ni

limbed thousands of steps. His eyes locked onto Ayu with an emotion difficult to

his isn't my place, I know this is your tradition, but I can't let you

uh Sri, who stood not far from them, offered a small sm

hitching as she saw Daniel standing there. The grand Pura

barely above a whisper, caugh

steady his breath after the exhausting cli

not belong here. But I need to talk to you," he

questioning how he had made it here. Yet she said no

t gate behind her. The wind at the Lempuyang summit b

finally asked, her voice ba

e I can't let you go through this alone. I can't just stan

s isn't just about love. It's about family, about the

want to understand. If this is about your customs, let me honor them. If this is about your f

crossed her arms. "You know that what

I also know that if I do nothing now,

elieve, wanted to take Daniel's hand and run aw

me, Daniel?" Her voice

lm open between them. "I want y

r her decision. But before she could answer, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from below the temple-

ce rang out, t

Ayu's hand to pull her up. Daniel a

ve," Luh Sri wh

r uncle and the village men were getting closer, their faces etched with fury. Their brea

" Luh Sri whispered agai

he stiffened. "Daniel, no! If we run now, it'l

next move, Uncle Made's voice

can escape yo

eyes bore into Daniel, demanding an explanation for w

er sister. "Uncle, Ayu is here only to seek guidance. We all know this

h suspicion. "What are you doing here, boy? Do you think that just

didn't come to take Ayu away, Uncle. I came to understand, to l

n aback by Daniel's boldness. But Uncle Made rema

our customs. A man is honored for his roots and

cle, this isn't about linea

ly, part of the village, part of the balance that holds everything together. I

his ominous words. "W

mbalance in the village. The dogs have been howling at night, the rice fields

struggling to grasp their meaning. "A

is not just a family matter. It is part of the village's bala

mes in the village's history when broken engagements led to real consequences... disa

pheld the balance between humanity, nature, and spiritual

ath, then spoke calmly. "

s turne

can stand beside Ayu without disru

uh Sri furrowed her brows in disbelief. Ayu could on

y ready for what