The once-glorious empire is in ruins, its capital buried beneath ash, following a bloody uprising. A competent scavenger who has been hardened by grief, Zara endures in the broken world, plagued by memories of the empire's devastation, particularly the ruthless purge that claimed her family's lives. She discovers a secret amid the rubble: a wounded man named Kael who says he is the final heir to the crumbling empire. Zara reluctantly consents to assist him, viewing his survival as a way to make amends. But Kael isn't interested in bringing back the empire he was born into. Rather, he is dangerously knowledgeable about a weapon that could upset the delicate balance of power in the world. An unforeseen attachment forms between Zara and Kael, complicating their objective as they create an uneasy alliance to traverse the lethal world of bounty hunters, imperial loyalists, and rebels. Zara is compelled to face her own troubled past—including the potential that her long-lost brother is still alive and fighting for one of the factions—as they delve deeper into the empire's hidden secrets. After the rebels kidnap Kael and torture him to find the weapon, Zara must decide whether to risk everything to save him or let him perish. Zara and Kael are pushed to the limit by their increasing love and the burden of their common past as they work against the clock to destroy the weapon and keep it out of the wrong hands. Will the fires of their decisions consume them or will they find salvation in a world of ashes?
View MoreMalam semakin larut, hujan turun dengan derasnya.
Kilat masuk melalui celah jendela seakan siap menyambar.
Di dalam kegelapan, seorang wanita muda sedang menangis sambil memeluk tubuh kecil bayinya.Meskipun suara petir menggelegar dan memekakkan genderang telinga, Eliza Afrina tidak takut.
Yang dia pikirkan saat ini hanyalah anaknya yang sedang panas tinggi.
Obat penurun panas yang diberikan bidan, sudah dia berikan. Tapi, tak kunjung meredakan panas sang putra.
"Nak?"
Eliza menahan tangis sembari memeluk bayinya yang sudah pucat itu. Bahkan tiap beberapa menit sekali, wanita itu meletakkan jari telunjuknya di bawah lubang hidung bayi laki-laki itu untuk memastikan sang putra masih bernapas.
Berkali-kali ditelponnya sang suami, tetapi tak diangkat.
Tetangganya juga banyak yang sedang pergi ke luar untuk menghabiskan weekend bersama keluarga.
Kebetulan, kawasan perumahan yang di tempatnya, jauh masuk ke dalam dan masih sangat sepi. Jalan kiri dan kanannya bahkan masih hutan lebat.
Parahnya lagi, ponsel Androidnya baru ditukar sang suami dengan ponsel jadul tahun 2000-an, sehingga Eliza tak bisa memesan taksi online.
Setelah berpikir beberapa saat, Eliza lantas pergi ke dapur dan mengambil plastik bekas yang disimpannya. Bersyukur dia menyimpan plastik berukuran besar. Dipotongnya bagian depan seukuran wajah bayi dan kemudian memasukkan bayi ke dalam plastik.
Dibuatnya jas hujan darurat untuk putranya.
"Tahan ya nak, kita ke rumah sakit sekarang. Anak bunda akan sehat." Eliza kembali berkata dengan bibir gemetar.Tak dipedulikan tubuhnya yang basah kuyup, menggigil kedinginan.
Secepat mungkin dia berlari. Namun belum melihat ada klinik atau rumah sakit, langkah kakinya terhenti ketika merasakan tapak kakinya terasa sangat sakit seperti ada yang menancap.Bersyukur Ibnu tidak terlepas dari tangannya.
Diperhatikannya paku berukuran panjang yang menancap di telapak kakinya. Kembali menahan sakit yang luar biasa, dicabutnya paku itu.Tiba-tiba saja, cahaya kilat terlihat.
Eliza dapat melihat wajah putranya yang sudah membiru.
Dipaksanya lagi tubuhnya berlari, hingga Eliza akhirnya melihat rumah sakit."TOLONG!" teriaknya sekencang mungkin begitu tiba di resepsionis.
Seorang perawat yang melihatnya, lantas menghampiri. "Ada apa ibu?""Sus, tolong selamatkan anak saya. Badannya sangat panas. Tadi dia sempat kejang." Eliza berkata dengan menangis.
Perawat itu langsung mengambil bayi dari tangan ibunya dan membawa ke ruang UGD.Dia juga berusaha menghubungi dokter.
Kejadian ini menarik perhatian beberapa pasien. Mereka bahkan menatap iba Eliza dan bayinya yang dibungkus dengan kantong plastik besar dan hanya melubangi bagian wajahnya saja.
"Sus, bagaimana keadaan bayi saya?"Eliza menangis tiada henti. Bahkan wanita itu tidak merasakan kakinya yang terasa amat sakit.
"Sebentar ya Bu, dokter akan segera datang," kata perawat itu sambil memandang tubuh Eliza yang sudah basah kuyup dengan bibir yang membiru. Tak lama, seorang dokter laki-laki akhirnya masuk dan memeriksa kondisi bayi yang sudah tidak sadarkan diri.Dia terkejut kala merasakan telapak kaki dan tangan anak Eliza itu yang sudah terasa dingin.
"Pasang infus dan pasang oksigen," perintahnya cepat. Cairan obat melalui selang infus terpasang.Anehnya, raut wajah sang dokter tampak tak puas.
"Hubungi dokter Risky," titah dokter muda tersebut pada sang perawat yang menahan ekspresinya.
Keduanya tahu kondisi bayi sudah sangat kritis. Mereka harus menyerahkan bayi tersebut ke dokter spesialis anak.
"Dok, anak, saya baik-baik saja, kan?" Seolah merasakan keanehan, Eliza bertanya.
Namun, dokter itu menjawab dengan wajah tenang, "Kita tunggu dokter anaknya datang."
Hanya saja, dokter itu terkejut ketika menyadari kondisi ibu pasien yang baru ditangani.
"Ke sini naik apa, Bu?"
"Saya jalan kaki dok," jawab Eliza.
Dahi dokter itu berkerut saat mendengar jawaban ibu muda tersebut. "Di mana lokasi rumah Anda?"
Seketika, Eliza menjelaskan tempat tinggalnya kepada dokter muda yang sedang fokus memeriksa kondisi bayinya. Dokter itu hanya tercengang mendengar keterangan dari ibu pasien.
"Jika kondisi anak Anda seperti ini, mengapa tidak pesan taksi secara online?"
Pertanyaan itu jelas membuat Eliza menangis. "Saya tidak bisa menghubungi taksi secara online."
"Apa Anda kehabisan paket internet?" Dokter itu kembali bertanya. Selain rasa penasaran, hal ini juga untuk menenangkan si ibu yang tampak sangat panik. Setidaknya mengobrol seperti ini, si ibu bisa sedikit tenang.
Alih-alih menjawab, Eliza mengeluarkan sesuatu dari dalam saku rok yang di pakainya.
Dokter itu memperhatikan apa yang sedang di pegang wanita tersebut. Keningnya berkerut saat melihat wanita itu mengeluarkan dompet dan ponsel dari dalam kantong plastik.
"Saya tidak punya aplikasinya dok, karena handphone ini tidak bisa mendownload."
Ponsel jadul itu membuat sang dokter terkejut. Saat zaman yang sudah semakin canggih namun wanita itu terlihat begitu menyedihkan dan udik hingga tidak memiliki handphone Android. Padahal manfaat handphone itu sangatlah banyak dan penting. Namun, semua itu ditahannya.
"Ayah bayinya mana?"
Kini, seorang perawat yang penasaran ikut bertanya.
"Saya tidak tahu," jawab Eliza kembali. Ya, sudah 4 hari suaminya tidak pulang. Bahkan, pria itu tidak pernah membalas pesan yang dikirim Eliza, termasuk permohonannya tadi.
Dokter muda itu hanya diam memandang Eliza.
Namun, tatapan matanya berpindah ke arah kaki wanita tersebut. Seketika dia membelalak. Segera dia memerintahkan sang perawat untuk memeriksa.
Sayangnya, Eliza menolak. "Saya tidak apa-apa dok, tolong selamatkan anak saya."
"Anak ibu dalam penanganan, sebaiknya ibu duduk agar kondisi kaki ibu dilihat dan diobati," jelas dokter tersebut.
"Kaki saya tidak apa-apa Dok, saya hanya terinjak paku."
Lagi, Eliza menolak. Sebenarnya, dia takut uang yang dimilikinya tidak cukup untuk biaya berobat putranya karena harus membayar uang pengobatan kakinya.
"Saya akan periksa Bu," ucap perawat tersebut yang memaksa Eliza untuk duduk di atas tempat tidur yang berada di samping bayi Eliza.
Eliza akhirnya hanya diam dan menurut. Dia duduk di atas tempat tidur dan membiarkan perawat memeriksa kakinya yang terasa sakit dan berdenyut nyeri.
"Dok ini pakunya masih ada yang menempel di kaki dan gak bisa dicabut."
Dokter itu lantas mendekati Eliza dan melihat paku yang menancap di kaki wanita tersebut.
Melihat ini saja, dokter itu sudah merinding. Dia tahu seperti apa rasa sakit yang dialami oleh wanita tersebut. Bahkan kakinya sudah membiru. Dengan kondisi kaki yang seperti ini ibu muda itu tetap bisa sampai ke rumah sakit membawa anaknya, sungguh sangat menyedihkan.
Setelah melakukan tindakan terhadap bayi, dokter itu kemudian berpindah kepada ibu muda yang berwajib pucat dengan bibir biru, serta tubuh menggigil kedinginan. Dokter itu merasa prihatin ketika melihat kondisi bayi berserta ibunya.
Disuntik biusnya kaki Eliza. Setelah memastikan bius itu bekerja, dokter muda itu mencabut paku dengan memakai alat semacam tang.
"Pakunya panjang sekali, ini juga paku berkarat."
Dokter itu menunjukkan paku yang dilumuri cairan berwarna merah tersebut.
Setelah paku dicabut, barulah darah mengalir dari kaki yang berlubang.
Namun, Eliza hanya diam memandang paku di tangan dokter itu. Kepalanya dipenuhi sang putra.
Di saat yang sama, seorang dokter tampak masuk ke dalam ruang UGD. "Apa ini bayinya?"
"Iya dok," jawab perawat.
Dokter itu segera melihat catatan pasien dan kemudian memeriksa detak jantung bayi.
Terdengar helaan nafas pelan dari bibir dokter tersebut. "Langsung masukkan ke ruang NICU."
Deg!
Mendengar perkataan dokter itu, membuat jantung Eliza berdetak semakin cepat. "Bagaimana kondisi bayi saya dok?" tanyanya dengan bibir yang bergetar.
"Sebaiknya ibu banyak berdoa," ucap si dokter yang kemudian pergi meninggalkan ruangan.
Eliza yang baru diobati, seketika berjalan dengan dengan cepat mengikuti dokter yang menangani bayinya. Wanita itu menghentikan langkah kakinya.
Namun, seorang perawat menghentikannya di depan ruang NICU. "Mohon tunggu di sini dulu Bu."
"Tapi anak saya?" Eliza menangis sambil menutup mulutnya.
"Ibu harap tunggu di sini, agar dokter bisa menangani dengan baik."
Setelah mengatakan itu, sang perawat kemudian masuk ke dalam ruangan.
Eliza hanya diam dan memandang pintu yang tertutup dengan rapat. Dia ingin mengintip kedalam namun sayangnya tidak ada celah untuk mengintip.
Cukup lama Eliza menunggu dokter keluar dari dalam ruangan NICU. Dia sudah tidak sabar untuk mengetahui kondisi bayinya. Ada rasa lega ketika melihat dokter keluar dari dalam ruangan. Dia berharap dokter memberikan kabar baik untuknya.
Hanya saja, harapannya tak terkabul.
Begitu sang dokter keluar, dia mengumumkan kabar yang membuat Eliza terpukul.
"Kondisi bayi ibu kritis. Dan bayi sudah tidak sadarkan diri sejak 2 jam yang lalu," jelasnya.
Bugh!
Seketika Eliza limbung dan terjatuh ke belakang. Bersyukur dokter Rizki dengan sigap menangkap tubuh kurus si wanita.
"Dokter, tolong selamatkan anak saya dok. Saya tidak ingin jika sampai anak saya meninggal." Eliza menangis dan meremas tangan dokter laki-laki tersebut.
Kondisi Eliza yang seperti ini membuat dokter Rizki tidak tega untuk memberitahukan kondisi bayi malang tersebut.
"Kami akan mengusahakan yang terbaik. Di mana ayahnya? Saya ingin berbicara dengan beliau," ucap pria di depan Eliza itu kembali.
"Dia tak bisa dihubungi, Dok."
Dokter Rizki mengerutkan kening. Dia hendak bertanya, tetapi seorang perawat tiba-tiba keluar NICU dengan panik.
"Dokter kondisi pasien semakin kritis!"
The Nexus’s ChoiceThe dense forest was suffocating, its twisting paths endless and its shadows alive with menace. Zara tightened her grip on her dagger, her resolve firm despite the uncertainty pressing down on her. The voice that had welcomed her to the Trial of the Lost echoed again, mocking her.“Zara, the protector who defies destiny. Do you truly believe you can escape what has been set in motion?”“I don’t just believe it,” Zara growled. “I’ll prove it.”Kael’s SacrificeKael stumbled through the jagged terrain, blood dripping from a gash on his arm. The creatures had stopped coming, but he could feel the presence of something far worse in the shadows. He kept moving, desperate to find Zara and Elias.As he rounded a corner, he saw a portal shimmering in the air. It pulsed with the same energy as the Nexus.“Finally,” Kael muttered, stepping toward it.But as he approached, a figure stepped out from the shadows—a man wearing armor that bore the mark of the Nexus. His face was h
Zara stood frozen in the vast, endless expanse. The ground beneath her feet shimmered like glass, reflecting a distorted version of herself. The air buzzed with an energy she couldn't identify, a low hum that sent shivers down her spine.“Kael? Elias?” she called out again, her voice echoing in the emptiness.No response came, only the haunting sound of her own voice bouncing back at her.A faint light flickered in the distance, pulsing like a heartbeat. Zara’s instincts urged her forward. Her steps echoed unnaturally, each one amplifying her solitude.“You don’t belong here.”The voice was soft, almost a whisper, yet it reverberated through the space with a force that made Zara’s chest tighten. She spun around, her eyes searching for the source.“Who’s there?” she demanded, her voice trembling.The air shimmered, and a figure materialized—a young girl with hair as white as snow and eyes that mirrored the Nexus’s silver glow. She couldn’t have been older than ten, yet her presence car
The blinding light from the Nexus filled the chamber, swallowing every shadow. Zara’s body trembled as the energy coursed through her, a storm she could barely contain. Her mind felt split—one side tethered to the room, the other pulled toward an endless void.“Zara!” Kael’s voice broke through the chaos. He stumbled forward, his hand outstretched.“I can’t—” Zara gasped. “It’s too strong!”The silver-eyed woman stood motionless, her expression serene. “The power is awakening. Don’t resist it. Let it guide you.”“Guide her into what?” Elias shouted, gripping his staff tightly. “Destruction? Death? Zara, fight it!”Zara’s eyes darted between them. Kael’s face was a mix of desperation and determination, while Elias’s was filled with fear. But it was the woman’s calm, steady gaze that unnerved her the most.The Nexus burned brighter, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. In the heart of the light, Zara saw images—visions of cities crumbling, rivers running black, and skies choked with a
The air in the chamber grew heavier as Zara stepped forward, the Nexus pulsing faintly in her hand. Its energy surged, responding to her trembling heartbeat. Kael and Elias flanked her, their expressions a mixture of resolve and fear.“Do you feel it?” Elias whispered, his voice barely audible. “It’s like it’s alive.”Zara nodded. “It’s waiting for something... or someone.”Suddenly, a low hum filled the room. The shadows on the walls rippled as though alive, coalescing into a form. A figure emerged from the darkness, cloaked in an aura that shimmered like oil on water. Their face was obscured, but their presence sent a chill down Zara’s spine.“So, you’ve come this far,” the figure said, their voice echoing unnaturally. “But do you even understand what you hold?”Kael stepped forward, his sword drawn. “Who are you? And what do you want with the Nexus?”The figure laughed softly, a sound that made the air vibrate. “You still don’t see? The Nexus isn’t just a tool—it’s a beacon. And yo
Zara moved toward the enormous doorway, her heart beating as though in time with the symbols' throbbing light. There was an odd force in the air surrounding them, and it felt heavy. Kael and Elias looked at each other, their tense partnership still shaky."Do you sense that?" Elias asked, his hand firmly clutching his sword's hilt."Yes," Kael whispered, looking about him. "As if the air were alive." Zara, what is this place?Zara paused, her hand lingering over the stone's engraved symbols. At last, she remarked, "It's... a key." "To everything." It is a test, though. We might not receive another chance if we do not succeed here.Kael grinned, but there was a hint of nervousness in his voice. "So, no pressure."Zara's fingers touched the symbols, making them blaze brighter. The air was filled with a low hum that became louder by the second. Then the doorway started to move with a thunderous roar.The PerspectiveThey had to protect their eyes from the dazzling brightness that streame
Zara's heart was racing with a mix of fear and excitement as she entered the portal. A huge, strange landscape replaced the blinding brightness that had surrounded her. It was a place poised between realms, where the ground pulsed slightly, as though alive, and the sky glistened in shades of violet and gold, unlike anything she had ever seen.A quiet yet authoritative voice came out, "Welcome, Zara."A figure in flowing robes that appeared to have been woven from starlight stood in front of her when she turned. Even though the figure's face was hidden, she felt both comforted and uneasy by its overwhelming presence.Despite her thoughts racing, she asked in a firm voice, "Who are you?"The figure answered, "I am the Keeper of the Gateway." "Your world's equilibrium will be determined by the decisions you make here, but you have shown that you are resilient."ConvergenceMeanwhile, Kael and Elias stood at the brink of the abyss they had just barely escaped. Now, the creature that had a
Zara opened her eyes to a startling silence. She laid on a glassy, smooth surface that held her weight like solid ground but appeared to shimmer like liquid. There was a never-ending sea of whirling fog all around her, its dim light creating lengthy shadows on an unknowable horizon."Elias?" she exclaimed, her voice wavering. As though mocking her anxiety, it reverberated incessantly.No response.Her heart was racing. The flash of light and Kael's irate face were the last things she could recall. She was alone now, trapped in a universe that was both harsh and ethereal.A Voice in the MistZara moved forward hesitantly, her every step causing ripples to appear on the glass. As if in response, the mist coiled itself like a live creature around her legs."Where am I?" To herself, she whispered.A deep, resonant voice responded. "You are a Nexus child standing in the In-Between."Her eyes darted through the fog as she whirled around. "Who is there? Present yourself!A figure shrouded in
The only sound in the room was the low buzz of the crystal, its power muted but still reverberating through the atmosphere. Elias and Zara stood together, their hands clenched together, their breathing erratic. There was an unbreakable tension even if they had won.With an expression of knowing, the scarred man looked at them. You have stepped over a line that few people dare to cross. But keep in mind that there are frequently hidden costs associated with having power.With a hushed voice, Zara nodded. "We are prepared for everything that comes up next."However, as she spoke, the chamber's walls shook a little, perhaps mocking her determination. A chilly wind blew past, bringing with it a low, ominous chuckle.The Ignored FigureKeeping his hand on his sword's hilt, Elias watched the shadows for any indications of danger as they left the chamber. He mumbled, referring to the disfigured man in the lead, "I do not trust him."Zara's brow furrowed. He has so far aided us. Why would he
There was a tangible vibrancy in the subterranean cavern. In time with Zara's pendant's brightness, the enormous crystal in its core pulsed. The spooky atmosphere was alive with echoes of the past as shadows moved across the old engravings on the walls.As Zara gazed at the crystal, her chest constricted. What does "sacrifice" mean to you? What is it requesting from us?The man's damaged face softened, but there was no consolation in his hollow eyes. Nothing is free, yet the Nexus has unfathomable power. It requires an offering—a piece of yourself that you might never get back—in order to divulge its secrets.With his blade still in his grasp, Elias took a step forward. "You can not really expect us to do this without further information. What is required? Our existence? "Our souls?"The slight smile that formed on the man's lips did little to reduce the strain. "Not your lives. Not your souls. But the most important thing to you. You are the only one who can identify that.The Cautio
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