Jasmine Statue

‘To become god is the greatest achievement of them all’; the crowd equally thought.

The booming sounds of newly polished gendang filled the serene air of the castle, flooding the ears of watchers alike in the crowd. With the flick of the wrist and a turn of a neck, the hologram dancer allowed for the gamelan to possess her body, eyes stretched wide as she bore holes to the atmosphere that watched her.

Through golden yellow eyes, an archon watched her every movement, from swaying arms to the background behind revealing his city. The divine being sat on his throne with spread legs, head leaning on fisted knuckles.

Heaving a bored sigh, he glanced at the guards who stood tall by his side, holding large guns in display of authority and protection. The androids held almost a cold expression, perhaps as bored as he was. It was only from the clapping of hands was his attention pulled away from the robotic humanoids, now to the bowing dancer. He too clapped, a forced smile stretched upon his features.

People crowded the doors to leave the building, for now the opening for the awaited festival has come to a close.


And as the bustling noise ceased, he stood from the golden throne and walked through the castle walls, slowly diving into the darkness. Then with a snap of his fingers did the corridors light up, screens sat atop the wallpaper; showing loops of theatrical puppet performance he acquaints to wayang. Yet they did not entertain him, instead he continued to rush towards the back gates, where the garden sat.

There the archon saw what could truly enthrall him.

The taller male brushed a strand of dark hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “Tell me Padmasari, what does it mean to become a ruler?” Jayanegara suddenly asked, surprising the short female. She responded with a smile and sat back on the bench, the archon following to sit beside her. Picking up the wayang, Padmasari continued to work on the paper craft. “To me, a ruler is someone who knows he is no better than the people he watches over, a humble man so to speak”

Jayanegara looked off to the scenery in front, skyscrapers standing tall and high but not racing hard enough to reach the heights of his castle temple. “Then what am I? For being such a selfish ruler”.



Padmasari continued to work on the wayang in her hands, unbothered. Reassuring words leaving her chapped lips; “What is better – To be born good,” She looked up to meet the deities’ gaze “Or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?”

His fingers twitched listening to those words leaving her lips, a grin plastered across her face. “My devotion to you stands above all, Jayanegara”.

Adoration pouring through his eyes, Jayanegara slowly grabbed her chin with his index, pulling her view towards him. Slowly, the man leaned in closer, eyes turning half-lidded. Padmasari only stared back, mind blank.

“Your Honor! There are people asking to see you” With a growl under his breath, Jayanegara reluctantly pulled away, only to stand up from his seat. He looked back at the women’s avoiding gaze.

The archon heaved a sigh before walking to the door, where his android servant stood. Slowly dissolving back into the hallway.

The atmosphere tensed, the woman trying to search for an excuse. Prosthetic legs moved for allowing her father to sit beside his daughter, patting the small of her back. In silence, they could almost hear the arguments of grouped men outside. “Your natural beauty granted us a home in this sacred temple” Her father started, “But you should never abuse the power of privilege”. The raven haired woman leaned into Bagaspati’s comforting touch as he continued to stare off into the hallway, where the screaming dispute suddenly fell into silence. “We kneel before his throne unaware it was born on lies”.

Minutes have passed ever since Jayanegara sat once again on his throne, knuckles turning into a white shade as he stared at the screaming men. It infected his ear like a parasitic worm; they were only pests to him.

A small group of nuisance collected beneath his chair, screaming and spewing words against his laws. He could only stare down in disgust. ‘They were only a small percent from those who truly worship my name’. The screaming grew, some breaking down into tears. ‘If they were gone, my people could live in more peace’. The crowd now broke into a fit of sorrow, clutching the sides of their skull. ‘They will only taint my name’.

The men that first denied Jayanegara of his glory now screamed in dismay, cobblestone forming from their foot up, engulfing them into silence. Slowly but surely, the stone cracked, like seeing a newborn chick hatching from its egg. What now replaced the people were statues made solely of jasmine flower, reminiscent of their figures.

The androids took the statues and carried them outside the castle doors, untroubled from the burdening weight. Jayanegara stared off into the sky. “Tomorrow is finally the sacrificial ceremony” He mumbled to himself, eyes now covered in a daydream. “Padmasari.. my soon beloved wife”.

-

The people gathered around, like a bustling circle. In the middle, stood Padmasari with many other women, head decorated with patterned omproks. Soon the gongs started to play and their bodies moved together with the music, drones encircled the dancing woman like hawks, recording their movement for the many people at home to witness. Everyone watched in awe of their beauty, never missing the most alluring Padmasari who impressed spectators.

Behind them stood a large temple, made using sturdy andesite. And as the music came to a close, so followed their gandrung dance. The woman lined up in front of the opened temple gates, rich in sandalwood. Padmasari could now clearly hear the cries of her father since the melodies stopped, telling her to come back to him. The only things separating them were the arms of an android that held the elder back.



Without a hint of hesitance, she walked into the sacred building, doors now coming to a close with a booming noise. The crowd bowed in silence as fire now engulfed the temple, the smell of jasmine all filling their noses.

Silence grew on the atmosphere, sticking like branches. Only the crackling of fire and flying drones could be heard, the cries of a lowly father also dissolving itself to the peaceful ambience.

But the peace became temporary as the crunching of dried leaves approached the crowd, belonging to that of the esteemed archon, Jayanegara. Golden yellow eyes stared at the burning building, frozen in shock at the witness of his now withered Padmasari.

The male could almost smell her scent from the strong jasmine, realizing full well that her deceased lover was made to be this year’s sacrifice, much to his disapprove.

He fell to his knees as the people around him screamed in agony, all turning into stone. Some tried to flee whilst others faced even the wrath of his androids and their weaponised guns. A rain of jasmine petals fell across East Java. Mortals whose skin touches the poisoned petals will turn into stone along with their families, a punishment from the archon himself. The ground now polished with figures of jasmine trees shaped to that of his followers.

The town of East Java fell into corruption, machineries dying and androids deactivating. It was a dead town in an instant.

“To become god is the loneliest achievement of them all.”

Lanjut Cerita Lain