In the midst of political intrigue and warfare during the founding of the Majapahit Kingdom, Jagat Wengi, a cunning and individualistic 25-year-old book thief, takes center stage. As he navigates the treacherous landscapes of both the martial arts world and the royal court, Jagat Wengi undergoes a remarkable transformation from villain to Anti-Hero. Torn between conflicting loyalties and a quest for redemption, he becomes known as “The Mute of The Demon Cave” after a fateful encounter leaves him voiceless. Armed with secret arts and fueled by revenge, Jagat Wengi embarks on a perilous journey to seek justice against those who betrayed him. Blending elements of fantasy, including magic, mysticism, and local myths, this historical fiction offers an enthralling tale of power, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of goodness in a world steeped in darkness.
The open window was immediately closed by a gust of wind of unknown origin. Jagat could not continue his steps, not because of the threat from Kebo Galungan's wife, but because the blow was so strong that it pulled his body backward.
This force was something that the five senses could not comprehend. He could not defend himself with his special abilities. However, this copy of the book was already in their hands. There was only one thing for the thief to do, and that was to escape as quickly as possible.
Jagat diverted his escape route by pointing his body at the door. He saw Kebo Galungan's wife still in a meditative posture. She was sitting cross-legged with her hair flowing.
He was sure that the voice he had heard earlier was this woman's, but why was she still calm in her position?
Who had threatened him earlier?
He didn't want to look any further. His main target was the door to this room, which he could open from the inside. Whatever this woman was doing, it was clearly a magical knowledge that only the students of Calon Arang possessed.
The door was already open and Jagat felt calm because the incident at the window was not repeated, but it was only a momentary thought because when he arrived outside the room, in the living room to be exact, he found a figure standing upright without a single thread covering her body, her hair flowing so long that it covered her hanging breasts.
He approached her without running or walking. On the floor of the room, her body moved quickly towards him while she grinned angrily at Jagat.
"Damn you! Bastard demon!
The naked woman had already spread her hands. She was about to strangle him, but Jagat dodged by rolling forward to get past the demoness' body.
But his action pushed him further away from the exit.
Jagat tried to understand the situation in the house. All he knew was that Kebo Galungan's wife was still in her room. That meant who this creepy naked woman was.
Jagat's position was unfavorable as he was pressed against the wall of the house far from the exit. But that didn't mean there wasn't another door. Or maybe a window.
A window! A window!
Jagat would jump out through the window, or maybe the house had a back door in the kitchen.
The first attempt had to be made before the demon woman could fight back.
Half running, Jagat made his move before jumping towards the fragile window. But the demon was faster, moving her arms. From a distance, she slammed Jagat's body into the wall.
*Crash!
Before Jagat could revive himself, his body was lifted by the demon's remote control. Then it was lowered again. For the second time, Jagat began to think about directing his body towards the window so that he could jump out.
This demoness only controlled his body, not his other organs. The proof was that his hands could still move to hold his body from the hard impact.
Therefore, when his body was lifted up again, Jagat kicked the wall of the house so that his body could bounce off and hit the window.
And it worked!
The window broke with a loud bang. Jagat fell to the ground and immediately got up. Like the previous incident, this village was very sensitive to noise. He didn't want the villagers to see his struggle here.
Jagat stood up and stared at the window that had been smashed. The demoness just stared at him with very frightening eyes.
"Crazy demoness. Just watch out, when I master stealth one day, I will destroy you all."
Some of the neighboring houses had already turned on their lights, and Jagat, his face still covered by the cloth, immediately galloped toward the hills where his horse was tied.
At the top of the hill, he stared at the houses of the village of Wijen and vowed never to return to that village until he had mastered the knowledge in the Book of Demons.
All that mattered now was that the book was in his hands. Jagat mounted his horse and headed for Tuban, the home of Ki Wardiman.
The old doctor knew exactly what the Book of Demons was because Sabrang Panuluh had shown it to him, but somehow one thing stuck in his mind during the fight against the demon woman.
Something was missing from his eyes as his body was controlled. Slammed up and down repeatedly. And this memory made her gasp in shock.
In the high speed of his horse, he stopped abruptly and checked the book under his shirt, and it was true.
The book was gone!
"Hiaaaaaaah!
Jagat's scream of rage was so loud. Fortunately, he was at a deserted village crossroads. Perhaps only the nocturnal animals at the edge of the forest or bushes could hear his screams.
Jagat dismounted and kicked a small stone on the road. It hit the tall weeds. Venting his anger at whatever was there.
Thieves do not return to the same place. Once you fail, you fail. This was the second time he had come, and there was no way he would come to the village a third time.
"Damn it! Damned demon woman! Cursed witch!
Jagat sat limply on the sandy, dusty road. He didn't want to go anywhere just yet. He enjoyed the darkness of the night, which would soon be illuminated by the sun from the east.
The morning rush would begin. The sound of buffalo plowing the fields would be heard. Jagat wanted to stay and enjoy the noisy morning.
"Thieves like you are predictable. You must have returned to this place."
Tantra's voice cut through the noise of the morning birds.
"Defenders like you are also easily tricked into following thieves like me around here."
"How could a beautiful girl like Gendis like you?"
"Perhaps you are less beautiful than me, Tantra."
"Hahaha... Stand up. Mr. Mandana would like to see you. He has something to ask you."
Jagat finally turned his head slowly towards Tantra. It turned out that he wasn't alone. The five soldiers behind him followed faithfully.
"I am already tired. Just give my regards to Mr. Mandana."
"It's about the missing little children. You've met Wirahasa before. Perhaps you can provide some additional information."
Of course, Jagat had a lot of information. Long before he had met Mandana and the others.
"Okay. But there are conditions."
"Tell me..." Tantra let out a deep sigh, as though he wasn't taken aback by Jagat's request for terms.
"I want your soldiers to stand guard at Ki Wardiman's house."
"That's easy."
Tantra looked calmly at his soldiers. "You heard the request. Hurry to Ki Wardiman's house.
"Anything else?" asked Tantra.
"Buy me some clean clothes. These are stained with De..."
"With whom?"
"Never mind. Let's go to the market and buy some clothes. How about it?"
Jagat couldn't possibly tell Tantra that he had just fought a naked, crazy demon.
Jagat's meeting with Mandana took place at the headquarters of his newly formed group. The name of the group was Mandakini. A clan that would unite all white warriors.
The place is very remote. Far from the hustle and bustle of the village and the city of Kediri. The place that would be their power base against the Mahidara Clan of Ulagan and their supporters from the black sect.
The base was located on the banks of a small river with two towering hills. Several archery posts had been placed on the hills for security.
Mandana informed Jagat that young children were mysteriously disappearing from several villages in the Kediri region. Some former Kediri warriors who had joined Majapahit said they had been assigned the task by Panewu.
He suspects that this mission was continued by Wirahasa for reasons that are not yet clear.
"It was not Wirahasa's plan, but Ulagan's. He wants to make an army out of little children."
"How do you know this?"
"It doesn't matter how I know, because I was asked to kidnap the children myself."
"You rotten bastard!" shouted Tantra in anger.
Jagat mentioned several names of Panewu, who had now fallen with the Majapahit invasion of the Kediri palace.
"So they prepared small children to be easily influenced and follow them?"
"What is going on? How many children are missing?" asked Jagat.
"Nearly ten villages have reported. Maybe dozens or even hundreds," Mandana replied.
"Since when?"
"Within the last month."
Tantra suspected that the new job Wisesa had offered him must have had something to do with it. But he couldn't tell Mandana about his friend because he would be involved.
He could ask one of his team members, Darka, in the village of Hilar Segra.
But...stolen,stolen, Ahhh. He should just go back to Ki Wardiman's house and forget all this trouble.
Jagat was very confused because he didn't know what to do now. The copy of the Demon Tablet was not stolen, and the person associated with it was now standing in front of him.
Jagat asked so as not to be haunted by curiosity.
"Lord Mandana. This is about the copy of the Demon Book. You knew from the beginning that the copy was not in Wisesa's possession but in Kebo Galungan's. Why did you send me there?"
"That's right, Jagat. I originally asked you to steal it from Kebo Galungan, but after I heard about the children's disappearance, I wanted you to go there."
"But... Why didn't you just tell me to ask for the children?"
"To make Wisesa think you're his ally."
"Without knowing it, you're working as a spy, Jagat." Tantra immediately cut off Jagat's questions, which seemed to be coming out a lot. "Never mind. It's true, Wirahasa is behind it all. Now there are only criminals in the field. Who is working?"
"Do you know?" asked Mandana.
"I will double the guard at Ki Wardiman's house. Swordsmen from the Mandakini clan will also help. Come, Jagat. Who are the players on the field?"
"I must see Darka for that information." Jagat kept Wisesa's name out of his mouth.
"Alright. What do you need?"
"I just want Ki Wardiman and his son taken care of, Mr. Mandana."
"That's easy. We will meet all the needs of Ki Wardiman's house. Now go to Darka and find out."