A gentle western sea breeze blew as silence enveloped the Hall of Waringin, Majapahit's innermost chamber, where even high-ranking officials rarely entered. This was where the elders, prime ministers, and the king's trusted commanders gathered. The flames of torches hanging from the walls danced, as if troubled by the news they had heard from Ardhanusa.
In the center of the room, Prime Minister Jayanagara unrolled the report from the newly returned envoy.
"Everything… is true." His voice was low but sharp.
"Ardhanusa refined the metal to a point no other smithy had ever achieved. The iron… is as clear as spring water, and it struck the ground without the slightest crack."
The entire room exchanged glances.
Whispers filled the air.
"How is this possible?" asked Commander Wira Laksmana, his brow furrowed.
"That is a remote village. No blacksmith can produce such quality."
Prime Minister Jayanagara turned the scroll so that the report's seal faced the entire assembly.
"There is one key, Commander."
He stared at everyone with an unreadable gaze.
"The new leader… Ardhana Wiratmaja."
The name echoed like a small gong—quiet, but piercing the hearts of the assembly.
---
In Ardhanusa—The First Test of Iron's Limits
In the courtyard of the newly built large workshop, Ardhana stood holding a long, shiny bar of pure iron. The residents of Ardhanusa, factory workers, and villagers stood in a circle, curious.
Beside him, Ragasena—the village elder who was now Ardhana's advisor—gulped as he looked at the metal.
"Ardhana… are you sure you want to test it to its limits…?"
Ardhana smiled slightly.
"No precious metal is forged without fire, Uncle Raga. Even pure iron must face a final heat."
He raised his hand.
"Flame!"
The workers pulled the lever.
The flames from the large furnace shot up—higher, hotter, more deafening than in previous experiments.
Ardhana placed the iron on the coals and waited until it glowed red-hot. Instead of bending or cracking, the iron glowed like a living ember, as if telling the world that it possessed unfathomable strength.
Ardhana nodded slowly.
It was time for the second test.
He took a long hammer, raised it high above his head, and struck the metal without compromise.
BRAHAM!
The sound of a metallic explosion echoed across the village.
Dust flew.
Everyone's ears rang.
When the dust settled…
The iron didn't break.
It didn't bend.
Instead, it became denser—its surface smooth and shiny, like the metal from the stories of the gods.
The people fell silent… then cheers erupted uncontrollably.
"Long live Ardhanusa!!"
"The Iron Emperor!"
"The metal of our land has awakened!"
Ardhana looked up at the sky.
He knew that today marked the first true boundary he had truly broken.
Not just technology…
But a new civilization.
---
Majapahit Council — Hardened Determination
Back at the Waringin Hall, after a long discussion, Prime Minister Jayanagara finally spoke.
"Very well. If Ardhanusa truly masters metal like this, then the fate of the archipelago will change."
He closed the scroll of reports, then said in a low but determined voice:
"We must not let Valendrick find out first."
Everyone fell silent.
"Starting today," he continued, "Majapahit will send spies, observers, and metal experts to Ardhanusa. Not to pressure… but to assess whether Ardhana is a worthy ally… or a threat."
Outside the hall, the night wind blew.
It was quiet… but full of the promise of an approaching storm.