be dazed and back out of the woods. Or they'll keep spinning. But they will never reach their settlements. 

This one guy is different. He walked straight to one place. The Halimun group. He was unaffected against the energy wall. He was not affected by the illusion. He kept walking straight.

Who'sis that? 

Jaka focused his eyesight again on that person. No one can get through the wall. That's the chief's order. But he could get through it easily. Someone who has good skills.

The longer the eyesight is focused. Someone he knows. Someone who has visited there. 

Bayu??

Jaka immediately stood up and ran. This he must tell Nirmala and the chief. Because the chairman told Jaka that no one else can enter the settlement. The guard has been strengthened. Even the walls have been coated again with new energy. But Bayu could easily pass through. Something must have happened. 

Jaka knocked on the carved door of the Chairman's room. 

"The two have something to say."

"Come in"

Jaka opened the door. He went inside but did not speak. He saw Nirmala was there. He wasn't sure whether to tell her this either or not.

Chief "What's up?"

Jaka "That's...."

Chairman "It's okay to talk"

Jaka "Someone is coming. He can pass through walls easily."

Nirmala "No way, who??"

Jaka "mn.it...."

Chief "Where is he now?"

Jaka "Maybe it's now at the front gate."

The chairman smiled "It's okay to let him in."

Nirmala "Who? Why let him in"

Chief "You'll know later"

Jaka obeyed and headed for the front gate. Welcoming the uninvited guest. 

Bayu in his black clothes looked very beautiful. A thin smile returned the cynical gazes of the settlement residents. He walked on without caring about that look. 

Jaka approached her with a half-red face. He stopped right in front of her. As if to stop him from walking.

"What do you need to do here?"

"Is this some kind of welcome for me?"

"No one welcomes you. You're an uninvited guest."

Bayu smiled bitterly "Someone must know I'm coming."

Nirmala stood at the end of the road watching Bayu talk to Jaka. 

Bayu, why is he here?

Jaka walked up to him. Bayu followed from behind. Eye contact between Bayu and Nirmala was very painful for Nirmala. Something has happened before. Make them quarrel. Nirmala never told me anything. Not even Dhika. All the disputes he swallowed himself. Nirmala threw away her sight. His eyes vibrate. Jaka and Bayu pass through to the cave. Towards the chairman's room. Nirmala followed from behind.

The atmosphere of the room was so quiet, tense, and tight. That was all Nirmala felt. Unlike Bayu he seemed to have an intimidating aura throughout the room. But of course it has no effect on the chairman. He remained calm and light as the water flowed. 

Chief "Do you need to come straight here?" The chairman is still standing facing the window. A misty dew thread is speckled in each window. 

Bayu "There's something I need to talk about"

Chairman "Speak"

Bayu "You sure everyone can listen to this?"

The chairman "No need to worry"

Bayu "I just wanted to ask you. Is there anything in the past that has never been revealed?"

Chairman "Young master, in the world many things may not even be resolved. And it may always be an unsolved mystery. What makes you ask that question.?"

Bayu "I'm..... Befriend something that tells me that..... The shadow creature was not the first thing to happen in the land of pasundan."

Chief "Friend with something? You didn't misinterpret that, did you?"

Bayu smile. He played a small knife in his hand with a wooden gilded with flowers. "That's not my question sir, I'm sure you know something."

Jaka "What are you talking about. Don't talk carelessly"

Nirmala "The chairman......"

"I'll explain" The chairman cut off all the talk of silencing them with that one sentence. Is correct. He knows something. "It's not a secret just that not many know this. I asked you before. Where did you get this information? You should tell me that too. Then I'll tell you everything you want to know."

Nirmala's starting to heat up. As if I didn't want to hear anything about Bayu. Something Bayu should not have done. And that makes Nirmala sad. It also disappointed Dhika. 

Bayu "I'm sure it's not necessary. I'm sure you already know, don't you?"

Chairman "That means you admit what I think"

Bayu "Yes"

Nirmala "Wood??? Why talk like that?"

Bayu smiled "You know that too, right?" His sharp gaze towards Nirmala made him torn apart. Makes her eyes hot and watery. "So. How's your story, sir?"

The head of "About thirty-six years ago for the first time the shadow creature appeared. Not in our area. But on the Sunda-Mataram border. The creature flooded a small town with almost nothing blood left. The local government made the right decision. Locking all lanes until the city is completely sealed off from the outside world. Ten days passed fighting with the creature. It's hard to beat. They have a unique character. Especially when it comes to humans. We have to beat them before we get into it. We succeeded but the whole city was a victim. Only a few people survived. I'm one of them."

Bayu "Means there's a few more people who know this?"

The leader smiled "Right. I'll ask before continuing. You reckon. Why do I keep hiding here? Do you think you know who the survivors are? Where do you think they all are now?"

Nirmala "The chairman... Does it have anything to do with what I found yesterday?"

Chairman "This is very much related."

Bayu was fixated on his own thoughts. Long-sighted thinking about that question. Some things he remembered. And some things he could have expected. 

Bayu "Could it??" He stared fixedly at a leader of the Halimun group. The chairman only replied with a smile.

Jaka "What's up? I don't understand at all"

Nirmala "Jack. This problem is bigger than we thought."