1 Tanah Minangkabau
Bukit Barisan forest, 26 Asuji year 664 Z
In the middle of the forest dimmed by the crescent moonlight, a ray of light flashed from the sastra power of akik control. "Batu Siliwangi bersinar… Tiger claw." An attack shot towards its target.
The figure of the white-robed creature remained silent despite the approaching attack, and when it hit her it turned out to be like a shadow that could be penetrated by anything. And the sastra attack was seen hitting several trees that fell instantly, the birds sleeping on the tree branches were flying chirping noisily.
"What happened, Sandanu?" a girl's voice trembled in fear.
The boy called Sandanu felt the same fear, even the mysterious creature in front of him stepped closer to him. "Hurry up and hide, Mutia!"
"B_but..." Mutia hesitated to leave Sandanu alone, but she realized that she couldn't do anything. She turned and looked for a place to hide behind a tree.
From beneath its white robes, the creature laughed shrilly and its body soared in the air around Sandanu like an eagle ready to eat its prey. Sandanu himself mounted a stance, in case the creature pounced on him he was ready to attack.
When the white-robed creature that looked tall and slender approached, Sandanu immediately dodged. Moments later, a flash of light shot out from the movement of his hand and attacked Sandanu. Immediately Sandanu took cover behind a nearby tree, causing the large tree he had been hiding to collapse almost hitting him.
Instead of continuing to dodge Sandanu trying to make an attack, she glanced at the agate embedded in her right ring finger, and cast a mantra. "Batu Siliwangi bersinar.... WHITE TIGER"
A white tiger spirit figure emerged from a beam of light with a roar that was capable of shaking the surrounding trees making the white-robed creature startled. The animals around were also frightened. Furthermore, the cloaked creature approached Sandanu slowly after the disappearance of the white tiger spirit.
The creature in front of Sandanu opened the cloak covering his face and saw the face of a beautiful woman shining with long flowing hair. "I haven't seen humans in a long time, and you are very comforting to me, a boy," she said, whose figure was smooth as a shadow when the moonlight shone on her.
"What do you mean?" asked Sandanu surprised.
"The Minangkabau people call me Orang Bunian who they deify, it's really my coming to meet you as a fate. Then know that the world is approaching a equinox when the sun rises from the west and the power of Sastrajendra falls upon the world..."
Orang Bunian also conveyed a mandated to Sandanu about the future he would go through. Then, the creature showed the way for Sandanu to where they were going, namely the Tanah Minangkabau.
***
"Extraordinary." This is the most amazing place that Sandanu could see only after passing through the mountains, up and down hills for days after leaving the Tanah Kerinci because of Orang Bunian who misled him. Though at least it will take two days at most.
Beside him standing, Mutia smiled while placing her hands on both cheeks. Her skin is white and reddish. "I want to take a walk around the Tanah Minangkabau."
That's right, and anyone who comes to this city will surely feel at home for a long time or stay forever to enjoy the beautiful and peaceful city. The surrounding Tanah Minangkabau is protected by tight teak fences and is lined with ten rows with pointed ends so that no foreign intruders can enter. The guard is very strict.
The buildings stand very majestic and towering, the rumah gadang. Its pointed gonjang roof is like a support for the sky and its height is higher than a coconut tree, it is only a small house for the common people made of ironwood. All, the outer walls of the building are engraved with beautiful motifs of plants and animals in colorful, red, yellow, blue, and always brown and black.
"Welcome to the Tanah Minangkabau." A security officer approached Sandanu and Mutia by greeting using the IND language which is a common language in this world. "Please fill out the guest book before continuing on to enjoy the beauty of our city." The security guard handed them a guest book which they had to fill out.
After filling out the guest book, they immediately walked between the Minangkabau people and the metal carriages pulled by buffalo. The layout of the city is also very neat and beautiful with palm trees that line the side of the road before the houses with pointed roofs stand taller. The road looks beautiful with the arrangement of river stones that are not uniform in shape but blend together to form a beautiful random motif. The stones are glued together with natural glue or asphalt.
From the long journey they have taken, of course a restaurant is the thing they will be looking for. "And now, let's eat!" Sandanu pulled his best friend's hand.
Mutia was a little confused about revealing Sandanu who had light brown skin that wrapped his fit body. "Where to eat?"
Suddenly, someone gave a suggestion. "If you want to eat, go to Padang restaurant, there is the most delicious rendang."
"Rendang! That's what I want to try," said Sandanu, divulging Mutia, whose maroon hair was cut unevenly at the shoulder.
Then, they walked towards the field near the indicated city park. A large city park with lots of trees and green grass that fills the ground so that the atmosphere feels shady. The fresh air is mixed with the fragrance of blooming flowers. Although there are different types, the mixture of fragrant flowers from various flowers makes the air feel more pleasant to the nose.
The sun's rays create shadows that begin to lean to the east of each object. The wind was blowing dry leaves and shaking the weeds that were planted neatly in several park locations. The feathers of the dried flowers fly. Mutia had a cheerful face and tried to catch the cotton flower that flew across her face. But before the fluff was reached, Sandanu blew it flying even higher and Mutia's hand couldn't reach it.
"Danu." Mutia lightly hit his shoulder.
Sandanu smirked while scratching his benhur hair. "I don't know why I wanted to bother you?"
"Once again you irritate me," Mutia raised her index finger to Sandanu's face. "I won't buy you rendang."
"Yeah, don't be like that," Sandanu whined for mercy. He pulled the hem of Mutia's clothes, which resembled a kemben with short cloth bottoms, and tied a multipurpose shawl of filigree cloth around her hips.
Seeing the Padang restaurant, Mutia remembers that the remaining provisions must not be enough to pay for the food there. Mutia also saw the contents of the tie at the end of her scarf, there were only two benggol, one ketip. Benggol is a type of gold coin with a hole in the middle and ketip itself is a silver coin without a hole which has a lower value.
Mutia glanced at Sandanu, who was wearing a blue velvet cloth that was buttonless and sleeveless with black pants below the ankles. A batik cloth is also tied around the waist which is also to close the front of the shirt crosswise. "Looks like eating at the place is expensive."
"So, we have arrived in Tanah Minangkabau but can't eat rendang?"
Mutia immediately pulled Sandanu's hand to turn away from the Padang restaurant, which stood majestically and looked crowded by visitors. "Let's find another place to eat, surely rendang is not only in that place!"
Sandanu relented, considering that rendang was not his main goal to travel far to tanah Minangkabau. There are bigger and more time-consuming destinations with long journeys, as well as funds to go overseas. Therefore, he advised his stomach to budge. While gently rubbing her stomach, Sandanu followed Mutia.
"Wait!" Suddenly there was a voice with a Minangkabau accent trying to stop them in their tracks. "If you want to go to Padang restaurant. I can treat you guys."
Sandanu and Mutia were surprised by the generous offer that suddenly approached. They turned to see who the good man was.
He is a grandfather who wears a black penghulu outfit with red sides on his shoulders and a headband as a headgear. The grandfather also uses a stick in the style of a respected old man in Tanah Minangkabau.
Who is this grandfather? []
