Chapter : Prince Swarpakala

The temple where Prince Swarpakala prayed was in the middle of a courtyard facing east, with the entrance facing west. The temple, or building, is slimmer than the Buddhist temple. With a room that is square and not too spacious. The roof of this temple rises upward in a pursed and smaller shape. This kind of upper roof is often called Ratna.

The temple is made of andesite rocks. Andesite is a type of volcanic rock found on the island of Aruna Dwipa due to the large number of volcanoes that can spit magma at any time on this island.

The outer walls of the temple are decorated with reliefs that teach human kindness, literature, and love to the gods. Above the entrance of the temple, there is a carving of Kala Mangkara. Kala mangkara is a relief or decoration that resembles a giant face with slightly bulging eyes and large teeth and fangs sticking out of its mouth. These reliefs adorn the top of the temple door and act as a deterrent to bad luck, a repellent to invisible inner threats, and an expulsion of any evil spirits that may be present.

Kebo Anabrang entered the temple, and as soon as he saw prince Swarpakala, instead of being relieved, he became more worried. The prince did look fine, but there was something strange about him. The fifteen-year-old youth man's body looked as violent as a frightened person, and even his prayer readings sounded trembling.

Kebo Anabrang took the blessing first and put down the offerings that one of the court ladies had prepared for him before he entered the temple. Kebo Anabrang recited a mantram to worship the deity first before he spoke to his nephew.

"Mantram pemujaan di sanggah kemulan

Om Brahma Wisnu Iswara dewam

Jiwatmanam trilokhanam

Sarwa jagat prastistanam

Sudha klesa winasanam

Om Sri Guru paduka byoh yenama swaha."

(Oh Lord, in its manifestation as Brahma, Vishnu, and Iswara. You're the one who likes to come down to bring Tri Loka to life. May all your worlds be as good as possible. All sins are forgiven. Oh Lord, as the creator of nature, the servant bows down to you.)

After finish, taking blessings and praying, Kebo Anabrang saw Prince Swarpakala, but the prince still kept muttering a faint and inaudible prayer spell in his ears.

"Prince Swarpakala!" scolded Kebo Anabrang at his nephew.

But Prince Swarpakala did not respond to the call from Kebo Anabrang, and his body trembled even more. Kebo Anabrang became increasingly convinced that something worst had already happened to Prince Swarpakala. He sat cross-legged next to the prince as a result of his growing worries.

"Prince," he said, trying to get back to speaking as calmly as possible by not caring about his concerns and everything he saw. Inside his head, Kebo Anabrang told himself this was not a worrying thing. Because Prince Swarpakala was only mourning his father's untimely death. That's it, nothing more. Hence, Kebo Anabrang patted gently on the shoulder of prince Swarpakala, trying to transfer strength, fortitude, and obstinacy to the prince.

"Uncle..." Prince Swarpakala finally spoke.

"Hmm...."

"When will my father's body be held at the funeral?"

"I don't know yet, prince. "But I want to wait until your mother gives birth because your mother insists on doing pati obong," Kebo Anabrang replied. "Why ask the prince? Is the prince eager to occupy the throne?"

"No, uncle!" Said Prince Swarpakala in a weak voice. "But if I may, I want to follow my mother and father and do pati obong together."

Kebo Anabrang couldn't hide his surprise after hearing prince Swarpakala's remarks. It had been two days since the late king left the world, and he had just seen prince Swarpakala show this attitude. The prince's attitude was not to show his sadness but to show a fear unknown to Kebo Anabrang of the source. As a result, he immediately turned his head and pulled prince Swarpakala's body until they were face to face, at which point Kebo Anabrang noticed a fairly, long scratch on the prince's neck.

"Threats are starting to come," Kebo Anabrang said furiously, clenching his fists, but as a mahapatih, Kebo Anabrang didn't want to show his fear, especially at this time. "Prince...."

"I know I shouldn't be afraid, uncle," Prince Swarpakala said, his injured neck. There was a hint of obstinacy in his voice. As soon as he held the wound on his neck, he frowned to keep the sting at bay. "The king's and uncle have always taught me to be a brave knight and not to give up under any circumstances. And you two have already told me the risks I'm going to face."

"Yes, because a prince born to a king as well as a king will always face danger." But that's how the princely world works; what we see as good isn't always good, and what we see as worst isn't always bad either."

"Then what should I do, uncle?"

"Since your father's death, your responsibility extends beyond one or two, prince." Therefore, never say that the prince will do pati obong by following your mother's and father" Kebo Anabrang said, holding his nephew's shoulders. "You, Prince Arya Swarpakala, are the only rightful heir who deserves to be a king. And after becoming king, you must protect all your subjects. Welfare, prince, their happiness is on your shoulders."

"With all the betrayal and the plot of disobedience that will happen to me,"

"Yes, prince, even if it has to take away your life, you must not give up on all the bad things that will befall you. Because, a king is very close to death. You will die, whether stabbed by a dagger, hanged, or poisoned. It is not uncommon for someone to want to kill a king using black magic."

Hear his uncle's, prince's face paled even more. "In that case, I don't want to be a king, uncle!"

"Because, prince doesn't want to die?"

Prince Swarpakala nodded.

"So, the prince would rather live with shame than die valiantly?" Uncle can't force it if it wants the prince." It's just that the uncle feels a little disappointed, the throne will inevitably be held by an improper person. And that means destruction is going to happen in this country."

Prince Swarpakala clenched his teeth, and the fifteen-year-old prince began to cry uncontrollably. Kebo Anabrang felt sorry to see him, but he didn't want to hug or try to calm his nephew down. For a king must not be constantly protected because it is the king who will be the protector of his subjects. King, the people will pin their hopes, hopes for help, and salvation; And he must be able to be a just judge because the king is the incarnation of the gods on this earth.

Prince Swarpakala finally looked at Kebo Anabrang with a stern expression after a long time in tears.

"Uncle...."

"Yes, prince."

"If by becoming a king, servants can protect the people and the country. Then I am willing to do so." "Although life is at stake,"

"Then, your coronation ceremony will be carried out immediately before your father's funeral ceremony."

Prince Swarpakala was bothered.

Kebo Anabrang held both of his hands. "Weep the prince, for from this day on a king must not show his sorrow, worry, or anxiety in front of his subjects." "For the king is the hope for his subjects, even the lowest caste."