The road leading to Arga's house was never busy.
A narrow lane. Quiet. Familiar.
Modest houses stood shoulder to shoulder beneath the fading light. One by one, metal shutters rolled down as small shops closed for the day. Lamps flickered on, pushing back the last breath of dusk.
The sky darkened.
Arga walked alone.
The metal lunch box was still in his hand—
gripped tighter than it needed to be.
His thoughts circled the same question.
Again.
And again.
The symbol…
"How is that even possible…?" he muttered.
He opened the lunch box.
At the bottom—
the mark remained.
Small. Clear. Impossible to ignore.
And now—
it was glowing.
Not bright. Not blinding.
But alive.
It pulsed softly, like something breathing.
Arga hesitated.
Then slowly—
he reached out.
His fingertip touched it.
Warm.
But beneath that warmth—
something answered.
A faint pulse pushed back against him.
As if—
it noticed.
Arga pulled his hand away instantly.
Too fast.
His heartbeat spiked.
He snapped the box shut.
At once—
the energy inside him surged.
Stronger than before.
No longer quiet.
It moved.
Flowing through him—
alive.
Arga swallowed.
Then started walking again.
"…this isn't normal."
This time—
he didn't try to deny it.
The Intersection
He reached the small intersection near his house.
A place he crossed every day.
Normally—
he would stop.
Look left.
Look right.
Think.
But not today.
His thoughts were too loud.
Too heavy.
He stepped forward—
without looking.
Without thinking.
BRAAAM!
The roar of a motorcycle tore through the air.
Close.
Too close.
Arga turned—
Headlights.
Blinding.
The motorcycle was already on top of him.
"HEY—!"
Time stretched.
Sound warped.
And in that instant—
something inside him reacted.
Not thought.
Not decision.
Instinct.
His body moved before his mind could catch up.
A sharp step back—
muscles coiling—
then releasing in a sudden burst.
He moved.
Faster than thought.
The motorcycle sliced past him—
just inches from his face.
Wind slammed into his body.
Arga landed at the edge of the road.
Still.
Alive.
His breath hitched.
His heart pounded violently.
Too loud.
Too fast.
For a split second—
something flickered in his vision.
Faint.
Almost invisible.
Like a line of text—
Then gone.
The rider stopped a few meters ahead.
"Are you okay?!" he shouted.
Arga nodded weakly.
"Yeah… I'm sorry…"
The motorcycle sped off.
But Arga didn't move.
Something felt wrong.
Not just the near accident.
Something else.
He looked around.
The street—
too quiet.
Too still.
"…wait."
He felt it.
The energy inside him shifted.
No longer spreading.
Now—
focusing.
As if reacting to something nearby.
Arga turned slowly.
Across the street—
a man stood beneath a tree.
Still.
Watching.
Arga's chest tightened.
The man didn't move.
Didn't look away.
Just watched.
Then—
he stepped forward.
Calm.
Too calm.
"Quite a reaction speed," the man said.
Arga froze.
"You should be dead just now."
The words hit harder than the near accident.
"What…?"
The man's lips curved slightly.
Not friendly.
Not warm.
"So it's true…"
His gaze dropped—
to the lunch box.
"There it is."
Arga's grip tightened instantly.
The man's eyes sharpened.
"Activation confirmed."
Arga's pulse spiked.
"…what are you talking about?"
The man stepped closer.
"You don't understand yet."
His voice lowered.
"But you will."
The air grew heavier.
The energy inside Arga reacted—
pushing.
Warning.
"Stay back," Arga said.
The man smiled.
"Let's see."
Then—
he moved.
Too fast.
Arga barely saw it.
One step—
and the man was already in front of him.
A hand reached for the lunch box—
Instinct exploded.
Arga twisted—
dodged—
faster than thought.
The man stopped.
Just for a fraction of a second.
"…interesting."
Arga staggered back.
Breathing harder now.
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't coincidence.
This was—
danger.
The man straightened, adjusting his hat.
"Not stable yet," he murmured.
"…but responsive."
He tapped something on his phone.
"We'll proceed to phase two."
Arga didn't understand the words.
But his body understood one thing.
Run.
"Arga!"
Sinta's voice cut through the tension.
She ran toward him from the corner.
The man glanced at her—just once.
Then stepped back.
"No need to rush."
His tone turned calm again.
"We'll meet again."
And just like that—
he turned.
Walked away.
Swallowed by the deepening shadows.
After
Silence returned.
Sinta stopped beside Arga, slightly out of breath.
"What happened?"
Arga didn't answer immediately.
His gaze lingered on the empty street.
Then—
shifted to the lunch box in his hand.
"…we're not the only ones."
Sinta frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Arga swallowed.
"That man…"
"…he knew."
A quiet wind passed through the street.
But this time—
it didn't feel calm.
It felt like a signal.
Something had begun.
And deep down—
Arga understood.
This wasn't just about him anymore.
Whatever had awakened—
was part of something bigger.
Something watching.
Something waiting.
And something far more dangerous—
was already moving.