Memories of a Thousand Years
Pamungan

Bayu sat in the same place as before. Both of his legs rested on the other chair. One hand held his head. Looks relaxed and lazy. He used to always be like that. 

He ate snacks one by one. Sometimes he throws small pieces in his mouth. 

"Wood" Nirmala stood in the doorway.

"Come in" Bayu replied in his casual tone. Nirmala misses her sikaonya like that.

"Wood. I'm sorry I was....."

Bayu tidied up his seat lowered his legs. And looked at Nirmala. "No Nirmala. I should have apologized. I'm mistaken. I shouldn't have said that. You must have your own reasons. I'm sorry."

Nirmala was moved to hear that. "I know you have your own reasons. That's why I came back. I don't want to argue with you. Whatever it is Bayu, we're talking all good."

Bayu nodded slowly.

The three of them sat next to the same table. This time the snack on the table was so tempting. It was as if she was seducing Nirmala. Of course he wouldn't put up with that good smell. In a few minutes, his mouth may be filled with food.

Dhika "So, what should we talk about?"

Bayu "Many things. Much remains a mystery. A lot of it will be a mystery"

Nirmala "I have information that there will soon be a war."

Dhika "War? Against who?"

Nirmala shook her head. "At first I didn't understand but after the conversation with the chairman back then....."

Bayu "Our land is not safe."

Nicky "..."

Bayu "Our threat is not only with the Mongol army or Mataram. But also with our own nation."

Nirmala "That thing is Dhika."

Nicky "...."

Nirmala "Maybe you've been with a dead town on the Sunda-Mataram border"

Dhika "I've heard that"

Nirmala "The city died not because of the plague. But that thing."

Dhika "But how can it be? Isn't ..... Wait, this isn't the first time the creature has appeared?"

Nirmala nodded.

Bayu "Nirmala do you think that information will happen?"

Nirmala "As far as I live here, the info I got from 'them' is never wrong."

"It will happen again, and more horribly. You should go. This isn't your place" 

Bayu "He said that? Who's she?"

Nirmala "Don't know. He shows up and disappears again"

Dhika "What should we do now?"

"Eh Bayu, I'd like to ask. I'm sure there's still other information you'd like to know but why don't you keep questioning the chairman back then?" Ask Nirmala

Bayu replied "After hearing some information. I think someone else might know more details. Try to think. That happened thirty-five years ago. If you look at his current age. I'm sure he's young. Also Budhi's uncle. If we count backwards, Budhi's uncle might be 10/12 years old. Maybe the Chairman was about 15/16 years old. It's still very young."

"That makes sense. If at that age. Maybe he's not a special soldier. But some kind of youth defender. Or a volunteer." Connect Nirmala.

Bayu "What do you think we should do now?"

Nirmala "If my guess is correct. It has something to do with what is happening right now. I'm worried if...." Nirmala stopped and momentarily daydreamed. "Dhika can you find information?"

Nicky "....."

Nirmala "I'm sure you can do better than us."

Dhika nodded.

Nirmala "Find information about the incident. Number of victims, number of survivors, symptoms of the outbreak. Origins. The poke is related to this creature. Related to that village. Everything."

"Mn" Dhika nodded in agreement.

Sayu "What about me?"

Nirmala "You're also looking for the same information. It's up to you in what way. I'm sure you have your own way."

"Alright, sounds easy" replied Bayu

Nirmala sighed "You know sometimes I think that the world is not like my Indonesia. Too many absurd mysteries"

Bayu "What is indonesia?"

Nirmala "This country. From sabang to merauke called indonesia. A country rich in natural resources."

Dhika "Is there a difference?"

Nirmala leaned her head on the table "Very different. All of these absurd things I never even read about in a history book. Sometimes I feel convinced that this world is another world."

Dhika "If the difference of a thousand years may be the same world with different epochs, right? In just a few decades, the evolution of the world changed drastically. Maybe things in this world will vanish in your time." 

"Yes probably too. It makes a little sense. It's obvious I want to live better."

"Oh baby, have your wounds healed?" Ask Nirmala.

Bayu held his left chest "Yes of course, I was a little surprised. Lukaku is pretty bad. As long as I'm in medical science, a wound like this must have made me die haha"

"You're lucky. The angel is still protecting you" Nirmala smiled.

"Mrs. Including you." 

That one sentence made Nirmala blush in embarrassment glad to hear her. He looks like the usual Bayu. 

Dhika threw a face as if she did not like the conversation.

A child gasping for breath came into the shop. "Bang, brother Bayu. Justjust please. Something happened in Pamunjungan. And Uncle Arif's gone somewhere."

"Uncle Arif? I'll be there."

Mayu panicked to hear that info. He rushed to Pamunjungan. Nirmala and Dhika followed behind him.

They were glued to see that place was already ravaged. Some people are hurt. Uncle Arif is somewhere. They search in all directions. Then Bayu asked someone there. 

Bayu "What's going on here Uncle. Did you see Uncle Arif?"

"Someone comes he has red eyes. He's acting weird. He attacked us all. We run. Mr. Arif also ran somewhere."

They ran out of Pamunjungan. Outside the fort they stopped. There was a trace of blood dripping on the ground. 

Bayu "We follow this trail of blood?"

Dhika "we have to hurry"

Nirmala "Wait. I'll look for it" 

Nirmala closed her eyes. His lips murmured a spell. Centralize concentration. Looking for Uncle Arif with his eyes. Extending her visibility. Tracing every corner of that small area. "Geez!!"

Bayu "What's up?"

Nirmala "He's in danger. We're all in danger." Nirmala runs. Looking for Uncle Arif that he found. Dhika and Bayu follow. 

Nirmala "We have to be fast"

Bayu "What danger?"

They ran down the trees. Almost into the forest. But they stopped when they saw Uncle Arif in front of him. Sculpting fear. In front of him was a black-faced man. Red-eyed. Uncle Arif had realized that someone was no longer the human he knew.

Nirmala "Take Uncle Arif away from here" Nirmala aimed at the creature with a bow that was always carried. Draining his energy into the arrows. Not thinking long. Slip that arrow. Darted. Right through his head. 

Bayu nimbly grabbed Uncle Arif away from there. 

Nirmala "Quick. We need to get away from here."

Dhika "What's up?"

Nirmala "That thing. There's alot. They're on their way here. From the direction of the forest. I'm not sure we can deal with it."

Bayu "Let's go."

They ran back to Pamunjungan. A pretty safe place for them. The place is separate from the settlement. A sacred place. Surrounded by high fortress. They're safe for a while. Some people there are panicking. But it's the only safe place.

"Den Bayu, ieu aya naon tea?"

(Den Bayu, what is it?)

Bayu has no power to answer. They know a lot about this creature. Bayu just smiled and shook his head. As if to say, it's okay.

The twilight began to go. They were more worried than usual. At night the creature will be more aggressive. They do not like the heat of the sun. The more humid, the colder they get the more alive they are. Because the creature comes from the supernatural realm where ghosts and softeners come from. They will need victims to survive during the day. Because night comes. Now Nirmala and the others may be in a very unsafe situation. 

Dhika "You look very restless." 

Nirmal continued to stare at the closed wooden gate. As if waiting for something to happen. Bayu tried to treat the wounds of injured residents and tried to calm them. 

Nirmala "I'm so scared of Dhika." Nirmala looked at the citizens. "I'm afraid we can't hold them." 

Dhika "How many?"

Nirmala "I think more than fifty"

Someone banged on the door. All fell silent and turned to the door. 

Someone shouted from behind the door.

"Please help me. Please open the door."

Heard that. Two of the residents took the initiative to open it immediately. They believe that the person behind the door is human. But late. As soon as the door is open. A burst of blood washed over the two of them. She die. A few meters behind him were several people standing. Black-eyed red. One of them may have evolved. From his mouth extended a long tongue of deadly whips. Still covered in blood. 

Everyone who saw it panicked. Stay on the nail of fear. 

Dhika shouted "Close the door!!"

The two men immediately closed the door. The tongue of the whip stretched forward through the door. Stuck in between his pants. It is like looking for prey. Of course it's very dangerous. The tip of the tongue has become as hard as iron. Anyone who hits it will probably be seriously injured. Bayu immediately cut off the tongue with his small knife. 

For the first time. Nirmala saw Bayu using the Knife. The knife he always carried. But this is different. Not like a regular knife. A wavy knife like a keris. And what's more. The blade emitted energy forming a long sword. Ordinary people might not be able to see that. But Dhika and Nirmala saw him. The same ability as Nirmala. And it's stronger than him. 

The glow of spiritual energy that flowed on the weapon always represented the power of its owner. It's very diverse. But there are categories that differentiate it. The bright yellowish-white light meant that its users were always using it for good. And there was never any intention to kill anyone else. 

Their purplish blue light was mostly a warrior or was often on the battlefield. The deep purple light meant that his energy was mixed with supernatural energy. Like Bayu's energy sword.

Tonight was not very friendly with them. People are getting scared. The pinched tongue is out of place. They will attack soon. Nirmala ran up the wooden stairs. Look behind the fort. Viewing situation. Counting the number of creatures. His forehead was pucker thinking of something. He took three arrows on his back. Take it from the top of the fort. Drop immediately. 

Some of the creatures are already behind the fortress. Nirmala kept throwing her arrows. Dhika with the initiative did the same. Until the whole arrow is gone. 

Something is wrong. Nirmala felt the number was less than she had seen. He returned to use his inner vision. Expanded view. Justright. Most of them moved towards the settlement.

"Dhika's. Some of them headed for the city. We have to stop it."

Bayu who heard that instantly opened the gate. Fighting against the creature itum Dhika along with Bayu. And Nirmala too. The Threes are getting stronger and stronger in their own way. They managed to finish off all the creatures. Nirmala returned to Pamunjungan to the people who were there.

"Close the meeting gate tightly. Don't get out of here. Stay calm and don't be noisy. Go when the sun is up. We're going into town."

They nodded their heads and agreed with what he said. A resident said "You???Nirmala?"

"Nirmala?"

"Why are you here?"

"It's true you're alive?"

"Aren't you the one who caused this catastrophe?"

"really. Why should we believe in the word"

"You want revenge on us? What is our fault with you?"

"You should have avenged him against the Wilis family. Not us"

Nirmala "What? I-i didn't... I'm.."

Uncle Arif "Stop judging others' bad sides. He's been trying to help us. This time listen to him. If it wasn't for him, we might be dead"

Everyone gets carried away. But Uncle Arif's words are true. 

Bayu came through the gate "If you think so. Please just break the instructions. You can feel it later." Bayu's words were so sharp piercing. "Uncle guard yourself, the creature headed for the city there must not be safe. Uncle stay here." 

Uncle Arif agreed with him. 

A citizen provoked again. "I don't trust him. You must arrest him and bring him to Mr. Wilis. Mr. Wilis is hunting him"

"yes too. Mr. Wilis must have sentenced him to death"

Nirmala "Why all....."

Bayu "Already. You think you can beat him? He can defeat many of those creatures. You think you can catch him easily?" All speechless. It is true that it will not be easy with the power of Nirmala now. "If you are sagging. Just try to hold out until morning against the creature." Bayu grasped Nirmala's arm. Take her away. 

Uncle Arif immediately closed the gate. And trying to calm the people.  

Dhika, Bayu and Nirmala run towards Kota. Unceasingly keep running. Worry that the creature has arrived first. The rain started to fall. But that doesn't stop them.