Adam stayed behind the tree line for several seconds. He observed the village without moving. People looked calm and focused on their tasks. No signs of danger. Children laughed near a water well. Two older men repaired a wooden fence. A group of women arranged herbs on a long table outside one of the houses. Everything felt peaceful.
He stepped forward slowly. Dry leaves cracked under his shoes. A few villagers looked in his direction. Their expressions showed surprise but not fear. One woman called to another. A tall man carrying a sack paused and watched Adam approach.
Adam stopped a few steps before reaching the open space. He lifted his hand slightly in greeting. He kept his expression neutral but polite. He chose his words carefully, unsure what language to use.
"Hello," he said. "May I enter this village?"
The villagers looked at one another. They exchanged a few words he could not fully understand, but the tone was not hostile. Then the tall man stepped closer.
The man spoke in the unfamiliar language. "Traveler?" The word sounded clear to him. Somehow, he understood its meaning even though the language itself was new.
Adam nodded. "Yes. Traveler."
The man studied him for a moment. He seemed to check if Adam carried any weapons. He only had his phone, wallet, and keys. No bags. Nothing heavy. He raised both hands slightly to show he meant no harm.
The man signaled him to follow. Adam walked with him toward the center of the village. The ground felt firm under his feet. The smell of smoke and cooked food floated through the air. A few children followed at a distance, curious about the stranger who appeared from the forest.
The man led Adam to a house near the well. An older woman stood by the doorway. She wore a simple dress with a cloth tied around her waist. Her hair was gray but neatly tied. She looked at Adam, then at the man.
The man spoke to her in quick sentences. She nodded. Then she gestured for Adam to enter.
He stepped inside carefully. The house was simple but clean. Wood walls. A small fireplace. Clay pots arranged neatly on shelves. A woven mat in the center of the room. The place looked organized and lived in.
The woman pointed to a seat. Adam sat. She poured water into a wooden cup and handed it to him. He accepted it with both hands and gave a small nod to show respect.
"Thank you," he said.
She responded with a gentle smile. She spoke again in her language, but Adam could catch pieces of meaning. Something about "safe now" and "rest."
As she walked away to fetch something else, Adam took a slow sip of the water. It tasted clean and cold. He set the cup down and exhaled softly.
He looked around the room. Nothing reminded him of Jakarta. No plastic. No metal fixtures. No electricity. Everything was made from wood, clay, or simple cloth. It felt like a place untouched by modern technology.
The woman returned with a bowl of warm soup. She placed it in front of him. He hesitated for a second. He was taught to be careful about food outside, but his situation left him little choice. He whispered a short prayer, then ate slowly. The soup tasted mild but comforting.
After he finished, he placed the bowl down. The woman pointed at his clothes. She said a few words. He recognized none of them, but her expression suggested concern. He looked at his outfit. It was exactly what he wore in Jakarta—pants, shirt, and rain jacket. Compared to the villagers, he looked out of place.
He stood and gave a slight bow to thank her. The tall man from earlier entered the house. He made a gesture inviting Adam outside again.
Adam followed him into the open area. Several villagers gathered around. They watched him without hostility. One woman spoke softly, pointing at the forest where he had come from. Another asked a question. The tall man replied on Adam's behalf. Their eyes showed curiosity, not fear.
Adam remained calm. He thought carefully. Whatever he said would shape their first impression of him.
He placed a hand on his chest. "My name is Adam."
Some villagers repeated the sound. "Adam."
He then pointed at the village. "Name?"
The tall man understood his intention. He replied with a word that sounded like "Angkara." Adam repeated it to confirm. The man nodded.
So the village was called Angkara.
Adam took a moment to look around again. The sunlight hit the rooftops gently. The air stayed clean. No traffic. No machines. No wires. Only nature and simple homes. Jakarta had noise. This place had quiet.
He felt something new in his chest. Not fear. Not comfort. Something between the two. A realization that he was far beyond anything he knew.
He touched his pocket and pulled out his phone. He pressed the power button. Still no response. The tall man leaned forward, curious about the device. Adam held it out for him to see. The man studied it with cautious eyes, then looked confused, as if not understanding the purpose. Adam put it back in his pocket.
More villagers joined the group. They murmured among themselves. The tall man raised a hand to calm them. Then he motioned for Adam to follow him again.
They walked toward a lake near the edge of the village. The water was clear. Sunlight reflected on the surface. Birds rested on branches above. Adam stepped closer to the lake and looked at his reflection again.
He confirmed what he saw earlier. His face looked younger. Healthier. The faint, glowing lines on his hands appeared when he tightened his fingers. He relaxed, and the lines faded. No explanation came to mind.
The tall man noticed his reaction. He asked something that sounded like a question. Adam shook his head. "I don't know."
The man seemed to understand that he was confused about himself as much as they were.
Adam looked at the lake again. His reflection stared back. Softer features. Clearer eyes. No signs of the exhaustion he carried every day in Jakarta.
He touched the glowing lines lightly. They pulsed once, then dimmed. The lake surface rippled slightly as if reacting, though there was no wind strong enough to cause it.
He whispered quietly so only he could hear. "What happened to me?"
No answer came. Only the sound of water moving and distant voices from the village.
He stood straight and breathed in. The air entered his lungs easily. His chest felt lighter.
He was in a different place. A different body. A different reality.
And he had no explanation for any of it.
But he needed one.
He turned back toward the village. The tall man waited patiently for him to move.
Adam stepped forward.
The real search for answers started now.