Past History

A sense of wonder washed over me as I listened to Nyi Roro Kidul speak. The ancient glyphs, the hidden history of the Unveiled, the complex relationship between our families and the Seers - it was all so much to take in.

"But why was this knowledge hidden?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "Why did Wali Ra Kian go into hiding?"

Nyi Roro Kidul's expression turned somber. "It was a time of great turmoil and persecution. The Seers, fearful of the Unveiled's power, sought to eliminate them. They hunted us down, forcing us to flee and conceal our true identities."

"But Wali Ra Kian was not just a warrior. He was a scholar, a philosopher, a seeker of knowledge. He believed that the true power of the Unveiled lay not in brute force, but in understanding and harmony with the spiritual realm," she continued, her voice filled with admiration.

Were there schools back then? I wondered, a fleeting thought crossing my mind.

"He sought to bridge the gap between the Unveiled and the Seers, to create a world where both could coexist peacefully," Nyi Roro Kidul said, her eyes twinkling with a wistful light. "But his efforts were in vain. The Seers were too consumed by their fear and hatred."

"So he went into hiding, hoping to protect his family and preserve the knowledge of the Unveiled for future generations," I finished the sentence, a sense of sadness washing over me.

Nyi Roro Kidul nodded. "Indeed. And now, it is your turn, Xian Ying. You are the descendant of Wali Ra Kian, the heir to his legacy. It is up to you to carry on his mission, to unite the Unveiled and the Seers, and to restore balance to the world."

A wave of determination surged through me. I was ready to embrace my destiny, to fulfill the promise of my ancestors, and to create a world where all beings could live in harmony.

"...But why do the Seers hate us so much?" I asked, still puzzled by the ancient conflict.

She chuckled softly. "It is because they believe we, the Unveiled, are a threat to the world... a second generation of humans with magical abilities."

"Who was the first?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

"Some people in Babylonia, in that era," she replied cryptically.

"Babylonia?" I echoed, trying to recall my history lessons. "That's... ancient Mesopotamia, right?"

Nyi Roro Kidul nodded. "Indeed. It was a time of great power and upheaval, a time when the lines between the human world and the Otherworld were blurred."

She walked closer to me and raised her hand, conjuring a shimmering silhouette made of water. It was the image of a man, tall and muscular, with a regal bearing and a stern expression.

"This is Gilgamesh," she declared, her voice echoing through the chamber.

"Gilgamesh was a legendary king of Uruk, a city-state in ancient Mesopotamia," Nyi Roro Kidul began, her voice echoing through the chamber. "He was a demigod, two-thirds divine and one-third human, possessing immense strength, wisdom, and charisma."

Her watery figure of Gilgamesh shimmered, then morphed into another form, this one a regal figure with a stern expression and a crown upon his head.

"Then came King Nimrod," Nyi Roro Kidul continued. "During his reign, black magic spread across the land, corrupting the hearts of men and twisting the balance of nature."

With a graceful gesture, she summoned another image from the water, this one depicting two winged figures, their forms radiating light and power.

"Harut and Marut," she proclaimed. "Two angels descended from the heavens to the people of Babylonia, teaching them the arts of magic to protect themselves from the darkness that threatened to engulf them."

"But the angels warned the people," Nyi Roro Kidul continued, her voice taking on a cautionary tone. "They said, 'We are only a test for you. Do not fall into disbelief by using this magic for evil.' However, some people ignored their warnings and abused the knowledge for selfish gains."

"They sought to control and manipulate others, to gain power and wealth at any cost," she added. "Their actions led to a great imbalance, a rift between the human world and the spiritual realm."

Nyi Roro Kidul paused, her eyes filled with sorrow. "The consequences were dire," she said. "The land was ravaged by war and famine, and the people suffered greatly. The angels, witnessing the chaos and destruction, realized their mistake and ascended back to the heavens."

"But the damage had already been done," she continued. "The knowledge of magic had spread, and those who craved power continued to practice it in secret."

"...What happened next?" I asked, captivated by the tale.

"The secret knowledge was passed down through generations, whispered from one person to another," Nyi Roro Kidul explained. "But as time went on, the true meaning of the magic was lost, and people began to fear and persecute those who possessed it. Witches were hunted, their powers suppressed, and their knowledge driven underground."

"But they weren't completely eradicated," she added. "Some of them survived, hiding in the shadows and passing down their gifts to their descendants. Most of those descendants can only see ghosts but can't do anything about it. However, there are rare individuals, perhaps only 0.1% of the population, who inherit the full power of their ancestors. Those are the Unveiled, like you, Xian."

I nodded, the weight of my heritage pressing down on me. I was part of a lineage that stretched back to ancient times, a lineage that had been both revered and feared.

"But how did the Seers come to have these powers?" I asked, still trying to piece together the fragments of history.

Nyi Roro Kidul's smile faded, a shadow passing over her face. "The first descendant of the Seers," she said, her voice heavy with regret, "was actually... one of our own family. A traitor."

I leaned in, my curiosity piqued.

"His name was Ra Wijaya," Nyi Roro Kidul revealed, her voice heavy with sorrow. "He was a skilled warrior and a charismatic leader, eventually becoming a king in his own right. The glyphs tell of his conquests, his victories over neighboring kingdoms. But in truth, those kingdoms were ruled by our own family... by your ancestor, Wali Ra Kian."

"He betrayed us," she continued, her voice filled with a quiet anger. "Ra Wijaya believed that a world without magic would be a better world, a more peaceful world. He sought to eliminate us, to eradicate our powers, but he failed. Your ancestor had already gone into hiding, taking the knowledge of the Unveiled with him."

"So Ra Wijaya was the first Seer?" I asked, trying to piece together the fragmented history.

< Chapter 076> Fin.