Sanggana Swordsman
Kersak 24: The Fire Cave ascetic
*Small Sanggana Kingdom (Silver)*
When Empress Sandaria's entourage, Empress Kerling Sukma and Senopati Batik Mida went to patronize the Eternal Night Forest, Empress Nara went up to Mount Prabu. He was escorted by the Duke of the Burial Prince and the three village heads, namely Satan Kesurupan, Plumber and Bala Bala.
There were twenty soldiers escorting Empress Nara. They have no function for a saint like Empress Nara, except for formality.
The Demon of Trance, the Plumber and the Bala Bala walked a few spears in front as a guide. The Duke of the Burial Prince walked behind Empress Nara, but somewhat to the right side.
“I know you, Prince of the Grave,” said Empress Nara flatly.
The Prince of Burial's old pair of eyes. There was a sense of surprise in his heart even though he did not understand Empress Nara's intentions.
“What do you mean, Your Majesty? I don't understand,” asked the Prince of Graves.
“Your real name is Banggarin,” said Empress Nara.
Surprised the Prince of the Grave heard this. Seen from his facial expression.
“To be exact Prabu Banggarin,” added Empress Nara.
“Ba... how does Her Majesty The Empress know?” ask the Duke of the Burial Prince.
“I am the Goddess of the Eye of the Heart,” said Empress Nara.
“What?!” pekik Duke Prince Kubur. This time it was clear that he was surprised.
“I'm the one who asked Ki Ageng Kunsa Pari to help you in your grave. I think you still remember the events of sixteen years ago,” Empress Nara said. “And lucky, you can still find your descendants, Prabu Banggarin.”
“My descendants? All my family and descendants have been killed by his men Menak Ujung,” said the Duke of the Burial Prince.
“There is still one child of King Arta Pandewa left,” Empress Nara said.
“Who?” ask the Duke of the Burial Prince quickly.
“Princess Wilasin. He is now in the protection of Prabu Dira,”, Empress Nara said.
“I owe you my life, His Majesty Empress,” said the Duke of Pangeran Kubur who in his past life was Prabu Banggarin, grandfather of Princess Wilasin aka Senandung Dusk.
“The person who saved your life is Ki Ageng Kunsa Pari, I just passed on a message to him through someone. He never knew that the news of your condition in the grave came from me,” Empress Nara said. “Do you still have the intention to seize the throne of Baturaharja?”
“At first I forgot about it. Then I saw an opportunity if I joined Little Sanggana. By becoming an official in the Lesser Sangana, I can muster even greater strength in the next few years. However, now that Her Majesty the Empress already knows who I really am. So, my hope is also lost at this time,” said the Duke of the Burial Prince. “Does Gusti Prabu know about myself exactly?”
“Not yet. There is a possibility Gusti Prabu Dira will attack the Kingdom of Baturaharja. However, Gusti Prabu had to solve his love problems first. After that, he will take care of Princess Wilasin's right as the rightful heir to the throne,” explained Empress Nara.
“Your Majesty the Empress, we have arrived!” satan's Word of Trance. He was a forty-year-old black man. His black face became even blacker by the black paint patterned like the palm stamp of a small child. He was wearing black clothes. In a pair of calves there is attached a large knife that can stay unplugged.
Several spears at high altitude, there is a random patterned cave mouth. The front area of the cave mouth was illuminated by the sunlight. Deeper, it looks a bit dark. But much deeper, it looks like there is a flame of illumination.
Claps!
Suddenly Empress Nara disappeared from her place just like that. He appeared suddenly in front of an old man who was sitting quietly cross-legged. Both of his eyes were closed like a sleeping person. His long white hair looks agitated, there are even spider nests. White clothes are dusty. Her lips are black.
The skinny old man sat on the stone floor surrounded by a calf-high fire circle, as if the fire had inexhaustible fuel.
Empress Nara stood outside the circle of fire.
Inside the cave room, there was also a blaze in some corner of the cave floor, as if the fire had appeared itself from within the ground.
“Devil Conquer Spirits!” call Empress Nara calling.
“It seems I have heard the voice of this woman,” said the old man in a heavy and hoarse voice.
“How do you not know me, you and I are old friends,” Empress Nara said.
Slowly the old man's eyelids moved to open the bruise. The bright flames around him made his pair of gray eyes clear, like there was a dull thin layer.
“Oh, you, Nara. Why do you look so beautiful, like a noble lady?” ask the old man who Empress Nara knows by the nickname Demon Conquering Spirit. “I'm disappointed because when I met you you were this young.”
“You disappeared just to be a useless person and not to lose. What do you want at this age?” ask Empress Nara.
“Enjoy the serenity in my tap,” replied Devil Conquered Spirit.
“If that's your only purpose in life, it's better that you die so that there will be no more disturbing your tap as it is today,” Empress Nara said casually, as if not afraid if the dusty tangled old man was angry.
“I don't think you can appear suddenly here, as if you already know that I am here,” said Demon Conquest Spirit while moving stiffly to stand up.
“Someone who has fought you here tells about you...”.
“Prince of the Grave!” the Tera Devil Conquering Spirits.
“True. When he called a powerful hermit who wouldn't be bothered, but didn't come out to tease, I'm sure it was you. All this time I only knew you were imprisoned in a cave, but I didn't know which cave. I also live near this mountain area,” Empress Nara said.
“Which I know you live in the Heartbroken Gorge, Nara. How could you possibly live in this faraway area?” ask the Devil to Conquer the Spirit.
“I live in the north palace of this mountain. I am now a consort.”
“What? The empress? Huahahak!” shock Demon Conquering Spirit then laughed out loud, but it suddenly came to a halt.
“Don't laugh at me!” said Empress Nara who had just punched the throat of the Demon Conquering Spirit without touching it. “From you are as poor as the undead, you better be imprisoned in the palace with a cool atmosphere in the wind.”
Empress Nara then retracted her tote on the neck of the Demon Conquering Spirit.
“If you are now empress, is the king Ki Ageng Kunsa Pari?” ask the Demon Conquering Spirit, as if not offended by the actions of Empress Nara against her throat.
“Not, but his disciple,” replied Empress Nara.
“Hah!” shock Demon Conquering Spirit. “You're starting to like joking apparently.”
“Since when did I start joking around with romance. But you don't ask me why I got married to Kunsa Pari's student. I don't want to linger, Lubuk Parut. Sanggana Kecil Kingdom has controlled this area of Mount Prabu. I plan to destroy this cave so that no old hermit like you lives here. You must be a ascetic in my palace!” empress Nara said her real name is Devil Conquered Spirit.
“Twenty years I've lived here, suddenly you came to kick me out!” the word Devil Conquering Spirits.
“You already know, if I already want something, then there will be no one who can prevent it. I'll give you the last option. Why stay in Little Sanggana Palace or go to jail in worm mud?”
“Do you know why there is so much fire on the floor?” ask the Demon Conquering Spirit while walking through the fire just like that, without fear of being burned.
“In the floor of this cave there is an oil well. And in the deepest cave I smell the golden stone,” replied Empress Nara.
“Do you really want all that?” ask the Devil to Conquer the Spirit again.
“At first I didn't know about the oil and the golden stone. I intend to drive you out of this cave and bring you to the palace. I just found out that in this cave there is a rich natural potential. Rather than you waiting for it to be unclear, you should leave it to the Kingdom in order to be utilized and generate wealth at the expense of the Kingdom. Thus, you too can die happily for being a useful person at the end of your life!” empress Nara.
“Good, Nara. I believe in you. But remember, my first place should be as comfortable as possible!” the word Devil Conquered Spirit finally. He and the Goddess of Heart Eyes do have a past friendly relationship. (BH)