The dark night sky is dotted with thousands of tiny stars that reconcile every eye that sees and fantasizes about reaching it. And the most beautiful light is not only in the sky and nature, but also in the majestic Keraton Pagaruyung.
Little candles dance on the cup to the accompaniment of the hands of beautiful girls in red dresses in a tari lilin performance. The meaning contained is not only entertainment and beauty, but also is a symbol of the light of life that slowly shows the way out of darkness.
The Minangkabau chieftain invited all participants in the jewel contest and held an open folk party at the Keraton Pagaruyung. Everyone laughed and shared stories happily when they saw a tari randai performance which tells the story of a warrior who goes on an adventure to live the art of life.
"I once went to the Sabda country, which was very beautiful, at that time my uncle invited him to sail across the sea...." Kalianda told about his experience in his association with fellow a jewels. They sat at a large table in the middle of the party that was taking place.
Sandanu, who listened to the story of his new friend from the Tanah Lampung, was impressed and wanted to go to that country. His heart seemed to miss something that he didn't seem to notice.
Sandanu likes to talk with the jewels who come from all over the Tirta country and share interesting experiences with each other, but he feels something is missing because his opponent is fighting in an invisible arena. Sandanu turned to various directions full of crowds but his heart was furious. He remembered about Datuk Marunggul and wanted to meet the boy.
Mutia is happy to get to know many boys and hear their stories, not realizing that Sandanu left her alone. That night, Mutia did look beautiful, wearing red clothes which added to her cheerful heart. Many boys wanted to get to know the cheerful girl.
"So you're not a jewel?" asked the boy from the Tanah Nias named Fakho.
Mutia grimaced while holding her necklace pendulum. "Yeah, I can't control this an akik."
"Too bad, it looks like a good akik," said Kalianda. "What kind of an akik is that?"
"It's a batu legenda, but I don't know about this an akik. It's a gift from my parents." Mutia keeps smiling even though her heart misses her parents and there is a pent up fear.
Suddenly, a Minangkabau girl approached Mutia. She was fair-skinned judging by the light that illuminates the palace. Her long yellow hair is braided, placed in front of her right chest and has a golden crown in the shape of a buffalo horn. As she walked her smile grew friendly.
The girl sat aside Kalianda from beside Mutia. "I know what an akik you have and I'm sure you can control it with tremendous power."
Mutia was surprised to hear the Minangkabau girl's words. She immediately looked at her and everyone looked at the girl.
"Introducing, I'm Tantejo Azra." She smiled sweetly.
Everyone was shocked to hear that and the boy who was there immediately stood up and kept his distance. "You are the princess of Minangkabau," said the boy from Minangkabau.
Princess Tantejo, who feels the same as everyone else, doesn't hesitate to join in and share her stories. She was simple in appearance, generous and gentle. And gently, she held Mutia's hand who was about to turn to keep her distance from her.
"You don't need to go, I'll tell you about the legend of an akik you have," said princess Tantejo.
Mutia nodded and everyone wanted to hear.
"When I was little, my mother used to tell me stories about mermaids..." Princess Tantejo tells the story through a life mirror mantra of a batu mustika daun talas which shows a film-like image created through her imagination.
***
Under the ocean there is a very beautiful life and filled with fish that swim freely to and fro. And one day a young man was fishing in the middle of the ocean with his sailboat. From morning to night, the young man did not get any fish and the next day it was the same. Finally, annoyed, the young man plunged into the sea and saw a beautiful palace. In the palace there was a beautiful princess playing with the fish. The princess had a tail like a fish.
The young man approached. "Hey, who are you who is very beautiful in the ocean."
"I am a mermaid, the only child of the king of the sea," replied the princess.
Seeing the mermaid's beauty, the young man didn't care about the difference in his world and he fell in love. So, every once in a while he went into the ocean and one day a mermaid met him on the beach.
The mermaid also liked the good young man who promised not to eat fish as a form of loyalty. However, when they met, they found out that the inhabitants of the human land were kidnapped by the mermaids by the people.
The palace of the sea who heard the news was angry and he threw waves on the whole country until the land was drowned. The mermaid who lost a young man wept and his cries shook the whole sea until the sea mountains erupted. The sea king was worried and asked the god to revive a young man whom his daughter loved. God granted it with the condition that the underwater palace became his dominion and the underwater land disappeared leaving only the mermaid.
The mermaid who saw the young man and his country back, was very happy without knowing that his own country had become a rock. When she came back and saw what had happened, she returned to the surface of the sea and saw the young man she loved with a human girl.
The mermaid was sad while sitting on a rock. Her falling tears became pearls and because she did not return to the sea, her body disappeared like foam.
"That's the story about the batu mutiara air mata duyung. I would love to find an akik, but you have it." Princess Tantejo ended the story and the film image that emerged from the puddle on the table disappeared. "It is an akik of sincerity, selfless love from a pure heart."
"Great, you have a very rare of a batu legenda and the story is so touching," said Kalianda.
"Thank you princess, I just found out the legend behind this an akik." Mutia held her necklace batu akik.
Mutia was also happy to hear that and she also told her that on her way to the Tanah Minangkabau, were ambushed by the Bunian people who had misled her for days. "But I didn't see what an Orang Bunian looked like, only Sandanu saw the figure."
Princess Tantejo was surprised. "Minangkabau people believe that whoever can see the figure of an Orang Bunian will get a mandate and also good luck."
"Wow Sandanu is really lucky, but where has he gone?" said Kalianda looking in all directions.
Mutia just realized that Sandanu was not beside her. The boy had left her. Where is Sandanu?
***
Back and forth among the crowds and keenly eyed through the space to find someone. His face was so impatient to see what happened to the person who disappeared into the crowd that he was often spoken of as being proud. But, why is it that when he is not the subject of conversation, no one cares about him? Sandanu can't ask a person who only cares about his own pleasure.
His steps quickened and he headed for a dark looking room. The dim light showed a figure standing in front of the window facing out, a night sky. With dark clothes covering Sandanu's body and a blue songket woven cloth that adorns his waist to his knees, he approached a person dressed in the same dark but with a light green songket cloth.
"What are you hiding here for? Is it a shame to finally be second for three years unbeaten?" Sandanu grimaced in front of Kiliran Jao who was staring at him.
Kiliran Jao did not expect Sandanu's arrival at all. Who is he who is number two? Only an orphan who lives on the side of the road as petty thieves, was caught and dumped in the middle of the forest. In the end a teacher made him a student.
Other people will not care about him. Even though they struggle to get praise, people only talk about their greatness, not their humanity because they still feel like trash. In the Tanah Minangkabau which is peaceful and serene, to be honest, everyone still has many complaints in their hearts.
"And what are you here for?" said Kiliran Jao sarcastically.
Sandanu laughed while embracing Kiliran Jao's shoulder. "Wow, beautiful, it's only right that you stand here looking at the night sky full of stars." Sandanu saw Kiliran Jao's stiff face. "Do you wish there was a shooting star to grant your wish?"
"Never mind, you have something to say right?"
"Yes, right." Sandanu let go of her arms and rested her arms on the window. "About your teacher, go home! He's waiting for you at home. You are the only one who is expected to accompany him in his old age because his son is busy taking care of the Padang restaurant which has to keep going."
Without Sandanu knowing, tears rolled down Kiliran Jao's cheeks. He hadn't seen the old man in a long time and why did he wish for his return. "You suck!" Kiliran Jao's voice was mixed with sobs.
Sandanu was taken aback by the muttering that came out of the companion beside him. "You cry? Then I won't bother you."
Kiliran Jao's saw Sandanu's shadow flashing away from him. His heart hurts to be reminded by others about his teacher, while he always ignores the heart that always comes to give advice.
There was nothing more than annoyance that he wanted to live independently and didn't want to trouble the old man, the teacher he left behind. Everything just happened, because he heard Datuk Marunggul's only child who was jealous of him who was more cared for than his own child. Kiliran Jao felt that it was time to leave his teacher so that his son would not be jealous of him. But why did he hear a voice from far away that missed him and waited for him to come home?
Now, Kiliran Jao doesn't care because he knows his teacher really misses him and is waiting for him to come home. He was happy to hear that. He thought, his teacher would not obey the contents of his letter and it turned out that it was time for Kiliran Jao to meet his own teacher and make him proud to have the best student.
"Thank you Sandanu, I will meet the teacher."
From behind Kiliran Jao's body, Sandanu smiled and nodded. He stepped into the party crowd that did not cease to be full of joy and laughter as he danced and sang until the night went away and the rooster crowed into the morning.
Tak tong tong galamai jaguang
Tagunda-gunda ka cambuang basi
Jan suko duduak bamanuang
Urang pamanuang jauah rasaki
Jan suko duduak bamanuang
Urang pamanuang jauah rasaki.
(Minangkabau folk song) []