Morning fog covered the narrow road toward Lenggong like an endless white ocean. Light rain tapped softly against the car window with a rhythm that should have been calming, yet somehow made the weight inside Uta’s chest feel heavier.

Uta held the steering wheel with one hand while rubbing the bridge of his nose with the other.

Tired.

The journey from Kuala Lumpur to Lenggong had been much longer than he expected. Worse still, his map application had completely lost signal nearly an hour ago.

“Great…” he sighed quietly. “First day of work and I’m already lost.”

He reached for the brown file resting on the passenger seat.

SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGGAAN DATO AHMAD

The school name was printed clearly on the placement letter.

Uta smiled faintly.

Chemistry teacher.

That was his career now.

After years of studying, sleepless nights in laboratories, and endless struggles to secure placement, he had finally become a teacher.

Yet somehow…

The closer he got to Lenggong, the stranger the feeling in his chest became.

The car radio emitted nothing but static.

KRRRRRRRT—

Uta glanced outside the window.

Massive limestone hills stood silently on both sides of the road like ancient giants sleeping beneath the fog. Even the forest felt unnaturally quiet, as though not a single bird lived there.

A bad feeling crept into him.

He slowed the car.

“This road looked different earlier…”

The fog thickened.

Streetlights flickered strangely.

And then Uta noticed an old wooden signboard at the roadside.

WELCOME TO LENGGONG

Uta released a small sigh of relief.

“Finally—”

But his words stopped.

The letters on the sign slowly changed before his eyes.

The words melted like black liquid.

WELCOME TO… LUMINARA

“…What?”

His heartbeat quickened.

Before he could react—

BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

The sky ahead split apart.

A massive ring of golden light opened directly in the middle of the road.

Uta’s eyes widened.

“What IS that?!”

The car shook violently.

The steering wheel moved on its own.

An overwhelming force dragged the vehicle forward.

“No! NO—!”

Golden light swallowed everything.

And the world turned white.

Silence.

Then—

Wind.

Uta awoke coughing violently.

“Ukh—!”

He slowly pushed himself upward.

Grass.

Glowing grass.

His eyes widened.

The sky above him was no longer normal.

It was deep violet-blue, with three moons hanging overhead.

Massive trees surrounding him emitted soft light like living crystals.

The wind carried gentle bell-like sounds that strangely calmed the soul.

Uta slowly stood.

His face is pale.

“I…”

He turned around slowly.

“…where am I?”

His car was gone.

The road had vanished too.

Only a glowing field and a mysterious living forest remained.

WHOOSHHH!

A shadow flashed behind him.

Uta spun around instantly.

And froze.

A girl descended slowly from the air while a spiraling wind surrounded her body. Her long hair moved gracefully as though the wind itself protected her.

Her white-green clothing fluttered softly.

She stared at Uta with surprise.

“A human?”

Uta blinked rapidly.

“Okay… I must be dreaming.”

The girl stepped closer.

“I am Melur Bayu.”

Her voice was soft yet clear.

“Who are you?”

Uta swallowed nervously.

“Uta…”

He pointed weakly at himself.

“…a chemistry teacher.”

Melur Bayu frowned.

“Chemistry… teacher?”

Uta forced a nervous laugh.

“Trust me… I don’t understand what’s happening either.”

Melur Bayu examined his modern formal clothing carefully.

“You are not from any kingdom in Luminara.”

“Well obviously because I’m from Malay—”

SCREEEEEEEEECH!!!

A horrifying scream echoed from the forest.

The ground trembled violently.

Glowing birds burst from the trees in terror.

Melur Bayu’s expression changed instantly.

“That’s impossible…”

The trees behind them slowly turned black.

Roots spread across the ground like living veins.

Dark mist crawled through the forest.

The air grew heavy.

And something moved within the darkness.

Something massive.

BOOM!

A gigantic wooden leg slammed into the earth.

Then the creature fully emerged.

Its body was made of twisted roots and ancient wood. Its eyes glowed with dark purple hatred.

Rimba.

But its entire body had been corrupted by black Void energy.

The creature roared.

ROOOOOOAAARRRRRR!!!

Uta stumbled backward.

“What IS that?!”

Melur Bayu clenched her fists tightly.

“Void corruption…”

“Void?”

“Darkness that devours worlds.”

Rimba slammed the ground again.

Sharp roots burst toward them.

“RUN!”

Melur Bayu grabbed Uta’s hand.

They sprinted across the glowing field while black roots chased them like living serpents.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Uta nearly tripped.

“This is INSANE!”

Melur Bayu flew low while pulling him forward.

“Welcome to Alam Luminara!”

“What do you mean ALAM LUMINARA?!”

PRRRAAAKKKK!!!

A massive root crashed before them.

The ground split apart.

Uta fell backward.

Rimba raised one arm.

Dark mist gathered into a gigantic spear.

Melur Bayu immediately raised her hand.

A powerful wind spiraled toward the creature.

WHOOSHHHH!

But the Void spear shattered the wind attack effortlessly.

Melur Bayu was thrown backward.

“ARGH!”

Her body hit the ground hard.

“Melur!”

Uta panicked.

Rimba lifted the dark spear high above its head.

The tip aimed directly at Melur Bayu.

No.

For some reason…

Uta’s chest hurts seeing her in danger.

His body began heating up.

Golden patterns slowly appeared across his arms.

His eyes glowed brightly.

A soft voice echoed inside his mind.

Awaken…

BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

Light exploded from Uta’s body.

The Void roots shattered instantly.

Golden energy swept across the entire field.

Rimba screamed in agony.

Melur Bayu stared at Uta in shock.

“Solar power…”

Even Uta himself was breathless.

“What… did I just do?”

The light around his arms formed a glowing energy shield instinctively.

Rimba roared angrily and attacked again.

But this time—

Uta did not run.

He blocked the creature’s strike with his shield.

BOOOOOOM!

The ground cracked beneath his feet.

But he remained standing.

His heart pounded violently.

The fear still existed.

But something inside him was beginning to change.

Slowly, Uta raised one hand toward Rimba.

A golden light gathered in his palm.

Brighter.

Hotter.

Then—

SOLAR BURST.

CAAAAAARRRRSHHHHHH!!!

The explosion of light blasted Rimba deep into the forest.

The dark mist slowly disappeared.

Silence remained.

Only Uta’s breathing could be heard.

He stared at his glowing hands.

“I’m…”

his voice trembled softly.

“…just a normal human.”

Melur Bayu slowly stood while staring at him with fear and hope mixed together.

“No…”

She slowly shook her head.

“You are not ordinary, Uta.”

And somewhere far away…

Within endless darkness…

A pair of purple eyes slowly opened.

Noctra had awakened.

The journey to Aurelia took almost an entire night.

Uta sat silently atop a floating carriage made from silver wood while glowing birds circled high above the skies of Alam Luminara. Everything around him still felt unreal.

The forests glowed.

The rivers shined like liquid crystals.

Even the wind carried whispers he could not understand.

Across from him, Melur Bayu rested quietly while watching the dark horizon.

“You’ve been staring at the sky for an hour,” she finally said.

Uta looked away awkwardly.

“I’m trying to figure out if I’m dead.”

Melur Bayu laughed softly.

“You talk strangely for a Realm Walker.”

“There’s that title again.”

Melur Bayu’s smile faded slightly.

“You really don’t remember anything?”

“Should I?”

Before Melur Bayu could answer, the floating carriage emerged from the forest.

And Uta froze.

A massive city stood before him.

Aurelia.

Golden towers rose into the skies beneath three glowing moons. Bridges of light connected enormous buildings made from crystal and stone. Rivers flowed through the city like veins of silver.

The entire kingdom looked alive.

“…Whoa.”

That was the only word Uta could say.

Melur Bayu smiled proudly.

“Welcome to Aurelia. Heart of Alam Luminara.”

As they entered the city, people immediately began staring.

Some looked shocked.

Some looked afraid.

Others whispered among themselves.

“The human…”

“Impossible…”

“The Solar mark…”

Uta slowly noticed the glowing golden patterns faintly appearing beneath his sleeves again.

He immediately pulled his sleeves down.

“I don’t like this.”

Melur Bayu’s expression softened.

“They’re afraid because legends say the Realm Walker appears before the fall of worlds.”

“…That’s not comforting.”

The floating carriage finally stopped before an enormous palace built entirely from white crystal.

Tall golden banners danced in the wind.

Royal guards stood motionless beside the entrance.

The palace doors slowly opened.

And for the first time—

Uta met Puteri Cempaka.

She stood beneath a waterfall of glowing flowers, dressed in white and gold royal garments. Her presence felt warm, calming… almost holy.

Yet behind her gentle eyes was exhaustion.

Like someone carrying the weight of an entire world alone.

“So,” she spoke softly.

“The Realm Walker has finally returned.”

Uta immediately raised both hands.

“Okay, before everyone starts calling me that again, I need to explain something.”

The royal guards were instantly tensed.

But Puteri Cempaka raised her hand gently.

“Let him speak.”

Uta swallowed nervously.

“My name is Uta. I’m a chemistry teacher from Malaysia. I was driving to a school in Lenggong and suddenly a giant glowing portal swallowed my car.”

Silence filled the royal hall.

Several ministers exchanged worried looks.

One elderly guard stepped forward.

“Your Highness, this could be a Void deception.”

Another added quickly,

“The Solar energy inside him is unstable.”

Uta frowned.

“Can everyone stop talking about me like I’m a bomb?”

Unexpectedly—

Puteri Cempaka smiled.

A small smile.

But genuine.

“You speak honestly.”

Uta blinked.

“…Thanks?”

Before another word could be spoken—

The temperature inside the palace suddenly dropped.

The glowing flowers surrounding the hall began turning black.

Wind howled through the chamber.

The guards immediately drew their weapons.

Dark petals slowly drifted from above.

Then—

A woman appeared at the center of the hall.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

Terrifying.

Kenanga Purnama.

Her silver-black gown flowed like a shadow beneath moonlight. Black flower petals circled around her endlessly.

The entire palace became silent.

Even the air itself seemed afraid of her.

Kenanga Purnama stared directly at Uta.

For a moment—

Neither of them moved.

And strangely…

Uta felt something inside his chest react.

Not fear.

Not hatred.

Recognition.

Kenanga Purnama tilted her head slightly.

“So this is the new Realm Walker.”

Melur Bayu immediately stepped in front of Uta.

“Stay away from him.”

Kenanga Purnama ignored her completely.

Her eyes remained locked onto Uta.

Then she smiled faintly.

“How unfortunate.”

The palace trembled violently.

Dark energy spreads across the floor like living shadows.

“If he remains alive…”

Kenanga Purnama’s voice echoed throughout the chamber.

“…every realm will fall.”

The royal guards attacked immediately.

But Kenanga Purnama’s body dissolved into black petals.

Every strike passed through empty air.

An illusion.

She reappeared behind the guards effortlessly.

“I did not come here to fight.”

Suddenly—

Uta clutched his chest.

“Argh—!”

His body burned.

A golden light burst beneath his skin.

The palace shook violently as Solar energy erupted around him.

Everyone stared in shock.

Kenanga Purnama’s calm expression shifted slightly for the first time.

Interest.

“So it’s true…”

She whispered softly.

“The Solar light has awakened.”

Puteri Cempaka immediately stepped forward.

“Aurelia will never surrender him to you.”

Kenanga Purnama’s eyes darkened.

“Then prepare yourselves.”

Black petals spiraled around her like a storm.

“Because war has already begun.”

BOOOOOOMMMM!!!

Darkness exploded through the throne hall.

When the light returned—

Kenanga Purnama was gone.

Silence filled the palace once more.

Uta remained frozen, breathing heavily while golden light flickered across his arms.

Everyone stared at him differently now.

Not as a stranger.

But as a danger.

Far above Aurelia—

Storm clouds slowly began covering the skies of Alam Luminara.

Rain fell softly across Aurelia the following morning.

For the first time since arriving in Alam Luminara, Uta finally slept.

Barely.

His dreams had been filled with burning skies, black oceans, and a giant shadow with glowing purple eyes.

Even after waking up, the fear remained trapped inside his chest.

“You look terrible.”

Uta looked up lazily from the palace dining table.

Melur Bayu sat across from him while casually eating glowing blue fruit.

“Thanks. Very supportive.”

“You kept screaming in your sleep.”

“…I hate this world.”

Melur Bayu laughed.

And surprisingly—

That sound calmed him.

For a brief moment, everything almost felt normal.

Until the palace bells rang.

DONGGGG…

DONGGGG…

DONGGGG…

Melur’s expression immediately changed.

“Puteri Cempaka is calling us.”

Minutes later—

Uta followed Melur Bayu deep beneath Aurelia Palace through ancient underground corridors lit by blue crystal flames.

The deeper they walked, the colder the air became.

Ancient symbols covered the walls.

Some glowed softly.

Others looked burned.

“What is this place?” Uta asked quietly.

Melur Bayu lowered her voice.

“The Ancient Archive.”

They finally arrived at a massive underground chamber.

Thousands of clay pots filled the room from floor to ceiling.

Some floated gently through the air.

Others whispered faintly like distant memories.

At the center of the chamber sat an old man shaping clay with his bare hands.

-Tok Tembikar-

Without looking up, he spoke calmly.

“The Realm Walker has arrived.”

Uta blinked.

“Why does everyone already know I’m here before I even speak?”

Tok Tembikar chuckled softly.

“Because the earth itself whispers your presence.”

“…That sentence sounds illegal somehow.”

Melur covered her mouth trying not to laugh.

Tok Tembikar finally raised his eyes toward Uta.

And instantly—

Uta felt exposed.

Like the old man could see every fear hidden inside him.

“You carry both light and shadow,” Tok Tembikar said quietly.

Uta frowned.

“I don’t even know what that means.”

“Not yet.”

The old man pressed his fingers against the ground.

RUMMMMM—

One ancient clay pot slowly floated into the air.

Golden cracks spread across its surface.

Then—

The chamber exploded with light.

Visions filled the room.

Uta saw ancient kingdoms collapsing beneath black storms.

Void creatures consume entire worlds.

Countless warriors falling into darkness.

And standing against all of it—

A man surrounded by blazing golden light.

The first Realm Walker.

“He fought Noctra,” Tok Tembikar explained.

The vision changed again.

The golden warrior unleashed enormous Solar energy across the skies.

But then darkness swallowed everything.

The Realm Walker disappeared.

And the world died.

The vision shattered instantly.

Uta staggered backward, breathing heavily.

“He lost…”

Tok Tembikar nodded slowly.

“And now history repeats itself.”

Silence filled the chamber.

Then suddenly—

A tiny glowing spirit appeared beside Uta’s shoulder.

“Hmmmmm…”

The floating creature circled around him curiously.

“So THIS is the new one?”

Uta nearly jumped.

“What the heck is that?!”

The tiny spirit giggled.

“How rude.”

Melur smiled warmly.

“That’s Pelita.”

“The spirit guide of the Realm Walkers,” Tok Tembikar added.

Pelita floated closer toward Uta’s face.

“Strong Solar energy… unstable emotions… confused the human brain…”

“Hey.”

Pelita ignored him.

“Yep. Definitely a Realm Walker.”

Uta rubbed his forehead.

“I miss chemistry class.”

Suddenly—

Pelita stopped moving.

Its glowing body flickered rapidly.

“…Wait.”

The chamber became silent.

Tok Tembikar immediately stood up.

“What is it?”

Pelita slowly turned toward the stone walls.

“I can feel Void energy.”

The ground trembled violently.

BOOOOOOMMMM!!!

Several clay pots shattered instantly.

Dark mist burst through cracks in the walls.

Melur Bayu immediately summoned blades of wind.

“They found us!”

The chamber exploded.

CRAAACKKK!!!

Shadow creatures crawled through the broken walls while screeching horribly.

SCREEEEEECH!!!

Uta stepped backward in panic.

“There are WAY too many!”

Tok Tembikar slammed his staff against the ground.

Stone pillars erupted upward, crushing several creatures instantly.

“Uta!” Melur shouted.

“Fight!”

“I DON’T KNOW HOW!”

One creature lunged directly toward him.

It claws inches from his face.

Fear froze his entire body.

Then—

He saw another creature attacking Melur from behind.

Something inside him snapped.

BOOOOOOMMMM!!!

The solar light exploded from Uta’s body like a newborn sun.

The entire chamber became engulfed in golden light.

Every Void creature screamed before disintegrating into ash.

Silence returned.

Dust floated slowly through the glowing chamber.

Uta dropped to his knees, breathing heavily.

Golden energy still flickered across his skin.

Pelita floated silently before him.

For the first time—

The spirit looked afraid.

“…Impossible.”

Melur Bayu frowned.

“What?”

Pelita stared directly at Uta.

“Inside his Solar light…”

its voice trembled softly.

“…there’s Void energy.”

The chamber fell silent.

And somewhere far beyond Aurelia—

Kenanga Purnama slowly opened her eyes.

As though she had felt it too.