Kanjira: Woo-hoo! Alright, sit tight!
Kanjira: Let's GO!!
Matilda: Waaaaah?!
Villager 1: coughs You little jk again! Dn it, Sinha, for one last time, don't borrow that annoying human thing to her!
The bright-yellow tuk tuk drifts in a beautiful arc on the soft road, the brown sand kicked up in the air covering up the curses of the passer-by.
Matilda: Slow down, slow down! We are going too fast!
Matilda: Waaaah! Is this thing really under control?!
Kanjira: Hey!
As the tuk tuk roars along, the marigold petals are flying wildly in the wind.
Kanjira: Not yet best part! Hold that bar tight!
Matilda: Waaah ...
Matilda: Whuu ... phew ...
Kanjira: Woo-hoo! How you feel, my guest?
Matilda: ...
Matilda: vomits
Kanjira: Oh, I'm sorry. You must not be used to this. Here, use it.
As Kanjira passes over the hem of her skirt, Matilda takes out a handkerchief from her pocket in silence.
Kanjira: If you want your silk dirty. Fine, you look very decent after all.
Kanjira: And, here it is.
The shrine is apparently an old one, judging by the worn bricks. The smell of sticky spices in the air is almost suffocating.
Matilda: What's this smell? Is it ... coughs
Kanjira: Smell of full white musk and sanders, calming palo santo and cinnamon. Hah! You feel your chakra open?
Kanjira: But, I can also smell, hmm, a lot of mango. That smells good.
Kanjira glances at the stone wall to measure its height and then nods.
Kanjira: Okay. Jump over this wall, and we are in!
Matilda: Jump over it?! I thought there is at least a hidden side door!
Kanjira: To see the closed cave, you must pay a price!
Matilda: Ah. So this is your "local connections"!
Kanjira: Um. Well, that mean tuk tuk, my guest! No tuk tuk this village is faster than that! Uncle Sinha is not so nice and lend me if I don't give him my lunch money!
Kanjira: My route don't need entrance ticket! Shouldn't you give me credit?
Even if she is busted, Kanjira is not embarrassed at all. On the contrary, she looks a bit proud. She puts her hands together to form a temporary "stepping stone."
Kanjira: Now come! Although I think you don't like this "rude" behavi- ...
Matilda: Humph!
Ignoring the "stepping stone," Matilda raises her arms and jumps up the wall deftly.
Kanjira: Hmm?
Matilda: I was thoughtful and considerate enough not to wipe my nose on your skirt, yet you repay my kindness with contempt. Climbing over a wall of this height is really a piece of cake!
Matilda: So? Do you need a hand getting up here?
Matilda looks down proudly from the top of the wall.
Kanjira: ...
Kanjira: Huh! Weirdo.
The shrine is shrouded in thick smoke and packed with pious believers, resembling a legged cloud with the smell of spices.
The two small figures sneak into the shadow in the corner while avoiding the believers in their way.
Matilda: I don't know what this skulking was for! You'd better not be lying!
Kanjira: Nom nom.
Matilda: Hey, what's that in your hand?!
Kanjira: You want a bite? The prayers are so pious, so don't worry, the fruits is tasty! Nom nom, like I expect, so sweet.
Matilda: When did you ... Did you take it from the offerings?!
Kanjira: Don't mind! Manka, come back.
A little black snake creeps up her arm quietly.
Kanjira: By the way, I hope you is not afraid of snakes. I'm a special kind.
Matilda: And I'm curious about what exactly you are referring to. Specially rude, or specially annoying?
Kanjira: Why so angr- ... I mean, um, I'm arcanist. Hope I don't scare you. Relax, I'm not like others.
Matilda: Are you serious? Can't you tell I'm also an excellent, one of the best, arcanist?
Matilda jumps up with a jerk out of excitement, but then she notices the crowds and has to crouch down again very quickly.
Matilda: So you were lying to me! Spoke about all those good virtues you can see in me.
Kanjira: Hey! It's not my fault! You doesn't look like one!
Kanjira drops the mango core and scans Matilda in slight surprise.
Kanjira: I thought all arcanists except me are like ...
Matilda: Like what?
Kanjira: Like the villagers, those old mans, yell when they see humans, like annoying monkeys or crowing chickens. They even drive humans away, don't care they is here to help.
Kanjira: Why you think only the train station is tidy and clean? Humans in other places is all drive away!
Kanjira: I'm not like them because ... Anyways, I never thought there is more arcanist like me.
Kanjira speaks in a quiet voice. A confused look appears on her face.
Matilda: Humph, if you ask me, I'd say you read too little and know too little.
Matilda: I suggest you follow my example and adopt the style of a real arcanist.
Kanjira: Fine, fine! Oh, Manka say there is just a few people outside, so up your head, stay confident, and walk out like we paid!
Matilda: ...
Matilda: Have you been listening or not?!
Following Kanjira, Matilda goes through the smoke and arrives at the entrance to the cave.
Kanjira: Ha! Nice. Nobody around as usual!
Kanjira: But I still suggest you be careful, since ... Hmm, I understand the damage when digging. Just don't involve me if you must break something!
Matilda looks up, not hearing a word of her mutter.
Matilda: So this is "the Head of Vindre"?
The top of the cave looks like a black hole. No one knows where it will lead or what it will devour.
Kanjira: Tsk tsk, dark and scary. But this is what must go through on the way to treasure, just like you must say "Open Sesame," right?
Matilda: I really don't know what to make of this "treasure" you've been mumbling about. I hope you didn't get the wrong idea.
Kanjira: Ah. I see what you mean here. Relax. I will zip my lips and tell no one.
She zips her mouth shut and nods sincerely.
Kanjira: I'll just stay here, then. Everything good luck!
Matilda: Ah? Anyway, despite all the strange things you've been talking about along the way, you have successfully taken me here as promised. I guess here is where we part! Thank you.
After bidding her goodbye, Matilda turns around to walk toward the cave while browsing the documents in her hand.
Soon she is devoured by the bottomless darkness.
Kanjira: Sincerest wishes to you, my brave guest! Whether a giant snake or dragon, as long as you find the legendary treasure, we'll meet again! Hee hee.
Footsteps echo inside the cave like a piece of poorly composed percussion music.
Matilda: This mural seems to be related to that myth! Here, on this paper! Let me see.
There is a huge mural carved on the wall, spreading to the end of her sight.
She turns the pages of the notebook quickly.
Matilda: Found it! "Before the Serpent struck in night sky, the stone house of Asura rose to the north of the Head of Vindre."
Matilda: "The master of the stone has acted, with countless feet, with countless eyes, to trip, to pry, in bringing the blessed house of men to rest."
Matilda: Wow, impressive! Perhaps this is the origin of some arcane creature.
Matilda: "The Serpent struck," that is to say, the best time to practice on the celestial energy is when the comet goes across the sky?
Matilda: "Long darkness reaches the men as the Serpent's tail reveals itself. Some are sent down the great slopes and never return ..."
Matilda: "... for desire is the infallible devourer. "
Matilda: Desire, hmm, I should meditate before practice.
Matilda: "The circle of everything ends at the tip of the great tail, all ..."
THUD!
Matilda: ...!
The echo has disappeared.
Behind her, there is nothing but boundless darkness.
Matilda: Did I hear it wrong?
Matilda: No ...
Matilda: Come into the light! Who, who is there?
Her voice ripples out. Its echoes and the echoes of the echoes reverberate between the walls of the cave.
There is no response.
Matilda: This doesn't seem right.
Matilda: Was this statue posing like this earlier?
While Matilda is still wondering, the statues in her sights start to move.
Matilda: Aah!
The benevolent-looking statues, which were sitting in lotus position, are now struggling in a twisted way to break free from the wall.
Matilda: Not good! Time to retreat.
She turns around immediately and runs toward the exit, yet the ground is pulling her back like a rolling carpet.
Matilda: What?! Aah!
She can feel her chin hitting hard against the rock.
One arm, two, three, and more of them are growing out from both sides of the statues, each with a glossy eyeball embedded within.
Matilda: What? What is this!
Following the slight noise, every eye turns to the girl lying on the ground.
Matilda: Oh! Hurry up. Get yourself together! Think what you have learned and practiced in the past!

Open your eyes to see the future that we know?

The Stargazers