Pendekar Batari Mahadewi: The Journey to Find Your Self
Episode 14 Mystery of the Corpse Thief
“Aglorious name for a village.” Said Niken, "before it gets dark, we'd better find some lodging. After passing through this valley, I want to rest well."
Jalu and Batari Mahadewi agreed. Then they started walking into the village. They met a middle-aged man who looked like a farmer who was walking towards the opposite direction. “Didn't the father walk towards the valley of death” asked Jalu.
“Iya, I just realized it.” Reply Niken. When they looked back, the man was no longer visible.
It was strange, the inner Batari Mahadevi, I could not even feel her energy.
“You guys see up ahead there? It looks like it's a shop. We'd better stop by. Who knows we can find lodging there.” Said Jalu breaking the silence after a moment each of the three
think of a man who just passed by.
“Alright, we're there.” Niken.
The three then rushed towards the tavern, ordering food and warm drinks. The shop is not too crowded. Other than the three of them, there were quite a few people eating there. They all looked like people traveling.
At the corner table of the shop, there were two men who were talking. The big man looks like a wandering swordsman. His clothes were not as good as the man sitting next to him who was slightly fat. Clearly from his appearance and movements, he was not a swordsman.
The owner of the store delivered food and drinks to the table Batari Mahadewi. “Please enjoy ladies and gentlemen, it seems like you are not here huh?” ask the shop owner.
“Betul uncle. We will travel to the west, the border of this country with the opposite country.” Said Jalu.
“Wah, far away. By the way, you guys just got here means passing through that valley?” ask the shop owner.
“That once uncle, we just passed through that forest. What is uncle?” tanya Jalu pretended not to understand about the valley.
“You're lucky to get here. No one here wants to get close to the valley. Since a few decades ago, whenever people here look for wood or hunted animals there, no one ever comes back. And since then we have never approached that region.” The owner of the store said, “Didn't you meet any strange creatures or anything strange in the forest?” ask the owner of the shop.
“That forest is creepy, but thankfully we did not get lost and survived until here.” Said Niken hiding the experience they had just experienced.
“Does uncle know the nearest inn? We want to spend the night before continuing the journey tomorrow morning.” Said Jalu.
“Not far from here, in that direction, you can find some lodging. Looks like a lot of empty, considering lately not many travelers who cross this village.” The shop owner said.
As the shopkeeper talked to Jalu and Niken, Batari Mahadewi was busy watching the man who looked like a swordsman with a colleague sitting in the corner of the store.
There was something strange that was caught by Batari Mahadevi. The man did not have great energy, but he had a strong death aura, and a slight fishy smell. Of course only Batari Mahadevi is able to feel that. She was silent and so she was, a girl who didn't talk much.
After eating, the three of them continued on their way to find the inn that the tavern owner had told them about. Before long they walked, they finally found the inn. As the tavern owner said, the inn was quiet.
The building is not too big and not too small. It can only accommodate 15 guests if each guest has one room.
Jalu ordered two bedrooms, one for her and one for Niken and Batari Mahadewi.
“Seems like you are on a long way.” The inn owner said.
“One uncle. We are very tired and may want to take a break soon after this.” Said Jalu.
“Good sir, ee..just to tell, we also provide breakfast and ready for additional orders. Sure...ee..there's an extra charge to eat.” The inn owner said.
“No problem.” Jalu said with a smile.
“Ee...sorry sir, one more thing we want to say before your entourage rests, we hope you and the ladies are careful. We cannot fully provide security guarantees beyond our capabilities.” The inn owner said.
“May we know, what is going on here?” jalu said probing.
“Means the thief stole human bones in the cemetery?” Jalu became curious.
“Betul. But we don't know what the motive is and what's the point of taking a bone from a grave.” The inn owner said.
“Did no one try to catch the thief?” ask Jalu.
“We tried, but every time we stood guard or trapped the thief, he never came. Once we are not on guard, there will definitely be one or two graves that have lost their inhabitants.” Answer the innkeeper.
“Good uncle. Thank you very much for the information. We take a break first.” Jalu said to end the conversation.
“Please sir. Happy resting.”
They headed for the room. Before entering his room, the three of them took the time to discuss the innkeeper's story.
“I just heard there was a corpse thief. What use are those bones? Is it sold?” If it is worthless, is it possible that the thief continues to do the same in a way that I think requires expertise.” Batari Mahadewi.
“I've heard from teachers that sometimes the magic swordsman will store his knowledge in his bones. In other words, those bones could be useful for adding to the devotion.” Niken explained.
“Yes, and usually people who want such knowledge, by stealing, are black warriors.” Jalu added.
Batari Mahadevi nodded in understanding. “Means, most likely the stolen grave was the tomb of a swordsman or at least a person who could defend himself?” ask Batari Mahadevi.
“That's all we need to know. How intriguing. If it is true that the cemetery is a warrior cemetery, it means that in the past many warriors were killed and buried here. If not, then what does the stolen bones mean? Shouldn't we stay here for a while and unravel this mystery?” Jalu.
“Sounds interesting.” Niken.
“I also agree.” Batari Mahadewi.
“Alright, we rest first. Tomorrow we find out more information.” The word ended the conversation.
The next day, Batari Mahadewi, Jalu and Niken took a walk down the small streets of the village. Water Life Village was not a small village like Cemara Seribu village. The village was very spacious and had a village economic center that was similar to an urban one.
In other words, in the village there are many shopping centers, schools, medical clinics, and the interesting thing is that in the village there is a gold mine. This village is like a city. Many people live there in search of a better life.
What amazes the three of them is that in the village there are also many white-skinned and narrow-eyed immigrants who bring with them their culture in the village. Their existence is very distinctive and always attracts attention. They set up a store that sells various types of needs, ranging from household needs, drugs, to swordsmen needs.
In addition to setting up restaurants and inns, they also built a magnificent temple. So in the village, the three of them found two different cultures living together, local culture, local immigrants, and white immigrants.
Batari Mahadevi was very interested in seeing characters from different cultures that he had just recognized. Somehow, he never had trouble learning and understanding the characters.
Because of curiosity, they ended up stopping by at the restaurant of immigrants who for them is an interesting place. In addition to the different places, the cuisine was also new that time they met. They ordered some foods that they did not know how they looked.
At the restaurant, Batari Mahadewi stole the conversation of the visitors there. Some of them are white people who speak different languages, similar to the chirping of birds with high and low tones, with fast tempos that are rich in intonation and emphasis.
Batari Mahadevi understood the conversation, but he was not sure if he could also speak in that way. From the conversation, he knew that what they were talking about was the theft of the body that happened again last night. Batari Mahadewi told that to his elder brother.
“What if after this, we see the grave that the thief looted? There is only one grave in this village that became the target of thieves.” Jalu gave a suggestion.
“I agree. Without it, we can't analyze any further.” Said Niken.
After breakfast of foreign food there are some that they like and some others make them close their eyes, then they look for graves that are targeted for theft.