The Musafir

The Large Grassland

As Mantingan looked away exclaiming, “I never changed my mind about this. Never!”

“Then will you rush to come here?”

“Not much time to explain. But hurry up and pack up and get out of here!”

Rara and Arkawidya's facial features turned bad, worried that something might happen that was unexpected and dangerous. Without needing to ask much more, the two of them got out of the river water and got dressed. Mantingan did not glance at them at all until the two of them finished dressing and packing.

“Arka, do you know any way to get out of here other than the road we just went through?”

“I feel there is no other way out other than the road we just went through.” Arkawidya said worriedly.

“Then, we are forced to break through the forest and move northward.”

Mantingan then facing towards the sunrise which is the east direction, then on the left is the north direction. It is not difficult to determine the direction when the day is still bright like this, but it will be a little difficult when the day is dark and the sky is covered with clouds.

“You two don't go far behind me, and always be alert! Many black people who want to stop in this place, we must quickly go because they are warriors and many.”

Rara's and Arkawidya's facial expressions got worse. It was clear that they knew how the power of one swordsman capable of killing three ordinary humans was as easy as turning a palm, that alone was only one swordsman, and what the Manten revealed were many black-ranked warriors!

That is the real danger, so they quickly went from there to the north.

They did not have time to remove the trail, although Mantingan knew that it was no less dangerous to stay there. Isn't that just like luring robbers to follow them?

Luckily, it's dry season. The soil is dry, so it is not easy to print footprints. Rara and Arkawidya's legs have also been drained after just splashing into the river water. The trail they left behind was only located in the river, where it was very clear that someone had just bathed there. Mantingan hopes that the warriors do not consider it as something they need to take care of to the end.

They left the bamboo forest.

Mantingan choose a path that is not overgrown with shrubs or trees full of twigs, because it can cause traces with broken branches or stepped bushes. Although the road that must be taken is a road that turns a little far, it is not why.

Somewhat long they continued to walk quickly leaving the small river, none of them willing to rest. Rara and Arkawidya were wet with sweat again, as if bathing in a small river was a waste, even though it was not a waste.

Why is it called a thing that is not in vain? The black warriors came from the north, on a road with Mantingan and his companions. Most likely, the three of them had died from the sharp weapons of those heartless black faction. Not only were they in vain, they instead obtained great luck.

During the trip also Mantingan and Rara was amazed by the appearance of Arkawidya whose face was much more beautiful than wearing thick pupils on his face. Arkawidya had bathed until all his makeup was clean with water. His skin was white and looked well groomed. When asked why Arkawidya could be like that, the girl replied with an unexpected answer.

“If I don't wear makeup and look ugly, then I will be hidden by the Earth Inn and made one of the prettiest girls they hide. Therefore, when I was sold as a slave, I also litter my face with mud mixed with cow dung. Being beautiful is not always fun.”

The mantel looked around. All eyes looked at was a vast field of grass where there were only a few trees growing, one of which was the tree he now used to shelter from the hot afternoon sun. There are some wild cows and deer that eat grass away from them.

In the middle of a meadow like this, the position of the Mantingan could easily be seen from afar. The proof, Mantingan can see an ox that grazes alone far away there. Because it feels safe that Mantingan dare to rest here. If only the warriors were going to chase them, with their wind-like speed, they would naturally catch up to them from the beginning.

But it seemed that the warriors were not very fond of chasing after the person who had just bathed in the small river. It was also possible that they had perished at the hands of the troops who had come by then. Whatever happens, the current condition is still fairly safe.

“Mantingan, do you have any food?” Rara asked a little timidly, resuscitating Mantingan that their stomachs had not been filled since night.

“The conditions here are not very possible to cook food, but I have a filling pastry.”

“Not why. What about you, Arka?” asked Rara to Arkawidya, replied a nod in agreement.

The mantle sits cross-legged on the grass and under a shady tree, his hands swiftly unscrewing the rope that tied his bundle. Then he took a reed in which there were round pastries.

“One piece is already very filling.” Mantingan distributed the pastries one each to Rara and Arkawidya, because the number was not much. He himself also took one and immediately devoured the cake.

The cake is hard when bitten, but soft in the mouth. It tastes like cow's milk combined with beans. Mantingan did not say that this cake is delicious, but he said that this cake is filling. The sweet taste was only slightly tasted on the cake. More of a bland taste.

A round-shaped cake no larger than the palm of the hand was quickly consumed by Mantingan and his two traveling companions. Their stomachs seemed to have been filled with a lot of food, even though they knew that the cake was much smaller than the size of the breakfast portion.

“What kind of magic is this, Coat?” Rara asked in astonishment.

“Not magic, the greatness of this cake lies only in the ingredients are dried and compacted. Also the materials used are filling materials. I felt a little cassava and yam taste in it. That's enough filling.”

Rara nodded in understanding before leaning her back on the tree trunk. Arkawidya had little to say about the taste of this cake or its greatness, leaning his back against the tree trunk.

The dry wind is slowly rolling. Flying the hair of two women who closed their eyes. The mantan takes off its caping and its headband, enjoying the breezy cold breeze of the dry season.