Lawang Sigotaka

Chapter 22

Dimas stood beneath the sprawling branches of the ancient banyan tree, the cold night air pressing in around him. The man had left him alone to contemplate the weight of what he had just experienced, the enormity of the task that lay ahead. The Sigotaka was real, its power undeniable, and now, more than ever, Dimas knew that his journey had only just begun.

The village of Wanurejo was silent, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves as the wind whispered through the trees. The mist that had been so thick earlier in the night was beginning to dissipate, revealing the full majesty of the banyan tree's twisted roots and gnarled branches. The air was thick with the scent of incense and flowers, offerings left by the villagers in reverence of the ancient spirit that dwelled within the tree. It was a place of power, of deep, unyielding tradition, and Dimas could feel its history pulsing through the very earth beneath his feet.

As he stood there, lost in thought, a soft sound caught his attention the shuffle of footsteps on the dirt path behind him. He turned, his heart quickening as he spotted a figure emerging from the shadows. It was an elderly woman, the same one he had seen earlier that night, her back still straight despite her advanced age. She moved slowly, but with purpose, her eyes sharp and alert as they fixed on Dimas.

"Selamat malam, anak muda," the woman greeted him, her voice low and melodic, carrying with it the weight of countless years of wisdom. She approached him with a calm, measured gait, her hands clasped together in front of her. Despite her age, there was a strength in her presence, a quiet authority that commanded respect.

"Selamat malam," Dimas replied, his voice respectful, though tinged with curiosity. There was something about this woman that intrigued him, something that made him feel as though she held the answers to questions he hadn't even thought to ask.

"You are here for the Sigotaka," she said, her tone matter-of-fact, as if she had known his purpose all along. There was no question in her voice, only certainty. "You seek to understand what lies beyond the gateway."

Dimas nodded, feeling a surge of unease at the directness of her words. "Yes," he admitted, his voice steady. "I need to know the truth. I need to understand what the Sigotaka really is."

The woman studied him for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she were weighing the sincerity of his words. Finally, she nodded, a small, almost imperceptible movement. "The Sigotaka is not just a gateway," she said quietly. "It is a test, a trial that will challenge everything you believe, everything you hold dear. It is not to be taken lightly."

Dimas felt a shiver run down his spine. He had expected as much, but hearing the words spoken aloud, by someone who clearly knew more than he did, brought the reality of the situation crashing down on him. "I understand," he said, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his lingering doubts.

The woman's expression softened slightly, a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "Many have come before you," she said, her voice taking on a more solemn tone. "Many have sought the Sigotaka, but few have returned. The guardian spirit is powerful, and it does not suffer the unworthy to pass."

"The guardian spirit?" Dimas echoed, his curiosity piqued. He had heard whispers of the spirit, of its connection to the Sigotaka, but this was the first time anyone had spoken of it so directly.

"Yes," the woman replied, her gaze distant, as if she were recalling memories from long ago. "The guardian spirit is the protector of the Sigotaka, the keeper of the ancient knowledge that lies beyond. It has existed for centuries, perhaps longer, and it is bound to the banyan tree, to this village. It is both a guide and a gatekeeper, and it will test you in ways you cannot imagine."

Dimas's mind raced with questions, but one stood out above the rest. "What do I need to do?" he asked, his voice filled with a mixture of determination and fear. "How can I prove myself worthy?"

The woman's eyes sharpened, her gaze locking onto his with an intensity that made his breath catch. "You must face your fears," she said simply. "The guardian spirit will reveal the darkness within you, the fears you have kept hidden, even from yourself. You must confront them, accept them, and overcome them. Only then will you be allowed to pass through the Sigotaka."

Dimas felt a cold knot of dread settle in his stomach. He had known that this journey would be difficult, but the thought of facing his deepest fears, of confronting the darkness within him, filled him with a terror he could scarcely articulate. "And if I fail?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The woman's expression grew even more serious, her gaze unwavering. "If you fail," she said quietly, "the Sigotaka will consume you. You will become lost, trapped between worlds, neither living nor dead. The guardian spirit will take your soul, and you will become a part of the ancient knowledge it guards."

Dimas swallowed hard, the weight of her words pressing down on him like a physical force. The stakes were higher than he had imagined, the risks far greater. But even as the fear threatened to overwhelm him, he felt a surge of determination. He had come too far to turn back now. He had to see this through, no matter the cost.

"I understand," Dimas said, his voice firm despite the fear that gnawed at his insides. "I'm ready."

The woman regarded him for a long moment, as if searching his face for any sign of doubt or hesitation. Finally, she nodded, a small, almost resigned gesture. "Then you must prepare yourself," she said. "The guardian spirit will come for you when it is ready. You will not know when or where, but you must be vigilant. It will test you, challenge you, and if you are not careful, it will break you."

Dimas nodded, the gravity of her words sinking in. He knew that this was not a challenge to be taken lightly, that the guardian spirit was not just a myth but a real, powerful force that he would have to confront. But he also knew that he had no choice. The Sigotaka was his only path forward, the only way to uncover the truth he sought.

The woman turned to leave, but before she did, she placed a hand on Dimas's arm, her touch surprisingly strong for someone of her age. "Remember," she said, her voice soft but urgent. "The Sigotaka is not just a test of strength or courage. It is a test of your soul. Do not let the darkness consume you. Hold onto the light within you, and you may yet find your way through."

With that, she released him and began to walk away, her figure slowly disappearing into the mist that still clung to the village. Dimas watched her go, his mind racing with thoughts of the guardian spirit, of the trial that awaited him. The fear was still there, a cold, gnawing presence in the pit of his stomach, but it was tempered by a newfound resolve. He had been warned, had been given the tools to prepare, and now it was up to him to face whatever came next.

As the woman's figure vanished from sight, Dimas turned back to the banyan tree, its massive roots and branches looming above him like the twisted limbs of some ancient, slumbering giant. The air around it was thick with energy, a pulsing, living force that seemed to resonate with the very earth itself. He could feel the connection between the tree and the Sigotaka, the way the two were intertwined, bound together by centuries of tradition and belief.

Dimas took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenge ahead. He knew that the time for preparation was over, that the moment of truth was fast approaching. The Sigotaka was waiting, and so too was the guardian spirit. He would have to confront them both, to prove himself worthy of the knowledge that lay beyond.

But as he stood there, alone beneath the ancient banyan tree, Dimas couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, that unseen eyes were following his every move. The air grew colder, and the shadows around him seemed to deepen, as if the village itself was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable confrontation.

The Sigotaka was near.

And so was the guardian spirit.