A little while after their hunger was fully satisfied by the delicious meal, they left the restaurant with relaxed steps. Sekar's luxury car was already waiting in the front courtyard, its door automatically opening as she approached.
"Get in, Sis! It's time for us to tour Tirta Negara city!" Rusli said enthusiastically as he jumped into the back seat.
Once everyone was seated, Sekar just moved her fingers in the air—a holographic panel appeared in front of the dashboard. "Destination: Tirta Negara City Center," she said lightly.
The car moved silently, gliding smoothly as if floating above the road. The city streets looked clean and well-organized, lined neatly with tall trees bearing blue glowing leaves along the sidewalks. Above them, private drones flew by, carrying goods and important people from one building to another.
The buildings on either side towered magnificently, made of glowing transparent crystal materials; some even changed shape automatically to adjust to the sun's direction. Transparent elevators could be seen moving up and down outside the buildings, transporting people dressed in noble attire and high technology.
"This... is a truly different world," Baskara said. His eyes gazed calmly out the window, yet inside his heart, a storm was brewing.
They passed Mandala Tower, the highest information and surveillance center in Tirta Negara—a tower layered with blue jade and gold, said to be controlled by an ancient digital guardian spirit.
"This is the city center," Sekar said. "If you look to the right, that's Spiritist Square, a public place but often used for big ceremonies between noble families."
"And there, look!" Rusli pointed to a garden surrounded by floating clear water. "That's Niraksara Garden, they say the flowers there only grow from positive thought energy."
Dinda smiled at Baskara. "Cool, right? This is the city where I study and grew up."
Baskara turned slowly. "Yes... it really is beautiful."
Their car then stopped at a wide area called Nirmala Centre, an entertainment and spirituality hub wrapped in advanced technology. The building was shaped like a giant stupa made of softly glowing crystal, but inside it was filled with interactive rides, relaxation rooms, and modern meditation spaces.
"This is my favorite place when I want to refresh!" Sekar said with sparkling eyes. "It's called Nirmala Soul Centre—a mix of entertainment, virtual martial arts, and technological contemplation."
As soon as they entered, a cool breeze greeted them. Soft music could be faintly heard, and the floor beneath their steps felt like water that didn't get them wet, shimmering gently with each footfall.
"Wow… this is like a place from a dream world," Rusli exclaimed, glancing around.
"Come on, let's try the Soul Journey Room, it's a kind of virtual meditation but still connected to spiritual energy," invited Dinda.
They entered a transparent dome-shaped room. Everyone sat on their respective thrones, and then a holographic screen appeared, adapting to each user's mind.
After the virtual meditation session ended, they moved to the Light Martial Arts Ride, a play arena like a digital dojo. Visitors could choose fighting styles from various martial arts—silat, kung fu, even noble family's unique martial arts.
"This one's really fun," Rusli said. "Come on, Sis! Let's train together!"
Baskara just smiled and chose the observer mode. "I'll just watch first," he said calmly, though he was actually studying the movement patterns of the techniques appearing on the screen in great detail.
They spent the rest of the day laughing, trying modern snacks, and riding gravity floor-crossing vehicles that made them float freely while enjoying views of the city from above.
Dinda glanced at Baskara sitting beside her. "I'm glad to see you enjoy a day like this."
Baskara looked at the Tirta Negara sky turning reddish. "Me too… sometimes, I forget the world can feel this light."
The sky over Tirta Negara city began to dim. The tall buildings emitted soft golden and blue-green light. In the city center stretched a large square called Laras Pradipa, a venue where nightly light and music shows were held.
"Wow, we're just in time! The show's about to start!" Sekar exclaimed, grabbing Dinda's hand excitedly.
Hundreds of people had already filled the area, sitting in floating chairs that adjusted seating comfort individually. Music began to echo—not from speakers, but from strands of light floating in the air, vibrating gently to form harmony.
Those lights then shaped giant figures in the sky: dragons, garuda birds, and figures of dancers from various regions gracefully dancing in the air.
"This is amazing... like the stories Dad used to tell when I was little," Dinda said with a smile.
Baskara looked up, leaning back on the transparent chair slowly hanging. His eyes calmly watched the shapes of light, but he didn't say a word. In his heart, he felt peace—for a moment, there was nothing to think about except the sky and his friends' laughter.
Sekar looked at Baskara. "Sis, thanks for joining us today. Turns out you're not as serious as I thought."
Baskara gave a small smile. "Maybe you're just too noisy."
"Hey, is that a compliment or an insult?" Rusli joked, followed by a burst of laughter.
The show continued, now shifting colors to soft purple and glowing gold. The music played came from traditional instruments, but performed with modern sound devices. The blend of gamelan with digital resonance created a magical atmosphere that echoed to the heart.
That night was truly peaceful.
The light show ended. The sparkling night sky began to dim, replaced by street lamps and stars hanging in the sky. The night breeze blew cool, caressing their faces still seated with leftover laughter and light conversation.
"It's already late, huh," Sekar said, glancing at the small watch on her wrist.
"Today was so fun. Feels like a dream," Dinda said, hugging herself with a satisfied smile.
"This is the first time I've toured the whole city all day without getting bored," Rusli added.
Baskara just nodded slowly. His gaze still swept over the city from Sekar's luxury car window, now driving slowly on increasingly empty streets. City lights reflected in his eyes, giving a peaceful and slightly melancholic impression.
The car stopped first in front of Dinda and Baskara's house.
"Thanks, Sekar, for treating and touring us," Dinda said while opening the door.
"Oh, no problem. We'll go out again sometime," Sekar replied warmly.
"Rusli, don't forget your school homework, okay," Dinda teased.
"Awww, just in a good mood and already reminded about homework," Rusli complained with a mock sad face.
Baskara got out last. He glanced briefly at Sekar, then nodded slightly.
"Today... was enjoyable," he said briefly.
Sekar nodded back, then waved. "Good night, Sis."
Once everyone was dropped off at their homes, the night truly became quiet again.
And Baskara... remained the quiet figure hiding his power, choosing to stay silent behind his smile, while gazing at the night sky from his bedroom window.