In the early morning of the next day, Sagara opened his eyes with a heavy breath. The faint light of dawn filtered through the window, casting dim shadows across the room. His head throbbed slightly, and his body felt heavy with fatigue—he had stayed up until midnight reading the stack of books Jagat had given him. Though exhausted, he felt like his mind had opened up to a broader understanding.
The books had been filled with more than just the Garden's history. They explained the nature of Bloomers—the awakened ones—who, like Sagara, had unlocked their abilities through the intense eruption of a single dominant emotion. He learned that every Bloomer hid the emotion that caused their bloom from others. There was a reason behind this secrecy: knowing the specific emotion behind a Bloom could help someone deduce their ability.
Abilities awakened during blooming were always linked to the triggering emotion. For instance, if someone bloomed from fury, their power might increase their speed, enhance their destructive capabilities, or even allow them to incinerate anything they touched. Sagara had never considered that before. It made sense. Emotions were volatile, unpredictable, and dangerous when empowered.
He also learned about Corrupted Bloomers—those who let their emotions spiral out of control. Some of these corrupted had turned entire cities into uninhabitable wastelands. The text did not hide the terror they brought, describing in vivid detail how even the earth itself could rot beneath their feet.
This new knowledge made him question what had happened the night before. Why had he so readily agreed to go on a mission to rescue a new Bloomer? There had been no discussion, no real thought—just a strange, natural compliance that didn't feel like a decision at all. Now, with clarity returning, he felt a deep unease.
He sighed and rubbed his face, pushing away the remnants of sleep. "I'm still immature," he murmured to himself. "I didn't even think twice. I just followed what he said… like a puppet."
Refusing to linger in bed any longer, Sagara stood, fixed his bedding, and began preparing for the mission. His hands moved methodically, but his mind kept returning to Jagat. There was something about him—his calm gaze, his timing, his words—that unsettled Sagara now. Could he really see the future, or was there something else influencing him?
Once dressed, he stepped into the hallway. As he passed Jati's room, the door opened.
"You're up early," Jati said with a slight grin. "Heading to the kitchen?"
Sagara nodded.
"Great, me too. Let's go grab something to eat. There's something I want to talk to you about anyway."
The two of them made their way to the kitchen, where they found Indri already moving about, busy with morning preparations. They exchanged a few words with her before carrying their breakfast into the dining room. It was still early, so most of the seats were empty. The silence was oddly calming.
Jati took a bite of food before speaking. "Sagara, this trip won't be easy. It'll take a lot of time to reach the city where the new Bloomer lives. You should prepare yourself mentally."
Sagara nodded, chewing slowly. The food tasted bland in his mouth; he couldn't shake his growing anxiety.
"There's also a chance we'll run into people from the government," Jati continued.
Sagara stopped chewing. "Is that something Jagat saw in the future?"
"No," Jati replied. "But keep in mind—our enemies also have Seers. People in the government who can glimpse the future. They'll act too, especially if a powerful Bloom is about to emerge."
Fear crept up Sagara's spine. He'd heard rumors of what happened to failed rescue attempts. He tried to remain composed, but his hand trembled slightly as he lowered his spoon.
"I think… I shouldn't go," he said finally, voice barely above a whisper.
Jati looked at him, then set his spoon down. "That's a bad idea. You need to see the world, Sagara. You need to understand what's out there. Right now, you're like a hatchling. You won't grow if you stay hidden."
"But I don't know anything," Sagara said. "I'll just be a burden."
"Exactly why you should go," Jati said with a warm smile. "I'll protect you. That's my job. And you'll learn a lot on the road."
Jati leaned back in his chair, sighing. "You know, it's really unlucky that you were born in a place where Bloomers are hunted. If you'd been born somewhere else, you might have ended up in a proper Bloomer Academy. Trained, guided. Things could've been easier for you."
Sagara looked down, guilt and shame twisting in his stomach. "I see…"
After they finished breakfast, they made their way to Kirana's room. Jati knocked twice.
"Come in," Kirana called from inside.
She was seated at a small table, flipping through what looked like mission files. Her smile brightened as they entered.
"Boy, are you ready?" she asked, eyes focused on Sagara.
He didn't respond immediately. After a moment, he shook his head.
"It's both lucky and unlucky that you didn't attend an academy," Kirana said. "Lucky because you have people like Jati to protect you. Unlucky because you've missed out on proper training."
"If he were in an academy, I wouldn't be his protector," Jati added with a wink.
"Back to business," Kirana said, her tone turning serious. "The new Bloomer is located in Bandung. There are still three days before he blooms."
Sagara's stomach tightened. A city? That would make things so much harder.
"This won't be easy," Jati said, echoing Sagara's fear. "He lives in the heart of the city. Urban rescues are always a mess."
Kirana nodded. "You don't need to worry too much. Our members have been monitoring him. We've got eyes on his location."
She handed a rolled-up map and a bundle of documents to Jati.
"This mission isn't the hardest we've done," she said, "but it's not without risk. Stay alert."
Jati smiled and took the materials. "We'll handle it."
Sagara couldn't help but notice that Jati's nonchalance seemed almost too casual, as though he were masking something beneath that calm.
After leaving Kirana's room, Jati and Sagara walked to the garage. The building's underground level was dim and cold, filled with old vehicles, spare parts, and faint smells of gasoline.
Jati climbed into the driver's seat of a black utility vehicle. "Come on," he said, starting the engine. "Let's go meet your first mission."
Sagara climbed in silently, heart pounding.
As the vehicle rolled out into the winding road that led away from the Garden's safe walls, he watched the scenery blur by. Somewhere beyond those hills, a new Bloomer would emerge. Maybe afraid, maybe unstable.
But now, he wasn't just afraid of what waited outside. He was afraid of himself—of how easily he could be led, how little control he had over his own choices.