Memories of a Thousand Years
Fog Village

It was evening, the sun was soon gone. Nirmala's down the street. Occasionally ask people on the road to the residence of Wijaya.  At the end of the street two people were talking, more like fighting. Bayu and Dhika they stand there. Waiting for Nirmala to approach. Until Nirmala knew what they were arguing about.

Bayu said not to worry and just wait. Dhika insists on going back to look for her. Looks like Dhika relented and obeyed Bayu's words to wait at the end of the road.

Nirmala and the baby had a little fight, but it was common. They've always been like that. As if you understand each other.

Bayu "Where have you been. You're not a kid who can be separated from his parents"

Nirmala "you consider yourself a parent?"

Bayu "aishh.you should follow us"

Nirmala "ah, you're walking too fast. I'm hard to keep up. I even got into a collision with someone else to chase you. Even meet street thugs. Your territory is not safe."

Dhika "you met a thug?"

Nirmala "they attacked me, when I told her I had nothing"

Bayu "I don't believe your story. Then why are you okay"

Nirmala "of course because I'm better, I can beat them all"

"Sweak girl like you? I don't believe."

Looking at Dhika's countenance she seemed to be envious of their closeness, and it was seen by Nirmala. Nirmala smiled a little.

Arriving at the Wijaya residence, some residents welcomed them.especially Bayu.

Again Nirmala was fascinated with the interior and exterior of the Great family residence.

No less extensive than the Wiriya residence, but the sensation felt was warm, with candle wax that had been lit on his lantern. It was dark when it arrived there. There are no artificial fish ponds there. But there is a large pool with a boat and a gazebo in the middle. Like a lake, but smaller. Of course it's just a bigger pool.

What a comfortable atmosphere at night, it feels warm.

Some people came to greet.and asked them to immediately go into the living room, and sit there. Dinner will be served there. They are very welcoming to Bayu.  The hostess came to greet. Called Rindah. Wife of the head of the family. You could say that her foster mother was Bayu. He came with Haris Wijaya his only son. They also sat together.

Haris "has been home for so long. What are you the busiest in there?"

Bayu "ah's. It's so busy I can't take a shower."

Nirmala chuckled at hearing that.

Haris "still digress. What are you going home this time for? You won't go home if there's no urgent business"

Rindah "Haris don't be like that, take care of your attitude she doesn't come alone. Watch your Kramas"

Harris "yes."

Rindah "tumben once Dhika also came along. Is there anything important?"

"Nothing is too important. Tomorrow I will go to Mount Putri. I got a message from Mandalika. Ayu delivered the message. And I have to meet uncle."

Rindah "your father is still on his way. Wait a few more hours. You guys eat first. I'll let you know if your dad's home."

Bayu "thank you Auntie."

Rindah also left.

Nirmala "you didn't call them father and mother? Aren't you his adopted son?"

Bayu just smiled

Haris "i'll be coming tomorrow. Don't leave me"

Bayu "why come?"

Haris "a few days ago I discussed this with my father, and I was asked to come along."

Bayu "oh, okay. Don't mess up..."

Bayu and Haris look very close even though each of them always say rude. It really seems like a family. Lucky lady can be raised in a good family. Nirmala was a little envious but also happy.

They're very nice. Treating Dhika and Nirmala like no stranger. Of course, Dhika is famous from among prominent families, of course they know each other before, unlike Nirmala who is really a stranger. But they still treat him very well.

Dinner is over. Mr. Kesuma Wijaya, Bayu's adoptive father has just arrived. Mr. Kesuma directly asked them to discuss this in the living room. They also gathered there.

Kesuma "Wood are you sure you're going on this trip?"

Bayu "of course this is common to me. No need to worry." This isn't the first time Bayu has gone to the mountains. It's been a lot, but not so far now.

Mr. Wijaya "I believe you can take care of yourself, it's just that the state of the land is not good. I hope you're always careful"

Dhika "is there a problem also in the capital?"

Mr. Wijaya "right. Many of the robbers were already unafraid of the palace laws. Some of them have been arrested. But there are still many members who make the community restless. As if there is no end." He let out a long sigh, occasionally stroking his beard and continuing to talk "not to mention the issue of the existence of mountain bandits, he said, getting closer to appearing. Internal issues have not been resolved. There have been rumors of the Mongol army about to seize the territory of Pasundan."

Nirmala "mongol army?" Nirmala seemed to have heard or read about this. But faint faint. Not remember clearly.

Mr. Wijaya "if you have difficulty immediately turn on the flare. I'll come as soon as possible."

The moon was very bright, Bayu and Haris were seen talking in a gazebo on the edge of the lake,

Haris asks to cancel the trip in case something happens with Bayu. Bayu did not worry in the slightest about Dhika joining the journey and Bayu knew that Nirmala was also not a weak girl.

While Dhika talks with Nirmala in a flower garden, the small garden has a statue in the middle, nirmala looks at the sky full of stars, the moon is very beautiful. "As in the drama" he said. Dhika did not understand what drama was but she just kept quiet without asking.

Dhika "what are you thinking?"

Nirmala "so when separated in the square, I met a strange young man. He looked healthy but very pale, his eyes were covered in cloth, maybe he was blind. But he's carrying an arrow. He also carried a bamboo stick but he walked like he had no obstacles at all."

Dhika was silent.

Dhika does not talk much, except with Bayu, she is more communicative and more expressive.

Nirmala "can you teach me a little martial arts?"

Dhika "why?"

Nirmala "I don't know I was just worried about the conversation with Mr. Kesuma earlier. Maybe I should be able to protect myself too."

Dhika "well"

****

The four of them left early in the morning, traveling quite a distance. Nothing hinders one bit. Until they arrived at a misty village.

Very strange, the village was still in the lowlands, but the fog was very thick and the village was the only path to their destination, Nirmala and Bayu felt something unusual. Haris whispered "i don't remember any villages in this lane"

Very quiet, like no life at all. Like a dead city. The longer it goes into the village, the more horrified it is, "is there a ghost" Nirmala said. They don't believe in ghosts. And Bayu denied that "there is no such thing as a ghost"

Nirmala and Bayu heard a small sound, a whisper of whispers that came out of nowhere. But only the two of them were listening to it. It was strange.

Nirmala "did you hear that?"

Haris "heard what?"

Bayu "they're like one"

Dhika "you focus. Don't get hooked."

Sometimes they look around. Following the sound of footsteps that suddenly appeared suddenly suddenly disappeared, lost,

While Dhika and Haris follow them, Nirmala sometimes goes out of sight, chasing and following in those footsteps.

The more the focus on the oddity the more it made him not realize, that the four of them were slowly separating. As soon as the voice disappeared, they realized. They just walk alone.

They tried to scream to each other. But there was no response.

Dhika meets someone, dressed in all-black clothes, she attacks him, for whatever reason. There was not a word from that person, just attacking and fighting with Dhika.

Haris follows a light. He kept running. The light gets further and further away.

While Bayu, meeting a small child, he is like inviting him to play. They hide and laugh. All are not guided by their own illusions.

While Nirmala was deep in the fog, and ended up in an old, very dirty building, it was very noticeable that the building was abandoned like more than a hundred years.

The building is sturdy walled stone, roof is clingy clay. Compared to the house around it. This house looks the most luxurious. Seen the door a little open, the longer Nirmala more curious, what made him led here. He came in through that door. A little surprised, someone was standing there. Women in red dresses with unraveled hair. What is kuntilanak thought.

Come in, I know who you are.

Leganya, apparently not kuntilanak. He goes deeper too.

He looked at Nirmala. Then step. It was like asking him to follow her. Nirmala followed in her footsteps, until she came to a large room. The door that had just been passed by her, suddenly closed violently, making her shocked half to death. The woman was just standing, in front of a huge wall painting, almost as tall as the big wall there. Suddenly the atmosphere changed from dark and dirty. Being bright and little by little looking very clean, whether he is a ghost, or a witch he thought. . The room was beautiful, he was still standing there. Sunlight penetrates through the window sidelines, the interior is made of high-quality wood, carved very slick and artistic, truly the home of the rich.

Nirmala asked "what do you want?" ... "why did you bring me in?"

He said, "let me show you"

A flash of memory appeared one by one before him. It was an event before the city died. Nirmala saw what had happened to the city.

More than a hundred years ago. The townspeople died one by one because of the plague. A person drains the disease virus to all water sources. The dead are countless. Only the families are still spared from the plague. They can afford clean water from other areas. The poor met their end quickly. One night the robbers came. The number is not small. They fill the city. Black black uniformed. Covering his face with a black cloth. Kill anyone who is alive. The cries of the citizens filled every corner of the city. How unfortunate. The woman in the red dress suddenly woke up from her bed. In forced scrubs brought to the living room with other family members. They asked the whereabouts of a jade. No one answered any of them. Until the robber growled and slit everyone's throats.

The crying saw it all. One of the robbers knew. That Laras has information. But Laras decided something else. Not to leak the jade. But he stabbed his own body to death.

He had made a vow before, crying blood.

"i'll protect my city. Anyone with cruel thoughts will not let me out of my city. I swear. I hid my town to trap you all. To die with me."

All those memories flashed before him, like he was watching a four-dimensional drama. Nirmala gasped at the horror.

"That.that's why... How's..."

"I know who you are. I want to ask for your help"

"I?. Who am I?..."

"Please take. Because of that jade I'm stuck here. I want to be with my family. They're waiting for me"

"But. How's it?"

He pointed at his left chest. "here. Please take out the jade from my body. In my heart."

"This guy took an oath from his owner. He will continue to be there to protect me from people who want to hurt me. The jade won't come off until I take it off myself or for another five hundred years. But I'm dead. I can't take it off until the appointed time.  But you can do it. Because that is. I'm leading you here"

"Can I?"

Nirmala's hand was raised, trying to grab something in the spot pointed at by the woman. Slowly his hand entered through the woman's body, in her heart, suddenly something felt in her grasp. He took. A blue-colored oval jade carved into the moon, stars and sun. The woman smiled.

"The cigar is yours now. Use it wisely. You can use it to help the most valuable people. They deserve your love. Thank you Rinaya"

With a moment the situation of the room became as it was. Dirty, damp and dusty.

Slowly the mist begins to thin but still does not disappear. Dhika, who had started fighting, suddenly his opponent disappeared, as well as a small child who was running around playing with Bayu. They disappear. The light that was chased by her had gone nowhere. They finally ran to find each other. And meet at the crossroads, but only the three of them. Without Nirmala. They stared at each other "Nirmala where?" Dhika.

Nirmala rushed out of the building, running to find her friend, someone standing at the end of the street. Wearing all black clothes but it seems he is not from the group of robbers. From the looks of it he seems to be younger than Haris and Bayu. His lips smiled kindly, his eyes twinkled, his eyebrows were sharp, his face was very pretty, but he was male. She slowly approached, unexpectedly her beautiful face was not in accordance with her war.

"Give me that"

"Give me what?"

He asked for something he had just obtained, the Light jade, of course Nirmala did not want to hand it over. Because this jade was the entire city becoming a victim.

He chuckled and played with the small knife he had brought.

"I could have killed you so easily. So leave that to me. I'm sure you understand what I mean."

This person had always been watching them when they had just arrived at that fog village. He didn't think a girl could get something he always wanted. Nirmala remained in her stance.

"I don't understand what you mean"

No hesitation he immediately threw some needles, knives or any small sharp weapons that he had.

Fortunately Nirmala's reflexes are very good, he can avoid even if it is very difficult.

Nirmala panic. He ran away from the madman. The person continued to smile and laugh, speaking like a child. Invite him to play and play.

"Then we play, how. The loser has to give it up."

He's really crazy Nirmala thought.

He continued to throw sharp objects towards Nirmala as if it was endless. As quickly as Nirmala dodged and ran, she could easily catch up and block him. Nirmala was getting tired. And that guy is even more nimble. Nirmala kept running. But now he confronted him with a sword right in front of him. Nirmala cannot wiggle. The sword was only twenty centimeters away in front of his face. Whenever she was ready, she would plunge her into the petite body of the girl.

He swung his sword. Just one kick. Nirmala's head must have been separated from her body.

Fortunately, a flash of light to Dhika's emasan managed to hit him.

Nirmala was stunned, Dhika approached. Jump out of nowhere.

Nirmala hid in her back.

He attacked Dhika. But he knew he would not win against him. Bayu and Haris emerge from the end of the road.

Not expected, Dhika knows the person, Bayu was the same even though he forgot a little.  He was a junior at the time of his first school training. He disappeared before the training was over. It was unexpected that they met there.

He knows it is impossible to match Dhika, let alone Bayu and Haris. He also disappeared.

The fog is very thin. The condition of the village was starting to look clear. very dirty, very old, very left behind. The rest of life there is just an old building with black moss with a few pieces of dried bones, debris almost all collapsed.

The sun began to warm, they continued the journey still very far to the destination. They better leave the dead city.

They spend the night by the river, making bonfires. Burning the fish that had just been caught from the river.

Haris "we just met.... The morang? Why is he there?"

Nicky "....."

Bayu "he's too mysterious. I don't understand him"

Nirmala "who is she?"

Dhika "he's a junior trainee while attending school in the Capital. He's very talented. He became the center of everyone's attention. But he abused his talent. He threatened and injured many other participants. Some punishments never deter him. Until he finally disappeared. And never come back."

Nirmala "disappeared? Why?"

Bayu "no one knows where he went. For sure he's not missing kidnapped or anything. He left, and never showed up again."

Haris "i wonder why he showed up there?"

Dhika "Nirmala, did she say anything to you? Why did he attack you?"

Nirmala "I think he's a lunatic. He wants to play with me. So I ignored him. But he attacked me. It's really crazy."

Sayu "by the way about the game. Aren't we gonna bet?. Nirmala do you have an answer?"

Nirmala "when will it rain? Hmmm let me see" he looked at the stars and counted them with his fingers. As if you could know from it

Bayu "Dhika what about you? What's your answer?"

Haris "you're doing it again? This time what's at stake?"

Bayu "oh you want to follow? You can follow about. Hmmmm. Any bet can be reasonable. Not everyone has money so I don't mind risking others, like your life for example hehe."

Harris "ha? No-no. My life's too precious just for your dime game"

Bayu "hmm well, what I bet ya..."

Nirmala "I've got the answer but. I don't have anything. And my life I dedicate to my family so I can't risk it. What if I promise you one thing. If I lose you can file it with me"

Dhika "well, I'm coming"

Bayu "hahah wow, what do you want to hold Dhika? Promise who you want to hold hah... Haha."

Nirmala "my answer, starting from today. It's probably 100 days before the new rain falls."

Bayu "you look so sure"

Of course Nirmala is just a guess.

Dhika "my answer is 60 days ahead"

Bayu "Haris you come too. Who knows you won. The stakes are not heavy either"

Haris "acute can't count stars or the direction of the wind. My guess is maybe, hopefully next month it starts raining."

Bayu "Nirmala 100 days, Dhika 60 Days, Haris 30 Days, then I'm 90 days"

Nirmala "is only ten days apart from me. I'm sure you're just guessing."

Bayu. "Indeed, the answer of whoever wins later I just want to know the calculation of who is right"

Nirakala "aish. It turns out it's no use. Just use my calculations"

Bayu "are you really counting?"

Nirmala "does you think I can count that, haha"

Haris "jeez, one Bayu alone is dizzy enough. This time it was like he had a friend"

-----

The sun is high enough to wake up from sleep.

Bayu first wakes up, also Nirmala.

Nirmala asked the baby to teach her how to catch fish.

They were both in the middle of the river. Haris approached, looking at them from the riverbank.

Long time they're in the water. Haris was tired of seeing them in the end just playing with water. Bayu and Nirmala conspire to make the lines come into play. Bayu and Nirmala swung their hands making splashes of water. It leads to Haris sitting by the river. Until Haris got wet. Their noisy laughter made Dhika approach. "Stop playing"

Nirmala went to the river. Want to take the hairpin that he kept on the rock by the river. Her hair was broken and she rolled back.

Unexpectedly he slipped and hummed Dhika until Dhika plunged into the river water.

Everyone laughed when they saw him drenched.

A very rare moment in the middle of the journey. But Dhika was no wonder. Things like this will always exist. As long as there is Bayu will definitely feel cheerful, plus now there is Nirmala who seems to support every game.

With a half-wet shirt. Mreka continued the journey. Through the trail. A little bit too hard, but they enjoyed it. Enjoy the beauty of the view on the hill.

Nirmala asked, "is there any other purpose than to look for herbs."

Everyone was silent, as if they knew something.

Bayu answered him "whatever happens, nirmala, please don't ask anything before it's all over."

Nirmala understood and did not speak anymore.

They walked down the stairs to the top of the hill, there was a house, with a table covered with dried herbs. Someone is flipping the plant back so that it sunburns flat.

Bayu, Haris and Dhika talk to the owner of the house. Nirmala was not allowed to join the conversation. Nirmala just waited outside. A moment later two people entered the room, they looked very neat, like royalty or something

Nirmala walked around the courtyard. His curiosity is too high. He smelled the herbs in the sun. Nothing is known of him. Open the lid of the jug lined up along the corner of the courtyard. Poking its contents smelled it tasted its taste. Very unpleasant. Fermented soy.

Nirmala seemed to suddenly feel like she was being watched. In the trees across the street. Nirmala was feeling restless.

And immediately came back to the room where they were talking.

An hour later they came out. The owner of the house wrapped some herbs and gave them to the baby.

They say goodbye and go home.

Nirmala was still feeling restless. Along the way she kept turning her eyes, as if it was true that someone was following. Nirmala whispered "Dhika, are you..."

Dhika nodded "remain calm"

While Haris and Bayu seemed unaware at all. Until they arrived at a nearby village, they spent the night in a small inn. As always. Nirmala always wanders alone at night. But this time not far from where he was, he immediately returned again. He still feels someone is watching.

Bayu came to him in the courtyard of the inn."Nirmala I think I have a way to recover lost memories."

Nirmala smiled "really? How's it?"