“Why are you daydreaming? Do you feel uncomfortable if you have to hug me down this slope? Trust me Dewi, I will not take a chance on what we are going to do. That is the only way if we want to get out of this cave, if you are reluctant to hug me, how about I hug you and you hold on to the tree roots? He... He... He..!”
Arya's blunt remark made Sri Mahadewi not only moved by her daydream when she saw the steep cliff but also blushed because of it.
“Eh, what are you talking about? Who is uncomfortable, let's do it now!”
Sri Mahadewi tried to cover up her feelings which were indeed very uncomfortable and embarrassed if she had to hug the handsome young man in front of her, until she spoke like that.
Arya smiled when he heard it.
“Okay, now you wait here, I will take the tree roots first.”
Arya said then jumped grabbing the tree root that hung down to the valley, then quickly he darted to the cave wall that had broken while holding the tree root in his right hand.
For a moment Arya watched the beautiful woman in front of him, just to make sure whether the princess of the Singosari Kingdom was really ready.
"Come on Dewi, you do what I said earlier! If you feel afraid because the slope we are going down is very steep, just close your eyes."
Sri Mahadewi just nodded her head, then she pressed her body against Arya. She put both her hands around the warrior's neck, after considering everything was ready Arya jumped down while holding on to the tree root.
At first they seemed to be swinging on the tree root, but then Arya's hand that was holding the tree root slowly went down until their bodies went down too.
Sri Mahadewi opened her eyes, her face was so close to the warrior's face but their gazes did not clash because Arya was really focused on the root that was in his grasp.
Countless times a sweet smile appeared on the lips of the princess of the Singosari Kingdom, her heart was so full of joy when the young man who had made her heart beat last night was now in her tight embrace.
She seemed not to want to reach the bottom of the valley quickly, she wanted to linger with Arya hanging on the tree roots.
The beautiful girl's two beautiful eyes seemed to be closed, absorbing the warmth of the embrace of the young man who she not only considered a hero because he had saved her but was also able to make her heart tremble feeling something she had never expected before.
"Dewi..! Are you asleep? We've arrived at the bottom of the valley!"
Arya's exclamation stirred her daydream and made the beautiful girl's eyes open, she was completely carried away by her beautiful imagination that she didn't realize that her two feet had touched the ground at the bottom of the hill valley.
"Oh, we've arrived at the valley apparently. Sorry, I was so scared earlier I didn't realize because I always closed my eyes."
Sri Mahadewi said, but again she didn't realize that at that time she was still hugging Arya's neck.
When the beautiful princess saw Arya release his grip on the tree roots, that was when with a blushing face she released her arms around Arya's neck. The warrior just smiled, seeing the awkward attitude of the princess of the Singosari Kingdom.
"Thank you, Arya. You have taken the trouble to save me, even risking your life."
Said Sri Mahadewi whose face still looked red even though she had tried hard to control it, Arya smiled again while nodding.
"You're welcome, Dewi. I'm happy to help too."
Suddenly Sri Mahadewi exclaimed.
"Look at that Arya! There's a horse still hanging there."
Sri Mahadewi pointed to the tree trunk where a horse was tied, Arya turned his head there.
“Hmmm, we can use that horse to get to the palace. Come on, let’s go now!”
Arya invited, Sri Mahadewi nodded then followed the warrior’s footsteps towards the tree where the horse was tied in the valley of the dragon cave hill.
Arya untied the horse, then he jumped first onto the horse’s back then stretched out his hand to help Sri Mahadewi get on and sit behind him.
“Hold or hug me tightly, okay, if you’re scared?! He.. He.. He..!”
Arya joked accompanied by his small laugh.
“Oh, you’re teasing me again.”
Sri Mahadewi sneered, making Arya’s laugh even louder.
Actually, without being told, the beautiful girl would have hugged Arya’s waist who was controlling the horse at that time, but Arya was naturally mischievous and joked around until the princess of the Singosari Kingdom looked embarrassed again.
“Have you never ridden a horse like this?”
Asked Arya with a smile, Sri Mahadewi answered and smiled back.
“I often ride a horse carriage, but I’ve never ridden a horse by myself like this.”
“What about by myself? We’re both riding the horse right now? He.. He.. He..!”
Arya joked again, teasing the princess of the Singosari Kingdom again.
“It’s starting again! Eh...!”
Sri Mahadewi looked annoyed and pinched the warrior’s waist.
“Ouch...!”
Arya groaned, Sri Mahadewi sneered.
“Why, does it hurt? Feel it, that’s the result if you’re still naughty and tease me!”
Arya didn’t learn his lesson but instead got even worse.
“He.. He.. He..! I’m not groaning in pain, but I’m enjoying it! If I may, I want you to pinch me again, Dewi!”
“Eh...!”
This time Sri Mahadewi didn’t pinch but tickled, until the warrior couldn’t hold back his laughter because of the ticklishness. He spurred the horse faster, because the sooner he arrived at the palace the better he thought. Sri Mahadewi hugged Arya from behind even tighter, the Princess felt very comfortable because she had never felt it in her life with a handsome young man.
Wisnu Aji's journey to the Black Centipede Padepokan to meet Bayu Simba stopped in the middle of the road, because he accidentally met Bayu Simba and his group of followers. Wisnu Aji was very happy, because he thought he didn't need to bother continuing the journey to the Black Centipede Padepokan anymore....