Lawang Sigotaka

Chapter 28

Dimas plunged deeper into the heart of the ancient Javanese forest, the dense foliage above forming a canopy so thick that only slivers of sunlight pierced through, casting long shadows that stretched and twisted across the forest floor. The path beneath his feet was narrow and winding, a serpentine trail that seemed to snake endlessly into the depths of the jungle. The trees here were unlike any he had seen before tall, gnarled, their trunks thick with age and their branches reaching out like the twisted fingers of ancient beings. They towered over him, their leaves rustling in a whispering chorus that seemed to speak in a language just beyond his understanding.

Every step Dimas took was accompanied by the soft crunch of leaves underfoot and the muted thud of his heart, which beat a steady, anxious rhythm in his chest. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying foliage, a rich, loamy fragrance that filled his nostrils and clung to his skin. There was a sense of age here, of time slowed to a crawl, as if the forest itself was holding its breath, watching him, waiting.

He paused for a moment, listening to the sounds of the jungle the distant call of a bird, the rustle of something moving in the underbrush, the faint hum of insects. The forest was alive, but it was a quiet, watchful kind of life, as if every creature, every tree, every leaf was aware of his presence and was waiting to see what he would do next.

A shiver ran down his spine, a mixture of fear and anticipation. He had been walking for what felt like hours, the path twisting and turning, leading him deeper into the forest, farther away from the safety of Wanurejo. He knew that this was the only way forward, the only path that would take him to Tuksongo, where he hoped to find more answers, more clues to the mysteries that had brought him here. But with every step, the weight of his journey seemed to grow heavier, the sense of the supernatural pressing down on him like a physical force.

He glanced up, squinting through the thick canopy above, but the sky was hidden from view, the branches intertwining like the threads of a dark tapestry. It was impossible to tell what time of day it was, whether the sun was rising or setting, whether it was morning or evening. The forest seemed to exist in a perpetual twilight, a place outside of time, where the normal rules of the world did not apply.

Dimas took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He could feel the forest closing in around him, the shadows growing longer, the darkness deeper. He could sense the presence of something watching him, something ancient and powerful, hidden just beyond the edge of his perception. The air was heavy with a sense of anticipation, as if the very forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for him to take the next step.

He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He needed to stay focused, needed to keep moving. He couldn't afford to let fear take hold, couldn't afford to lose his way. He had a mission, a goal, and he needed to see it through. The mysteries of the Sigotaka were still out there, waiting to be uncovered, and he was determined to find them, no matter the cost.

As he walked, he found his mind drifting back to the inscription he had seen in the Karmawibhangga Museum: Sigotaka...gateway to the realms. The words echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the mysteries he sought to unravel, the knowledge he hoped to gain. What did it mean? What realms did it speak of? And why had he been drawn to this place, to this path?

The path wound on, twisting and turning through the dense undergrowth, the trees pressing in on either side like silent sentinels. Dimas could feel the weight of the forest pressing down on him, the shadows creeping closer, the air growing colder. He could feel the presence of the spirit still lingering in the back of his mind, a silent, watchful force that seemed to hover just beyond his reach.

He knew that the spirit was not his ally, that it was a guardian, a protector of the Sigotaka, a force of nature that existed beyond the realm of human understanding. But he also knew that he could not turn back now, that he had come too far, had committed too much, to abandon his quest. He needed to find the Sigotaka, needed to uncover its secrets, to understand its mysteries.