The Eternal War Kasarewang
Drestha city

Harsa had no idea what she should expect from her trip to Drestha City with Adi on the promised day. So, Harsa prepared a backpack containing clothes, food, and valuables. As usual, Adi carried nothing but the clothes on his body and his eight agate rings.

As they promised, Aster came before sundown. He was also ready with a backpack, hat, and shoes. His long hair was tied one so it showed a bright smile on his face. In his hand, Aster carried a totebag containing a box wrapped by wrapping paper neatly. Without many words, he stuck out the totebag.

“Happy birthday!” said Aster.

Harsa returned her smile sincerely. “You are many! Haha, this way I have to reply to your birthday.”

“Nevent gone.” Said Aster lightly. “Part of the gift is food kok.”

“Then we bring it. Who knows can be eaten together later on the road.”

Adi nailed his eyes. “What? No need to.”

“Kak, different with you, Aster should eat.” Denying Harsa. “You brought provisions’?” Harsa turned to Adi. Aster nodded confidently.

“Hm, I never thought you'd be going to Drestha too.” Said Erik who was still wearing pajamas.

“Papa sure don't want to come?” ask Harsa. He only realized that at least Erik had not returned to the city of Drestha for sixteen years. Ah, but maybe it's a short time for Erik.

Erik. “Please your sister.”

Adi extended both of his hands. “Aready? If, yes. Hold my hand.”

Harsa holds Adi's left hand and Aster's right hand. “Siap.” Harsa.

“Bent in. Pull your aura.” Tell Adi while throwing a firm look at Harsa.

“Why? Isn't aura important for detecting formskitter?”

“You don't have to worry about formskitter while you're inside Drestha.” City Answer Adi. “It is precisely if you give off such an aura that people will suspect why you are so vigilant.”

Harsa nodded without asking much and withdrew her aura for Adi to immediately continue.

“Then, close your eyes.” Adi's orders. “This is your first experience in teleportation, right? I warned early that it would feel a little dizzy.”

“Isn't it common for us to also teleport from the Material World to the Spirit World Bank?” ask Aster this time confused.

Adi's forehead is wrinkled. “Mantra is contained in the ring, and the ring is equally functioned to manipulate the elements under the space decree, but the elements are different. Just try to feel it. I can't explain space decrees correctly.”

Aster nodded. Having begun to be able to study a small portion of living decrees, Aster was also curious about space decrees. Unfortunately, Adi could not answer those questions.

“Ready?” ask Adi again.

Harsa and Aster nodded with their eyes closed.

“Do not open your eyes until I say open.” Said Adi again. Then, Harsa's back trembled as she felt the amount of physis Adi had deployed to one of her agate rings. One moment later, Harsa felt the morning breeze gently slap her cheek.

“Iya, now, can open the eyes.” Adi said while releasing both Aster and Harsa's hands.

Harper opened his eyes slowly. He was no longer in his family's living room, he was in the middle of the wilderness. As Adi said, such a drastic change of place and time almost made him lose his footing.

“Wow.” Aster was amazed to see where they were. “Bagai-” Question Aster stopped when he saw Adi's slightly pale face. “Are you okay?” tanyanya understanding.

Adi can't look Aster in the eye. He looked to the side to hide his cheeks that were starting to blush back. “Nothing, really. I just didn't expect that taking you guys would be this exhausting.”

“Ah, yes. Brother once said that the back and forth from Drestha to the house is tiring.” Harsa. “I got scared earlier because the amount of physis that you use is huge.”

“I'm afraid we're apart.” Adi said. “Better use many physis than sorry.”

“Tapii.. So this is Drestha?” tanya Aster is a bit confused, seeing how far they are from the word ‘urban’.

“Not. We are still in the Material World. Destha is on the Edge of the Spirit World.” While answering, Adi waved his hand. The transparent hood next to it opens showing one round city square. Some people who were walking around looked at them, but immediately ignored the open transparent hood.

Both Aster and Harsa gasped at the view of Kasarewang city. The town square was covered with light brown bricks neatly. In the middle of the square, one huge fountain stood gallantly. In the middle of the fountain, a stickman statue with both hands holding a large stone circle that continues to spin. Within the circle, there are five small balls that circle around each other. Around the square, there are chairs and iron garden tables lined up neatly.

In the middle of the morning like this, the square was more crowded than Harsa thought. Some Kasarewang couples were having a conversation while sitting in a garden chair. At the end of the square park, there are Kasarewang children who are playing flying skateboards. In all four corners of the park, many temporary stalls sell colorful drinks and sweets. It did not take long, Harsa immediately realized that only drinks and sweets they sold. No other food or drink.

Harsa was confused to describe her feelings when looking around her. The city looked much more normal than Harsa expected, but it was also very different. The first difference that Harsa immediately realized was how striking everyone looked. Starting from the hair color of bright red, light yellow, pink, blue, purple, green, to their clothes and accessories that people use. All the colors seem to be able to be called to describe the color of the hair and eyes of these people. From within each person around her, Harsa could feel a huge amount of physis that was already like a time bomb. Now, Harsa understood why Adi said that giving off an aura within the city was very disrespectful. This much inter-Kasarewang aura collision would strangle his neck because he could not breathe.

The second difference he felt was that everyone, everyone was singing. Well, sometimes there is laughter on the sidelines of their singing, but everyone speaks Kasarewang fluently. Harsa can only capture a little meaning from what the people around her say. However, just as Harsa had expected, Aster looked at them confusedly.

“Uh, yes. I didn't expect it to be like leaving for another country.” Said Aster. “What do they all sing?”

“Those tones are not songs. The language Kasarewang.” Adi said.

“I don't really understand either, if you're curious.” Harsa took the initiative to answer Aster's confused gaze.

The sky around them stretched wide with a clear blue color. Just north of their square, there is a small mountain that is striking because it is in the middle of the city. On the side of the mountain, on a cliff that juts out, stands a giant castle that seems to always keep an eye on the state of Drestha city. Stone towers flew around the mountain. It seemed that they were guarding both the mountain, the castle, and the city of Drestha.

“Kakak, born here?” asked Harsa contemplating. He imagined little Adi, a hundred years ago, playing skateboarding flying like children at the end of the park.

Adi was a little surprised to hear that question. “Yes. Sure oes. Why?”

“Ngak, it feels...just different.”

“Today is a weekend, so most people are relaxing. On a normal day the square of the City of Drestha is not as crowded as this.” Adi's story while starting to walk towards a small mountain inside the city.

Shortly after they walked, a long blonde young lady with light blue eyes looked at Adi, then waved her hand in a friendly manner. Adi waved back. The woman looked at Aster and Harsa with a look of wonder, before speaking casually with Adi in Kasarewang language.

“----------sister---- and---------------?” ask the woman friendly.

This time, Adi's face flushed like a tomato. “---------!”

The woman laughed, then left while waving her hand. “-------------------!”

“He's my friend and boss who took human studies.” Adi said on Harsa and Aster, stressing on the word ‘friend’.

“Oh?” Harsa doesn't know how to answer. “Do we not need to get acquainted with him?”

Adi shakes. “She can't speak Indonesian.”

“Then, where can we meet people can teach me to manipulate various elements?” ask Aster who follows Adi from behind.

Adi pointed to the small mountain. “There.”

“In that castle?” ask Harsa excitedly. He wanted to take a look at the grandeur of the castle up close.

Adi laughed a little. “No. The castle is the residence of the royal family. There's no way we're going in there. We'll meet him at the little hut at the foot of that mountain.”

Aster nodding.

“But, sis. I actually don't understand. You said it was hard to learn elements across decrees.” Harsa asked as they walked down the sidewalk. They began to enter the shopping area near the square.

“Ya, then?”

“How can this person teach Aster how to manipulate and control many elements?”

“Of course you can. He can teach Aster all kinds of elements, if he has harmony with the four types of decrees.”