Tanah Agra (2)

"A spirit without a body? Yes, I remember uncle saying that." Rihan nodded after successfully recalling his uncle's farewell when he was 5 years old.

"You've been in Samsara long enough, do you have any clues?" Rei asked again.

Arken, Freya and Luna Endley were also there. They gathered in Arken's private study at the Vaiskyler residence.

Rihan swept a glance at them. It felt like he was being interrogated. "There is not any." He shook his head.

Rei and Arken looked at each other.

"Daniel, what are your suspicions?" Rei was still trying to dig.

Rihan leaned back and folded his arms. He thought for a long time and subconsciously brushed his left lower jaw. "Uncle, I can't say much now." Rihan refuses to make an opinion even though his mind may already harbor some speculations.

"Perhaps I could try asking Marc Horizon for Samsara's secret report or records. There should be some clues there," he said after considering this decision carefully.

Rihan was quite grateful that day he didn't destroy all of Atlan. At least there is a debt of life and debt of gratitude that certainly makes Indra Saka reluctant to refuse his request. Rihan only hopes that Indra will open up about his father's personal belongings; Marc Horizon.

"I'll try to talk to Indra Saka first." Honestly, this time Rihan himself wasn't too sure that he could easily get the report files and secret records. If it turns out that Indra refuses, then Rihan is forced to look elsewhere.

"Oh yeah, how's uncle's wound?" Rihan quickly changed the topic of conversation. He quickly closed the original topic before they started to think and ask more and more strange questions.

"I'm fine, kid. It's just that my physical condition doesn't allow me to use electricity anymore," Rei replied trying to smile.

"Aunt?" Rihan turned to Luna Endley.

"Much better. Don't worry, Daniel." Luna was still speaking in a stuttering voice. But his face looks fresher.

Rihan's lips formed a mischievous smile. "Does the Land of Agra now look more beautiful?" he asked again.

Arken and Freya suddenly frowned. They didn't expect Rihan to ask such a silly question.

Rei smiled lightly. He immediately understood what Rihan meant. "The view of the majesty of Tanah Agra behind the hurricane. I think it's very beautiful, son. In the past, the entrance to Tanah Agra was not like this." Rei thought.

Rihan looked very happy when his uncle could immediately understand the meaning of his words. "Here uncle and aunt will be very safe. The land of Agra I have installed layered protection. The whirlpool outside was only welcome. Outsiders could not possibly find Tanah Agra without two permits. From the Venerable of the Dragons and from the leader of the Dragons," he said proudly.

"We are only re-running the Tanah Agra security system. The system had been crippled by the tens of thousands of years of vacant position of Venerable Dragons. Permission to enter became the personal right of the leader of the Dragons at that time." Arkin explained.

"Yeah, and I've changed a bit in parts," said Rihan and pretended not to notice his father's intense, questioning gaze.

Arkin was very surprised. He had never heard of such a change in the security system. "Again he's doing what he wants." Arken was very upset, but as best he could hold it in his heart.

"Relax, father. The security system will not limp even if one of the positions is empty. I have made a permit to enter Tanah Agra so that it still requires two approvals. If one of the positions is vacant, during that time the entry permit cannot be granted. Then I also added another protective system that will only activate if one of the positions is empty." Rihan seemed very satisfied with the results of his work.

"Isn't that great?" said Rei while clapping his hands with joy. But secretly he glanced at Arken waiting for his friend's reaction. Rei Nathanael knows very well the nature of Arken who can't see anyone messing with the ancient rules of the Land of Agra.

Arkin shook his head in resignation. He no longer knew how to control his eldest son.

"Fre..." whispered Arken through private thought communication to Freya who was sitting beside him.

"Then I'll get mad at him." Freya confirmed. He knew Arken must be very dizzy with Rihan's character unlike most Dragons.

*****

Rihan took a deep breath. His face brightened after finally leaving his father's private study. He began to turn his holy-weapon into a dizi flute and searched for a suitable place to play it.

Among dozens of beautiful places in Tanah Agra, there is one place that according to Rihan is very suitable as a place to sing dizi rhythms. That place was the pinnacle of an ancient temple. The highest point in the Land of Agra where the holy fire blazes provides protection for the Nagas as well as the entire Land of Agra. A very holy place that is forbidden even to the leader of the Dragons. Except for him, the Venerable of the Dragons.

"The noblest! His Excellency Daniel!" Someone called from a distance.

Rihan suddenly turned around looking for the source of the sound. Not far from where he stood there was a man in his 60s. He is waving. Rihan doesn't know the man, but that doesn't mean that all residents of Tanah Agra don't know him. Since the incident of the rise of the Qiu-long dragon, his popularity has suddenly risen, especially among the civilian Dragons.

Rihan put on a polite smile. "Good afternoon, uncle," he greeted as friendly as possible. Inevitably he had to get used to this situation.

"Bellsmor, Your Highness." The man introduced himself and bowed respectfully.

"Is there a need?" Rihan asks Bellsmor's destination.

"I'm just the little dragon that owns the barbershop down the street. I have nothing extravagant to offer, other than my expertise in hair styling." Bellsmor spoke in a very shy tone.

Rihan gave a clueless expression.

"As an expression of gratitude, Your Highness. Let me do your hair for the first meeting tomorrow," said Bellsmor.

"Oh." Rihan had almost forgotten that tomorrow would be the first meeting between himself as His Highness and all of the Dragon People. An important meeting which meant he had to prepare for his best performance.

Rihan thought for a moment. Actually he had thought to cut the hair that was far covering both ears. But it was a little annoying if he cut his hair in preparation for the first meeting. "Okay." Rihan couldn't find a reason to refuse.

Bellsmor's face immediately lit up. He nodded quickly.

"Actually I'm ready to be punished if my offer is considered an insult." Bellsmor suddenly told a story on his way to the barbershop as well as his home.

"Like most of the Dragon People's noble families. Vaiskyler, Ragnvald, Waldermar, Kane, Frostfall they were all full of pure blood pride and had high self-esteem. A non-aristocratic family like me has no chance of talking to them outside of the People's Gathering." Bellsmor began to lower himself again. His posture also shows that he seems very small in front of Rihan.

"Maybe you don't know. Mr Arken as well as Mr Evanosk… they are great people. The tradition of gatherings involving all Nagas is maintained despite pressure from several families who want to monopolize decision-making," he said at length until they arrived at the door of the barbershop.

Bellsmor motioned for Rihan to sit down and the middle-aged man started to prepare everything.

"It may not be much. But I really want to return the favor even if it's just something as trivial as getting your hair done." Bellsmor got to work and surprisingly his chatty mouth was shut tight.

Jazz music from the radio in the corner of the salon accompanied the two of them. Bellsmor scissored carefully while Rihan began to daydream. Without realizing it more than two hours had passed and Bellsmor finally nodded in satisfaction admiring his work. Hair that is cut short and then neatly styled up gives a very different fresh impression.

A Rihan Daniel apparently has a handsome and charismatic face. His prestige and the light in his eyes may not be as firm as his father's. But the mischievous smile on the lips successfully creates its own characteristics.

"Thank you very much." Rihan bowed gratefully after Bellsmor brushed off the remaining hair and ushered him to the door.

"Glad to help you, Your Highness." Bellsmor also bowed deeply.

When Rihan was about to leave, Bellsmor suddenly stopped him. "Oh yes, one more thing, Your Highness," he said, remembering something.

"Perhaps many will disagree and refuse you to be the Venerable of the Dragons including yourself, Mr. Daniel. But here, I want you to know that there are also Dragons who need you," Bellsmor said, opening up Rihan's perception of the Dragons a little.