ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
STORY: The King's Crown is Friendly

Rara always wondered at her little heart, why do people often see the strangeness of this world as something terrible? In fact, all the oddities, like a very shiny gemstone in Rara's eyes.

For Rara, the singularity was the most magnificent thing in this world, just like the golden crown that had appeared in her past. A golden crown that resembles a bracelet in size, and emits a bright and warm light like sunlight, to be able to repel the pitch-black space.

“Ya... “ Said Angga sitting next to Rara. The young man's eyes opened wide in awe at the existence of a mobile phone hovering right before his eyes. “But... We are also people right?”

This afternoon was the hottest day Rara had ever felt in her entire life. In fact, because it was so hot, not a single customer had been shopping at his wholesale since eleven o'clock earlier—when the sun began to emit a very stinging beam.

At that time, Rara and Angga were sitting at the cashier table near the entrance. In the store, the shelves are neatly arranged with various kinds of merchandise arranged on it, while in the innermost part there are also so many arrangements of cardboard boxes of various sizes and contents.

Well, even though Rara's store is large, but unfortunately he only installed one AC only, and now Rara regretted not installing two air conditioners.

“Hah. Though it's only your first day working here, but now my wholesaler is even quiet like this... “ Said Rara. Her face which usually looks beautiful and full of spirit, now looks moody and hollow. “If it were not hot like this, surely you would not be able to breathe because so many buyers... “

“Eh.. but right, my job is only at the cashier desk doang... “ Gumam Angga.

“Heh... Yes also, yes?” Rara then looked at Angga in surprise. Somehow it feels very difficult for Rara to believe everything that has just happened lately. Angga who is the son of a rich family, and also a friend of Rara from childhood, who a few years ago went out of town to continue his education, last week suddenly came before Rara and offered to be her employee.

It's really unbelievable.

“To be honest, since I returned to this city, I was always curious about your shop, because every time I passed, your shop must be very crowded... Even people outside the city must have come here for shopping, so that your shop even looks more crowded than the mall in the city.” Angga muttered, but his eyes were still fixed on the phone floating in front of him. “Dan... Now I know the cause... “

“Yah... I noticed, you seem to often pass this way, but you never stop shopping here at all... “ Rara stares suspiciously at Angga, but the young man is still glued to the hovering phone. “What do you usually do here? At least, if you're through here, you're shopping for drinks like that cake. We've been friends from small loh—”

“Eh, Ra, how can you have such power anyway? How's the story try? And since when?” Said Angga who finally managed to turn his eyes away from the phone. From his face, anyone could tell how curious he was now.

Rara was only able to put on a flat face after hearing Angga's words. He didn't even care about everything Rara had said a few seconds ago. However, in the end Rara could only sigh deeply, then she began to answer the questions that Angga had thrown.

“Yeah, basically the hell, there's a lot that has happened since you decided to SMA in Makassar... And... about this power, I got it the day after you left.” Rara explained with a small smile. However, for some reason now he could feel a bitter taste that was very concentrated in his tongue. His feelings suddenly stirred.

“Hah? That right? But, how can it be? How to?”

Rara's body gasped upon hearing the question. His heart felt more and more swayed for no definite reason.

“Ah... I don't think I need to tell you... “ Rara raised her right hand a little high, and the phone also moved up following Rara's hand, or perhaps her heart. What a strange power. It had been three years that Rara had this peculiarity in her, but she was still confused by it.

His strength is the only peculiarity that can make Rara's heart become worried.

Does he have to look at the peculiarities of—forces—ini as something terrible, or as something as beautiful as a gem?

“Kok?” Pekik Anga's. “Hey, Ra, we are friends from childhood, yes you do not want to tell me something as important as that.”

“Well, we've known from childhood, and you even know all my secrets. But, did you know? I know absolutely nothing about you, except your name, your hobbies, and your family.

“Hey, hey... I discussed what, you discussed what..”.

“Tapi—”

“Come! Tell me everything, Ra!”

Rara sighed again. “Actually... L'm... “ Rara pause for a moment. His eyes were slightly trembling. He felt strangled. Although the memory is still too clear in his mind, but Rara has decided not to bring up again the terrible tragedy that occurred on that day. “Sorry..I don't think I can... “

“Eh...? What the hell?” Angga looks disappointed. “Hmm... You said, you got this power the day after I moved to Makassar... And if not wrong..that day was the day where the orphanage burned right?”

The world around them suddenly shook, to the point that there were some items around them that fell off the shelves. Rara's eyes were wide open. The cold sweat. He felt as if he had just fallen from the sky. But, Rara hurriedly controlled her breathing and tried to calm herself down.

“Barusan...what?” Angga muttered in wonder.

“Eh, for what sake... How did you think that way?” Rara's smile was shaking.

“Partially you don't want a story either,” Angga said pouting.

“Hah...  “

“Well, if you still don't tell me, I can find out for myself.” Angga said pretentiously as he looked up at the high-floating phone. “Today, I will know the truth... “

“Eh? You mean?”

“Ah, I still remember.”

“There is one very irritating outward power inherent in humans, and that is their ability to disappoint others.” Angga repeated the words of wisdom that the late Grandpa Johan always said. Although his face looked sad, but his smile did not fade from his lips.

Silence swallowed every corner of the room after the voice of the lost Angga was carried by time. Rara was silent at that time. Angga's words felt like blades piercing Rara's chest.

“Good day, Rara!”

However, the silence simply vanished as the group of mothers suddenly entered the store without realizing it. There were some who were directly queuing in front of the cashier table, whereas others chose to go deeper and browse through the contents of the store to add other items in their shopping list.

 “Nih, Ra, please yes.” One of the mothers gave a piece of paper to Rara, and on the paper it was written a list of items that the mother wanted to buy.

“Ready, Mom!” Rara said excitedly as she read the shopping list. “Well, it just so happens that everything is there, and if there are no extras, so just go ahead yeah?”

After reading everything, Rara's eyes suddenly started to glow emitting a golden light, then Rara raised her right hand and flicked her finger, and at that very moment, there were some items from the shelf, and there were some items from the shelf, and also the stuff in the back room, as well as the empty cardboard in the corner that suddenly started moving on its own, then floated and gathered in the air on Rara's desk.

“Hey... Ra... kok your eyes become like flashlight tablets..” Whisper Angga amazement.

What a sight that really succeeds in ruining the reality of the world.

However, strangely loyal customers Rara, as well as people who first come to this store, will certainly immediately know with one rule that must be obeyed during their shopping here.

Only one rule, and that is; customers should not expose the miraculous events that are happening here to people with no interest at all.

Rara also did not know exactly how it could happen, but it seemed like it was just one of the impacts of her strength.

All the items slide into the empty cardboard, and then the rope on Rara's desk also stretches out by itself, then ties the cardboard tightly. And when everything was done, the cardboard containing the items ordered by the mother landed smoothly on the table.

“Hah... “ Rara sighed deeply as she looked towards Angga who was amazed by what Rara had just done. “Nih, your game count everything.” Said Rara while thrusting the paper at Angga.

“Eh?” Angga turned towards Rara with an expression of***** that was plastered on her face. “Oh! Aye! Quick siniin.” But Angga managed to come to his senses, and he deftly began to sum up the overall price of all the mother's shopping items.

Yes, the busy afternoon atmosphere was so pleasant for Rara. He and Angga worked passionately, even though the weather was very hot. However, for Rara, this moment is very expensive, especially Angga is also one of the most meaningful people in his life.

But sins are sins. And as the saying goes, just as much as a squirrel jumps, one day it will fall too, so, Rara's evil, inevitably will be revealed later, and she must accept that fact. That is the law of the world.

And a few hours later, when the sky was emitting a warm orange glow and making the world feel peaceful, it finally arrived.

“STOP WOY! ANGGA!”

There seemed to be hundreds of streaks of light streaking from the sky, and moving at lightning speed towards Rara. Even so, strangely Rara did not feel threatened at all with those reddish lights, and she remained standing upright in the sky.

Rara solidified her mind, causing a golden light to burst out from within her, and created a kind of protector for Rara to resist the reddish lights.

The explosion occurred right in front of Rara's eyes. The explosion that was supposed to destroy a city to the ground, could not even make Rara scratched.

It was all thanks to a small golden crown that floated low above his head.

“Why don't you save them!” The voice of Angga was heard from the sky. At first there was nothing to see up there, but before long, from behind the clouds finally Angga appeared riding on a giant purple scaly dragon glow.

“A-I could barely do anything then! It all just happened! And what do you expect!” Reply Rara. His emotions are mixed. His eyebrows wrinkled sadly.

“Stupid basis! The people in the parlour are like our family! And you asked me what I expected!? What the fuck, Rara!” Angga cried out in wrath with tears streaming down his face. “With your strength! You should be able to save them! But why did you just save Sari!?”

“But... Everything has happened... “ Rara whispered softly while looking back, and looked at a little girl standing far down there. “Everything has happened! And it can't be changed anymore!”

“Indeed it has happened. but I am also already disappointed, Ra.” Angga. “For me, their death was a mistake, and Sari who survived, was also a mistake... “ Those dragon wings suddenly spread wide and made the wind shake, a sign that they were ready for battle. “Thanks to you, all those memories are now meaningless.”

Rara biting lips. “Nothing is replaceable in this world! Everything means!”

Rara still doesn't know what to do now. His friend still did not want to be aware. What the hell is going on? How do we end this? Rara was at a loss for words. The only thing he was able to do right now, was to make the sky filled with golden light emanating from within him.

“Kill that bacot... Barbatheos.“