In a school dormitory room, a young girl was jumping for joy while hugging her pillow. Her face shone brightly, as if the burden in her chest had vanished in an instant.
"Finally! We can go home! Yay, we're going home!" Dinda shouted cheerfully, shaking her friend's shoulders.
"Arini, we can go home!" she said with a hopeful little laugh.
Arini, sitting on the edge of the bed with a warm smile, nodded. "Yes, Din. We can go home… I miss my parents so much. It feels like a dream after being locked away for months in the shelter center."
Dinda approached and held her friend's hand. "When I get home, I'll call you. And… I'll introduce you to my brother, Baskara!" she said, giggling shyly.
"Oh, the mysterious brother you always talk about?" Arini teased.
"Of course! You have to meet him. I'm sure you'll be impressed too!" Dinda replied excitedly.
They laughed together, imagining the freedom they had longed for.
So happy were they, they didn't even notice the school bell had rung several minutes ago.
But that day, nothing could dampen their joy—for the first time since the great conflict broke out, the hope of returning home had finally become real.
---
In a modern-style house with transparent walls lined with protective energy, in a spacious and cozy living room, Baskara sat with his mother, Tirta. A holographic television floated in the air, displaying news about the central government's decision regarding the incident at Mount Loka Geni.
Baskara took a deep breath. "Mother, the central government finally stepped in…" he said with a slight smile.
Tirta nodded slowly, her eyes still reflecting lingering worry. "Yes, my son. If they hadn't, Tirtanegara City might've been reduced to ashes. Especially if the noble ancestors had joined the battlefield… this city might only be a memory."
Baskara turned, eyebrows raised. "Are the noble ancestors really that terrifying, Mom?"
Tirta looked at him, her tone firm. "Of course. They are beings who've surpassed the limits of ordinary humans—their power could crush entire regions in moments. If it weren't for the balance of power, your own ancestor might have driven the Jayakarta Nobles away from the start."
Baskara fell silent, gazing at the twilight light streaming through their glass walls. In his heart, he knew… he wasn't ready yet to stand in a world filled with giants of power—but his time would come.
---
After a few days at home, ensuring his mother was well and reuniting with his father who had finally returned safely, Baskara's heart began to find peace. He knew—it was time to go back.
Before returning to the ancestral land, he made time to visit his grandfather, Eyang Pradipa, and the other elders who had helped maintain the family's stability during the chaos. They welcomed him with respect and a sense of calm, as if understanding what their grandson was about to do.
"It's time I return to meditate at the ancestral land," Baskara said quietly while bidding farewell to the elders.
Eyang Pradipa nodded wisely. "Go, my son. The world will shape you… but your soul will determine your path. Never forget that."
When all was done, Baskara made his way to the temple complex in the ancestral land—a sacred area that held the tombs of his ancestors and three temples dedicated to meditation.
Upon entering the temple where he usually meditated, he took a deep breath and whispered with a nostalgic smile, "Ahhh… I'm finally back here. This place truly suits me best."
Though he had only spent a few days at home, it felt as if he had been away from this place for a long time. The sacred stillness, the ancient stones radiating calm, and the thick spiritual air brought peace back to his heart and mind. Now, he was ready to dive once more into the silence that brought him closer to his true self.
---
Baskara had returned to his meditation temple in the ancestral land. After spending a few days at home, he felt an inner calling to return to the place that had long been his sanctuary. This temple was more than just a stone structure; it was a place that connected him to his true self, where he could release all worldly worries and peer deep into the depths of his soul.
On the first night, after entering the temple, he sat cross-legged in the silent meditation chamber. A gentle breeze passed through the temple's crevices, carrying the scent of earth rich with ancestral energy. The atmosphere invited serenity, and slowly, the outside world began to fade. There was only him, the temple, and the unseen universe.
He began to focus on his breath. With every breath, he felt more deeply connected to the force flowing around him. As his body grew stiller, his soul began to drift away from worldly concerns. He focused on the soul space within Astadi Candika, the sacred artifact that had now become a part of him.
Though it was merely a black stone, Astadi Candika held a soul space waiting to be unveiled. He felt a powerful pull, a force beyond words. When he closed his eyes and let himself sink into silence, a pattern began to emerge in his mind. Symbols etched on the walls of Astadi Candika began to glow, forming a story long hidden.
Baskara's brow furrowed as he tried to decipher the pattern. Sweat beaded down his face, but he did not stop. Each revealed symbol brought new understanding, one by one. Each line and shape seemed to teach him something about a force and wisdom greater than mere physical combat.
Suddenly, a voice echoed within him.
"One body, two souls. One body, three souls. One body, four souls…"
Baskara froze. He began to contemplate those words. What did they mean? He started to feel that it wasn't just about the number of souls, but about how those souls functioned in unity. Like a tree growing with interwoven roots, or a river flowing with many streams but all heading to the same place.
"One body may be singular, but the soul is a part of the boundless universe."
He pondered the words deeply. Souls that were connected, united within one body. A greater, stronger, more complex unity. Each soul brought its own strength and wisdom, but all became one in a higher journey. His power lay not in their number, but in the harmony and alignment among them.
Baskara felt a union of confusion and understanding. He wasn't just learning martial arts or physical strength. He was beginning to grasp the deepest philosophies of life and the universe. He was learning how to attune himself to a greater energy, and how to unite the souls within him to become stronger, wiser, and more attuned to his destiny.
With calm resolve, Baskara continued his meditation, slowly allowing his soul to evolve. He knew—this journey had only just begun.