ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
STORY: The Chosen & The Invisible

Aftan's steps came to a halt when he reached the door of his flagship coffee shop located at a crossroad. Under the torrential rain, Afdan stared at a little girl sitting by the roadside sheltering in the shade of a tiny umbrella.

What's he supposed to do? Ask Afdan inwardly.

For three years, Afdan has been living in this sakura country, Japan. But unfortunately Afdan's fate even worsened with the change of days. The coffee shop he established did not give him any profit at all. Instead, he himself preferred to go to another cafe. The contents of his wallet are also getting thinner. I don't know what he'll do if his savings run out, but Afdan believes that the Creator must still have a way for Afdan. Well, he was a devout Catholic.

However, all of that is not important for now.

The face of the homeless little girl made Afdan speechless a thousand languages. His eyes flashed a terrible void, and his countenance was empty and as pale as a sheet of paper, but, his face—the face of the boy, was the face of an Indonesian national.

Afdan doesn't know exactly how the boy got here and became a bum, but he believes it wasn't his fault. The boy was clearly innocent.

What a painful sight to see. Afdan wanted to help him, but the situation was also on the edge.

It is truly unfair of this world, thought Aftan as he stepped inside the cafe.

“Yes, this world is unfair, right?” Said someone standing right in front of Afdan.

Afdan was very surprised when he realized the presence of the person, or rather the child. This was very strange because the boy knew what Afdan was thinking. Even he stood there as if he was indeed waiting for his arrival.

At first Afdan's mind had refused to believe the incident he was experiencing at this time, but unfortunately reality says otherwise, because Afdan himself knows this boy very well. The child standing before him at this moment was a very extraordinary person. A Hero with amazing superpowers.

He was known as Odin the Deliverer. A small child with a plain face, and has neat shaggy blue hair, with blood-colored pupils. Among the Heroes, Odin was the only one who always dressed like a tramp, and never wore footwear. In fact, he himself is one of the ranks of the strongest Heroes in this world. To be exact, he was ranked sixth.

Well, even though he looked just like a strange boy, but the strength he possessed was not playful. Besides being able to move very fast, fly, and have a super strong physique, he also had powers related to the ocean.

“Can you stop admiring me?” Said the boy while looking at Afdan's disdain.

“Ah.. sorry, sorry.”

Speaking of Pahlawan—ya, Heroes, they really exist and are real in this world, and it all started in 2012 ago, then, the time when an island suddenly appeared in space, and shortly after its appearance, it began to collapse and disappear without a trace.

The incident really insulted common sense until it ran out.

There were no fatalities from the incident, but the researchers stated that there was an energy spread throughout the world when the island was destroyed, and people who are polluted by that energy end up having a strange power, like the superheroes in stories.

“Well, no problem, anyway... “ Odin said as he walked towards one of the tables located beside the window.

However, the atmosphere becomes more awkward when Odin asks Afdan to sit with him. Odin even loudly called Afdan's name, making the entire cafe turn towards him with a half-dead astonished look.

Odin spoke up as soon as Afdan sat down.

“The child's life and death depend on your last answer, Afdan.” Said Odin suddenly. He looked towards the homeless little girl sitting by the roadside from behind the window. “He has suffered too much... “

“Eh..?” Afdan is getting more astonished. His eyes are wide open. He had no idea what was really happening to him. “A-what do you mean!?” Whisper Afdan panicked. The voice of the tall and glasses-wearing young man trembled in shock.

“What do you know about the boy, Afdan?” Ask Odin. “You're here right then?”

Afdan's eyes began to tremble in panic, but he tried to clear his mind in order to answer Odin's question without any mistake.

“Y-yes, I was here at the time, because the police were looking for people who could speak Indonesian, and the owner of this cafe also happened to know that I was Indonesian.” Aftan began to explain briefly. “As far as I know, the boy just appeared at this crossroad in a state of unconsciousness in December last year. And when he woke up he confessed that he remembered nothing at all. Ha-just that's all I know..”.

After he had finished explaining, a water ball suddenly appeared right in the air beside Odin, and in the water ball was a living fish.

“Do you know? This life is like sugar which tastes very bitter, while death is like a big rock that is hard but has a very sweet taste. So, you're aware, right? if the world is so sad... “

Odin's words have a meaning that seems very dark, but Afdan who knows it chose to silence. What does it mean to try to say something as dark as that?

“Y-yah... Maybe you're right.” Said Aftan while putting on a wry smile. “By the way, what exactly is your purpose of coming all the way from Indonesia here? I mean, there's no way you'd come here just to talk about that kid?”

“Yeah, indeed that's my goal to come here.” Odin looks doubtful. “But arguably it's not that either. You see, just now when I was observing Mount Bromo, suddenly I really wanted to come here, right to this place. I swear, that was really a very strange feeling, and I absolutely could not fight it.”

“Hmm... it's weird.”

“By the way, you just order what you want to order, then I will explain everything. Oh, and take it easy, I'll pay for it.”

The movement of Afdan became slow due to confusion. He then went to order a cup of coffee that he believed was not as good as the concoction, and also an omelette. Then, after a few minutes, a waiter finally came carrying Afdan's order. However, the servant's body trembled at the sight of Odin.

“Begini.” Odin began to explain. “Since ancient times, we Otherworldly People believe that there are two kinds of people in this world. The First are The Invisible. Those Who are Invisible are the ones who have the opportunity to grasp the miracle with their own hands, or simply, they have the power to make the miracle. Very special people among the special.”

“Another World People? Wait for... So you're not a creature of this world?”

Aftan was at a loss for words. He had no idea that he would hear such a truth now. His heart beat too fast, and his brain also continued to process the information from Odin quickly.

This problem, has strayed too far from the reality of this world.

It's not about heroes anymore. In fact, with Odin declaring himself an Otherworldly People, it meant that he himself was not a Hero who received power from the events of 2012.

“Yap, but it doesn't matter.” He said back to explaining. “Then, the second kind of man is The Chosen One—This type of man is the one whom the Creator appointed to be an eyewitness to Their Invisible existence. And naturally, the Chosen One and the Invisible One are the ones destined to meet.”

Afdan quoted something from Odin's explanation. His heart was pounding and a smile formed on his lips. “So, would you say that I am the Chosen One?”

“Yes, indeed, but that's not the point. The problem here is that the Invisible One you have to witness is actually that little girl over there.” Odin pointed towards the homeless girl outside who was still sheltering from the rain using a tiny umbrella. “He has made a big mistake, even though the purpose of his action is for the good. But... God always determines destiny in unusual ways.”

As he looked towards the girl, Afdan realized that the girl's eyes were shaking. But, his eyes were not trembling from fear or panic, but because of the scene he was seeing at that time.

There was a man across the street who was walking with a little boy who was definitely his son. Although the umbrellas they used were not wide enough to protect them from the rain, they seemed happy at the time. The father and son laughed together in the rain.

It must be that sight that made the girl cry.

“So... “

Afdan felt a lot of pain as soon as he saw the girl's tears flowing.

“So, you're going to do your part so that the boy's story is resolved. You must be the Chosen One and the Invisible One at the same time.” Odin said as he poured a little tea over the water ball filled with fish that was still floating beside him.

“But... What do you mean about that? About my answer that will determine the life and death of that child?”

“Yes, exactly like that. It will be your answer that will determine his fate. Save him, or let him sit on that crossroad for good. It all depends on your answer later.” Odin. “Oh, he's an immortal, you know.”

“Later? But when?”

Odin exchanged glances with the fish floating beside him, then the fish glanced at the watch that appeared in front of him that had somehow appeared from nowhere. Indeed, Afdan began to be very astonished by the existence of the fish.

“Now, your story of becoming the Chosen One is about to begin. Well, quickly hold my hand tightly.”

After Afdan held the tiny hand of Odin very tightly, Odin said strange words.

“Geminus, Triplici, Altum, Omnia, Lucendi, Ictus, and... Lubuntur Defuid.”

Accompanied by the blaring sound of thunder suddenly came a dazzling green light from the ceiling, making Afdan's vision white and then dark, and Afdan no longer knew what was really going on.

However, after blinking his eyes for almost a hundred times, Afdan finally managed to get his eyes back, and he realized that he was no longer in the cafe.

They arrived at a cave that was very large as a football field stadium. But, as Afdan looked around, Afdan also found there was a stretch of grass growing there. The clump shimmered emitting a bright white light to illuminate this cave.

Far ahead of them was a single steel gate the size of a five-story building that was still open, and there were two glowing crystal stone boulders floating on the left and right sides of that gate.

“Welcome to the ninety-ninth floor in the Tower of Yenos.” Odin clearly walked towards the large gate, while Afdan followed behind.

“Yenos Tower?”

“Yes, Yenos Tower is a place where the direct descendants of the Gods undergo their exams in order to obtain the right to bear the title of Dewa.”

“God...? So, you mean God is real!?”

“Maybe it would be better if you stop being surprised, because for a long time my eyes become strange if you see your eyes are always open too wide... But, like that. And the little girl... is one of them.”.

Aftan just realized something. The name Odin comes from the name of the supreme god in Norse mythology. However, this Odin did not have the same power as Odin in that legend. So, why did he use the name Odin? The strongest force he has is to control the ocean.

“Odin... “ Afdan whisper.

“I know what you're thinking, Afdan.” The blue haired child smiled slightly. “But I used the name Odin because it happened that he was my friend.”

“Teman—”

“Please, stop widening your eyes... “ Tukas Odin pissed.

“Oh, yes, sorry.” Said Afdan while scratching the back of his head in agitation. “Then, how about that little girl?”

“Well, as I said, he is a Dewa.” Odin smiled slightly. “He is the only New God born from a pure human being.”

“Wait... You mean, at first he was human? But he turned into a God?”

“Yap, exactly like that. For the sake of helping his friends, he was willing to break through the highest limits of his strength, and turn into a divine being. However, because his human body was unable to withstand that power, he finally ended up becoming what it is today.” Odin looked up a little, as if he was imagining his past. “Yah... in the end they all did not survive... “

Afdan saw clearly the tears that were held in Odin's eye patch. I don't know what the boy really imagined until he became what he is today.

“You... know him, right?” Ask Afdan.

“His name is Amalia, we used to be traveling companions, and he was the most powerful human being I have ever met... Amalia has abilities that make her powerful over power itself. Well, that's why she's so tough as a girl.”

“You mean?”

“OK, enough bases. Now, get in there, and lure the creature here, so I can exterminate it, then you can take the thing we need to help the girl.” Odin.

“Wait, what!? You told me to go in there alone!? You see for yourself how big this gate is! Whatever is inside there must be the size of this gate! And you told me to go in there alone!?”

“Yah... therefore I tell you to lure the creature to my place... I cannot go in there because I have the name Odin.”.

“But... I'm just a regular human being..“.

“Let's just relax, you're the Chosen One. As long as that destiny is still attached to you, then I guarantee you won't die silly.” Said the blue-haired child while forming a smile full of sincerity on his lips.

“Yah... alright then.” Afdan hesitantly began to step in through that gate.

“You are the Chosen One at the same time the Invisible One! So, keep this! when it's all done, then you won't be the same again!” Odin Sahut.

If it was true that his current actions could be useful to the poor girl, then Afdan would not mind either. After all, Afdan himself did intend to help him from the beginning.

“But... I hope he will give me something when this is done... “ Mumbles Afdan.

Then, on his way down the large and long tunnel, Afdan also found strange images that were carved neatly along the cave walls.

Afdan laughed softly. “It feels like again in the game world only, deh.”

The picture seems to tell the story of a giant four-legged creature with an obscure body shape, who is assigned to guard a gate. But, in the next picture explained that the creature suddenly attacked the gate, until finally there was someone who came to punish the creature and locked it into this tower.

However, upon arriving at the end of the passageway, Aftan's eyes suddenly opened wide. He realized something, and it made his face turn extremely pale.

Aftan did not understand the meaning of the story in the picture, but he had clearly seen how big and magnificent the image of the creature was, he said, while the image of the figure of the person who drove away the creature alone was no bigger than the toenails of the creature.

Well, that's bad news. Really bad news.

The room in front of him was still filled with darkness, but Afdan knew that he was moving his legs even further, surely Afdan will see the true form of the creature in the picture with his own eyes.

“What should I do... “

But everything is too late.

“Eh..?”

Afdan did not know at all that his voice turned out to even make the light in that place become lit.

Afdan tried to move his stiff neck and looked straight up. There was a giant flower-shaped jewel that stuck to the ceiling and illuminated this place with a bright white light.

“God...please me... “ Whisper Afdan with trembling voice.

Aftan screamed in his heart.

He deliberately set his eyes toward the ceiling because Aftan was well aware of the existence of a creature standing in front of him. It was really very, very, very big and wide like an island.

A terrible feeling penetrated into Aftan. His breath was restrained, his heart was racing, his entire body was trembling, and his sweat was flowing so profusely that his clothes were wet in the blink of an eye.

Once again, Aftan tried not to stare at the creature, and set his gaze straight ahead through the creature's bottom. But at that moment, Afdan saw something else. Something that managed to expel all the terrible feelings in Afdan just like that until it vanished without a remnant.

“Gate...gold?”

Afdan's gaze was fixed on the gate that was a large and shiny gate that seemed to be made of real gold. Whatever is behind that gate must be something very precious.

However, the giant four-legged, abstract-shaped and gray-skinned creature suddenly began to scream so loud that it made the world around Aftan feel shaking violently.

“What the heck!”

Aftan immediately took a thousand steps as soon as the creature finished screaming, and at that very moment, the four legs of the creature began to move in pursuit of Afdan.

“This is crazy! this is so crazy!”

The creature was still chasing after Afdan from behind. Well, at least, the creature's movements weren't too fast, so Aftan still had a chance to survive. But, Aftan was unable to imagine if he was stepped on by the creature. I don't know what his body will look like.

“Quick to here!”

Afdan heard Odin's voice from the end of the tunnel, but he did not see the boy's figure.

“Ah! Fuck!”

Aftan continued to run, run, and run, until he finally managed to get out of the tunnel. His breath gasped, and his eyes wildly searched for Odin.

“Damn it! where are you, Odin!?”

“Hey! I'm here!” Odin screamed in the air.

“Sgratitude—”

However, Afdan's eyes immediately opened very wide when he looked up and found a very terrible and amazing view.

This is the true power of Odin the Deliverer.

Odin floated in the air and his right hand was raised upwards as if he was holding something back. Well, she was indeed holding something back with her tiny arms, and that something was the ocean. Up there, the water stretched out and covered the entire ceiling of the cave, and the source of the ocean was Odin's right palm.

Odin raised his left hand towards Afdan while saying strange words, “Ictus! Flovugite Aer!”

“Loh!?” Suddenly Afdan's body began to rise into the air just like that, then a gust of wind moved him and delivered Afdan to Odin's side. “A-i'm hovering! I really fly!”

“The boy's story will soon be finished.” Odin spoke up. “And your time to give the latter an answer is near, so be prepared, Afdan.”

“Yah Answer Aftan casually.

The giant creature's footsteps drew closer, and the sound of falling boulders also rang out from within the tunnel. I don't know what the creature really is, but the color of his body is the same as the ash from firewood, and his posture also looks like a four-legged animal in general, but when viewed at a glance, the creature is almost the same as an alien or some kind of insect.

“You know, Afdan? You are a very unique human being.” Said Odin suddenly.

“Hah?”

“You are the recipient, Afdan. But, you accept everything so much, that you don't think about yourself. Really, you're a very strange person, and the most unique human I've ever met.”

“Eh... By the way, can you take care of that first?”

Accompanied by the shrill and world-shaking sounds of screaming, the huge creature finally made it out of the tunnel. The gate crashed far away due to a powerful shock, and the two light crystals floated away to save themselves.

“Wah! We finally meet again! the Gatekeeper of the Tree of Eternity, Jericho!” Odin whispered while staring intently at the creature, and vice versa. The creature looks furious when it realizes the existence of Odin.

The creature, Jericho screamed loudly after hearing Odin's words.

“Alright, I can't linger anymore. I'll finish this right now!” Odin lowered his right hand down, and at the same time, the ocean floating on the ceiling finally fell and made the cave almost full of water.

From above Afdan and Odin watch Jericho being crushed by the sea. It was as if a great storm was brewing down there, and Jericho who was swayed by the waves could only roar unhurriedly.

“Quickly go back into Jericho's nest and open that golden gate!” Odin's Order. “The magic I gave you will protect you from the ocean! Hurry up!”

Afdan nodded steadily, then he swooped down and flew darting through the tunnel, until he finally arrived in front of the golden gate.

Aftan looked at his palm hesitantly, but, his determination was already round. He'll save the girl no matter what. Then after Afdan defeated his doubts, he pushed the gate with both hands, and at that moment, a bright beam of light coming from behind the gate forced Afdan to close his eyes.

“Eh..?” The drops of water that fell on his head made Afdan regain consciousness.

Rained out.

Aftan looked in all directions. It turned out that they had already returned to that crossroad, right in the middle of the road with Odin. However, Aftan felt strange. He seemed to hear nothing. The world feels very quiet now.

There were many people who were astonished by the appearance of the two of them. The police started arriving, and so did the people from the news channel. The blinding flashes from the camera arise ceaselessly to make Afdan's eyes become a little sore.

“We're back..?” Afdan asked Odin who was still standing beside him.

“Ya.” Answer Odin briefly. “Everything is done... “

He set his eyes on something with his hands; it was an apple that was entirely gold in color. But, oddly enough Afdan had absolutely no idea how he got this apple. “What?”

“That golden gate is the last gift from the Tower of Yenos. That gate will give you the thing you need most in your life. Whether it's money, power, status, or anything else. But. This apple is the highest gift form of that gate. And to be honest, I still can't believe that you actually managed to get this apple.” Odin. “Looks like you really wanted to save this girl..“ Odin looked down at the empty-faced girl sitting in front of them.

Aftan was completely unaware of the poor girl's whereabouts.

“Alright, this is his last question.” Odin said coldly.

Afdan became tense, and his heart was racing.

“Do you want to save this girl, or let her. If you want to save her, then give her the apple. But, if you don't want to help her, then throw that apple away.”

Afdan's thoughts briefly paused after hearing the question. Aftan knows nothing about this apple. If she gave it to the girl, it meant that she would survive, but Afdan had no idea what would happen to her. However, if Afdan threw away the apple, then all his efforts would be in vain, and the fate of this girl would not change.

“Your chance is only one. Your task as the Chosen One will be over, but your task of succeeding him as the Invisible One will be determined once you make your choice. So how?”

Aftan smiled slightly. I don't know why he suddenly wants to laugh now.

“Of course the account will save him.” Afdan knelt one foot in front of the girl and made the camera flashes even more frenzied. Then he held out the apple to the girl. “You hungry, aren't you?”

The boy only nodded slowly to respond to Aftan's question.

“Do you want this apple? I also don't know what it feels like, but I guarantee you, it must be very good.” Aftan formed a sweet smile on his lips. After a long time, for the first time, he was finally able to do something to help this girl.

Gradually, the little girl's hand began to move, and she reached for the apple in Afdan's hand. With a single breath that sounded very heavy and painful, the girl bit the apple and chewed it silently.

“Congratulations, Afdan, you inherited his Soul Talent as Master of Strength.” Odin.

In front of his own eyes, Afdan watched the terrifying scene with both of his eyes. Back then, it felt like there were a thousand spears raining down on his body at the same time.

An unimaginable pain.

Afdan's breath was restrained, he felt suffocated, and his heart seemed to stop beating.

“Bye... Amalia... my friend.” Odin's whisper was very slow as he stepped away leaving Afdan who was sculpting.

The little girl—someone who had been wanting to save— slowly began to vanish. It turned into golden dusts of light which then scattered into the night sky and vanished without rest along with the golden apple.

“Ti-NO!!”

Afdan's scream of despair that night ended the little girl's story.