THE PRINCESS OF SIAK RIVER AND THE CROWN OF LIGHT 

Long ago, when the Siak River was still guarded by mystical beings and its waters were believed to hear human prayers, there lived a small kingdom called the Kingdom of Bintang Kampar. The kingdom prospered because its river never ran dry and its land was always fertile.

The king had an only daughter named Princess Mayang Cahaya. She was known not only for her beauty but also for her gentle heart and deep care for her people. It was said that whenever Princess Mayang smiled by the riverbank, the waters of the Siak River sparkled like starlight.

However, the kingdom’s prosperity depended on a sacred heirloom known as the Crown of the River’s Light. This magical crown had been entrusted to the kingdom by the river’s mystical guardian. The crown would shine only when the ruler possessed a sincere and pure heart. If the crown lost its light, disaster would surely follow.

One night, the sky turned dark without a single star. A cold wind blew, and the Crown of Light suddenly dimmed. The next morning, the Siak River became murky, the fish disappeared, and the rice fields began to dry up. The king fell seriously ill, as if his life force had been drained along with the fading light of the crown.

In a dream, Princess Mayang was visited by the Dragon of the Siak River, the mystical guardian of the waters.

“O pure-hearted Princess,” said the dragon,

“the crown’s light has faded because of human greed. If you wish to save the kingdom, you must restore the balance of the river.”

Princess Mayang then began a journey along the Siak River all by herself. She passed through dense forests, fishermen’s villages, and ancient stone caves. Everywhere she went, she saw people who had forgotten how to care for nature: forests were cut down, rivers were polluted, and animals were hunted without mercy.

With tears in her eyes, Princess Mayang prayed and asked forgiveness for humanity’s mistakes. At the river’s estuary, she met the Dragon of the Siak River once again.

“Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the river and your people?” asked the dragon.

Without hesitation, Princess Mayang nodded.

At that moment, a brilliant light enveloped her body. She transformed into the guardian spirit of the Siak River, becoming one with the water and the natural world. The Crown of Light shone once more, brighter than ever before.

The Kingdom of Bintang Kampar prospered again. The river became clear, fish returned in abundance, and the land grew fertile once more. The king recovered from his illness, but Princess Mayang never returned.

Tags: Cerita