Along a narrow path dividing the rice fields, a young man walks slowly. He wears traditional Balinese attire, carrying a small offering of flowers, fruits, and incense on a woven tray. The evening air is filled with the fragrant aroma of incense carried by a gentle breeze, creating a peaceful and sacred atmosphere.
The young man heads towards a small temple located at the edge of the rice fields. The temple stands strong, despite its age, which is clearly over a hundred years. Statues of lion guardians, covered in moss, stand proudly on both sides of the entrance. He pauses briefly at the gate, bowing his head in respect, then steps inside.
Inside the temple, the atmosphere grows even more tranquil. The only sound is the gentle trickle of water from a small fountain flowing into a pond below. The young man places the offering on the main altar, then lights the incense. He closes his eyes, silently praying, allowing the peace to envelop him.
When he opens his eyes again, the sun is nearly set. The last orange light paints the sky, while the shadows of the evening begin to cover the rice fields and temple. However, instead of feeling ominous, the night in Bali feels warm and calming, like a loving embrace from Mother Nature.
The young man walks back along the narrow path, now accompanied by the sound of crickets chirping in harmony. In the distance, small lights from the villagers' homes begin to flicker on, casting a golden glow that resembles stars on the earth. That night, Bali radiates an unforgettable beauty and tranquility.
As the young man continues home, he suddenly feels something different in the air. The gentle breeze turns into a cold gust, and the chirping of crickets, which had been harmonious, suddenly stops. He pauses, frowning as he looks around. The rice fields, which had been so peaceful, now appear to be shrouded in a thin mist that gradually grows thicker.
In the distance, the faint sound of a gamelan can be heard, though he knows the village has not held a ceremony in a long time. The sound is soft yet strange, as if coming from a place both far away and close. The young man decides to seek the source of the sound. He steps carefully, following the small path through the rice fields, as the mist thickens around him.
Not long after, he reaches an area he does not recognize, despite walking these rice fields since childhood. In front of him stands a large temple, grander than the one he had just visited. The temple glows softly, with a yellowish light that seems to come from large candles inside. But something is odd, this temple never existed before.
Curious, he steps closer to the temple gate. The scent of incense fills the air, but stronger and more pungent than usual. As he approaches, he notices that the gate is guarded by two large statues, unlike the usual temple guardians. These statues resemble human-like creatures, but with animal heads, one with the head of a bird, the other with the head of a dog. Their eyes appear to be alive, following his every movement.
Holding his breath, the young man steps into the temple. As he crosses the threshold, the faint sound of the gamelan, which had been distant, now becomes clear, but its melody is unusual, singing a mysterious harmony, as if hiding an unsaid message. In the center of the temple courtyard, there is a large altar with a floating orb of light spinning slowly above it. The light casts strange moving shadows around it.
Before he can get closer, a soft yet deep voice calls his name. He turns quickly, but there is no one there. "Who... who is that?" he asks in a trembling voice. The voice only laughs softly, then says, "You have been chosen. Do not fear. Step further in, and discover your destiny."
The young man stands frozen. Cold sweat drips down his forehead, but the overwhelming curiosity drives him forward. Cautiously, he approaches the altar in the center of the temple courtyard. The spinning orb of light above the altar grows brighter, and the shadows it casts now resemble the silhouettes of strange creatures like dancers, but their movements seem unnatural, defying the logic of the real world.
As he steps just a few paces away from the altar, the ground beneath his feet begins to tremble. The orb of light stops spinning, and from within it, a booming voice echoes, "Your time has come. Answer my question, and your fate will be revealed. But if you answer wrong, you will be trapped here forever."
The young man swallows. "What question?" he asks in a voice barely audible.
The orb of light expands, emitting a blinding light, before it asks a question that reverberates throughout the temple:
"What is the most precious thing in this world, which you cannot grasp, yet always chase?"
The young man falls silent, his mind racing. The question seems simple, but he feels the immense weight behind it. "Time," he whispers to himself, recalling the lessons he once heard from his parents. Yet, he hesitates could that be the right answer?
Summoning the last of his courage, he answers aloud, "Time."
There is a brief silence. The mist around him moves faster, and the gamelan's rhythm intensifies. Then, the orb of light shrinks to the size of a hand, before floating toward him. The light hovers in front of him, and from within, another voice emerges, this time softer:
"You are correct. But your answer is only the beginning. Time is the key, but the door you must find yourself."
At that moment, the orb of light merges into his body. The young man feels a strange wave of energy, a mix of warmth and cold that penetrates his soul. He staggers back, and when he opens his eyes, the world around him has changed.
The green rice fields and the temple he once knew have returned, but everything feels different. The sky is brighter, the sounds of nature more alive, and his body feels lighter. Yet, he knows that within him, something has changed.
He feels a new power coursing through his veins, as though he has now become the guardian of time and dimensions. But he also understands that a great responsibility now rests on his shoulders to find the door he must open and discover the true meaning of the journey he has just begun.