Nusantara Descend

The sterile scent of the clinic lingered as Arjuna sat. He was still bewildered by the doctor's appearance, expecting them to look more professional.

Meanwhile, Kunti made herself comfortable. She coiled around the doctor's shoulders like an oversized scarf, humming a tune. She looked like a love-stricken girl.

The doctor broke the silence, detaching Kunti. "Come with me. There's something I want to show you.

"Is it another clinic room?" Arjuna leaned back in his seat.

The doctor chuckled. "That wouldn't be fun, would it?"

He walked off, gesturing for Arjuna to follow. His coat fluttered as he moved with an unsuspecting agility.

He entered a small hallway concealed by a door behind the reception desk where Arjuna had first seen him.

"You're moving too fast…!" Arjuna tried catching up to him.

The doctor continued moving forward. "You have to get to your patients in time."

Arjuna looked all over. "But there's no one here!"

"Business above hasn't been great," the doctor skates through the floor.

The hallway got dimmer as they moved further. On the side were shelves riddled with dust particles and jars of various herbs.

Where does this lead to? The jars looked well-maintained, but the books… Arjuna thought to himself.

At the end of the hall lies a metal shutter door, with rust along its edges. The doctor pulled a keychain from his pocket, revealing various keys attached.

He struggled to search for the right key but eventually managed. The keyhole was placed in the middle of the shutter, a peculiar place.

Nonetheless, he inserted the key and then turned it on its side. Instead of opening the shutter, two panels dropped from the ceiling, asking for handprints.

After the doctor inserted his prints, a glass wall appeared behind them. The walls rose as the trio suddenly sank into the ground. They were in an elevator.

Where does this lead? I'm not going to be butchered, am I?

Kunti noticed the worried look on Arjuna's face. "Don't worry. Trust me, if not him."

"Fine," Arjuna grunted.

Arjuna glanced at the doctor. "So… where are we going?"

The doctor grinned with mischief. "Somewhere fun.

Arjuna crossed his arms, sitting cross-legged on the floor. This better not be some underground cult thing. I've had enough of sketchy mages for a lifetime.

The elevator jolted slightly before coming to a pause. The glass wall disappeared, revealing underground chambers bathed in soft, blue light.

Arjuna stepped out, his eyes filled with wonder. "Wow…"

"Neat, huh?" the doctor approached Arjuna.

The underground space was multiple times larger than the clinic, with high ceilings supported by thick steel beams.

Workbenches with what seemed to be unfinished works on them. Multiple glowing orbs floated high, lighting the room.

"Come on. Let's go," the doctor tapped Arjuna's back.

"Ah… alright," Arjuna followed behind, staring at the doctor's prideful stride.

The further they walked, the more amazing the place seemed. Several glass cases had papers attached to them.

The doctor noticed Arjuna looking at the glass cases. "Those papers are talismans."

"Talismans? Like those used to restrain spirits?" Arjuna looked up at the doctor.

The doctor snapped his fingers. "Exactly that."

But why on glass cases? Ah!

"Do the things inside contain spiritual energy?" Arjuna looked back at the cases.

"Bingo!" the doctor put his thumbs up.

They continued walking until something caught Arjuna's eyes. There was a massive pin map, etched into a wall. It had multiple dots with colored pins and threads tangling like a spider's web.

The doctor followed Arjuna's gaze. "Looks fun, huh?"

"What… is… this?!" Arjuna was baffled at the sight in front of him.

"I heard you've encountered one of these guys on the way there," the doctor pointed to a massive region of the map.

On the region was something written boldly.

Arjuna looked carefully. "Ah, a Leyak, yes, I have."

He stepped closer, scanning the thread that connected to Leyak. At the end of the thread was a picture with Rangda, written in bold letters.

The doctor stepped closer to Arjuna. "Rangda, the Demon Queen of Bali. Commands Leyaks, a black magic enthusiast, and never has visited a salon."

Arjuna gave him a sideways glance. "How'd you get a picture?"

"That's a trade secret," the doctor put a finger in front of his mouth.

Arjuna rolled his eyes. "Wonderful."

"Over here is the Cindaku, the bipedal tigers," the doctor moved to another section.

Arjuna followed along. "What's special about them?"

"They're cursed humans," the doctor looked at Arjuna.

The doctor walked away. They are created when people damage or enrage the forest. They are cursed to guard the forest forever.

Arjuna's gaze shifted. Multiple names appeared as he continued looking; they were attached with a picture of them underneath. Orang Bati, Nyi Roro Kidul, Ahool. Each one is oozing with bad omen.

"What are these creatures?" Arjuna continued looking.

The doctor sat on a spinning chair. "Not just any creatures, but mythical creatures. With some being violent, while the rest are passive. Even helping humans."

"Though most of the reason they're violent is because they're territorial," the doctor grabbed an apple from his drawer.

Arjuna looked at the doctor. "So, an apple a day doesn't keep the doctor away?"

"Nah, I'll just come closer," the doctor bit the apple with a hysteric smile.

The doctor got out his wand, then swished it. Suddenly, a round table with multiple seats appeared in front of them.

"Let's get down to business," the doctor laid his arms on the table. "We're here to recruit you."

Arjuna looked puzzled. "Not again..."

Multiple voices of different origins interrupted abruptly. Holograms materialized into each chair, revealing different personalities.

Arjuna's brow furrowed.

How many more of these groups are out there?

Why me?

What do they see in me?

"You've probably met those in The Doomed Dissidents by now. Have they tried recruiting you to their cause?" the doctor spun his chair around.

"Yes, I didn't like how they handled things," Arjuna stood far from the table.

The doctor gestured to Arjuna. "Come closer. They can't all see you from there."

Arjuna walked closer to the table, each step revealing the hologram identities. They all stared at him walking awkwardly. Arjuna came to a stop at the edge of the table.

The weight of their gazes suffocated him. Kunti's soft hums eased the mood, and Arjuna exhaled slowly.

"Now, will you join us? The Ghost Guild," the doctor laid bare his arms.