Arriving at Batu Raden
After an eight-hour journey, extended by their stops in various cities, they finally arrived at the Batu Raden campsite. It was late afternoon, almost evening. Diaz parked the car in the parking lot, and they all got out.
"We have to walk further in, right?" Amanda asked.
"Yeah, according to the map," Indra replied, checking his smartphone.
"It's not far, just a 5-10 minute walk," Fani added, also looking at her smartphone.
"Alright, let's go," Diaz said, turning to Alex. "Bring the tents, Lex. Looks like we're camping here first."
"Got it. You and Indra help out here," Alex replied.
Diaz and Indra immediately went to the back of the car to help carry the camping gear for all seven of them. Tari, seeing this, immediately approached the three.
"Um... guys, wouldn't it be better to go to the campsite tomorrow? It's already late, isn't it?" Tari asked, looking a bit uneasy.
"Don't worry, no need to be scared, we're here," Indra said, trying to reassure her.
"Yeah, she's scared of you," Nara retorted, having just gotten out of the car with her bag and walking over to Tari.
"Jerk," Indra shot back.
"Come on, don's joke around, just get everything out quickly. We still have to walk, right?" Alex urged.
After they had all shouldered their backpacks filled with their respective gear, the three returned to the front with Tari and Nara, joining Amanda and Fani. When they arrived, Indra immediately looked around.
"Hey, where's the tin-ghost?" Indra asked Amanda.
"Up there," Amanda replied, pointing upwards.
Indra looked up, seeing Shin floating high above, seemingly observing their surroundings.
"Let's go," Diaz invited.
They began walking towards the campsite. Amanda, Fani, Tari, and Nara walked in front, while Diaz, Alex, and Indra, each carrying large backpacks, walked behind.
"I wonder if the tin-ghost we're supposed to meet will look the same as the one floating above Amanda?" Diaz asked, pointing towards Shin.
"Beats me. Manda's drawing is pretty cool though, you know what I mean," Indra said.
"Hey, she drew that just to let us know, not for sell as art. If it's bad, cut her some slack, it's not like you can draw, bro," Alex retorted.
"What? I'm good at drawing, actually!" Indra shot back.
"Haha... yeah, right," Diaz teased.
"Seriously, you don't believe me? I'll prove it later, just you wait," Indra challenged.
"Sorry if my drawing is bad," Amanda suddenly said, turning around with an angry face.
"Hehe, sorry, Manda. You look pretty even when you're mad," Indra teased.
"Stop flirting, you jerk," Amanda replied, turning back around.
"You started it, Ndra, don't drag me into this," Alex said.
"Same here, I'm not involved either," Diaz added.
"Damn you two," Indra muttered.
Meanwhile, in front, Fani and Nara turned to look at Amanda, whose face was red and pouting.
"Is your face red because you're mad about being teased, or embarrassed about being called pretty?" Nara asked innocently.
"Shut up," Amanda replied.
"Looks like both, hehe," Fani said with a wide smile.
"I don't know," Amanda replied again, turning to look away.
"Okay, so it's both," Nara confirmed.
"Hehehehe, these guys are funny," Tari said, who had only been listening.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the campsite. Without much more talk, Indra, Alex, and Diaz immediately set up two large tents for them to sleep in. Amanda, Fani, Nara, and Tari began unpacking equipment to build a bonfire and cook dinner. They also took out the food supplies they had brought in a cooler to cook. It was starting to get dark, and the bonfire was lit. Amanda and Fani started cooking their dinner.
Indra, Diaz, and Alex, who had finished setting up the tents, sat near the bonfire. Nara and Tari brought them drinks, then went back to help Amanda and Fani cook dinner. Diaz watched Shin patrolling around them. Indra looked at Amanda's sketchbook and looked around their location.
"This should be the spot, judging by the arrangement of the trees," Indra said, showing his drawing to Alex and Diaz.
"Yeah, but where is he? We're ready," Alex said, taking a sip of his drink.
"Relax, if he wants to show up, he'll show up on his own," Diaz replied.
A short while later, Amanda, Nara, Fani, and Tari arrived with food. They sat next to Indra, Alex, and Diaz. After that, they started eating together. Tari looked uneasy, occasionally glancing back at the tents.
"What's wrong, Tari?" Amanda asked.
"Nothing, I'm just not used to camping like this. It's a bit spooky," Tari replied.
"Don't worry, it's just for one night," Alex reassured her.
"Yeah, that's right. Our goal here is to meet the tin-ghost from Amanda's drawing," Nara added.
"But he hasn't shown up yet," Fani chimed in.
"Just be patient," Diaz replied, enjoying his food.
"Rustle!" A sound came from the bushes far in front of them. Indra, Amanda, Alex, Nara, Diaz, and Fani put down their plates and stood up, though they were still chewing their food. Shin floated down and stood in front of Amanda.
"Something's out there," Indra said.
"I know," Diaz replied.
"Everyone, get ready," Amanda commanded.
"Tari, when you see our forms later, don't be scared, okay?" Fani said.
"Y-yes, sis," Tari replied, standing behind Fani.
"Tari, you'd better stand behind me. If you stand behind her, you'll faint," Nara joked.
"Hey, what makes you think I'll do anything?" Fani shot back.
"Shh, no joking around right now," Indra said.
"Rustle... rustle!" Something emerged from behind the bushes and walked towards them. Tari moved behind Nara, and the six of them immediately prepared themselves. As the bonfire light illuminated the approaching figure, all six immediately dropped their stances and stared in awe. Instinctively, Indra, Alex, Diaz, Fani, and Nara immediately turned to look at Shin, who was wearing a mask and standing in front of Amanda. Then they turned back to look at the newly appeared figure, and it turned out to be Shin from the future, carrying a cracked smartphone and not wearing a mask.
Shin's face beneath the mask was, in fact, handsome. His white hair was the same color as his eyebrows, and his eyes glowed bright red.
"Shin?" Amanda asked.
"Yes, I am Shin, from the future," Shin from the future replied.
Indra, Alex, Diaz, Nara, and Fani were immediately shocked to hear Shin's deep, raspy voice in front of them.
"Whoa, you can talk?" Indra asked.
"This is the first time I've heard your voice," Nara added.
"Yes, I can talk now. I've been here for 23 years," Shin said (pausing briefly and looking at the faces of Indra, Alex, Diaz, Nara, Fani, and Amanda, then he turned to look at Tari and smiled with a seemingly relieved expression). "I knew you would bring Tari here. I feel relieved now."
"Huh... you know Tari?" Diaz asked.
"Um... excuse me, guys, what are you doing and who are you talking to?" Tari asked, confused and scared.
"Oh," the six of them suddenly realized that Tari couldn't see the Shin from the future standing right in front of them.
Suddenly, Shin from the future walked closer to present-day Shin and Amanda. He immediately placed a hand on present-day Shin's shoulder.
"Please protect Amanda," Shin from the future said to present-day Shin.
Present-day Shin nodded, then moved aside. Shin from the future looked at Amanda in front of him and immediately knelt before her. After that, he raised his head, looking at the stunned Amanda. Indra, Alex, Diaz, Nara, and Fani turned to look at Shin from the future, who was kneeling on one knee like a knight, with his head raised.
"Now, I will tell you everything that will happen in the next two years," Shin from the future stated.