The Fire Dragon Sword
Malwageni Volition
One full moon after the destruction of Nagari Siang Padang, Sabrang is still not found. Dozens of Wardhana's trusted soldiers continue to be deployed quietly to search for possible secret exits from the ruins of Nuswantoro's largest building.
Wardhana did keep the buried Sabrang secret because he did not want the state of the palace to be more chaotic after the war with Saung Galah. He said that Sabrang is currently working on preparing his new science.
Wardhana even accidentally removed Arung as commander of the Malwageni Fire army and replaced it with Wijaya to be more free to move quietly in search of Sabrang's whereabouts.
Meanwhile, the royal throne until now is still empty because of the strong rejection of some Ministerial officials against the plan to appoint Tungga Dewi as queen.
The corrupt officials felt disturbed because Tungga Dewi had targeted them in the first place as the first step to clean up the traitors in the palace.
The officials who were disturbed to do anything including gathering power to thwart the plan of crowning Tungga Dewi as the queen of Malwageni.
Wardhana who from the beginning had predicted rejection would happen not not to not know their plans, but he chose to stay silent first to avoid the atmosphere of the palace getting rowdy.
His concentration is still divided between seeking the existence of Sabrang and regulating the government of Saung Galah which is currently the Malwageni area of power.
Jaladara was indeed found dead by suicide, the supreme commander Saung Galah was more likely to die than his pride as a knight stepped on for surrendering to the opponent but the same as in the court Malwageni, Malwageni, Wardhana also had to deal with the former Minister Saung galah who had many interests.
Wardhana must be careful and ensure the process of transitioning the power of Saung Galah to Malwageni does not cause turmoil that can be used by ministers to take advantage. He placed the Axis in the Saung Galah to dampen them for a while.
The resistance of Saung Galah ministers was carried out quietly by inciting the crown princess Saung Galah to ask for the privilege of ruling Saung Galah despite being under Malwageni.
In a chaotic situation and increasingly desperate position of Tungga Dewi which is now the target of Malwageni officials to be removed, Wardhana began to set a trap to quell the officials.
The meteri led by Adiwilaga as Minister of Enforcement Panehak (a type of Minister of royal law) instigated the others by saying if until Tungga Dewi came to power, Dewi, it would be against the tradition of the palace that requires the king to come from the descendants of Dwipa.
Adiwilaga had more Pancaka as a temporary king than having to deal with Tungga Dewi.
"I've made up my mind" Wardhana said as he summoned Wijaya and the officials who remained loyal to him.
"Sir, will you follow their request by appointing prince Pancaka as king? The prince has indeed changed a lot but they will easily incite it," replied Wijaya worriedly.
"Wijaya's back, do we have any other choice? currently half of the Ministers have sided with them, if Mr. Patih imposes the will then there will be chaos in the palace and Saung Galah will take advantage of it," reply Sora's cow who dislikes seeing Vijaya questions Wardhana's decision to be given full power by Sabrang to control the transition of power.
"But this is the best way right now to put them down, we can put people around the prince to watch his movements" Wijaya replied annoyed.
"Enough! is it time for you to fight?!" wardhana.
The ox Sora and Wijaya lowered their heads when they saw Wardhana's two clenched hands holding back the anger.
"Master, I beg you to face" said one of the guard soldiers from outside.
"Come in," replied Wardhana from the inside.
The soldier stepped in, he lowered his head in salute.
"Sorry sir, the ministers are waiting for you in the main hall" the soldier said.
"They really forced the will, well if that's what you want, I'll make you all regret it" Wardhana replied as she handed a small scroll to Sora's Ox.
"Give it to the Queen Mother, tell me I'm waiting in the main hall," Wardhana ordered softly.
"Mother queen?" The cow Sora nodded slowly with a confused face.
"Rear, bring a hundred Malwageni Fire troops to the main hall and wait for my command, if the situation heats up don't be afraid to go in and arrest them" Wardhana said.
"Within? aren't warriors forbidden from entering the main hall without the orders of His Highness sir?" asked Wijaya surprised.
"Do you doubt me? just follow my orders, this is the most appropriate time to suppress them" Wardhana replied as she walked away.
After holding back for a few days and thinking of a plan to slowly remove Adiwilaga and his supporters, Wardhana had already decided to start counter-attacking.
He wanted to use the pressure of Adiwilaga's supporters to start his plan.
Adiwilaga and the other ministers did give Wardhana a deadline to appoint Pancaka who is currently the only descendant of Dwipa as a temporary king or they will drag Wardhana to the royal court for trying damaging the order of the palace made by the ancestors.
Meanwhile the atmosphere of the main Hall was already crowded by ministers and government officials. The atmosphere of the hall seemed tense because currently Malwageni officials split into three large groups in addressing the situation of the royal throne.
Adiwilaga's support group was the largest, while the other two groups were ministers loyal to Wardhana and the rest voted neutral.
Wardhana stepped in with Ciha, he still showed a calm face even though it was clearly seen the atmosphere of the main hall tense.
"Honor to the patih master," they said simultaneously.
Wardhana just nodded before sitting on the chair Sabrang used to use.
"I hope you have a good reason to make me come early in the morning because the transition of power in Saung Galah is much more important than your complaints" Wardhana said, adding that the situation was tense.
"You are too imposing the will of the patih master, I know His Majesty did give orders to you to control the process of transitional power but it seems you have crossed the line.
Almost a full moon of power is empty because you insist on lifting the queen's wrestling in place of Her Majesty. I do not doubt his order to appoint the queen as a temporary successor but looking at the current situation, I doubt the queen Gusti is able to lead the Malawageni.
Malwageni is the birthplace of all of us, and servants do this for the sake of Malwageni. Currently only Prince Pancaka has the blood of the Dwipa breed, I beg you to be wise and listen to our requests all," said Adiwilaga slowly.
"Prince Pancaka? haven't we all heard for ourselves he refused to be king? what exactly are you planning?" ask Wardhana cynically.
"As I said before, we just don't want the Malwageni to be back as devastated as it once was. Please consider," replied Adiwilaga who continued to try to pressure Wardhana.
A direct debate ensued between the two Wardhana and Adiwilaga supporters, who defended each other's arguments.
"The position of the king should not be empty until His Majesty returns, please speed up the appointment of the prince of Pancaka" said Adiwilaga.
"True sir Patih, please consider the opinion of Mr. Adiwilaga, if until Saung Galah knows this problem will all be more complicated. Please do not violate the tradition of the palace," said another.
"Good, all according to what I planned, now it is just waiting for Mr. Patih to lift the prince and everything will go as usual" said Adiwilaga in his heart.
Adiwilaga's face was seen smiling triumphantly, he was sure to have taken control of the situation as almost all neutral ministers began to understand his explanation.
"Bringing off the palace tradition? I don't intend to break all the rules because I'm a Malwageni knight" Wardhana replied calmly.
Hearing Wardhana's reply, Adiwilaga's smile grew even more. The current Pancaka may have awakened and supported Sabrang but he is confident that with a little incitement, Pancaka will again be ambitious to seize the throne that already exists in his hands.
"Slowly but surely I will seize the position of maha patih," said Adiwilaga in his heart.
"According to Malwageni royal rules about the position of the king that requires the royal nuclear family and direct descendants of the Dwipa breed, today I, am, Wardhana who was given power by His Majesty the king to control the transition of power during his tapa brata will appoint a king or queen temporarily until His Majesty returns.
After noticing the current condition of the palace which requires a lot of quick decisions regarding Saung Galah which is now our territory, I decided to appoint someone who has expertise in governing. As the minister said, currently there is only one person who is most appropriate to replace Her Majesty, she is the Queen Mother of SEKAR PITALOKA," Wardhana said loudly.
All gasped in shock including Adiwilaga after hearing Wardhana's decision, he did not expect Wardhana would choose Sekar Pitaloka to replace Sabrang.
"Mr Ganendra as the minister of the inner court will record all my decisions and bind us all without exception until His Majesty returns" Wardhana concluded.
"Sorry Mr. Patih, I'm not disrespecting your decision but..," not yet finished Adiwilaga spoke, Wardhana immediately cut off his speech.
"Mr Adiwilaga do you want to defy the tradition of the palace? the appointment of the Queen Mother is in accordance with the rules about the position of the king that require the royal nuclear family and direct descendants of the Dwipa breed. The queen mother is not a descendant of the Dwipa breed but she is this family as well as the mother of the current King Malwageni, do you doubt the Queen Mother?" fast snapping Wardhana.
All were silent after hearing Wardhana's words, no one was crazy enough to oppose the appointment of Sekar Pitaloka who was Arya Dwipa's wife and the mother of Sabrang.
Adiwilaga began to realize the intelligence of the Sabrang confidant, no one would think Wardhana would choose Sekar Pitaloka to close Pancaka access to the throne.
All were convinced that nothing would prevent Pancaka from ascending the throne this time until Wardhana mentioned the name Sekar Pitaloka.
"I do not doubt the Queen Mother at all sir but I hear she is wounded, should we not give this great burden for the sake of her health?" Adiwilaga tried again to influence other ministers.
"Why don't you ask the Queen Mother if she's willing?" answer Wardhana quickly.
"Inquire directly? aren't women forbidden from attending the grand gathering of the lord's kingdom?" ask Adiwilaga.
"You forgot the rules about the privilege of the king, since I read this decision, The queen mother is the supreme leader of Malwageni regardless she later refused, do you want to prevent the queen Malwageni from attending the meeting?" wardhana Reply.
Adiwilaga was silent while holding back anger, this time he was really finished off in public by Wardhana.
"I accept His Majesty's decision through you master trainer, I will try my best to lead the Malwageni until his Majesty returns," Sekar Pitaloka entered the room in the robe of the queen Malwageni.
"Give respect to the queen Malwageni," cried the Oxen sora who walked following Sekar Pitaloka.
"Honor the Queen's Gusti, may long live and always be given health" they shouted together.
Adiwilaga's face suffocated instantly, he began to realize his mistake by opposing the man dubbed the sleeping Dragon of the Malwageni.
"In accordance with the request of Mr. Minister Adiwilaga not to damage the palace rules that the ancestors have made, I hope all obey it so that no one needs to be put to death," Wardhana stared at the bowed Adiwilaga as he invited Sekar Pitaloka to sit on the throne.
"Do you think I'll just shut up to see the plan you made, Adiwilaga? right now you won't be able to move freely anymore. Wait a minute, you'll rot in custody" Wardhana said.
***
"This body is really old," said an old man while putting a tie of tree branches from earlier on his shoulders on the edge of the hut.
Among the branches of the tree were some medicinal plants that he had picked up in the forest.
"Just this time I saw that strange wound, what exactly happened to that young man?" said the man while washing the medicinal plants.
After pounding the medicinal plant and mixing it with some other ingredients, he entered a room.
A young man was lying with wounds all over his body. The old man shook his head slowly while applying the medicine all over the young man's body.
"If it wasn't for his high canura science, he might have already died by now," the man stared at the young man's face for quite a while before shaking his head again.
"How did he get into Ciremai ? I'm pretty sure I've protected this place with a water seal, there's no way anyone can get through it" the man said confusedly.
He walked out after making sure the young man's injuries started to improve. Long enough the old man stood before the door of his hut while staring at the view of Ciremai mountain, a place he had been sitting in for a long time after deciding to retreat from the martial world.
"Is this as difficult as retreating from the martial world? as if someone was always trying to pull me back into that hostile world."
The old man then took out a book from his pocket. His hand seemed to tremble as a black aura shot out from the book.
"Is it possible that the young man was the one who had been waiting for the book of Sabdo Palon."
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Mount Ciremai is one of the highest mountains in West Java. This mountain has a double crater, namely West Crater which has a radius of 400 m and East Crater which has a radius of 600 m.
At an altitude of about 2,900 m above the southern slope there is a former eruption point called Gowa Walet.
Currently Mount Ceremai is included in the Mount Ciremai National Park (TNGC), with an overall area of about 15,000 hectares.
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