a Fateful Encounter

The twilight sky painted the edge of the lake with a warm hue of orange. A gentle breeze swept through, carrying the scent of damp earth and fallen leaves. Birds of the forest still called out in the distance, as if unwilling to yield the stage to the night. Amidst the silence and serenity, a young man sat quietly, motionless, as though he were part of the landscape itself.

Gugum sat cross-legged by the lake, facing the shimmering water that reflected the colors of the sky. A wooden stick was planted nearby, propping up a skewered fish roasting over a small fire. The savory aroma of the fish, seasoned with wild herbs, began to fill the air, tempting any hungry soul to take a bite.

Yet Gugum's face remained impassive. His eyes gazed at the calm water, but his thoughts drifted far from this peaceful place. Since leaving the cave, he had traveled a long road. His body didn't feel tired, but the doubts and burdens in his heart weighed heavier than the pack on his back. He knew that his next destination was the Tirta Nirmala School. But what awaited him there remained a mystery.

"Will they accept me?" he wondered. "What was Mother's connection with them?"

Andini hadn't told him much. Just one message she repeated before they parted: If you manage to meet the leader of the Tirta Nirmala School, show them this hairpin. It will help you.

Gugum let out a long sigh, then pulled the roasting stick from the fire. The fish was perfectly cooked, its golden skin crisp, the flesh soft and flaking. He transferred it onto a wide leaf arranged like a plate and began eating slowly.

But before he could finish the first bite, his ears caught something. The faint clashing of metal, like weapons striking. Then, a muffled shout. A scream.

He froze mid-chew.

His ears were sharp. That wasn't the sound of ordinary training. There was anger in it. Force. A pressure being exerted.

"Not my problem," he muttered, biting again. "Not my business."

Then came another sound.

A scream.

A woman's scream, piercing and desperate.

Gugum's entire body tensed. His jaw stopped moving. His ears rang. That scream wasn't just a passing sound, it tore through the tranquility and stabbed at his heart like a sharpened blade. Within that cry, he saw another image, his mother, Andini, back when she was wounded. When she bore her pain to protect him. That memory struck like a tidal wave crashing down.

He placed the fish back on the leaf and stood up. Without a word, he grabbed his wooden staff and moved swiftly, silently, toward the source of the voice.

His steps were light, like a shadow melding with the trees. The closer he drew to the sounds, the clearer it became, this was no mere skirmish.

Behind thick bushes and tall trees, he spotted a small clearing. There, a young man lay wounded on the ground, while four other young men stood over him, surrounding him like vultures. A girl knelt beside the fallen one, trying to support him with trembling hands. Her face was pale, her eyes red from crying.

"Don't blame us, Jaka," one of the four scoffed. "You're the one who butted in. We're just teaching you reality."

"Or… did you think we'd be scared of your father's name? Your father's gone now. And you… you're just a loser!" another mocked.

The girl gritted her teeth. "Cowards!"

"And you, Lila," one of them sneered, staring at her with a degrading smirk. "You'd be better off with me than with that loser."

Lila's hand clenched around the hilt of her sword, but her body trembled. Fear and fury twisted together inside her. In her eyes, there was a silent understanding, if she moved, she might not survive, but doing nothing meant letting Jaka be humiliated even further.

From the shadows beneath the trees, another figure watched closely. A young woman in a white robe embroidered with blue water motifs. Her jet-black hair flowed gracefully down her back, gleaming under the fading sunlight. Her face was delicate and symmetrical, as if sculpted by the hands of a god, with a sharp nose and finely curved eyebrows. Her eyes were a cool silver-blue, calm yet carrying an unapproachable chill. Her lips, naturally red, were slightly pursed, giving her an aloof and untouchable air.

She looked like a goddess descended from the heavens, her beauty enough to make the world fade, but it wasn't just her appearance that drew the eye. It was the way she stood: composed, resolute, like someone used to watching chaos unfold and knowing exactly when to act. And when she saw Lila's trembling fingers start to draw her sword in desperation, she began to step forward.

But before she could move, a voice from another direction made everyone's head turn.

"Stop!"

The voice was firm, deep, and carried a weight that could not be ignored.

All eyes turned toward the forest.

From between the darkening trees, a young man emerged slowly. He looked like he was in his 20s, wore a worn-out brown leather jacket, dirtied with dust and mud. His pants were torn slightly at the knee, scratched from travel. A small pack was slung across his back, and in his right hand, he held a simple carved wooden staff.

Though his clothes were shabby, he radiated a presence that was hard to define.

Gugum's expression was hard and calm. His jaw was set, his chin slightly raised. His eyes, dark, deep black, stared directly at the four youths, as though they could pierce into their souls. He didn't look angry. It was his stillness that was terrifying. Like the surface of a lake—serene, but hiding a fierce current beneath.

The four young men who had just moments ago been full of arrogance now instinctively took a step back. One of them squinted, trying to assess the newcomer.

"Who are you?" he asked with a mocking tone, but there was hesitation in his voice.

Gugum did not answer. He continued walking forward, step by steady step, until he stood between Jaka and the group of aggressors. Without a word, he planted his staff into the ground. The subtle thud echoed more loudly than expected, as if nature itself responded to his silent challenge.

"I told you to stop," Gugum said calmly. "If you still have a shred of honor, walk away now."

The leader of the four clicked his tongue. "Tch. Acting tough, are we? Do you even know who we are?"

"No," Gugum replied flatly. "And I don't need to."

The directness of his words pierced through the group like an arrow. One of them stepped forward, anger flaring.

"You little—!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Gugum moved. Swift and precise, like a gust of wind sweeping through the trees. His staff spun through the air and struck the attacker's wrist with a sharp crack. The sword in the young man's hand clattered to the ground.

The others froze.

"You bastard!" another shouted, charging recklessly. But Gugum was faster. He sidestepped with fluid ease and swept his staff low, knocking the boy's feet out from under him. The attacker hit the ground hard, groaning in pain.

Two down.

The remaining pair looked at each other, fear now overtaking their bravado. The leader gritted his teeth and pointed accusingly.

"You'll regret this!"

Gugum tilted his head slightly, his voice steady. "Then don't make your regrets any worse. Leave."

For a moment, the silence was thick. Then, without another word, the four scattered into the forest, dragging their fallen comrades with them.

Once they disappeared, Gugum turned around and knelt beside Jaka, examining his injuries. Lila, still shaken, wiped her tears and stared at the stranger.

"You... Who are you?"

Gugum glanced at her, then shook his head lightly. "Just someone who was passing by."

He stood, retrieving his staff, and was about to leave when the woman in the white robe stepped out from the trees.

Her presence immediately changed the atmosphere. Everyone's eyes turned to her.

"You moved well for someone who claimed to be just passing by," she said. Her voice was cool, calm, but not unkind. There was a faint curiosity behind her words.

Gugum paused. "I don't like bullies."

The woman looked at him, then smiled softly, full of understanding. "Me neither."

There was a long moment of silence between them, an unspoken recognition.