Rai was still inhabiting the body of the khodam named Caca—a soulless vessel, now animated by Rai's consciousness. While his real body remained in the human world, his spirit moved freely in the spiritual realm through Caca's form.
Inside a khodam shop, Rai stood silently, observing the spiritual entities for sale. Yet something within him hesitated.
"I'm not ready to buy a new khodam," he thought. So far, he had only managed to synchronize two khodams, and even then, the harmony between them wasn't perfect. Adding a third might disrupt the balance entirely.
Maybe later, he reasoned, once I've mastered the art of fusing three or four khodams… that's when I'll seek a new one.
Then another idea sparked: Or maybe… I could try making a khodam myself?
After leaving the shop, Rai—still using Caca's body—walked alongside Dukun Rosso to a different place that sold beautiful khodams and spiritual knowledge. There, amidst a pile of ancient tomes and magical scrolls, Rai's eyes caught a particular book titled:
"Beginner's Guide to Creating Your Own Khodam: Creative Methods and Rituals."
He bought it immediately.
Dukun Rosso noticed, but didn't stop him. "If that's the path you want to take, go ahead," he said calmly. "It'll be expensive at first, but if you succeed, you'll be able to craft khodams on your own terms."
Shortly after, they ran into Alfin, the handsome but normally silent khodam. This time, however, something was different—he looked visibly upset.
He remained quiet until they all returned to the human world. Then he spoke.
"I met the khodam used by Diana—my sister," Alfin said, his voice deep and tense. "She told me Diana has been imprisoned… in the realm of the jinn."
Rai's eyes widened, but before he could respond, Dukun Rosso intervened, his voice calm and firm.
"It's both bad and good news. Bad because she's imprisoned… but good because she's alive. If we try to save her recklessly, we could put her in even more danger."
Rosso then offered a suggestion: "You need a small animal-type khodam—like a bio bird. Something that can speak and sneak into tight places. That's your best bet to reach her."
The very next day, Alfin hunted a wild jinn and paid off the debt needed to purchase a new khodam. He returned to the khodam market and chose a bio bird—a small spiritual creature that looked elegant but possessed rare abilities: it could mimic human speech, camouflage its feathers to blend into its surroundings, and even fire sharp feathers for self-defense.
Alfin bought it with renewed determination. The path to saving Diana was slowly beginning to form.
Meanwhile, Rai dove into the book he had bought, learning the basics of khodam crafting. He discovered that he would need something called a drup—a spiritual core harvested from a slain wild jinn—and a special khodam forging tool, with the cheapest one costing a staggering 500 million rupiah.
Still, Rai wasn't discouraged. If he could become a true khodam maker, the initial cost would eventually pay for itself. He could craft high-quality khodams, not only for his own use—but for others, too.
Alfin, now using his newly bonded khodam—the bio bird—began to feel strange. Its senses were completely different from a human's. Its eyes, for instance, were incredibly sharp, functioning almost like a telescope that could zoom in on distant locations with astounding clarity.
Dukun Rosso had even provided Alfin with a clever trick: he taught him how to coat the bird's feathers with a mild paralyzing poison. Just a small scratch from these feathers would be enough to temporarily immobilize an enemy.
Armed with this new knowledge, the bio bird soared across the skies of the Lengara Kingdom, scanning from above in search of the royal prison.
It took nearly an hour of searching before the bird spotted a secluded structure hidden behind the palace—a fortress surrounded by magical barriers. The prison.
The bird flew closer, carefully avoiding detection. It glided through the narrow gaps and open windows, navigating through hallways and locked chambers, inspecting each cell.
Eventually, it found Diana.
The bird's eyes lit up. Overwhelmed with joy, it immediately called out, "Diana!" and fluttered into the cell.
Diana's eyes widened. "Alfin?" she asked, recognizing the voice. A small smile crossed her tired face.
A voice interrupted from the side. "So your friend's a shaman, huh?" said a woman who was bound by chains beside Diana.
"Who are you?" the bird asked, turning its head.
"The name's Atila," she replied. "I'm also a shaman, but unfortunately my khodam is sealed inside my body. That's why I'm powerless right now."
"And you? A talking bird?" she tilted her head.
"I'm Alfin. I became a shaman just to find Diana and free her," the bird answered proudly.
Diana's eyes welled with tears. "Thank you… Alfin."
"Save the sentiment," Atila cut in. "Escaping this prison won't be easy. But I have a plan. I'll teach Diana how to become a shaman herself. Once she learns to awaken her khodam, we'll be one step closer to getting out of here. In the meantime, I'll try to find the key to unsealing my own khodam."
"If you have allies out there," she continued, "get them to stir up chaos. Cause a distraction. When Diana's ready, that's when you help us break free."
Alfin was silent for a moment, then asked, "What crime did you commit? Why were you imprisoned here?"
Atila smirked bitterly. "Same as your girlfriend here. I refused to marry the third prince of Lengara. So he locked us up. This prison may look comfortable—with its soft beds and good food—but don't be fooled. The prince still hopes we'll change our minds."
Alfin and Diana exchanged sympathetic looks. Despite her sharp tongue, Atila seemed sincere. They decided to trust her—for now.
And so, the plan began.
Time was not on their side. Diana trained under Atila's guidance, learning how to awaken her natural khodam. Days passed quickly, and finally, her spirit responded.
From within her, a majestic figure emerged: a stunning woman with flowing pink hair, fox ears atop her head, and a crimson gown that shimmered with spiritual energy. Her fingers were tipped with sharp yet elegant claws, and from her back sprouted nine long, pink fox tails—soft as silk, but strong as steel.