Sandya Aksata's
Chapters 2.4
...Chapter 2: Strengthening the Position...
...Section 4...
...~ ◊ ~
...
I should how?
I think I (Akbar) have experienced something similar like this before. But how did I handle this before?
Ah, goddamn. I too enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of the forest that was so soothing and ignored what was happening before me right now. Earlier I had even felt sleepy from the gentle swing while sitting on Pramana's head while she was walking.
Everyone in front of me knelt down and looked respectfully down. It even seemed like someone was sobbing and shedding tears.
Why do the beings here seem to greatly exalt the Promised Leader?
Don't I just look like a sleepy, silly teenager riding on an odong-odong?
Well... The tribute was so natural they showed me who was like a hero in fairy tales and legends that have been told for thousands of years without even being forgotten.
Especially by the {Nation Hayawan} and {Nation Man} who only know the story of the covenant of my coming who is the Destined Leader of the hereditary alkyah of their ancestors. And when those tales and legends come true, it wouldn't be strange if their reactions and responses were so exaggerated.
At least that's what Pramana said on our way here.
Plus, I am currently sitting on the head of someone who is the most respected and harvested in this entire forest. As if the ruler of this forest was willing to be my personal ‘odong-odong’ mount.
But all this respect may only be addressed by residents in the region. Because after all this forest is a place isolated from the outside world. So it is not strange if the stories, fairy tales, and legends about the ages in the past are still maintained as a hereditary tradition without the presence of alkulturation or assimilation with other cultures.
Especially in this area there are still many long-lived Shajaras who bear witness to the real life of all the legends. Even the word ‘History’ which became the term for stories in the past was taken from the name of their nation. That is also why {Nation Shajara} is also called ‘nation grips history’.
It seems like all of those stories can be used to be proper doctrine and propaganda to instill their respect and loyalty to myself to be an absolute leader.
“I accept your oath of respect and loyalty.”
I try to say it as best I can. I guess at least my nervousness won't be seen in this darkness. I am grateful to be able to come here at night.
“Stand up and lift your heads! Show the world that those who are under my protection are those who are always happy and will never return to bow their heads.”
Hearing that, everyone simultaneously stood up straight and raised their heads together with faces full of confidence and hope. And also many wiped away their tears of gratitude, and replaced them with the sparkle of eyes of dream-filled rigor.
“Wahai Pratama, report anything you and your team have obtained!”
“Good!” sahut Pratama responded to Pramana's call from beside the crowd. He then went forward to face me and Pramana with an army of soldiers led by him.
“We report that almost all residents from both rural and tribal areas have been evacuated here. And we have also formed a defense militia in this fort to replace all the forest security soldiers in this area, because they have all gone to the border led by Pradana directly, he said,” clear Pratama reported.
“That's right, Most Sepuh. Exactly as feared in the worst possible,” replied a Hayawan who became the Commander of the Inquiry Squad sent by Pratama. “It seems that the enemy that attacked this time was not just an army from one city alone. When viewed from the number of numbers, it looks like this attack was launched by troops from all member cities {Federation of Duchy Bupala}.”
If there is such a large number of enemies, then it is the right decision to send all the troops from the forest security soldiers in this area to help the defense at the border. Nor would it be strange if Pradana the Mighty had to intervene to lead the battle directly against such a large enemy.
From the story that Pramana told us during our previous trip, the, the main leader and manager of [West Forest Area] is an Elder Shajara who has the best military skills among the four Elders of Shajara who are the main managers of other forest areas.
It is Pradana the Mighty, one of the Shajara appointed by {Three Hyang Utama} to be the captain of the team that led the mortal during the ⁇ Great War ⁇ against the {Hyang Gila} during the ⁇ Devil Age.
It was because of his military experience and skills that he was given the mandate by Pramana to manage this [West Forest Area] which is the only area directly adjacent to the territory of other countries that are at the same time most prone to occur conflict, attack, or battle.
And if Pradana the Mighty had to intervene himself to the battlefield, even by bringing all the troops of forest security soldiers, he said, it can be ascertained that the battle this time is indeed a matter that cannot be simply ignored.
“Lantas how is the current state of the battlefield? Has the enemy already broken through our first defense in [Fertile Field]?” tanya Pramana continued to discuss this strange matter.
It has been more than a week since Pradana and his troops left for the border. If the battle is still going on until now, it may be possible that the assumption that the enemy forces have managed to penetrate the defense in [Fertile Fields] is indeed necessary to be aware.
If that had really happened, then the only defense left on the western border would have been [Ursidae Tribe Fortress].
If only one defensive fortress remains, then the enemy will master the main factor as well as the most important in the strategy of warfare; namely the mastery of the base and the foundation in battle. And that would result in a siege.
“Please excuse me, Most Sepuh. But until now, we have not really known what kind of conditions are happening on the battlefield,” replied the Commander of the Inquiry Squad. “As ordered by Mr. Akbar, we should avoid fighting as much as possible. That's why we can't investigate up to [Ursidae Tribe Fort] on the border.”
“Then what about the civilians who live in the tribe? Have they all been evacuated?” my son joined this discussion.
I was a little worried that my decision to order them to avoid battle was the right one.
I realized that avoiding the loss of one life might lead to the loss of another.
But I can't take a big risk when I haven't really understood what kind of situation is out there.
“Before the battle took place, it seemed that all the civilians of the Ursidae Tribe had already been evacuated to the countryside and other tribes. That's why they managed to secure us to this fortress with the other residents,” replied a Human who is the Commander of the Evacuation Squad.
“That's great!” I resolutely rose from my seat upon the great head of Pramana, then continued my sentence with a cry of greatness that brought with it the spirit of glory:
“If all the civilians have been successfully secured, then there is no reason for you to remain silent here, my brave soldiers!─
Tomorrow, when dawn implies the splendor of the sun, depart from here and face your destiny that has been waiting! The souls of the weary gentlemen wait and defend every inch of this glorious homeland!”
Hearing the cry of my greatness, the thousands of beings standing before me are now erecting all the bones and wooden muscles in their bodies as if to hint at self-compliance with what I am about to say:
“On the greatness of my name, Akbar the Bearer of the Panji of Glory. I give my blessing to you, my soldiers, to go to the battlefield to defend the blood of the nation, friends, and family who are now threatened by their safety and freedom!”
The silence in the blanket of the darkness of the night bathed in the twinkle of the moon and the glitter of the stars, is now replaced by the commotion of the cry of thousands of beings who long for the return of glory under the banner of the glory of the great leader.
