Chapter 14

• Under the candlelight of the village temple and the scattered flower petals still damp with night dew, Ayu stood before the shrine. Her body trembled slightly, unsure whether it was from the cold air that kissed her skin or the turmoil inside her heart that wouldn’t quiet down. Daniel stood a few steps behind her, keeping his distance, respecting Ayu's space to find her own answer.
• In her silence, Ayu closed her eyes gently. She recalled every prayer she had whispered at Pura Lempuyang, every drop of holy water that touched her forehead at Pura Tirta Empul, every barefoot step she had taken up the stairs leading to Pura Besakih. All of it for one thing—to find clarity and the blessings of her ancestors.
• But tonight felt different.