Days have passed since Ki Semar told the Barong saga. The old man's request lingered in Alicia's thoughts like smoke in the wind. She could not help herself from visiting Wisesa almost every morning, drawn to him like a moth to a flame, and she had his daily routine memorised by heart.
Alicia had just finished playing with many of the village children, and before long, a crowd of little knights had formed around her, keeping her hostage from her current dwelling. One little girl even whined to be lifted by her.
"¹Sugeng enjing, Wisesa! You alright?" greeted the girl with a sweet gesture. "I was just playing with these kids with Kiran by my side, and they taught me some Yawanese vocabulary! Yawanese kids are so adorable, aren’t they?" Alicia looked down at the children gathered behind her thighs and pointed her finger to Wisesa. "Why hide there? Come now, say hello to Wisesa too!"
Although the village children were excited to see Alicia, they did not seem pleased about Wisesa's presence. The lad's eyes seemed to struggle with a dozen pairs of tiny hostile gazes.
The boy with a shaved head and somewhat dirty clothes was audacious enough to stick out his tongue.
Wisesa chose to relent. His twitching eyes then shifted to Alicia. "You can stop persuading me with your dainty class of Yawa tongue. You sound disgusting."
The group of children knew nothing of Alicia and Wisesa's affair, but the same bald boy sneered at the man in defence of the Crimsonmane girl. “²Aja nganggu mbakyu kita! Lungaa, demit Alas Purwo!”
Wisesa remained unmoved. However, they could sense his heavy breathing. He decided to keep walking, trying to ignore the head-tilting Alicia who was holding a toddler girl. The other children burst through the house grounds unceremoniously, following both of them. Unbeknownst to them all, Semar's three sons were also stealing glances from the clinic tent, deep in thought. Indeed, they were praying to the gods that Alicia would only act this way towards them rather than the fourth child because it would be a waste of her affection.
"Have you reconsidered my offer?" Alicia asked.
Wisesa's voice was flat. "My body is tired. Not considering anything."
"Perhaps you can consider it while taking care of the farm animals?"
"No."
One child tugged at Alicia’s skirt. “³Ayo mbak, ayo dolanan!” he pleaded in Yawanese. “Tinggalake demit Alas Purwo iki!”
Wisesa's hands immediately clenched into fists, and he turned around, barking at those impudent toddlers. They scattered like startled ducks, and the one trapped in Alicia's arms began to cry. How the Divine had cursed her.
"Don't do that!" Alicia reprimanded him. "What's wrong with you? They're just kids!"
Wisesa's ire then aimed at Alicia as well. "So? Do you even know what they’re saying? Making those brats cry is my hobby! What are you going to do about it, huh?"
Alicia was surprised for a moment, then challenged him with a sour face as well. Her gloved hand rubbed the head of the one leaning against Alicia’s chest to soothe her crying. "Just .... not in front of this one, please?"
Wisesa sighed and looked at the crying toddler for a moment before turning around and leaving, as if nothing had happened.
***
The second day dawned, and still, Wisesa refused to give Alicia the time of day. Frustration started to creep in, and Alicia did not like her efforts being brushed aside.
"I ken ye want tae get out of this place, eh? If ye come with me, at least ye'll get a new and refreshing atmosphere." Alicia tried to sell Wisesa some sweet words. "Isn't that fun? That's fun! Imagine all the new places we could see and the adventures we could have together. Why waste your days tending to Ki Semar's cattle? Come with me and experience the unknown!"
"I couldn't care less about foreign lands, and I'm sure looking for the Children of Prophecy from the delusion of you and the crazy astrologist will be more trouble than death itself, so get lost!"
On the third day, Alicia's persistence reached new heights. Ki Semar's words of advice had long since fallen on deaf ears. She stormed into the pig farm, causing the pigs to squeal in alarm.
"Wisesa, how many times have I told ye that you are the Child of Prophecy? Ye must come with me!" she insisted.
Wisesa gasped, then slipped on the black dirt he was cleaning up. Alicia covered her mouth with her hand. Now she felt bad.
Smelling the dung seemed to trigger a hormone in Wisesa's body that depleted his patience instantly. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" Wisesa screeched along with his pigs. "Really? Don't you have anything else to do, Westerner? Go flirt with Semar's sons or those Kanastren's shishyas. Stop bothering me, by the gods!"
"I-I'm sorry! That's not what I meant—"
"I don't care what you meant. I don't care what you say! I only care about that orb you're holding, foolish wench!" So slovenly was he now, that he lost his fear of touching the greasy pig's dung and throwing it at Alicia! Luckily, she still made time to form an Arcane shield to deflect such an odious projectile.
Alicia scowled. How dare he? Such blatant disrespect! Divine Grace should never be used to deflect filth! Before she had time to grumble, Wisesa managed to land a chunk of pig faeces on her face and glasses! The fly-inviting odour reached her nose, and Alicia lost her temper utterly. She blasted Wisesa with Arcane without a second thought! The lad retaliated with an inner energy push, and so they fought until they rolled and fell on each other. Wisesa was distracted by the Arcane orb and thought of punching the girl unconscious, then carrying Orb with his loin cloth.
How the Divine had cursed him. His intention failed. A number of Tumaritis warriors swooped down on the farm as well and separated the two unstable juveniles.
One week had passed. Alicia had forgotten anyone but Wisesa, and Wisesa was her only goal in life now. She dogged the lad anywhere he went, at times turning into the bully herself. Whatever methods Alicia used, almost all of them ended in further chaos.
It was undeniable that words were easier than actions. Wisesa was a stubborn and obstinate man; during the day, he was a glum, anti-social person, but at night, he was as ruthless as a scoundrel and as wild as Barong. Alicia had no desire to spend time with her shishya acquaintances again, let alone play in the village or near the rice fields when dusk came. To do so, she would have to contend with Wisesa, who would often ambush her from behind bushes or drag her into the forest. Arcane thundered in the darkness of the night, and magical energy made trees uneasy to stand near. This went on until Alicia was forced to rest late.
Kanastren, the wife of Semar, had already scolded Alicia when she emerged from her room near lunchtime. "Young people like you shouldn't stay up late if you don't have to," the wise old woman chided. Little did she know that Alicia would not have chosen to stay awake either, were it not because of that bastard. "It's not good for your health, dear. Not to mention the opportunities for fun and growth that you have missed during that time."
"Sorry," the young girl replied with a meek smile. As the new day dawned, she was still a little staggered, her hair dishevelled, and her mind still hazy from days of sleepless nights. She looked out of the window, for it seemed that Tumaritis village was busier and more crowded than usual. The sounds of hammering, wood cutting, and men's voices were the most common.
Perhaps it was simply another day of repairing the houses damaged. But upon closer inspection, she saw women weaving intricate patterns from coconut leaves, and men stringing plaits from tree to tree. In the distance, a group of women, including her friends Kiran, Cempaka, and Cahyaningrum, were piling a mountain of fruits and vegetables onto a tray.
"Is someone having a birthday today, Nyai?" Alicia asked Kanastren.
"No one is. Do you see what your habit of oversleeping has done to your knowledge, Miss?" Kanastren replied. "In a few days, it will be Uryanwarsa, the annual harvest festival of thanksgiving."
Alicia leaned against the windows. "Harvest festival? Looks festive, doesn't it?"
"Is there no harvest festival in your homeland?"
The lass' lips and eyes quirked to the side. "I thought all regions had their own festivals."
"As they should," Kanastren said as she placed some textbooks on a shelf. "Uryanwarsa is a big celebration. We parade our bountiful harvest, dance, sing, and leave some fruits and vegetables in the forest for the woodland creatures. Afterwards, we feast, accompanied by merry drumming and games. Everyone rejoices for a full fortnight."
Alicia rushed to help Kanastren carry all her teaching equipment. "It does sound like fun. But after this celebration—”
Kanastren held Alicia's lips. "Let us not speak of such things now. This is a time for celebration, not for thoughts of war."
"Of course. I apologise. I am not used to such carefree atmospheres, especially with difficult times on the horizon."
"Eat and clean yourself up, Miss. If you want to have a memorable celebration for surviving hard times, it would be good for you to help them after this."
Alicia obeyed Kanastren, hurriedly grabbing a bite to eat before cleaning herself up and heading out to join the festivities.
***
"Pals!" Alicia cried out, her voice filled with excitement as she ran towards the group of six friends, Kanastren's three shishyas and Semar's three sons.
"Alicia!" they all greeted in unison.
The Crimsonmane girl could see Cahyaningrum greeting her as well. "Thank the Silent Divine ye look belter!"
"My pain, it's nothing, Alicia." Cahyaningrum, as always, replied in her usual soft voice. The three men could not help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
Nala Gareng was the first to voice this. "Hey! So you're just going to forget about us, the boys?"
Alicia glanced at Semar's three sons. She was astonished to see the three of them each climbing the stairs, putting decorations on the poles. She also observed Gareng's feet resting on the beam of the stairs. "That's right!" she said. "How can you...? Especially Gareng..."
Gareng let out a mischievous chuckle. "We suffered more when we were taught to cultivate our energy by our father. But thanks to that training, all our illnesses are cured in a matter of days!"
"Except Bagong, of course. You know how miraculous his magic is!" Petruk chimed in with sarcasm.
Alicia turned to the person in question. Bagong did not seem to mind. "Well," Alicia said to him, "I suppose your ability to climb these stairs is thanks to the plants?"
Bagong nodded, his pride evident. The two exchanged a fist bump, a silent understanding passing between them. "Alchemy triumphs!" Bagong declared.
"Alchemy triumphs!" Alicia laughed after that. She then picked up a braid of baubles she intended to hang for the harvest celebration. The braid was almost entirely used up in various corners of the village. "By the way, Nyai Kanastren told me about the Uryanwarsa."
Kiran's face lit up even more. "Good! Are you still staying here to celebrate with us? You're not planning to leave Tumaritis yet, are you?"
"What fool would want to miss the party?" Alicia and the others chortled. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No need to bother," replied Cempaka. "We've got all the festive decorations done since yesterday. Now, let the boys handle the heavy lifting!"
The group spent the afternoon decorating the village, laughter and excitement banishing any hint of boredom. As they worked, the ladies remembered something.
"Alicia, what about your magic ball? Did you find it?" Kiran asked.
"Oh, about that? Don't worry, I found it."
"Wisesa didn't steal it from you?"
Wisesa. The name that changed her demeanour almost upside down. But unlike the previous day, her face was no longer full of gloomy mourning. Instead, she was determined to find him and carry out her dangerous experiment: "Inviting a Barong-Possessed Man to Wade into the World of Thaumaturgy Together". She recalled Semar's words, reminding herself that there must be some people who cared about him. She had to remember it well this time.
"I wouldnae say Wisesa stole it. No one would take my best friend's ball that far," Alicia said carefully. "He knew what the orb was capable of, but he didnae take me with him because the village would have deemed him a freak—considering how the whole village treated him. So what he did was to take good care of my orb until I came to collect it."
It was the best excuse she could come up with, and she was still an amateur. It was difficult for her to come up with a good excuse when all she could think about was a fight between stupid teenagers in the middle of the forest, the Divine Grace battling the Patron of Lands.
Orb inside her bag was not fond of that explanation, too.
"So the reason you've been out of circulation these past few days is because of... dealing with that guy?" asked Gareng.
“You could say that, aye.”
Cempaka questioned Alicia's statement earlier. "But if you're sure your ball couldn't be stolen, why were you so panicked back then?"
"I have an anxiety disorder…," Alicia admitted, her tone lowering. "Sorry."
"Since when did anxiety become a disease?" From the male side, Petruk posed the question. He lost his sage touch when he said that. It was about time Petruk started going through his mother's books when he queried such an ignorant question.
"That disorder does exist, Petruk!" Bagong responded. "No wonder your head is smooth without veins, unlike the mountains in your hands. It's never been trained!"
"If I trained my brain as hard as my muscle too, I'd pity you for not finding a mate, tole!" Petruk's response was spot on.
Bagong chose to ignore Petruk. He turned to Alicia, saying, "Show us the orb, Alicia!"
"Yes! Yes!" Kiran and Cempaka eagerly chimed in. "We want to see it too."
Alicia was stunned. "Pals, I think..."
"Come on, Alicia!” Kiran implored. “After all we've done to help you find it, can't we at least take a peek at your magic orb? Surely it wouldn't hurt to show it to us?” Kiran invited Cahyaningrum, who had been silent all this time. "Tell her, Cahyaningrum!"
Cahyaningrum did not budge. "I'll just obey Alicia's judgement."
The more they asked Alicia, the more she felt outvoted. Perhaps it was true, after all the trouble they had gone to, a glimpse of the Orb should not cause any trouble.
"Fine," she relented, "but, I must make one thing clear. This orb is our secret, known only to the seven of us. Can I trust you all to keep it that way?"
Alicia had made her stipulation. The others exchanged glances.
They all nodded, solemnly pledging to keep her secret safe.
Alicia sighed and led them to the edge of the village, near an abandoned banana plantation. With no strange movement in the dense banana trees, she felt safe enough to open her waist bag. She unleashed Orb's invisible might to hover it around her hand. The women could no longer keep their mouths shut, staring in awe. Never had they ever witnessed such magic with vivid colours in shamanic performances. Their nape hairs stood on end as if they were seeing a rainbow for the first time. The men, particularly Petruk, frowned before their eyes widened in surprise.
"Is that what you call Arcane?" asked Kiran. "It's beautiful."
No one had reacted differently, as Alicia could see. She attempted to entice them, "Ki Semar said that in Lojitengara, it's known as Kalimasada."
The mention of this name caused Cempaka and Kiran to quickly cover Cahyaningrum's mouth, as the girl let out a shocked cry. But it was Petruk who finished her scream, "Kalimasada!"
The birds in the surrounding area immediately flew away.
"Petruk!" Alicia scolded Semar's first son, "What's wrong with you?"
"Right? How foolish of you, Petruk!" Bagong added, giving his brother a light smack on the head.
"But it's Kalimasada, tole!" Petruk trembled, "Kalimasada, Bagong! By the gods, how long has it been since I've touched that?"
"Yes, yes. I know!" Bagong replied. "Did you know, Alicia, that Petruk used the power of Kalimasada in the form of a book heirloom to become the Ratu of Lojitengara?"
Alicia's eyes widened in shock at the revelation that Petruk, who was not much older than her, had once been a ruler of a country through the use of Arcane might. She waited for Bagong to provide more context without asking any additional questions.
"Before Wisesa's father was the Panggaraknagara, Petruk caught a female rogue stealing the Kalimasada heirloom. Stupidly, he used the book to subjugate the kingdoms of Lojitengara, under the name Ratu Welgeduwelbeh Tongtongsot, before his throne was usurped again three months later. Good thing no one knew it was Petruk. What a fool!"
"Petruk was a federal leader before Wisesa's father?" Alicia was in a daze, "But, he's like... nineteen years old."
"Alicia," Gareng called out, shaking his head, "You're mistaking Petruk's age with Wisesa's. He's a hundred and fifty years old."
The revelation left Alicia stunned, while the other girls seemed rather nonchalant about the news. "Why are you all so casual about this?" Alicia asked Kiran, Cempaka, and Cahyaningrum.
"Semar is older than the three of them, Alicia," said Cahyaningrum, "But only we know the longevity of his three children."
"I still can't believe there are people that old. I once met an imposter sorcerer who claimed to be a famous wizard who lived about a thousand years ago."
"Oh, it must be Uncle Merlin!" Bagong exclaimed. The mention of this name caused Alicia to grow even more horrified, her lips curling into a fist and her body moving further back. Her anxious gaze demanded further explanation from the Semar's children.
"We've only crossed paths a few times," Gareng explained, "He's an odd, unappealing man, always spouting off about a group of mages who will save the world, and how one of them is bound to be in this land."
"Gareng and I wanted to challenge him, but he said he was always busy. I'm sure meditating in the snowy mountains isn't busy." Petruk agreed. "Oh yes, how do you know each other?"
"K-know him?" The girl stammered, "Not really. He's infamous in Camelot. You might say he's a wanted man among wizards."
"Must be his dabbling in black magic, I suppose. But his attitude is the polar opposite of that of the leyaks and their queen. As I said earlier, he's quite the hermit."
Alicia hid her stuttering, relieved when Orb sent her a message assuaging her fears. They don't practice black magic, Alicia. They're simply ordinary people with extraordinary magical powers, nothing more.
"I see..." Alicia quickly placed the orb back in her bag. "I think our orb-gazing session is done for now, friends."
"No..." They wore disappointed expressions. Then, Bagong turned to the red-haired girl.
"Hey, Alicia. Now that you know our secret and we know of your Kalimasada ball, how about we keep each other's secrets? I know your power is not something to be shared freely, and unfortunately, our long lifespans could cause quite a stir. Will you keep this between us?"
Despite her initial reluctance, Alicia realised her three female friends trusted the children of Semar. Perhaps it would be wise to keep her distance from Bagong, Gareng, and Petruk, she thought. But keeping each other's secrets would not be a bad idea. And so, she agreed.
"I don't see a problem with that," Alicia concluded.
She knew that the installation of the holiday ornaments would soon be finished. Alicia then thought of Wisesa. She had to find him while it was still light, and the village was still bustling. Of course, the lass had no intention of meeting him again in a forest hut.
"Has anyone seen Wisesa today?"
The looks on their faces were all the more familiar—a mix of apathy and disdain. Gareng shrugged and said, "Probably off on one of his routine pig-dating excursions. Hardly the type to want to help with preparations for the ceremony."
Without hesitation, Alicia set off at a run. "I'll find him myself," she called over her shoulder. "See you later!"
The others watched her depart in silence. After a moment, Cempaka turned to the others and asked, "Why is Alicia so set on finding that boy, anyway?"
Petruk grumbled to himself, his mediocre brain struggling to understand. The other brothers, however, believed the man's hypothesis, as foolish as it might have been. "We've lost her," Petruk muttered. "Alicia would rather be with a punk than any of us." []
Days have passed since Ki Semar told the Barong saga. The old man's request lingered in Alicia's thoughts like smoke in the wind. She could not help herself from visiting Wisesa almost every morning, drawn to him like a moth to a flame, and she had his daily routine memorised by heart.
Alicia had just finished playing with many of the village children, and before long, a crowd of little knights had formed around her, keeping her hostage from her current dwelling. One little girl even whined to be lifted by her.
"¹Sugeng enjing, Wisesa! You alright?" greeted the girl with a sweet gesture. "I was just playing with these kids with Kiran by my side, and they taught me some Yawanese vocabulary! Yawanese kids are so adorable, aren’t they?" Alicia looked down at the children gathered behind her thighs and pointed her finger to Wisesa. "Why hide there? Come now, say hello to Wisesa too!"
Although the village children were excited to see Alicia, they did not seem pleased about Wisesa's presence. The lad's eyes seemed to struggle with a dozen pairs of tiny hostile gazes.
The boy with a shaved head and somewhat dirty clothes was audacious enough to stick out his tongue.
Wisesa chose to relent. His twitching eyes then shifted to Alicia. "You can stop persuading me with your dainty class of Yawa tongue. You sound disgusting."
The group of children knew nothing of Alicia and Wisesa's affair, but the same bald boy sneered at the man in defence of the Crimsonmane girl. “²Aja nganggu mbakyu kita! Lungaa, demit Alas Purwo!”
Wisesa remained unmoved. However, they could sense his heavy breathing. He decided to keep walking, trying to ignore the head-tilting Alicia who was holding a toddler girl. The other children burst through the house grounds unceremoniously, following both of them. Unbeknownst to them all, Semar's three sons were also stealing glances from the clinic tent, deep in thought. Indeed, they were praying to the gods that Alicia would only act this way towards them rather than the fourth child because it would be a waste of her affection.
"Have you reconsidered my offer?" Alicia asked.
Wisesa's voice was flat. "My body is tired. Not considering anything."
"Perhaps you can consider it while taking care of the farm animals?"
"No."
One child tugged at Alicia’s skirt. “³Ayo mbak, ayo dolanan!” he pleaded in Yawanese. “Tinggalake demit Alas Purwo iki!”
Wisesa's hands immediately clenched into fists, and he turned around, barking at those impudent toddlers. They scattered like startled ducks, and the one trapped in Alicia's arms began to cry. How the Divine had cursed her.
"Don't do that!" Alicia reprimanded him. "What's wrong with you? They're just kids!"
Wisesa's ire then aimed at Alicia as well. "So? Do you even know what they’re saying? Making those brats cry is my hobby! What are you going to do about it, huh?"
Alicia was surprised for a moment, then challenged him with a sour face as well. Her gloved hand rubbed the head of the one leaning against Alicia’s chest to soothe her crying. "Just .... not in front of this one, please?"
Wisesa sighed and looked at the crying toddler for a moment before turning around and leaving, as if nothing had happened.
***
The second day dawned, and still, Wisesa refused to give Alicia the time of day. Frustration started to creep in, and Alicia did not like her efforts being brushed aside.
"I ken ye want tae get out of this place, eh? If ye come with me, at least ye'll get a new and refreshing atmosphere." Alicia tried to sell Wisesa some sweet words. "Isn't that fun? That's fun! Imagine all the new places we could see and the adventures we could have together. Why waste your days tending to Ki Semar's cattle? Come with me and experience the unknown!"
"I couldn't care less about foreign lands, and I'm sure looking for the Children of Prophecy from the delusion of you and the crazy astrologist will be more trouble than death itself, so get lost!"
On the third day, Alicia's persistence reached new heights. Ki Semar's words of advice had long since fallen on deaf ears. She stormed into the pig farm, causing the pigs to squeal in alarm.
"Wisesa, how many times have I told ye that you are the Child of Prophecy? Ye must come with me!" she insisted.
Wisesa gasped, then slipped on the black dirt he was cleaning up. Alicia covered her mouth with her hand. Now she felt bad.
Smelling the dung seemed to trigger a hormone in Wisesa's body that depleted his patience instantly. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" Wisesa screeched along with his pigs. "Really? Don't you have anything else to do, Westerner? Go flirt with Semar's sons or those Kanastren's shishyas. Stop bothering me, by the gods!"
"I-I'm sorry! That's not what I meant—"
"I don't care what you meant. I don't care what you say! I only care about that orb you're holding, foolish wench!" So slovenly was he now, that he lost his fear of touching the greasy pig's dung and throwing it at Alicia! Luckily, she still made time to form an Arcane shield to deflect such an odious projectile.
Alicia scowled. How dare he? Such blatant disrespect! Divine Grace should never be used to deflect filth! Before she had time to grumble, Wisesa managed to land a chunk of pig faeces on her face and glasses! The fly-inviting odour reached her nose, and Alicia lost her temper utterly. She blasted Wisesa with Arcane without a second thought! The lad retaliated with an inner energy push, and so they fought until they rolled and fell on each other. Wisesa was distracted by the Arcane orb and thought of punching the girl unconscious, then carrying Orb with his loin cloth.
How the Divine had cursed him. His intention failed. A number of Tumaritis warriors swooped down on the farm as well and separated the two unstable juveniles.
One week had passed. Alicia had forgotten anyone but Wisesa, and Wisesa was her only goal in life now. She dogged the lad anywhere he went, at times turning into the bully herself. Whatever methods Alicia used, almost all of them ended in further chaos.
It was undeniable that words were easier than actions. Wisesa was a stubborn and obstinate man; during the day, he was a glum, anti-social person, but at night, he was as ruthless as a scoundrel and as wild as Barong. Alicia had no desire to spend time with her shishya acquaintances again, let alone play in the village or near the rice fields when dusk came. To do so, she would have to contend with Wisesa, who would often ambush her from behind bushes or drag her into the forest. Arcane thundered in the darkness of the night, and magical energy made trees uneasy to stand near. This went on until Alicia was forced to rest late.
Kanastren, the wife of Semar, had already scolded Alicia when she emerged from her room near lunchtime. "Young people like you shouldn't stay up late if you don't have to," the wise old woman chided. Little did she know that Alicia would not have chosen to stay awake either, were it not because of that bastard. "It's not good for your health, dear. Not to mention the opportunities for fun and growth that you have missed during that time."
"Sorry," the young girl replied with a meek smile. As the new day dawned, she was still a little staggered, her hair dishevelled, and her mind still hazy from days of sleepless nights. She looked out of the window, for it seemed that Tumaritis village was busier and more crowded than usual. The sounds of hammering, wood cutting, and men's voices were the most common.
Perhaps it was simply another day of repairing the houses damaged. But upon closer inspection, she saw women weaving intricate patterns from coconut leaves, and men stringing plaits from tree to tree. In the distance, a group of women, including her friends Kiran, Cempaka, and Cahyaningrum, were piling a mountain of fruits and vegetables onto a tray.
"Is someone having a birthday today, Nyai?" Alicia asked Kanastren.
"No one is. Do you see what your habit of oversleeping has done to your knowledge, Miss?" Kanastren replied. "In a few days, it will be Uryanwarsa, the annual harvest festival of thanksgiving."
Alicia leaned against the windows. "Harvest festival? Looks festive, doesn't it?"
"Is there no harvest festival in your homeland?"
The lass' lips and eyes quirked to the side. "I thought all regions had their own festivals."
"As they should," Kanastren said as she placed some textbooks on a shelf. "Uryanwarsa is a big celebration. We parade our bountiful harvest, dance, sing, and leave some fruits and vegetables in the forest for the woodland creatures. Afterwards, we feast, accompanied by merry drumming and games. Everyone rejoices for a full fortnight."
Alicia rushed to help Kanastren carry all her teaching equipment. "It does sound like fun. But after this celebration—”
Kanastren held Alicia's lips. "Let us not speak of such things now. This is a time for celebration, not for thoughts of war."
"Of course. I apologise. I am not used to such carefree atmospheres, especially with difficult times on the horizon."
"Eat and clean yourself up, Miss. If you want to have a memorable celebration for surviving hard times, it would be good for you to help them after this."
Alicia obeyed Kanastren, hurriedly grabbing a bite to eat before cleaning herself up and heading out to join the festivities.
***
"Pals!" Alicia cried out, her voice filled with excitement as she ran towards the group of six friends, Kanastren's three shishyas and Semar's three sons.
"Alicia!" they all greeted in unison.
The Crimsonmane girl could see Cahyaningrum greeting her as well. "Thank the Silent Divine ye look belter!"
"My pain, it's nothing, Alicia." Cahyaningrum, as always, replied in her usual soft voice. The three men could not help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
Nala Gareng was the first to voice this. "Hey! So you're just going to forget about us, the boys?"
Alicia glanced at Semar's three sons. She was astonished to see the three of them each climbing the stairs, putting decorations on the poles. She also observed Gareng's feet resting on the beam of the stairs. "That's right!" she said. "How can you...? Especially Gareng..."
Gareng let out a mischievous chuckle. "We suffered more when we were taught to cultivate our energy by our father. But thanks to that training, all our illnesses are cured in a matter of days!"
"Except Bagong, of course. You know how miraculous his magic is!" Petruk chimed in with sarcasm.
Alicia turned to the person in question. Bagong did not seem to mind. "Well," Alicia said to him, "I suppose your ability to climb these stairs is thanks to the plants?"
Bagong nodded, his pride evident. The two exchanged a fist bump, a silent understanding passing between them. "Alchemy triumphs!" Bagong declared.
"Alchemy triumphs!" Alicia laughed after that. She then picked up a braid of baubles she intended to hang for the harvest celebration. The braid was almost entirely used up in various corners of the village. "By the way, Nyai Kanastren told me about the Uryanwarsa."
Kiran's face lit up even more. "Good! Are you still staying here to celebrate with us? You're not planning to leave Tumaritis yet, are you?"
"What fool would want to miss the party?" Alicia and the others chortled. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No need to bother," replied Cempaka. "We've got all the festive decorations done since yesterday. Now, let the boys handle the heavy lifting!"
The group spent the afternoon decorating the village, laughter and excitement banishing any hint of boredom. As they worked, the ladies remembered something.
"Alicia, what about your magic ball? Did you find it?" Kiran asked.
"Oh, about that? Don't worry, I found it."
"Wisesa didn't steal it from you?"
Wisesa. The name that changed her demeanour almost upside down. But unlike the previous day, her face was no longer full of gloomy mourning. Instead, she was determined to find him and carry out her dangerous experiment: "Inviting a Barong-Possessed Man to Wade into the World of Thaumaturgy Together". She recalled Semar's words, reminding herself that there must be some people who cared about him. She had to remember it well this time.
"I wouldnae say Wisesa stole it. No one would take my best friend's ball that far," Alicia said carefully. "He knew what the orb was capable of, but he didnae take me with him because the village would have deemed him a freak—considering how the whole village treated him. So what he did was to take good care of my orb until I came to collect it."
It was the best excuse she could come up with, and she was still an amateur. It was difficult for her to come up with a good excuse when all she could think about was a fight between stupid teenagers in the middle of the forest, the Divine Grace battling the Patron of Lands.
Orb inside her bag was not fond of that explanation, too.
"So the reason you've been out of circulation these past few days is because of... dealing with that guy?" asked Gareng.
“You could say that, aye.”
Cempaka questioned Alicia's statement earlier. "But if you're sure your ball couldn't be stolen, why were you so panicked back then?"
"I have an anxiety disorder…," Alicia admitted, her tone lowering. "Sorry."
"Since when did anxiety become a disease?" From the male side, Petruk posed the question. He lost his sage touch when he said that. It was about time Petruk started going through his mother's books when he queried such an ignorant question.
"That disorder does exist, Petruk!" Bagong responded. "No wonder your head is smooth without veins, unlike the mountains in your hands. It's never been trained!"
"If I trained my brain as hard as my muscle too, I'd pity you for not finding a mate, tole!" Petruk's response was spot on.
Bagong chose to ignore Petruk. He turned to Alicia, saying, "Show us the orb, Alicia!"
"Yes! Yes!" Kiran and Cempaka eagerly chimed in. "We want to see it too."
Alicia was stunned. "Pals, I think..."
"Come on, Alicia!” Kiran implored. “After all we've done to help you find it, can't we at least take a peek at your magic orb? Surely it wouldn't hurt to show it to us?” Kiran invited Cahyaningrum, who had been silent all this time. "Tell her, Cahyaningrum!"
Cahyaningrum did not budge. "I'll just obey Alicia's judgement."
The more they asked Alicia, the more she felt outvoted. Perhaps it was true, after all the trouble they had gone to, a glimpse of the Orb should not cause any trouble.
"Fine," she relented, "but, I must make one thing clear. This orb is our secret, known only to the seven of us. Can I trust you all to keep it that way?"
Alicia had made her stipulation. The others exchanged glances.
They all nodded, solemnly pledging to keep her secret safe.
Alicia sighed and led them to the edge of the village, near an abandoned banana plantation. With no strange movement in the dense banana trees, she felt safe enough to open her waist bag. She unleashed Orb's invisible might to hover it around her hand. The women could no longer keep their mouths shut, staring in awe. Never had they ever witnessed such magic with vivid colours in shamanic performances. Their nape hairs stood on end as if they were seeing a rainbow for the first time. The men, particularly Petruk, frowned before their eyes widened in surprise.
"Is that what you call Arcane?" asked Kiran. "It's beautiful."
No one had reacted differently, as Alicia could see. She attempted to entice them, "Ki Semar said that in Lojitengara, it's known as Kalimasada."
The mention of this name caused Cempaka and Kiran to quickly cover Cahyaningrum's mouth, as the girl let out a shocked cry. But it was Petruk who finished her scream, "Kalimasada!"
The birds in the surrounding area immediately flew away.
"Petruk!" Alicia scolded Semar's first son, "What's wrong with you?"
"Right? How foolish of you, Petruk!" Bagong added, giving his brother a light smack on the head.
"But it's Kalimasada, tole!" Petruk trembled, "Kalimasada, Bagong! By the gods, how long has it been since I've touched that?"
"Yes, yes. I know!" Bagong replied. "Did you know, Alicia, that Petruk used the power of Kalimasada in the form of a book heirloom to become the Ratu of Lojitengara?"
Alicia's eyes widened in shock at the revelation that Petruk, who was not much older than her, had once been a ruler of a country through the use of Arcane might. She waited for Bagong to provide more context without asking any additional questions.
"Before Wisesa's father was the Panggaraknagara, Petruk caught a female rogue stealing the Kalimasada heirloom. Stupidly, he used the book to subjugate the kingdoms of Lojitengara, under the name Ratu Welgeduwelbeh Tongtongsot, before his throne was usurped again three months later. Good thing no one knew it was Petruk. What a fool!"
"Petruk was a federal leader before Wisesa's father?" Alicia was in a daze, "But, he's like... nineteen years old."
"Alicia," Gareng called out, shaking his head, "You're mistaking Petruk's age with Wisesa's. He's a hundred and fifty years old."
The revelation left Alicia stunned, while the other girls seemed rather nonchalant about the news. "Why are you all so casual about this?" Alicia asked Kiran, Cempaka, and Cahyaningrum.
"Semar is older than the three of them, Alicia," said Cahyaningrum, "But only we know the longevity of his three children."
"I still can't believe there are people that old. I once met an imposter sorcerer who claimed to be a famous wizard who lived about a thousand years ago."
"Oh, it must be Uncle Merlin!" Bagong exclaimed. The mention of this name caused Alicia to grow even more horrified, her lips curling into a fist and her body moving further back. Her anxious gaze demanded further explanation from the Semar's children.
"We've only crossed paths a few times," Gareng explained, "He's an odd, unappealing man, always spouting off about a group of mages who will save the world, and how one of them is bound to be in this land."
"Gareng and I wanted to challenge him, but he said he was always busy. I'm sure meditating in the snowy mountains isn't busy." Petruk agreed. "Oh yes, how do you know each other?"
"K-know him?" The girl stammered, "Not really. He's infamous in Camelot. You might say he's a wanted man among wizards."
"Must be his dabbling in black magic, I suppose. But his attitude is the polar opposite of that of the leyaks and their queen. As I said earlier, he's quite the hermit."
Alicia hid her stuttering, relieved when Orb sent her a message assuaging her fears. They don't practice black magic, Alicia. They're simply ordinary people with extraordinary magical powers, nothing more.
"I see..." Alicia quickly placed the orb back in her bag. "I think our orb-gazing session is done for now, friends."
"No..." They wore disappointed expressions. Then, Bagong turned to the red-haired girl.
"Hey, Alicia. Now that you know our secret and we know of your Kalimasada ball, how about we keep each other's secrets? I know your power is not something to be shared freely, and unfortunately, our long lifespans could cause quite a stir. Will you keep this between us?"
Despite her initial reluctance, Alicia realised her three female friends trusted the children of Semar. Perhaps it would be wise to keep her distance from Bagong, Gareng, and Petruk, she thought. But keeping each other's secrets would not be a bad idea. And so, she agreed.
"I don't see a problem with that," Alicia concluded.
She knew that the installation of the holiday ornaments would soon be finished. Alicia then thought of Wisesa. She had to find him while it was still light, and the village was still bustling. Of course, the lass had no intention of meeting him again in a forest hut.
"Has anyone seen Wisesa today?"
The looks on their faces were all the more familiar—a mix of apathy and disdain. Gareng shrugged and said, "Probably off on one of his routine pig-dating excursions. Hardly the type to want to help with preparations for the ceremony."
Without hesitation, Alicia set off at a run. "I'll find him myself," she called over her shoulder. "See you later!"
The others watched her depart in silence. After a moment, Cempaka turned to the others and asked, "Why is Alicia so set on finding that boy, anyway?"
Petruk grumbled to himself, his mediocre brain struggling to understand. The other brothers, however, believed the man's hypothesis, as foolish as it might have been. "We've lost her," Petruk muttered. "Alicia would rather be with a punk than any of us." []
