The cart finally arrived at the edge of the stone cliff. They saw the terrace section of the giant snail shell curving gracefully, resembling a hat. To the right, left, and front of the terrace were horse hitching posts that curved along the lip of the cliff's edge.
On the outer courtyard, colorful decorations filled the space. Small dark-red flags hung from ropes strung between every corner. Several large flags featuring a symbol of crossed swords inside a yellowish seashell illustration were neatly arranged above the entrance.
"Thank you, Sir, for the ride..." Agniran climbed down from the cart, followed by Handoko and Joko.
"Lha iyo... Le... Podo-podo..." ("You're welcome, boys...")
The three young men looked cheerful. Seeing a building and a place they had never visited before felt both challenging and mysterious in their minds.
Handoko looked up, his eyes gazing far toward the tip of the shell's peak, where a flag fluttered against the darkening sky. "I didn't expect a magnificent building like this to exist in a vast place like Lataran Ijo..."
Joko bumped his shoulder against Agniran, who was stepping toward the building's terrace, glowing with the dim light of oil lamps. He smiled broadly. "What kind of place is this?"
They walked together. A few horseback riders had just arrived, heading toward the hitching posts. Up ahead, they saw a large, curved wooden sign framed with an engraving that supported a lantern. Inside its antique frame, illuminated by the yellowish light of the lantern, raised Javanese script popped out reading: "Warung dan Pondok Kecot" (Kecot Tavern and Lodge).
As the day grew dark, they walked across the broad, grassy courtyard bathed in twilight shadows. They also passed a long cloth banner reading "Selamat Tahun Panandha" (Happy Panandha Year). Below it, small oil lamps hung from ropes stretched along the length of the banner.
"So this is a warung, huh?" Handoko's wide smile turned toward Agniran. "I thought it was a museum."
They opened the main door of the tavern. The spacious, concave room immediately welcomed them, bathed in the golden glow of a cluster of oil lamps hanging high, resembling a bunch of fruit dangling from the ceiling of the shell. Directly beneath them stood a large round table surrounded by old wooden stools. Its surface had grown glossy with age, yet it still looked sturdy and comfortable to sit on.
Near the entrance, a small wooden stage served as a space for several gamelan musicians playing gentle melodies. The clinking of the saron blended with the resonance of the kenong and kendang, flowing softly to fill every corner of the room without drowning out the chatter of the guests. The tavern felt alive... reasonably lively yet not noisy—filled with soft laughter, the clinking of earthenware cups, and the occasional call of servers bringing dishes.
Several patrons were immersed in their own affairs at the round tables scattered around the main table. From the central round table, the aroma of warm broth, freshly ground spices, and steaming tea slowly enveloped the room, bringing a sense of warmth and familiarity that made anyone feel as though they had just returned home to a place they had long known.
"Welcome..." A woman with two braided pigtails resting on her chest greeted them, carrying a tray filled with earthenware bowls and glasses.
The young woman smiled warmly. Her round, chubby face gave off a cute yet pretty charm. A few golden snail beads decorated her hair, matching the dark-red sequined kemben (breast cloth) she wore.
"My, I know where you boys are from..." The girl with the two braids looked at the three young men who had just walked in, her hands having just finished serving guests at a table who ordered food.
With her slender, delicate palm propped against her clean, fair, chubby cheek, while her other arm cradled the wooden tray tucked under her side, she smiled to draw their attention. "You boys are so handsome...?"
She stepped closer to them. "Are all students from Padepokan Agungdhijoyo as handsome as you three?"
The three of them remained silent, a bit confused at being greeted so warmly and intimately.
The woman leaned closer, coyly swaying her body toward Handoko. "Alright then, please pick a seat..." Her delicate eyes darted toward Handoko, who gave a nervous, trembling smile. "I'll prepare dinner for you..." Her smile broadened as she looked over at Agniran and Joko. "Please... make yourselves comfortable..."
She turned and walked slowly toward the large round table in the middle of the room. Agniran began to take the lead, walking toward an empty table and bench ahead of them.
"Ag, is it expensive here?" "I'm worried we don't have enough money..." Handoko whispered softly.
"We'll just order what we need..." Agniran replied.
They sat on a curved bench attached to the polished round wooden table. The bench was lined with dark-red velvet cushions.
"It's so comfortable here..." Handoko's eyes swept across the room, where the entire interior followed the natural curve of the shell. There were no sharp corners anywhere. The walls were adorned with softly curved, polished wood, giving the atmosphere a warm feel that differed from ordinary buildings.
"Here is the menu." The woman stood beside the bench, her hands neatly folded in front of her, appearing polite and courteous.
They leaned closer, looking at the antique wooden menu plaque resting near a small pot of leafy green plants on the table.
"I'll have ginger coffee..." Joko looked up at the woman, who responded with a flirtatious smile.
"Ginger milk," Agniran added.
"I'll take iced orange juice..." Handoko raised his hand.
"Oh, you're not eating?" The woman took the menu plaque and examined it carefully with sharp eyes. "It says right here: soto, pecel, nasi kering, sego tiwul, fried snacks..." She looked at the three of them. "And you're only ordering drinks?"
"Yes..." Agniran answered briefly.
"Why? Aren't you hungry?" The woman turned around and walked away.
A short man wearing a black blangkon with sumping ear ornaments carried a box as he slowly descended the spiral staircase that followed the contours of the shell wall. He then appeared busy at the round table in the center of the room.
"Hey," a man in his mid-twenties joined them, sitting down on the bench with the three young men.
"You're from Wijonayem, right?" His stern gaze locked onto Joko, his forehead wrapped in a black udheng headband, partially covered at the edges by his shoulder-length hair.
"That's right," replied Agniran, sitting next to Joko.
"Did you see Sakadian yesterday?" The man placed both hands on the table.
"Yes, we witnessed it," Agniran replied warmly.
"Do you know what that means?"
"Of course, why do you ask?" Handoko chimed in beside Agniran.
"Right." The man straightened his back. "Someone used a sacred heirloom to save a village, but how were they rewarded?" The man leaned his face closer. "They executed him!"
"Yes, we already know that," Agniran replied. "Someone already told us."
"Is that so? Good then..."
"So what goes through your mind after hearing the news?" The man's voice was deep, his gaze convincing.
Handoko tilted his head, thinking it over. "Why does it matter? The heirloom user was punished for breaking the law. So it's only fair."
The man's hand swiftly grabbed Handoko's wrist, making him feel uncomfortable.
Joko instinctively stood up. "Hey..."
Agniran quickly touched Joko's waist, trying to de-escalate the situation.
"He used the heirloom to save lives!" The man's face was nearly touching Handoko's.
Slowly, the man released his grip. "Someone saved lives. All you do is count his violation."
He stood up. "I wonder who here has truly lost their heart."
Without waiting for an answer, the man turned away and walked back toward his group.