"Sebastian, seeing the current situation, can we go to Grandpa ?" The mother seemed a little hesitant about her wish to bring her three children together.
"You mean?" Sebastian asked.
"Yes, you already know about the large-scale social restrictions that the government has just re-imposed?" It seemed that was the reason for her hesitation.
"Fine then, Mom. But if we get a chance, are you willing?" Sebastian replied.
You could see Sebastian using a device to contact someone. "Okay, Pandu, tomorrow morning, huh?"
"Mother, tomorrow we will still go, and there's someone who will introduce Sebastian to you. He will deliver us using his car," Sebastian said, hinting to his mother to immediately pack up and prepare for the long journey.
It was four-thirty in the morning, and Sebastian had woken up as usual, helping his mother prepare typical breakfast snacks, which would be deposited in several places.
As he was about to get up, Sebastian suddenly realized, "Ah, I forgot. You don't need to make cakes anymore," he said to himself. Sebastian quickly got up and walked to the restroom to wash his face, planning to prepare everything, because today was the day they would travel.
As they passed through his mother's room, Sebastian noticed something unusual. There was a golden light emanating from inside. Curiosity piqued, Sebastian tried to see what was happening inside. The door was slightly open, and he saw his mother sitting on her knees, praying as she usually did.
"But it's not yet time to fulfill my duty!" Sebastian said to himself.
After paying close attention, Sebastian was a little surprised. "Mother... who is she talking to?"
And Sebastian's assumption was correct. It turned out that his mother wasn't praying, but rather conversing with someone. Sebastian's ears faintly caught a few words, including "Dad."
Sebastian quickly headed to the bathroom as the light slowly faded, signaling the end of the conversation.
"Tian...!" His mother called out. Sebastian, who was putting some clothes in a suitcase, approached. "Yes, Mother, what's wrong?"
"Has your friend who will take you arrived?" Mother asked Pandu.
"Mom, park soon, soon!" Sebastian replied, confirming.
"Sebastian, earlier I communicated with Eyang. Later, you and your friends will be there for a while."
"What do you mean by your statement?" Sebastian was confused.
"It's... It's okay..." His mother motioned for Sebastian to continue packing without questioning her words.
Shortly, there was a knock at the door. Sebastian's little brother, Reza, opened it.
"Thank you, Brother," Pandu smiled, recognizing who opened the door. The boy had a face like Sebastian's.
"Please come in, Brother! Are you going to take us on a vacation?" the child hoped.
"That's right. My name is Pandu, and what's your name?" Pandu responded.
"I am Reza! Let me take you to Sis Sebastian!" Reza eagerly pulled Pandu's hand. Pandu thought that perhaps Reza was bored with online learning and unable to socialize because of the epidemic.
"Hi Pandu, are you ready?"
"Mom, this is an office mate I told you about yesterday!" Sebastian introduced Pandu to his mother.
She smiled when she saw Pandu. It seemed like she already knew something about him. Sebastian thought that his privilege might help penetrate someone's heart.
"I greet you, Mother," Pandu said, saluting politely.
"Is everything ready? Where are we going, Sebastian?" Sebastian turned his head toward his mother.
"We will go to Grandfather Sebastian's place in Central Java, Yogyakarta," Mother answered.
Pandu asked a question and then called Sebastian's two brothers to get ready. "Is everything ready?"
Pandu asked for a moment to start the car, and they drove off from the city."How long does it take to arrive in Yogyakarta, Pandu?" Mother asked from the passenger seat as they entered the Cikampek toll area.
"The distance is about five hundred and fifty kilometers, and it takes about ten to twelve hours, depending on the conditions and traffic," Pandu explained.
"It seems faster now, right? I thought it would take longer, but now it's not." Mother, who rarely traveled far, was amazed at the rapid development.
"But we'll stop several times to rest, and a place has been arranged to help restore us after the trip."
Pandu added while Sebastian and his two younger brothers slept. Pandu continued the journey, stopping several times at freeway rest areas.
The scenery outside the windshield changed. Towering buildings gave way to stretches of rice fields and trees on both sides of the road. Pandu turned off the car's air conditioner and lowered the window, letting the cool country air in to refresh his face.
"Mother, we should stop and find an inn. It looks like it's getting dark," Pandu said.
"Please, Pandu. I just obeyed," Mother replied, still feeling a bit doubtful about their destination after being away from the village for so long.
Pandu turned the car into an inn on the left side of the road, where they saw a sign that several rooms were still available. After entering the room, he said, "Mum, if there's something I need, I'll be in the lobby with Sebastian." "Fine, thank you," Mother replied, her tired face visible after dinner.
"Sebastian, I pay attention and feel something about your mother," Pandu opened a conversation with Sebastian. He felt that his mother was not an ordinary person. Pandu couldn't understand it and asked Sebastian to explain. "Is Mother like you, Sebastian? Why can't I detect it?" Pandu seemed puzzled about the vision and feelings he had, as if he were uncertain.
"Pandu, I understand, but this is the purpose of my mother's visit to our grandfather."
"Pandu, did the professor let us go when you asked for permission yesterday?" Sebastian changed the subject.
"Prof. Rhinno was very happy because he was the one who suggested it," Pandu replied.
"You mean?!" Sebastian gasped in surprise.
"Yes, it looks like Prof. Rhinno, who advised your mother to go through everything from the beginning, actually knew about you a long time ago, Sebastian," Pandu confessed, making Sebastian even more surprised.
"Um…," Sebastian stopped his thoughts, not wanting to ask further questions.
"It's better if we rest now. We'll be fresher tomorrow," suggested Pandu, who seemed to feel the same way as Sebastian.
—
They arrived at a house with a very distinctive style, visible every time they crossed the main road to an alternative route. It was true to its designation and philosophy, the house was a basic element of life support. The vehicle stopped, and they saw Grandfather waiting to greet them on the front porch.
Mother, walking ahead, saluted Grandfather, followed by the others. She introduced everyone by name. "Father, this is the eldest, Sebastian, the second is Fani, the third is Reza, and this is Sebastian's friend, Pandu!" Mother introduced each of them.
"Come in, everyone," Grandfather invited them inside. Sebastian's two younger siblings eagerly ran off to play in the rice fields. Sebastian was surprised by Eyang's quiet demeanor. There was one thing that intrigued him—the light of the rainbow that briefly appeared on Eyang's palms.
"I'd better get the luggage out of the car first," Sebastian said, and Pandu got out to help as well.
"Bas, I didn't bring any clothes. Would you like to accompany me to the shop?" Fani asked while carrying some of their bags. "Of course, I want to go around too," Sebastian replied.
When they returned to the house, carrying the items removed from the car, they asked Eyang and Mother for permission to go shopping.
"Sebastian, please buy some kitchen necessities for later, okay?" Mother asked. "Fine, Mother, is there anything else?"
"I think that's all. Later, when you both return from shopping, Grandpa wants you to take her somewhere," Mother ordered.
Sebastian and Pandu were excited to visit the traditional market. There were so many interesting and new things for them to see. As city dwellers, they were used to urban life, but rural communities were orderly and selfless, unlike those in the city.
There was one strange sight that caused Sebastian and Pandu to discuss the aura around them. Yes, almost everyone seemed to emit a glow or aura. As they walked around, they realized that not a single person lacked this aura. This phenomenon was amazing and made them feel as though this was the place they truly belonged.
After their visit, they returned home.
"Sebastian and Pandu, you should have lunch first. Grandpa is away for a moment to pick someone up and asked you to be ready when she returns," Mother said.
While they were eating, they heard Mother talking to someone outside. Sebastian and Pandu quickly finished their lunch, eager not to keep Grandpa waiting.
Shortly after finishing lunch, they went to the veranda where three people were talking.
"Sebastian, Pandu, let's talk before leaving. This is introducing your sister," Grandpa said.
This was the first time Eyang Brahmantyo had said more than two words.
"Sebastian, Pandu, this is your female cousin, Mayang. She will be going with us," Eyang said.
"Where are we going?" Sebastian asked.
"We will go to Imogiri, not far from here. There's an old laboratory that I've left behind for a long time," Eyang explained.
Eyang Brahmantyo's eyes turned to Sebastian's finger. "Sebastian, try holding out the finger that's wearing the ring for a moment!" Eyang commanded.
Sebastian followed Eyang's instructions and then released it, explaining, "I don't need the ring anymore. The energy has completely transferred to me."
—
As the group began cleaning and organizing the neglected laboratory, the air was thick with anticipation. Sebastian, Pandu, and Mayang were eager to learn about the secrets hidden in the research that had been left behind. The walls were lined with dusty shelves filled with ancient books, botanical specimens, and lab equipment that had long been forgotten. It was a world that felt both foreign and familiar to them, as if the laboratory held the key to understanding their origins and the path they needed to follow.
"Looks like this place hasn't been touched for years," Sebastian remarked, wiping dust from the surface of a strange, yet oddly beautiful, jar containing what appeared to be preserved fungi.
"It seems like your grandfather was dedicated to his research," Pandu added, carefully picking up a book from the floor that looked as though it had been buried under years of neglect. "These records must contain invaluable information."
Eyang Brahmantyo walked over to the whiteboard, the faint smell of chalk filling the air. He quickly began writing down a few key points about the evolutionary theory that he had been working on for years, his steady hand gliding across the board with practiced ease.
"Everything in this world, including us, is part of a greater design," he began. "These living beings, whether plants, animals, or humans, are categorized into different orders, ranging from the lowest, Parvordo, to the highest, Magnordo. The key to understanding evolution, however, is not simply in genetics or biology but in something deeper, something that can only be explained by balance."
Mayang, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. "Balance?" she asked, her voice curious. "How does that relate to us? What do you mean by balance?"
"Balance is the essence of life itself," Brahmantyo explained, glancing over at the three of them. "The 'Z' factor, as I call it, is the driving force that determines your growth, your evolution. It is not just your biological makeup, but your thoughts, your feelings, and your ability to understand and balance those with the world around you."
Sebastian listened intently, the pieces of the puzzle beginning to fall into place. He had always felt like something was different about him—like he was destined for something more than just the life he had known. And now, hearing his grandfather's words...
Pandu, always the pragmatic one, asked the next logical question. "And how do we use this knowledge? How do we reach the higher levels of evolution that you speak of?"
Brahmantyo smiled, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. "That, my dear Pandu, is where the journey becomes truly personal. Each of you has a different path to follow, and it's only through self-discovery, discipline, and balance that you will unlock your true potential. But remember, you must always be cautious. Without balance, there can be destruction."
The room fell silent for a moment as each of them reflected on the gravity of Brahmantyo's words. The path ahead was unclear, but they knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.
As the evening sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow across the laboratory, Sebastian couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. The world outside was changing, and with it, so were they. The Nine Dragon Syndicate, the environmental crises, the balance of nature—it was all connected, and it seemed that their destiny was tied to it in ways they couldn't yet fully understand.
"Grandfather," Sebastian said, his voice steady but full of resolve, "what's the next step? How do we begin this journey?"
Brahmantyo gave a deep, thoughtful nod. "The next step is to continue your training, to learn how to harness the abilities that are within you. But more importantly, you must learn how to use them for the greater good. There are forces in this world that seek to disrupt the balance, and it is up to you to stop them."
The weight of those words hung heavily in the air as the group nodded in agreement.
There was no turning back now.