The village was roused into action once the team of trackers returned, bearing the news of the imminent arrival of their Spirit Healer, Tok Batin Silihan. As night was approaching, more and more torches were lit around the village, as if there was a festival going on. The women got into action and started to busy themselves with prepping and cooking while the men began cleaning up the village with a sense of urgency. Tens of fireplaces started to burn, and the smell of food permeated the surroundings. The air was filled with a sense of tension and worry, interlaced with intense discussions about the 'Exalted Elder' of the Bateq community. Many aged old legends and stories were retold to the younger generations by their elders while their hands were busy with beautifying the village.

 

Rob was currently sitting crossed-legged together with Tanahan at the back of an open space structure made of bamboo that resembled a gathering platform known as 'haya'¹it is the name of bamboo huts made by the Bateq tribe. It is not in Malaysian language, as it is truly referred in the Bateq language.. At the very front, six old men convened in a circle while discussing passionately in Bateq. Their eyes were bright and were filled with a kind of crazed fervor, while intermittently relaying instructions to a few messengers at their sides.

 

"What are the Elders discussing, Tanahan?" Rob inquired quietly with confusion. Even he could detect the sudden shift in the mood of all the villagers. After they returned, suddenly, everyone turned into this out of the blue, which had made him extremely perplexed. He could pick up a few words but still couldn't comprehend the reason for the sudden commotion.

 

"I've let them know that Tok Batin Silihan is coming," Tanahan explained with a low voice.

 

"..." Rob was speechless. All this commotion for one old man? Seriously?!

 

"So? What's all the fuss about?" Rob made an incredulous look.

 

"Every time he returned, he will usually hold a meeting with all the younger generation of the tribe. I heard that he was looking for a successor, but he had never picked even one after so long. After the event, he would fume and throw a terrible tantrum for a few days. One wrong move and the unlucky person could be hanged upside down from a huge tree for days without food and water. I've seen it a few times. The most terrible of all was to watch when the person had to defecate upside down. Imagine where all the urine and stool will then flow." As Tanahan explained more, he rubbed off the goosebumps appearing on his arms. His actions were seen clearly by Rob as he had a dreadful premonition about his client's well being. Tanahan's fear was genuine and wasn't made up since even the color of his dark bronze face paled a little while he was retelling his tale. 

 

Tanahan continued in a whisper, "As such, the whole tribe will work together to appease the Exalted Elder by arranging everything nicely so as not to incur his wrath. He hadn't returned to the village for more than ten years this time. It is believed that as long as the Exalted Elder found the apprentice he longed for, everyone will be saved. It became a significant event every time our Spirit Healer returned. Additionally, this was the only time that we can seek his spiritual guidance and help, though it really depended on his mood, whether he will entertain the person in question or not."

 

Rob was appalled by the unruly old man! And he left his injured client to that old man to be tended to?! Rob could only light a candle for Mr. Arash deep in his heart and hoped that he won't be killed by the old fellow. Although Mr. Arash was a nice guy generally, he was a little sluggish by nature. Maybe he had so many things in his mind all the time until he responded a tad bit slower than the rest when he was asked a question. In the beginning, Rob and Mat were quite annoyed by their client's 'slowness', but soon realized it was unintentional and adapted to him. Additionally, he's a little clumsy too and easily loses his footing multiple times in a row. To someone who’s impatient like the capricious old man, Mr. Arash's flaw could easily stoke his rage.

 

"I need to save my friend." Rob suddenly stood up with a determined look, startling everyone present.

 

Tanahan smiled apologetically at everyone and pulled Rob down. "Sit back. You've disturbed the gathering."

 

Rob unwillingly sat back as he struggled to contain his impulse. "What if that elder of yours killed my friend?!" He whispered in worry.

 

"Don't worry. He already promised. He will preserve your friend's life at the very least. Just pray that your friend won't make him pissed off without reason. Sometimes, dead is better than living."

 

Rob. "..." O________O

 

...

 

From afar, a fully-clothed Arash limped slowly while chitchatting with Tok Silihan by his side as they walked at a slow pace towards the village. The village was not too far off anymore, as multiple trails of smoke could be seen wafting off from every corner, and series of lights from torches were twinkling as if the village was having a festival. Someone who was lost would surely be able to find their way as the village was shining like a light tower amidst a turbulent darkened ocean.

 

True to Tok Silihan's promise, the gravely injured Arash could already move on his own after three hours of care. If a modern medical practitioner had seen Arash's previous condition and his current one, they will be so baffled and took both Arash and Tok Silihan to a top-secret research institution to be experimented on. However, Arash himself was unperturbed, an effect of reading too much manga and manhua, fanfiction, and Xianxia-based c-novels. He felt that it was normal for him to get better when being tended by a reclusive expert. He hadn't even realized how lucky he was to be favored by Tok Silihan to this degree.

 

Tok Silihan was making a bored look while he 'harumphed' once a while noncommittally in response to Arash's random trivia and endless questions. However, the lack of interest shown by the old man didn't seem to dampen Arash's mood as he kept on chattering all the way during their long walks. As someone who didn't talk too much, Arash's current disposition only happened because he had switched on his fan-mode and viewed Tok Silihan as an idol in his heart. Every man dreams of meeting their idols. Contrary to the West, where Marvel heroes were revered, Arash was more exposed to the manga culture of the East, and later on, heroic light novels originated from China, Japan, and Korea. Obviously, in his heart, Son Goku was the strongest superhero in the universe as he could squeeze Captain Marvel to death with his two fingers.

 

Although Tok Silihan was making an exasperated bored look, if one observed well, one would notice that the old man had reduced his pace to match Arash's movement. Additionally, he even helped carry Arash's heavy backpack for him while letting him chatter incessantly without doing anything to him.

 

"Look here, look here, Tok Silihan. This is my beautiful wife and daughters." Arash forced Tok Silihan to a halt by barring his path and pushed his smartphone rudely to Tok Silihan's face.

 

Tok Silihan sighed deeply and gave the smartphone a good look. "Too flabby. Too fair. Not to my liking." Seeing that Arash's face had changed slightly, he quickly added, "However, the kids are quite cute."

 

Arash held his face while feeling self-conscious as he blinked his eyes a few times. In fact, he was fairer than Hana by a few notches. If Tok Silihan said his beautiful tanned wife did not conform to his beauty standards, it meant that he must be extremely ugly in Tok Silihan's eyes. He knew the last sentence was just to appease him, since both of his kids were as fair as him since they got his skin tone.

 

"There must be something wrong with Tok Silihan's eye. Ya lah, you're so old like a dried twig already. My wife is the most beautiful woman on earth, okay." Arash mumbled unhappily under his breath. To him, only his beloved Hana could catch his eyes since they first knew each other, way back in school, until now. His wife had aged gracefully, like aged wine, becoming more alluring the older she got. He was very crossed with Tok Silihan’s careless remark but could only suppress it in due to respect to the older generation.

 

"What did you say?!"

 

Tok Silihan finally couldn't stand Arash's stinky mouth as he made a sophisticated backflip, landed on Arash's head, and use both of his knuckles to grind Arash temples.

 

"Ouch-ouch, ouch! Sorry, sorry!! Tok Silihan's eyes got 2.0 vision! Sorry!"

 

"I can't hear you!" This time, Tok Silihan wrestled with Arash and clamped his neck with his arms while forcing Arash to smell his armpits.

 

"Aiyoooo, help me! I'm a patient! Pity this patient! Tok Silihan, your armpit smells like fermented anchovies!!! I could die any second now!" Both of them were play-fighting while laughing.

 

Arash came to a halt all of a sudden.

 

"Why did you stop? Did you get hurt for real somewhere?" Tok Silihan had reduced his strength to the lowest and purposely pushed Arash's face to his armpit to discipline his stinking mouth a little. Did he inadvertently hurt Arash's neck?

 

Arash coughed while blushing. "Er, Tok Silihan, your people are in front of us."

 

They had just emerged from a faint trail to reach the periphery of the village. The hidden bent immediately opened up to the sight of a large village.

 

Tok Silihan moved his gaze to the front only to be confronted with hundreds of villagers, with their jaws touching the ground. No one was making a sound. Obviously, everyone heard their cute banter very loud and clear. Half of them were holding fire torches and was lining up, as if they were in a greeting formation, while all six of the elders were in front with a large weaved wildflower garland, similarly with a blank look.

 

Tok Silihan cleared his throat slightly and placed his hands behind his back, acting like nothing ever happened. He had noticed these villagers ahead of time but couldn't fathom why the big reaction from them. He walked forward with a regal look as everyone else pretended not to see or heard anything. His actions made Arash tried hard to suppress his laughter. The old man was too cute! Against all the odds, he found Tok Silihan to be endearing in a weird way.

 

"Pfttt.." Arash inadvertently lost his composure and let loose a little suppressed laughter.

 

Tok Silihan immediately used his walking staff to beat his butt and let him roll on the forest floor while walking forward like nothing ever happen. He greeted the six elders in Bateq.

 

"Why are you guys here? Nothing to do? If you have so much time, why didn't you clean up the village ground properly? I can see a few trash here and there while I was walking here!" The moving hand holding the flower garland froze midair as it nearly reached Tok Silihan's face. Pak Jaya's mouth twitched a few times. The treatment they got compared to the missing outsider was like the heavens and earth!

 

Rob and Tanahan quickly came forward with worry to help Arash and found that he was still suppressing his laughter. Arash was totally unhurt! Rob and Tanahan looked at each other with eyes full of wonder.

 

In their hearts, both of them were wondering how could this happen?! How could they be so chummy in just a few hours together?! What's Arash's secret to conquering the capricious elder's heart?!

 

A mystery!

 

A vibration was felt on Arash's right hand, which was grasping his smartphone, followed by a "Ting" notification. It was followed by a string of "Tings," implying that many notification messages were received. Arash's eyes lit up in delight!

 

"Tok Silihan! Your village got mobile reception!" <3 Arash squealed with delight uncontrollably while waving his right hand which was holding the smartphone.

 

Tok Silihan nearly slipped but righted his position begrudgingly. He ignored Arash and quietly relayed some instructions to place Arash in a haya nearest to his abode immediately to let him rest. He also asked the elder to call the resident doctor to visit Arash as soon as possible to give him a thorough check-up. All six elders who heard the instruction were speechless and couldn't help but gave Arash a few extra glances since the exalted Spirit Healer showed so much concern over the outsider.

 

Was he a secret long-lost descendent of Tok Batin Silihan?!

 

...

Authors’ Note:

1. Haya = it is the name of bamboo huts made by the Bateq tribe. It is not in Malaysian language, as it is truly referred in the Bateq language.