The blue flower Bakar had given her felt cool against Aishah's palm as she walked back towards the heart of Melaka. Its subtle, earthy scent mingled with the city's familiar aromas, but now, Aishah's senses were heightened. The marketplace, usually a cacophony, felt like a symphony of whispers, each one hinting at deeper truths. She saw the intricate patterns on a silk merchant's robe and wondered if they held ancient symbols. She heard the rhythm of a drummer and imagined it echoing rituals from forgotten times.
Master Aris was still engrossed in his maps when Aishah returned, the astrolabe glinting under his lamp. She knew she couldn't keep everything from him, not after his subtle hints. "Master," she began, her voice steady, "I've learned some things. About the pendant, and… about Singapura."
Master Aris slowly turned, his eyes, sharp and intelligent, fixed on her. He took off his spectacles and placed them carefully on his desk. "Tell me, Aishah. All of it."
She recounted everything: the glowing diagram, the hidden chamber, the ancient scroll, the Harimau Jadian, and the Naga. She spoke of the five Dragon's Scales and her terrifying encounter with the Shadow Seeker. As she spoke, the wooden fish pendant beneath her tunic throbbed with a low, constant beat, corroborating her tale.
Master Aris listened, his expression growing more solemn with each revelation. When she finished, he remained silent for a long moment, then rose and walked to a locked cabinet. He returned with a leather-bound journal, its pages thick and yellowed.
"My family," he began, his voice a quiet murmur, "we are not merely cartographers, Aishah. We are also keepers. Keepers of certain truths. My ancestors were among those who fled Singapura. They carried not just their lives, but their knowledge, fearing it would fall into the wrong hands." He opened the journal. "This is a record passed down through generations. It speaks of the scales, the guardians, and the delicate balance they maintain. It also speaks of the price."
He pointed to a page filled with intricate sketches and faded script. "The Dragon's Scales are not mere weapons, Aishah. They are vessels. When activated, they draw upon the wielder's own life force, their spirit. Each use, each connection to its power, exacts a toll. A deep one." He looked at her, his gaze unwavering. "The greater the power channeled, the greater the price. It can drain one's strength, one's resolve, even one's memories."
Aishah felt a cold knot tighten in her stomach. Her brief burst of power in the cavern had felt exhilarating, but also draining. The thought of losing her memories, her very self, was terrifying.
Just then, a commotion erupted from outside. Shouts, frantic and urgent, pierced the evening air. "The granaries! On fire!"
Master Aris rushed to the window, Aishah right behind him. Plumes of black smoke billowed against the twilight sky, rising from the direction of Melaka's main food stores. Panic spread through the streets as people rushed to form bucket brigades.
"This is not an accident," Master Aris murmured, his voice grim. "The granaries are too well-guarded, too important." He turned to Aishah, his eyes blazing with a fierce resolve. "He is testing us. The Shadow Seeker is not only after the scales; he seeks to weaken Melaka, to sow chaos before he makes his move."
Aishah felt a surge of anger, cutting through her fear. This wasn't just a threat to her; it was a threat to her home, to the bustling, vibrant city she loved. The granaries provided for everyone – the traders, the common folk, the Sultan's court. Striking there was a deliberate act of cruelty, designed to starve and divide.
"We have to stop him, Master," Aishah declared, her voice firm. The potential cost of using the pendant's power still weighed on her, but the sight of her city under attack, even indirectly, hardened her resolve. The price of knowledge, she now understood, was not just personal sacrifice, but the immense burden of responsibility. The Shadow Seeker was not merely a magical threat; he was a blight upon Melaka, and Aishah knew, with a newfound certainty, that she would pay any price to protect it.