After finishing a full day of classes, Shanum hurried back to her dorm. Her mind was preoccupied with the incident in the campus hallway and the mysterious figure who had saved her. She knew she couldn't go on living in such confusion—she had to find out who that person was and what their connection to her was. The only person who might have the answers was her grandmother in Yogyakarta.
She immediately entered her room and opened a small closet in the corner, taking out a brown cardboard box containing family mementos. Inside were old photos, letters, and a small wooden box that was always locked—her grandmother had said that the box should only be opened when Shanum was truly ready to know the truth.
"The time has come, perhaps," whispered Shanum as she stared at the wooden box, its surface decorated with beautiful jasmine flower carvings. She didn't have the key, but when she touched the surface of the box, it was as if an invisible force made the key come off by itself. A soft click was heard, and the lid of the box slowly opened.
Inside the box were only two items: a silver necklace with a D-shaped pendant, and an old letter whose paper had begun to yellow. Shanum carefully took the letter and began to read it.
"To my beloved daughter, Shanum. If you are reading this letter, it means the time has come to reveal the secret we have been hiding from you all this time..."
Before she could read any further, her cell phone rang. The number that appeared was her grandmother's. Shanum immediately answered the call with slightly trembling hands.
"Grandma?"
"Shanum, dear, how are you?" Her grandmother's voice sounded soft but full of concern. "I sense that something has happened to you. Are you okay?"
Shanum felt her eyes well up with tears. She knew that her grandmother always had an extraordinary sensitivity to things that happened to her family. "I'm fine, Grandma. But... I saw him. The figure who always protects me."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before her grandmother replied. "I knew this would happen one day. Come to Yogyakarta, dear. As soon as possible. I will tell you everything about Den Mas Alif Bhirawa."
Shanum didn't need to be asked twice. She immediately arranged for a leave of absence from college and bought a ticket for the night train. At eight o'clock in the evening, she was already at the station, carrying a small bag containing her essentials and a wooden box that held the letter and the silver necklace.
The eleven-hour train journey felt very long. Shanum couldn't sleep at all. She kept holding the silver necklace and reading her grandmother's letter, which she hadn't finished reading yet. When the sun began to rise in the eastern horizon and the train entered the Yogyakarta station, her heart was filled with hope and fear that intertwined.
Her grandmother was waiting for her outside the station, wearing the dark red batik shirt she always wore on important days. Her wrinkled face was full of joy but also deep sadness. She immediately approached Shanum and hugged her tightly.
"It's been a long time since I've seen my beloved granddaughter," said her grandmother, her voice trembling slightly. "Let's go home. I'll cook your favorite gudeg and tell you everything."
Her grandmother's house was located on the outskirts of Yogyakarta, behind a large rice field that she managed herself. The air there was very fresh, with the scent of rice leaves and roses growing around the yard. Shanum felt her heart calm down immediately—this was the place that had always made her feel safe since she was a child.
After a warm lunch, her grandmother took Shanum into a back room of the house that was rarely opened. Inside the room, the walls were covered with old photos and antiques that showed the history of their family. In the corner of the room was a wooden table with a large photo on it—a photo of a young man wearing a black traditional Javanese shirt with gold accents, his hair neatly tied back, and a face that closely resembled someone Shanum had seen several times before.
"He is Den Mas Alif Bhirawa," said the grandmother, staring at the photo with eyes full of love and respect. "Or, as he is better known to our family, Denar."
Shanum felt her breath catch in her throat. The man in the photo was exactly the same as the mysterious figure who had protected her. "Who is he really, Grandma?"
Grandma sighed deeply and began to tell a story that had been hidden for decades.
"Denar was the son of the leader of the coastal community in the South Coast of Yogyakarta during Grandma's youth. He was a very intelligent, kind-hearted young man, skilled in martial arts and traditional supernatural sciences. When your father was a child, our family often received help from Denar when we were in trouble. He had a very gentle heart and was always ready to help others."
Grandmother paused for a moment, picking up a cup of warm tea that had been prepared on the table. "However, in 1998, when riots broke out in several areas of Indonesia, Denar tried to save many people who were trapped in the chaos. He managed to save many lives, but he himself could not escape from the burning riot site. Before he died, he made a promise to our ancestors that he would always protect our family's descendants—especially the daughter who would be born later."
Shanum felt a tightness in her chest. She had no idea that the connection between her and Denar existed long before she was born. "So he's protecting me because of that promise, Grandma?"
Grandmother shook her head slowly and took the silver necklace that was still in Shanum's hand. "There's more to it than that, child. When you were still in your mother's womb, I took your mother to Denar's grave to ask for protection. At that time, we felt that Denar had accepted the promise wholeheartedly. There was even a prediction from a local shaman that you would have a special relationship with him—perhaps even more than just protector and protected."
Shanum stared at the silver necklace in her hand, then looked back at Denar's photo on the wall. When she touched the photo, it was as if a current of energy flowed from the photo into her body. The distinctive scent of sandalwood filled the room again, and slowly Denar's figure appeared in front of them—just as Shanum had seen before.
The grandmother looked at Denar with a gentle smile and nodded slowly. "You have taken good care of her, Denar. Thank you for keeping your promise."
Denar nodded at the grandmother, then turned his gaze to Shanum. His warm eyes were filled with deep affection. "My promise was not only to protect you, Shanum. I am here because we have a deeper connection than you can imagine. As time goes by, you will learn the whole truth."
Shanum felt her heart warm and no longer felt afraid. She knew that her life's journey would be filled with more mysteries, but with Denar and her grandmother's support, she was confident she could face them with strength.
"Who am I really to you, Denar?" Shanum asked softly but firmly.
Denar smiled gently and reached out his hand toward Shanum's face—though he couldn't touch her physically, Shanum felt the warm touch that calmed her. "You are the most precious person in the world to me, Shanum. And one day, I will tell you why."