ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
STORY: Whales Dancing in Space

All along, the whale was the only living being hypnotized by the beautiful music of the white-haired girl's piano. The floating whale continued to dance with a resplendent motion, while the girl and her piano were not far from the whale whose body was as large as that of the star.

Really, it's the most beautiful sight Veli has ever seen in his entire life.

Whales, swimming in space, are one of the most magnificent secrets hidden by the world. But why is all this kept secret? What why? It was just a strange whale and a girl.

Wh why?

As someone who grasps this world, Veli has only one task to carry out, which is to help everyone to complete their life story.

This time, the red thread re-engages Veli into a story that has absolutely nothing to do with him. Now fate brought him to this place—to the vast and endless blue sky, to meet the white haired girl, as well as the white whale.

This is Veli's second task as the new World Owner.

Wherever Veli's eyes looked, all that was seen was the orange color of the twilight sky, as well as the clouds that formed the waves, and the planet Mars that looked very close and very large in the sky there.

But, what makes Veli wonder the most is where he stands today which turns out to be air—or maybe the floor made of glazing—which is because of its clear horn, which is, the sky above even managed to reflect perfectly.

With his eyes still on the whale, Veli walked slowly closer to the girl who was playing the piano. To be honest, he himself still felt somewhat afraid of the divine beings whose size was not playing it. Moreover, Veli had also heard strange rumors about the whale.

“What do you want, O World Owner?” Asked the girl in a soft and soft voice, but strangely managed to make Veli jerk in surprise.

In fact, Veli was sure that the girl had never looked the other way, moreover, her eyes were also covered by a black cloth coiled around her head. And of course, all his attention must be being seized by the melodious voice of his piano.

“Tak no use sneaking around. I can even hear the sound of children playing in the park in your hometown, Jogjakarta. So, tell me what you want from me, Velicia.” The girl again.

Veli immediately put on a small smile when he heard what the girl had just said. “Eh? I thought you were unaware of my whereabouts, Fennah,” he said as he stepped next to the girl—Fennah. “So that story is true, huh? If you could hear all the sounds that exist throughout the universe.”

“Sure,” replied Fennah briefly. His fingers continued to move agilely and gleam over his piano keys. Move from one tone key to another to create melodic melodies that calm the body and soul.

“Wah, you turned out to be good at playing the piano apparently.” Veli's eyes were sparkling with admiration for the way Fennah played his piano.

“Hey, don't touch pianoku.” Fennah intercepts who somehow knew that Veli had just intended to press his piano keys.”I know you came here to help me finish my story.”

“Oh? How do you know about my assignment?” Veli asked curiously while turning to look at the whale.

“I know the World Owner well before you. And the previous one again. And the previous one again. Even the very first World Owner,” explains Fennah. “You could say, I know all of you.” Fennah turned her head, and turned to Veli. But it seemed, he still could not see the form of Veli.

Veli's eyes immediately widened upon hearing Fennah's statement. He's a little surprised. “Wait-wait. If you did know all the previous World Owners, as well as the previous ones, how could you still be here? You should have died.”

Fennah suddenly put on a strange little smile. “The answer is obvious, right? They all failed to do so.”

“Hmm... failed, yes?” muttered Veli slowly while looking up at the sky. His mind raged like a storm. “What, yes, happens if I fail just once in this task?”

“It looks like it's okay, really. The proof, your predecessors alone can finish their rations even if they can't help me,” explained Fennah. “So, how? Do you still want to try to help me?”

“Hmm... Do you know what? I don't even remember the last time I felt this doubt,” said Veli still while staring at the twilight sky, which will soon be overrun by the darkness of night. “But, yes.. I will keep trying, really. Moreover, this is my second task. Just think, if I give up just once without trying first, how can I solve billions of other complicated stories? After all, I never gave up my whole life. And as much as possible, I will still never give up even if until my task is completed.”

Fennah laughed softly at Veli's reply. “You are right,” he said. “Only once did you know the taste of giving up itself, then one day, you will definitely do it again... Any more... Again. and again. Until you start thinking, that surrender is something very delicious to do.”

Veli's eyes were rounded to hear Fennah's rather strange explanation.

“Oh... so, yes?” In fact, Veli had thought that the word surrender meant Fennah was the name of one type of food. But, fortunately, Fennah's piano voice managed to resuscitate Veli from his daydream. Veli looked down at Fennah's fingers. “Hmm .. Can you stop playing the piano for a second?”

Fennah put on his strange smile again, then spoke up, “you mean ... You want me to smash the earth into dust, so what?”

“Hah?! You mean?” Pekik Veli was shocked.

“A second my pianoku stops playing, then the bastard whale will wake up from its eternal sleep, and swim to the world of the human world to destroy everything.”

At first Veli did not understand Fennah's intention to say such a terrible thing. But, after searching in his memory for a while, Veli finally understood. “So .. the pope is the ninth Doomsday Bearer, yes?”

“Yap! Congrats! you have won a prize in reality! Hahahaha—” Fennah chuckled and successfully upset Veli.

“Huh!”

“Eh—by the way, Vel, soon night, tuh. You're not coming home?”

“Oh, yes, Fen! tonight I stay here, okay, right?” Veli asked as he opened his small sampir bag, then took two pieces of thick, cream-colored jumbo-sized cloth from inside the bag. “OK. One for the pedestal, and the other I make a blanket.”

“Yes. Just like you.” Said Fennah indifferently.

Immediately after obtaining permission from the host, Veli directly arranged his bed right beside Fennah. “Yap, the bed is ready, so now the food is left.”

Veli again opened his small bag, then took out a basket containing food ingredients, as well as a large box in which stored a furnace and a bag of coal. Veli arranged his small kitchen not far from there, and prepared to cook dinner.

Second by second, the sky slowly turned dark, and the air was also growing colder. The sun is now asleep, and the moon is coming to bring a new light to illuminate the world. The sky that was like a plain canvas was now filled with colorful glowing dots.

Several candles suddenly appeared out of nowhere and hovered around Fennah and Veli. On the floor where they stood also began to emit strange streaks of light that twitched and twisted like auroras that should be lit in the sky.

Veli's eyes were fixed on a scene in the eastern sky there. It looked like a giant tree trunk that emitted a dim white light, and soared into space as if it had no end.

“It seems like the tree does not have an end, deh.” muttered Veli involuntarily while stirring the soup he was cooking in the pot, then tasted it a little. “OK, it looks like it's ripe.” After that, Veli then flicked his finger, and the fire inside the furnace was extinguished instantly.

“Wah! You're good at cooking too, it turns out!” Praise Fennah who was amazed after tasting the soup made by Veli for the first time. “Seriously! Your cooking is really good, you know, Vel! The beef is really soft gini!”

Veli could only gape at Fennah's reaction. The girl used her right hand to scoop up the soup and devoured it at super speed. While the fingers of his left hand still continue to wrestle with his piano and create soft music.

“A-ah—ya, thanks..”.

“Wah! Thank goodness! I can't remember the last time I ate! But I am so grateful! Can still tell which one is delicious and not!”

After the two of them finished eating, Veli immediately put all his unused items back into his tiny bag. With just a single snap of his finger, all of his cooking equipment suddenly started to hover, and slid itself into his bag.

Veli returned to his bed next to Fennah, and sat down cross-legged there, wrapping his body in a blanket.

“People on the mainland often allude to the beauty that there is only this place,” Veli spoke up while raising his head up looking at the sky. “Seyilva, or so the name is listed on the map. Nests of the Space Jellyfish, beautiful living creatures born of all kinds of colors in the universe. Beauty that even exceeds Seven Months Naros.”

“Oh, so that's actually the reason you stayed here?” Terka Fenni.

“Ya.. so.” Veli replied hesitatingly. “But, I actually have other goals as well, anyway. If I could, I'd like to take some of those jellyfish to extract into some kind of miracle that might come in handy for my duties later.”

“Oh? Takeit. That jellyfish has nothing to do with me, kok.”

Veli glanced at Fennah with a blank look and seemed sad.

Somehow there was a strange feeling that suddenly burst into Veli. The feeling that exploded and made him feel like he was freefall into a bottomless abyss. A cold and stifling feeling that felt very uncomfortable.

“Why you?” Ask Fennah.

“Eh? Why, what?”

“Nevent to dodge. I can hear your heavy breathing, kok.” Fennah. “If there's anything, just tell me now. It's a bit of a stretch, right?”

Veli took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. “Begini.. since all those horrible trips ended, somehow my chest always felt tight every time I saw a beautiful scenery like this.”

“Hah? How can?”

“Yah... I was also confused, anyway.” Answer Veli timidly. He narrowed his eyes, sad. “I'm just still wondering... Why did all my travels in the past always end in endless chaos and war... In fact, there are so many people who leave their hopes on us in that adventure.”

Veli's jaw is tightly clenched.

“Why does the deep darkness always come even though there is clearly a bright light shining on the world? Why are all these problems endless? Why—”

“And why are you complaining now?” Tukas Fennah sharp.

“Hah..?” Veli turned his eyes to Fennah.

“See me,” Fennah explained. “When I heard the voice that appeared in my head centuries ago, I was immediately convinced that it would help me and free me from all that suffering. However, reality instead says another.”

“That time. And after the man sat me on this chair, he asked me to play this piano forever.”.

“And?! What's your answer?!” Pekik Veli.

“Yes... I can just smile and do what he says. And since then, I have continued to play this piano to this day.”

“Hah..?” That is a very painful reality according to Veli. It's very clear, though. But, why did this girl even accept the request was raw, even though at that time she did not know anything. “So... You just took it for granted?”

“Hooh,” replied Fennah kalem. “I also always felt that God created me so that I could fulfill this task. And if my guess is true, it means I've lived my life the way I should. After all, this is even better, right?”

“Life as it should?” Veli's voice carried a thick doubt.

“Yap, I just need to live and do all the good I can.”

At this point, Veli finally began to understand what Fennah really meant. During this time, Veli lived by hanging dreams and dreams as his goal. In fact, everyone is so— everyone needs a trophy award—goal—which they must achieve at the end of their path, and they will certainly do anything to get it.

However, what happened after the people grasped the cup? Of course they will not be satisfied and try to find a new trophy again, then put it at the end of the road, then try to reach it again.

This cycle will continue to repeat itself and there will be no end. Either this could be called an advantage or a curse, but as long as people still thought that it was necessary for survival, then they would continue to do so and no matter what the requirements were to be met.

Including committing crimes in order to achieve those goals.

“Yes, come to think of it. We are all like that, aren't we? We do crave a decent award.” Veli spoke to himself. “But that means we don't need a destination to live, dong?” ask him to Fennah.

Fennah. “Not mean you don't need a destination. What fun, try, live if there is no challenge at all.” Fennah. The piano game has also returned to normal—softly and calm the heart. “Well, look. For example, in front of you there is a sword that you have been looking for all this time, but at that very moment, behind you is a little boy who is being surrounded by a group of bandits. So, tell me, which way will your legs and hands move first?”

Veli looked confused. Not because it is difficult to find an answer to the question, but because of the peculiarity of the question itself. “Eh... Of course I will help those kids first. I'm not a criminal, you know.”

“Hmm. How about this, first you take the sword first, then you help, deh, those children. Be present... Vel, maybe your mind does not get there, even though you are the World Owner, you know. But take it easy, after all it's just an example.”

Veli puffed his cheeks, annoyed. “You should have said that you could be so—”

“If your destination is that sword, then take it. No one will blame you, though. But, once you get what you want, next, is to do what you're supposed to do. Save those kids. With a sword in your hand, surely doing so will not be a problem, right?”

All of these discussions created a terrible storm in Veli's mind. His temples throbbed pain due to that complex and complex explanation. His brain continued to process all that information, until finally Veli came to a conclusion that made his lips form a small smile without meaning.

“The thing, all we need to do now, is live. We have to live and keep going. Do all the good you can, never try to turn your back on the work you are capable of completing. The origin is good, then do it.”

“Hmm... It looks like I'm starting to understand your way of thinking.” Veli.

“Yes, good if you understand. Especially for immortal beings like us, it is actually very bad if we have a desire and dream. Considering we have no life limit at all.”

“Yap, you were right.” Veli dropped his body backwards, and closed his eyes tightly to reflect on all the truths he had just heard. He looks as if he is sleeping soundly, but, if at that time Veli is asleep, then there will be saliva flowing out of his cleavage like a river. “I sometimes forget, if I'm Selestial.”

“Dih...your new Selestial for forty-five years is senile. Though I who have lived hundreds of centuries never forget, tuh.”

Even though Veli was drowning in his daydream, he still heard Fennah's voice and decided to respond. “You, hell, good, Fen. The only problem you have is the pope, while I still have a lot of problems, even though I am clearly the Owner of the World.”

“Hahahaha—But, by the way, can you open your eyes now?” Pinta Fennah suddenly.

“Hmm? Why indeed?”

“Open it, otherwise, later regret it, you know.”

Veli hesitantly followed Fennah's request. His eyelids slowly opened, and for a moment, Veli's eyes opened very wide when he found a very beautiful scene that was happening right in front of his eyes.

“Wah..” Veli's eyes sparkle. It had been almost a minute, yet he had not even blinked even once as he was fixated on the truly awesome sight.

What is above the sky is not the stars, it is all a sea of jellyfish that glow and emit a variety of very beautiful light. All sorts of colors that Veli had seen, as well as those that he had never seen—all of them were in the supernatural beings that were now floating above them.

“What the heck... this is not too.. magnificent, yes?” Veli slowly got up.

“Hahahaha—everyone always says like that, but baby, I can't see it.” Fennah sounded happy.

“Eh..” Veli was only able to put on a wry smile to respond to Fennah.

“Princest, times. After all, I have also felt my own happiness.” Fennah kalem. “Well, hunt catch them let everything finish faster.”

“Well..” whispered Veli as he leapt very high into the sky like a rocket, and at that moment, too, suddenly, a golden dust of light gathered at his right side and formed a giant bubble.

Deftly, Veli managed to catch five jellyfish using the bubble. After that he immediately landed back next to Fennah.

“Hmm... This is too fast, right?” Veli murmured who was looking at the jellyfish inside the bubble. “So... what should I do now?” His whisper was very slow.

“Don't get upset, Vel. We better get everything done now, okay?”

Veli gasped at Fennah's hearing. His body felt weak in an instant. The look in his eyes seemed very empty, and he began to bite his own lips very hard, to the point that there was blood flowing from between his lips.

Veli sculpts exactly like a statue.

“Hah..” Fennah sighed deeply as he lowered his hands slowly from the top of the keys, then he got up to his feet as if no trouble was going to happen.

Suddenly, there was a loud roar from the pope. Now the pope has awakened from his eternal slumber, and now he prepares to destroy the human world with his merciless rage—or so it should be.

However, Veli hurriedly flicked his finger before all that happened, and at that very moment, too, a golden sword larger than the whale was— larger than a star— suddenly appeared in space there, among jellyfish, among the stars, then it fell like lightning pierced through the whale's body, making the whale scream unreasonably with a deafening sound.

“A-what are you doing, Fen!” Shouted Veli who was very panicked.

“Faster, better, right?” Fennah answered lightly.

“Ta-but, don't suddenly so, dong!” Veli turned back to the pope who was still groaning in pain.

Apparently, the whale was trying to remove Veli's sword by slamming his body repeatedly into this glass land. But, instead of the sword coming off, even a huge hole was created in the glass land right where he crashed his body earlier, because his body weight was too large. As a result, the whale is now free-falling to the mainland.

“Whenever there is a new King of Light who wants to help me, I always say “not” once they set foot on this land.” Fennah. “And after hearing that answer, they immediately left me without offering me a second chance.”

Fennah stuffed his hand into the bubble that contained the jellyfish, then slowly, slowly, the five jellyfish began to dissolve into light waves and fused to form a small, colorful ball sized like a marble.

“Everyone just left, and none of them would give me a second chance. But, yes, they may realize, if I was not ready at that time.” Fennah pulled out the marble from inside the bubble, and gave it to Veli. “However, luckily you're different, Vel. I was so happy when you decided not to give up, and wanted to try to help me.”

“Hmm... I don't think you're rejecting me, really, Fen.” Veli replied in surprise as he stared fixedly at the beautiful marble that had turned into a firearm—pistol. “But, if you do choose to take this opportunity, it means you are ready, huh?” Tanya Veli hesitated.

“Yes, that's it. When I realized that I had lived for a very long time, at that very moment I realized, that for a timeless being like us, this, life and death are not the last destiny waiting for us at the end of the road, but both are just choices that are equally meaningless.”

Veli's view turned to the space that was still filled with magic jellyfish.

“Hah. Turns out you already know about everything.” Veli took a deep breath, and rounded his resolve. “Well, then, I won't hesitate anymore. So, this time, please let me finish your story, Fennah Leivth.”

“Yap, please, Velicia Irene Meliona. Please end my story.” Pinta Fennah was sincere while sharing a meaningful knotty smile.

Although Fennah could not see Veli, but he was still able to imagine it and feel it. In the form of an innocent little girl, Veli stood in front of Fennah, with a gun he pointed right at Fennah's forehead.

“So... how?” Ask Veli.

“My part is done. My husband knows about this too. So now, finish your part, Vel.”

“Alright then. Goodbye, Fennah.”

“Yes... Goodbye goodbye... Veli.” Tears began to flow out through the sidelines of Fennah's blindfold. Even so, the girl still put on her sweet smile.

Dor's!

Accompanied by the thunderous sound of fire, Fennah finally managed to leave his life, to a void and eternal tranquility, namely death.

“Yes, in the end.. We all, indeed have to be ready, right? He was chosen because he was the only one who could do it. Yes... At least I'm beginning to understand why You chose me to have this world..”.