Chapter 1: A New Chance

" My Dearest Lara, I often think how my father would turn over in his grave. If he knew the shame I had brought upon our family's name. Croft... what does it even mean? I just hope you can make your own mark on this world someday. Remember that the extraordinary is in what we do, not who we are."

That was the last tape of his journal. I have listened to it for a thousand times. For years, his voices encourage me to carry on my spirit to create my own mark in this world. But I often failed, in every chance that I have. Now another chance has come, and I can't failed again in this time. I have to make a diferrence, I have to make a RIGHT diferrence.

I was still in Siberia with Sofia after I destroy the divine source and make Jacob disappeared. What I do in here isn't make my mark, and I just missed my shot again. I have to start it again from zero, it's time to leave this place and explore another chance to make my mark in this world.

"He was a good man, Sofia, I feel sorry for the destroyed divine source, I just feel like I kill him."

"I already know about him Lara. We all here just tried to protect him and the divine source from every outsiders who wants to exploit the source. I know it's hard for me to forget about him. But you do the right thing for us. I forgive you Lara. Come on, you got a plane to catch."

Sofia then escort me back to the sherpa camp to descend down the mountain and head back to Novosibirsk, the capital city of Siberia, to catch my plane and flight back to England. A hour later, we finally arrived at the sherpa camp.

"We're parted here Lara. Thank you for taking care of my people. We'll see each other in next time." Sofia then gave me her hands to shake with me.

As I shake with her I say my goodbye too for Sofia, the sherpa bring my pack down the mountain. As I descent the mountain slowly, I saw Sofia still waving goodbye at me until I can't see her again in the edge of the mountain.

Arrived at Novosibirsk, I catch a bus and head to the airport to purchase my baggage and upgrade my boarding pass. After the baggage and my boarding pass, I have my seat ready and I just need to wait on the waiting room for the Boeing 747-300 British Airways flight number BA 6541 to England.

I filled my 12 hours in plane by sleeping without having anything to eat, eventhough the stewardess offer me something to eat, I still sleep like a dead corpse on the plane. Finally, I arrived too at my hometown and head back to my apartment.

Back in London, I filled back my day by continue working at the Nine Bells as the bartender for late shift. I start my work from 15.00 PM until 22.00 PM on every work days. Thank God, its Friday. Tomorrow I can start visiting the old library again to learn more about the history and myth around the world, that need to be busted by me. I better call Sam to the Bells right now. I have something important to talk with her.

"Hi Lara, how's your trip on Siberia?" Sam answer my call through the cellphone.

"It's great Sam, great. There's story that need to be told from the Siberia, anyway can you come to the Bells now? I got something important to talk with you."

"Sure Lara. I'm on my way." Soon I closed my call and continue my work on the Bells.

What a rough day, to serve a drunk man on the bar stool who try to fight another person. Luckily, everyone managed to kick his ass out of the Bells. Phew, what a day. A few minutes later, Sam arrived at the Bells and greet me warmly, then she take a seat on one of the bar stool.

"What is it Lara? Do you have what you desire?"

"No, Sam. I lost my second chance on the Siberia. I managed to uncover the myth of Kitezh, but not the divine source. The divine source is gone because of me. I destroy it, Sam. But I have no choice back on the day. When I heard Dad's last recording tape, I feel like I'm letting him down. I need to do another adventure Sam. I want to make a difference. And I need your help in here Sam."

"I was afraid you gonna say that Lara. I can't have another adventure again, back on the Yamatai, Himiko's soul still left on me. I don't want another riskful adventure. I'm done with adventure Lara. There's more opportunity that more worthy than adventure. Come with me Lara, live normally like a girl do. You don't have to do this. You already have a difference Lara, you just need to know it." Sam encourage me, as she hold both of my hands on the bar table.

"I can't choose another path Sam, this is my path. I have to walk on it, not leaving it. I just hope you could help me like a friends do. But it's okay if you don't want to help me, everyone made their own choice. It's your call Sam. And I'm not blaming you if you don't want to help me." I start to leave Sam on the bar, but before I continue my work, Sam call me back.

"Lara, what can I do to help you?" Then I gave her my smile and told her to meet up on the old library tomorrow at 10.00 AM.

The next morning, at 09.30 AM I woke up and head to the wash basin. Ah, that was another long night. I though I'd finished my work at 22.00 PM, turns out boss having a little promotion party on the Bells, so all of the bartender stay all night until 23.30 PM. No wonder I found my hair so untidy and sore eye on the wash basin mirror.

Enough with this, I got something to learn at the library, I have to hurry. I'm afraid Sam wait me for too long at the library. After done with bathroom and brush my teeth, I have my fast breakfast, only a peanut butter toast, with an English tea. Then quickly I'm heading to the underground subway to go to the library. My thoughts were right. Sam was wait for me on the library, I found her reading some books on the reading bench.

"Hi Sam, sorry to keep you waiting. I was overslept last night."

"How long do you work last night Lara?" Sam scoffs at me, after she heard my statement.

"On the schedule, I should end my shift at 22.00 PM, turns out my boss doing some late night party, so I'm going home at 23.30 PM. Anyway forget about it, I got something to learn in here. Do you mind to search for some historical books for me Sam?"

"Of course, When do we start then?"

Let's get started, we're going to the history section on the east wing of the library. Let's see what this library got. So me and Sam searching the whole history section for some myths and legends book. After a while searching the library shelf, me and Sam managed to find some books that I need.

"Alright let's get these books clustered: The mythical tomb of Qin Shi Huang, boring. Hugues De Payens and the 9 Templars, only a fairytale. Jacob Schultz and the Indian gold, ah forget it. The great Minamoto No Yoritomo, no way! The lost Shambala of the Shangri-La, ugh, right now I'm done with the cold places." I have rejected 5 books of mythical and legends. Until I found a book that really make me interest of it.

"Hmm, The lost 999 Stupas of Prambanan. Interesting, I haven't heard anything about the Prambanan. This ones new." I'm talking in my head as I start reading the book. Turns out it's really interesting and promising, but I'm need another book with these topic. Okay, search category narrowed.

"Sam, change of plan, I want you to search any books about the Prambanan, or the 999 stupa. Anything about it. Bring it to me as many as you can,"

"Ugh, why you become such a bookworm Lara?" That looks like a stupid question for me, so I didn't answer Sam's question, and keep reading as she search for another book.

It's about half an hour Sam has search some books, finally, she returned at me with a total of 4 books that she found. Sam know that she won't help me for another minutes in here, so I let her leave the library, while I'm keep reading alone in the history section and listening to my MP3 player.

I keep reading until I didn't realize I have spent 4 hours in the Library. I need something to eat, so I borrowed the 5 books including the one that I read, then I bring my books to Fred, the library clerk.

"Lara, you haven't returned 3 of my books. Now you borrow another 5 books." Fred rants at me, when he ready to mark the borrowing card on each book.

"I return them soon Fred, I'm in a hurry right now, and I can't return them now."

"You're always say that everytime we met Lara-"

"Just give me the books." Fred then exhales as he mark each book with stamps. Soon I'm going home and made a lunch. Only a Mac and Cheese, because I don't want to wasting my time. Even I'm reading when I'm eat.

So I filled the next day by reading 5 of the books about the mysterious Prambanan. I read on every time that possible. While at work, when there's no customer, I open my book and read them. Before going to sleep, I'm reading too for about a hour. I keep doing the same thing for 5 months, until I finished reading those books. It's time for me to returned all of my borrowed book to Fred.

3 from 5 books that I read saying that Ceylon is the place where there's a tomb that I need to raid. I'm not going alone to the Ceylon. I'm need some companion, Jonah might be able to help me. So I call him from my cellphone.

"Jonah, it's Lara. Are you been busy?"

"No, absolutely not. What is it?"

"I have to talk with you, it's important. Can you meet me on the old coffee shop Jonah?"

"Okay, Lara. I'm on my way."

When I'm arrived at the coffee shop, I book two seat and ordering an English tea, on the coffee shop. That's looking absurd, but no one cares about that. Few moments later, Jonah comes in and seat in front of me, then he ordered a black coffee. The black one, no creamer and no sugars. While waiting for the drink, Jonah starts the conversation.

"What is it Lara?"

"Do you remember that you say destroying the source was the right thing to do Jonah?" Jonah nodded at me.

"I'm not satisfied yet with it. I failed at Kitezh Jonah, I want to made a difference. And I need your help in these journey."

"Do you remember when Jacob dying? He told you that you already have your difference. You just need to understand it Lara. Don't do another adventure, please I beg you. I have lost too many friends back in Yamatai, and I can't lost another one. Don't go this path Lara, leave your old life, and join with me. Have a normal life like everybody do."

"Everybody have a normal life Jonah. It's my life in here, and I think this is normal for me. I expect you want to help me in here. Though I was wrong, I'm wasting my time in here. I need to do another research now. It's okay Jonah I'm not blaming you." But before I leave Jonah, he call me back and change his mind.

"Lara, you're not wasting your time. But I do what I can, okay?" Hearing Jonah statement, I gave him my smile and getting back to the seat for another conversation about this expedition, while enjoying our drinks together.

For the next day, I have purchase 2 economics ticket to Ceylon and we're leaving in the next 4 days. Before we're leaving, we're going to "dad's house" first to search another references about Prambanan. So me and Jonah then go to the manor library to find some information and reference about this expedition.

"Jonah, did you found any reference?" I asked to Jonah.

"I think I found one, But I don't know about this Lara, maybe you should take a look? You know I'm not an expert at these." Jonah replied to me.

"What the hell–?"

"What is it Lara?"

"No no no, I though the home of the Durga Mahisasuramardini was in Ceylon."

"Duhhh, okay. Then, where it should be Lara? I think already have a seat to Ceylon"

"It is actually located in Indonesia, precisely in a hindunese temple, the Prambanan. I have to get there Jonah, are you coming with me?"

"Of course I'm with you? But how with the the seat to Ceylon? We can't just waste it Lara."

"Well, I don't know about that, if we can turn it back, then it wouldn't be a waste. But if it can't, well it's a consequence to me. Anyway it's my money Jonah, not yours."

"Alright, alright, now how about that Pram–what that you just mention?"

"Prambanan?"

"Yes about the Prambanan, are you really sure about this? I don't want another waste, Lara."

"You're the one who found it Jonah, and the one that you found was my Dad's research, you talking like you doubt my father Jonah."

"No, no I absolutely not doubting your father, Lara. So when we are leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning, I don't want to waste my time. We meet up at the airport. Is that okay?"

"Sure, but can we take care about the Ceylon seat now?"

"Absolutely Jonah, boy you look very disappointed with those ticket."

Thanks to Jonah, and Dad's research, I have my research in the right lane, but how if we don't found anything on the Prambanan? Ah, stop thinking like that Lara, everythings gonna be alright, I just need to see the truth about it, tomorrow in the Prambanan."