A Wandering Ronin

Journey

Ran walked for three days to the west. Fortunately, the path he took was mostly forest and grassland. So to find food is very easy. When it was dark, Ran looked for the nearest river. After arriving, he began to rest by lying on the tree beside the river. He closed his eyes and woke up at dawn.

Before continuing the journey, Ran cleaned his body first by soaking in the river. Until it felt clean, Ran put his clothes back on and went back on foot. In the middle of the day, Ran arrived at a fairly dense forest. It was so dense, the road he was on was very dark. Like night.

"It's so dark," said Ran as he continued to walk quietly.

He walked with his eyes lowered. Not long after, there was the sound of an animal growling. Ran stopped and looked to the left in the direction of the growling voice. The sound of rustling bushes was heard. Ran then prepared to draw his katana. But then the voice was heard no more.

"It seems that there are a lot of wild animals in this forest."

Ran quickened his pace. The deeper you go, the darker it gets. However, it was still not night. He now thought instead that he was lost. Because, it has been three hours of walking he still hasn't come out of this forest.

“But the path I went on was not the same. There are no trees, rocks, or grass like the ones I walked through. That means I don't go around in circles and just keep going," Ran thought.

Until an hour later, he managed to get out of the forest. Far ahead, he saw a small village whose houses were made of woven bamboo. The village was only surrounded by a three meter high wooden wall. When Ran reached the gate, he looked up. There was seen a thin man, curly hair, shabby clothes, and big eyes monitoring the surroundings. He put his hand over his eyebrows like a tip. Then slowly he shuffled left and right. When he looked down and saw a man in a brown cape, he was immediately taken aback.

"Hey, what are you doing there?" the man asked.

“I just happened to be passing by,” Ran replied.

He immediately jumped and landed right in front of Ran.

"Listen," he put his arm around Ran's shoulder then continued, "Out there, there are beasts ready to prey. If you walk alone, you can be eaten.”

Ran was silent. Meanwhile the man watched Ran. When he found out that Ran's brown cape had a katana under his brown capes, he was surprised again.

"Are you a samurai?" the man jumped back in surprise.

Ran just nodded.

“That means you can fight?”

Once again Ran nodded.

“VILLAGE HEAD!” the man shouted.

Not long after, an old man with a fat body, round face, a bulge on the left cheek, and gray hair emerged from the top of the wooden wall.

"What's wrong Sehar?" asked the village head.

"Pak Pak Village Head, we found a samurai," Sehar smiled broadly.

Quickly the door was opened and Ran was forced to enter and the door was closed tightly again.

“Welcome to Toroto village. What's your name?" greet the village head with a smile so wide that its toothless teeth are visible.

"Ran."

Several residents whose clothes were already shabby gathered and looked at Ran as if they was seeing an angel.

"Why all of you?" Ran asked.

"We are waiting for help to arrive," answered one female resident.

"Help?" Ran was confused.

"For the past three months our village has been haunted by wild animals," he explained to the village.

Ran just silently listened.

"That's why we built this wooden wall. Because these animals sometimes prey on livestock and at least three people died because they were attacked by wild animals,” explained the village head.

"I just came out of a very dark forest and had time to hear the growling of animals," said Ran.

Instantly everyone was shocked.

"Really?!" asked all the residents with a little shout.

Ran nodded slowly.

Everyone was getting shocked.

Sehar then approached Ran and watched from head to toe.

"You're still alive, right? You're not a ghost, are you?” Sehar narrowed his eyes.

"What happened?" asked the village head.

"I was just passing through. But the forest looked strange because it was so dark. And then I heard a growl behind the tall bushes. But I guess it's a criminal who wants to rob. So I prepared to draw my katana. But then the voice was not heard again," Ran explained.

"I see," the village headman held his chin with his right hand.

"In a few hours the sky will be dark. It's better if Ran rests first before tomorrow helps us kill the beast," suggested Sehar.

“Since when did I agree to help?” Ran is confused.

"Come on, help us. Later you will give you money and supplies," asked the village head.

Ran then reached into his trouser pocket under his brown cape. He had little money and he didn't even have any supplies. And finally, his little heart said he had to help these Toroto villagers.

"Okay, I'll help," said Ran.

Instantly all the residents shouted with joy.

"Well, then, you rest at my house," Sehar immediately grabbed Ran's hand and took her to his house.

Sehar's house is very simple. Like other residents' houses. Made of wood and the walls are made of woven bamboo. the floor is also soil which is sometimes damp when it rains. Sahar opened the door and saw an empty room where in the middle there was a dining table and four chairs. He then invited Ran to his simple room.

"You can sleep with me in my room," said Sehar while cleaning his shabby bed.

Ran was silent. He remembered his hometown in Tebing Village. His house is still much more decent than Sehar's house.

When night falls, Sehar cooks rice and vegetable soup such as cabbage, carrots, and mustard mixed with white tofu. The two of them sat at the dining table facing each other and were accompanied by candle lights.

"No electricity here?" Ran asked.

“Since the beast's attack, we have not been able to generate hydroelectric power in the west river. We don't dare to go out," Sehar replied as he poured rice into a plate and gave it to Ran.

"Then your parents?"

Sehar was silent for a moment then he replied, “My father migrated to the Mondu Kingdom. The latest news, he worked as a carpenter there. Then my mother..." Sehar was silent.

"What about your mother?" Ran's face was serious but also curious.

"He was attacked by the beast."

"So the three people that the village head is referring to, one of them is your mother?"

Shar nodded. But then he smiled broadly and ate his food.

"Hey, better tell me where you're from," Sehar tried to change the subject.

Of course Ran knew that Sehar was diverting the conversation. He doesn't want to make Sehar remember the bad things that happened to his mother. So Ran followed Sehar's will.

“I am a ronin from Cliff Village,” said Ran. He also ate the food.

"So you're a samurai or a ronin?"

“I am a samurai. But since my kingdom is now collapsing, I have no master. So I am now a masterless samurai aka a ronin.”

"Then where do you want to go?"

“I want to find a person named Garun.”

"Who's he?"

“The person who led the rebellion in the Cliff Village Kingdom.”

"I've never heard of anyone called Garun."

"Everyone I've asked has answered that."

"Then where do you want to go?"

“I want to go to Ramil.”

"Through the border?"

Ran nodded.

“I heard, the border between Ramil and Mondu Kingdom is dangerous. The area is very hot.”

"I'll try to get past it."

"You'd better bring enough supplies."

It didn't feel like they were chatting and finishing their food. An hour later, they both fell asleep and woke up when the morning sun was already lighting up Toroto Village. Pak Pak Village Head came to visit to give Ran a packet of cakes made of coconut.

"Accept it," said the village head, handing him a lunch box wrapped in a red cloth.

Ran accepted it then opened the lunch box and tried the cake. Instantly he was surprised because it was sweet and delicious.

"How?" asked the village head.

"It's delicious," Ran replied as her mouth continued to chew.

"Thank God," the village head smiled.

When it was noon, Ran, who was assisted by five men, planned to enter the dark forest. They had gathered at the gate. At first, Ran asked that no one come along. But the five men still wanted to come.

"Let them come," said the village head.

"I'm coming too!" shouted Sehar who was now wearing hunting clothes and a sharp knife tucked into his waist. And also the bow and arrows in the quiver.

"Sehar, you should stay here," the village head tried to stop Sehar.

"But, I want to avenge my mother," Sehar's eyes suddenly became sharp.

Ran immediately saw Sehar like he was full of grudges.

"Let him come along. But I asked the other five men not to come. This will be very dangerous," Ran pleaded.

"But if he goes it will be dangerous too," said one of the five men.

"I will take care of it at the risk of my life," Ran replied with a sharp look.

Everyone was silent.

"Okay, if that's what you want," the village head nodded, closing his eyes.

"Horrayy!" Sehar looks happy.

"Be careful when traveling," the village head patted Ran's shoulder.

Ran then smiled and nodded.

The gate then opened. Ran and Sehar stepped into the dark forest and defeated the mysterious beast.

To be continued...