Morning covered South Brebes Village with cold dew and pale sky. Bima sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the notebook open in front of him. On the last page, the strange symbol he drew last night was still clearly visible. The necklace hanging around his neck felt warm, like it was slowly burning.
> "Every day... it feels stranger. Like something is awakening from within me."
He sighed softly. Since childhood, his life had been full of questions. His father and mother had gone who knows where—not because they died, but because they were missing... disappeared in a long escape that had never been explained to him. And now, the symbol appeared. Not in a dream, not in a fairy tale, but real on paper.
*****
At school, a noisy atmosphere could be heard from the direction of the wall magazine. Dozens of students gathered, reading a large announcement that was neatly pasted:
> "Educational Camping Activity - Bukit Gunung Kunci | Duration: 3 Days 2 Nights."
Bima's eyes were fixed. He knew the place. Its name had been mentioned by his father in a childhood story—about an old hill guarded by a forest spirit, a place where natural energy gathered. At that time he only thought of it as a fairy tale.
> "Why is that place now appearing as a camping location?"
The question stuck deep, cold, echoing.
******
In class, Mr. Arman entered with his typical enthusiasm, carrying a stack of papers in his hand.
> "Okay kids, we're going to hold a selection for the camping activity. But listen carefully, this isn't just playing in nature. This... is more than that."
Small papers were distributed one by one. Bima received his. In the bottom right corner of the paper... there was a symbol. The same symbol as the one drawn in his notebook.
His eyes widened. His right hand shook slightly.
> "It's not a coincidence. This must be... part of something big."
******
During recess, Bima sat under a large tree in the corner of the school. The afternoon wind blew softly, carrying unclear whispers. Riko, a kid from the next class, suddenly sat beside him.
> "You got that symbol too, huh?"
Bima turned his head quickly. Riko grinned casually.
> "I thought it was just me. But seeing you looking at the paper with a pale face, I knew."
Bima smiled thinly, not answering. They sat in silence. But it wasn't an awkward silence, but rather like… two people who knew something was coming.
*****
Behind the old school building, Jaguar leaned back with his hands in his pockets. Azil and Dimas sat on a short wall that was cracked with age.
> "Did you see that kid? Bima," Jaguar said quietly.
> "Why is that?" Dimas asked, scratching his head.
> "I've seen a symbol like that at home. In my father's book. He said it only appears in children with strong blood."
Azil whistled softly.
> "You mean he's a kid from an upper clan?"
Jaguar shook his head quickly.
> "No way. There's no such thing as an upper clan. He's probably like us, a kid from a middle clan. But… it's different. His aura is… covered."
The three of them were silent for a moment. Jaguar looked up at the sky, his expression serious.
> "Anyway, if that kid explodes one day... it could hit all of us."
******
Elsewhere, night began to fall, bringing a false sense of calm. But for Bima, everything began to move.
Uncle Bando knocked softly on the bedroom door.
> "Here, there's something for you. Keep it safe."
In his hand was a small box made of old wood, carved with patterns of tree roots and stars. Bima opened it slowly. Inside was only a plain sheet of paper. But when touched... the air around him felt like it changed. Cold. Silent. As if time slowed down for a moment.
> "A blank sheet of paper... but why is my heart beating faster?"
That beat... not from fear. But from something older than memory, deeper than logic.
> "As if there was something behind that emptiness. Something that knew me first, before I knew it."
******
The next day, six names were called to the teacher's room: Bima, Riko, Tama, Lina, Bayu, and Sari.
Mrs. Rani looked at them one by one, her eyes sharp, but not judgmental.
> "This camp is not just a trip. This is a mirror—for anyone brave enough to look at themselves."
Her gaze paused for a moment on Bima, before she continued:
> "Leave tomorrow. Prepare everything."
******
The night before departure. On the roof of the house, Bima sat alone, staring at the sky decorated with small stars. The wind blew softly, carrying the scent of a distant forest.
He closed his eyes.
> "I don't know what's waiting for me on that hill. But I know... everything will change."
Far in the forest, two small creatures—a cat and a dog—ran through the leaves. Not knowing the direction, not knowing the destination. But the world... was already calling them slowly.
> No one saw, no one knew... that small step would bring a big change to the destiny of a boy named Bima.
*****
End of Chapter Quotes:
> "Small steps are not always heard,
but the universe never fails to record them."