Flashes of dazzling light emerged from his hands. The light formed invisible restraints that wrapped around the creature's body, binding it so tightly that it could barely move.
The creature roared with rage.
"I will return! You will never be able to save this girl forever!"
The old man raised his hands higher.
"Begone!"
In an instant, the creature's body was dragged toward the darkness between the trees.
Its shadow twisted and shrank before disappearing, as though it had been swallowed by something unseen.
Its screams grew more distant.
Until, finally, everything fell silent again.
The wind stopped blowing.
The leaves that had been swirling through the air slowly settled onto the ground.
Rico's flashlight returned to full brightness.
Yet no one dared to speak immediately.
They had just witnessed something that should have been impossible.
Something that would haunt their memories long after they had left this mountain behind.
"It'a over"
The old man's voice broke the silence.
He lowered his hands and crouched beside Alya.
"The creature has been taken to the Forbidden Forest."
Rico stared at him, his breathing still uneven.
"What exactly is the Forbidden Forest, Grandpa?"
The old man turned toward the surrounding trees.
"It is another dimension within this mountain. A place of exile for evil creatures that frequently disturb humans. Those imprisoned there cannot always leave whenever they please."
He paused briefly.
"However, do not assume that the place is entirely safe. There are many creatures there, and not all of them can be controlled."
Rico was at a loss for words.
The old man then turned his attention back to Alya.
"Now, let us see how the girl is doing."
He extended his hand but did not touch Alya's body. His lips moved softly, reciting a prayer that was barely audible amid the silence.
A few moments later, Alya's fingers moved.
Laras immediately leaned closer.
"Al?"
Alya's eyelids fluttered.
Then, slowly, the girl opened her eyes.
"ALYA!"
Laras wrapped her arms tightly around her.
"You're awake! Oh, God, Al, I was so scared!"
However, instead of returning her friend's embrace, Alya suddenly screamed.
"DON'T!"
She struggled, trying to break free from Laras's arms.
"Don't touch me!"
Laras was startled and immediately loosened her embrace.
"Al, it's me! Laras!"
Alya gasped for breath. Her eyes darted wildly, scanning the trees, the ground, and the faces of the people surrounding her.
She looked like someone who had just escaped from a truly horrifying place.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I want to go home…"
Her voice broke.
"I just want to go home!"
Hasan crouched in front of her.
"Al, calm down first. You're awake now. You're with us."
Alya shook her head violently.
"No! I don't want to be here!"
She tried to get up, but her body was still trembling uncontrollably. Rico quickly helped support her so she would not fall again.
"I don't want to continue the climb!" Alya screamed through her tears. "I don't want to go any higher! I want to go home right now!"
Laras held both of her hands.
"Alya, why? What did you see?"
Alya stared at Laras with wide, terrified eyes.
"I don't want to go with her!"
"Who, Al?"
Alya struggled to catch her breath.
"The Snake Queen…"
Her three friends exchanged glances.
Rico felt his heart pounding even faster.
The Snake Queen?
He remembered the old man's story about the Queen, the mysterious figure who had supposedly watched over the mountain for hundreds of years.
Was Alya talking about the same being?
"What do you mean, Al?" Hasan asked, trying to keep his voice calm. "Who is the Snake Queen? What happened to you while you were unconscious?"
Alya did not answer.
Instead, she squeezed her eyes shut and began crying even harder. She covered both ears with her hands, as though trying to block out a voice that only she could hear.
"She's still calling me…" she whispered.
Laras stiffened.
"Who's calling you?"
Alya shook her head repeatedly.
"Don't make me go back… I don't want to… I don't want to belong to her…"
Rico stared at the girl, his emotions in turmoil.
The creature had indeed been driven away. The old man had even said that Alya had been saved.
Then why was she still terrified?
And why had she mentioned the Snake Queen?
Rico slowly turned toward the robed old man, who was still standing beside them.
"Grandpa…" he called cautiously. "What exactly happened to Alya?"
The old man did not answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the girl, who was still crying in Laras's arms. For the first time since they had met him, the old man looked genuinely serious.
"There is something about this mountain that you still do not know," he said quietly.
Rico held his breath.
The old man continued in a voice barely above a whisper.
"The creature I just drove away is not the only one hunting your friend."
Rico felt his blood run cold.
"What do you mean, Grandpa?"
The old man raised his face and stared into the darkness between the trees.
"If that girl has truly attracted the attention of the Queen, then your journey is far from over."
He paused briefly.
"In fact, everything has only just begun."
In the distance, from behind the trees shrouded in mist, came the sound of a woman's laughter.
Soft.
Melodious.
Yet hiding something truly horrifying.
Alya immediately screamed and clutched Laras's arm.
"That's her!"
Rico quickly turned toward the source of the sound.
But there was no one there.
Only trees standing motionless in the darkness.
And between their trunks, a pair of golden-yellow eyes slowly opened.
Watching them from afar.
Waiting.
As though their owner already knew that they would never truly be able to leave Mount Srinjani so easily.