Kapitel 3: Sandak Village

Gana walked to the twins. His face that was full of pleasure disappeared. Durman and Darman wanted to congratulate him but was stopped.

"Notify your mother. I need her help." The twins looked at each other before nodding in an understanding manner.

On his back, he felt three pair eyes piercing him with stare of death. Chief Panglo, Chief Kunais and Chieftess Shala all paid attention towards this slim-built kid.

'Heir-Hunter, huh? I don't mind it but this is gonna get troublesome.' Gana sighed.

A maid approached him, "Lady Leha is waiting for you in near the Panjang River," She gave him his clothes and a training sword, "please do not keep her ladyship waiting for too long."

"Thank you." Instead of going back to the waiting section of the plain. Fortunately, there is a rule where no one can spy or follow some one in Pencak. Doing so would mean going against the tradition and slighting the ancestors. He slipped into one of the latrine shack. Pulling the lock, he dressed himself in thin tunic, a linen vest, hand wrappings, arm sleeves and sandals.

After covering his eyes with a cloth, he exited it quietly. The matches were still ongoing so the crowd's attention are still on the festival. Using this opportunity, he slipped into the audience section as he head towards an exit.

The public eye didn't seem to recognize him will those clothes and accessories around him. Being in the Daya great tribe ever since he was a child, the routes were in the back of his mind.

With the assistance of his wooden training sword being like his walking cane, he arrived at the small exit that only higher-ranked Daya tribesmen are allowed to use it. Flashing his token towards the guards that was given by Leha, he began sprinting towards the Panjang river.

Near the river, a woman whose charm exuding throughout the forest with her black long hair, dressed in sea blue robes with a piece of shawl surrounding her. She turned around when she heard sounds of wet leaves rasping against each other.

"You are quite fast, child." Leha praised.

"Did you wait long, my lady?" Gana bowed in respect.

"Fufufu. Not at all," she pointed towards a bamboo raft floating on the river, "I advise strongly for you to stay in that village and disappear for a few years for I'm afraid I can protect you no longer."

"I will always remember this great favour, your ladyship. Someday I will repay you everything." Gana untied the raft before jumping into it.

"Oh please, don't be too hung up. Just stay safe so we could meet again. Goodbye, Heir-Hunter."

Gana blushed as he steered his raft. Leha just watched him go as a voice greeted her.

"Here I thought you are grooming him to be your weapon, Leha," Nawar appeared behind her. She has a cloth over her head while wearing a green baju kurung.

"After all these years I can't bear to, especially when he always talk about his mother. Hypocritical of me when I'm using my twins selfishly."

Nawar touched her shoulder," Don't grow soft now, we have a deal to kill that bastard."

"Oh no worries, I'm just making sure he's not involved in our petty struggle. Our deal still stands."

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The journey on the raft was calm and serene. The Sun was slowly setting. Gana, unable to view the nature around him, began thinking back the crazy day he had at Pencak. From a nobody to a dark horse to an Heir-Hunter. "Haih, Lady Leha is really is too kind towards me. I swear one day, I will repay everything. Too bad I can't learn the Sword Path of Daya," He sighed.

He put his finger inside the mouth to wrapped it in saliva. He point it upwards to further detect the wind direction as sun began to set. He use his training sword to hit the tree as his rafts stop. After tying it on a mangrove tree, he ran across the swamp to reach his village before nightfall.

Sandak Village, located in the southernmost region that was isolated from neighboring villages. The village barely get by in contrast to the flourishing towns that he experienced in Daya. This is where he spent his childhood, this is where he survived on sweet potatoes and green leaves. The residents were mostly dressed in tattered clothes, some skinny, some old and the huts and houses had holes all over.

He knocked the door of his own hut. "Mum, I'm home." Inside, a middle-aged woman whom wore the brown-ish tunic and a long skirt.

"Ah, son, how's Pencak?" She smiled. Gana could hear her tone has relief in it.

"It's alright," he rests his training the sword against the wall before sitting across his mother. " I lost in the first round."

"Oh, sorry to hear that."

"It's fine mom," Gana lied down on an old fur mat. "Good night, mom."

"Night, son."

Gana closed his eyes. ' Sorry mom. I don't want you to worry if I tell you the truth.'

The next morning, Gana departed towards the back of his village. It is one of the thickest part of swamp forest, a place where he trained his sword. A figure dressed in a black kimono with a straw hat on his head greeted him.

"Well, well, did you have fun, Heir-Hunter?" He grinned.

"Not exactly fun when there are tons of powerful people trying to kill or ravage you."

The man rests his black sword near the tree then pulling out a training sword from his waist.

"Well, are you ready for a beating?"

"Ready, when you are sensei." Sounds of hardwood clashed against each other throughout the forest. For the whole morning the two of them sparred until the Sun was at their hands. is While sparring, Gana tried to converse so that he could distract his teacher.

"So, how did you get in? I thought the security was tight."

The man blocked his incoming attack before answering, " I have my ways. You are very impressive, my student. Never knew your talent in unarmed combat is as astronomical as your talent for sword." Gana were struggling to hold back his grin at the praise. The man proceeded to slash against Gana's hand which forced him Gana to unhand the sword.

Pointing the sword at Gana's neck, he continued," Nice attempt to try and distract me but it's useless if you are distracted yourself."

Gana let his body sat on the ground. "Tch, you are very deceiving as a teacher. Here I thought swordsmen are meant to be honorable and shit."

The man laughed, "My dear student, honor means nothing if you died."

"Sensei, I never asked for your name."

"Eh, you distrust your teacher?"

"If you don't want to tell then fine."

He chuckled, "It is Shiki." They both rested under the shade of the biggest tree while eating sweet potatoes before resuming their training until sundown.