It turned out that from outside the room, there was one person who had been looking for a gap to shoot his arrow from the start of the attack. After two hours of observing, he managed to hit his target. This incident devastated Bara, because he had promised to guarantee the safety of the queen and her son. Keeping a promise to him was like keeping his own life. He immediately walked towards the door and stepped outside. He not only wanted to punish the archer but intended to face the entire archery squad outside the room! In fact, apart from the archery squad, outside there were thousands of rebel soldiers who were on standby waiting for their turn to attack.
Witnessing his actions, my panic doubled. "Gosh..! Is he crazy! He is about to take his life."
On the terrace of the room, he stood and pointed the Keris Galaksi to the sky. The soldiers in front of him who were ready to attack – the first- and second-line soldiers – were dragged by the energy of the Keris Galaksi which glowed red. A beam of energy that long time no see. Seeing his comrades dragged by the energy beam, it was the turn of the archer troops who kept launching their arrows. Hundreds of arrows flew like heavy rain.
All the arrows were successfully repelled by the Keris Galaksi, some even bounced off and hit themselves. And now the arrows they had run out.
It turned out that was Bara's intention, he was sure that the Keris Galaksi was able to block the arrow attack. He didn't want any other arrows to steal his movement in the midst of the hustle and bustle of war.
Then, Bara put the Keris Galaksi into its container. But he did not immediately return to the room. He remained in his position and shouted, "ATTACKKKK..!!!" A scream with a frequency as high as a rock concert that was not only deafening but also able to shake your chest. That was a sign that Bara delegated Jiteng to immediately start the attack. Yes, Jiteng had arrived! His troops immediately formed a position to surround him.
After that Bara ran towards us. He lifted the queen and rushed to the treatment room. I, the crown prince, and the Bhayangkara troops followed him.
Upon arrival at the treatment room, the royal doctors immediately treated the queen.
"Thankfully, these arrows are not poisonous," said the The chief doctor calmed the crown prince who looked half-crying.
"Then why is the Queen Mother unconscious??"
"The wound is a bit deep and the queen's body condition is "She has been unwell for the past few days," the doctor explained while treating the queen's wound. "I have applied medicine to the queen's wound. I will excuse myself to boil some herbs so that the queen can recover quickly."
"No, you must stay here waiting for the queen to wake up..! Other doctors can boil the medicine," said the Crown Prince.
"Half the number of doctors join the war with Raden Gajah Mada, Prince. While other doctors who are still in the palace are treating the wounded soldiers. Let Kirana wait on the Queen," Bara explained to the Crown Prince.
"That girl is not a doctor, Bara. She can't do anything."
Huh, his attitude was really immature. With code words I told the doctor to go out to boil some medicine. "Don't worry, Prince, I will take care of the queen as best as I can. You must be tired too, rest on that bed," I said to calm him down while pointing to the bed near the wall.
"You, how can I sleep in a condition like this..!" he half shouted.
Bara walked towards one of the Bhayangkara troops, he gave a message and then left.
***
I waited for the queen who was still unconscious. This room seemed quiet even though the roar of war could be heard a little further away. Bara was still there helping Jiteng and his troops. Meanwhile, the Bhayangkara troops were on guard outside this room, standing on guard. without a sound. The prince also did not make a sound anymore, panic and fatigue forced him to fall asleep on the chair beside me. For a moment I stared at his face, " Soon you will be king ..." I had no choice but to believe that this teenager beside me would become the great king of Majapahit. If I had not looked at the fame of his name in history books, maybe I would have snapped at him when he insisted on not allowing the doctor to leave the room. He still looked innocent and immature, especially during the attack earlier. In a state of fear, he almost always looked crying. "Well, maybe from these bitter events you will grow into a wise king…"
One week before this event occurred, gossip spread throughout the palace that Crown Prince Hayam Wuruk would soon be crowned king, the coronation this year. The palace awaited news of Gajah Mada's victory on the battlefield. After they returned with victory, the kingdom's top brass would discuss the appointment of the Crown Prince. Whether it is just hearsay or not real. But indeed, as I recall, Hayam Wuruk was crowned king when he was still young, around 15 or 16 years old. "Luckily I have learned a lot about the history of the kingdom era, it is very useful," I muttered remembering my hard work moment learning all that.
At that time….
August 15, 2017
Friday night I was back in the offering room after several months of being absent from this world. I was still lying on the floor, trying to focus my blurry vision. The figure in front of me must be my grandfather who was panicking and calling my name.
After a while, I was finally able to see my grandfather clearly and tried to calm him down, although I was still stuttering, "I 'm okay, Grandpa…"
Grandpa gave me a glass of water. My body gradually felt fresh again. But that actually made me feel that there was something strange about my body condition. My mind was filled with questions, "Hmm, didn't I just feel unbearable pain, I couldn't even breathe? Yes, right..! I was in pain holding the Galaxy Keris that stabbed my stomach!"
I just faced the agony of death and suddenly came back here without any physical wounds. I stood up and moved my body. There was no trace of a dagger stab wound! "Grandpa, where is the Galaxy Keris?"
"Grandpa has put it in the box. You were holding it tightly earlier. Now go to your room to rest," said Grandpa, who seemed to understand my confusion.
***
Such is the strangeness and miracle that kept me alive after being stabbed by the Keris Galaksi to stop Arya's attack on Bara. I returned home to this world. Returning with the Keris Galaksi and unforgettable memories of three months in that world. Almost every detail is always remembered, sometimes even carried in dreams. To remember the lecture material is so difficult, but the memory of those three months is always stuck even though it has been more than 2 years, turning 3 years exactly on August 17, 2020, the day after tomorrow.
I've finished my studies. Finished it with a final assignment grade of A. The only lecture grade that I am proud of. I took the theme of my thesis about an era in the Majapahit Kingdom. An era that I think doesn't care about equal rights between men and women. However, it turns out that at that time Majapahit, the largest kingdom in the archipelago, was once ruled by a great queen.
Now I live in my grandfather's house. His health is getting worse, so I often have to replace him in attending events. culture; just being a guest at an event, sometimes a speaker, and several times as an appraiser of antiques. Grandpa told me to keep learning because he felt my sensitivity in assessing historical objects was still low. Like now I am at a cultural exhibition with my grandfather. Grandpa keeps explaining. Stricter than my lecturer's explanation, he doesn't let my attention wander.
When I arrived home, I still had to learn how to be a skilled cultural speaker like my grandfather. Besides that, of course, I still had to take care of the heirlooms. "Hufft, grandpa keeps me busy..!", I complained while wiping the painting, " Much like yeah, but not exactly. The Hayam Wuruk I met at that time was still very young. Maybe this is what he looked like when he was in his 20s." Of course, my memory recalled that time. I pondered. Sitting on the floor with a dirty cloth on my lap. Maybe because I daydreamed too often, my grandfather deliberately gave me a lot of activities, so that my brain would stay sane.
***
How is the history of the formation of Keris Galaksi? I dug into it a little bit.
The keris is made of meteorite. Not just any ordinary meteor, but the meteor that is located closest to the black hole of the Milky Way galaxy. Therefore, this keris contains the strongest gravitational element towards the black hole. Did you know that the only 'location' in this universe that is able to penetrate the difference between space and time is a black hole?
At least that was the conclusion I got after gathering information related to the Keris Galaksi and my teleportation to the Majapahit era. Information that might be able to calm my curiosity a little. Yes, only a little of my curiosity could be eliminated. The biggest curiosity still loomed in my heart; is he okay there…
Of course, I have tried again to open the keris box on the offering table. Not just once, more than three times on Friday Kliwon nights. But nothing happened. Frustrating, isn't it??! When ready to go to the unknown realm, the situation doesn't allow it. Hufft …
___________
"Has the Queen Mother regained consciousness??" he asked hurriedly as he entered the door, stirring up my reverie. The prince returned after changing his clothes. And it seemed that he didn't need an answer to his question, his listless eyes indicated the Queen's condition. As an outlet, he let out his emotions, "Where is the doctor?!! What is he doing that he has neglected the Queen?!! I will punish him immediately if he doesn't do anything to cure the Queen!"
I understand her condition. She is very worried about her mother, plus she doesn't want to even take a sip of water. Her physical and mental health must be weakening. This is the second day the queen is still unconscious. As a consolation, fortunately this morning the rebel troops were successfully beaten back. And the palace is starting to tidy up.
Suddenly I remembered something, I looked at myself and saw my clothes were torn and tattered with blood stains. I said goodbye to the prince, it was my turn to change clothes.
When he exited the room, not far from the door, Bara was standing still. His body and face were bent and listless. Not moving at all. The aura around him was as if full of thick black fog. He looked disheveled and very gloomy. Like a prisoner ready to be punished.
After observing him for a few minutes, he didn't budge. I decided to say hello, " A are you okay?"
"Yes," he answered flatly without raising his head, indicating that he didn't want to be disturbed. I was forced to leave.
On my way to my room, I didn't have time to notice how messy the palace was. I had to hurry because the prince was alone guarding the queen.
My mind couldn't get away from Bara's strange behavior. He must feel very guilty for the queen's injury. But hadn't he returned the favor by pushing back the rebel troops? Shouldn't Bara feel relieved for the victory? He had worked hard. Should he still feel so guilty? Ah, I don't know I can't follow the flow of a knight's thoughts ... The sense of responsibility in his chest is too great that he has to feel so guilty.
After cleaning myself and changing clothes, I rushed to the queen's room. From a distance, the room looked more crowded than before. And, my guess was right, she was still frozen as usual, not changing position at all. "She would definitely win if she joined the statue contest. Hufft …"
It turned out that the crowd was because Raden Gajah Mada had just returned from the battlefield. He immediately visited the Queen as soon as he heard that the Queen had regained consciousness.
"Thank God the queen has regained consciousness. A few hours ago, I saw her fingers starting to move," I said in relief. I purposely muttered in front of Bara, although he remained silent. "Don't you want to come in and see her?" I asked inviting him.
He answered by shaking his head once.
I took a deep breath, then exhaled. Trying to calm myself down and walk away from him.
Inside the room I helped wipe the queen's cold sweat. She could already communicate slowly. And amazingly, she immediately discussed politics with Gajah Mada. "Just as death was about to take her life, as soon as she woke up she immediately faced the country's problems. Hmm, wonder woman..!" I exclaimed in my heart.
I listened to the sequence of their conversation. And when I arrived at the word Bara, I put on my earphones to focus more.
"What punishment will Her Majesty give him?" asked Gajah Mada. " He was waiting at the door to receive the punishment."
"Did you know that the leader of the Bhayangkara troops was killed?"
"I have received the report. I express my condolences for the news."
"I want him to replace him."
Gajah Mada answered with a rather heavy nod of his head. It seemed like he was thinking about something regarding the queen's request this time.
Before resigning, Gajah Mada said, " In these ten days I will prepare for the coronation."
In the waiting chair at the end of the room, Prince Hayam Wuruk watched the conversation with a flat expression. I couldn't guess what his opinion was on hearing about his appointment as the king of Majapahit in 10 days.
***
Gajah Mada passed through the door and told Bara to follow him.
"The queen wants you to be the leader of the Bhayangkara troops. You must dedicate your entire life to protecting the king," ordered Gajah Mada.
"You understand that I can't protect anyone. For more than 10 years, I've been fighting alone," Bara said, intending to ask for another order. I had never seen Bara object to any order before.
They were silent. Before they dispersed, Gajah Mada asserted, "That is the punishment you must accept. The Bhayangkara troop formation must be complete before 10 days. Prepare yourself..!"
***
The atmosphere was getting more lively. The invited guests were arriving. In less than an hour, the coronation ceremony would begin. The palace yard, which was almost the size of the GBK stadium, was already packed. Everyone was neatly lined up. I also witnessed this ceremony, the biggest event I have ever attended in my entire life. I was in the ranks of the queen's entourage.
Everyone had taken their respective positions. In the middle, 100 meters from me, the star of the event, the queen and future king of Majapahit, wore her grand attire. The little prince looked dignified by it. And of course, the one who caught my attention was Bara, like an Avenger hero. The outfit of the Bhayangkara leader was very fitting for him to wear, further implying his aura of power. Like a commander of a combat force ready to devour the enemy. I felt as if I was watching a real movie scene in front of me. My eyes couldn't move away... I watched the ceremony every second.
***
The second day after the coronation of the king, there were still guests staying at the palace, especially invited guests from outside Majapahit. They are currently in luncheon event.
The visiting representative from mainland China, who was none other than the crown prince of the Yuan Dynasty, said to the new king, "I convey a message from your father the king, as agreed between the two kingdoms before. Tonight, or tomorrow morning, our gifts from the Yuan country will arrive at this palace. May the king be pleased to receive them."
King Hayam Wuruk replied with a small smile, " Thank you for the special gift you sent. The queen mother has informed me long ago. I am happy to accept it."
All the invited guests did come with gifts. But it seemed like unusual gifts. The Yuan Dynasty and Majapahit had long had good relations.