Tarno, who was asked by his two friends, did not answer because he himself was confused about what to do, while Arya and Gento Ireng had entered the skull pit.

"Before we left here, didn't Mas Arya say that we didn't need to do anything other than return to the village to report what we saw to Ki Darmo," said Tarno.

His two friends looked at each other, then nodded their heads as if they also remembered what Arya said when they were going to go to the edge of the skull pit to monitor the meeting between Arya and Gento Ireng.

"Now, let's go back to the village to meet Ki Darmo..!" said Tarno.

Without waiting any longer, they rushed to Serayu Village to meet Ki Darmo, of course they would report everything they saw about the meeting between Arya and Gento Ireng on the edge of the skull pit.

 

*******

 

Arya and Gento Ireng's bodies slid to the bottom of the pit, their feet touching the ground right in front of the gate of the white crocodile palace. Arya was again stunned when he saw how magnificent the palace in front of him was, several gate guards approached them and then saluted.

They accompanied Arya and Gento Ireng to the gate that had been opened by two other guards, after Arya and Gento Ireng entered the gate was closed again.

When they arrived at the room where the throne was, the White Crocodile Demon Queen who usually sat on the throne was nowhere to be seen. Gento Ireng took a few steps closer to the throne where there were two women, the two were the Queen's Dayang who stood on the right and left sides of the throne chair.

"Excuse me Dayang, where is Her Majesty the Queen?" asked Gento Ireng.

The two Dayang looked at each other, then smiled.

"Her Majesty the Queen is in her room, please sit down first we will call her," answered one of the Dayang.

Apparently Dewi Purbalara had known about the arrival of Gento Ireng who had succeeded in bringing Arya to the white crocodile palace, that's why she was still in her room getting dressed with the help of several other daysang.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty, Gento Ireng and a young man have come to meet with Your Majesty,” shouted one of the ladies-in-waiting in front of Dewi Purbalara’s room door.

“Yes, I know. I will be there in a moment, tell the maids to prepare food and drinks in the dining room..!” replied Dewi Purbalara from inside.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The two ladies-in-waiting who were standing in front of the room door immediately met the palace maids in the back room, after telling the maids about Dewi Purbalara’s message, they both returned to their original places on the right and left sides of the throne.

“We have informed Her Majesty, Her Majesty said for you to wait a moment, she will come.”

Gento Ireng and Arya who had been standing when the two ladies-in-waiting arrived, sat back down in their original places in front of the throne of the White Crocodile Demon Queen.

“Thank you, Ladies,” said Gento Ireng.

Escorted by several ladies-in-waiting who had helped her dress up in the room, Dewi Purbalara arrived at her throne room. Gento Ireng and Arya stood back up, Dewi Purbalara was seen smiling shyly at the warrior.

It was unusual for Dewi Purbalara to act like that, so far she had looked normal when Gento Ireng brought new members to the white crocodile palace. But this time the Queen looked different, both in her appearance and her attitude.

Gento Ireng was also surprised by the appearance and attitude of his lord, Dewi Purbalara looked more beautiful and friendlier.

"Let's go to the dining table, I will invite you both to eat together."

Gento Ireng was again surprised and also shocked to be invited by Dewi Purbalara to a room where there was a dining table made of diamonds, the dining table was never used by anyone other than the White Crocodile Demon Queen herself every time she ate.

"Why are you in a daze Gento? Come on, invite your friend to the dining table now..!"

Dewi Purbalara repeated her invitation again in a gentle voice, Gento became flustered between being fascinated and surprised to hear the Queen repeat her words.

"Yes.. Yes Your Majesty the Queen, come Arya with us to the room where there is a dining table. Her Majesty the Queen welcomes your arrival by entertaining you with a meal,” said Gento Ireng.

Arya, who had been acting relaxed since his arrival, just nodded, then accompanied by Gento Ireng, he followed Dewi Purbalara from behind to the intended room.

Dewi Purbalara sat on one of the chairs, while Arya and Gento Ireng were on chairs facing the White Crocodile Demon Queen between the dining tables.

“Welcome to our palace, oh handsome young man,” said Dewi Purbalara, praising Arya’s handsomeness.

Instead of feeling flattered by Arya’s praise, his attitude was unexpected, he seemed cheeky because he grinned and scratched his head. Gento Ireng wanted to reprimand him, worried that Dewi Purbalara would be furious.

“Thank you, your Majesty, it is an honor for me to be welcomed like this.”

Dewi Purbalara smiled sweetly, not at all annoyed by Arya’s seemingly careless attitude.

“What is your name?”

“My name is Arya, your Majesty.”

This time Arya's attitude was rather polite, Gento Ireng felt relieved because of it because what he had worried about earlier did not happen.

Dewi Purbalara smiled again, it was clear from the look in her eyes that she liked Arya even more after meeting face to face in that room.

"Don't call me Your Highness, that title only applies to the residents of this palace, not to you. My name is Dewi Purbalara, just call me Dewi."

What the White Crocodile Demon Queen said not only surprised Gento Ireng but also Arya, the warrior felt that he would be treated the same as his other followers.

"Am I not being presumptuous if I only call you Dewi?"

Dewi Purbalara smiled again, this time even sweeter and more charming.

"Of course not Arya, because you..."