The introduction passed casually enough, almost ordinary.
Yet the name that had just been spoken echoed in their minds like a stone thrown into still water.
The man who had helped them carried the same name as the legend they had grown up hearing.
Is this a coincidence?
Is this really him?
That's not how the story goes…
The thoughts spun endlessly in their heads.
They exchanged glances, but none of them dared to laugh or comment.
The name was far too heavy to dismiss as mere chance.
Arga looked at the three of them in confusion.
"Why do you all look so shocked? Do you already know my brother? Is he an acquaintance of yours?"
Bandung frowned as well.
"How could that be? We only just met today, didn't we?"
Danu answered quickly, trying to hide the growing tension.
"Oh no, no no no, it's nothing like that. His name just happens to be the same as my cousin's. It caught me off guard, that's all. Haha."
"Oh, I see." Bandung smiled in relief, accepting the explanation without suspicion.
"For a moment I thought I'd done something wrong."
Jaka and Anindya nodded along, though uncertainty still lingered in their eyes.
Bandung took a deep breath and glanced at the sun, now leaning toward the west.
"Well then… shall we head home now?" he said as he adjusted the bundle of firewood on the ground.
"Before it gets dark. We can still build a small room for you and rest before night falls."
Arga nodded enthusiastically.
Meanwhile, the three of them exchanged glances again, relieved that the topic had passed, yet still stunned by the turn of fate.
"Sir… it's fine now. This firewood will make up for the meals from last week," Bandung called toward the inside of the stall.
A voice shouted back, "Alright, alright. Just leave it there. I'll sort it out later."
Anindya, Jaka, and Danu gathered their belongings.
Anin clutched her notebook tightly.
Jaka checked that his wallet was still there.
Danu slung his bag over his shoulder, filled with his handycam, solar charger, and other modern items that felt completely out of place in this world.
They left the stall, passing villagers who still whispered among themselves. Curious gazes followed them, but Bandung merely smiled calmly at everyone they passed.
"Don't worry about them," he said.
"They're just curious, not malicious. As long as you don't cause trouble, you'll be fine."
The path to Bandung and Arga's home led through rice field ridges, rustling bamboo groves, and chickens darting freely across the road.
At last, a small hut appeared at the edge of an open field beside the farmland. Its thatched roof slanted slightly, but the yard was tidy, bordered by a low bamboo fence with neatly arranged plants.
"Well… this is our place," Bandung said, scratching the back of his neck.
"It's small, but it's enough. We can build an extra room over there for you."
"Looks like we're getting neighbors," Arga added cheerfully.
Bandung chuckled. There was warmth in his eyes, but also traces of memories that had never fully faded.
"Not bad, right? With more people around, the nights don't feel so quiet," he said, patting Arga's head.
Since childhood, it had been just the two of them in that hut, ever since a robbery had taken both of their parents many years ago.
Life had been simple, harsh, and sometimes far too quiet for children their age.
Perhaps that was why Bandung was always quick to smile at strangers.
And perhaps it was also why he was so determined to become a soldier of the kingdom, to bring a fragment of justice to places far from the capital's reach.
"Let's gather some bamboo first. We still have weaving materials behind the house," Bandung said, inviting everyone to help.
Without many questions, they all joined in.
They set their belongings aside and began carrying bamboo, cutting reeds, arranging woven panels, and fixing the thatched roof.
Slowly, the awkwardness between them faded, replaced by small talk and jokes exchanged between tasks.
The sky turned orange.
The small room was finally finished.
Fresh bamboo walls, a new thatched roof, and a floor made of woven mats and reeds.
Far from luxurious, but more than enough to survive the night in this unfamiliar world.
Jaka lay down for a moment on the thin mat.
Danu stretched his sore body.
Anindya leaned against the wall, rereading her notes.
They were exhausted, and for the first time that day, they tried to rest.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The three of them exchanged glances.
Jaka sighed, forced himself up, and opened the door.
"Yes… what is it—"
"Wait… Ranti?!"
Standing at the doorway was a familiar figure, smiling warmly.
Someone who had vanished earlier and whom they had searched for. Someone who should not have been here.
Ranti.
Their senior from high school, who had disappeared only hours ago.
She stood there with her hair neatly tied up, wearing clothes like those of the villagers, a cloth bundle held in her arms.
Jaka did not open the door fully.
He stood stiffly, half-blocking Anin and Danu's view.
"Hi, Jaka. Danu. Anin," she said softly.
"You're all alright, right?"
No one answered.
The three of them simply stared, trying to convince themselves that they were truly seeing Ranti, and not a hallucination.
Danu was the first to break.
"W-where have you been all day? You just disappeared! We were calling out for you and got no answer!"
Anin followed, her voice quieter. "How did you even find us here?"
Jaka kept his eyes on Ranti, trying to read what she wasn't saying.
Ranti raised a hand gently.
"May I come in? It's cold outside. And it wouldn't look good for your neighbors," she said, gesturing toward Bandung and Arga's house.
Anin nodded hesitantly.
Danu nudged Jaka aside and opened the door wider.
"Move already, Jaka. You've been standing there forever."
Ranti stepped inside and sat down, as if nothing strange had happened.
As if the forest, the light, and the disappearance had never occurred.
As if this were just a casual chat at school.
That familiarity softened something in them. Questions spilled out all at once.
"How did you get here?"
"When did we get separated?"
"Why do you look just like the villagers?"
Ranti raised both hands.
"Easy, easy. How are you first, guys? Anyone hurt? Are you hungry?"
They shook their heads almost in unison.
"We're fine," Anindya said softly.
"Just tired… and confused."
"And kind of embarrassed," Danu added.
"The villagers were staring at us like we were kind of ghosts."
Ranti laughed quietly.
"But honestly, wandering around dressed like that didn't help."
She opened the cloth bundle.
Inside were three round bars of soap, scented with flowers and herbs, and a thin golden hairpin.
She handed the hairpin to Anindya.
"This is for you. So you won't overheat."
Anindya froze.
"Ranti… this must be expensive."
Ranti shook her head gently, placing a hand on Anindya's shoulder.
"You need it. Just take it."
Danu sniffed one of the soaps, fascinated by the unfamiliar scent.
Jaka, however, kept watching her.
"Ranti… what is actually happening to us? You look like you understand everything."
She did not answer immediately.
She looked at them one by one, then brought her hands together.
A cold breeze swept through the room.
Their clothes shimmered, faded, and changed into garments suited for this era: striped cloth, belts, and woven bamboo bags.
Danu jumped to his feet.
"WHAT… HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!"
Anin could only stare, stunned.
Jaka grabbed his clothes, his voice shaking.
"Ranti… did you just… use magic?"
Ranti smiled, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"If I didn't, you'd keep attracting attention everywhere you went."
Before anyone could demand answers, there was another knock.\
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Jaka stood up again, his eyes flicking back to Ranti before he opened the door.
It was Bandung, holding several pieces of cloth. "I thought you might need these as spare clothes. But it looks like you already have them. That's good."
"Yes, they were brought by—" Danu turned.
His eyes widened.
Empty.
There was no one there but Anindya.
Only an empty cloth bundle lay on the floor.
Jaka turned sharply.
"What?!"
Anindya stood up in panic.
"Was she even real?"
Bandung frowned. "What's wrong? Who are you looking for? I didn't see anyone come into the yard."
A chill ran through all three of them. Jaka forced a breath. "It's nothing, sir. We're just exhausted. Imagining things."
Bandung looked doubtful, but chose not to press further.
"Get some rest. Today must have been rough."
He set the clothes down and left.
The door closed.
Silence lingered.
"She was really here… right?"
"Yes. The clothes and the hairpin are still here."
Jaka lay back down, staring at the ceiling.
"I don't know if that was a hallucination or not… but I'm exhausted. We'll think about it tomorrow."