When they returned to the workshop, Kaivan gathered the team. In their hands lay 5,600,000 rupiah: the fruit of their hard work, a sum that felt like the first step toward something far larger.
"Radit, Zinnia, you each get one million. We'll save the rest for the next trip," Kaivan said as he handed out the money, making it clear that everyone's contribution was deeply valued.
Radit grinned. "Got it, Kaivan. This makes me even more fired up." Zinnia's thin smile held a quiet spark in her eyes.
Kaivan nodded gently. In the silence that once again settled over the abandoned building, he felt something he rarely allowed himself to feel, a quiet, growing hope. To him, this was just the beginning of a journey that would test them all, yet he knew that with this team, nothing was impossible.
That afternoon, Kaivan stood before the door of his home, eyes shadowed with experiences far heavier than his age suggested. He adjusted the jacket draped over his thin frame. Before leaving, he glanced back at his mother, who stood in the living room with a warm smile. Her face was filled with a love so genuine it almost felt like a shelter.
"Mom, I'm going out for a bit," he said softly. His voice was calm, yet laced with an invisible sense of responsibility, as if he carried a burden no one else could see.
Sensing even the smallest changes in her son, his mother asked gently, "Alright, but be careful on the road, okay? Are you going with someone?" Her gaze searched Kaivan's face, as though trying to read the words he hadn't spoken.
Kaivan gave a faint smile, as if to ease her heart. "Just by myself, Mom. If I'm late, I might stay over at a friend's place." His answer was brief, but there was firmness in his tone. This decision wasn't truly his, it was a direction from the Tome Omnicent.
His mother nodded slowly, giving her silent blessing. With a careful motion, Kaivan stepped outside, closing the door behind him. Outside, his motorcycle, a simple gift from his parents, waited patiently.
He rode calmly, leaving the bustle of the city for the untouched countryside. The winding road was surrounded by lush scenery, a soothing balm for the eyes. Tall trees along the roadside stood like silent sentinels, guarding the secrets of his journey. Occasionally, a soft breeze carried the scent of damp grass, filling Kaivan with a strange blend of peace and anticipation.
After a while, he stopped in front of an old elementary school at a three-way junction. The building was quiet but radiated a sense of nostalgia. A large tree stood proudly in the schoolyard, its leaves rustling gently in the late-afternoon wind. Kaivan dismounted and walked toward the tree, his gaze distant.
From his bag, he drew out the Tome Omnicent. The book opened its pages on its own, revealing new words forming in an otherworldly script:
"Buy bandages and antiseptic."
Kaivan furrowed his brow. "Why do I need these?" he murmured. Though uncertain, he knew the Tome's guidance always had meaning. Without hesitation, he walked to a nearby mini-mart, bought the bandages and antiseptic, and carefully placed them inside his bag.
Three hours on the road brought Kaivan to a quiet crossroads in a small village. Rows of trees and modest houses lined the street, their stillness wrapping the scene in peace. The sky shifted colors, deep reds and soft oranges washed over the horizon, painting a breathtaking sunset. Near the intersection, a coconut vendor was busy serving his last customer.
Tome Omnicent whispered again: "Rest near the coconut seller." Kaivan steered his motorcycle toward the stall. He ordered a fresh coconut and sat under a large tree. As the evening breeze cooled the air, he opened the Tome once more. This time, the words etched across the page were startlingly specific:
"A girl with short hair and blue eyes, named Thivi, will fall from her motorcycle. Help her when she does."
Time passed quietly. Kaivan wandered toward the rice fields and parked his bike. Then came the distant growl of an engine. He turned toward the sound. A young woman matching the Tome's description sped down the road, but something was off, her bike veered wildly, skidding toward the bend ahead.
"Damn!" Kaivan shot forward without thinking. His body moved on instinct, sprinting toward her as the motorcycle hurtled toward the roadside barrier. In a precise, desperate leap, he grabbed her, pulling her clear of the impending crash.
They tumbled across the dirt, dust swirling around them in chaotic spirals. Behind them, her bike slammed into the guardrail with a metallic crash, scattering shards of chrome and steel like falling stars. Kaivan shielded her with his body, absorbing the worst of the impact.
When their motion finally ceased, Kaivan raised his head, steadying his breath. He looked down at the girl, at her vivid blue eyes, wide with shock but glinting with relief. Sunlight pooled in her gaze, catching every hue of the fading day.
"Are you alright?" Kaivan asked softly, his voice cutting through the haze of fear.
The girl, Thivi, hesitated, chest rising and falling as she fought for composure. "I… I'm okay," she said at last. Her voice trembled, but a faint resilience flickered beneath the words, like embers resisting a storm. "Who are you?"
Kaivan offered a faint smile. It wasn't entirely confident, but it carried warmth and calm. From his bag, he quickly but carefully retrieved neatly rolled bandages.
"I'm Kaivan," he said, rolling up his sleeve, his movements steady and deliberate. His gaze held hers, earnest and reassuring. "I brought bandages, we can stop any bleeding if you're hurt. You're Thivi, right?"
Thivi nodded slowly, her mind still processing everything. A tentative smile tugged at her lips as her eyes drifted toward her bike, now lying mangled at the roadside. Shards of glass and metal surrounded it like a sleeping beast shedding its scales.
"But… my bike's ruined," she murmured. "My brother's going to be so mad."
Kaivan glanced at the wreck, then back at her, his smile softening into something gentle and resolute. "Don't worry," he said, voice calm as twilight wind. "We'll find a repair shop nearby, or I'll take you home if we can't. What matters now is that you're safe. That's the only thing that truly counts."
Kaivan's words seemed to wash away the weight pressing down on Thivi's heart. Her blue eyes met his once more, this time filled with a quiet gratitude. She smiled faintly, shifting into a more relaxed position with her legs folded in front of her, brushing the dust from her light clothing before looking up at him. "Do you have a phone? I need to call my parents."
Before she could continue, something lying beside Kaivan caught her attention, the Tome Omnicent, now open on one of its pages. Kaivan glanced at the book, frowning slightly. The text on its paper shifted, forming clear words laced with impatience:
I told you to wait. If you get yourself killed, I'll be the one inconvenienced later.
Kaivan let out a wry smile and traced the edge of the page with a light touch. "Inconvenienced how?" he muttered, half-joking, tilting his head to one side.
Before any answer could come, Thivi, now calmer, suddenly held out a phone. "Your phone rang. No one answered," she said, her voice a mix of confusion and worry.
Kaivan turned his attention back to her, taking the phone with a small, reassuring smile. "Then let me take you home," he said, his tone more serious now but still gentle. "I'll explain everything to your family. Maybe I can help keep the trouble from getting too big."
By the time the sun had nearly set, Kaivan and Thivi were riding back on his motorbike. Above them, the first stars of evening sparkled, casting a soft light as if blessing their journey. Thivi sat behind him, her hands at first barely brushing the fabric of his jacket. As the ride went on, the space between them slowly disappeared. Hesitant at first, Thivi inched closer to Kaivan's back, tension lingering in her tentative movements.
"Kaivan," she whispered at last, her voice a thread of sound against the gentle hum of the engine. "You're not from this village, are you? I can't help wondering… who are you, really? And why were you here, at that exact moment?"
Kaivan stayed quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the road stretching out into the silent countryside. He knew there was a truth he couldn't reveal, not yet. At length, he spoke, voice calm and measured. "I'm just passing through," he said. "Taking a break from the city, enjoying the quiet of the village."