Pendekar Batari Mahadewi: The Journey to Find Your Self
Episode 9 Gauging Strength
That morning at the Sacred Heart waterfall, Ki Gading Putih was about to teach Batari Mahadewi for the first time. Niken and Jalu each continued his book lessons in the pendopo. There was curiosity in the minds of both of them and it was like to see what training the teacher would give to Batari Mahadewi. But they abandoned the intention, afraid that it would not be permitted by their teacher.
“Alright Batari, this morning you will continue your training. The first thing I always teach my students is the practice of absorbing earth energy. This exercise has several stages. Listen carefully to my explanation.”
“The initial stage of the practice of this science is to feel the calmness of your surroundings, calm your mind and open yourself to receive and feel everything that is happening around you, the sound of waterfalls, the sound of birds, and so on, gusts of wind, and anything as much as you can feel.” Ki Gading Putih began to explain to Batari Mahadewi.
“First of all, sit where you are most comfortable. If you feel tired, you can lie down. Do not restrain your body, and most importantly do not restrain your mind. It flows like a falling waterfall. Breathe like the wind. Do you understand?”
“Understanding teacher, student will try it.” Answer Batari Mahadevi.
“Then do it. Later in the day I will be here again.” Ki Gading Putih.
“Good teacher.” Batari Mahadewi. After that Batari Mahadevi sat cross-legged on a large rock around the waterfall. Ki Gading Putih stepped away leaving Batari Mahadewi alone there.
Actually, Batari Mahadevi has passed this ability. But he did not want to overdo it with his teacher. And of course he wanted the practice of absorbing earth energy through the way that his teacher conveyed because he felt his ability to absorb that energy came just like that, just like that, since his meeting with the tiger in the forest Cemara Seribu when he was two years old.
If he wanted to, then even now he could absorb as much energy around him as he wanted to to the limit of his body being able to hold that energy. But he refused to do it.
Batari Mahadevi followed the instructions of his teacher. He just let his mind flow. Many things came to his mind and suddenly, a question came to his head; who am I? Why am I different from other kids? What is my purpose in living? what is my purpose in studying here?
Batari Mahadewi constantly questioned himself. Never before had he thought about this in earnest because his realization was that he was a human named Batari Mahadevi daughter of Nyi Turmeric. His wish was to make his mother happy, to take care of him when he was old until his death to pick him up. After that he stopped there, and thought nothing of it afterwards.
But now, sitting near the waterfall of the Sacred Heart, he began to question something else that had never been thought of before. Later when mom is gone, what will I do? Will I live alone in that hut or go on a journey.If I currently have the magic, what is this for? Do I have to help others? Why did I help people at that time?
All kinds of questions come up. Batari Mahadevi could not find the answer. Should I ask the teacher about this? Do I have to tell you about my current abilities while I don't know why I'm capable of doing this?
Batari Mahadevi stopped at a bright spot. Yeah, I have to tell the teacher. I will entrust my story to him. All this time I was always covered with anyone and this really tormented my mind.
Then Batari Mahadevi began to concentrate himself with the surrounding nature, receiving everything that hit his body; the sound of waterfalls, gusts of wind, water and everything he could catch from his senses. His originally murky mind became clear slowly. He gained a new freshness, as if some energy was slowly seeping into him.
Batari Mahadevi remained in his position until noon. He opened his eyes when he felt someone approaching. Ki Gading White has come to see him again.
“How is Batari Mahadewi, what do you gain from your current training?” ask Ki Gading White.
“There are many things I want to ask and I tell guru” replied Batari Mahadewi. Then Batari Mahadevi began to tell the oddities he experienced to his teacher, as well as the experiences and questions that passed when he underwent training since this morning. There was a sense of relief and peace in Batari Mahadewi after he told his teacher everything.
At first glance his desire to tell the past Batari Mahadewi when he was a baby. But he chose to postpone it even though he had the right to say it as anyone who became his disciple meant to be his own son, his full responsibility.
“You've been special even since you were a baby, my son. But for the questions you ask about who you are and why you're going through that event, you'll find them later. Be patient. But all you need to know is that no man really knows who he is. Man will always change throughout his life, and to know who exactly man is, it takes a lifetime to be able to answer.” Reply Ki Gading White.
“But at this time, to determine what exercises are right for you, can you show that ability of yours? Try to expend as much energy as you can.” Ki Gading Putih.
Batari Mahadewi hesitated for a moment, but then he granted his teacher's request. “Alright teacher, I will exert all the energy I can expend at this time.” Answer Batari Mahadevi.
Ki Gading Putih prepared to watch it. He knew that it was not a spectacle, but something dangerous. Ki Gading Putih knows that Batari Mahadewi has the ability to hide his strength so it is difficult for him to measure how much energy Batari Mahadewi has.
Ki Gading Putih walked away, then said to Batari Mahadevi. “Do now my son.”
Batari Mahadewi expends his energy slowly so as not to cause a sudden jolt. He continued to increase the strength he gradually released. Ki Gading Putih also exerted his energy to be able to keep seeing the strength of his students without having to bounce a few meters back.
The energy boost coming out of Batari Mahadevi's body makes the wind around him push forward whatever is in front of him. Even so strong energy boost Batari Mahadewi, Sacred Heart waterfall does not plunge down, but scattered up the hill.
Niken and Jalu who originally read the book in the pendopo also felt the energy. Then they immediately shot to the source of energy because they thought something had happened there. They were both flabbergasted after seeing that the owner of the energy was Batari Mahadewi. They refrain from looking closely, but from a distance far enough so as not to interfere with the practice of Batari Mahadevi with their teachers.
Ki Gading Putih did not expect that the power of Batari Mahadevi had reached the level of god energy, which can only be owned by legendary warriors who are not many, including himself. ‘If this child used to be found by the black faction, then he could be a disaster. This innocent girl had already reached god energy at her 7th year.’ Inner Ki Ivory White.
Although Batari Mahadewi has a very large energy, but he does not have the maturity of a swordsman, and he is also still minimal experience. Not only the experience of fighting, but also the experience of seeing real life in the martial world. So the only best way of training for Batari Mahadevi is to see the world, out of the small world in Cemara Seribu.
The problem, however, is that Batari Mahadewi is still 7 years old and it is impossible for Ki Gading Putih to give him a task like his older brother. Then he thought of something else.
“Good Batari Mahadevi. I suppose enough. We can rest first.” Ki Gading Putih.
Batari Mahadevi stopped his energy radiance which swept away the dry leaves, gravel, and small rocks around the waterfall. It formed a wide niche around where it stood. Batari Mahadevi also did not expect the effects of his strength because only this time he really released his power in a large way.
The Sacred Heart Waterfall is back to normal. The forest that was momentarily silent returned boisterous with the sound of birds. Ki Gading Putih said, “Batari Mahadewi, I think enough of your training today. I'll think about what exercises are right for you to do next. Of course as long as I haven't told you to do certain things, you're free to do whatever exercises you like. Of course you can read the secret writings of the books you read, right?”
Batari Mahadevi nodded, asserting his teacher's guess. “Can students practice that style, teacher?” batari Mahadewi.
“If you feel understood and able, please practice the Science. I think only you can do it now. I've tried it before but it hasn't worked until now.” Ki Gading White said with a smile. Of course Ki Ivory White does not want to say that all this time who can master the Science of Raga Splitting the Earth is the creator of science itself, a legendary swordsman who lived 300 years ago.