Raka was still standing in front of the window. His eyes remained fixed on his grandfather's notebook.
"Laras included..."
He repeated the sentence quietly. His hand slowly closed the notebook.
Ever since he first met Laras, the woman had clearly been hiding many things from him. But during their journey to Arkapura, Laras had also saved his life several times.
If Laras truly wanted to harm him...
Why would she go through all that trouble to save him from the dragon?
Raka sighed.
"Ah... The more I think about it, the more confused I get."
He then sat down on the edge of the bed. The guest room was fairly spacious. There was a wooden table, a wardrobe, and several strange decorations Raka had never seen before. But one thing made him uncomfortable.
He did not know whether he was actually a guest... Or a prisoner. Suddenly—
TOK! TOK!
Raka immediately turned toward the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
Laras's voice.
Raka fell silent for a moment.
"Come in."
The door slowly opened. Laras entered while carrying several folded pieces of clothing.
"You're still wearing those clothes?"
Raka looked at his own clothes, which had been dirty since the moment he arrived in Ardhana.
"What's wrong with them?"
"They're dirty."
Raka immediately looked down at his shirt.
"...Oh."
Laras placed the clothes on the table.
"Put these on."
Raka picked up one of the outfits. It looked simple, with a dark-colored outer layer and white fabric underneath.
"What is this?"
"Clothing."
"I know it's clothing."
"Then why did you ask?"
Raka stared at Laras with a blank expression.
"Sometimes I really don't understand you."
Laras only sighed.
"It is clothing commonly worn by humans in Arkapura."
"Humans?"
"Yes."
"So there are a lot of humans here?"
"Quite a lot."
"Then why did I meet your people first?"
Laras did not answer immediately. Raka narrowed his eyes.
"There you go... Silent again."
"I don't know how to answer that."
"Just answer honestly."
Laras looked at Raka for several seconds.
"Coincidence."
Raka did not believe her.
"Liar."
"You're becoming quite bold."
"Didn't the king just say I shouldn't trust anyone too easily?"
Raka placed his grandfather's notebook inside his pocket.
"That includes you."
"I know."
Raka immediately looked at her.
"You know?"
"I knew from the beginning that you wouldn't trust me easily."
"Why?"
"Because you ask too many questions."
"...Is that a bad thing?"
"No."
Laras walked toward the door.
"That is precisely what has kept you alive."
Raka remained silent. Laras opened the door.
"Change your clothes. After that, I'll take you somewhere else."
"Where?"
"The royal library."
"The library?"
"Yes."
"Can I look for information about this world?"
"If you can find it."
Raka smiled faintly.
"Finally, a useful place."
Laras glanced at him.
"Don't get your hopes up."
She then left the room. The door closed behind her. Raka looked at the clothes she had given him.
"Hmm..."
He then looked at his own outfit.
"At least I have a change of clothes."
A few minutes later, Raka left the room. His new clothes felt a little strange because they were different from what he was used to wearing. Still, they were comfortable enough. Laras was already waiting outside the door. She looked Raka up and down.
"It suits you."
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
"It feels like cosplay."
Laras frowned.
"Cos... play?"
"Forget it."
They then walked through the palace corridors.
This time, Raka paid closer attention to his surroundings. The farther they went, the more ancient carvings he found. Some depicted humans holding weapons. Others showed buildings that looked remarkably similar to temples. But one carving made Raka stop.
A symbol. The same symbol that appeared in his grandfather's notebook.
Raka immediately approached it.
"Laras."
"What?"
"This symbol..."
Laras stopped.
Raka pointed at the carving.
"It's the same as the one in my grandfather's notebook."
Laras looked at it. Her expression immediately became serious.
"Don't touch it."
"I'm only looking."
"Raka."
Her tone was different this time. More firm.
Raka quickly pulled his hand back.
"Okay."
Laras approached the carving. She studied the symbol for a moment.
"You know something?"
"A little."
"A little more?"
"No."
Raka sighed.
"Of course."
They continued walking. But without either of them realizing it, someone was watching them from behind one of the pillars. A man wearing the uniform of a royal guard. His gaze was fixed on Raka. Especially on the pocket where Raka kept the notebook.
"So it really is him..."
He then left without making a sound. Not long afterward, Raka and Laras arrived in front of a large door.
Two guards stood before it. The moment they saw Laras, they immediately stepped aside.
The door opened, and Raka fell silent. The room beyond it was far larger than he had imagined.
Bookshelves filled almost the entire room. There were thousands of books. Some of the shelves even looked incredibly old.
Raka slowly stepped inside.
"This is..."
Laras only smiled faintly.
"The royal library."
Raka looked around.
"If there's a place that can explain why I'm here..."
"It's here."
Raka immediately walked toward the nearest shelf. He began reading the book titles.
"History of Ardhana..."
"The Kingdom of Arkapura..."
"The Thousand-Year War..."
Raka stopped.
His hand immediately reached for the book.
"The Thousand-Year War?"
Laras turned toward him.
"Put it back."
"Why?"
"It isn't something you need to read right now."
"That's exactly why I want to read it."
Raka opened the book. But before he could read the first page—
BRAK!
The book suddenly closed on its own.
Raka jumped.
"What the heck?!"
Laras immediately stood in front of him.
"Don't."
"I haven't even read it!"
"Because the book doesn't want you to read it."
Raka stared at the book.
"Books can have their own will?"
"In Ardhana, don't assume that everything is lifeless."
Raka slowly stepped back.
"Okay..."
He looked at the book again.
"This world is getting stranger by the minute."
Then footsteps echoed from the far end of the library. Someone was approaching them. An elderly woman wearing simple clothing appeared from behind the shelves. She was carrying several books in her arms.
But the moment she saw Raka... She stopped walking.
The books in her arms nearly fell to the floor.
Her eyes widened.
"That's impossible..."
Raka looked at her.
"What is it?"
The woman did not answer. Her gaze shifted toward Laras.
"Guardian of the Eastern Gate..."
Laras nodded.
"He is Raka."
The woman looked at Raka again. Her expression slowly changed into fear.
"The heir..."
Raka began to grow irritated.
"Could you all stop calling me that?"
Instead, the woman took a step backward.
"He really has returned..."
Raka fell silent.
"Who has returned?"
The woman did not answer. She only stared at Raka with trembling hands. Then, suddenly, a book fell from the shelf behind them.
BUK!
Raka immediately turned around. The book had opened by itself. Its pages flipped rapidly. Then one page stopped. On it was an image remarkably similar to the painting Raka had seen in the hall.
A young man stood in front of a temple. A keris was in his hand. But this time... Something was different. Beneath the image was a line of ancient writing.
Raka approached it and read slowly.
"The First Heir..."
Raka swallowed hard. Then another sentence appeared.
"...will return when the Nusantara Gate opens."
Raka froze.
"The Nusantara Gate..."
Laras immediately stared at the book. For the first time... Raka saw her face turn completely pale.
"Laras?"
Laras did not answer.
Suddenly, the entire library began to shake.
BUUUM!
Books fell from the shelves. The guards outside immediately began shouting.
"What's happening?!"
Raka nearly lost his balance.
"Laras!"
But before Laras could answer—
The notebook inside Raka's pocket began to grow hot.
Extremely hot.Raka immediately pulled it out.
Golden light emerged from between its pages.
And the woman's voice, which had previously only echoed inside Raka's head, could now be heard again. This time, it was clearer.
"Raka..."
Raka stared at the notebook.
"Who are you?"
There was no answer. Only one sentence was heard in a quiet voice.
"Do not let them open the Gate."
Raka stood frozen.
Then, from somewhere in the distance, the royal bells began to ring.
DONG!
DONG!
DONG!
Laras immediately looked toward the window.
Her expression turned serious.
"No..."
Raka looked outside as well.
Above the palace... The sky was beginning to turn dark purple. And in the middle of it... A gigantic symbol slowly appeared. The same symbol found in his grandfather's notebook.
Laras gripped her sword.
"The Gate is beginning to open."