The journey to the Kingdom of Kalingga stretched long and winding before them, a path that would take nearly fourteen days to traverse through rolling hills, dense forests, and sun-baked plains. Along the way, Aji, Ratih, and Jaya found themselves time and again coming to the aid of travelers and villagers alike—rescuing merchant caravans from bandits who prowled the lonely roads, helping families resolve bitter disputes that threatened to tear their communities apart, and offering shelter to those left stranded by misfortune. Thus far, no obstacle had slowed their progress; the roads were clear, the weather kind, and their spirits high as they pressed onward toward their destination. Yet they knew their route would lead them first through the Royal City of Suryanegara—a place of great renown, whose golden spires had once stood as a symbol of peace and prosperity across the land.On the eighth day of their travels, as the towering walls of Suryanegara began to rise on the horizon like

Jaya turned his gaze toward Aji, and the handsome warrior responded with a subtle nod—wordlessly agreeing to accept their new acquaintance’s offer of shelter. There was trust in that small gesture, born of the bond they had forged through shared trials and mutual respect, and Jaya knew that whatever lay ahead, Aji would stand beside him.The man—whose kindness had already saved him from the king’s soldiers—led them through the quiet streets of the village, his steps steady as he guided them toward the far end where his home stood. The sun was beginning to dip toward the western hills, painting the sky in shades of amber and violet, and the air carried the sweet scent of jasmine from the gardens that lined the village lanes. As they walked, villagers paused to watch them pass—some with curiosity, others with gratitude for the warrior who had rid their tavern of the king’s oppressive spies.When they reached their destination, Aji’s eyes widened in quiet surprise. Before them stood not

Aji cast a swift, sidelong glance toward Surajaya, his eyes narrowing in a silent command to hold back—for now. He could see the fire of righteous fury blazing in his new companion’s gaze, hot enough to melt steel and burn away all reason. The muscles in Surajaya’s jaw were clenched so tightly that veins stood out like twisted vines across his temple, and his hands trembled with the urge to draw his blade and meet the soldiers’ cruelty with steel of his own."Be patient," Aji murmured, his voice low enough that only Surajaya could hear it over the murmur of fear rippling through the gathered villagers. "We will end this, but not here—not while innocent lives hang in the balance. Let us wait until we are beyond the village walls before we strike them down."Surajaya gave a sharp, curt nod, forcing himself to swallow the rage that threatened to rise up and consume him. He understood Aji’s plan well enough: to keep the villagers safe, they must not act while the soldiers’ attention was f

Aji had stood ready for battle, every muscle taut with caution—his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his blade, his eyes sharp and watchful, prepared to defend against any attack that might come. He had feared the soldiers might have word of the massacre that had unfolded outside the village that morning, that they had been sent to hunt the trio down and punish them for their defiance of Kalingga’s rule. But as the conversation wore on, the tension in his shoulders slowly eased, and he allowed himself to relax.After verifying that Surajaya, Aji, and Ratih were not affiliated with the fallen Kingdom of Suryanegara, the guard shook his head with a note of regret in his voice. “I would advise you to turn back, friends,” he said, his gaze sweeping across the road behind them. “The route to Suryanegara’s capital will remain closed until further notice, and there is no telling when it might be safe to travel again.”“It seems we must find another way, Aji,” Surajaya said, guiding his hor

Setiaji stepped out of the private chamber and made his way to the room where his men had gathered, their faces etched with determination. He stood before them, his shoulders straight as he outlined each man’s task with clear precision—no one was exempt from the work ahead. Even he himself would venture into the city’s heart to seek out old friends who might still serve within the palace walls, hoping their loyalty to him would outweigh their allegiance to the king.As he finished giving his instructions, Aji entered the room, his hands full of small leather pouches. He distributed two gold coins to each man, the metal gleaming brightly in the lamplight. “Use this to buy food, to pay for information, or to smooth any paths that might be blocked,” he said, his voice steady and warm. “But be wise with it—gold can draw both friends and enemies.”With their tasks understood and their purses filled, the band of former soldiers filed out of the inn and scattered into the city’s bustling str