Chapter 1 – The Ancient Trail
Raka stared at the neatly stacked manuscripts on his old wooden desk. The scent of aged paper and faded ink seemed to transport him back in time, to the 9th century, during the glory days of Bertarian. He had just discovered a small note in an ancient archive, mentioning a missing manuscript—a secret royal text containing prophecies and trade strategies that could have changed history.
“This manuscript… if it really exists, it could rewrite everything we know about Bertarian,” he whispered.
Outside, the rain fell softly, urging him into action. He packed his camera, notebook, and a small compass. The next morning, he set out for Muara Anemomous, the site of the ancient stele referenced in the note.
There, the weathered inscriptions on stone still radiated an aura of mystery. As Raka examined the carvings, a shadow flickered behind him. A soft voice came from the bushes:
“Do you really wish to find the manuscript?”
Raka swallowed hard. Danger was already near, and the journey had only just begun.
Chapter 2 – The Secret Stele
The morning sun barely pierced through thick clouds as Raka approached the ancient stele. Its moss-covered surface bore inscriptions that seemed to shimmer faintly.
“Raka?” a soft voice called. A young woman stepped out from behind the stones. Her hair was tied back in a practical braid, and her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“I’m Dewi,” she said. “I study ancient scripts. It looks like you could use some help.”
Together, they began matching the symbols from the manuscript with the carvings. Dewi realized these were ancient ciphers, codes meant to hide the kingdom’s secrets.
Then she froze. A hidden pattern revealed a path into the jungle.
“We have to follow it,” she whispered.
“But we’re not alone… someone is watching us,” she added.
The shadows of the trees confirmed their fears. The adventure—and the danger—was only beginning.
Chapter 3 – The Chase
The jungle was dense and humid. Every step was cautious, every rustle of leaves a warning.
“Do you think someone else knows about this?” Raka whispered.
Dewi nodded. “Collectors and treasure hunters have been after artifacts like this for years. Now they’ve found us.”
They split up to evade pursuit. Raka found a narrow stone staircase leading into darkness. Heart pounding, he descended, unaware of what awaited below.
The chase had begun, and every step deeper into the jungle brought him closer to both discovery and danger.
Chapter 4 – The Manuscript Revealed
The hidden chamber was cool and still, a stark contrast to the jungle above. Ancient maps, scrolls, and artifacts lined the walls.
In an alcove, partially covered by a stone slab, lay a wooden chest. Inside, the manuscript rested, bound in worn leather with the symbol of Bertarian—a lotus surrounded by geometric patterns.
“This isn’t just a record of trade,” Dewi said, pointing to symbols matching those on the stele. “It’s a code… maybe even a map to the kingdom’s hidden treasures.”
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the entrance. The hunters had arrived.
Raka noticed hidden levers in the carvings. Activating them, a narrow tunnel opened, leading deeper underground. They escaped just as the chamber collapsed, their pursuers trapped by ancient mechanisms.
“Safe… for now,” Raka said. But the real journey to uncover the manuscript’s secrets was only beginning.
Chapter 5 – Conspiracy Unveiled
The tunnel led to a vast underground chamber bathed in a faint golden glow. Scrolls, maps, and artifacts revealed the complexity of trade, alliances, and political strategies spanning islands and kingdoms.
From the shadows, Pak Wira appeared. “I am the guardian of this knowledge. You must choose: keep the manuscript and risk chaos, or leave it hidden to preserve history.”
The hunters advanced, but Raka and Dewi used the wall symbols to trigger hidden passages. They escaped, manuscript in hand, as the chamber’s ancient traps did their work.
Emerging into the jungle at dawn, Dewi said, “We study it, we understand it, and we decide who deserves to know its secrets.”
Raka nodded. “Some truths… are meant to change the world.”
The sun rose over Muara Anemomous, marking a new beginning. But somewhere in the shadows, the hunters still waited. The secrets of Bertarian were far from fully revealed.
