Memories of a Thousand Years
Fellowship

Dhika looks unhappy, Bayu threw away his face, there is something between them. Nirmala could only guess. They parted with a troubled heart. Dhika went from the herbal store with a sour face. Nirmala walked behind him. They're walking in the same direction.

Dhika knows, Bayu is hiding something, and she is not happy. As far as they're friends things like this always get them into a fight. Things about pentagrams, summoning, ghosts, magic and such. Dhika is worried that the baby will try something forbidden. But until now Dhika still believes Bayu will not do anything wrong.

"When are you okay?

"......"

"If there was anything I could do. I'll help"

"Not to worry"

"You're worried about Bayu?"

"No"

"Hmm.all right I won't ask you again."

"...."

"I want to ask you something else"

"....."

"In your opinion, what date is it in the Gregorian calendar"

"Nobody has learned that in detail. Why ask that?"

"Just want to know. What year do you think it is?"

"I think about 900 or 1000."

"Hm. I see" disappointed. I hope this year is the 2000s. Until it will not be too difficult to find out who he is again, reminding as great as the dream is listed so many years. If it retreated a thousand years back, only a miracle could make it remember.

Dhika is still a stranger in Nirmala's eyes, there isn't much she can talk about. He also hesitated to ask further.

Dhika continues on her way to Mandalika's palace and Nirmala decides to return to the herbal shop and talk again with the baby.

"Nirmala, what's going on back here"

"Just curious. If you think and Dhika that now between the years 900-1000 AD. Is there any chance that I've lived in 2000?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"I dreamt I was alive in those days"

"That's impossible as it seems. I don't know. I've never heard of anything like this."

"So, what are you hiding from Dhika?"

"Huh?. Ah. haha... There aren't... What's wrong?" Sure enough the baby is hiding something from Dhika. But he also said nothing to Nirmala. Bayu was just convinced he didn't do anything wrong.

"Whatever you're hiding. I hope it's not something wrong. You know, Dhika seems to be worried about you. Don't let small things become something that makes you part....... I'm home...."

"...."

***

Nirmala just arrived. She smiled a little as she watched her family laugh happily. The fabric they bought could be sufficient for all members. Each 1 pair of new clothes, they have started to sew one by one pieces of cloth. they sew with needles and threads, using their hands. Not too bad. They are quite skilled in terms of sewing and embroidery. Especially the women. They even made embroidery for Nirmala.

"Oh. Nirmala you've come home. Why is it so late afternoon. Look we've started making clothes. After being cut. It turned out to be enough for everyone, haha "Uncle Rai was very happy with the result.

Little Sekar "Nirmala look at me making this for you. Aunt Yuli made her clothes. And I gave her embroidery. Beautiful right? "

Nirmala "waaah.... It's gorgeous...."

Teteh Sekar "but this is not finished yet. A little more."

Nirmala "Oh.segini is good in my opinion.... Ah.. Why are only my clothes finished first?"

Zaki "zaki is done yeeeee... New clothes yeeee"

Aunt Yuli "oh, look at that boy always running for joy"

Kang Iwan "we deliberately made clothes for you first. We thank you for all this."

Nirmala "why bother like I can make it myself."

Little Sekar "it's okay this time let us make something for you. You've helped us a lot"

Nirmala "......" (Help what?)

Nirmala was not aware her presence made many changes to this family. Besides giving happiness to Kake Sapta. He also did many things that others could not do. Or he did something that even others had never done. Like making a toy for Zaki, making a waterwheel to make a grinder. Or make some kind of lever to draw water from the well. Nirmala also made some sort of weight gauge and volume gauge. According to Nirmala it's not too difficult. Nirmala seemed to have seen such things, but to the lower classes like them such things were unknown to them. Considering that none of them went to school. Even Nirmala taught Zaki to count at a higher rate like counting in numbers at once. And teach to count the size.

Little "Nirmala, look at this is done." Teteh sekar gave the shirt after an hour walk it. Beautiful pink clothes with embroidered orchids and jasmine flowers along the collar of the shirt. Even make obi belts embroidered with foliage. Nirmala was embarrassed not to help.

Nirmala "God, beautiful, I didn't even do anything..."

But the neighbors are very nice. Nirmala tried her clothes along with a pleated skirt of bright ash, an ivory white obi belt, the size was very fitting. Nirmala looks so tiny. This pair of clothes felt like the most beautiful gift for Nirmala. He was moved to get this much kindness, as if it had never been obtained before.

Sapta's grandfather "Kake was happy to see you smiling son. Sorry Kake couldn't buy you Kebaya's shirt."

One pair of kebaya still feels expensive for poor people like Kake Sapta. Actually they can make kebaya, but they do not have the knowledge to make it, this simple dress pattern is just straight. Making a kebaya is still hard for them. After all, the fabric used for kebaya is different from the usual fabric. Kebaya used can form curves of the body. For women who wear it has more beauty value. But nirmala did not care about it. even this kind of thing had made her happy half to death.

Nirmala "this is enough ko"

Zaki, the boy ran around showing off his new clothes. He looked happy, his old clothes were thrown scattered where. It's worn out and some parts are hollow.

All giggled amusedly watching him show off but also delighted.

Zaki approached Nirmala bragging about the embroidery on her breast collar. Nirmala replied that she did not want to lose. That night the whole corner was filled with happy laughter..

-----

I don't know what wind last night was. Bayu came to visit Nirmala this afternoon with a parcel containing snacks and herbal remedies. Nirmala thanked him a lot because she had taken care of him back then. But the baby is not a calculating person, helping means helping has nothing to do with debt or return. It's a good guy.

"What did you bring, Bayu?"

"Something you might not like" Bayu gave the parcel. And Nirmala accepted it.

"Wah... Since when do I not like." Nirmala hurriedly brought a plate and put the snack. Put it on the front yard bench and they're sitting there. Zaki watched from a distance and ran over.

Nirmala " uh. This isn't for you. All mine"

Zaki "oh's. The peels...." Zaki doesn't care about that. He took some snacks with both hands. And ran away. Of course Nirmala was just joking. Zaki knows that.

Jayu just laughed seeing that.

"What herbs?"

"To restore stamina and calm the mind. I thought you still needed that. You still don't remember who you are?"

"Yet. Let alone. I'm not in a hurry." Nirmala occasionally ate that snack.

Uncle Raka occasionally went out to check his clothesline. Rice that he got from his wages to be a laborer on the farm.

Auntie Yuli is cleaning vegetables for dinner.

Kake Sapta came out and joined Nirmala and Bayu.

"Nirmala tonight what do you want to eat?"

"Hm... I'm tired of eating vegetables and cassava. Eating chicken or fish. But eating anything I don't matter."

Uncle Rai suddenly came out of his house "you want a fish? Then I'll look for him for you"

"Really??. Then I want grilled fish with sweet spicy seasoning, hehe"

"Zaki also wants grilled fish" he shouted across the house

"can't. All belongs to me weeee" Zaki just pouted irritatedly

Aunt Yuli "you've had grilled fish tonight"

Uncle Raka "I'll get the equipment ready"

Bayu just fell silent. With the desire of one girl alone can move them all to grant his wish.

"I wonder at you, so much so that they love you that they all grant your wish. What have you given them?" Bayu asked with a little of his signature guyon.

"Hmmm... Affection..haha" answered him with a joke.

Everyone laughed at that. In front of the baby Nirmala was not ashamed to show its potent nature..

Uncle Raka and Uncle Rai invited him to fish in the river. The river water is receding, it will not be too difficult to catch it.

Actually Uncle Rai and Raka are not his real name, they are used to calling him like that, they are brothers who always get along well. What a harmonious family.

Nirmala and Bayu went to the river. Walk the path paved with wildflowers

Every now and then Bayu watched every move of Nirmala. I don't know since when, your baby seems to pay attention to him. Nirmala feels like she has an older sister who always protects her.

Uncle Rai and Uncle Raka went down into the river, shallow enough for them but deep enough for nirmala.

Nirmala thought people in this region seemed to have a good height, or she herself was short. Really like a kid.

Uncle Rai was a little humorous compared to Uncle Raka who was a little quiet

"Nirmala you will drown if the river water returns to normal. Your legs are too short, haha"

The wood also went down into the water. "It's not very high, but indeed your legs are too short Nirmala haha "

Nirmala "uh.why did you follow me.... "

Because the water is shallow, the rocky surface of the river is very visible, the water is very clear, even the fish until visible.

Uncle Rai and Uncle Raka only used both hands to catch fish. They got a lot of fish. The wood can catch some fish.

While Nirmala berapakali also tried nirmala can not be any fish. Uncle uncle nearly caught ten fish.

' they are not human' he thought inwardly.

Nirmala. "After I thought, did you guys go to the bears? It's easy to catch fish without auxiliary tools."

Uncle Rai "because we're used to it"

Bayu "haha that's because you're too bad."

Nirmala "i also wonder why people in this city are so tall"

Bayu " is clear. Because you have short legs haha"

Everyone laughed when they heard it. While Nirmala pouted. Bakhan Uncle Raka also laughed because of it. Height Bayu and Nirmala not too far only adrift 10-15cm. But they are still in their infancy, probably going higher in a few years. While Uncle Rai and Uncle Raka are very tall. If they took the exam for the palace warriors maybe they could easily get away with that posture.

Lots of fish caught, enough for the whole family.

Finally Nirmala just pouted not managed to catch a single fish Bayu comforted him and instead played water, occasionally pranking uncle uncle uncle, they laughed together, although drenched but they look happy.

Dinner this time was a little special. Everyone was shoulder to shoulder making a combustion furnace.

Bayu who helped arrived stopped.

She saw Dhika standing behind a bamboo fence.

Nirmala felt they were still not making up. Nirmala approached him

"Dhika, tumben once.ayo come to eat, talk later after eating" he said.

Kang Iwan "dinner this time special. grilled fish with black soy sauce."

'isn't this soy sauce' thought nirmala

Nirmala is chasing after zaki, some are burning fish, some are making lalapan, some are lazing, Bayu and Dhika are just sitting and quiet. It lasted until dinner was over.

Dhika came because she wanted to discuss something with nirmala, but there happened to be a baby there too. If their friendship is close, there is nothing they need to hide from each other.

Earlier nirmala asked dhika for some information.

Nirmala "do you have information?"

Dhika simply replied "impossible. There is no such technology at this time,

however, if you call the dead, maybe you can, but only their spirits, even from the past, to the present, not the other way around. I think if you ask Bayu, maybe you'll get more information"

Bayu "ask what?....Nirmala?"

Nirmala "I asked if I could, a person from the future get lost in the past?

how is the process, and how do you get it back?" Nirmala stopped for a moment. Doubt whether to continue the question or not. It doesn't make sense, "do you have any information related to this?"

Bayu "......... I'll find out later" Bayu stared fixedly at Dhika "Dhika you said earlier, how was the process?"

Dhika "didn't you understand this better?"

Dhika "you won't say anything?"

Bayu "what should I talk about?"

Dhika "who you're hiding"

Nirmala felt like a mosquito that night among them. I don't know when their dispute will end. "Please stop fighting"

Dhika "tomorrow I'll come again. I'm saying goodbye"

-----

Dhika takes Nirmala somewhere. A house on the riverbank. Unexpectedly your baby was in that place, he stood up to see what.

Nirmala and Dhika walked over to him.

Bayu "It used to be a house, its inhabitants were killed by robbers while sleeping, there was nothing left there."

Nirmala "robber?? What did they take?"

The word "is that nothing of value is missing. Maybe not the treasure they're looking for."

Dhika "told me a boy from the family was missing. Residents searched for him for days but there was no trace at all."

Nirmala "when did that happen?"

Bayu "thirteen years ago"

Nirmala "it's been a long time, then what does that have to do with me? Why did you bring me here?"

Dhika "look at those scratch marks?" He pointed to the floor that was scratched by red ink. Like there are people who deliberately paint something on it.

Nirmala approached the scratch and touched it with a "red ink?? I guess what's pictured here" the floor was split into pieces. Exposed to the ruins of walls and roofs made of carved rocks. Some of the ruins were washed away by flash flood currents.

Dhika "info I got, the day before the storm, the floor was still clean. A man cleaned this place. But the day after the storm, the floor was already like that"

Nirmala "so, what's that streak exactly??"

Dhika "calling formation"

Somehow since then Bayu just silently listened. Sometimes I turn my face. Occasionally duck. I don't know what he's thinking

Nirmala "what call",

Dhika "this kind of formation I just saw her for the first time. It was usually just a simple formation to summon the ancestral spirits, or a formation for the dispensation. Almost all those scribbles, I just saw something this sweet." Dhika let out a long sigh "i'm worried that something called is an evil being"

one sentence of nirmala makes all wonder "why could it be a coincidence, on the same day, there is a ritual summoning.and out of nowhere I appear in this age"

nirmala was stunned to see the expressions of the two of them.

Nirmala "Bayu, why shut up? You know anything about this?"

Dhika "talk"

Bayu "it. But, no one has been able to prove it"

Nirmala "you mean like calling the dead to come back alive?"

Bayu "that kind of thing"

Nirmala whispered "why such a coincidence"

Dhika and Bayu heard the whisper but no one questioned it. The answer to that question is in each other's minds. It was just that no one dared to reveal it.

------

They returned to the market and stopped by the herbal store, Bayu wrapped some herbs for Kake Sapta, lately he often complained that his joints were sore.

Bayu "i'm picking herbs for Kake Sapta ya and herbal teas for all the family"

Nirmala "fr. But I don't bring a dime"

Bayu "it's okay, this is to thank me for dinner yesterday"

Nirmala "thank you 😊"

Dhika "May I ask you this directly. You, it has nothing to do with the ritual, right?"

Bayu shut up and sighed. He was stalled from his herbal wrap activity "why still discussing it? You don't trust me?"

Nicky "....."

Nirmala just fell silent feeling that the situation was heating up

Bayu "I didn't do anything evil. I didn't do anything wrong. Is that enough?"

"......"

That answer was not what Dhika wanted to hear. But that's enough. Furthermore Dhika only needed to believe him.

Someone suddenly knocked in a hurry. The middle-aged woman came to Sae's herbal shop with tears flowing "anyone please, someone is hurt. Please help us" with a gasp she tried to come as soon as possible. There are not many healers in the region, the science of medicine is still very lacking, anyone who understands is obliged to help, so is Bayu.

The three of them went with the woman, she cried her husband was very sick.

Arriving at the location. A man was lying limp on the floor, surrounded by people around who did not understand what to do. Foaming mouth. Bayu immediately examined it carefully. His pulse was not at all felt. His breath was not at all blowing. His eyes were tightly closed. "He's dead" Bayu said with a heavy heart.

The woman was hysterically crying hearing that. She hugged and moved her husband's body hoping he could wake up again.

The surrounding people started to noisily talk about his death someone whispered "i think it's a curse" and the person next door chimed in "it seems so sudden and mysterious death."

Nirmala who was standing next to the person overheard.

Someone described "so before he died he was acting strangely and speaking straight. I think there was a ghost who took his life at that time. It's a curse"

Dhika's "curse? Please explain"

The "info resident I heard he was the one who participated in the summoning ritual. Perverted ritual."

The victim's wife denied with tears "that's not true. My husband is just a palace soldier. He never did anything wrong"

Residents "then how to explain this mysterious death. It's clearly a curse. There were cases like this before. There is no cause for this"

Nirmala was sick of hearing something mystical like this "come, the curse from which it was obviously poison. He died of poisoning"

Everyone stopped hearing that. No one has been able to explain this case before.

The victim's husband is "poison!! Who poisoned my husband?" The crying broke again.

Someone came from the crowd. "What makes you so sure she was poisoned?"

He was wearing the clothes of a soldier with a red headband bearing a golden emblem of a tiger's head. Very dashing with protective wrap on both of his arms. Carrying a silver-carved sword in its sheath.

Nirmala "His strange behavior may be the effect of the poison is working The speech is bouncing it must be due to hallucinations of the effect as well., the foaming mouth is a sign that the stomach has been damaged. It has nothing to do with mysticism."

The "poison that is usually used here does not have this effect. Generally, if taken directly, the victim will vomit blood because of damaged internal organs. I think it's a new kind of poison."

Dhika bowed respectfully "Mr Budhi is he....."

"Truely he was my subordinate when I was on duty in the capital." He sighed "it looks like this case is more complicated than we thought"

He checked the body again. Nirmala approaches Dhika. "Dhika, who is she??"

Dhika "the head of security in this city he served in the palace of Mandalika. Two years ago he served in the capital at the Sunda Palace."

Nirmala whispered "just right, she looks so dashing"

Bayu whispered to Nirmala "I don't think she suits you, she's too old and you're too young "

Nirmala pinches Bayu "ishh you digress"

Dhika just stared at those who were whispering and laughing at each other.

"Young lady, looks like your guess is right. It's poison. I'll investigate it further in the palace."

He took out a cigar from his pocket and lit it with a candle on the table. "She's your friend, by the way, Dhika?"

Dhika just nodded her head without speaking.

"Include, Nice Pambudhi. I work at Mandalika Palace. What's your name young lady?"

"N... Nirmala, Greetings to the Master"

Mr. Budhi let out a long sigh exhaling the smoke from the cigar that he smoked "Dhika, let's talk about this somewhere else. Bayu and.... Nirmala, come"

The body of the soldier was taken to the Mandalika palace investigation team for further investigation.

Mr. Budhi, Bayu, Dhika and Nirmala gathered and sat down at Sae's herbal shop.

Nirmala "hmmmm.. Why are we gathered here?"

Bayu "uncle, is this case confidential?"

Dhika just kept quiet as if she knew everything.

Lord Buddha took another new cigar from his pocket. He played it with both fingers of his right hand. "As you know, there's also a similar case. You've heard the rumors, right.they're cursed for being involved with the summoning of a cult. Until I heard your brief explanation" she pointed at Nirmala with her cigar. "Indeed, we have not yet discovered this type of poison. And I don't know how the poison works. I also don't know how long the effect is until the victim's death."

Dhika "Nirmala where do you know about this poison?"

Nirmala "it looks like I've seen something like that. As if it were no stranger to me."

Bayu "Nirmala can you remember something like that?"

Nirmala "i don't know why either but until now I still don't remember who I am."

Dhika "you... Don't know who you are?"

Nirmala nodded "I don't know what my name is and where I'm from. But the things that used to happen to me I can seem to remember even though it now feels very foreign."

Mr. Budhi was astonished to hear that "then who are you?"

Nirmala "I live with Kake Sapta on the hill, Kake says that I am his grandson who went missing ten years ago. I don't know if it's true or not. I don't remember any of that."

Mr Budhi "Kake Sapta??. Bayu why don't you tell me about this?"

Bayu "what's wrong?"

Mr. Budhi "you know, Kake Sapta is the father of a close friend of mine. They died of the plague. And Nirmala's only daughter is missing. Kake Sapta is devastated to lose all his family. I as his best friend already consider Kake Sapta as my own father. For years I've been searching for Nirmala's whereabouts. No trace at all. Like he's lost in the swallow of the earth. And suddenly you appear with that identity. Either I should be happy or sad"

Nirmala "ahhhhhhhhh... I got it"

Mr. Budhi "i'm glad Nirmala was rediscovered, but I'm also sad if you're not her"

Dhika "Kake Sapta is pleased with her presence, as are the rest of the family. There is no one who is not happy. When I visit they're like a whole family."

Bayu "i've been there once when there was a thorough medical examination. They're not as happy now. I think it's better than ever."

Mr Budhi "they know that maybe he's not the real Nirmala?"

Bayu "they believed Nirmala died long ago. They knew he wasn't Nirmala. But Nirmala who can now make all the family happy, that's enough for them."

Mr. Budhi "so it seems. Then I will support their faith. Nirmala sends my regards to them"

Mr. Budhi kept back his cigar "about the case I'm going to discuss is. I received a secret order from the central Palace investigation team to handle this case in secret"

Dhika "is why you let the gossip circulate?"

Nirmala "was the rumor made intentionally ?"

Mr. Budhi looked at Nirmala and leaned his body fixedly at the girl. "You're smart enough to be the size of a boy"

Nirmala "the boy??"

Mr. Budhi "to reduce the suspicions of unknown parties I gathered a brat like you to cooperate"

Nirmala shrivels up and gets upset being called a boy. Nirmala feels at her age now no longer fit called a boy. Even Nirmala felt mature enough.

The Buddhist master continued, "i'm glad to find such a clever boy like you."

Nirvala "oh. Are Bayu and Dhika also among your chosen boys?"

Mr. Budhi "right" nirmala smiled amusedly at that.

Note: The Sunda Palace is the central palace that rules the country.

Area as wide as west java and border in central java. The capital city is located in Pakuan (West Java)

Each Government has its own security division and investigation team. The investigation team worked separately with the palace security. But sometimes the King can instruct directly.

While Mandalika Palace is a local government in one small region. There are usually a few small towns in it.

Mandalika \= title/job title level with the mayor