ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
STORY: The Miracle of the Golden Fairy

Story By: Ary Prkasa & Kevin E.S.P

Do you believe in miracles? To the Elves who can grant the wish? The fairy was residing in a waterfall close to the Cliffs of Linggahara Village. It's just that no one has ever witnessed firsthand the shape of the elf. So that everyone in the village considers it just a myth.

Not with Reihan. Seven-year-old Reihan was rescued by the fairy when she fell from the top of a waterfall. Reihan who could not swim, almost drowned with the water current. When barely conscious, Reihan felt a warmth that so gently enveloped his body.

"O son of man, your story is not over. Live as a part of me." said the sparkling figure.

At that moment, the fairy saved her life. The elf "sacrificed" herself. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that Reihan had killed the elf because of his carelessness. It is a fact that no one else knows.

As a result, Reihan gets a miracle and a curse at the same time. The miracle Reihan got made him able to grant a wish he really wanted. It was just that the curse he received made Reihan have no desire to use it. Totally ironic. But that explains why so many fairies have miracles but they do not use them carelessly.

I don't know why Reihan even remembered the memories he should have forgotten. Uh! True too, Reihan remembered it because of the letter Anggita sent. I didn't write much in his letter.

Reihan.

I'm going back.

Angita.

Just three sentences.

As a person who has known him for a long time, Reihan must be happy about the arrival of Anggita. It was just that Reihan could not ignore the other possibility. A sudden bad premonition enveloped his mind. What he knows, Anggita went from the village to do treatment for the disease he suffered. Is he healed or not? Reihan doesn't know it at all. It was the first letter he had received since they separated.

This morning he would arrive at a stop not far from the village. Reihan had been waiting for him there. Wearing a t-shirt and trousers, he sat down while reading a book. Not long after that, the bus was seen from a distance. Reihan closed the book and stood up. Seeing that the bus was getting closer to him, there was more and more unrest in his chest. A feeling that could not be removed from his heart.

Not long after, a girl finally got off the bus. Wearing a skirt, a skullcap, a long-sleeved shirt, and a bag of clothing, he stood before Reihan. A smile emerged from the woman's face. A smile that always warms the heart.

"Reihan."

"August ..."

The woman immediately jumped up and hugged Reihan tightly.

"Welcome back... Assume."

Anggita let go of her embrace. He looked at Reihan for a moment and grabbed his fingers, and pulled him to run with him. Every step of his foot that Reihan heard, made Reihan feel very happy.

After five minutes, they stopped running.

"Well... I can't run anymore." Anggita complained while sighing.

"of course. The journey from town to village is very far away. And look at you, it's still morning but it's been so much memory." Reihan chirped.

Angita laughs. He turned around and smiled widely.

"Even after a long time of not seeing each other, you still never change."

"Eh? You haven't changed either, Anggita. Still pushing yourself like that."

"It's the spirit in the morning!" he said while puffing his cheeks. "Exercise in the morning is healthy, you know!"

"Yes, yeah, yeah. Then we meet first to the village to take the keys to your old house."

"okay!" sahut fast.

Tebing Linggahara Village is a village that is still beautiful. Rice paddy fields that stretch wide on the side of the road to the village make anyone amazed. Colorful vegetable gardens also decorate the hilly area. The environment in this village is very clean, until the trench in front of the houses of the residents alone is very clear. When they entered the village, the cool air was so pleasant to breathe.

"All right, let's go in. Mr. Kades would be happy to see you again." Reihan said upon their arrival in front of the courtyard of the Village Chief's house.

They also entered the village head's house. After meeting with Mr. Kades, and also receiving the keys to Anggita's house, they rushed to a house that Anggita occupied first. The house is far enough away. It's at the end of the trail. The house number sixteen is the residence of Anggita first. Arriving there, they unhesitatingly began to clean the house.

"Crazy.. - so much dust!" his weakness.

However, somehow Angita suddenly stopped moving. He was sculpting and his body was trembling slightly, though Reihan was unaware of it.

"I'll probably die tomorrow, Reihan." whispered Anggita in a flat voice. She bit her lips hard for no apparent reason.

"Hey... Stop joking."

He shook his head. The smile he always put on now was gone.

"I'm not kidding... Reihan."

Anggita's words seemed to pierce Reihan's chest like a blade that was very sharp.

"In that case, why don't you spend your last moment with your father and mother there? They must have—"

"Because I chose you, Reihan. I want to spend my last time with you."

He stopped cleaning the floor. Without looking at Anggita, Reihan said something rude.

"Then you don't have to come here."

Silence enveloped the room.

"What do you mean, Rei!?" Angry fellow.

"Don't you have to spend your time with people who are valuable to you? I'm just your friend. No more." explains Reihan who is still unable to look at Anggita. A terrible feeling entered him. He stared blankly at the floor under his feet

Reihan really did not expect, that he would hear that stirring his heart this morning. Everything was too sudden, so it felt as if Reihan had just fallen into a bottomless abyss.

"You know, right? if you are my precious friend" he said.

Anggita's words succeeded in knocking Reihan's heart back. Reawakening it again will be how valuable the figure of Anggita in his life. The woman who used to give herself the motivation to do something. The woman who taught him to be passionate in every way. The woman who managed to make him understand how wonderful it is to live in the world.

"Lho, how come you cry, anyway?"

Aggita wiped her tears. Reihan could not answer Anggita's question.

"Because I have chosen you, it means that you must grant my hundred wishes today!"

"Wait—What!?"

Aggita replies with a smile.

After finishing cleaning, Anggita invites Reihan to get out of the house. The girl took out a book from her pocket.

"The first wish is done" he murmured as he crossed out a sentence inside.

"Lho, why stop?" ask Reihan.

"No need! Cleaning my room is enough. We don't have much time!" I thought we pulled Reihan again.

"At least your clothes were changed first, Anggita."

"No need! We should now go get some ice cream!"

"Huh?"

"That's my second wish." He answered while throwing a smile.

He knows how to force Reihan to go with him. A truly selfish woman. But his selfishness is what makes Reihan so like this. Reihan was really grateful for it.

When he arrived at the store, he bought two ice creams. One for him and one for Reihan. They sat down on the bench near the store.

After completely pulverizing their ice cream, Anggita immediately opened his book and crossed out one more sentence in the second line.

"So what else do you want?" ask Reihan.

"My third wish is. teng, teng teng! Eat grilled shrimp!" anggita cheer.

"Then we go to Mr. Somat's place." Reihan.

"Ready!"

Along the way, Anggita continued to hum. She really looked happy, and Reihan was very grateful to see her. But, the fact that something really bad was going to happen tomorrow, made Reihan very scared. Deep in his heart, Reihan screamed very loudly. However, he still tried to toughen up, for the sake of Anggita.

"Well! The shrimp is so good!" anggita screams tempestuous when eating one shrimp to burn Mr. Somat.

"Haha! This is a special shrimp for Mbak Anggita! Gala shrimp grill special flavor!" exclaim Mr. Somat. "By the way, it's free! Think of it as a return gift for Ma'am."

"Well! Thank you very much, Mr. Somat!" Anggita continues to devour the grilled shrimp.

They both talked very familiar. Reihan didn't even want to interrupt this moment. Anggita was a very dear child in the village. Now she has grown into such a beautiful and cheerful woman. Reihan believes a sense of pride and happiness also grows in the mind of Mr. Somat.

"Alright, next we will go to Pak Saleh's tomato garden!" chirps Anggita.

"It's up to you, deh, Anggita. But the garden is quite far away, you know."

"Just calm! I am so strong!" chirps.

"Let's eat your food!" teasing Reihan.

"Because I'm still growing!" he said with confidence.

After walking far enough, they arrived at Pak Saleh's garden.

Seeing that Pak Saleh's tomato garden was not fruitful, Anggita growled.

"Why didn't you say it wasn't harvest time?" his lips.

"You're right, I'm not a tomato farmer, you know."

"I'm afraid, eat tomatoes Mr. Saleh ..."

It feels quite upset to have to see a beautiful girl like Anggita eating too greedily without thinking about her own condition. But, that's how Anggita is.

Seems like we're thinking about something. Reihan looked at his watch which already showed at ten in the morning. It had been four hours since Anggita arrived in the village.

"You want to go to SD, don't you?" Reihan.

"ah! Great idea! Come on!" it was as fast as lightning.

The distance from elementary school to Pak Saleh's garden is not far. A few minutes later, they had arrived at the place where they had studied together.

Seeing the children running around during the break made Reihan remember the past. It was a good time with Anggita. A memory of Anggita still living in this village.

"Well, I want to go back to SD again" Anggita said.

"Why not try to be a teacher?" ask Reihan.

"So the teacher was troublesome. Teaching a child is hard!"

"Yes, forget it then." Reihan said with a small laugh.

Anggita looked at Reihan for a moment, annoyed. Then his little laugh just came off.

"It turns out being here made me think of that beautiful past.... I really miss those moments." Anggita. His face looks very peaceful. At present.

"What about you, Reihan?"

Reihan chose not to answer.

He looked at the silent Reihan for a moment. Then decide to shop around before going to the next destination.

Reihan had guessed it, but still it surprised him.

"Well! Pak Bejo meatballs are the top in the world!"

"Gita can do it!" Said the old man.

"No-no! I'm serious Mr Bejo! Try if Mr. Bejo sells in the city, it will definitely sell sweet meatballs!"

"Haha! Selling here is enough, Ma'am!" Said the middle-aged man timidly. "But, Brother is still very surprised, you know, because you suddenly just nongol like nothing."

People in the village do not know why Anggita and his family moved to the city. It was because of the request of Anggita who did not want to make everything worried. I really like the people in the village. Therefore, people in the village can smile happily when they see him back without worrying about anything.

But not Reihan. He is still aware of that reality. For him this is a dream that initially looks happy, but in the end, it will be a nightmare—a very bad dream. Even Reihan still hoped that what Anggita said before was just a joke.

After finishing eating meatballs, Anggita also pulled Reihan go—lag—towards a store. There he bought fireworks of a small size. Then he told Reihan to take her.

Every time Anggita walked across the person selling the food, he would definitely buy it. When he saw the clothes that were sold in the store, he also bought them. The moment he saw something that was of interest to him, he would head straight to it. He looked so free as to have no burden of life. His face that kept looking happy made Reihan a little worried.

It didn't feel like time was passing so fast that dusk began to say hello.

"Womens, aren't you tired?"

"God! I told you I'm a strong woman!" he wrote something in his book. "New forty of the hundred wishes that have been realized. We don't have much time!"

"But before that, we might have to bring all these things home first, huh." Reihan showed a variety of plastic bags that he had brought. Thank goodness Reihan was strong enough to withstand all that burden.

"Ah, sorry I forgot."

Reihan breathed a long breath. This activity made him quite tired.

All the way home, they did not speak a word. Anggita walked beside Reihan calmly. Without opening a book and just staring down a long street. Reihan did not want to ask what Anggita was thinking.

Arriving at home, Reihan put all the groceries in Anggita's room. However, when he came out of the house again, Reihan saw Anggita standing still while looking up at the sky. Reihan. Then Anggita turned his head when he heard his steps.

"Have finished? Let's go again!"

"Yes... Where are we going tonight? I don't want to eat anymore."

He was shocked as if Reihan could read his mind.

"You're like a shaman? You know what I'm thinking" he said.

"That's just your feeling" Reihan replied, "Then where are we going next?"

"Refused." she replied quickly.

"Eh?! Why?"

"You know that the place is forbidden to enter by anyone. It's dark now. It's so hard to go there in these conditions."

Angita smiled cunningly. He went into the house for a while and after a while, he finally came out with two flashlights and a lantern.

"It's really full of preparation." Reihan was amazed at the maturity of his plan.

"If there are flashlights and lanterns, the place still should not be visited by anyone, Anggita."

"We're not kids anymore, Reihan!"

"Can't! Can't just!"

"Then I go alone." The woman also ran.

Reihan had no choice but to chase after him. But somehow he could not stop Anggita's steps.

"Hello." Greet someone who suddenly appeared in front of them.

Anggita almost jumped because he was so surprised.

"Eh... hello?" Reihan replied with hesitation.

"I'm sorry, if I startle you. But I want to ask, can't I?" Obviously that figure, which turned out to be just a child who might still be twelve years old. The child was brownish-skinned and had slightly shiny yellow eyes.

"Gee... " Agita looked amazed by the color of the boy's eyes. Yes, because it is very rare for people to have such eye color in Indonesia. "So you want to ask what it is?"

"Oh, yes. Can you tell me the way to Linggahara Waterfall?"

"Eh? The Falls? You want to go there? It just so happens that we are both heading there now. You wanna come?" Membership offers.

"I'm sorry before." Said Reihan suddenly. He looked suspiciously at the boy. "If you may know, what do you want to do there these nights? And you are also clearly not a citizen of this village."

"I'm not here, brother. I came here because I wanted to meet the fairies who live there." The boy answered with a small smile. In fact, if you pay attention, the child has always looked towards Reihan.

"Rarely, you know, there are people outside the village who know about the story." Angisita whispers wonder.

But something strange happened. There was a green light that suddenly emanated from one of the boy's pants pockets. The eyes of Reihan and Anggita immediately widened when they realized it.

"What light is that...?"

"Hmm?" The boy looked at the light for quite a while, then spoke up again in a relaxed manner after a while. "Oh, I don't seem to be there. Then, now I will return to the inn. Thank you, yes, ladies and gentlemen. I'm going first. Drug." The boy quickly stepped away from there leaving Reihan and Anggita just like that.

"Hmm. It's weird... " Murm Reihan and Anggita with a flat face.

I guess we continue on his journey. Reihan kept tailing behind the girl. A few minutes had passed, and Anggita along with Reihan finally arrived at the entrance to the waterfall. Unguided, Anggita enters the path to the waterfall. He still remembers the road to get there. Although it has been years.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Huh?" his words broke Reihan's daydream.

"We used to come here a lot, didn't we? It was really fun."

"But it's been a long time."

"Yes indeed. I remember once, when we were afraid of anything. I miss that feeling. Feelings that are free without being restrained by anything."

"Time can't be played back, you know."

"certain. I just want to go back to those days. It's weird, isn't it? I am obviously an adult now."

Reihan felt that Anggita was crying when she said that. Although the darkness tonight did not allow her to see Anggita's tears, Reihan was sensitive enough not to direct the flashlight towards Anggita's face.

The sound of water ripples began to sound. They were almost there.

When penetrating the bush in front, it looks a very longing sight.

The rushing water fell freely to make a very noisy sound. Crickets and the rhythmic howling of dogs add to the longing effect in the heart.

How long hasn't he been here? Inner Reihan.

"Look!" I think it pulled him to the edge. "The moon is reflected in the water!"

"Should be explained, huh?" chirps Reihan.

The laughter exploded. Childhood memories used to flow like a river inside his head. Unknowingly, Reihan was swept away in the conversation.

"But take a look. This waterfall looks shorter now."

"Not Aggita. The waterfall can't change its size though. It is we who have changed. The waterfall is not up to ten meters high, it used to look high. Back then, we were, right, still kids."

Aggita even crumpled.

"Huh, what's so funny?"

He shook his head while holding his laughter. Anggita slowly adjusted her breathing, then looked at Reihan's eyes.

"You really have changed, Reihan. Now you're not as stiff and boring as you used to be."

"Yes, that's because of you, Anggita." Reihan scratched his head agitatedly. "But thank you so much for changing my life."

"Yes... Me too," Anggita clasped tightly onto Reihan's hand, "I'm so grateful that you'll be with me then and now, Reihan."

After that, they set off fireworks that had been purchased before. Running around holding the fireworks looked childish according to Reihan. But Angita did not care about such a response. He ran freely here and there, while Reihan chose to walk casually. Anggita's face that looks very happy makes a sense of pleasure to frame the heart of the man. But still, this was his last time.

When all the fireworks were gone, Reihan invited him home.

"Go home, Anggita—"

"Reihan, you still remember not about the Elves in this waterfall?" sela Anggita suddenly.

Reihan watched the waterfall.

"That story is like part of all of us living in this village. So. Your question is a little silly.

"Yes, I don't remember it very much."

"Well... " Reihan sighed. "Konon said the fairy looked like a small-bodied girl who had glittering wings. Some say it looks like a horrible old geezer." Reihan sighed for a moment, "I didn't think that you were still interested in such a myth."

"Hm... That's not a myth, Reihan. Didn't you say that at the time? That the fairy saved your life?"

"Oh my God, we were still SD."

"But I have always believed in your words. It is still like that today."

"Then let's go home. It's dark, you know, now. And I'm also getting goosebumps, huh."

"I don't want to go home." Anggita's eyes glazed over, "I want to stay here."

Reihan could no longer force her. The look in those eyes made him tremble.

The mood began to calm. Only the sound of water ripples and the sound of crickets could be heard.

"Reihan..." Anggita's voice broke the silence, "Dead in a place like this isn't bad, is it?"

That question made his chest shake violently.

"Women... If you may know, why, the hell, are you forcing yourself to come to the village again?"

"Hmph! I told you I wanted to spend my last time with you."

"No excuses! Do you think I don't see all the drugs you're carrying in your bag?" Pekik Reihan's. He tried to hold back his anger.

I don't look surprised.

"If you don't push yourself, you'll get well. At least you can live longer..."

"Live longer, will you?" Aggita walked over to Reihan, "You don't think you're bored of what, sleeping in the hospital all day? The smell of the drugs also made me nauseous. When I heard the doctor's verdict about my soon life, I decided to come here. Meet you here, talk about the past and do fun things with you. Reihan... What I'm doing is wrong, right?"

Reihan was trying to withstand the roaring turmoil within his soul.

"I don't know..."

"Oh yeah! I still have fifty-nine more wishes!" anggita.

"Hey! it's already night! You realize what, anyway?"

"I'm not saying we're going around like that." Anggita gestured for Reihan to sit nearby.

While sitting, Anggita immediately put his head on Reihan's lap.

"This way I want fifty-eight more."

Reihan sat while looking at the starry night sky.

"Yes.it seems like I can't realize all my remaining wishes. But, instead, Reihan... Would you not listen to my remaining desires?"

"Yes, I want to, I want to."

"Elus my head, Reihan."

According to his request, Reihan stroked his head.

Then Anggita also tell one by one his wishes that can not be done again. Every time he said his wish, his voice grew quieter. It was as if his energy continued to drain every time he mentioned it.

"How much has it been... huh?" ask Anggita slowly.

"It's ninety-nine. There's only one more wish." Rehan replied as he stroked the woman's head.

Anggita smiled weakly. His body began to tremble.

"Then I give you the last one, Reihan. What desire?"

Reihan fell in his own fear. The sadness mixed with the pain he felt, made him shed his tears.

"Why are you crying again, Reihan? You little boy." said Anggita while wiping her tears.

"I. I just want to..."

"What...you said what, Reihan...? I can't hear it clearly. I'm.very sleepy. Reihan... quickly tell me what you want...?"

His voice slowly faded. I also closed my eyes slowly. His hand is slumped. Not move.

He. has gone.

"What the fuck...?"

Reihan tears flowing profusely soaked Anggita's face that no longer smiled. Reihan clasped his hands and honored all who could hear his plea.

Reihan fell in a heartache that was cherishing his soul. Drifting through deep memories and pain. Jumbled. Moved her heart that had been frozen by the curse of the magic of the Cliff Fairy Linggahara. It was as if the chains that were restraining his desires were breaking, and making him able to utter a plea. Such a simple request.

"I just want him to smile every day. Tomorrow, and tomorrow again, and tomorrow again. I just want that! Please listen! Hear my wish, Hey, Peri! If you were real! Please grant this request! Grant it! Grant it! Grant it! Please!" Reihan continued to scream, asking that Anggita could smile back tomorrow.

Until something finally happened.

Suddenly Anggita's body began to emit a golden light that was very bright and amazing. That made Reihan stop for a while.

He was surprised to see such an absurd thing. That golden light transformed into a horde of light butterflies that danced in the sky. Then the horde of butterflies came down and enveloped Anggita's body that began to cool. The light butterflies envelop Anggita with golden threads and form a cocoon made of light that dazzles the eyes. Make the world like it is during the day.

A strong wind blew and pushed Reihan into the tree. But that didn't stop his misery. He pleads with all his soul to a miracle that can bring the smile Anggita again decorate his world. Then, the cocoon of light was broken, removing Anggita who was now wearing wings made of light and descended slowly to the ground. Reihan immediately approached and greeted Anggita gently.

A voice echoed inside Reihan's head.

"O heiress of the Linggahara Cliff Fairy, Reihan, Use the magic you have wisely."

"But... I don't want this power! All I wanted was to make Anggita smile again like today! I beg!"

Then the sound vanished along with the wings of light that stuck on Anggita's back. The dust of golden light shot up into the sky and disappeared without a trace.

"Wait—"

"Reihan's..."

Reihan was shocked to death. The woman who should have been sleeping in eternity, suddenly mentioned her name.

"Women...?" Reihan immediately hugged the body of Anggita. He returned to shed tears.

"Rei.y.han... What... what happened?"

"Thank God... Thank goodness!"

Nor do we understand. He should have died. He could still feel the warmth of a hug. Her tears were flowing non-stop. In the silence of the night, they both drowned in such great happiness.

That night, Reihan's eyes finally opened.

In fact, for years, Reihan continued to deny the existence of the power that resides in him. However, Reihan also cannot deny, if Anggita can now breathe again, it is all thanks to the curse, as well as the miracle.

Inwardly Reihan began to think, what would happen if people found out about the power he possessed? Yes, Reihan himself is not interested in that power because the power itself makes it so. But, what if it was someone else?

However, all of that is not important now, because the Reihan Request has now been granted.

"What, the hell, are you thinking?" Ask Anggita. The girl put a smile on her lips.

"Smile... "