(ARROGANCE)

A middle-aged woman in the crowd stepped forward, her face etched with determination. "We've tried to take action, but protests won't stop those doing the work. They're just paid laborers following orders from higher-ups," she said.

Adibahari turned back to Anang, his voice steady. "As you mentioned, this is a forbidden place for Astakona bearers because their powers diminish here. That means they'll never set foot in this village."

"This is difficult," Lantana remarked, her brow furrowing in concern.

"That's why we sought help from your master, to inform the officials and stop the work. But she's just like any other Astakona bearer. If you try to reach them, it'll take a year, and by then, our village might already be destroyed."Anang replied, frustration evident in his voice. He ran a hand through his graying hair, his eyes reflecting years of worry.

Suddenly, Anang's wife burst into the crowd, her face pale with panic. "Anang, our child's condition is worsening!"

Anang's eyes widened in fear as he rushed to his house followed by Adibahari and Lantana. Anang search for his child in the bedroom. He approached his child's side, dropping to his knees beside the bed. "Litu, wake up, please don't leave us," he pleaded, his voice breaking.

Adibahari and Lantana exchanged a worried glance before hurrying over to the small, makeshift bed. Litu lay there, his breathing shallow and labored. Adibahari carefully observed the surroundings in the room, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Glowing bark beetles were scattered around, their luminescent bodies flickering in the dim light. His master had once told him that these beetles could drain the life energy from living beings. What puzzled Adibahari was that these beetles usually thrived in dark, uninhabited pine trees, not inside human homes.

Lantana's gaze fell on the still-burning charcoal in a corner of the room. She tugged on Adibahari's sleeve and pointed. "Look at that," she whispered.

Adibahari knelt by the charcoal, his face set in concentration. "Anang, why is this charcoal burning here?" he asked, turning his head slightly to glance at Uncle Anang.

"It's one of our traditional ways to treat illnesses." Uncle Anang explained, his voice heavy with resignation. "We use the essence from burning pinewood. We're poor; we can't afford medicine from the city."

"Are there many others suffering from illness outside, relying on the same method for treatment?" Adibahari inquired, rising to his feet with deliberate slowness, brushing the remnants of dust from his hands.

"Yes, most of us." Anang admitted, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Anang, this charcoal is causing your child's breathing problems. You need to get rid of it," Adibahari said urgently, his eyes darting around the room as he pieced the situation together. "The beetles here are the real issue; they're sapping the villagers' energy. If left unchecked, they'll continue to multiply and drain the life from everyone."

Adibahari approached Litu, his expression softening as he checked the boy's pulse. Litu was alive but weak, his body hot with fever.

"Anang, your child is very weak. We need to get him to the nearest clinic immediately. If we delay, he might not survive," Adibahari urged, his voice filled with concern and determination.

Anang shook his head firmly, his eyes glistening with tears. "We can't afford that." he said, his voice choked with despair.

Adibahari's eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. "Lantana, let's take Litu to the river we meet." he suggested, a hint of hope creeping into his tone.

"Where are you taking my son?" Anang asked, his voice filled with anxiety and his hands trembling as he clutched Litu's limp hand.

"Trust us. The air there still fresh. It might be the only chance to save him," Adibahari replied, his tone earnest and reassuring. He gently lifted Litu into his arms, careful not to jostle the weak boy too much. Lantana gathered their things quickly, her movements precise and efficient, her face set in determined lines.

Anang hesitated for a moment, then nodded, his face a mask of desperate hope. "Alright. Please, save my son," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant hum of the village.

Upon reaching the riverside, Adibahari gently laid Litu on the velvety grass, the cool breeze whispering its soothing lullabies. "Lantana, take this. Fan him gently. I'll seek out mint leaves." he instructed, passing a book to Lantana.

With nimble fingers, Adibahari plucked some of fragrant mint leaves, their refreshing scent permeating the air as he crushed them gently.

A damp cloth was tenderly placed upon Litu's feverish brow, offering a cool respite. Placing mint leaves near the boy's nose, Adibahari allowed the invigorating aroma to envelop Litu's senses, coaxing him back to consciousness.

Slowly, Litu's eyelids fluttered open, his gaze dazed yet hopeful as he beheld the faces surrounding him. "Mom. Dad," he murmured weakly, his voice a fragile thread of connection amidst the tumult of emotions.

The husband and wife collapsed to their knees, tears streaming down their cheeks, their hearts overflowing with gratitude and relief. Adibahari, too, felt a wave of reassurance wash over him as he witnessed Litu's return to consciousness.

…

Adibahari and Lantana journeyed to the village of Lombongan to meet with the chief miner who managed the mining area to discuss recent events. They were accompanied by Uncle Anang, the village head who was assisted by Adibahari. Meanwhile, Litu and his wife remained by the river.

Upon their arrival, the chief miner's gaze fell upon them like a cold gust of wind, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What else do you want?" he barked, his voice cutting through the tension like a sharpened blade.

"Wasn't the salary I gave you the other day enough?" His lips curled into a contemptuous sneer as he assessed the newcomers before him.

"No. You see, my child is severely ill. I need..." Anang's voice trailed off, his plea falling on deaf ears as the chief miner rudely interrupted.

"And so? What does that have to do with me?" The chief's voice was laced with disdain, his gaze flickering over the group with thinly veiled contempt. "Why did you insist on bringing your family here?"

Anang's shoulders sagged with disappointment, the weight of his concern evident in the lines etched upon his weathered face. "Please understand..." he began, his words tinged with desperation.

But before he could finish, Adibahari stepped forward, his eyes blazing with righteous indignation. "No, sir. That wasn't medicine, it was poison," he declared.

The chief miner's expression darkened at the accusation, his features contorted with anger. "Huh? Who are you to call me 'sir'?" he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Address me properly as 'chief'."

Lantana bristled at the insult, her fists clenched at her sides as she fought to contain her rising fury. "Hey, this man has no manner at all. Also arrogance." she snapped, her voice a sharp retort against the chief miner's arrogance.

Adibahari moved swiftly to calm his friend, his hand gentle upon her shoulder as he whispered words of caution. "Lantana, don't. We don't know what he might do next," he urged.

But the chief miner was not finished with his tirade, his gaze shifting to Lantana with a mix of disdain and amusement. "What did you say?" he sneered, his voice a cruel taunt as he mocked her presence.

Adibahari's grip tightened on Lantana's shoulder, his expression tense with apprehension as he sought to defuse the escalating tension. "Sir, please forgive my friend," he pleaded. "We are actually master Lala's student. We are here to help you guys to solve this problem."

The chief miner's smirk faltered for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he considered their request. "Solve this problem? Are you kidding?" His voice was full of sarcasm, making it clear he didn't take them seriously.

"Are your master making fun of us by sending kids to deal with big problems? No need. You're just wasting your time here. You'd be better off playing with your friends than getting involved in grown-up stuff."

Adibahari stood tall, unfazed by the chief's insults. "I'm not wasting time. You know people are getting sick because of this project. That's why I need to talk to the ones in charge."

"Hmph," the chief grunted, showing his arrogance. "You think they'll listen to you? You're just a kid and a Tias. You're like annoying flies buzzing around to them."

Adibahari stayed calm. "Maybe I'm fly, but don't flies gather where there's dirt? And do you know how get rid of them?"

The chief looked uncertain. "By getting rid of the dirt?"

Lantana stepped forward boldly. "Exactly," she said firmly. "And you're the dirt. It's time to clean up."

But the chief didn't care. "Why should I bother?" he said coldly. "I just follow orders. Don't expect any help from me." With a dismissive wave, he turned his back on them, showing he didn't care at all.

Adibahari felt a surge of frustration but kept his composure. He exchanged a glance with Lantana, silently urging her to remain calm.