At the crack of dawn, the Yawa ground remained veiled in a chilly mist. The potted plants on the patio were already glistened with dew. Above the tiles, the sky retained its gloominess but gradually transitioned into a profound shade of blue as the sun climbed higher. While admiring the gradient painting on the canvas of the Divine's work, Alicia was already standing in the courtyard, already immersed in the new day.

Alicia had a restful night of sleep. She enjoyed her dinner and the amiable company of Semar's witty family. Each time she breathed in fresh air, her body felt as though it were floating. She had a crucial task to complete today. "Operation Hidden Arcane" was the name of the endeavour.

On this new day, she was also greeted by the headman's reprimand, who had emerged from his abode too. Ki Semar did not come alone. A tether was in his hand, leading a green stallion with a horn. "Is it not a touch early to await for Kiran, Cempaka, and Cahyaningrum at this hour?"

Alicia smiled and greeted, "Ki Semar, good morning! I really can't wait to find Orb. If only I knew where they lived, I might have pulled them out already!"

"Wow!" Ki Semar was shocked. "Do the people of Camelot have a habit like that?"

"Just kidding!"

Despite the playful remark, the old man maintained a genuine furrow on his brow. He walked past Alicia to unlatch the gate, saying, "You’re really are something. The girls must be taking care of the house right now. Go back to sleep, and my wife will wake you up later."

"Really, I'm fine! And if I may, where are you headed, Ki Semar? To the fields?"

"No, no. I received a report from a courier earlier this morning that the supply carriage bound for a neighbouring village got stuck on the road. Therefore, some soldiers and I had to travel there to make certain this logistical problem was nothing more than a broken down vehicle, nothing else."

"I see. Tumaritis Village is quite generous, isn't it?"

"I think in difficult times like this, every village should support each other. The others must have told you the current situation, right?"

"They have."

Ki Semar saddled and mounted his horse. "But before that, I usually visit my other son first. He lives outside the village limits, so I have to check on him every morning."

"Are you talking about Wisesa, Ki Semar?" guessed Alicia.

"Have you made his acquaintance?"

"Yer three sons told me."

"I suspected as much. Yes, once again, I apologize if you feel uncomfortable with him. He does have a lot of difficulties, and is... rather introverted."

Alicia still failed to fathom why, instead of asking for help from the nearest soul, this Wisesa chose to exploit his foster father’s livestock while dwelling in a hut beyond the village that was prone to ambushes without knowing the day.

"Actually, I'm the one who wants to apologise for accusing him of nonsense. Perhaps I can join you, Ki Semar?"

"No, you cannot." His reply was fairly light.

Alicia was not sure what to make of Semar's smiling face. "That's a serious answer?"

"Absolutely serious," the village head said again. His tone was soft, but there seemed to be an edge to each word that emphasised his sternness to the girl.

"Why not?" The bookworm girl made a wistful face.

"He doesn't like many people visiting him. I'm the only one allowed to visit. Well, because I basically fulfill all his needs. There's no way he'd be impudent to me, is there?" Ki Semar laughed. "But don't worry, Alicia. I'll pass on your apology. Better yet, when he comes to take care of the pig later, I'll have him talk to you. What do you think, Miss?"

There seemed to be something wrong with Ki Semar and Wisesa's relationship. Perhaps it was how he smiled, which seemingly hid other meanings, and the longer she observed, the more this suspicion grew.

Or perhaps Alicia, as she had been doing lately, liked to steal other people's boars—using her nose to smell things that were none of her business. The lass was well aware of her place, so she arrived at the last conclusion. She nodded in agreement, followed by Ki Semar's hand greeting as he whipped the horse out of the gate.

A few hours later, Kiran, Cempaka, and Cahyaningrum visited the pavilion of the house where Alicia was staying. It was known that the three of them were part of the shishya association of Kanastren, Ki Semar's wife. And in that pavilion, a studio was built to teach the women the various sciences and wisdom of the outside world, taught directly by the headman's wife who was, in fact, a scholar. An exemplary and a noble scholar, this family had almost no faults.

The three of them agreed to help Alicia search for Orb since today happened to be a holiday. So after everything was prepared, the four of them travelled around Tumaritis and its surroundings. Their first objective was to find the two farmers who had found Alicia in the fields of barley at that time.

It just so happened that Kiran, like the spy she was, managed to discover the whereabouts of the two farmers. Ki Semar was right, most of the farmers had gone to stay overnight in the fields lately. It was harvest time. It was customary for restless farm workers like them to stay overnight in the fields, guarding their crops from being eaten by pests or harvested by irresponsible people. They set off for the fields and found the two farmers from the post where they were staying, heading in the same direction.

"Let us talk to them, Alicia," said Kiran. "Can you describe what your magic object looks like?"

"I'd say it's a glass ball with blue light," Alicia replied briefly.

The women immediately confronted the two farmers. They asked questions, one farmer turned round to find Alicia standing behind him, waving.

The conversation did not last long. Kiran turned back to Alicia and told her, "They are grateful that a pretty girl like you is fine. Too bad they don't know anything about the magic ball."

Alicia showed a troubled face. "Oh, no... are you sure?"

Cempaka and Cahyaningrum were still busy questioning them—to be accurate, interrogating them. The bookworm lass could guess how the conversation between them was getting more and more complicated and heated. The combed Cempaka was heard pressuring the two farmers, while the two modest farmers could not stand the girl's brashness, pleading with her.

Cempaka summarised the conversation. "They swear they don't know anything about the magic ball, let alone finding it near your body that time!"

"But... Urgh! There's no way Orb isn't with me if Elder Broin sent me and Orb to the same place...." The Crimsonmance girl became even more upset, her babbling coming out again.

"Take me to the field where I was found. I'll search for Orb from there!" Alicia pleaded with the farmers. Kiran translated it into Yawa's tongue.

The outpost and the barley field were only a few minutes' walk away. Together with the farmers, the four girls arrived at the golden sea of barley ripening in the wind. They were taken to a field where a patch stood bare. This was the very spot where Alicia had been found, and the plants planted in that area had been crushed to death by the girl's body. From there, Alicia and the others scoured the field in search of her favourite ball.

Half an hour lapsed. Then another hour. The sun had become mighty, hovering just above the crown of the heads. Alicia was already short of breath after wading through the pool of barley around the field. She circled the small plot several times, even exploring another section of the paddy field, circling it several times again. Disappointment was written plain upon her face as she made her discovery.

"I'm sorry Alicia, we've looked everywhere, yet, nothing," said Cahyaningrum. "The local farmers also claimed not to have found anything."

A stoic visage concealed Alicia's inner melancholy. She released a frustrated sigh. "Well, let's rest for now. Sorry to trouble you all."

Just as they were about to sit down in a nearby saung—a small resting place amidst the fields—someone from a distance called out to the four girls. It was one of the farmers earlier. The shishyas paid close attention as he spoke in Yawanese. Kiran, Cempaka, and Cahyaningrum furrowed their brows. One tapped her forehead, the other shook her head and massaged the bridge of her nose.

Kiran translated the conversation to Camelot's foreign lady. "You won't believe this. The farmer said he remembered that on his way to bring supplies from the village, he had met the crown prince of Alas Purwo, who came from the direction of the field where you were found."

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Kiran said "Crown Prince of Alas Purwo", exactly as the farmer had said.

Feeling one step closer to the light, Alicia showered the shishya with questions. "You mean Wisesa? Did the farmer mention where he came from? Was he carrying something like Orb or anything?"

"Alicia, that man hates talking to his fellow humans. But according to the farmer, he probably came from the crossroads—where Ki Semar's rice fields are—to collect a sack of bran to feed his pigs."

"That intersection we passed? It's not far from this field!" Alicia's exclaimed, her frustration mounting. She paced back and forth with a face that began to show aggression. "This is terrible, I need to find him! Maybe he hid the Orb in a sack of pig food. Clipe, I thought I was just mistaken for being blind. He shouldn't have treated Orb like that. That pure scunner, just ye wait!"

Cahyaningrum rubbed Alicia's shoulder to calm her anger. "Hey, it's okay, Alicia. We can report this to Ki Semar or Nyai Kanestren so that he is questioned when he comes home."

"Can't we just go straight to his house?"

"But... no one knows where he lives."

"You don't know either?"

"Only Ki Semar does. Wisesa never invites us to his house, nor does he want to."

The lass's fury needed to be quelled. The midday heat still carried the gentle breeze; the air remained as fresh as morning. Alicia used it to relax her throbbing temples.

"Awright. Awright. Let's return home. We'll wait for him to arrive."

Alicia and the others made their way to the village. The red-haired girl's footsteps were hurried. She wanted to slap Wisesa's annoying face with her delicate hands.

"I know this might seem a silly question. But can you tell me why you hold this magic ball in such high regard?" Cahyaningrum asked, while embracing the furrowed-browed Alicia. "It's like a fortune-telling ball or something, isn't it?"

"No... it's nae a fortune-telling ball. There's nae such thing as a fortune-telling ball, it's just a con artist's cheap trick," Alicia corrected Cahyaningrum. After the next breath was taken, she explained, "This orb is called Orb. Yes, it's really just Orb, dinnae complain. And Orb... ah never mind, Orb has Arcane might. "

"Arcane? What kind of might is that?"

"You know, Arcane—you don't know?"

"Why? Does it matter?"

The part of the world where people did not know what Arcane was! It had been decided, this was the only sanctuary where she belonged now. Hearing Cahyaningrum's response as well, Alicia was speechless. Maybe it was because the three of them were not magic practitioners. Insightful ones, to the least. Not everyone was like Alicia, who enjoyed perusing grimoires to pass the time but was not skilled at using them.

But then again, maybe it was just these young girls who were unfamiliar with such knowledge.

"Basically, it's a rare power that can be used against the prophesied external threat," Alicia explained.

"The prophesied external threat?" The three shishyas were caught in confusion.

"The point is, in my hometown, there’s a prophecy that there’s a darkness that will destroy the earth. How it looks like I don't know yet. What is certain is that to deal with that threat, it will take six anomalous mages around the world to defeat it. I'm one of them with the might of that special orb."

"That's... an intriguing premise, Alicia," Kiran commented.

"It's real, ye ken! That's why I have to find Orb! If I don't find it, the whole world is in danger!"

Kiran seemed rather pessimistic about Alicia's explanation. She thought Alicia was imagining things like a child. The threat of darkness and six anomalous magi. It was not impossible, but based on the words of the bespectacled girl, her explanation was found sceptical to believe. Kiran wondered if Alicia was a normal girl. A Camelot lady was found covered in foul blood, babbling about druids, magic orb, and threats she did not know existed yet. She must have experienced an event so horrific that she concocted a fantasy story as a coping mechanism.

"Okay, okay, sorry," Kiran retorted. "Then the reason you're here is that there’s the greatest mage around who can help you fight the darkness?"

"It's like you have never seen magic or the occult, huh?"

"No, no, that's not it. It's an everyday occurrence here. Ki Semar and his three sons are magic practitioners. Ki Semar has often fought black magic dukes who wanted to bring a plague to his village. But seeing yourself traveling around the world looking for a certain mage and saving the world? I don't know, isn't that too... big for a teenager like you?"

Alicia sighed in response. "Cannae help it. It's because of Orb that I have to go through this."

Cempaka then asked, "So, what about the chosen mages?"

"Oh, yes. I've found clues to the location of some mages, one of them in Lojitengara. I'm a wee confused as to what kind of mage he is, but all I know is that he's the figure of a big tiger. Then what else...? Bulging eyes, wide fangs, a black beard, and wearing armour? Quite an unusual tiger."

Suddenly, the three shishyas stopped in their tracks. They looked at the spectacled lass in astonishment.

"Pals? Did I say something wrong?"

The trio's eyes were still on Alicia. They approached her slowly, surrounding her.

"You're not joking, are you?" Kiran asked again.

"I told you, I'm dead serious! W-why are you approaching me like this?"

Cempaka suddenly grabbed Alicia by both shoulders. "Do you know what you're talking about?"

Face full of worry about the women's flashing gazes, Alicia could only shake her head.

"You were just describing Barong...," Cahyaningrum anxiously continued.

"I don't know if this is a coincidence or not, but I've been dying to know who Barong that you keep mentioning is."

"That! The one you just mentioned, Alicia!" Kiran's voice rose half an octave. "By the gods, if the mage you're referring to is Ki Semar, I might not mind. But Barong? Barong is a bloodthirsty monster! Likes to eat people!"

"How can you work with a bloodthirsty creature?" exclaimed Cempaka.

"Hey, wait! At least tell me what Barong is!"

Cempaka opened the story session. "Barong is not just a ferocious animal that dwells in the dense forest. It's a magical creature! It hates humans so much. So much so, that it won't eat even the most delicious meat if it's not human! About two decades ago, I think, Alas Purwo managed to capture Barong, then possessed it into the body of a baby as a mystical weapon against Pulomas! Unfortunately, a few years before now, the human Barong got out of control and killed an entire neighborhood of Wejengmusti—a town within the Alas Purwo region. When reinforcements arrived, they were greeted by the bones of its entire citizens! Barong must have organized a dinner feast in the town for himself!"

"And it is said that Barong now resides in the forests of Pulomas in search of prey," Cahyaningrum continued. "Barong usually appears at night, or whenever someone is lost in the forest. If that unlucky person is you, you simply yield and pray. It's too agile and strong, it's impossible to escape it! It'll sever your legs in a single claw! Then, while licking your feet like candy, it walks slowly toward you, crawling. It'll grab your other leg with his fangs sticking out, then your left hand, your right hand, and your entire upper body!"

"When only your head remains, it will lift it up, directing your eyes to his glaring eyes. It wants to see the agony in those eyes, asking for your permission to be slain. It plays with people's heads, Alicia!" Another addition from Kiran. "When you finally give the permission, then Barong puts your head in its jaws and pops your brains out by crushing them on both sides!"

Alicia challenged them. "That doesn't make sense! Wouldn't the victim have died first when almost half of his body was bled out?"

"Are you even listening, Alicia?" retorted Kiran. "Barong is a magical creature. It can make people live even if all their limbs are missing, even if their blood runs out! It has magic!"

That came off as ominous. It was absurd, too. Perhaps this story was made up to scare off foreigners like Alicia. However, because of their outrageous behaviour, Alicia did not feel too scared. One could just wait until she met the creature face-to-face. If the living bones in Vanir alone made her scurry, this one would make her die stiff.

"If what you're saying is true, then I have to get it to repent and come with me!" Alicia said lightly.

“No! You're crazy!” The three shishyas shouted at the same time. "The point of the story is to never look for illness. Barong is not a creature to be reasoned with. It was created to fight against humans!" Cempaka scolded.

"Barong has killed many people in Pulomas, including in Tumaritis," Cahyaningrum added. "Many of our people have been victims. My uncle, Cempaka's cousin, Kiran's distant family..."

As Cahyaningrum said this, Cempaka and Kiran bowed their heads.

"But... from what I saw, that's the mage I need to find," Alicia still denied them.

"Your vision is wrong. Try checking again. Find another mage!"

"Impossible!"

While they were arguing, several women and men ran from the village carrying their children. They gave a warning to the shishyas and Alicia and continued pedalling fast. Not long after they sped off, a commotion and whimpering could be heard in the distance.

"Wh-what's going on over there?" Alicia was puzzled.

"It's bad! A group of bandits is looting the village!" said Cahyaningrum.

"Damn, damn! It's the Alas Purwo Sunanate, for sure! Our family is still there! How come Ki Semar isn't even in the village?" whined Kiran.

Cempaka responded, "We have to find our families. Let's hope it's just a bunch of bandits that the soldiers and Semar's children can still deal with!"

"Alicia, you can go back to the fields until the situation is conducive. We'll pick you up again," Kiran told Alicia.

Alicia was filled with admiration for this brave woman. Although they were scared after telling the man-eating monster story, that fear could not stop them from rescuing the poor souls. Following the directions of those who had helped her so far would be the most selfish thing Alicia had ever done. Alicia did not want to do that. She would never forgive herself for doing so.

Even without Orb, the lass set her conviction. "No need. I'm coming with you!"

"Seriously? Can you do martial arts?" asked Kiran.

"A wee bit?"

"Suit yourself. Cempaka. Cahyaningrum. You always have your weapons with you, right?"

Both showed off a dagger and a catapult from under their waist scarves.

"Good! Then we must first go to Ki Semar's garden!" Without thinking, they ran towards the intersection.

"What's in Ki Semar's garden?" Alicia asked.

"You'll see!"

How the Divine had cursed them upon arriving at the gates of their beloved village. If they found soldiers lying on the ground in front of the village gate, and the clouds darkened as smoke rose in all directions, one thing was certain: They needed more than just martial arts skills. []