“Arya..?! Come on, let’s go inside and talk,” Ki Darmo invited.

Arya smiled and shook his head.

“No need Ki, let’s talk in this pavilion.”

Ki Darmo initially felt uncomfortable being invited by Arya to sit and talk in the pavilion, but after thinking for a moment he finally agreed to the warrior’s invitation.

“Shouldn’t we just talk inside, Arya? I’m worried that it will invite suspicion if without our knowledge there are spies from the White Crocodile Demon Queen?”

Arya smiled again and shook his head.

“No need to worry Ki, there will be no spies eavesdropping on our conversation in this pavilion. I made sure of that because previously I did ask permission to leave the depths of the skull from Dewi Purbalara, she also wouldn’t be suspicious even though she could see our presence in this pavilion but couldn’t hear anything we were going to talk about.”

Ki Darmo seemed dumbfounded by what Arya said.

“Who is Dewi Purbalara?”

Arya who thought Ki Darmo was familiar with the name mentioned earlier was stunned, but the warrior then understood perhaps it was indeed the first time the elder of Serayu Village had heard the name.

“Dewi Purbalara is the real name of the White Crocodile Demon Queen Ki, she gave me freedom whenever I wanted to come out of the depths of my skull she allowed it and of course she was sure I would return to her palace.”

Ki Darmo nodded because the Dewi Purbalara that Arya meant was the White Crocodile Demon Queen.

“Then how come you were allowed to come back here?”

Arya held the necklace with the white crocodile head pendant.

“Because of this Ki, Dewi Purbalara thought that I had also been affected by the influence of this white crocodile necklace which could subdue and obey her. Maybe she thought that even though I went out I would return to her palace, she was wrong Ki. I might not go back there because I managed to control the influence of this necklace, but according to what I promised to free the kidnapped residents and now as her follower I decided to return there.”

The Serayu Village Elder nodded his head, indicating that he understood everything Arya said.

"We were worried about Nak Arya being taken by Gento Ireng into the skull, but because Nak Arya had previously given a message to Tarno and his two friends, I became calm. So when will Nak Arya carry out the plan?"

Arya did not answer immediately, he directed his gaze to the roof of the pendopo as if thinking about something.

"As soon as possible Ki, it turns out that the followers of Dewi Purbalara are not only from the residents of Serayu Village but also from other villages. Are there other villages in Serayu Village that are close by Ki?"

Ki Darmo nodded his head.

"To the north, east and west of this village there are indeed other villages that are not far away."

Arya who followed his gaze in the direction Ki Darmo pointed also nodded his head.

“It turns out that Dewi Purbalara has been living in the skull pit for a long time by building her magical palace there, to build her power and for the palace to grow she kidnapped villagers to be made into soldiers and guards and servants. This cannot be allowed to drag on Ki, I really have to take action immediately because the White Crocodile Demon Queen has committed a crime by enslaving villagers who are not of her race, namely demons.”

The Serayu Village Elder smiled.

“I do not doubt Nak Arya’s ability to carry out the plan, what I need to ask is what should I and all the residents of Serayu Village do to help?”

This time Arya was seen scratching his head.

“Next week before noon the residents come to the skull pit, at that time I will try to free the residents from Dewi Purbalara’s magical palace. If later there are residents who appear on the surface of the skull pit, especially those who cannot swim, I hope the villagers will help bring them to the edge.”

Ki Darmo nodded his head.

"If that's what Nak Arya wants, I and the residents of Serayu Village will come there to help as Nak Arya said. Hopefully Nak Arya's good intentions will be made easy by Gusti Allah," said and hoped Ki Darmo.

"Amen, please pray."

The Elder of Serayu Village smiled and nodded.

 

******

 

As Arya had also planned, before night fell he had returned to the depths of the skull towards the white crocodile palace. His return to the palace made Dewi Purbalara even more convinced that Arya had also been subdued by the necklace he was wearing, the warrior immediately met the White Crocodile Demon Queen in the room where she sat on her throne.

Although Arya was not like Dewi Purbalara's followers who half prostrated themselves in respect, Arya still paid his respects when he arrived in the room in front of the Queen.

"Forgive me Dewi if I have been back to this palace too long," said Arya.

Dewi Purbalara smiled and invited Arya to sit down.

“It’s okay, like I said earlier whenever you want to go out and come back into this palace I won’t have a problem with it. Oh yeah, what do you think about the atmosphere in this palace compared to outside?”

Arya returned to his habit of scratching his head.

“Of course it’s very different Dewi, here it’s more comfortable and the atmosphere is pleasant.”

Dewi Purbalara’s eyes immediately sparkled with joy, she was truly flattered by Arya’s words.

“You can stay here forever, even if later you want this palace can be yours too.”

Arya seemed surprised by Dewi Purbalara’s statement, he tried to digest what the White Crocodile Demon Queen meant.

“Don’t joke Dewi, how can I have this magnificent palace.”

“Hmmm, why not? As long as you…..”