RED EYES
Kangels

The sun was still hiding, even though the chickens started crowing. We continued our journey in the early hours. We stepped up with weapons on our backs. Of course tired, but the journey must continue for us to reach our destination.

We have been wearing the clothes of the palace guards since yesterday. My body feels very dirty, of course, because all day long we were in the wild. Let alone changing clothes, we also do not have supplies.

Erasmus stepped right in front of me. Eric was on my left side. They stepped faster than me because they were so enthusiastic about approaching Garuda. With a heavy heart I stepped quickly so as not to be left behind by them, of course I do not want to get lost in the forest.

"Where are they?" Ask Erasmus. I don't know what he's asking.

Erasmus stopped his steps, Eric and I followed. Erasmus began to direct his gaze in various directions. Before long, Erasmus began to draw his sword and Eric prepared to cast his magic. Me? I still don't understand what they're going to do.

Erasmus whispered to Eric, I did not hear what Erasmus said at all. Before long, Eric changed the color of his eyeballs to yellow. I also know what Erasmus whispered to Eric.

The arrow passed me suddenly. Erasmus and Eric stood as if to protect me. I saw Erasmus preparing with his sword and Eric preparing with his arrow. I can only pull out a dagger, I am not like Erasmus who is good at playing his sword and Eric who is good at directing arrows on target. We have to be ready to fight if someone attacks us.

"King Luis?" I heard a voice I never heard, it wasn't Erasmus or Eric's.

"Prince Erasmus." Erasmus answered quickly.

I saw a small man approaching us. It may be as high as my stomach. The man was not a child, his face looked older than ours. He has a wrinkle on his face that is brown in color. His eyes were huge and his eyeballs were jet black. Their ears are very similar to elephants. Her clothes were the same as those of the residents of Wiender, only her clothes looked very dirty.

"I'm sorry prince, I thought a witch would attack us." The man bent ninety degrees.

Erasmus asked his body to stand up straight. Erasmus' smile made him smile. They look good. When the arrow passed me, I thought there was going to be a war.

"Sorry prince, a few minutes ago I felt a witch in this place." The man explained. I'm sure that witch is Eric.

"My name is Goldam, the guardian of the people of Kangel." He introduced himself to me and Eric.

Goldam started to step up, and we followed in his footsteps. From the beginning I didn't know where my legs went. As usual, I just followed them.

My eyes keep on seeing Goldam. It was like being in a fairyland because I actually saw a dwarf. I always thought there was no dwarf in the world.

"Is he a dwarf?" I whispered to Eric.

"I'm not a dwarf! My body is only smaller than yours, but I'm not a dwarf." Goldam answered my question.

Now he gives a very sharp look at me. No more smiles for me. I feel like I've offended him.

"He's my future wife." Erasmus said that phrase again. However, Erasmus' words managed to make Goldam remove his sharp gaze. Still, I don't want that kind of help.

We step back. There are no signs of life in this place. The trees here do look more alive than the trees in Wiender, maybe the witch has not attacked this place.

"How's Kangel doing?" Ask Erasmus.

"Safeer than Wiender's hideout." Answer Goldam.

"If Wiender-"

"I'm sure that the Wiender royal family will be able to take care of the Gardes. We believe that, so we do not need to accommodate the people of Wiender. We're avoiding war." Goldam cut off Erasmus' speech.

I'm starting to understand if Goldam's point is that he doesn't want the Gardes to take refuge in Kangel because it's a risk. Maybe if I were Goldam, I'd do the same.

We entered a small and narrow cave. I, Erasmus and Eric had to bend over to walk in that cave. The cave was quite dark, but there was still some light illuminating the cave.

I started to see the light at the end of the cave, I guess it was the exit of this cave. If this cave wasn't narrow, I would've run to make it out of this cave.

"Welcome to Kangel." Welcome Goldam when we make it out of that cave.

I saw a lot of houses that looked like huts on hard red soil. On the other side I saw green grass, shrubs and trees. Sometimes I see buffaloes, cows and chickens. I don't see any rare plants or animals here This place is not as beautiful and not as magical as Wiender.

"I have to meet Garuda." Erasmus immediately told his purpose to come to this place.

"I know that was the intention of your arrival, Erasmus. I didn't expect you to bring two witches to this place." Said the man who looked like Goldam, this time the man had a long white beard and looked much older than Goldam, he appeared suddenly.

Erasmus approached the man. Eric and Goldam immediately sat down with both legs bent, the legs form like a twenty-degree angle. I followed them too, maybe the man was a respectable person.

"I'm sorry chieftain, there's a thing"

"The garuda is waiting for you." The chieftain of the Kangel tribe cut off Erasmus' words with a very friendly face.

...

If the leader of Garde lived in the palace, it was different from the residence of the chieftain Kangel. I had suspected that the abode of the chieftain would be better than the residence of the Kangel people, but the reality was much different. The residence is the same as the residence of the residents of Kangel, only the place is wider and guarded by several guards.

We sat on a rattan bench, except for Goldam and the two guards standing around the chieftain. Table covered by leaves from banana tree. Our footwear is in direct contact with small, fine rocks that are often found on the banks of rivers. It feels strange that a leader lives like a commoner.

"My house is very different from yours, Erasmus. I hope you're comfortable in this place." Said the chief with his voice that sounded quite hoarse.

"Why don't you live in a bigger place?" My toot.

"Haha. If I live more comfortably, how can I feel the joys and sorrows of other Kangel residents?" The reply was friendly. He was very wise for me.

One woman, of course, looks like other Kangel residents, he came and gave a glass of warm water to all of us. He also placed two bowls of honey in front of us.

"Welcome home." He greeted us with a smile. He's very friendly. My eyes grew bigger as the woman immediately sat right beside the chief.

"He is my wife." The chief introduced his wife after seeing my eyes.

I felt this place was very peaceful when I saw its leader who was so friendly, kind and wise. Unlike other places, they are amazing. I hope Erasmus can take a lesson from this visit.

"Garuda's already talking to me if you're coming." The village chief opened the conversation.

"I want to see Garuda." Erasmus Reply.

"Can't, Erasmus." Answer the chief quickly.

"Why?" Ask Erasmus. His face began to describe disappointment.

"Garuda has been leaving us since eight years ago. Garuda does not want to harm us. Garuda knows if he stays here, witches will come and attack us."

Hearing the chief's explanation, I knew that our arrival was in vain. Erasmus looked very disappointed and Eric was quite surprised by the words of the chief.

I looked at Eric and Erasmus. They only kept quiet after the chief spoke.

"Aren't you supposed to take note of what he said?" I whispered to Eric.

"I remember what he said. Don't equate my intelligence with your stupidity." Eric replied without looking at me.

Erasmus immediately drank the warm water that had been provided, as well as Eric. I followed them to drink the water provided. Courteous manners are like that, Erasmus and Eric quite have ethics in visiting.

We stood up and left Kangel. We don't have much time to do this mission.

"Life has many choices and every choice has its destiny." The chief let out his wise words. I'm sure that phrase is for Erasmus who isn't good at leading.

"Thank you, chief." Erasmus' words began our steps.

"Garuda asks that the four of you stay alive."

That last sentence made our steps stop. The four? My eyes and Eric immediately turned to Goldam. Could Goldam be coming with us?

"Hey, my name is Cassandra." A very beautiful woman approached us. From the way he spoke he looked elegant.

The woman was different from the people of Kangel. Her body is not as short as Kangel, but my height is almost the same as her. His skin is very white. His black hair was long and wavy. The smile from her thin lips was dazzling. It also has sky blue eyeballs. His eyeballs were sky blue, could it be Garde?

"I can't give you weapons, but I can give you our knights and enough supplies. I hope you guys make it." The chieftain gave his knights. Knights? A graceful woman?

....

The night wind made me shiver. Huts and mattresses made of rattan coated with cloth are not enough to put me to sleep. I also stepped out of the hut called the room of newcomers. The sky greeted me with a full moon and millions of stars that were shining in the black sky. Not only the light of the moon and stars, the fire in the torch also illuminates this settlement. I turned my head in various directions but no Kangel Tribe was still awake other than some guards around the chief's room.

"I know it's hard for a princess to fall asleep on a rattan." The chieftain who suddenly appeared greatly shocked me.

"I'm just not sleepy yet." My reply.

"Want to listen to a legend?" Take the chief and I nod.

The pace of the chieftain is very slow, my steps are very small to compensate for his steps. I couldn't possibly step in front of him because I still had a manners.

"We used to live with Garde." The chieftain said something Erasmus or Eric never said.

"We were commissioned by five knights"

"Five knights?! Is that statue in the middle of the forest?" My question cuts his words. Is the statue of five knights in the middle of the forest a true story?

"Do you know?" The chieftain smiled as he saw me knowing the statue of the five knights in the middle of the forest.

"There was no king in Wiender. The wiender is led by five knights. The five knights formed the Wiender as we were almost annihilated by humans and protected the Wiender as the witch tried to damage nature. I was one of the weakest. As we deliberated at the round table, they gave the task to the Kangel Tribe which all had small bodies and did not have the heart to kill to guard the various kramat objects in the palace warehouse.-"

"It's funny, isn't it? Then I asked the three knights who chose our Tribe to guard such a great thing. The knight Loi, King Loi, replied that an honest man is stronger than a fighter. Knight Renata -"

"Remissed?!" Eyes grow! What is the Renata I know? I'm sure no, maybe just the same name.

"Knight Renata is the youngest knight. The 17-year-old girl was already capable of becoming a formidable knight. That woman trusted me so much because our tribe never betrayed us in our entire lives."

The steps of the chieftain came to a halt in front of the bonfire. The chief sat on the rocks. I saw some guards protecting him from a distance. Without thinking much, I sat nearby. I'm used to sitting on the ground.

"A woman who suffered so much was angry at her destiny. He felt there was no other way but to use the kramat. We didn't expect that his magic would be able to paralyze us in a few moments. He also steals some kramat objects and runs away.-"

"One of the knights was very grumpy and the punishment he gave was a very inhumane torture. I also decided to keep everything a secret. The betrayal and the first lie of our tribe was my fault"

"The truth will always be revealed. King Loi knows my secret and King Loi was killed for my fault. Not only that, King Loi's family was destroyed because of me."

The chief also shed his tears. Her tears were so heavy and unstoppable. His breath looked stifling with regret as if it forced him to stop breathing.

"I apologize to you for accepting the suffering of my guilt." Follow the chief while crying.

I just kept quiet. I can't blame an old man as good as he is.

"The "Knight Crystal and Knight Renata destroy all remaining kramat objects so that the witch does not use them for her greed. One knight fell victim, two knights destroyed the kramat and one knight, me, became a source of trouble."

"Then?" I'm starting to get curious.

"Garuda promised to protect the five knights because he wanted to keep us who always keep nature. The Crystal Knight chose to live with her husband who is an artist in your world, but both disappeared after an accident. The Kangel Tribe is hidden in this place. The knight Renata was also sent on earth to take care of you." The chief told me something very hard to believe.

"the diamonds? He's very evil and-"

"He takes care of you and loves you very much, Diana. He's being mean so that the Gardes don't kill you until that pathetic prophecy is erased"

"When I saw you here, I knew there would be trouble here. Trouble has arisen, Diana. I can't help you because we have to protect our tribe and Garuda." Further.

"Don't you know where Garuda is?"  I'm getting confused about this situation.

"I lied because Garuda asked. He will approach one of you if the situation is appropriate, for now I have to keep a secret. Please, please understand!" He was being too respectful towards me, I became very awkward.

Looks like the story is done.

We don't talk anymore. The chieftain just stared at the bonfire, I was also confused about having to do what's more. Should I go?

"May I ask you a favor?" The chieftain let out his voice as I intended to return to the hut.

"certain." Answer me quickly.

"Cassandra Adella is Cassie's biological mother and Leonardio is her father's name. Cassandra Adella is another name possessed by the Crystal Knights. Can you help Cassie introduce Cassie to both of them?"

A difficult request.

"I'll pay you with a bar of gold and water."

The chieftain showed a very small bottle, even just as big as a thumb. The water looks green. Is that syrup?

...