Akasa was led by the soldiers to an unfamiliar place near the forest—an open, grassy clearing surrounded by towering trees. The ground was wide enough to stand upon, yet offered no path for escape.
The place felt sacred and ancient, yet meticulously maintained. This was not a site abandoned by time, but one actively guarded.
At the center stood a structure echoing the majesty of ancient Javanese temples, constructed from dark gray andesite stone. It felt less like a sanctuary—and more like a command post.
___. Shock silenced Akasa .___
Only moments ago, he had been sitting by the mist-veiled lake. Now, he was being escorted alone into an alien space, encircled by armed soldiers.
There were no shouts, nor any resistance. Only the steady rhythm of marching feet.
A chill crept from the nape of his neck down his spine—not merely from the night fog, but from the uncertainty tightening around him. His thoughts lingered on one fear above all others: he had left his friends behind without a word.
There was nothing he could do but surrender himself to the cadence of the soldiers’ steps—each footfall echoing like fate itself—as they entered the wide courtyard of the temple complex.
The air was damp, heavy with the scent of wet earth, as though it still carried the remnants of long-extinguished incense. More soldiers stood in orderly ranks around the perimeter. The atmosphere remained hushed; only the sound of footsteps filled the space.
When the marching stopped, Akasa’s heartbeat quickened. The silence pressed harder now—like an alarm ringing within his chest.
As his gaze swept the area, a pair of faint green lights shimmered from the distant darkness. Curiosity stirred, mingling with unease. Questions crowded his mind.
Then the escort halted completely.
The soldiers bowed and stepped back several paces, leaving Akasa standing alone at the center—surrounded by expressionless faces, their eyes empty of emotion.
Confusion gripped him.
Before his thoughts could catch up, an elegant voice rang out from a platform five feet high, positioned before a building resembling an ancient residence.
“Majeng mriki!”
(“Come forward!”)
The command was gentle—yet firm. The air fell utterly still. Even the soldiers ceased moving.
Akasa narrowed his eyes, trying to locate the speaker. He understood the words, yet uncertainty rooted his body in place.
Moments later, two shimmering green eyes pierced through the darkness of the platform. Their glow was unnatural—not a reflection of torchlight, but something akin to embers concealing dormant power.
Then, a silhouette emerged.
A woman sat upon a teakwood throne layered with resin. As the torches flanking her burned brighter, her form gradually revealed itself.
She was breathtaking.
Clad in a green-and-gold kebaya with a dark-patterned brown batik skirt, her beauty was undeniable. Her black hair was coiled into a long bun that flowed down her back, adorned with seven peacock-feather-like hairpins—each crowned with a softly glowing green gemstone.
Though unfamiliar, Akasa recognized her.
She was the same woman he had seen at Living Garden Lake—only now, her presence was clear and unmistakable.
She sat upon the throne, flanked by two women with neatly arranged hair—dayang, attendants of noble standing.
The attendants themselves were beautiful.
Yet compared to the woman on the throne, their presence faded naturally into the background.
A cold wind swept across the courtyard, carrying the intensified scent of damp soil, before the stillness returned.
Then her voice rang out again—this time sharp, restrained fury beneath its elegance.
“MAJU KENE!!”
(“COME HERE!!”)
As her voice echoed, the flames of the torches around the courtyard trembled violently. Several soldiers bowed instinctively, tightening their grip on their weapons. None dared lift their gaze.
Akasa’s eyes widened. His chest constricted. In an instant, the atmosphere grew suffocating.
And yet—he did not falter. Instead, his resolve hardened.
Now he was certain: whatever stood before him was not of his world, but an entity from another realm. He prepared himself for any consequence—even death.
Then a terrified scream erupted from behind him.