Sign of the Zodiac: Aries
[Sign 1: Aries] Khitai Tribe

Anaru was worried about two things: the fact that the uluwero also mastered common language, and his death rage when he found out Anaru returned empty-handed. What a rash decision to approve Airyung's proposal. But Anaru was no longer able to return. He and Airyung had already walked towards the main village of the Khitai tribe.

I hope the fainted one gets stuck in Tsagan's back. Airyung is credited with lifting the young man's body up on his horse. He lifted Kaharap as easily as to attach a piece of cloth. Anaru did not think that the young girl of small stature could do it lightly, without her help in the least. His body was several inches taller than Anaru's.

Now they are almost at the entrance of his village. Anaru was quite agitated especially imagining Airyung's reaction when he found out that the uluwero could actually also speak a common language. What if the girl changes her mind and refuses to continue her training?

Airyung could have asked other uluwero help to find the person he needed. It is not even impossible if it turns out that the person in the prophecy is one of the uluwero. Airyung could choose to train the chosen uluwero instead of continuing to teach Anaru.

Various imaginations continued to cross the mind of Anaru until without feeling, they arrived at a bamboo gate two meters high. The gate was directly connected to a wooden fence that circled around the 15-mile village. The bamboo gate is woven in such a way as to form the tip of a pointed triangle on it. Anaru immediately knew that they had reached the entrance of his village.

Two uluwero men stood guard at the right left of the gate. Anaru did not see Ngaio. Although indeed they walked fast enough to compensate for Ngaio who had run first. It should have been a short distance away, and the panicked Ngaio was most likely reporting to the gatekeeper uluwero. In fact, the woman did not appear at all the stem of her nose. And the two uluwero gatekeepers were also still quietly in their positions, with no sign of uproar.

“Anaru, kotu mai kore koti[1],” an uluwero seems to recognize Anaru.

“Ngamea mat[2], “ Anaru short answer.

“Ewa me kotu?[3]” Other Uluwero ask.

Anaru was weighing the most appropriate answer in that situation. The uluwero asked the origin of the strangely dressed Airyung. It seems different from the alleged Anaru, Ngaio did not report at all to uluwero about the incident on the beach earlier.

“Ia Aroha tanema hiri[4],” replied Anaru later. “Ia mai Giyatsa.[5]”

Anaru's honest answer about Airyung's identity provoked a wary reaction from the two uluwero. They immediately uprooted Mandau in ferocity, preparing to attack Airyung. Fortunately Airyung did not immediately reply to the treatment with similar actions. The girl was still standing quietly as if very trusting of the diplomacy ability of Anaru.

“Ia hore cinema. He maruha u kotu te kinokambe.[6]” said Anaru immediately obstructed the menacing actions of the uluwero with the testimony that Airyung saved him from kinokambe's attack. But it seems that the two people are hard to convince. They still display a frantic gesture while wary of Airyung.

“Mite Hope. He ahmohi kea kinokambe[7],” said Anaru tried to find excuses, lying that the fainting Kaharap was evidence of a kinokambe attack.

“Anaru u tika. Kotu mite[8],” a female voice mediates their conversation. It turned out that Ngaiio had already peered out from behind the gate, testifying of Anaru's false statement. Anaru was somewhat surprised to hear Ngaio supporting her lie. But he saw it as an opportunity to escape the suspicions of the uluwero.

“What did you come to Khitai for? Are you a spy for Giyatsa?”

What Anaru feared happened. One of the uluwero spoke a common language in Airyung. Anaru glanced at Airyung next to him. The girl glared fiercely at Anaru as if saying ‘what the fuck is this?’. Anaru could only grimace in response to Airyung's sharp gaze.

“I brought an important message from Giyatsa to your chieftain,” Airyung replied reading the situation. If these uluwero can speak a common language, it means that their chieftain must also master it. It was wiser to talk about the prophecy to the chieftain than to his belligerent-looking subordinates.

The two uluwero looked at each other. They seemed to be considering Ngaio's testimony and Anaru's confession. One of them then went inside the village while the other still intercepted the group of Anaru outside the gate. Not long after, the uluwero who entered the village came out to them and then exchanged codes with his colleagues.

“Let me take care of Kaharap and your horse.” Ngaio also mastered the common language. Anaru never knew about it and now felt betrayed. Later she has to take care of some things with him, including asking why Ngaio helped them.  For the time being he had to keep clinging to Airyung for the girl to find him useful and still be willing to train him in martial arts.

The village of Khitai seemed deserted that night. Some straw-roofed bamboo houses look neatly lined up forming rows of uniformly shaped buildings. Each house has a sheep pen behind it. Some of the cages looked empty, others contained only a few skinny sheep curled up in the hay.

On the face of each house lit a small torch as a street lighting. The curly-haired Uluwero took them to the center of the village, to one of the largest buildings with torch-running lines along its entrance.

“Come in there. Princess Aroha is waiting for you. And you, Anaru, I will tell your eyes when you come back..” said uluwero. “... without bringing a sheep,” he continued with a grin.

Anaru's heart melos. Not finished the problem with Airyung, now he also has to prepare for the wrath of his death. But Anaru did not retaliate against the threat of the uluwero. He let the curly-haired young man waltz away leaving the two of them in front of the chief's house.

“Anaru, I should have known that you are indeed this slick,” Airyung said as she turned her head dramatically at Anaru.

“I have no other choice. If I tell you the truth, you won't train me to fight. At least I've helped you get past those uluwero. Just so you know, thanks to my words, these uluwero finally let you meet Princess Aroha. You should at least return the favor to me,” Sergah Anaru does not want to lose.

His words are not entirely a lie. Anaru had indeed given a logical reason that was not entirely a lie. Airyung did save him from the kinokambe, although the incident was not on the beach. Anaru only slightly twisted the facts of samnil aided by Ngaio's testimony that reinforced his little lie.

Airyung clucked impatiently in response. He did not understand the Khitai language at all. But it was true, thanks to Anaru, he could have a chance to meet the Khitai Chieftain. It seems that for now, Airyung will still cooperate with Anaru while considering the attitude of the young man in the future.

[1] You're back without sheep.

[2] All are dead.

[3] Who is the person you are with?

[4] She's an important guest of Princess Aroha.

[5] He came from Giyatsa.

[6] He is not evil. He saved me from evil spirits.

[7] Look at the Hull. He fainted under attack by an evil spirit.

[8] Anaru's right. I saw everything.