Eyang Pradipa continued, this time with a more serious tone.
"Back then, meditation meant sitting in silence, merging with stillness, befriending time without end. But times have changed. Spiritual energy today is far wilder, more forceful, and unpredictable."
He raised his index finger to emphasize his point.
"Modern meditation is no longer just about sitting and waiting. Now, it's combined with scientific breathing techniques, specific body postures, and even spiritual nutrition. Some even use crystal or special metal tools to filter energy."
He looked sharply at Baskara.
"These days demand efficiency. If you're slow, you're left behind. But remember... fast doesn't always mean right."
Before that, the grandfather had explained the order of spiritual realms for a practitioner:
1. Raga Wana (The Body's Forest)
The entry gate. A practitioner trains their body to be strong and flexible, as the body is the first vessel of spiritual energy. Physical training, breath control, and nutrition are the main focus. The goal: the body must not crumble when it begins to touch universal forces.
2. Buka Nadi Sukma (Opening the Soul Channels)
Once the body is ready, the subtle inner channels are opened. These aren't blood vessels, but energy paths for spiritual flow. Energy begins to move freely and fuse with the body.
3. Padet Sukma (Solidifying the Soul)
The once-free-flowing energy is now condensed and controlled. The soul gains form, color, even sound. Practitioners learn to balance power and peace.
4. Jagat Jiwa (The World of the Soul)
This opens the gate to inner realms, the dimension of true awareness. One begins to feel the vibrations of the outside world and tune into the thoughts and feelings of others. The personal soul starts resonating with the universe.
5. Purwa Jiwa (Primal Soul)
Here, practitioners connect with ancestral roots—the legacy of ancient souls. Wisdom flows without a teacher, and ancestral whispers come through dreams or meditations.
6. Resi Loka (Sage's Realm)
Only few reach this level. The practitioner can leave their body without losing consciousness. They can walk through other dimensions, speak with entities, and guard sacred lands from dark energies.
7. Mandala Raya (The Grand Mandala)
The highest known spiritual realm. The practitioner becomes one with the universe. Body, soul, and cosmos are no longer separate. Words become law, and will can shape reality—within moral and cosmic balance.
That night, the room Eyang Pradipa had prepared for Baskara felt like a resting place for a young king. Delicate veils of spiritual silk hung in every corner, refracting the golden glow of lanterns. The scent of spiritual incense filled the air, calming the mind and steadying the breath of anyone who inhaled it.
The mattress was soft—like clouds woven from sky-fiber cotton. The walls were adorned with paintings of ancestral warriors and symbols of the cosmos, exuding a majestic yet tranquil atmosphere.
But amidst the comfort, Baskara sat at the edge of the bed, deep in thought. His grandfather's words echoed once more:
> "If you're late, you'll be left behind… But remember, fast doesn't always mean right."
He looked down, smirked slightly, and muttered teasingly,
> "But Grandpa… you don't know… I ascend realms as easily as sipping water."
A mischievous expression spread across his face—like a child who knew he was different and secretly enjoyed it.
The next morning, soft rays of sunlight streamed through a carved wooden window. In the main dining hall, a lavish breakfast was laid out.
Spiritual dishes were arranged with elegant care—dragon dew fruit, sky root porridge, sacred leaf tea, and spiritual tiger bone soup. Even the colors of the food shimmered, as if glowing with their own aura.
"Eat first, my dear grandson," said Eyang Pradipa, pouring tea for Baskara.
Baskara sat and ate, occasionally sneaking glances at his grandfather like a child eager to be given a new toy.
As they neared the end of the meal, the old man set down his teacup and looked at Baskara—sharp yet gentle.
> "Baskara… after this, I will teach you a martial technique. It's not just about movement, but about control—and the will of the soul."
Baskara's eyes sparkled. He wiped a bit of tea from his lips and answered with barely contained excitement:
> "Yes, Grandpa."
A hopeful smile crept across his face. Deep inside, he knew—this wasn't just training. It was the beginning of his calling.
Shortly after breakfast—BAM!
A loud boom shook the grand dining hall. The heavy wooden table flipped over, furniture trembled. Baskara froze, his face a mix of confusion and worry.
"I—I ascended again?" he muttered in disbelief, quickly bowing his head. "Sorry, Grandpa…"
But Eyang Pradipa just burst out laughing, full of awe.
"Hahaha… turns out that spiritual food suits you too well! Your talent is truly remarkable, my grandson."
He waved a hand. "Leave it. Someone will clean it up later. Come, follow me to the library."
They walked into the family library—a vast and elegant space, filled with towering shelves of ancient books on meditation and martial arts. But the old man intentionally said nothing about the ranking of the books. He simply smiled and said,
> "Pick whichever you like… but only one."
Baskara's eyes lit up. "Really, Grandpa?!"
He ran from shelf to shelf, sometimes asking his grandfather to lift him up to reach the topmost rows. After a while, one title caught his eye:
"Silent Step"—a movement technique that made the user vanish from hearing entirely.
"I want this one!" he shouted, showing it to his grandfather.
Eyang Pradipa nodded. "Very well. But return it once you've mastered it."
"Got it, Grandpa!"
As they left the room, Baskara quietly watched how his grandfather opened the library's complex iron door mechanism. A sly little smile crept onto his lips.
In front of a majestic wooden door carved with ancient ancestral patterns, Baskara stood still beside Eyang Pradipa. A sense of reverence radiated from every line of the aged yet sturdy wood.
"This is my meditation chamber," said Eyang Pradipa as he touched the door leaf, then turned to his grandson. "Starting today… it will also become your place of retreat, one day."
Baskara fell silent. A warm feeling bloomed in his chest, his eyes slightly misty. He realized this wasn't just a room—it was a symbol of trust, respect… and significance.
As the door creaked open, the scent of spiritual herbs greeted him. The room was spacious, with a meditation altar at its center, made from sacred plants glowing faintly. Surrounding it grew aura-enhancing herbs, releasing a calm and profound energy.
The stone walls were adorned with ancient carvings, almost like a living script. There were no windows, but above, gentle light filtered in through a translucent stone ceiling, supported by thick trunks of an old bungur tree—creating the sensation of being outdoors while still inside. Strange, yet comforting to Baskara.
> "Train here," said Eyang Pradipa, handing him a small key. "But remember… never bring anyone here carelessly."
Baskara gripped the key tightly. "Of course, Kek. Go handle the family matters. I can train on my own…" he replied, his tone confident—almost smug.
His grandfather chuckled softly, nodded, then left him alone.
Once the door closed, Baskara let out a deep breath and sat cross-legged at the spiritual altar. He opened his first book:
"Silent Step."
A spark of excitement lit up his face.
> "Finally... my first martial technique."
Inside the grand and sacred meditation chamber, Baskara began studying the book gifted by his grandfather: Silent Step. The lingering scent of ancient wood and spiritual incense filled the room with a sacred stillness.
When he opened the first page, the title shimmered faintly in golden ink:
Silent Step
"Stillness is movement, movement is silence."
Baskara read slowly. The opening lines struck him with clarity:
> "This step is not merely about the feet. It is an art of merging with the cosmos. Slipping through the cracks of sound, vanishing even from nature's awareness."
The book revealed that this technique had three core layers:
---
1. First Layer: The Silent Step
In this stage, the practitioner must train the body to move without making the slightest sound. Muscles, breath, even the rustle of clothing must be under full control. It refines sensitivity to the ground beneath, making each step glide like wind over water.
---
2. Second Layer: The Silent Dash
Here, silence is taken into speed. The practitioner can dash like a shadow without even rustling a single leaf. Balance, body rhythm, and energy flow must be perfectly aligned to eliminate sound entirely.
As Baskara continued reading page by page, he became immersed in the details of the second layer. It wasn't just about moving lightly—it was about moving as fast as possible, without leaving even a ripple of sound.
> "Silence doesn't mean slowness. In speed, silence becomes deadlier."
This training required mastering three core rhythms of the body: breath, heartbeat, and muscle motion. These had to sync—as though the body was one with the wind. No whisper, no trace, no vibration.
His form would blend with the shadows of trees, darting like wind unseen—yet capable of making leaves fall.
Baskara paused, stunned.
"So… it's not just about controlling my steps, but also aligning myself with the space and time around me…" he thought, lightly touching his body, already trembling with rising spiritual energy.
---
3. Third Layer: No Trace
As he reached the chapter on the third layer, the atmosphere in the room seemed to shift. A subtle pressure settled in the air. The words on the page weren't written in ordinary script—they felt like chants echoing through his mind:
> "If the world cannot sense your step, even the universe will forget your presence."
This layer was no longer physical. It was about erasing presence. A master of Silent Step at this level could:
Completely hide their spiritual aura.
Erase energy traces usually detectable by seasoned spiritualists.
Slip through guarded places without leaving a shred of existence behind.
It was even said that those who mastered this art could elude detection even from souls dwelling in the Realm of the Primordial Spirit.
Baskara reread that part, murmuring softly, "Grandfather… why would you let me read a technique of this caliber? This is… beyond incredible."
But instead of fear, a slight smile crept onto his lips. He knew—he was different.
As his understanding deepened, he sat cross-legged at the heart of the sacred space, on the glowing mat of holy herbs. Light from above gently reflected on his face. He began to breathe rhythmically. Silence. Stillness. But his mind was a storm, processing the ideas of motion, aura, and nothingness in every step.
Within minutes, Baskara mastered each layer—one after the other—and now, he wanted to test it inside this room.
The space fell into total silence. Only the sound of his heartbeat echoed faintly in his ears. Amidst the ancient carvings and earthy scents, Baskara stood with closed eyes. The room's temperature remained steady, but his body slowly warmed as energy surged through his veins.
He began with the first layer—stepping without sound.
His foot touched the floor like a shadow gracing the ground. No scrape, no weight. He held his breath halfway, then exhaled gently, like twilight wind rustling through leaves.
One step. Then another.
The rhythm came naturally. Each motion flowed like water's surface.
He opened his eyes. With a slight push from his heels—he ran.
Yet there was no thud. No echo. Not even a speck of dust rose. He moved swiftly, circling the room several times, even weaving around the great bungur pillars supporting the ceiling. All in utter silence.
> "It's… like a dream," he whispered inwardly.
But the true challenge had just begun.
He returned to his seat, drew a deep breath, and began to suppress his aura. In this third layer, it wasn't the body's movement that needed to be silent—but his very existence. He had to vanish from spiritual awareness.
Baskara emptied his thoughts. He imagined himself as no one. Not human. Not spirit. Just a part of the room, of the stone, the roots, the air.
And then it happened—
The spiritual plants around him stopped reacting to his presence. Normally, they would sway or glow faintly when a spiritual practitioner was near. But now—they were still. Completely. As if they didn't even know he was there.
He had done it. Half of the third layer—No Trace—was within his grasp.
But Baskara didn't smile. He opened his eyes slowly. His face was calm, serious. Because deep down, he knew… this was only the beginning.
> "My steps may be silent… but one day, the echo of my name will shake the world."