ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
EDEN/Where Does the Miracle Go?

To Aqil, the ocean was the most beautiful place in the world, and right now, he was right there. In the middle of the calm ocean, above the stretch of water soaking in a dark color, and under the sky emitting an orange twilight glow, the little boy in a red-and-white uniform stood on both feet, looking around him in astonishment. There was only him, the sky, and the ocean as far as the eye could see, nothing else. 

Aqil doesn't know exactly how he got there right now, but for sure, it feels like a miracle. Though just a moment ago, he had just stepped out through the gates of his school and was intending to return home, but, strangely, when he opened his eyes, the world around him had already changed. 

It felt as if this world had belonged to an Aqil. 

Aqil looked down, and looked at the fish swimming in the water. Aqil did not understand at all how he could stand on the water, but this was completely real, and he did not fall into the water. 

At first, he just lifted his legs alternately for fear that he might fall and drown, then over time, he slowly stepped out and walked around, until finally, he, Aqil also started running with excitement while jumping up and down and laughing cheerfully. 

“Hahahahaha! Whoa! It's great! I'm like a ninja! I ran on water!” Aqil exclaimed as he continued to run, and left a trail of water ripples at each step. 

“Do you feel happy, Aqil?” Ask someone who has appeared out of nowhere. The figure was a brat with bright blue hair, as well as having red eyes like overripe apples.

“Eh... Yes dong.” Aqil replied hesitantly. Aqil does not know the boy, and it seems that he is also not his schoolmate, considering his appearance is too odd for Indonesian children in general. But strangely, he knew the name Aqil. 

That's so weird, isn't it? Thought Aqil indifferently, then ran back happily around the blue-haired boy. 

“By the way, what happened to your little finger?” The boy suddenly asked. 

Aqil instantly stopped when he heard the child's question. “Hmm... “ Aqil should not tell anyone the truth about his little finger, but somehow he felt that it was okay to tell the boy. “My book cut it.” 

“Hah–apa?” The blue-haired boy was surprised to hear that. “But, why?”

“How yes... You see, in first grade, I promised my mother that I would always get number one, but in third grade, I still couldn't get number one, and my mother was angry, so he cut off this little finger.” Aqil looked at his right hand in horror. A great fear arose within him, but he still smiled.

“One-time cruelty.“ Said the boy who looked angry. 

“Well how else, because I'm stupid, anyway.” Aqil replied with a big smile. “But I tried hard, you know... But still I can not get rank one until now.” Aqil dipped his hand in the water below, then stirred it wildly. 

“Hmm... I don't know.” Aqil tried to catch fish in the water, but the fish were very agile. “When my finger was cut off, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt. I have been crying for days. Just. I don't know what to do. I don't think I could be angry at that time. So strange, huh?”

“You don't want to, run away from home?” The boy spoke up again.

“Eh?” Aqil surprised. “But I was a kid. Where can, it is. My mother is alone at home. We have no other family. Then, if I go, my mom will be alone, dong. I don't want to, ah!” 

“Lah's... How about, anyway, this kid.” The boy had a flat face. 

“Oh, yes, you want to be my friend?” Ask Aqil. 

“Ah...what did you say just now?” The boy's face grew flatter. 

“I asked, you want to not be my friend? You see we, right, can both walk on water, nih!” Aqil. “We're both ninjas!” 

“Eh... I-iya, I want to, really, be your friend.” The boy replied hesitatingly. 

“Means from now on we are friends, right, yes?” Aqil ran back and forth like a madman. “By the way, what's your name?”

“Call me Odin.” 

“Odin? Your name is so strange.” The water splashed every time Aqil jumped, and Odin was splashed several times. “Come run together! This is so exciting, youh!” 

“Ah, I don't, deh.” Odin. “By the way, you said it, yes, if you are tired, let me drive you home later.” Odin put a smile on his lips while watching Aqil dissolve in happiness. “You've really tried hard, haven't you, Aqil? I salute you. Even though you've sensed the cruelty of the world, you keep smiling and running. What a great kid.” 

“Hahahaha! Yuhuuu!” Aqil exclaimed and continued running down the ocean.

SC Image: Google