A passion burned within Alicia to step foot into the ancient temple steeped in the shamanic history and magical lore of the Federation of Lojitengara. She herself was not familiar with the country she was in. The pages of her mother's magic encyclopaedia remained barren about it, except for the knowledge that it was the largest country still practising the most ancient mystic art known to man—Shamanism. Still, it would be impossible for a country with the oldest art not to have a myriad of enchanting sagas to tell to each and every story-hungry individual. Alicia would be the first to tell the world about it, and that made her heart burst with excitement!
Lost in her musings, she forgot that she and Wisesa were on the surface of the ground, and the nearer she reached the end, the sharper the shape before she was greeted by a cliff. Alicia was never a fan of heights; especially when she realised that she was technically at heights.
"How do we get there, Wisesa?" Alicia asked. "Should we detour and take an easier path?"
Wisesa shrugged. "I don't know... We just fly or jump, I guess."
Alicia ventured to look down the ravine. Wisesa was known for his penchant for jest—but most of it was not funny, let alone on point. The bespectacled lass seemed too innocent to ask his companion for another guidance. "Are you sure we have a rope long enough to get to the bottom?"
Perhaps her brain was not working optimally due to lack of sleep.
Wisesa smacked his forehead. "Alicia, I'm sure any magic school has a way to, if not fly, at least be able to land from a height without dying silly."
"Ah, I see." Sleep-deprived and anxious, Alicia's thoughts were jumbled. "So, you pals jump."
"The practitioner here can jump high and dash through the air with just the flicks of the foot. Even Semar can actually fly. If there is no carriage with us, we will jump off the cliff and swing through the trees."
"Then... what about me? Do I... have to get on your back or something?"
"What?" Wisesa's eyes widened. "No way! In any case, I'm the one who should’ve asked that!"
"B-but I cannae fly!"
"Kalimasada in your hand and you can't fly? Are you a witch or not?"
"I told you I'm not a mage like all of you!"
"Bah! If you, the savior of the world with Kalimasada, can't fly, what a downfall for the world to have a savior like you!"
Words that made quite an impact on Alicia. Had she "flown" with Orb twice? When she first met her blue orb, and during the last encounter with the plant version of Barong? Even then, Alicia never intended to fly. Still, simply floating through the air was not impossible. The lass exhaled heavily. Her thoughts drifted, feeling disjointed. She craved coffee to ground herself.
Out of her waist bag, Alicia summoned Orb. "I think this is a new lesson for me—or us. I want to learn to fly."
The white sphere of Orb examined its holder's weary state. Alicia, did you know you have eye bags? Flying requires immense concentration and energy.
Alicia's eyes darted towards Wisesa, and she pouted. "Wisesa's too stingy to give me a lift... I mean, not that I need a lift from someone like him!"
If Orb had a mouth, it would have let out a deep sigh.
I need your full concentration–fuller than ever! I don't want to hear your terrified screams while we're in midair. Do you understand?
Despite her tiredness, Alicia forced herself to be strong. She nodded, then closed her eyes. Her body began to glow in a bright blue light, pitting against the sun.
"Good. The last one to arrive, sucker!" Wisesa broke free and ran through the air, reaching the nearest tree and jumping between the branches, just like he said.
"Wisesa, stop making everything a competition!" complained Alicia. With a profound swallow, she elevated her two feet out of the terrain, towards the empty expanse. The sensation of levitation was utterly unnatural. Alicia felt as if she could find repose on nought, and at the same time, gravity tempted her to precipitate onto the rugged ground beneath. The slightest wobble of her body, and the terrestrial force threatened abduction!
Alicia resembled more a suspended statue than an agile dame who meandered in the air. Her body only moved an inch or two with excessive caution. She kept her gaze fixed firmly on the temple ahead of her; unfortunately, the luxuriant woodlands below were a tantalising distraction. Looking skyward was of no better help, as the glaring sun threatened to sear her retinas. Not to mention, the constant drowsiness endeavoured to make her slip or plunge into an unyielding slumber mid-flight. There was nothing funny about slipping—not when it happened in the middle of the sky. Her mouth was constricted from any desire to emit a cry for succour.
"Okay, steady. Steady, steady, Alicia...," she murmured to herself.
We can disembark now and continue our journey by land, Orb suggested.
"No! Wisesa must have arrived already. I have to catch up!" Her words were firm but in contrast to the comportment and sentiment that ensued.
Then don't be afraid! Resist your drowsiness and focus on my strength to carry us there!
Orb had a point. The view from above would always be breathtaking, but that did not mean she could not live with it. With her eyes half-shuttered, Alicia solidified her focus, and sure enough, the Arcane might cleaved through the air like a distant star! She flew past thousands of trees, the adrenaline pumping through her veins eradicating her drowsiness and forcing her undivided attention upon the dark shrine.
Finally, the bespectacled girl fell right at the entrance gate, with Wisesa standing beside her.
"Hah. Sucker!" Wisesa taunted, pointing at her.
Foolhardy as it was, at least Alicia had discovered a new ability: flying—with intent, that was for sure!
Alicia rose to her feet and brushed the dust off her clothes. Then her eyes were drawn to the welcome gate and the stone temple looming behind that cast a long shadow over the area. Her apprehensive glance switched back to one of excitement. The exhilaration of flight still coursed through her veins, as she pointed to the gaping, crowned animal-carved archway as if it contained some hidden philosophical meaning or spell.
"Wisesa! Wisesa! Wisesa!" the girl exclaimed. "That! That! What's the story behind that carving on the gate?"
Wisesa gaped, shaking his head. "It's just a pig," he said, holding out his palm.
A sudden blasé marred Alicia's face. "Oh, come on! You cannae tell me that someone would casually place a pig's face in front of the entrance to a sacred locale like this!"
"Well, guess what, apparently they are," the young man retorted. "I mean, pigs in Yawanese culture are a sign of fame and prosperity. There's even a separate deity, Surawarahika Bathara Waning Patom, dedicated to them. Those who enter and exit through this gate are said to be blessed by the pig above it with good fortune. It's nothing fancy."
"Well, guess what, you just answered my question." The girl grinned.
"Enough with the chit-chat. Let's just go in. I haven't meditated all day, and Barong could emerge at any moment."
"But... the magical stories on the walls...?"
"Listen, missy, I didn't bring you here for a picnic or a museum date," Wisesa snapped. "I was forced to come to this temple so that the Barong inside me wouldn't turn into a nuisance!"
All aspects of Alicia—face and mannerisms—gradually slackened. Her body was demoralised, and the idea of reclining under the cool shade of a banyan tree became far more alluring and beneficial than exploring the dim corridors of a magical temple that she could not delve into. Either the bespectacled lass was sulking, or she was simply too weary to carry on with her day. One thing remained certain: Barong let out a joyous cry when the lass fell asleep.
Wisesa could not help but feel like Alicia deliberately exploiting her cute demeanour. Nevertheless, his conscience was affected anyway. He groaned at that. "Okay, okay! You'll have your tour once Barong's purification is complete."
"Really?" Alicia's face turned hopeful, causing Wisesa to recoil at the sickeningly sweet expression.
"Please, just come in so my day can be a little better."
They crossed the threshold of the archway and entered a main building. From the doorway, there appeared to be nothing but darkness lurking. Alicia summoned Orb to illuminate the way, exposing stone walls chiselled into a collection of people and animals engaged in various pursuits. Not only were three-dimensional sculptures, at the room's heart with the ceiling ascending, the walls flaunted paintings with golden backgrounds that gleamed like stars, up to the loftiest tier. The human figures therein were painted with bodies as gaunt as tree branches or undernourished people—a far cry from Western painting, which favoured luscious curves and well-defined muscles.
The magical creatures in Yawanese paintings, on the other hand, were downright sinister, painted with bulging eyes and utmost details, whereas painters in the West seemed to struggle to draw anything but people, so much so that even animals were likened to humans.
Alicia was an avid bookworm who wandered around the museum without visitors. One could not know how many times she had circled the room and then idled in the centre to examine each painting. Her patience was wearing thin to fully take in the sagas there.
"I recognise this painting! I've seen it in the magic museum in Eidyn, but I dinnae remember this story coming from Lojitengara!"
Wisesa did not comment at all.
"At least a simple comment would be helpful!"
"Later, Alicia. Later."
As Alicia reached for her journal, Wisesa quickly shoved it back into her backpack. His patience was being tested.
"I already told you, the tour is for later. You're being stubborn!" Wisesa grumbled.
"Ahh! Can't we just do it while walking to the ritual site?"
"Put it in!"
Alicia scowled. She reluctantly placed her journal back in. Although her curiosity had not been satisfied, her mind was still abuzz with thoughts, weaving its own deductions about the meaning of the art that surrounded her. Her marsupial eyes looked at the figures on the wall as a sleep-inducing fairy tale that moved itself out of the fresco. It was an immersive experience of storytelling that gave rise to the desire to dream within.
Wisesa, aware of her incessant yawning, quickly pulled Alicia's arm before the girl fell asleep and he had to wait a few more hours. He did not want to overstay his welcome here for a few more hours. The silence of the shrine complex only served to echo the young man's inner turmoil, reminding him of his past traumas.
They continued along the path until they were once again bathed in natural light—the way out. The path they were on had no doors, and it led them to a field surrounded by eight identical temples, each one representing a cardinal direction. Statues sat cross-legged around the field, their faces serene despite the ravages of time and nature. In the field's centre was a smaller area, also surrounded by statues, with a stone altar in the middle.
Alicia observed the surroundings. She enjoyed this symmetrical scene. "Okay, so how does the Kawisesan Sang Hyang Banaspatiraja ritual work?" she asked, pulling out the thick book given to her by the Tumaritis village chief. "According to the book's instructions—well... Ki Semar's instruction, we need the spirits that reside here to channel my power to Barong in the other dimension."
Wisesa remained silent, lost in his own thoughts, until he approached the stone altar and placed his hand on it, tracing the scars of his past with his fingers before pressing it with his fist. Alicia seemed to guess what had happened here. Right here on this altar, Wisesa’s brother had been sacrificed to create a weapon of war in the flesh. The young man's heart was too heavy and his mind could not stop recording the flashbacks of that unpleasant event.
After a few deep breaths, Wisesa snapped out of his reverie, turning his head to face Alicia. "What did you say earlier? I didn't hear."
"Oh, uh... I was asking about the Kawisesan Sang Hyang Banaspatiraja ritual," Alicia repeated, her eyes glazed with exhaustion. The ringing Orb showed its concern for its sleep-deprived wielder.
"I'm going to take off my clothes. You might want to take a look at this. ...."
Before Alicia could respond, Wisesa had already unbuttoned his brown shirt, revealing a tattoo of Barong's face, surrounded by intricate Yawanese characters. Firm muscles stained with magical characters, it was a sight that warded off the temptation to sleep for a moment.
"Focus on my tattoo, not the others!" Wisesa snapped her fingers. Alicia kept her mouth shut while holding back her embarrassment. "As you can see, this is the face of our favorite beast. And this whole inscription is both a sealing spell and a spell to take us to Banaspatirajaloka—the dimension where Barong resides."
Alicia was still struggling to focus on either Wisesa's magical tattoo or his alluring body. Her vision seemed to be split in two.
"Are you really paying attention?" Wisesa's voice was stern.
"Y-yes, I-I was watching ...."
Wisesa rolled his eyes. "I didn't expect a girl like you to be such a pervert."
"What?" Alicia snapped. "Don't accuse me of such—"
Orb jolted her from behind. "Orb! What was that!"
"Alicia, please, focus!" Wisesa cut her off with a loud scold.
"I'm trying, alright? Do you forget why I look pathetic like this? I’m s-sorry...!"
Wisesa cursed himself for rushing through his dealings with Barong. The wielder of Divine Grace was stricken with a heavy drowsiness, and it was clear from her constant yawning. "You know what, Miss? Screw it. Stare at my body to your heart's content, so long as you listen to me." With that, Wisesa snatched the ancient tome from Alicia's grasp.
"You will channel the power of the Kalimasada through me," he continued. "I will call forth the spirits and deliver the power to them. They will activate this spell on my body, enabling us to breach the dimension where Barong resides. They will also erect a cage to ensnare Barong and you, ensuring that neither of you can escape the showdown. It's a battle of life and death, Alicia. The rest... well, you know what to do—subdue Barong and purify it of the black magic."
"Wait! Me? Just me? Against Barong?" Alicia was struck speechless. "W-what about you?"
"Alas, I am the conduit between your power and the spirits. I cannot join the fray," Wisesa explained. "Take it easy, missy. In this case, I fully support you kicking this monster's ass. So you better not lose, let alone die!"
The anxiety, already raging in the depths of the lass' heart, intensified. If Barong in the human world was too difficult to defeat without Wisesa's intervention, how could she hope to contend with the creature on its own turf? A slew of new questions raced through her mind. How arduous would it be to purify Barong? How much Arcane might would she need to expend? What nefarious ploys would Barong employ when Arcane might and Khaos clashed? Orb's sudden jolt broke her from her thoughts. Those questions were important, but they were useless if they were merely pondered, for no one offered answers.
"I w-won't die," Alicia gave her answer. "I'm a Child of Prophecy, remember? Just like you—"
"I'm not a Child of Prophecy—"
"Yes, you are, don't deny it! Regardless, I have Orb. I must trust in myself and Orb. I cannot falter."
"Good," Wisesa nodded. "Now, give me your blessing."
The purification ritual commenced. Wisesa ascended the altar and laid himself down, ready for what was to come. This time, the purging was unlike any other. So far, Alicia had only purified the influence of Khaos on a physical level. But Barong existed beyond the human realm and to purify it, Alicia would have to face one of the four aspects of Bathara Sukra on a metaphysical level, with the help of the guardian spirits!
Alicia fused with her ball mate, and threads of blue ley energy reached out to Wisesa's temples, illuminating his eyes with a bright blue hue, the colour of Arcane might.
For the first time—truly the first time—Wisesa felt the peaceful kiss that was actually indifferent, but to him so obvious, unattainable in all those years. Occasionally, his chest tightened, his body feeling refreshingly cold, not used to the delightful taste of being alive. As he looked up at Alicia's face, he remembered the sting of Orb's kiss was different; a sting that burned his skin.
Alicia moved her face closer to Wisesa as she crouched down. "Wisesa? Are you awright?"
"Never been better..." Wisesa replied curtly, lost in the moment.
He mumbled for a while, and then the book that Alicia held opened on its own, floating in mid-air. Wisesa began to twist his arms and performed a lithe dance on the altar stone, reciting the mantra of the book. His voice became heavy with magic as he chanted, and his steps were slow and deliberate.
"¹Para pengawal, ngati-ati sing ala.
Duwe welas asih marang manungsa.
Kanugrahan para wali bumi kang langgeng kanggo jiwa-jiwa kang kapendhem.
Ana sing ala ngrusak bumi, lan sampeyan ditimbali."
They both heard the faint sound of gamelan from nowhere. Following the gamelan accompaniment, Wisesa again chanted a new mantra repeatedly; this time in a melodious tone.
"²Kowe kabeh sing panitaya Barong.
Ngewehake berkat ing donya saka Sang Hyang Sukra.
Tinggal neng walik batu. Nanging menjebak angkara sing nyata.
Senadyan ora mbisa urip becik.
Nanging ora nggoleki bales dendam.
Ngliyakne keadilan sing las asih.
Pangapuran tumeka mungsuh.
Nguwawa sing fasik supaya meneng."
From Wisesa's forehead emerged an Arcane circular radar, as if beckoning spirits to come forth. Alicia gasped as two humans, clad in simple clothes and faces filled with wonder, materialised next to her. They examined Orb and Alicia's form with equal curiosity. She even could hear their conversation.
"³Sapa wadon iki? Dheweke dudu kanggonan saka awake dhewe. "
Their words were certainly spoken in the tongue of Yawa. Their voices were full of childlike curiosity, but soft.
"⁴Wong wedok iki Kalimasada barenge. Awake dhewe wis diceluk bali sakwise semene suwe!" replied the other person.
Not only those two people. Slowly, more and more people also arrived. Men wearing shabby unbuttoned shirts and blangkon hats, women approaching while talking with others, draped only colourful cloth. Most of them trod the ground without cassocks.
"Wisesa, these people have come from nowhere!" said Alicia, tinged with discomfort. "Are they tourists? Villagers? But there's nae village near here! Dinnae tell me they're Alas Purwo soldiers in disguise!"
"Alicia, don't let their ordinary appearance fool your eyes," said Wisesa.
As Alicia scanned the crowd, she realised that they appeared from the statues surrounding the field. The girl's eyes widened.
"They're... spirits?"
Never had the lass expected this. Such earthy forms were unlike the ones Alicia had seen during the Leichenhaufen incident; the spirits that emerged from Agosh Grendi's cursed totems materialised into actual flesh-eating carcasses. Nevertheless, even in their spectral state, it did not stop them from showing admiration for the two adolescents brimming with Divine Grace. Alicia felt neither malicious intent nor the stifling air of bitter rage, and it sufficed to instil a modicum of optimism within her.
The eyes of the souls turned their attention to Wisesa, who stood tall and shook his left hand, beckoning the spirits to approach. With a flick of his fingers, he framed the Barong painting on his chest, causing a sudden and inexplicable heaviness in the air. The spirits gasped in unison. Now he had their attention.
"The Patron of Lands, Barong, has been ensnared by black magic, courtesy of its eternal enemy, the Widow," Wisesa began in Yawanese. "It now resides in a world beyond our senses, and is using me as a conduit to bring calamity upon mankind. We plead with you, Guardians! Take us to Banaspatirajaloka and construct a restraining cage to contain it. Help the Kalimasada-bearing girl remove Wredharaja's curse from Banaspatiraja!"
The ground rumbled in protest. Something powerful and malevolent was resisting their plan. The spirits did not congregate further. Their ordinary bodies floated in the air, encircling Alicia and Wisesa in a cross-legged state.
Wisesa's mouth gaped open, unleashing a torrent of Arcane might that infused the spirits. Suddenly, Wisesa's own spirit emerged from his physical form, identical in every way. Two Wisesa, and Alicia lost her ability to speak.
"Don't just look, Westerner!" In his spirit form, the Barong-possessed did not abandon his racist nature. "Get ready! We're switching worlds!"
"S-switching worlds?"
With Arcane's help, the spirits executed their task. The magical gamelan resonated with increasing intensity. The spirits' voices shuddered the jungle, reading the writing on Wisesa's tattoo circle, each character glowing when read. The air rippled. The sight of the eight temples gradually faded away, replaced by a shower of stars in the ebony firmament. And then, they reappeared in a strange fealm with a yellow sky and a green, but barren landscape.
Wisesa's physical form vanished, yet his spirit lingered, hovering to keep the connection between the spirits and the Arcane might unbroken. The spirits conveyed them straight to Barong, who already awaited their arrival. A black and purple aura wreathed its body like smog.
"You again," Barong greeted Alicia in the common tongue. "How presumptuous of you to barge into my loka without my blessing!" []
1. "Guardians, ever-wary of evil. Have mercy on people. The gift of guardian of the earth is eternal for trapped souls. Something evil is destroying the earth, and you are summoned."
2. "All of you who believe in Barong, Invoke blessings in this world from Sang Hyang Sukra. Residing in the stone shrine. Yet trapping is the visible crime.Despite not being able to live a good life. But seeking revenge you are not. Enforcing justice with loving kindness. Defending against enemies, Fighting against the wicked to maintain peace."
3. "Who is that lady? She doesn't appear to be one of us."
4. "This girl is with Kalimasada. We have been summoned after such a long time!"
A passion burned within Alicia to step foot into the ancient temple steeped in the shamanic history and magical lore of the Federation of Lojitengara. She herself was not familiar with the country she was in. The pages of her mother's magic encyclopaedia remained barren about it, except for the knowledge that it was the largest country still practising the most ancient mystic art known to man—Shamanism. Still, it would be impossible for a country with the oldest art not to have a myriad of enchanting sagas to tell to each and every story-hungry individual. Alicia would be the first to tell the world about it, and that made her heart burst with excitement!
Lost in her musings, she forgot that she and Wisesa were on the surface of the ground, and the nearer she reached the end, the sharper the shape before she was greeted by a cliff. Alicia was never a fan of heights; especially when she realised that she was technically at heights.
"How do we get there, Wisesa?" Alicia asked. "Should we detour and take an easier path?"
Wisesa shrugged. "I don't know... We just fly or jump, I guess."
Alicia ventured to look down the ravine. Wisesa was known for his penchant for jest—but most of it was not funny, let alone on point. The bespectacled lass seemed too innocent to ask his companion for another guidance. "Are you sure we have a rope long enough to get to the bottom?"
Perhaps her brain was not working optimally due to lack of sleep.
Wisesa smacked his forehead. "Alicia, I'm sure any magic school has a way to, if not fly, at least be able to land from a height without dying silly."
"Ah, I see." Sleep-deprived and anxious, Alicia's thoughts were jumbled. "So, you pals jump."
"The practitioner here can jump high and dash through the air with just the flicks of the foot. Even Semar can actually fly. If there is no carriage with us, we will jump off the cliff and swing through the trees."
"Then... what about me? Do I... have to get on your back or something?"
"What?" Wisesa's eyes widened. "No way! In any case, I'm the one who should’ve asked that!"
"B-but I cannae fly!"
"Kalimasada in your hand and you can't fly? Are you a witch or not?"
"I told you I'm not a mage like all of you!"
"Bah! If you, the savior of the world with Kalimasada, can't fly, what a downfall for the world to have a savior like you!"
Words that made quite an impact on Alicia. Had she "flown" with Orb twice? When she first met her blue orb, and during the last encounter with the plant version of Barong? Even then, Alicia never intended to fly. Still, simply floating through the air was not impossible. The lass exhaled heavily. Her thoughts drifted, feeling disjointed. She craved coffee to ground herself.
Out of her waist bag, Alicia summoned Orb. "I think this is a new lesson for me—or us. I want to learn to fly."
The white sphere of Orb examined its holder's weary state. Alicia, did you know you have eye bags? Flying requires immense concentration and energy.
Alicia's eyes darted towards Wisesa, and she pouted. "Wisesa's too stingy to give me a lift... I mean, not that I need a lift from someone like him!"
If Orb had a mouth, it would have let out a deep sigh.
I need your full concentration–fuller than ever! I don't want to hear your terrified screams while we're in midair. Do you understand?
Despite her tiredness, Alicia forced herself to be strong. She nodded, then closed her eyes. Her body began to glow in a bright blue light, pitting against the sun.
"Good. The last one to arrive, sucker!" Wisesa broke free and ran through the air, reaching the nearest tree and jumping between the branches, just like he said.
"Wisesa, stop making everything a competition!" complained Alicia. With a profound swallow, she elevated her two feet out of the terrain, towards the empty expanse. The sensation of levitation was utterly unnatural. Alicia felt as if she could find repose on nought, and at the same time, gravity tempted her to precipitate onto the rugged ground beneath. The slightest wobble of her body, and the terrestrial force threatened abduction!
Alicia resembled more a suspended statue than an agile dame who meandered in the air. Her body only moved an inch or two with excessive caution. She kept her gaze fixed firmly on the temple ahead of her; unfortunately, the luxuriant woodlands below were a tantalising distraction. Looking skyward was of no better help, as the glaring sun threatened to sear her retinas. Not to mention, the constant drowsiness endeavoured to make her slip or plunge into an unyielding slumber mid-flight. There was nothing funny about slipping—not when it happened in the middle of the sky. Her mouth was constricted from any desire to emit a cry for succour.
"Okay, steady. Steady, steady, Alicia...," she murmured to herself.
We can disembark now and continue our journey by land, Orb suggested.
"No! Wisesa must have arrived already. I have to catch up!" Her words were firm but in contrast to the comportment and sentiment that ensued.
Then don't be afraid! Resist your drowsiness and focus on my strength to carry us there!
Orb had a point. The view from above would always be breathtaking, but that did not mean she could not live with it. With her eyes half-shuttered, Alicia solidified her focus, and sure enough, the Arcane might cleaved through the air like a distant star! She flew past thousands of trees, the adrenaline pumping through her veins eradicating her drowsiness and forcing her undivided attention upon the dark shrine.
Finally, the bespectacled girl fell right at the entrance gate, with Wisesa standing beside her.
"Hah. Sucker!" Wisesa taunted, pointing at her.
Foolhardy as it was, at least Alicia had discovered a new ability: flying—with intent, that was for sure!
Alicia rose to her feet and brushed the dust off her clothes. Then her eyes were drawn to the welcome gate and the stone temple looming behind that cast a long shadow over the area. Her apprehensive glance switched back to one of excitement. The exhilaration of flight still coursed through her veins, as she pointed to the gaping, crowned animal-carved archway as if it contained some hidden philosophical meaning or spell.
"Wisesa! Wisesa! Wisesa!" the girl exclaimed. "That! That! What's the story behind that carving on the gate?"
Wisesa gaped, shaking his head. "It's just a pig," he said, holding out his palm.
A sudden blasé marred Alicia's face. "Oh, come on! You cannae tell me that someone would casually place a pig's face in front of the entrance to a sacred locale like this!"
"Well, guess what, apparently they are," the young man retorted. "I mean, pigs in Yawanese culture are a sign of fame and prosperity. There's even a separate deity, Surawarahika Bathara Waning Patom, dedicated to them. Those who enter and exit through this gate are said to be blessed by the pig above it with good fortune. It's nothing fancy."
"Well, guess what, you just answered my question." The girl grinned.
"Enough with the chit-chat. Let's just go in. I haven't meditated all day, and Barong could emerge at any moment."
"But... the magical stories on the walls...?"
"Listen, missy, I didn't bring you here for a picnic or a museum date," Wisesa snapped. "I was forced to come to this temple so that the Barong inside me wouldn't turn into a nuisance!"
All aspects of Alicia—face and mannerisms—gradually slackened. Her body was demoralised, and the idea of reclining under the cool shade of a banyan tree became far more alluring and beneficial than exploring the dim corridors of a magical temple that she could not delve into. Either the bespectacled lass was sulking, or she was simply too weary to carry on with her day. One thing remained certain: Barong let out a joyous cry when the lass fell asleep.
Wisesa could not help but feel like Alicia deliberately exploiting her cute demeanour. Nevertheless, his conscience was affected anyway. He groaned at that. "Okay, okay! You'll have your tour once Barong's purification is complete."
"Really?" Alicia's face turned hopeful, causing Wisesa to recoil at the sickeningly sweet expression.
"Please, just come in so my day can be a little better."
They crossed the threshold of the archway and entered a main building. From the doorway, there appeared to be nothing but darkness lurking. Alicia summoned Orb to illuminate the way, exposing stone walls chiselled into a collection of people and animals engaged in various pursuits. Not only were three-dimensional sculptures, at the room's heart with the ceiling ascending, the walls flaunted paintings with golden backgrounds that gleamed like stars, up to the loftiest tier. The human figures therein were painted with bodies as gaunt as tree branches or undernourished people—a far cry from Western painting, which favoured luscious curves and well-defined muscles.
The magical creatures in Yawanese paintings, on the other hand, were downright sinister, painted with bulging eyes and utmost details, whereas painters in the West seemed to struggle to draw anything but people, so much so that even animals were likened to humans.
Alicia was an avid bookworm who wandered around the museum without visitors. One could not know how many times she had circled the room and then idled in the centre to examine each painting. Her patience was wearing thin to fully take in the sagas there.
"I recognise this painting! I've seen it in the magic museum in Eidyn, but I dinnae remember this story coming from Lojitengara!"
Wisesa did not comment at all.
"At least a simple comment would be helpful!"
"Later, Alicia. Later."
As Alicia reached for her journal, Wisesa quickly shoved it back into her backpack. His patience was being tested.
"I already told you, the tour is for later. You're being stubborn!" Wisesa grumbled.
"Ahh! Can't we just do it while walking to the ritual site?"
"Put it in!"
Alicia scowled. She reluctantly placed her journal back in. Although her curiosity had not been satisfied, her mind was still abuzz with thoughts, weaving its own deductions about the meaning of the art that surrounded her. Her marsupial eyes looked at the figures on the wall as a sleep-inducing fairy tale that moved itself out of the fresco. It was an immersive experience of storytelling that gave rise to the desire to dream within.
Wisesa, aware of her incessant yawning, quickly pulled Alicia's arm before the girl fell asleep and he had to wait a few more hours. He did not want to overstay his welcome here for a few more hours. The silence of the shrine complex only served to echo the young man's inner turmoil, reminding him of his past traumas.
They continued along the path until they were once again bathed in natural light—the way out. The path they were on had no doors, and it led them to a field surrounded by eight identical temples, each one representing a cardinal direction. Statues sat cross-legged around the field, their faces serene despite the ravages of time and nature. In the field's centre was a smaller area, also surrounded by statues, with a stone altar in the middle.
Alicia observed the surroundings. She enjoyed this symmetrical scene. "Okay, so how does the Kawisesan Sang Hyang Banaspatiraja ritual work?" she asked, pulling out the thick book given to her by the Tumaritis village chief. "According to the book's instructions—well... Ki Semar's instruction, we need the spirits that reside here to channel my power to Barong in the other dimension."
Wisesa remained silent, lost in his own thoughts, until he approached the stone altar and placed his hand on it, tracing the scars of his past with his fingers before pressing it with his fist. Alicia seemed to guess what had happened here. Right here on this altar, Wisesa’s brother had been sacrificed to create a weapon of war in the flesh. The young man's heart was too heavy and his mind could not stop recording the flashbacks of that unpleasant event.
After a few deep breaths, Wisesa snapped out of his reverie, turning his head to face Alicia. "What did you say earlier? I didn't hear."
"Oh, uh... I was asking about the Kawisesan Sang Hyang Banaspatiraja ritual," Alicia repeated, her eyes glazed with exhaustion. The ringing Orb showed its concern for its sleep-deprived wielder.
"I'm going to take off my clothes. You might want to take a look at this. ...."
Before Alicia could respond, Wisesa had already unbuttoned his brown shirt, revealing a tattoo of Barong's face, surrounded by intricate Yawanese characters. Firm muscles stained with magical characters, it was a sight that warded off the temptation to sleep for a moment.
"Focus on my tattoo, not the others!" Wisesa snapped her fingers. Alicia kept her mouth shut while holding back her embarrassment. "As you can see, this is the face of our favorite beast. And this whole inscription is both a sealing spell and a spell to take us to Banaspatirajaloka—the dimension where Barong resides."
Alicia was still struggling to focus on either Wisesa's magical tattoo or his alluring body. Her vision seemed to be split in two.
"Are you really paying attention?" Wisesa's voice was stern.
"Y-yes, I-I was watching ...."
Wisesa rolled his eyes. "I didn't expect a girl like you to be such a pervert."
"What?" Alicia snapped. "Don't accuse me of such—"
Orb jolted her from behind. "Orb! What was that!"
"Alicia, please, focus!" Wisesa cut her off with a loud scold.
"I'm trying, alright? Do you forget why I look pathetic like this? I’m s-sorry...!"
Wisesa cursed himself for rushing through his dealings with Barong. The wielder of Divine Grace was stricken with a heavy drowsiness, and it was clear from her constant yawning. "You know what, Miss? Screw it. Stare at my body to your heart's content, so long as you listen to me." With that, Wisesa snatched the ancient tome from Alicia's grasp.
"You will channel the power of the Kalimasada through me," he continued. "I will call forth the spirits and deliver the power to them. They will activate this spell on my body, enabling us to breach the dimension where Barong resides. They will also erect a cage to ensnare Barong and you, ensuring that neither of you can escape the showdown. It's a battle of life and death, Alicia. The rest... well, you know what to do—subdue Barong and purify it of the black magic."
"Wait! Me? Just me? Against Barong?" Alicia was struck speechless. "W-what about you?"
"Alas, I am the conduit between your power and the spirits. I cannot join the fray," Wisesa explained. "Take it easy, missy. In this case, I fully support you kicking this monster's ass. So you better not lose, let alone die!"
The anxiety, already raging in the depths of the lass' heart, intensified. If Barong in the human world was too difficult to defeat without Wisesa's intervention, how could she hope to contend with the creature on its own turf? A slew of new questions raced through her mind. How arduous would it be to purify Barong? How much Arcane might would she need to expend? What nefarious ploys would Barong employ when Arcane might and Khaos clashed? Orb's sudden jolt broke her from her thoughts. Those questions were important, but they were useless if they were merely pondered, for no one offered answers.
"I w-won't die," Alicia gave her answer. "I'm a Child of Prophecy, remember? Just like you—"
"I'm not a Child of Prophecy—"
"Yes, you are, don't deny it! Regardless, I have Orb. I must trust in myself and Orb. I cannot falter."
"Good," Wisesa nodded. "Now, give me your blessing."
The purification ritual commenced. Wisesa ascended the altar and laid himself down, ready for what was to come. This time, the purging was unlike any other. So far, Alicia had only purified the influence of Khaos on a physical level. But Barong existed beyond the human realm and to purify it, Alicia would have to face one of the four aspects of Bathara Sukra on a metaphysical level, with the help of the guardian spirits!
Alicia fused with her ball mate, and threads of blue ley energy reached out to Wisesa's temples, illuminating his eyes with a bright blue hue, the colour of Arcane might.
For the first time—truly the first time—Wisesa felt the peaceful kiss that was actually indifferent, but to him so obvious, unattainable in all those years. Occasionally, his chest tightened, his body feeling refreshingly cold, not used to the delightful taste of being alive. As he looked up at Alicia's face, he remembered the sting of Orb's kiss was different; a sting that burned his skin.
Alicia moved her face closer to Wisesa as she crouched down. "Wisesa? Are you awright?"
"Never been better..." Wisesa replied curtly, lost in the moment.
He mumbled for a while, and then the book that Alicia held opened on its own, floating in mid-air. Wisesa began to twist his arms and performed a lithe dance on the altar stone, reciting the mantra of the book. His voice became heavy with magic as he chanted, and his steps were slow and deliberate.
"¹Para pengawal, ngati-ati sing ala.
Duwe welas asih marang manungsa.
Kanugrahan para wali bumi kang langgeng kanggo jiwa-jiwa kang kapendhem.
Ana sing ala ngrusak bumi, lan sampeyan ditimbali."
They both heard the faint sound of gamelan from nowhere. Following the gamelan accompaniment, Wisesa again chanted a new mantra repeatedly; this time in a melodious tone.
"²Kowe kabeh sing panitaya Barong.
Ngewehake berkat ing donya saka Sang Hyang Sukra.
Tinggal neng walik batu. Nanging menjebak angkara sing nyata.
Senadyan ora mbisa urip becik.
Nanging ora nggoleki bales dendam.
Ngliyakne keadilan sing las asih.
Pangapuran tumeka mungsuh.
Nguwawa sing fasik supaya meneng."
From Wisesa's forehead emerged an Arcane circular radar, as if beckoning spirits to come forth. Alicia gasped as two humans, clad in simple clothes and faces filled with wonder, materialised next to her. They examined Orb and Alicia's form with equal curiosity. She even could hear their conversation.
"³Sapa wadon iki? Dheweke dudu kanggonan saka awake dhewe. "
Their words were certainly spoken in the tongue of Yawa. Their voices were full of childlike curiosity, but soft.
"⁴Wong wedok iki Kalimasada barenge. Awake dhewe wis diceluk bali sakwise semene suwe!" replied the other person.
Not only those two people. Slowly, more and more people also arrived. Men wearing shabby unbuttoned shirts and blangkon hats, women approaching while talking with others, draped only colourful cloth. Most of them trod the ground without cassocks.
"Wisesa, these people have come from nowhere!" said Alicia, tinged with discomfort. "Are they tourists? Villagers? But there's nae village near here! Dinnae tell me they're Alas Purwo soldiers in disguise!"
"Alicia, don't let their ordinary appearance fool your eyes," said Wisesa.
As Alicia scanned the crowd, she realised that they appeared from the statues surrounding the field. The girl's eyes widened.
"They're... spirits?"
Never had the lass expected this. Such earthy forms were unlike the ones Alicia had seen during the Leichenhaufen incident; the spirits that emerged from Agosh Grendi's cursed totems materialised into actual flesh-eating carcasses. Nevertheless, even in their spectral state, it did not stop them from showing admiration for the two adolescents brimming with Divine Grace. Alicia felt neither malicious intent nor the stifling air of bitter rage, and it sufficed to instil a modicum of optimism within her.
The eyes of the souls turned their attention to Wisesa, who stood tall and shook his left hand, beckoning the spirits to approach. With a flick of his fingers, he framed the Barong painting on his chest, causing a sudden and inexplicable heaviness in the air. The spirits gasped in unison. Now he had their attention.
"The Patron of Lands, Barong, has been ensnared by black magic, courtesy of its eternal enemy, the Widow," Wisesa began in Yawanese. "It now resides in a world beyond our senses, and is using me as a conduit to bring calamity upon mankind. We plead with you, Guardians! Take us to Banaspatirajaloka and construct a restraining cage to contain it. Help the Kalimasada-bearing girl remove Wredharaja's curse from Banaspatiraja!"
The ground rumbled in protest. Something powerful and malevolent was resisting their plan. The spirits did not congregate further. Their ordinary bodies floated in the air, encircling Alicia and Wisesa in a cross-legged state.
Wisesa's mouth gaped open, unleashing a torrent of Arcane might that infused the spirits. Suddenly, Wisesa's own spirit emerged from his physical form, identical in every way. Two Wisesa, and Alicia lost her ability to speak.
"Don't just look, Westerner!" In his spirit form, the Barong-possessed did not abandon his racist nature. "Get ready! We're switching worlds!"
"S-switching worlds?"
With Arcane's help, the spirits executed their task. The magical gamelan resonated with increasing intensity. The spirits' voices shuddered the jungle, reading the writing on Wisesa's tattoo circle, each character glowing when read. The air rippled. The sight of the eight temples gradually faded away, replaced by a shower of stars in the ebony firmament. And then, they reappeared in a strange fealm with a yellow sky and a green, but barren landscape.
Wisesa's physical form vanished, yet his spirit lingered, hovering to keep the connection between the spirits and the Arcane might unbroken. The spirits conveyed them straight to Barong, who already awaited their arrival. A black and purple aura wreathed its body like smog.
"You again," Barong greeted Alicia in the common tongue. "How presumptuous of you to barge into my loka without my blessing!" []
1. "Guardians, ever-wary of evil. Have mercy on people. The gift of guardian of the earth is eternal for trapped souls. Something evil is destroying the earth, and you are summoned."
2. "All of you who believe in Barong, Invoke blessings in this world from Sang Hyang Sukra. Residing in the stone shrine. Yet trapping is the visible crime.Despite not being able to live a good life. But seeking revenge you are not. Enforcing justice with loving kindness. Defending against enemies, Fighting against the wicked to maintain peace."
3. "Who is that lady? She doesn't appear to be one of us."
4. "This girl is with Kalimasada. We have been summoned after such a long time!"
