The next morning, Sujang and Amora met again beneath the tree where they usually played. Lumi the hedgehog sat between them, guarding the old wooden box they had found behind the bamboo grove.
Amora spread out the map they had found on the ground. The red line on the map began at the bamboo grove, crossed the river, and ended at a hill they had never visited before.
“According to this map, we have to follow the river until we find the crescent-shaped stone,” Amora said.
Sujang nodded, though he looked a little worried. “We have to be careful. That crow emblem might be more than just a picture.”
Lumi hugged the old key tightly. “I’ve seen crows with the same emblem before. They often fly around the hill.”
They set off after asking Sujang and Amora’s parents for permission. Sujang carried bakso meatballs and drinking water, Amora brought a rope and the star lantern from the festival, while Lumi carried the secret box in a small bag.
At first, the journey was pleasant. They walked along the river, passing meadows and fruit orchards. But as the sun climbed higher, the path grew narrow and slippery. Tree roots stretched between the rocks, forcing them to move slowly.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of wings flapping above the trees.
“Caw!”
A flock of crows circled overhead. One of the birds dropped a piece of black cloth right in front of Amora’s feet. The cloth bore the same image as the emblem on the wooden box.
“They know we’re here,” Sujang whispered.
Amora didn’t back down. She carefully picked up the cloth. “If they’re trying to scare us, then we must be getting closer to their secret.”
They continued on until they found the crescent-shaped stone beside the river. Behind it was a narrow passage covered by dense brush. Sujang used a long bamboo pole to clear away the branches, while Amora tied the rope to a tree so they wouldn’t slip.
The air inside the passage was cold. Sunlight filtered in only through gaps between the leaves. After walking for a while, they reached an old wooden bridge stretching across a shallow ravine.
Sujang tested the first plank with his foot. It broke immediately.
“We’ll have to find another way,” he said.
But Lumi was already pointing to the other side. “Look! There’s an arrow mark over there.”
Amora studied the cliff beside the bridge. Small protrusions between the rocks could be used as footholds. She tied the rope to a tree trunk and threw the end across.
“I’ll cross first,” Amora said.
Sujang shook his head. “No. We’ll cross together.”
Carefully, they made their way along the cliff. Sujang stayed behind Lumi, ready to catch him if he slipped. Amora crawled ahead, carrying the star lantern. When the lantern’s light touched the stone wall, shimmering lines appeared, forming a path toward the hilltop.
At last, they reached the other side safely.
At the top of the hill, they found a stone door covered in moss. In its center was a star-shaped hole. Amora placed the star lantern inside it. At once, the stone door began to tremble and slowly opened.
Behind the door was a small room filled with paintings. The first painting depicted their village in the past. The second showed a guardian planting golden seeds near the bamboo grove. The final painting showed three friends standing in front of a large tree.
“This isn’t ordinary treasure,” Sujang said softly. “It’s like a message for people willing to protect the village.”
In the middle of the room stood a stone bowl. Inside it lay three golden seeds, glowing with a soft light.
As Amora reached for them, a voice came from outside the door.
“Hand over the seeds.”
They turned around. A large crow with glossy black feathers stood in the doorway. Behind it, several other crows filled the sky.
Lumi hid behind Sujang, but Sujang continued to stand tall. Amora gripped the star lantern.
“Why do you want them?” Amora asked.
The large crow stared at them with sharp eyes. “The seeds can bring the water source back to life on the hill. But if they fall into the wrong hands, the entire village will lose its river.”
Sujang looked at Amora. They understood that this journey was far bigger than they had imagined.
Amora lifted her chin. “Then we won’t let anyone use them to harm the village.”
The large crow flapped its wings. A powerful gust of wind filled the room and extinguished the star lantern.
In the darkness, they heard the sound of the wooden box opening by itself. A golden light emerged from inside, illuminating writing on the wall:
“A true guardian must choose: wealth for oneself or life for everyone.”
When the light vanished, the three golden seeds were gone from the stone bowl.
In Lumi’s hand, the old key suddenly transformed into a compass pointing toward the village.
“We have to go home,” Sujang said.
Amora nodded. In the distance, the crows’ cries grew louder and louder. They still didn’t know who had taken the seeds, but one thing was clear: the fate of the village was now in their hands.