Alya was still busy replying to messages in their group chat. Every now and then, she smiled as she read the conversations that kept appearing on her phone screen. Through the group chat, she learned that their other friends had already arrived at campus and were waiting for them.
Only Alya, Laras, and Tissa were still on their way.
"By the way, have you taken your period-delay medication, Al?" Laras suddenly asked.
Alya, who was still staring at her phone screen, immediately froze. Her eyes widened as she realized something.
"Oh, my God! I forgot!"
She hurriedly opened her bag, searching for the medication she had prepared that morning.
"I'll take it now, then. Ugh, I completely forgot because I was so busy getting everything ready."
After finding the medication, Alya promptly took it according to the instructions.
Not long afterward, the car they were riding in entered the campus grounds.
Finally, the seven of them were reunited after spending the past few days preparing for their trip. Large backpacks, hiking equipment, food supplies, and various other necessities had been arranged beside Riki's car.
They had chosen his vehicle because it was spacious enough to accommodate all seven of them and their belongings.
After making sure nothing had been left behind, they set off for Mount Srinjani.
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The car traveled at a moderate speed along the road, gradually leaving the bustling city behind. Tall buildings and rows of shops gave way to residential houses, stretches of greenery, and increasingly deserted roads.
Inside the car, Keenan took on the role of their guide. As someone who had conquered numerous mountains, he understood that hiking was not merely a matter of physical strength. Discipline, vigilance, and the ability to look after oneself and others were far more important.
"Listen carefully, everyone. There are a few things you need to remember during the hike."
Keenan briefly glanced at his friends before returning his attention to the road.
"First, don't complain excessively, use vulgar language, or speak rudely while we're on the mountain. Don't litter, either. The trail we're going to take is quite complicated and steep, so you need to be careful at all times."
Rengga, who was sitting in the back seat, nodded, while Hasan busied himself adjusting his backpack, which was resting between his feet.
"Always remember to pray, and never leave anyone behind on their own. If anyone feels tired, just say so. We can stop and rest. There's no need to push yourselves too hard. However, don't stop too frequently without a good reason, because your bodies might actually find it harder to adjust to the journey."
Keenan paused for a moment, as though considering whether he should mention what came next.
Then, his expression grew more serious.
"And there's one more thing you need to remember."
For some reason, the change in Keenan's tone made the atmosphere inside the car feel slightly different.
"During the hike, you might see a bird that keeps appearing along the trail. According to local beliefs, it's considered the guardian of this mountain."
"The guardian of the mountain?" Tissa repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Keenan nodded.
"People around here call it the Miranda Bird. They say it often appears before hikers and is believed to guide them along the trail. But if you see it, don't stare into its eyes for too long. Don't praise it, either, let alone deliberately observe it for an extended period."
Hasan, who had been quiet until then, let out a small laugh.
"What for? Will the bird get offended if someone stares at it?"
"Hasan, I'm serious."
Hasan's laughter gradually faded when he saw that Keenan showed no sign of joking.
"I don't know what would actually happen if someone broke that taboo. I'm only telling you what I've heard from more experienced hikers. So rather than taking any risks, it's better to respect the rules."
For a few moments, no one responded.
The sound of the car engine and the tires rolling against the road once again dominated the atmosphere.
Keenan then turned to look at them.
"Does everyone understand?"
The seven of them exchanged glances before finally nodding.
Although some of them considered the story about the mountain's guardian bird nothing more than a myth, none of them truly wanted to test whether it was real.
At least, not before they discovered what was actually waiting for them up there.
Their journey was briefly interrupted when the car entered a small residential area. The poor road conditions slowed their progress, making the journey take longer than expected. The trees growing densely along the roadside also limited their view of the scenery in the distance.
They decided to stop at a small roadside food stall owned by a local resident to refuel and grab something to eat.
After resting and making sure all their equipment was still complete, they continued their journey at around ten in the morning.
Time passed without them realizing it.
Finally, after traveling for approximately four hours, the sight they had been eagerly anticipating began to appear in the distance.
Mount Srinjani.
Its peak towered high above the landscape, surrounded by vast stretches of green forest. Beneath the once-clear sky, the mountain looked both magnificent and peaceful.
"Oh, my God… Is that the mountain?"
Tissa leaned closer to the car window. Her eyes sparkled as she took in the scenery she had previously seen only in photos and videos on the internet.
"Damn, it's beautiful!"
The car continued along the road until they finally arrived at the hiking area at around one in the afternoon.
"Usually, I can only see scenery like this on my phone screen. Now I can see it with my own eyes!" Tissa exclaimed enthusiastically. "God's creation is truly beautiful. After traveling all this way, all that exhaustion feels completely worth it!"
Her friends laughed at her remark.
They got out of the car, stretched their bodies after sitting for hours, and began unloading their backpacks and equipment.
However, beneath their admiration for the magnificent scenery before them, something gradually changed as they stood there for a while, facing the mountain.
The wind blowing from the forest felt colder than they had expected.
Birds called to one another among the trees. In the distance, thin layers of mist hung over parts of the mountainside, drifting slowly with the wind.
Everything seemed perfectly normal.
And yet, for Laras, something was difficult to explain.
The mountain that had looked so beautiful from a distance somehow felt different now that they were standing right in front of it.
As though its beauty were merely a carefully crafted illusion, meant to welcome anyone who came.
Meanwhile, something else was hiding deep among the trees.