Everything was pure white, like a plain canvas that had never been splashed with paint at all. Everything was silent, there was no sound at all, as if the light itself absorbed the sound.
Slowly the bright light faded, and all visions returned slowly, everyone blinked, to get their sight.
And when... Once the light faded completely, now they saw Kunti... Still standing without anything happening, and more than that... That disgusting black lump, the contamination did not disappear, did not disappear at all.
Everyone was pensive, the world seemed to hold its breath. Tirta was still in shackles, wide-eyed in surprise seeing the pulse of the black lump as if it was getting worse.
And in the silence that penetrated, Kunti screamed in pain, her body fell hard to the floor, a black shadow crawled quickly.
Tirta widened his eyes, he rebelled even harder, and at that moment one of his hands managed to break free, and on that occasion a hard blow with his elbow was directed at the face of the military spirit.
Tirta's shackles were released, now he was holding the figure of the girl in front of him. Half of her body was covered by a disgusting black crust, her expression was in pain... Much more than anything.
"Kunti... Hey! Hold on!"
All the spirits there... Their gazes fell with disgust, some of them were scared. Tirta turned his head, seeing all the spirits who were expressionless, not empathetic.
"SOMEONE HELP!!" Tirta shouted to everyone watching.
Everyone was silent, and in that silence... All faces looked dark, there was no compassion, no empathy, and for the first time, Tirta felt cold... A piercing cold.
"Hey, you! Get away! You could get infected!" Shouted one of the spirits watching, trying to remind him.
Tirta was silent, his eyes widened, the light in his eyes fell... Dimmed instantly.
"I don't care... I don't care even if I get infected, I won't go." Tirta muttered as he hugged Kunti tighter.
Soekarno slowly descended, then he stared at Kunti in silence.
"It seems this is more complicated than I thought," he said calmly.
Tirta turned her head, her expression so desperate.
"Sir... I beg you to save Kunti."
Hearing that... Soekarno nodded slowly, now he turned around, and only gave a signal for Tirta to follow him.
Tirta lifted Kunti's helpless body, following Soekarno to enter the Monas Monument. Inside... Their steps echoed, as if recorded by history.
"I believe that Kunti is not contaminated because she wants to live." Mr. Soekarno said in a faint, firm voice.
Tirta, while still carrying Kunti, gasped, his eyes widening.
"Why... Why do you believe now?"
A short pause filled, replaced by the sound of their footsteps which now seemed to whisper.
"Because there is only one case where contamination cannot be purified by normal means."
Curiosity provoked Tirta, his brow furrowed in confusion and now stared at the face of the girl in his hand.
"Contamination... Like what?"
Now Mr. Soekarno's footsteps stopped, he turned around, facing Tirta with his authority and permanent firm face that would never disappear.
"The contamination... Comes from the Demon Queen Rangda."
***
"No, it's impossible sir, we only destroy the abandoned spirits in Manggarai," Tirta said in an uncertain tone.
"That's right... Generally, abandoned spirits, which we consider to have been completely contaminated, cannot transmit their contamination to free spirits." Mr. Soekarno explained, and in a short pause he continued.
"But... There are cases where abandoned spirits can transmit their contamination, and that comes from creatures created by the Demon Queen Rangda out there." He explained for the last time.
Tirta fell silent, then a brief flash of when they fought with the Runners came into his head just like that.
Now... Soekarno walked a few steps, in front of them... An endless hole, pure white, nothing else, endless.
"Mr. Soekarno... What is this?"
A deep silence, Tirta stared down, into a hole that seemed alive, his eyes seemed to be spinning... Hypnotized by it.
"Sir... What is this?" He asked, staring blankly.
A piece of silence filled, in a long sigh Mr. Soekarno continued.
"This is called a recycling hole, this is one way to remove the contamination given by Rangda." He said lightly.
Tirta was stunned, then his face brightened looking at Mr. Soekarno with full hope.
"Can this... Kunti return to normal?"
Mr. Soekarno glanced at Tirta silently, then he nodded slowly. Seeing that Tirta's day felt relieved, and now he looked at the girl he was carrying in his hand, looking at her sincerely.
"Accompany Kunti while she is undergoing recycling, because... In there, there is a test."
Tirta widened, his eyes dimmed instantly, now staring at Mr. Soekarno silently.
"This might also be your way to understand her... Further."
Tirta was stunned, time seemed to stop turning, the world felt tense, now... He turned his gaze to Kunti, who was helpless with her disgusting contamination.
Slowly gathering his courage, he nodded decisively, his eyes burning with confidence.
"I'm willing to accompany him, sir, I definitely will." He said with clear confidence in his voice.
Mr. Soekarno smiled a faint smile, then he nodded his head slowly.
"That's good then, make sure you really protect him."
Tirta smiled broadly, then bowed respectfully one last time. His feet stomped and holding Kunti tightly, he plunged into the pure white hole.
Slowly the world faded away, their surroundings replaced by a white, silent... And peaceful.
And in silence... Now he looked at Kunti's face, for several times?
"I will definitely save you Kunti... And slowly... I will reveal the real you, wait for me."
Everything was blurry, his eyes couldn't see anything anymore, just pure white, even... the girl near him couldn't be seen anymore.
***
Another view, a school building that was somehow far from their lives... Now he saw a girl, sitting with an elegance that seemed hidden.
Her smile was soft... And her expression... Again filled with a loneliness so deep, deeper than anything. His eyes were fixed on the beautiful moon, the moon that was shining white at that time... And seemed holy.
A bruise on several parts of his body, dim eyes as if leaving everything behind.
She turned around, and with her beautiful smile... And her bitterness and pain.
"Azka... I told you not to come here anymore, right?"