Folklore for Kids: Kelana Sakti: The Farmer's Son Who Became a Hero of North Sumatra

Chapter 1: The Wise King of Purnama

Long, long ago, in the land we now call North Sumatra, there stood a peaceful kingdom named Purnama. It was ruled by a kind and wise king named Indra Sakti. Under his gentle hand, the people lived happily — their fields were green, their markets were full, and their hearts were free of fear.

Everyone loved King Indra Sakti, for he always thought of his people before himself. But even the wisest and kindest of kings cannot escape the will of time.

Chapter 2: A King's Last Wish

One day, King Indra Sakti fell gravely ill. The finest healers from near and far were called to the palace, but nothing could ease his suffering. Day by day, his strength faded. His skin grew pale, his body thin, and his once-bright eyes grew tired and distant.

Sensing that his time was near, the king called for his queen.

King Indra Sakti: "My dear wife, I fear my days are numbered. Please, send for Commander Badau. I must speak with him before I go."

The Queen: "Yes, my husband. I will call him at once," she said, her voice trembling with sorrow.

Soon, Commander Badau arrived and knelt beside the king's bed.

Commander Badau: "Your Majesty, you called for me?"

King Indra Sakti: "I do not have much time left. I entrust the kingdom to you. Rule with justice and wisdom. Care for my people as if they were your own family, and protect them from all harm. When my son comes of age, crown him as the rightful king, as I would have wished."

Commander Badau: "It shall be done, Your Majesty. I promise to carry out your wishes," he said, bowing low.

Not long after, King Indra Sakti closed his eyes forever. The whole kingdom wept, for they had lost a ruler whose kindness could never be replaced.

Chapter 3: The Kingdom Under Badau's Rule

Since the prince was still too young to rule, the throne was left in the hands of Commander Badau — and it did not take long for his true nature to show.

Badau was proud and reckless. Instead of caring for the kingdom as he had promised, he spent his days feasting with his soldiers and drowning himself in wine. The royal treasury emptied quickly, and to fill it again, Badau ordered crushing taxes upon the people.

Farmers watched helplessly as their harvests were seized by palace soldiers. Merchants closed their stalls, afraid their goods would be stolen. The markets that once bustled with laughter fell silent, and fear crept into every corner of Purnama.

Even members of the royal family dared not speak against him, for anyone who opposed Commander Badau faced prison, torture, or worse.

The people longed for the days of King Indra Sakti — when the kingdom knew peace, and no one went hungry.

Chapter 4: A Family Torn Apart

Far from the palace, in a quiet village, lived a humble farming family — a father, a mother, and their kind-hearted teenage son named Kelana. Every day, Kelana worked hard beside his parents in the rice fields, always ready to help without complaint.

One evening, as the family rested on the porch after a long day's work, a troop of soldiers marched up to their home.

Soldier: "Hand over everything of value — now!" one soldier barked, thrusting a spear toward them.

Kelana and his father refused to give up their family's belongings without a fight, but they were no match for so many armed men. The soldiers struck them again and again, until Kelana's mother could bear it no longer and rushed to shield them.

Kelana's Mother: "Please, stop! Don't hurt them! Take everything we have — just leave my husband and my son unharmed!"

Soldier: "Since you dare to resist us, you will both come with us to the palace!"

Kelana clung desperately to his parents as the soldiers dragged them away.

Kelana: "No! Don't take my parents! Mother... Father... please, hold on to me!"

But the soldiers only grew angrier. One of them struck Kelana so hard that he collapsed to the ground, unconscious, as his parents were pulled from his side.

Chapter 5: The Old Man of the Forest

When Kelana finally opened his eyes, he found himself in an unfamiliar place, his body aching all over.

Kelana: "Father...? Mother...?" he called weakly, hoping to see their faces.

But it was not his parents who knelt beside him — it was a gentle old man with kind, knowing eyes. He had found Kelana lying by the roadside and carried him to safety, tending to his wounds with great care.

The Old Man: "Your parents have been taken by the palace soldiers, my child. Rest here with me for now. You are safe."

And so Kelana stayed with the old man, who turned out to be no ordinary villager. Over time, he taught Kelana the secrets of martial arts, the art of healing, and the wisdom of strategy and war. Kelana trained tirelessly, and season by season, he grew stronger — not just in body, but in spirit.

Chapter 6: The Rise of Kelana Sakti

As the years passed, Kelana became a young man of great strength, yet his heart remained gentle and full of compassion. He never forgot the cruelty of Commander Badau, nor the day his parents were taken from him.

Determined to free his people, Kelana gathered the bravest young villagers and trained them in the very skills the old man had taught him. Together, they formed a small but fearless army, united by one goal: to bring justice back to Purnama.

When the time was right, Kelana Sakti — as the people now called him — led his followers in a daring attack on the palace. Though Badau's soldiers were many, they were no match for the courage and skill of Kelana's warriors. One by one, the palace guards fell, and at last, Commander Badau himself was defeated.

Kelana rushed through the palace halls until he found the dungeon where his parents had been held for so long.

Kelana: "Father! Mother! I've come to bring you home!"

Tears of joy filled his parents' eyes as they embraced their son — now grown, now strong, now a hero.

Chapter 7: A Hero Remembered

News of Kelana Sakti's victory spread quickly across the land. The people of Purnama rejoiced, for the darkness that had covered their kingdom was finally lifted. Even the royal family welcomed him with open arms, grateful for the courage he had shown.

For a time, Kelana Sakti ruled the kingdom with the same wisdom and kindness his father figure — old King Indra Sakti — once had. Fields grew green again, markets filled with laughter, and the people slept soundly, free from fear.

When the late king's son finally came of age, Kelana Sakti kept his promise and returned the throne to its rightful heir. Though he stepped away from the crown, Kelana Sakti was never forgotten. To this day, his name is remembered throughout North Sumatra as a symbol of courage, loyalty, and the belief that even the humblest child of farmers can rise to save an entire kingdom.

Want to experience Kelana's journey to defeat the cruel General Badau firsthand? Play the interactive game below — tap, hold, and train your skills to help Kelana free the Kingdom of Purnama!

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Friday, 23 April 2021

Kelana Sakti: The Farmer's Son Who Became a Hero of North Sumatra