After that strange experience, a young man named Arya tried to return to his normal life. He helped his family in the rice fields, attended ceremonies at the temple, and chatted with his friends in the village. However, his nights were no longer peaceful. Every time he closed his eyes, he was transported to a strange world, filled with sparkling lights and shapeless shadows that whispered in an unintelligible language.
One night, he dreamt that he was standing at the edge of a high cliff, facing a sky that was torn apart. Through the gap in the sky, he saw different worlds: one beautiful with golden seas, another dark with raging fires. From the gap, a large shadow emerged, resembling a creature with broken wings and glowing red eyes.
The voice echoed in his mind: "Your time is near, Guardian. The choices you make will determine the balance of all dimensions. Do not run from your destiny."
Arya awoke, gasping for air. His chest felt heavy, as if carrying an invisible burden. That morning, he decided to seek answers. He visited the oldest man in the village, a wise man named Mangku Wayan, who was often regarded as the keeper of ancient knowledge.
When Arya shared what he had experienced, Mangku Wayan nodded slowly, as if he had anticipated something like this happening. "Ah, young one," said Mangku Wayan in his deep voice, "You have been chosen by forces older than you can understand. The door you saw is not merely a hallucination, it is a gateway to another dimension, a world connected to ours. But that door also brings danger. If you take the wrong step, the balance of the universe could collapse."
Arya looked at Mangku Wayan anxiously. "What should I do?"
Mangku Wayan slowly rose from his seat and took an old book with a leather cover full of carvings. He flipped through the pages until he found an illustration that made Arya freeze. It was an image of an orb of light, similar to the one he had seen in the temple, with lines connecting it to various worlds.
"You must learn to understand the power of time," continued Mangku Wayan. "But for that, you must journey to Mount Purba, the place where the first Guardians were granted this power. There, you will find the answers, or perhaps more questions."
Arya felt scared, but also excited. He knew his journey would be filled with dangers, but he also understood that he could not ignore his responsibility. With Mangku Wayan's blessing and his family's prayers, he began his journey to Mount Purba.
However, during the journey, he began to feel something strange. Time around him seemed unnatural, sometimes moving slower, sometimes faster. Shadows began to appear at the edges of his vision, making him feel watched. On the first night, he stopped in a small forest to rest, and the mist returned, bringing whispers that reminded him of the mysterious temple.
The whispers said: "You are not the only Guardian. There are others, and not all of them are on your side."
Arya opened his eyes wide. Who was the voice referring to? And what would he find on Mount Purba?
(To be continued...)