A local was just pushed to the ground. The other villagers forcibly restrained the aggressor in a bid to quell the conflict. But by the looks of them, it was clear that the people favoured the fallen, rather than the pusher.

In a frenzied dash, three young girls bolted out of a tent. Amid the chaos, Alicia managed to glimpse the face of their assailant—Wisesa, with an expression contorted with fury. Yet the young prince was not yet satisfied with his violence, as he contemplated throwing a punch at those who had attempted to restrain him. His aggressive intentions, however, were quickly damped by the sharp, urgent cry of Kiran, which also caused all present to turn their attention.

"Stop it! What are you doing? It's late, and we've just been attacked by looters!" Kiran snapped in Yawanese.

A villager replied in the same tongue, "Kiran, have you not heard what the bandit leader declared? He was dispatched from Alas Purwo! And this Wisesa, he is the crown prince of the Sunanate. He may be in league with the bandits, seeking to distract Semar and strike Tumaritis!"

"And let us not forget the rogue Barong that appeared earlier. It is clear that the gods have cursed us, all because of the sins of the Alas Purwo Sunanate! This is their ultimatum!" another villager intoned, followed by the rest nodded in accord.

"Dumbass Tumaritis dogs!" Wisesa erupted in Yawa's tongue. "I was almost killed by my own family! Why should I bother being a spy serving the people who tortured me? You should be smarter because you're a person. Just because I was born in the kingdom doesn't mean I'm part of it! I stand with my uncle, you filthy dogs!"

With each utterance of the word "dog" from Wisesa's lips, the ire of the villagers escalated by degrees. Now, with fists clenched and eyes narrowed, they were prepared to mob the young prince, heedless of Kiran's and the other women's protests. They were to tear Wisesa limb from limb!

"Sugeng dalu, Beloved People! Can you move a little?"

Headman Semar's sonorous voice reverberated throughout the throng. The huddled villagers jumped in surprise when the village head appeared in their midst. Those clenched fists became reluctant.

"My family... you heard Sister Kiran here, didn't you? Why must we fight amongst ourselves, blinded by our own prejudices?"

"But Wisesa is the only foster child who didn't help protect the village," a villager retorted. "Where was he when Tumaritis was attacked? He must have been hiding while waiting for all of us to be slaughtered!"

"That's right, I was hiding in your mom's ass!" Another rude remark that caused the mob to flare up again. Fortunately, Semar was able to separate them. He twisted Wisesa's ear while restraining the villagers with his palm. Wisesa was taken away. He scowled loudly, but there was nary a sign of defiance against the old man; a whole different gesture compared to the chaotic scuffle that had taken place earlier.

"You wait here!" Semar ordered.

"Old man, I haven't done anything—"

"Wait here, or get farted on!" Ki Semar's tone rose an octave.

Wisesa did nothing but frown.

The village chief retraced his steps towards his people. "Do you think it's fair to blame an Alas Purwonese for the appearance of the beast, when he, too, knew nothing of Barong?"

Hearing Ki Semar's question, the people of Tumaritis pursed their lips. One man nudged another to answer—or blamed him for fuelling the dispute.

But Ki Semar continued, "My family, Wisesa did not send the Panca Gedheng bandits into Tumaritis. Nor did he destroy the logistics train to force me to go there. If my statement is understood, can we go back to our beds and rest?"

Nonetheless, the people of Tumaritis remained unsatisfied with the headman's response. Perhaps they were seeking faults out of malice towards the only person not welcomed in warm hands, simply because he belonged to the Sunanate.

"Ki Semar, just because he's your foster child, doesn't mean you have to protect him all the time like a spoilt brat! Look at your other children. They are so different from him!" The villagers replied to Semar's statement. The cheers of approval grew louder.

"Of course not, ladies and gentlemen! His behavior needs to be improved." Ki Semar turned to his foster son, who was sporting a yellow blangkon cap. "But he's a man like any other, always reliable when I need him. He is as good in my eyes as Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong."

"Then, we still need an explanation from Wisesa, why he was not present when Panca Gendheng attacked the village, if he does love this village?"

“Ih, get over yourself! Who said I love the grave of the wicked like this place?" Wisesa snarled.

Without a second thought, Semar redirected every angry glint of the eyes to his face. "Wisesa is absent because... I sent him as an informant on the enemy to Pulomas!"

The locals stared at each other. "Is that so, Wisesa?" asked the people of Tumaritis.

"No, it's not. I shape-shifted into a Barong that ate the four bandits, just like you said." Wisesa scoffed at the people of Tumaritis as he leaned forward and gyrated his waist. "Alas, oh alas, I cannot eat all of you because this Old Man Semar prevented me from doing so!"

"Never mind, don't listen to this young man. This day has been too arduous. Let's all get up and go home!" Ki Semar urged them with a shoo. The old man also shooed Wisesa away—which the lad gladly accepted. Just as he reached calmness, a female screech called his name, jolting the young man's ears with ache again. It did not matter if Alicia's voice was so soft; to him, it was the sound of the fork scraping against the plate surface. For a moment, Wisesa wished he was deaf so that nothing would barge into his auricular sanctum and mess with his head.

"W-Wisesa, wait!" Alicia exclaimed once again.

Wisesa's lips smacked in response to the girl's call. "You again. Why do you keep calling me? You have a crush on me or something?"

It was no surprise that as a child of noble blood, Wisesa's ability to speak the common language was more eloquent than others. But what he said just now made Alicia feel sick to her stomach. "Wh-what? What on earth was your reply just now? I've only called you twice!"

"Alright then. What?"

To prevent the brown-skinned young man from exploding again, Alicia attempted to choose a sentence that was soothing, clear, and without judgment. It was hard to do all those spontaneously. The sharpness in Wisesa's eyes made the girl nervous.

"If you understand what I've been saying, then you know I'm actually looking for something," Alicia ventured. "A blue magic orb. It should’ve stayed with me when I fainted or when I woke up. That orb is mine..."

"Excuse me, Crimson-haired Lady. The amount of time the gods have given me is as limited as yours. Just explain the point!"

"Did you take the orb from me?"

Semar observed their discourse with a furrowed brow. Wisesa still did not budge. This time he had deliberately made himself deaf. That must be it!

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Whether she felt she was having a poor choice of words or else, Alicia added, "My orb is gone! No one knows where it is! I've been looking for it in the field where I passed out with no luck. But a farmer said that you had come from the direction I fainted while carrying a sack of bran—"

"Oh, I see. You're accusing me just like those villagers, aren't you?"

Alicia paused. Her gaping mouth slowly closed. "I'm sorry if that offended you, I didn't know what else to say. I need that orb. If you did see it, let alone take it, tell me something!"

Wisesa nodded his head. His body was now completely turned towards the girl. She approached Alicia casually while playing dumb. Alicia had already guessed that he would probably deny it.

"Yes, my lady. I stole it." Wisesa's reply briefly widened the glasses girl's eyes. "Just as I became a Barong and frightened the whole village, or perhaps when I launched a conspiracy to take Tumaritis village back to Alas Purwo. All forms of immorality on this earth are my doing. Mankind suffers because I exist. Is that the answer you seek?"

"N-no ...."

"Yeah. I think so." Wisesa hurried to leave Alicia alone.

"I'm not done yet! That's not the answer I'm looking for! I need a serious answer, now!"

Alicia was about to chase Wisesa towards the gate, but Ki Semar grabbed her by the shoulders to stop her from going forward.

"Miss Alicia, never mind. It's getting late," said Semar.

"But I need an answer from him!"

"It's no use, Miss Alicia. He'll play games with you!" Ki Semar straightened his arms, causing Alicia to be pushed back. "I'm sorry, Miss, but he's been accused of a lot in one night. Leave him alone. You can continue your search for the orb tomorrow."

Ki Semar's answer did not satisfy the girl's curiosity. Instead, it brought a look of disappointment to her face. Her eyebrows slowly knitted together. A frown began to form. Alicia's voice rose an octave. "You want to make me feel guilty for accusing him of being like the others?"

"That's not it, Miss ...."

"I just need a real answer! How am I supposed to find Orb when the entire universe won't even share anything with me?"

Wisesa had vanished into the night just as she passed through the gate. Alicia sulked, turning her back as well with an angry groan. The curtains of the clinic tent fell victim to her rage as she stormed inside. Not feeling comfortable, Kiran expressed regret to Ki Semar, which was immediately dismissed by the village head's smile. She rushed to comfort poor Alicia.

The hours ticked by until almost midnight. Everyone was asleep in their beds, some at home, some at the clinic, some on the tiles of Ki Semar's pavilion. Alicia, however, was wrapped in a blanket, curled up in a chair, watching Cahyaningrum lying on the clinic bed. Kiran and the others had already returned to their shelters, awaiting the sun's return.

The clinic was deathly silent. Only the chirping of crickets and the croaking of frogs broke the stillness so that the world did not seem entirely dead. Alicia still could not shut her eyes. Either she could not find a comfortable sleeping position, or her mind was still consumed by her beloved Orb. Suddenly, the humming of the night gained an extra instrument—the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. As the clinic curtains parted, Ki Semar appeared with his hands propped up on the back of his waist.

Seeing Alicia curled up in a chair, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Praise the gods, you're here. My wife didn't find you in the room. She looked everywhere for you."

Semar walked over to the girl and took the chair next to her. "Why are you still here so late at night? Cahyaningrum will be fine. Let's go back home."

Alicia's eyes stared at the old man for a moment before looking at the wall. "I'm fine sleeping here, Ki Semar," Alicia muttered.

"No, you’re not," Semar replied. "You're not used to resting like that all your life, I can see that. It's not good to sleep like that, anyway."

Alicia remained tongue-tied for a while. Ki Semar with patience as long as the latitude of the earth just stared at the dark green tent lit by the lamp on the ceiling.

"I... was rude to you," the lass finally uttered. "And I took some of your rare plants for weapons without permission. After all you've done to me up until now, I might as well sleep outside."

Ki Semar wanted to burst out laughing. But if he laughed out too loud, it was not good for the patients’ health. Not only would his loud voice become noise pollution, his famous farting would also become the pollution of the air. He certainly did not want to turn the clinic tent into a gas execution chamber.

"What's so funny?" Alicia asked again with a frown on her face.

"I'm laughing at your expression of regret," Semar replied. "Oh, missy, if my life had to be sacrificed by you to save the village, I wouldn't hesitate! Never feel guilty, my lady, either for stealing my plants, or being rude to me earlier. I'm sorry if I upset you. I'm sure you're upset because you haven't found your magical item yet. You were talking to Wisesa earlier, right? Why do you suspect him?"

Alicia then recounted her experience searching for Orb with Kanastren’s three students. From searching all over the fields without success, to testimony from local farmers that Wisesa was suspected of taking Orb and leaving the girl behind. Ki Semar nodded in understanding.

"I will have a good talk with him first thing in the morning. I'm sure he will tell the truth," said Semar. He got up from the bench and stroked Alicia's hair for a moment. "Alright, let's go back home. The mosquitoes in Lojitengara love to suck foreigners’ blood. Cahyaningrum will be fine here."

"Does that mean I can come to Wisesa's house?"

"I believe I didn't mention anything about taking you there."

Alicia smiled and chuckled. She followed Ki Semar.

A bed at home was always comfy, that was an utter truth. Alicia was able to stretch her body after a long day of stress, with sleepiness already looming over her. But she still refrained, gazing at the ceiling. Her restlessness did not seem to have completely faded away. She needed a thought or an idea to ease herself into dreamland. Alicia's myopic eyes stared even more intently at the wall above her. Her face then had found determination. She already had something that would help her fall asleep.

***

Like every other morning, Ki Semar emerged from his house when the dew was still fresh on the ground. He exchanged a few words with the foreign soldiers in chariots, who were trying to restrain the roaring Boko Rombeng. But before the old man could wish the prisoner fare well, the troops left the village, and Boko Rombeng disappeared from sight. The brigand's punishment and its details were likely to be dealt with at the Pulomas government centre.

Despite the dozens of roosters heralding the dawn, the sun remained sluggish and lethargic. Alicia woke up instinctively, conditioned by the sounds of chickens as her natural alarm back in Trinketshore.

Luckily Ki Semar had not ambled far, so Alicia could still apply her piece of mind from last night’s contemplation—sneaking around behind him until she found Wisesa's dwelling. Some residents had also started their activities at dawn, making it easier for the girl to blend in.

Ki Semar continued walking on the large road outside the gate until he finally decided to enter the forest on the left. Alicia had noticed from the bushes that Semar was slinking towards the forest on the other side. It turned out that there was indeed some kind of path hidden by wild weeds if looked at closely.

Alicia kept her distance and the sound of her steps until they entered deep into the forest, where the sounds of animals were slowly drowned out by the sound of rushing water.

A waterfall! Alicia thought.

Alicia could finally see a ramshackle hut nestled amongst the towering giants. The sound of water was still in the air, though no river or waterfall was visible. Perhaps it was concealed by the thick foliage surrounding the hut.

Ki Semar had entered the hut while Alicia waited behind the tree. Not long after, the old man came out, his face etched with confusion. It seemed that he did not find his fourth foster child in the house. He moved to the thick trees, thinking perhaps Wisesa was at the river, in the nude.

Now it was Alicia's turn to venture into the small wooden dwelling. Once inside, she noticed the living room was empty except for a solitary chair, likely meant for entertaining Semar, the only visitor. To the left was a bedroom, where Wisesa had slept. A humble space with nothing more than a rattan mattress and a pillow, a cupboard, and a set of drawers.

Alicia rifled through the wardrobe, but found nothing of interest beyond a collection of ordinary Yawanese clothes. However, she did discover a series of dull portraits and a few books in Yawanese script. Alicia presumed that one of the grinning children in each photograph was Wisesa, and the others were his family, part of Alas Purwo Sunanate. Wisesa seemed to radiate joy in the photographs, so what had transformed him into a perpetually grumpy man?

Finding nothing of significance, Alicia turned her attention to the cupboard with three doors. Amongst the sacks of flowers, perfumes, animal bones, and small clay jugs typically used in shamanistic practices, her gaze fell upon a large chest in the bottom drawer. She could hear something familiar inside it. Without hesitation, Alicia seized the chest and pried it open. Her throat tightened as she laid eyes on Orb, nestled on a crimson cushion. The Crimsonmane lady almost forgot to breathe.

"Orb!" Alicia murmured excitedly.

Alicia! Are you okay? came the sound of Orb's voice that brought euphoria to the bespectacled girl.

"I'm awright—forget about me, what about you?"

I'm just an orb, Alicia. Feeling pain or tightness is not my forte.

"Ye weird baw! Still got time for a joke!" Alicia picked up the warm Arcane globe and hugged it tightly to her chest. "I was so worried about you, even though you were just a ball!"

In her excitement, the girl forgot the world. The beautiful sound was not the chirping of birds or the girl's feminine voice, but the sound that radiated through the dance of Arcane energy. How Alicia did not realise that someone was standing right behind the door.

"What are you doing in my room?" []