The tall man led Adam back toward the center of the village. The villagers had spread out again and returned to their work, but many still watched him from a distance. Their eyes showed curiosity more than fear. Some whispered to each other. Others simply paused to study the stranger who came from the forest.
Adam walked calmly. His heart remained steady, though his thoughts kept circling the same questions. Where was he? How did he survive the explosion? Why did his body change? Nothing had an answer yet. For now, he focused on staying respectful and observing everything around him.
The tall man stopped in front of a house near the well. The wooden door was open. A young girl peeked out from behind the frame. She had wide eyes and held a small clay cup in her hands. When she saw Adam, she stepped back slightly but did not hide completely.
A woman came out next. She wore simple clothing tied with a cloth belt. Her hair was tied neatly behind her head. She looked at Adam with calm eyes, then exchanged a few words with the tall man. They spoke quickly but not angrily. The woman nodded once and turned toward Adam.
She placed a hand on her chest. "Lorna," she said.
Adam repeated the name. "Lorna."
She gave a small smile and pointed toward herself again to confirm.
The tall man then pointed at himself. "Ernand."
Adam nodded. "Adam."
Ernand seemed satisfied with the introduction. He gestured toward the house, signaling Adam to enter. Lorna stepped aside to let him through. The young girl watched him with curiosity, then whispered something to her mother before following them inside.
The house was clean and warm. It had wooden furniture, woven mats, and a small cooking area where steam rose from a pot. The air smelled pleasant, like herbs and boiled grains. Lorna guided Adam to sit near the low table.
She spoke softly to the girl, who rushed to fetch a wooden cup. Lorna filled it with warm tea and offered it to Adam. He accepted it with both hands.
"Thank you," he said.
She did not understand the words, but she recognized the tone. She smiled politely and sat across from him.
Adam took a small sip. The tea tasted simple but soothing. The warmth helped him settle after the long walk through the forest.
Lorna studied him carefully. Her eyes moved from his unfamiliar clothes to his hands. When she noticed the faint lines on his skin, she paused for a moment. Her expression changed slightly, but she said nothing.
Ernand stood at the doorway and spoke again. Adam understood only pieces, but he caught something like "forest," "alone," and "mana-born." Lorna looked at Adam again, then nodded slowly. She seemed to accept the explanation without fear.
The girl sat beside her mother and looked at Adam openly. "Adam?" she repeated, testing his name.
He smiled gently. "Yes. Adam."
She giggled and hid behind Lorna for a moment.
Adam placed his cup on the table and tried to form a simple question. He pointed outside. "This place… Angkara?"
Lorna nodded. "Angkara."
He pointed farther into the distance. "City? Town?" He didn't know the exact word to use.
Lorna seemed to understand. She explained with gestures. She pointed north, then made a wide circle with her hand. The tone suggested distance. Larger settlement. Maybe a market or a town center. Adam listened closely and tried to remember the direction.
A small bowl of soup was placed in front of him. Lorna insisted gently that he eat. He nodded and whispered a short prayer before taking a spoonful. The flavors were mild but warm.
As he ate, Ernand and Lorna spoke quietly. Their voices stayed calm. Adam felt no threat from either of them. He finished the soup and set the bowl down. Lorna collected it with a grateful nod.
Adam took a slow breath. He needed to try one more question.
He pointed to himself and said, "Adam." Then he held a hand over his chest and added, "From… Jakarta." He spoke the name clearly.
Lorna and Ernand exchanged confused looks. They repeated the word, unsure of its meaning.
Adam tried again. He pointed to the forest and then pointed back to himself. "Not… from here."
This time, they understood more clearly. Lorna's expression softened. Ernand nodded, as if he had expected that answer. He said the word "mana-born" again and tapped lightly on the table. The girl repeated it but in a playful tone.
Adam looked at his hands again. The faint glowing lines were gone. They only appeared when he felt tense. He wondered if this "mana-born" term related to the strange energy he saw earlier. He kept the thought to himself.
Lorna stood and walked to a cabinet. She took a rolled cloth and handed it to Adam. He unrolled it. Inside were clean clothes made of soft fabric. Tunic and simple pants. She pointed at his soaked, dirty shirt and jacket. She said a few words and gestured toward the small room in the back.
Adam understood. She wanted him to change into fresh clothes.
"Thank you," he said again. He carried the cloth bundle to the room. The girl peeked through the doorway, curious about everything he did.
Inside, he closed the wooden screen and changed. The clothes were simple but comfortable. They fit almost perfectly. He folded his own clothes neatly and placed them aside.
He looked at himself again. The lines on his hands faintly pulsed once. His reflection in a small polished metal plate showed the same younger face. The truth grew clearer. He was not in a dream. He was not in a hospital. This was a real place.
He stepped out of the room. Lorna nodded with approval at the sight of him in local clothing. The girl smiled widely.
Ernand spoke again, this time with a tone suggesting reassurance. He placed a hand on Adam's shoulder and pointed to the village surrounding them. He understood the message. Something simple. Something steady.
"You're safe here."
Adam exhaled slowly. His body relaxed a little for the first time since waking in the field.
He took another look around the house, then at the village beyond the open doorway. People moved calmly. Smoke rose from chimneys. Children played. Animals wandered near the fences.
Everything felt peaceful.
But he knew one thing clearly.
Whatever this world was, it was not his.
And he needed to understand why he was brought here.