Raka's steps felt heavier as they approached the palace. The building was far larger than it had appeared from outside. Its walls were made of grayish-white stone, decorated with carvings that reminded Raka of temple reliefs. But something was different.
In several parts of the walls, Raka saw symbols that looked remarkably similar to the ancient script of Nusantara.
Raka stopped for a moment.
"This... really looks like a temple."
Laras, who was walking ahead of him, turned around.
"Don't pay too much attention to the carvings."
"Why?"
"Because you don't yet know what you're actually looking at."
"Why is your answer always like that?"
"Because that's how it is."
Raka let out a sigh.
"Fine."
They continued walking.
The closer they got to the palace, the more guards they encountered. Some of them stared at Raka with obvious curiosity. A few whispered to one another, while others immediately lowered their heads whenever they noticed the notebook in Raka's hand.
It was beginning to make him uncomfortable.
"Laras."
"What?"
"Why is everyone looking at me?"
"Because news about you may have already spread."
"That fast?"
"This kingdom has its own way of spreading information."
"Like the internet?"
Laras immediately looked at Raka in confusion.
"Inter... net?"
"Forget it."
Eventually, they reached the palace's main entrance.
Two guards stood on either side of the door. The moment they saw Laras, they immediately stepped aside. However, before Raka could enter, one of the guards looked at him.
"The Heir of Nusantara..."
Raka heard the whisper and immediately turned around, but the guard quickly looked away.
"Laras."
"Yes?"
"They all know who I am."
But Laras did not answer.
"How come I'm the only one who doesn't know?"
"Because that is why we came here."
Raka fell silent.
For a moment, he could not say anything.
"If you want answers, keep walking."
The palace doors opened. Inside was an enormous hall. Tall pillars stood on both sides of the room. The walls were covered with paintings and carvings depicting wars, ancient kingdoms, and figures Raka had never seen before. But one painting made him stop.
A large painting depicted a young man standing in front of a building that looked remarkably similar to a temple. In his hand was a keris.
Raka approached it.
"Laras..."
"What?"
"Who is this person?"
Laras looked at the painting as well. Her expression changed slightly.
"Don't touch it."
Raka immediately pulled back his hand, which had almost touched the surface of the painting.
"Why?"
"Because that painting existed long before this kingdom was established."
Raka stared at the young man in the painting. Something was strange. The young man's face was not exactly the same as his. But there were similarities.
The shape of his eyes. His hair. Even his expression. Then Raka felt his heart begin to beat faster.
"He..."
Laras immediately turned her face away.
"Don't think about it."
Suddenly, someone's voice echoed from the far end of the hall.
"Let him look at it."
Everyone immediately fell silent.
At the end of the hall stood a grand staircase. A man slowly descended it. He wore dark royal clothing decorated with golden ornaments. His long hair was partly tied behind his head. His expression was calm, but his gaze was sharp.
The guards immediately knelt.
"Your Majesty."
Raka froze.
"The king?"
The man stopped a few steps in front of Raka.
"That is correct."
Raka had no idea what he was supposed to do. Laras only gave him a small signal to remain calm. The king then looked at the notebook in Raka's hand.
"So... the object has finally returned."
"Your Majesty knows about this?"
"Have you heard a voice?"
Laras immediately turned toward the king.
"Your Majesty..."
"Let him answer."
Raka swallowed hard.
The woman's voice echoed in his mind once again.
"Do not go to the palace."
Raka looked directly at the king.
"A voice?"
"Yes."
The king stepped closer.
"A woman's voice?" the king asked.
Raka grew even more surprised.
"How do you know?"
But the king did not answer. Instead, his expression became serious.
"She has already begun speaking to you."
Laras was also shocked when she heard that.
"Your Majesty, doesn't that mean..."
"Yes."
The king cut her off.
"The Gate has chosen him."
"The Gate?"
"Sit down. You want answers, don't you?"
"All of them?"
"No."
Raka fell silent as the king walked toward a large chair at the end of the hall.
"Because there are certain truths you are not yet allowed to know."
Raka clenched his fists.
"Why?"
"Because learning the truth too quickly could get you killed."
The room fell silent again. Raka looked at Laras.
But Laras said nothing. The king then gave an order.
"Bring that notebook to me."
"Why?"
"I want to confirm something."
Raka looked down at the notebook in his hand. A sudden feeling of unease rose within him.
The woman's voice echoed again.
"Raka..."
Raka closed his eyes.
"Do not give it to him."
He opened his eyes again. The king was still waiting. Raka tightened his grip on the notebook.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty."
"But I can't give it to you."
The guards immediately grew tense.
Laras looked at Raka.
"Raka..."
"I don't know who I can trust in this place."
Raka kept his eyes on the king.
"Not even you."
For several seconds, no one moved. Then the king let out a quiet laugh. It was not an angry laugh. Instead, it sounded like the laugh of someone who had just discovered something interesting.
"Good."
Raka looked confused.
"Good?"
The king stood up.
"If you trusted me immediately, I would be disappointed."
He then walked toward Raka.
"An heir should never trust anyone too easily."
He stopped directly in front of Raka.
"Especially someone who claims to want to protect you."
Raka's gaze slowly shifted toward Laras. Laras remained silent. For the first time, Raka saw an expression on her face that he could not understand. It was as if she wanted to say something, but was holding herself back.
The king then turned around.
"Take Raka to the guest room."
Laras simply nodded.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Raka began walking.
But before leaving the hall, he glanced once more at the painting. The young man in it was still standing with a keris in his hand. And for some reason... Raka felt as though the young man was looking directly at him. When Raka and Laras left the hall, the king remained where he was.
A guard approached him.
"Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
"Is he truly the heir?"
The king did not answer immediately. He only stared at the old painting on the wall. Then, slowly, he spoke.
"Not yet."
The guard was startled.
"Not yet?"
The king simply nodded.
"He only carries the blood."
He looked toward the door through which Raka had left.
"The true heir has yet to awaken."
Meanwhile, Raka walked with Laras toward another part of the palace. But without him realizing it... Behind one of the palace's tall windows, a woman in a black robe was watching him.
The woman smiled. In her hand was an ancient keris. The same keris that had been resting on the altar.
"So, you have already met the king."
She slowly ran her fingers along the blade.
"Then... the time is drawing near."
Suddenly, a voice came from inside the room.
"Should we kill him now?"
The woman shook her head.
"Not yet."
"Why?"
But she only smiled.
"Because I want to see for myself..."
Her gaze remained fixed on Raka.
"...what the Heir of Nusantara will do when he discovers who truly brought him into this world."
Inside the guest room, Raka stood in front of the window. He looked up at the two moons hanging in the sky. Then he looked at his grandfather's notebook. Slowly, the blank page began to fill with writing. Raka read the words that appeared.
"Do not trust them."
Raka froze.
But the writing did not stop. A new sentence appeared.
"Laras included."
Raka stared at the words, holding his breath. Outside the room, he heard Laras's footsteps gradually fading into the distance. And for the first time... Raka began to wonder.
Had Laras truly come to protect him?