Rendang is a special food made by the hands of Minangkabau cooks and has the most delicious taste in the world. Made from beef with a spicy taste that takes a long time to heat up with coconut milk and a mixture of spices such as chili, lemongrass, galangal, ginger, turmeric, garlic, shallots and others. The famous rendang in Tanah Minangkabau is rendang at the Padang restaurant.
Padang restaurant itself stands in front of a city park with a very large area that can gather hundreds of visitors. The interior is full of red and ornaments with flower and seed roots.
"Actually, what has brought you to the Tanah Minangkabau, kids?" asked the grandfather sitting in front of them. This grandfather himself is the parent of a Padang restaurant owner who happened to see them and felt sorry for them both.
"We are from the Tanah Aceh, we only stop here," Mutia replied.
"Yes," added Sandanu with his mouth still full of rendang meat. "We will go to find the Galuh country."
"Galuh?" The old man was surprised.
Sandanu stopped chewing and glanced at Mutia who was also surprised. Instantly, Sandanu swallowed all the contents in his mouth. "So grandpa doesn't know that country either?"
"Isn't that just a myth?"
Mutia scratched her hair even though she didn't feel itchy. "I know, everyone would say that."
"You are still young, how do you know this place exists, while from the time I was a child the country was considered a fairytale." Grandfather, who has not yet named his name, finds it strange to meet a young man who is looking for a land in the middle of nowhere.
Sandanu was aware of the grandfather's statement. He had visited several places and the people he met said the same thing about Galuh, which is just a myth. But his determination will never stop and is sure that his search will not be in vain.
"Even though everyone doesn't believe in the Galuh country, one day I will find it and make the whole world believe in the Galuh country." Sandanu never went back on his words at any time and his statement had been heard by many people since leaving the Tanah Aceh.
Mutia, who believes in Sandanu's beliefs, will always follow him. Because only Sandanu, the only person Mutia has. His hope will be Mutia's hope, his goal will be Mutia's goal and his way of life will be Mutia's way of life. Until whenever and wherever, Mutia will not leave Sandanu. And will always be by his side.
Even if people don't believe his words, even if people make fun of him and even if people insult him, Mutia will be the first to defend him. "We will definitely find the country." Mutia spoke steadily.
Sandanu immediately replied. "I will fight for it with my destiny!"
"Okay kids, if that's your determination then find for it!" Grandpa smiled.
Sandanu and Mutia looked at each other. It was their first time meeting people who supported him. Can't believe a grandfather who treats him to eat rendang has given him great enthusiasm.
"Actually who is a grandfather?" Sandanu and Mutia simultaneously asked about the old man.
"Ha ha ha…. I'm just an old man, people call me Datuk Marunggul."
Sandanu glanced at Datuk Marunggul's hand which was placed on the table. There was a akik ring around his right thumb. "Grandpa a jewel?" Jewel itself is the name for the handler of akik whose name is taken from an ancient language.
"Hahaha…, I'm just a healer." Datuk Marunggul showed his ring while whispering in front of the two children. "This akik has healing properties and no one will know that I am a palace healer, shh…"
"Palace?" Sandanu and Mutia are shocked.
"Shh…. Come on, finish your food! After this you guys visit my house. There's something I want to tell you." Datuk Marunggul pointed his index finger at Mutia. "Especially you guys, about the akik pendulum on your necklace, hahahaha..."
***
After eating a delicious meal at the Padang restaurant, as promised, Datuk Marunggul took the young man to his house on the outskirts of the city. A solitary house, with red and brown vine-patterned walls and black dots. And the gonjang roof is as high as a coconut tree.
The yard in front of the house is very shady with ferns and ferns whose leaves roll up, as well as various types of grasses. Some flying animals include birds, beetles, and butterflies.
After climbing the wooden stairs, Sandanu and Mutia were presented with a view of the contents of the house with a natural nuance. Many medicinal trees grow inside the house. Ginseng plants, reed roots, curcuma and various others. No wonder all windows open.
"Welcome to my little house, this is not really home but my most private place." Datuk Marunggul invited his guests to sit down.
Sandanu and Mutia sat on brown wooden chairs and a round table in front of them. On the table was a teapot whose contents were immediately poured for them by the owner of the house into the glass.
"Actually last night I dreamed of meeting my best friend, and it turns out that I will meet two young people from the Tanah Aceh." Datuk Marunggul sat in front of the two of them.
"Are Grandpa's friends also Acehnese?" Mutia asked.
"Right." Datuk Marunggul immediately told about his traveling companion who had the belief to find the Galuhland like the two of them.
He met his best friend when the Tirta country was having a difficult time after being established as one of the five great country.
His friend was sure that with the discovery of this far-flung land, it would create peace in the world. But Datuk Marunggul has never seen his friend again since the Tirta revolution ended.
"Who is he?" asked Sandanu.
"He is Sayuti Malik." Relieved to mention the name of his dearly missed friend, Datuk Marunggul took his drinking cup.
Sandanu and Mutia immediately stared at the name. "He's our teacher in the Kubah Emas tower."
So shocked to hear the words of the young people below, Datuk Marunggul could not swallow drinking water until the air from his mouth spurted out. "Are you Sayuti's students?" he shouted, standing up.
Two young people whose faces were wet with the spray, together wiped each other's faces. "Yeah, at least our faces don't have to be soaking wet," said Sandanu.
As it turned out, the dream was a message and his two best friends brought news about him whom Datuk Marunggul missed so much. He sat down again. "How is he now?"
Sandanu and Mutia looked at each other and saw that their faces were starting to mourn until they were filled with tears. Their hearts grieve remembering someone who is very instrumental in the life they are now living. The teacher who both of them consider as their own parents.
Datuk Marunggul read the look on their faces and knew that bad news was about to be delivered. []