Alicia Crimsonmane's breath hitched in her throat, as if the very air had turned to stone. Her body quivered violently. She was finished; dead in the middle of the forest by a supernatural hand, hands entangled behind her back, breath impossible to draw in her nose and mouth. Just the thought of it made Alicia's soul feel like it was about to float away, lost forever in the dark shadows of the trees.
For once, defying death was perhaps, a sensible option. Alicia, in her near blindness, peered at the mysterious hand; in the blurry image, she could only discern the shape of a brown arm. The palm was rough, and the fingernails pierced her skin. It was karma for ignoring Wisesa's advice to sit still in the forest like a sweet lass. Now, some rogue or ruthless forest monster was taking advantage of her mistake, and there was nothing she could do about it.
The bespectacled girl refused to surrender, despite the ease of doing so. She still craved her beloved Arcane orb, and thus with a sudden jerk of her neck, she twisted her entire body to the side, trying to break free of the neck crusher's grip. She did not know where she would go thereafter, but one thing was clear: escaping the strangler's grasp was the sole means to prolong her lifespan. Fear consumed her, and she could not muster care about the identity of her assailant, let alone their motives.
Alicia coughed and gasped for air. The strangler seemed to anticipate her every move, slipping out of the grasp and colliding with her face in a sudden burst of movement!
"Boo!"
"Hhmpphhh!"
Wisesa's pervasive sneer took away a layer of life from the Crimsonmane girl. Her body immediately lay stiff as she reclined on her left side. Wisesa bellowed with laughter when the girl's eyes widened as wide as the size of her glasses, and her nose wrinkled.
"By the gods. Your face looks so dumb! You gotta see it, man!" Wisesa exclaimed, pointing at Alicia. "Oh, oh! Try looking through your glasses! What? You can't find them? Don't worry, I got a little mirror for you—oh yes! Your eyes are messed up! " Wisesa shook his stomach until he fell down. His mirth showed no signs of abating.
The joke had gone too far. Gilmore—Alicia's hulking friend, if one could recall—would not have dared to joke on her in such a manner, despite his frequent loutish conduct, which often brought the fiery-haired girl perilously close to her own funeral. This was not the case with Wisesa. He seemed to have guessed that Alicia dying of a heart attack was within the realm of possibility, and he harboured no qualms about it. Regret would come later.
Unbearable shame poured out as a result of being played with while bound. Her wide eyes slowly narrowed until they were just thin slits, then tightly shut. Air punched into the deflated nose, a sign of acute hyperventilation reemerging. Soft, broken sobs entered the man's ears. Wisesa's laughter died down when he saw the signs of Alicia's malaise. Wisesa's laughter was immediately suppressed as drops of water escaped from the dam of her eyelids.
"Oh, shit, oh, no. Okay, okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry!" Wisesa stammered. He quickly dragged Alicia over and propped her up against a tree trunk. The foolish man rubbed her shoulders, but Alicia was unmoved. "Come on, come on, please don't cry, miss. Look at this," the man threw off his shyness, making silly faces in an attempt to elicit a smile. "Happy face, happy face!"
Alas, her whimper did not cease, and soil covered with dry leaves was a more pleasant sight than the git's stupid face.
It was foolish of Wisesa to expect Alicia to laugh while her mouth was still gagged. Within seconds, those shy tears began to be revealed to all the faces of the forest. The moaning and stomping of her feet sent Wisesa into a frenzy.
"Shit, shit! I'll let you go, okay, I swear to let you go. Please don't cry anymore. I mean it! We're in the damn woods, ma'am. The campfire alone is already drawing attention!"
Wisesa's rough hands hurriedly untied the rope knots wrapped around Alicia's legs. In time, Alicia managed to restrain herself from gasping lest the unwanted mysterious creature indeed arrived.
"There…, there…, There you go. Your tears have stopped. I'm so sorry, Alicia. I was just messing around, you know? Guys need to have a little fun too. How about a hug, hm? A kiss on the forehead?"
"Hhmmpphhh!" Alicia barked again.
"Oops, okay. No hugs, no kisses. Understood."
Her legs were free from the restraints. All that was left was the stubborn knot on her hands.
"A little longer, Alicia," Wisesa said. " A little longer before your hands are free, and after that please don't pounce on me—"
Alicia leapt up and pounced on Wisesa!
The girl managed to knock Wisesa down with herself on top of his chest. She punched him repeatedly, and when the punches did not work, her claws took a turn. Wisesa's face was an emotional wreck. Who would have thought that feminine blows could be so painful (disturbing, for sure) if they were accompanied by passionate anger, he thought?
"Nae body, I say nae body has the right tae tie me up! Nae body can stuff my mouth, let alone toy with me like that—not without my consent! Ya bloody filth! Depraved man! Damned creature!"
Rarely did Alicia unleash such a torrent of fury. She was not one to throw tantrums often, usually content to mope and cry. Yet, the adventures of her life at the tender age of sixteen really challenged her to push the limits. Now she was akin to a feral cat unpleasant to see other cats in her territory. No, it was worse than that. Wisesa sensed that this lady was ready to spill blood.
As Alicia's slaps rained down on him, Wisesa managed to catch her hands, "I'm not the one who tied you up—"
The catch did not work. Her strength was still fueled by passion and anger, and her hands slipped out of his grip easily. The Crimsonmane woman's wrath was unrelenting, and Wisesa could do nothing but parried the blows left and right.
"By the Soul of Durga, Alicia, I am truly sorry!"
"Orb! Orb! Give me Orb!" Alicia shrieked.
Wisesa handed over the sealing box that was lying near the campfire, watching them fight all this time. "Alright, alright, here!"
With the box in hand, Alicia retreated to the tree. Her fierce breathing was noticeable to the ears, as her fingers fiddled with the components on the box. Why did something as simple as a magic seal box require such complicated mechanics? Frustration boiled within her.
"How do I open it?"
"The bottom, oh my gods! Did you not pay attention to my demonstration earlier?"
Wisesa's counter-question was ignored. She twisted the bottom of the box slightly and the sealed door opened like a blossoming flower, revealing Orb within. Alicia embraced the Arcane orb and set aside the seal box; magical objects no longer held any allure for her. She curled up with Orb and the red cloak still draped around her. Her breathing was as chaotic as her emotions, but slowly, the sound of her nose became regular. Her body no longer trembled from the cold or her recurring anxiety.
Seeing Alicia's situation, Wisesa was somewhat concerned. Another day was ruined, yet again by guilt, just because he wanted to have fun. When Alicia had somewhat "stabilised", Wisesa took it as an opportunity to initiate a conversation.
"You know," Wisesa started, "I found jerky on the carriage—"
"Shut up! Stay away from me. I hate you, again!" Alicia's interruption was sharp.
Wisesa turned round, grumbling under his breath, "'Stay away from me' and yet who was it that begged not to be left behind?"
An Arcane blow kissed Wisesa’s back, tumbling him to the ground all of a sudden!
"What in the world!" Wisesa lunged. Alicia's right hand was wide open and smoking. Her face was still sour, made worse by Wisesa's backhanded rebuttal. But he refused to let anger consume him. Sighing, he said again, "Well... I suppose I deserved that." Then he chuckled.
Wisesa retreated to the other side of the campfire and wrapped himself in the cloth he had obtained from the looted dimensional bag. He thought about offering a blanket to Alicia, but he hesitated, not wanting to receive more of Arcane’s pecking and her unpleasant remarks. Besides, she had the warmth of Orb, and he suspected that the girl would be keeping watch throughout the night.
***
Fortunately, the forest they took refuge in was quite dense, shielding their eyes from the harsh light of the rising sun. Despite the sanctuary, the chirping of birds was too noisy nevertheless. Noisy, according to Wisesa.
Slowly, Wisesa lifted his body from the ground and his first sight revealed dying embers with a faint glow of warmth and smoke. Behind the fire, Alicia lay sound asleep, undisturbed by the new day's arrival. Apparently, she had not moved from her place last night.
However, it was a new day, and time was the master of all that cared for no one but its own will—not even two prophetic children who had a stake in the world’s fate. And so, Wisesa took a twig and from afar, poked her back.
"Wake up. It's morning. We have to go."
Alicia did not respond.
More pokes on her cheek with more pressure. "Wake up!"
The girl winced. Her eyes squinted with displeasure before she buried her face in her hands. "For the sake of Silent Divine, for once, can ye please gae wa’?" Alicia whimpered. "I was just sleeping, ye ken!"
“Gay what?”
“Go away!”
"Well it's not my fault you chose to sulk while staying up late."
"It's nae my fault you made me faint the whole day with that bloody powder!" Alicia rebutted in a muffled voice.
"It's not my fault you won't cooperate—now get up, you slacker! Unless you wanna get caught again by Alas Purwo's troops or Girahite shamans!"
Alicia groaned, begrudgingly complying with Wisesa's demands. As she rose to her feet, she noticed a green wide cloth draped over her body.
"Where did this blanket come from?"
"I wrapped it around you when I was peeing at dawn," Wisesa replied.
It was a pity that her feelings were still hit by the thunderstorm. A little sense of touch was there before it was again crushed by hatred—judging by how sharply the girl's eyebrows swooped down. She tossed the blanket aside. "I didn't ask you for it."
"Yes, you're welcome, but I won't take it back." He said while his body moved on its own accord to pack the supplies and prepare to leave, while the lass was still in a dishevelled state. Alicia got up, triggering her stomach to churn.
Alicia looked away. However, the blush could not be banished.
A heavy breath escaped from the man's airways, as his hand reached for something from the sack—a lunchbox of last night's leftover beef jerky, and a bag of water. He passed them to Alicia. Truly, there must have been an animal or spirit taking possession of his form through his nostrils, casting Barong to oblivion! For the lass would never believe Wisesa could think of performing benevolent acts while appearing more composed than usual!
Alicia, feeling embarrassed, attempted to busy herself with putting Orb and the unique magical seal box she had retrieved yesterday into her bag—for the sake of her journal's contents. However, Wisea paid no attention to these things. All he cared about was the lunch box to be taken as soon as possible.
"Just take it, Alicia!" pleaded Wisesa with a stern face. "You have to eat because I need you."
Alicia bristled. "What else do you want from me?"
Wisesa held back for a moment. "I need you to take care of my 'Barong' situation at the former Calon Arang sealing site. Satisfied?"
Alicia's eyes widened in surprise before her face once again contorted into a sour expression. She grabbed the lunch box roughly and proceeded to eat the meat with uncivilised manners. The discarded blanket slung limply over her left arm as she followed Wisesa's lead, mouth stuffed with meat.
***
The two of them had been walking for an hour and had yet to find anything resembling a man-made path, except for some flying lemurs and the occasional panther in the reeds stalking the youths. Wisesa kept slashing with the machete he got from the enemies' carriage, paving a winding path as if this forest area was his own home. Alicia rather objected to the mosquitoes buzzing around her chubby cheeks. Fortunately, the rest of her body was covered in a black coat, red tights, and shoes. Unfortunately, the deep tropical jungle was a scourge for those who dressed as such.
"We've jist been walking aboot in the bush without any clues. Dinnae tell me we're lost," Alicia said.
Wisesa did not turn around. His machete still cut through the greenish weeds. "I know the way. Quit hassling me."
"How did we get free?" Alicia changed the subject. "And how did I get tied up?"
"That again?" Wisesa complained. "The ones who tied you up were Semar’s men, okay? And Semar also told me that I would guide you in this strange land."
"And you intend to guide me to the Calon Arang sealing site to purify Barong?"
"Not my intention. His intention. He ordered me. All this arrest? A pretense. The chest I was contained in was a fake, and when the time was right, I had to take you away and do everything we're doing now."
"If Barong's purification is successful, then what?" Alicia asked back.
"We go to Alas Purwo."
Alicia stopped her steps. "Are you kidding me?" she snapped. "What's the point of escaping from Alas Purwo's troops if we're going to their town anyway?"
"The point is to ensure that Barong doesn’t go messing around in another neighborhood again."
"Oh."
"Your intelligence has been declining lately, missy?"
"Shut up!"
Their feet were still pedalling through the bushes. Their eyes then found a gentle valley leading to another frustrating field of thatch. A brief groan came from Wisesa before he took a rope from the sack, tied it to the trunk of a dead tree, and threw it down. Both held on to the rope and trekked down slowly.
"What are we going to do in Alas Purwo?" Alicia asked again.
"Helping the spy troops observe the movements of Panggaraknagara and his troops, as well as finding out what the Day of Judgement is that they've been touting," Wisesa replied.
"Panggaraknagara..."
"The title of Sunan Alas Purwo," the young man agreed. "The One Who Moves the State."
"Ki Semar and the others better get there for a guerrilla attack or something," the lass said bitterly. Alicia remembered Ki Semar's fleeting message about this, but she thought it was just an empty persuasion at that time so that she could be tamed.
"Don't worry about the old man and his lackeys. They will come."
They had managed to get their feet back on somewhat level terrain when a panther ambushed them from an area of overgrown grass. Alicia almost fired Arcane in a fit of rage, but the black cat instead returned to the bushes after seeing something behind Wisesa's eyes. Perhaps as a creature of the wild, it felt a connection to the Patron of Lands inside him, and its instincts told that it was not wise to meddle with its guardian. Alicia had been hoping for something to happen to break the monotony or vent her anger, but fate seemed to let the matter pass without making any impression. Fate only allowed Alicia to curse at Wisesa constantly in return.
"One moment!" The Camelot girl's face showed signs of anxiety. She aligned herself with Wisesa. "If we both manage to escape, what about the fate of the villagers?"
"The treaty is safe. The Sunanate only knows that we are being taken to the capital and that the ultimatum is not enforced—that is, if they’re not willing to cheat."
"Hm... Then as I recall, you said the purification ritual at the site didn’t work. What changed your mind?"
"What changed my mind is the idea of getting rid of Barong from my body as quickly as possible!"
"So you lied before."
The machete kept swinging. The man's mouth shut for a long time.
"Yes..., I lied."
Wisesa's voice was low. His tone was flat. A sense of reluctance and bitterness in the words. Alicia's anger receded in time. Her eager curiosity about the hidden things had to be suppressed first.
"I... won't ask any further questions," Alicia stated.
As they made their way through the tangled field of weeds, Alicia could not help but feel a sense of relief as they finally emerged onto the more spacious ground. The warak ngendogs—humped goats with a head similar to a dragon with horns—were hopping towards the rising sun. The trees seemed to take on an otherworldly quality, with their branches intertwining to form a canopy overhead that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. Wisesa did not sheath the machete and kept walking. However, the bespectacled woman's statement made him think of his past. A life history that he always scoffed at and wished he would just forget instead of having it clung to his mind like a stubborn piece of sticky note.
"That place isn't just where they sealed Calon Arang, but it's also where they bound Barong to my body," Wisesa finally explained. "My brother's blood was spilled during the sealing, used as a catalyst to bind the creature within me. It was done by a group of wretched humans called family, whom I always wished every day in my meditations to never be born among them. I always wished that they would all die in torment. The Yawanese are so unreasonably ambitious that they are willing to sacrifice their own children."
Most of the time, when those dark memories resurfaced, Wisesa would lash out at anything in his path. In this instance, his gaze fell upon a nearby tree, and he felt the urge to pummel it until it was nothing more than a pile of splinters. But as he locked eyes with the innocent tree, it was as though they were communicating by exchanging thoughts. Wisesa saw the beauty in the tree's simplicity and decided to abandon his intention. His feet took another step.
"His name is Gading, isn't it?"
Wisesa whirled around, his eyes piercing like daggers. He wondered how she had discovered the name, but then the memories of the tragedy that took place two days ago flooded his mind. He turned back and slowly nodded.
"Gading. His name is Gading."
"I'm so sorry, Wisesa... I hate to say this. Sometimes, family can be the worst thing in your life."
Wisesa snorted. "Oh, come on. How can living in a noble family in a Western land like yours be the worst thing in life? At least they're more 'civilized' and 'serene'—spending their workdays, if not sipping tea, then sipping wine, not slitting their own children!"
This time Alicia was not angered by Wisesa's racist insinuation. Instead, she let out a small laugh. "Wisesa, I hope that's all true so that I at least have a supply of insults to throw in yer face."
"No way!" Again, the man scowled. "You're a child of royalty. Even I'm not lying that you're actually a sweet girl. Doesn't everyone worship and treat you like a goddess wherever you go?"
Alicia played dumb even though there was a hint of flattery in her cheeks. "Tae the commoners, aye, they may see something. But tae my family?" The girl's scoff rang out. “What use is a bonnie face if ye cannae dae magic? I'm nae but a bastard in their eyes, aye, the one who ruined the family's reputation beyond repair, unless I'm 'gotten rid of'."
"Oh, shit. So you're a noble bastard?"
"Of course, I'm not a bastard!" Alicia scolded Wisesa, then slowly looked down. "At least, that's what I believe. Mama wouldn't lie about that."
Silence held the conversation for a moment. Wisesa asked again, "How do you know you can't do magic?"
"Western magi can sniff out the knack for mana manipulation with their fancy gadgets," Alicia replied.
"Westerners and all their bullshit concepts."
"I must agree with you on this one."
"Then?" Wisesa turned his head. "Aren't there a lot of mystic arts in this world?"
"I've tried, three of them!" replied Alicia, her tone rising. "Wizardry doesnae work. The druidism teacher Mama sent me said I'm a human who can't be sensitive to nature. The first, and perhaps the only human in the history of druidism, she said! Unbelievable! It almost sounded like an insult!"
"Ah, you Westerners sure love exaggerating. What about the mystic arts from the East? Anyone can learn those, though it takes most people a lifetime just to control a little bit of mana. Some even end up dying after that."
Wisesa's words did not give Alicia the slightest hope.
"Mama has expertise in the Art of Ninshu. I tried the basic hand seal to open the mana points... or to cultivate. but I don't know what that means, or how it feels. I thought reading all the magic encyclopaedias would be enough to understand it all. But Mama said it takes patience and practice, so... well, for eight years I've been doing it almost every night, sometimes practising the latter two when I have time. All to no avail."
"How could you possibly practice those things at home? Your mum isn't a sensei, you have to go to the place of origin!"
"Study at the place of origin? Oh, why didnae I think of that before?" a bit of sarcasm from Alicia. "Oh, I've been out to Trinketshore, Wisesa! Another small town called Glasnagour, three hours from home. That's as far as I can go. Farther than that, I'd probably just come home only in name."
"Okay, okay. I see your point," Wisesa relented. "You could have had a peaceful life in some small town, but you chose to go through the trouble of learning magic. At least be grateful that Orb granted your wish for a difficult life!"
The white light of Orb glanced at Alicia's face behind the waist bag.
"I know being a mage is troublesome. But it's better than a lifetime spent doing nothing, or doing something you don't like," Alicia replied.
Then she added, "Also, magic is beautiful! Amazing! The most unique human ability! Not just because it produces colourful visuals or anything like that, nae. Mama taught me that the amazing thing about magic is its diversity. It's part of human culture, it's their lifestyle, their philosophy, their identity! Their perception of their own life force and their relationship with their surroundings gives birth to mystic arts of unique significance. The study of men!" Alicia then ran ahead of Wisesa, turning around, and walking backwards. "Compare it to your mystical art, Shamanism, which channels mana through a series of exercises and disciplines to connect with higher entities and get inspiration from them, then train the results of that inspiration over and over again until you have yourself solid spells! Or Western Wizardry, which values reason to create more efficient mana management and magic over time, because of the demands of progressivity in all aspects that are as fast as Thunderkeeper’s Lightning! And look at the outcome: Shamanism became the most difficult ancient art to learn, but it yielded immensely powerful magic due to its close ties with the supreme entities. On the other hand, Wizardry led to numerous innovations in the form of magic tools and spells that made even the most mundane human tasks easier! Eh, magic equipment most of the time, but you get the gist. This journey is my chance to witness more of the wonders of thaumaturgy firsthand and record them in my journal!"
"Your long ass ramblings, by the gods. Oh, and by the way, missy, you forgot something: Wizardry is becoming more available to everyone, well, to those with talent, of course."
"Ha. ha. Ye ken, sometimes the truths that escape yer lips can be right annoying."
"Well, your rambling is more painful to the ears. It's been ages since my ears have hurt that badly." Wisesa paused to take a breath. "At least you've got a typical family. Your mom sounds cool. But you ditched her and ran away from home."
Alicia dismissed the question with a wave of her hand. "Who said I ran away from home?" she argued. "I didn't! And I don't have my Mama anymore."
"Abandoned you because of your status?"
"N-not really... Mama was truly gone."
"Oh, shit," the young man responded, before his mind drifted for a moment to the image of the woman who had once cradled him in her arms. It felt as though he had not spared a thought for his mother in ages. "My old lady, she wasn't cruel. But stupid. Hanging on every word of her accursed husband's prattle. Turning a blind eye to her maternal instincts when her two children were about to be corrupted!"
"What happened?"
"The last I heard from that scumbag when I was in the cage, my mom had lost it after my brother died and they hauled her off to a loony bin. I don't know, maybe she's dead now. Sunan of Alas Purwo playing single parent was the greatest abomination in life, and I refused to be locked up again in that godforsaken cell, treated like an animal at the mercy of that son of a bitch. So when I was brought in to destroy Pulomas, I let Barong take the reins and high-tailed it out of there. A few days later, Semar found me dying."
Wisesa had little of note to recount, unlike the girl whose speech flowed on without end. Alicia simply wanted to convey her fondness, spurred by the young man's words, and perhaps she misconstrued his meaning. "Again, I'm sorry, Wisesa," she implored. "Perhaps we can pay her a visit later on when we're in Alas Purwo. A familiar face can bring great solace."
Of course, it would bring great solace, just not the face of the man who had become a half-beast. Wisesa flicked a fleeting glance at Alicia before returning his gaze to the weeds he was about to chop down. There was nothing more to say.
Alicia scanned the tree line from side to side, squinting whenever a bird or exotic creature alighted upon her orb-like lens. The cheeping of birds and buzzing of insects helped to assuage their fear of true isolation. For some time, Alicia's head spun, but instead of discovering some strange creature, she had an epiphany.
"Do you want to hear something, Wisesa?" Alicia asked.
"What?" Wisesa replied briefly.
"Do you want to know why your life is so depressing?"
"Beats me."
"Because you were born in Alas Purwo!"
Wisesa's steps instantly stopped, turning to Alicia, a grimace on his face. "Nah! Nah, nah, nah, nah...!"
"What...?" The girl's face lit up, expecting further responses.
"No, no, no! You're not going to tell another one of your dad-ass jokes!" Wisesa either lashed out in anger or disgust. "Have you ever killed anyone with that cringe stuff? What, don't tell me those skinless children were your victims!"
Alicia gasped. "What the—Wisesa!"
Wisesa also gasped. A real awkward pause between the two of them. "Alright, that's too much, sorry. But still! Your jokes are pathetic!"
"But it was funny!" rebutted Alicia. "Before you ruined it just now!"
"Funny? Are you even laughing at your own jokes?"
"Well, comedians dinnae laugh at their jokes! That's the audience's job!"
"That's not how it works! If the joke is funny, then you laugh! Westerners never watched a comedy show, do they?"
"I've seen stand-up jesting, okay?"
"Halah! No way. I pity your sense of humor. If you were hanging out with the ancient Ki Semar and his ancient children, you'd probably be the funniest person in the neighborhood!"
"So what's funny to you, bullying people?"
"Absolutely! Some folks were just born to be the butt of other people’s jokes! It's on you if you can't take a joke and laugh along with the people who are ribbing you because they won't let up!"
"You're mean, Wisesa."
As they emerged from the tree line, they were greeted by a vast expanse of blue sky. Wisesa's steps came to a sudden halt, followed closely by Alicia's. As luck would have it, what lay before them was no longer flat terrain, but a desolate cliff's edge, impossible to scale with ropes. However, something caught the girl's round eyes—a complex of dark, jagged buildings that clawed at the sky in the distance, like an artist's masterpiece hidden from human civilisation, yet flaunting itself to the two young travellers.
Alicia strode forward, pointing. "Wisesa... is that...?"
Wisesa nodded in confirmation. "Candi Mragprabhu Barong."
"Candi...?"
"Ancient stone temples devoted to the veneration of deities. These particular temples were built in honor of the victims of the divine conflict between Barong and Calon Arang. The carvings on each statue there tell magical stories of Yawadwipa—even Lojitengara. Alicia, you'll be awakening the spirits of the seal that reside within the shrine."
Hearing about the intricacies of Lojitengara's magic that were present in the temple made the girl's face light up once more, despite the dullness and dirtiness all over herself. Moreover, she was about to relive Ki Semar's story of Barong with her very own eyes. Her lips curved up into a satisfied smile.
"No problem, Wisesa. As long as you guide me in telling all of the magical tales of this land!" []
Alicia Crimsonmane's breath hitched in her throat, as if the very air had turned to stone. Her body quivered violently. She was finished; dead in the middle of the forest by a supernatural hand, hands entangled behind her back, breath impossible to draw in her nose and mouth. Just the thought of it made Alicia's soul feel like it was about to float away, lost forever in the dark shadows of the trees.
For once, defying death was perhaps, a sensible option. Alicia, in her near blindness, peered at the mysterious hand; in the blurry image, she could only discern the shape of a brown arm. The palm was rough, and the fingernails pierced her skin. It was karma for ignoring Wisesa's advice to sit still in the forest like a sweet lass. Now, some rogue or ruthless forest monster was taking advantage of her mistake, and there was nothing she could do about it.
The bespectacled girl refused to surrender, despite the ease of doing so. She still craved her beloved Arcane orb, and thus with a sudden jerk of her neck, she twisted her entire body to the side, trying to break free of the neck crusher's grip. She did not know where she would go thereafter, but one thing was clear: escaping the strangler's grasp was the sole means to prolong her lifespan. Fear consumed her, and she could not muster care about the identity of her assailant, let alone their motives.
Alicia coughed and gasped for air. The strangler seemed to anticipate her every move, slipping out of the grasp and colliding with her face in a sudden burst of movement!
"Boo!"
"Hhmpphhh!"
Wisesa's pervasive sneer took away a layer of life from the Crimsonmane girl. Her body immediately lay stiff as she reclined on her left side. Wisesa bellowed with laughter when the girl's eyes widened as wide as the size of her glasses, and her nose wrinkled.
"By the gods. Your face looks so dumb! You gotta see it, man!" Wisesa exclaimed, pointing at Alicia. "Oh, oh! Try looking through your glasses! What? You can't find them? Don't worry, I got a little mirror for you—oh yes! Your eyes are messed up! " Wisesa shook his stomach until he fell down. His mirth showed no signs of abating.
The joke had gone too far. Gilmore—Alicia's hulking friend, if one could recall—would not have dared to joke on her in such a manner, despite his frequent loutish conduct, which often brought the fiery-haired girl perilously close to her own funeral. This was not the case with Wisesa. He seemed to have guessed that Alicia dying of a heart attack was within the realm of possibility, and he harboured no qualms about it. Regret would come later.
Unbearable shame poured out as a result of being played with while bound. Her wide eyes slowly narrowed until they were just thin slits, then tightly shut. Air punched into the deflated nose, a sign of acute hyperventilation reemerging. Soft, broken sobs entered the man's ears. Wisesa's laughter died down when he saw the signs of Alicia's malaise. Wisesa's laughter was immediately suppressed as drops of water escaped from the dam of her eyelids.
"Oh, shit, oh, no. Okay, okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry!" Wisesa stammered. He quickly dragged Alicia over and propped her up against a tree trunk. The foolish man rubbed her shoulders, but Alicia was unmoved. "Come on, come on, please don't cry, miss. Look at this," the man threw off his shyness, making silly faces in an attempt to elicit a smile. "Happy face, happy face!"
Alas, her whimper did not cease, and soil covered with dry leaves was a more pleasant sight than the git's stupid face.
It was foolish of Wisesa to expect Alicia to laugh while her mouth was still gagged. Within seconds, those shy tears began to be revealed to all the faces of the forest. The moaning and stomping of her feet sent Wisesa into a frenzy.
"Shit, shit! I'll let you go, okay, I swear to let you go. Please don't cry anymore. I mean it! We're in the damn woods, ma'am. The campfire alone is already drawing attention!"
Wisesa's rough hands hurriedly untied the rope knots wrapped around Alicia's legs. In time, Alicia managed to restrain herself from gasping lest the unwanted mysterious creature indeed arrived.
"There…, there…, There you go. Your tears have stopped. I'm so sorry, Alicia. I was just messing around, you know? Guys need to have a little fun too. How about a hug, hm? A kiss on the forehead?"
"Hhmmpphhh!" Alicia barked again.
"Oops, okay. No hugs, no kisses. Understood."
Her legs were free from the restraints. All that was left was the stubborn knot on her hands.
"A little longer, Alicia," Wisesa said. " A little longer before your hands are free, and after that please don't pounce on me—"
Alicia leapt up and pounced on Wisesa!
The girl managed to knock Wisesa down with herself on top of his chest. She punched him repeatedly, and when the punches did not work, her claws took a turn. Wisesa's face was an emotional wreck. Who would have thought that feminine blows could be so painful (disturbing, for sure) if they were accompanied by passionate anger, he thought?
"Nae body, I say nae body has the right tae tie me up! Nae body can stuff my mouth, let alone toy with me like that—not without my consent! Ya bloody filth! Depraved man! Damned creature!"
Rarely did Alicia unleash such a torrent of fury. She was not one to throw tantrums often, usually content to mope and cry. Yet, the adventures of her life at the tender age of sixteen really challenged her to push the limits. Now she was akin to a feral cat unpleasant to see other cats in her territory. No, it was worse than that. Wisesa sensed that this lady was ready to spill blood.
As Alicia's slaps rained down on him, Wisesa managed to catch her hands, "I'm not the one who tied you up—"
The catch did not work. Her strength was still fueled by passion and anger, and her hands slipped out of his grip easily. The Crimsonmane woman's wrath was unrelenting, and Wisesa could do nothing but parried the blows left and right.
"By the Soul of Durga, Alicia, I am truly sorry!"
"Orb! Orb! Give me Orb!" Alicia shrieked.
Wisesa handed over the sealing box that was lying near the campfire, watching them fight all this time. "Alright, alright, here!"
With the box in hand, Alicia retreated to the tree. Her fierce breathing was noticeable to the ears, as her fingers fiddled with the components on the box. Why did something as simple as a magic seal box require such complicated mechanics? Frustration boiled within her.
"How do I open it?"
"The bottom, oh my gods! Did you not pay attention to my demonstration earlier?"
Wisesa's counter-question was ignored. She twisted the bottom of the box slightly and the sealed door opened like a blossoming flower, revealing Orb within. Alicia embraced the Arcane orb and set aside the seal box; magical objects no longer held any allure for her. She curled up with Orb and the red cloak still draped around her. Her breathing was as chaotic as her emotions, but slowly, the sound of her nose became regular. Her body no longer trembled from the cold or her recurring anxiety.
Seeing Alicia's situation, Wisesa was somewhat concerned. Another day was ruined, yet again by guilt, just because he wanted to have fun. When Alicia had somewhat "stabilised", Wisesa took it as an opportunity to initiate a conversation.
"You know," Wisesa started, "I found jerky on the carriage—"
"Shut up! Stay away from me. I hate you, again!" Alicia's interruption was sharp.
Wisesa turned round, grumbling under his breath, "'Stay away from me' and yet who was it that begged not to be left behind?"
An Arcane blow kissed Wisesa’s back, tumbling him to the ground all of a sudden!
"What in the world!" Wisesa lunged. Alicia's right hand was wide open and smoking. Her face was still sour, made worse by Wisesa's backhanded rebuttal. But he refused to let anger consume him. Sighing, he said again, "Well... I suppose I deserved that." Then he chuckled.
Wisesa retreated to the other side of the campfire and wrapped himself in the cloth he had obtained from the looted dimensional bag. He thought about offering a blanket to Alicia, but he hesitated, not wanting to receive more of Arcane’s pecking and her unpleasant remarks. Besides, she had the warmth of Orb, and he suspected that the girl would be keeping watch throughout the night.
***
Fortunately, the forest they took refuge in was quite dense, shielding their eyes from the harsh light of the rising sun. Despite the sanctuary, the chirping of birds was too noisy nevertheless. Noisy, according to Wisesa.
Slowly, Wisesa lifted his body from the ground and his first sight revealed dying embers with a faint glow of warmth and smoke. Behind the fire, Alicia lay sound asleep, undisturbed by the new day's arrival. Apparently, she had not moved from her place last night.
However, it was a new day, and time was the master of all that cared for no one but its own will—not even two prophetic children who had a stake in the world’s fate. And so, Wisesa took a twig and from afar, poked her back.
"Wake up. It's morning. We have to go."
Alicia did not respond.
More pokes on her cheek with more pressure. "Wake up!"
The girl winced. Her eyes squinted with displeasure before she buried her face in her hands. "For the sake of Silent Divine, for once, can ye please gae wa’?" Alicia whimpered. "I was just sleeping, ye ken!"
“Gay what?”
“Go away!”
"Well it's not my fault you chose to sulk while staying up late."
"It's nae my fault you made me faint the whole day with that bloody powder!" Alicia rebutted in a muffled voice.
"It's not my fault you won't cooperate—now get up, you slacker! Unless you wanna get caught again by Alas Purwo's troops or Girahite shamans!"
Alicia groaned, begrudgingly complying with Wisesa's demands. As she rose to her feet, she noticed a green wide cloth draped over her body.
"Where did this blanket come from?"
"I wrapped it around you when I was peeing at dawn," Wisesa replied.
It was a pity that her feelings were still hit by the thunderstorm. A little sense of touch was there before it was again crushed by hatred—judging by how sharply the girl's eyebrows swooped down. She tossed the blanket aside. "I didn't ask you for it."
"Yes, you're welcome, but I won't take it back." He said while his body moved on its own accord to pack the supplies and prepare to leave, while the lass was still in a dishevelled state. Alicia got up, triggering her stomach to churn.
Alicia looked away. However, the blush could not be banished.
A heavy breath escaped from the man's airways, as his hand reached for something from the sack—a lunchbox of last night's leftover beef jerky, and a bag of water. He passed them to Alicia. Truly, there must have been an animal or spirit taking possession of his form through his nostrils, casting Barong to oblivion! For the lass would never believe Wisesa could think of performing benevolent acts while appearing more composed than usual!
Alicia, feeling embarrassed, attempted to busy herself with putting Orb and the unique magical seal box she had retrieved yesterday into her bag—for the sake of her journal's contents. However, Wisea paid no attention to these things. All he cared about was the lunch box to be taken as soon as possible.
"Just take it, Alicia!" pleaded Wisesa with a stern face. "You have to eat because I need you."
Alicia bristled. "What else do you want from me?"
Wisesa held back for a moment. "I need you to take care of my 'Barong' situation at the former Calon Arang sealing site. Satisfied?"
Alicia's eyes widened in surprise before her face once again contorted into a sour expression. She grabbed the lunch box roughly and proceeded to eat the meat with uncivilised manners. The discarded blanket slung limply over her left arm as she followed Wisesa's lead, mouth stuffed with meat.
***
The two of them had been walking for an hour and had yet to find anything resembling a man-made path, except for some flying lemurs and the occasional panther in the reeds stalking the youths. Wisesa kept slashing with the machete he got from the enemies' carriage, paving a winding path as if this forest area was his own home. Alicia rather objected to the mosquitoes buzzing around her chubby cheeks. Fortunately, the rest of her body was covered in a black coat, red tights, and shoes. Unfortunately, the deep tropical jungle was a scourge for those who dressed as such.
"We've jist been walking aboot in the bush without any clues. Dinnae tell me we're lost," Alicia said.
Wisesa did not turn around. His machete still cut through the greenish weeds. "I know the way. Quit hassling me."
"How did we get free?" Alicia changed the subject. "And how did I get tied up?"
"That again?" Wisesa complained. "The ones who tied you up were Semar’s men, okay? And Semar also told me that I would guide you in this strange land."
"And you intend to guide me to the Calon Arang sealing site to purify Barong?"
"Not my intention. His intention. He ordered me. All this arrest? A pretense. The chest I was contained in was a fake, and when the time was right, I had to take you away and do everything we're doing now."
"If Barong's purification is successful, then what?" Alicia asked back.
"We go to Alas Purwo."
Alicia stopped her steps. "Are you kidding me?" she snapped. "What's the point of escaping from Alas Purwo's troops if we're going to their town anyway?"
"The point is to ensure that Barong doesn’t go messing around in another neighborhood again."
"Oh."
"Your intelligence has been declining lately, missy?"
"Shut up!"
Their feet were still pedalling through the bushes. Their eyes then found a gentle valley leading to another frustrating field of thatch. A brief groan came from Wisesa before he took a rope from the sack, tied it to the trunk of a dead tree, and threw it down. Both held on to the rope and trekked down slowly.
"What are we going to do in Alas Purwo?" Alicia asked again.
"Helping the spy troops observe the movements of Panggaraknagara and his troops, as well as finding out what the Day of Judgement is that they've been touting," Wisesa replied.
"Panggaraknagara..."
"The title of Sunan Alas Purwo," the young man agreed. "The One Who Moves the State."
"Ki Semar and the others better get there for a guerrilla attack or something," the lass said bitterly. Alicia remembered Ki Semar's fleeting message about this, but she thought it was just an empty persuasion at that time so that she could be tamed.
"Don't worry about the old man and his lackeys. They will come."
They had managed to get their feet back on somewhat level terrain when a panther ambushed them from an area of overgrown grass. Alicia almost fired Arcane in a fit of rage, but the black cat instead returned to the bushes after seeing something behind Wisesa's eyes. Perhaps as a creature of the wild, it felt a connection to the Patron of Lands inside him, and its instincts told that it was not wise to meddle with its guardian. Alicia had been hoping for something to happen to break the monotony or vent her anger, but fate seemed to let the matter pass without making any impression. Fate only allowed Alicia to curse at Wisesa constantly in return.
"One moment!" The Camelot girl's face showed signs of anxiety. She aligned herself with Wisesa. "If we both manage to escape, what about the fate of the villagers?"
"The treaty is safe. The Sunanate only knows that we are being taken to the capital and that the ultimatum is not enforced—that is, if they’re not willing to cheat."
"Hm... Then as I recall, you said the purification ritual at the site didn’t work. What changed your mind?"
"What changed my mind is the idea of getting rid of Barong from my body as quickly as possible!"
"So you lied before."
The machete kept swinging. The man's mouth shut for a long time.
"Yes..., I lied."
Wisesa's voice was low. His tone was flat. A sense of reluctance and bitterness in the words. Alicia's anger receded in time. Her eager curiosity about the hidden things had to be suppressed first.
"I... won't ask any further questions," Alicia stated.
As they made their way through the tangled field of weeds, Alicia could not help but feel a sense of relief as they finally emerged onto the more spacious ground. The warak ngendogs—humped goats with a head similar to a dragon with horns—were hopping towards the rising sun. The trees seemed to take on an otherworldly quality, with their branches intertwining to form a canopy overhead that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. Wisesa did not sheath the machete and kept walking. However, the bespectacled woman's statement made him think of his past. A life history that he always scoffed at and wished he would just forget instead of having it clung to his mind like a stubborn piece of sticky note.
"That place isn't just where they sealed Calon Arang, but it's also where they bound Barong to my body," Wisesa finally explained. "My brother's blood was spilled during the sealing, used as a catalyst to bind the creature within me. It was done by a group of wretched humans called family, whom I always wished every day in my meditations to never be born among them. I always wished that they would all die in torment. The Yawanese are so unreasonably ambitious that they are willing to sacrifice their own children."
Most of the time, when those dark memories resurfaced, Wisesa would lash out at anything in his path. In this instance, his gaze fell upon a nearby tree, and he felt the urge to pummel it until it was nothing more than a pile of splinters. But as he locked eyes with the innocent tree, it was as though they were communicating by exchanging thoughts. Wisesa saw the beauty in the tree's simplicity and decided to abandon his intention. His feet took another step.
"His name is Gading, isn't it?"
Wisesa whirled around, his eyes piercing like daggers. He wondered how she had discovered the name, but then the memories of the tragedy that took place two days ago flooded his mind. He turned back and slowly nodded.
"Gading. His name is Gading."
"I'm so sorry, Wisesa... I hate to say this. Sometimes, family can be the worst thing in your life."
Wisesa snorted. "Oh, come on. How can living in a noble family in a Western land like yours be the worst thing in life? At least they're more 'civilized' and 'serene'—spending their workdays, if not sipping tea, then sipping wine, not slitting their own children!"
This time Alicia was not angered by Wisesa's racist insinuation. Instead, she let out a small laugh. "Wisesa, I hope that's all true so that I at least have a supply of insults to throw in yer face."
"No way!" Again, the man scowled. "You're a child of royalty. Even I'm not lying that you're actually a sweet girl. Doesn't everyone worship and treat you like a goddess wherever you go?"
Alicia played dumb even though there was a hint of flattery in her cheeks. "Tae the commoners, aye, they may see something. But tae my family?" The girl's scoff rang out. “What use is a bonnie face if ye cannae dae magic? I'm nae but a bastard in their eyes, aye, the one who ruined the family's reputation beyond repair, unless I'm 'gotten rid of'."
"Oh, shit. So you're a noble bastard?"
"Of course, I'm not a bastard!" Alicia scolded Wisesa, then slowly looked down. "At least, that's what I believe. Mama wouldn't lie about that."
Silence held the conversation for a moment. Wisesa asked again, "How do you know you can't do magic?"
"Western magi can sniff out the knack for mana manipulation with their fancy gadgets," Alicia replied.
"Westerners and all their bullshit concepts."
"I must agree with you on this one."
"Then?" Wisesa turned his head. "Aren't there a lot of mystic arts in this world?"
"I've tried, three of them!" replied Alicia, her tone rising. "Wizardry doesnae work. The druidism teacher Mama sent me said I'm a human who can't be sensitive to nature. The first, and perhaps the only human in the history of druidism, she said! Unbelievable! It almost sounded like an insult!"
"Ah, you Westerners sure love exaggerating. What about the mystic arts from the East? Anyone can learn those, though it takes most people a lifetime just to control a little bit of mana. Some even end up dying after that."
Wisesa's words did not give Alicia the slightest hope.
"Mama has expertise in the Art of Ninshu. I tried the basic hand seal to open the mana points... or to cultivate. but I don't know what that means, or how it feels. I thought reading all the magic encyclopaedias would be enough to understand it all. But Mama said it takes patience and practice, so... well, for eight years I've been doing it almost every night, sometimes practising the latter two when I have time. All to no avail."
"How could you possibly practice those things at home? Your mum isn't a sensei, you have to go to the place of origin!"
"Study at the place of origin? Oh, why didnae I think of that before?" a bit of sarcasm from Alicia. "Oh, I've been out to Trinketshore, Wisesa! Another small town called Glasnagour, three hours from home. That's as far as I can go. Farther than that, I'd probably just come home only in name."
"Okay, okay. I see your point," Wisesa relented. "You could have had a peaceful life in some small town, but you chose to go through the trouble of learning magic. At least be grateful that Orb granted your wish for a difficult life!"
The white light of Orb glanced at Alicia's face behind the waist bag.
"I know being a mage is troublesome. But it's better than a lifetime spent doing nothing, or doing something you don't like," Alicia replied.
Then she added, "Also, magic is beautiful! Amazing! The most unique human ability! Not just because it produces colourful visuals or anything like that, nae. Mama taught me that the amazing thing about magic is its diversity. It's part of human culture, it's their lifestyle, their philosophy, their identity! Their perception of their own life force and their relationship with their surroundings gives birth to mystic arts of unique significance. The study of men!" Alicia then ran ahead of Wisesa, turning around, and walking backwards. "Compare it to your mystical art, Shamanism, which channels mana through a series of exercises and disciplines to connect with higher entities and get inspiration from them, then train the results of that inspiration over and over again until you have yourself solid spells! Or Western Wizardry, which values reason to create more efficient mana management and magic over time, because of the demands of progressivity in all aspects that are as fast as Thunderkeeper’s Lightning! And look at the outcome: Shamanism became the most difficult ancient art to learn, but it yielded immensely powerful magic due to its close ties with the supreme entities. On the other hand, Wizardry led to numerous innovations in the form of magic tools and spells that made even the most mundane human tasks easier! Eh, magic equipment most of the time, but you get the gist. This journey is my chance to witness more of the wonders of thaumaturgy firsthand and record them in my journal!"
"Your long ass ramblings, by the gods. Oh, and by the way, missy, you forgot something: Wizardry is becoming more available to everyone, well, to those with talent, of course."
"Ha. ha. Ye ken, sometimes the truths that escape yer lips can be right annoying."
"Well, your rambling is more painful to the ears. It's been ages since my ears have hurt that badly." Wisesa paused to take a breath. "At least you've got a typical family. Your mom sounds cool. But you ditched her and ran away from home."
Alicia dismissed the question with a wave of her hand. "Who said I ran away from home?" she argued. "I didn't! And I don't have my Mama anymore."
"Abandoned you because of your status?"
"N-not really... Mama was truly gone."
"Oh, shit," the young man responded, before his mind drifted for a moment to the image of the woman who had once cradled him in her arms. It felt as though he had not spared a thought for his mother in ages. "My old lady, she wasn't cruel. But stupid. Hanging on every word of her accursed husband's prattle. Turning a blind eye to her maternal instincts when her two children were about to be corrupted!"
"What happened?"
"The last I heard from that scumbag when I was in the cage, my mom had lost it after my brother died and they hauled her off to a loony bin. I don't know, maybe she's dead now. Sunan of Alas Purwo playing single parent was the greatest abomination in life, and I refused to be locked up again in that godforsaken cell, treated like an animal at the mercy of that son of a bitch. So when I was brought in to destroy Pulomas, I let Barong take the reins and high-tailed it out of there. A few days later, Semar found me dying."
Wisesa had little of note to recount, unlike the girl whose speech flowed on without end. Alicia simply wanted to convey her fondness, spurred by the young man's words, and perhaps she misconstrued his meaning. "Again, I'm sorry, Wisesa," she implored. "Perhaps we can pay her a visit later on when we're in Alas Purwo. A familiar face can bring great solace."
Of course, it would bring great solace, just not the face of the man who had become a half-beast. Wisesa flicked a fleeting glance at Alicia before returning his gaze to the weeds he was about to chop down. There was nothing more to say.
Alicia scanned the tree line from side to side, squinting whenever a bird or exotic creature alighted upon her orb-like lens. The cheeping of birds and buzzing of insects helped to assuage their fear of true isolation. For some time, Alicia's head spun, but instead of discovering some strange creature, she had an epiphany.
"Do you want to hear something, Wisesa?" Alicia asked.
"What?" Wisesa replied briefly.
"Do you want to know why your life is so depressing?"
"Beats me."
"Because you were born in Alas Purwo!"
Wisesa's steps instantly stopped, turning to Alicia, a grimace on his face. "Nah! Nah, nah, nah, nah...!"
"What...?" The girl's face lit up, expecting further responses.
"No, no, no! You're not going to tell another one of your dad-ass jokes!" Wisesa either lashed out in anger or disgust. "Have you ever killed anyone with that cringe stuff? What, don't tell me those skinless children were your victims!"
Alicia gasped. "What the—Wisesa!"
Wisesa also gasped. A real awkward pause between the two of them. "Alright, that's too much, sorry. But still! Your jokes are pathetic!"
"But it was funny!" rebutted Alicia. "Before you ruined it just now!"
"Funny? Are you even laughing at your own jokes?"
"Well, comedians dinnae laugh at their jokes! That's the audience's job!"
"That's not how it works! If the joke is funny, then you laugh! Westerners never watched a comedy show, do they?"
"I've seen stand-up jesting, okay?"
"Halah! No way. I pity your sense of humor. If you were hanging out with the ancient Ki Semar and his ancient children, you'd probably be the funniest person in the neighborhood!"
"So what's funny to you, bullying people?"
"Absolutely! Some folks were just born to be the butt of other people’s jokes! It's on you if you can't take a joke and laugh along with the people who are ribbing you because they won't let up!"
"You're mean, Wisesa."
As they emerged from the tree line, they were greeted by a vast expanse of blue sky. Wisesa's steps came to a sudden halt, followed closely by Alicia's. As luck would have it, what lay before them was no longer flat terrain, but a desolate cliff's edge, impossible to scale with ropes. However, something caught the girl's round eyes—a complex of dark, jagged buildings that clawed at the sky in the distance, like an artist's masterpiece hidden from human civilisation, yet flaunting itself to the two young travellers.
Alicia strode forward, pointing. "Wisesa... is that...?"
Wisesa nodded in confirmation. "Candi Mragprabhu Barong."
"Candi...?"
"Ancient stone temples devoted to the veneration of deities. These particular temples were built in honor of the victims of the divine conflict between Barong and Calon Arang. The carvings on each statue there tell magical stories of Yawadwipa—even Lojitengara. Alicia, you'll be awakening the spirits of the seal that reside within the shrine."
Hearing about the intricacies of Lojitengara's magic that were present in the temple made the girl's face light up once more, despite the dullness and dirtiness all over herself. Moreover, she was about to relive Ki Semar's story of Barong with her very own eyes. Her lips curved up into a satisfied smile.
"No problem, Wisesa. As long as you guide me in telling all of the magical tales of this land!" []
