Arya's steps carried him further away from the village. His journey took him through lush green rice fields and dense tropical forests, until he finally arrived at a place well known in Balinese folklore: Goa Lawa, the bat cave that is said to be a gateway to the spirit world. At the mouth of the cave, the air felt heavier, filled with the lingering scent of incense from a ritual recently performed by the locals.
Mangku Wayan had once told him, "Bali is not just a place for humans. Here, the world of humans and the spirit world exist side by side. Those who are sensitive will see the signs, and those who are chosen will understand its secrets." Arya now felt the truth of those words.
Inside the cave, he could hear the rumble of water from an underground river, but beyond that, there was something more... the sound of small footsteps, whispers, and the synchronized flapping of bat wings, creating a strange harmony. The cave walls were adorned with ancient carvings, depicting humans and creatures resembling dragons, large birds, and half-human beings with the heads of monkeys. Arya touched one of the carvings, and instantly, he felt something, a flash of vision surged into his mind.
In the vision, he saw an ancient priest standing in the middle of the cave, wearing ceremonial attire full of symbols. The priest chanted a mantra, opening an invisible gate, and a group of glowing creatures emerged from it. But soon after, a dark shadow resembling mist leapt from the gate, attacking the priest and the glowing creatures. The priest hurriedly closed the gate, but something from the shadow managed to slip into the human world.
The vision faded, and Arya stumbled back. His breath was shallow. "What did I just see?" he thought.
As he continued his journey, the cave seemed to shift, as if guiding him toward a particular destination. After some time, he arrived in an open space illuminated by natural light coming through a crack in the cave's ceiling. In the center of the room stood an ancient stone altar, and on it, a beautiful yet frightening Balinese mask. The mask was adorned with long fangs, bulging eyes, and hair made from coconut fiber. Arya recognized it from his mother's stories: the Rangda mask, a symbol of the queen of black magic.
However, something felt strange about the mask. He heard faint whispers around him. The mask appeared alive, as though watching Arya. He felt a cold energy creeping through his body, and for a moment, it seemed as if the world around him slowed down.
The voice in his mind returned, this time more forceful: "Rangda is not just a tale. She is the guardian of the secrets of time, and the key to unlocking the doors to other dimensions. But be cautious, Guardian. If you walk her path, you may never return."
Arya took a step back, but he knew he couldn't ignore this. Carefully, he took the mask. As his fingers touched it, the world around him changed. He was no longer inside the cave, but in a vast field surrounded by forests. In front of him stood a tall woman with long hair like black fire that trailed to the ground. Her face was partially covered with cloth, but her eyes glowed red like burning embers.
"What are you seeking, young one?" the woman asked, her voice echoing as if it were a hundred voices speaking at once.
Arya fought to steady his fear. "I seek answers. About time, about dimensions, and about my destiny."
The woman chuckled softly, her laughter vibrating the air. "Answers are not something given. They are something you take with courage and sacrifice. But if you wish to know more, then you must be prepared to bear a greater burden than you ever imagined."
She took a step closer, and with each of her steps, the ground beneath her cracked. "Begin by understanding the world around you. Bali is full of mysteries hidden in plain sight. But remember, not all truths are as beautiful as you hope."
Before Arya could respond, everything went dark. When he opened his eyes, he found himself back in front of the altar in the cave. However, the Rangda mask was now in his hands, and on the cave wall, a new carving had appeared: a circular gate with faint light emanating from its center.
Arya realized that his adventure had just begun, and the mysteries of Bali were only the beginning of something much larger. But he also knew that the deeper he delved, the greater the dangers that awaited him.
(To be continued...)