ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
STORY: A Ship Sailing in the Old Sky

The atmosphere of the school never changed, boring and very unpleasant. However, Fatih has one powerful way to get rid of that boredom. When Fatih felt that the world was silent and still, all Fatih needed to do was look up into the sky, where up there, behind the clouds, he could see with his own two eyes, ships that sail in the sky.

Yeah, that's what Fatih's doing now. A skinny teenager in a gray-white uniform and a long-haired black-haired who was sitting on the back corner bench, right next to the window, from the beginning of the lesson until now, all he did was look at the sky and observe the ship passing there.

“Why, yes, God gave me these eyes?” Ask Fatih to himself.

However, Fatih realized that she had seen the magical scene for quite a while, so she decided to take her eyes off for a moment, take a deep breath, and observe the state of the class at that time.

As usual, the lesson hours are always this way. From Monday to Saturday, this is the atmosphere of this class, nothing different. However, Fatih was also a little fond of this kind of scenery, moments where he could freely look at his friends personally without having to ask them directly, he said, and all he needed to do was look at their facial expressions.

Fatih can see which friends are studying hard, also children who are not interested in learning. There are children who look excited, and there are also those who look lazy and sleepy. Basically, they are all different, and according to Fatih, this is an interesting thing to observe.

“Those people...fucking weird, huh?” Fatih muttered while grinning.

However, among all his friends, there was one face that made Fatih feel a little annoyed every time she looked at him. His name is Jojo. The boy sat on the back bench in the middle row, and from his smile, anyone could tell that he was not a good boy.

He's just as totally undeserving.

Jojo is the son of a prominent thug leader in the city, and he is also a bully of other students. He acts like a big boss. In fact, after two years of knowing Jojo, Fatih almost never saw the boy write in his own book, considering he had at least three slaves in this class, who would follow his orders.

When the bell came home rang all the disciples hurriedly packed up as fast as they could, and also completed the necessary tasks, then when everything was ready, he said, they came out through the door and went home.

But it was different with Fatih. He always had three reasons for his wait. The first reason, yes, of course he wants to leave this place, and the second reason has to do with that miracle. But the third reason is a very different thing.

“Hey, weird kid!” Shouted Jojo. He looks angry.

“Hmm?” Fatih who was still sitting on his bench and was enjoying the view of the sky, suddenly approached by Jojo and his two big-bodied friends who had always acted like his bodyguard.

Perhaps, many wonder, why does Fatih's face every day look bonyok and bruised everywhere, the answer is, Jojo. Almost every day after school, the boy continued to torture Fatih for one simple reason, and it was this class that bore silent witness to the crime.

While the two fertile children restrained Fatih, Jojo punched and kicked Fatih as if he were a boxing samsak. In a long time, Fatih had to deal with the pain. However, Fatih took this as a pleasure.

“Why do you keep smiling, huh!?” Shouted Jojo who looked increasingly upset.

Fatih kept smiling despite being tortured so many times. To the extent that Jojo probably hates Fatih's smile on that one.

“Not told you, if you were...not special—ugh-ugh!” Said Fatih who already looked dying. However, because of that sentence, Jojo again floated several fists toward Fatih's face and stomach.

For Fatih, it was actually a commensurate exchange. In fact, Fatih still won a lot. Fatih knows what makes Jojo emotional, while Jojo himself does not know the reason why he climbs apitam every time he hears the words that Fatih said.

In fact, it had been a year since Fatih said that sentence for the first time, and it had been a year since Jojo heard that statement for the first time. Jojo is changing day by day. He became increasingly evil, grumpy, and his face also always looked sad.

Fatih knows that he is the winner in this “fight”. He always wins. That is why, Jojo continues to commit these atrocities.

Fatih could see the miracle, while Jojo only caught a glimpse of it back then.

“Hah... earlier it was fun too.” Fatih muttering. He was now standing in front of a giant banyan tree that was growing beside his school yard. The tree was very old, and its roots were everywhere. Maybe soon this tree will fall, but, Fatih is not sure about it.

Fifteen minutes had already passed since Jojo and his two subordinates left Fatih lying in the classroom as if she was dying and on the verge of death. It was now four in the afternoon, and this was the time for Fatih to enjoy the privilege that had been given to her.

Fatih smiled slightly as she fumbled her painful face.

“Aduh... damn, it hurts so much. I didn't expect it to get worse like this.” Fatih. “But, I keep winning, sih—Aw!” Fatih accidentally touched the most severe wound on her face, and her pain surged instantly.

“Then, instead of you even looking like a bad person, huh?” Asked a little girl who suddenly appeared beside Fatih. His eyes were fixed on the banyan tree in front of them.

“Hmm? I am, right, a bad guy.” Fatih said as she turned to look at the little girl who was wearing a pure white plain and flat-faced dress. “Based on my past life, oh, obviously I'm a bad guy.”

“Yes, yes, your sackep, lah.” Said the girl indifferently.

“Oh, yes, kok, you just showed up again now? It's been two months, you know, I don't see you here.” Fatih. “Where have you been, anyway?”

“You are serious about asking such questions to a Sky Spirit like me?” The girl now had a surprised face.

“Eh Fatih breathed deeply. A small smile formed on his lips. “But, glad to see you again, Ravril.” Fatih said sincerely.

“Ya... glad to see you too, Fatih.” Said the girl who was smiling too.

Woof! Woof!

Without Fatih and Ravril noticing, it turned out that there was now a small white-haired dog sitting in front of them. The dog kept wagging his tail, a sign that he was happy.

“Oh? Helly also there apparently.” Fatih.

The twilight has come. The sky, which was once blue and bright, is now starting to emit an orange glow that brings with it warmth. Meanwhile, Fatih, Ravril and Helly the dog were still in front of the banyan tree and waiting for something to come.

However, after waiting for quite a while, finally something strange happened. Along with the arrival of a gentle breeze, a door suddenly appeared on the surface of the banyan tree trunk. The door looks expensive, and the surface is polished shiny like new.

Fatih glanced at Ravril and Helly, then, after reassuring themselves, the three of them stepped through the door and arrived at a completely different place. Now the three of them walked down the bridge made of wood, and left reality far behind them.

In fact, the door miraculously delivered the three of them onto a wooden bridge that was above the sky. High up in space, among the white clouds, under the cozy glow of the twilight sun, that's where Fatih, Ravril and Helly are now.

With her four tiny legs, Helly ran towards the end of the bridge, while Fatih and Ravril walked leisurely in the back while enjoying the magical scenery around them.

“Since the beginning of school, I still don't know what reason God let me see all this.” Reveal Fatih while reaching a cloud not far beside him. “But I am a criminal... “ Fatih added. His facial water turned strange, and his smile curved up slightly.

“Why, anyway, are you discussing that again?” Ravril asked a little annoyed.

“Ya, of course, lah.” Celtuk Fatih's. “I'm not much different from Jojo. I'm even worse. I've killed, you know, whereas he probably never.”

Somehow Fatih's head felt throbbing after saying that fact. It is very unpleasant to have to bring up the tragic events that have happened to him in the past.

Ravril sighed deeply.

“Hey, son, mending don't ask me, deh. I'm not God, because what gave you permission to see all this, it's God, not me.” Ravril. “But.. yes, indeed, the heck, you are evil. Only, who can determine that, yes, only the ones up there. No living thing under this sky has the right to judge you good or evil.”

Now the three of them had come to the end of the bridge, and before them lay a vast sky so magnificent. However, even though they were above the sky though, but the air did not feel too cold at all, but warm.

“Maybe... God doesn't see you in the past, but he sees you in the future.” Ravril.

“Hah? Meaning?” Asked Fatih who was half-dead astonished.

“I mean... Yes, it's true that you were evil in the past, but God knows that you've changed in the future. God chose you to have what no one else has. God gave you the blessing to see. Some kind of gift, maybe. A gift because you will later succeed in turning into a better person.”

“Eh... “ Fatih speechless. He was confused by Ravril's words.

“Lagian, you're innocent too. After all, your parents also want to kill you.”

The atmosphere instantly became silent. Both Fatih and Ravril, both of them were silent in a thousand languages, while Helly was still barking at them and did not stop running between their legs.

However, what Ravril said was indeed true.

Fatih finally understood why Ravril was always emotional every time he talked about this. Fatih should not have asked Ravril that question, because from the start, Ravil knew that it was not him who had to answer that question.

Indeed, Fatih had killed both his parents when he was a child. But, obviously it was unintentional. Everything just happened without Fatih's intention.

It is God who created the past and the future of Fatih, and He also gave and ended the trials. The ink had already been set down and had dried up, so, all Fatih needed to do now was to just follow the flow.

“Thank God you've only asked me that question. Try if it's someone else you're asking that question. Could be messed up, you know, the business.” Ravril. “I've lived a long time, you know, Fat. I know human nature. Even though they know that they should not judge others, they still do and take advantage of it. The man... wicked—”.

“Hmm... Yeah.. You're right, Ril.” Cut Fatih out of the blue. “Entah why I just realized now.”

“Eh? What?”

Fatih was still speechless with a smile attached to her lips. He realized one thing had been missed all along. After two years, he finally came to his senses. He really understands.

“Means, all this time, God chose me because I am worthy, right?”

Soon, a voice came from behind them. The slowly approaching voice sounded a little heavy and buzzing. Meanwhile, Fatih with Ravril remained standing in place and looking forward, while Helly ran after the source of the voice that was out of nowhere.

Along with the gusts of strong winds, suddenly there were many giant ships coming out from the thick cloud clumps on their left and right. There are ten.

From the end of the bridge, Fatih could also see some figures on the boat. There are people who are like humans, and there are also those who resemble other creatures that Fatih has never seen.

The magical ships that sailed in the air, actually look like ordinary ships in general. Made of wood and board, and has a screen of white cloth that is rather dull. However, all that still does not explain how the ships can float in space.

Fatih and Ravril who were there tried not to be knocked down by the strong winds that came with the ships. Smiles that depicted various meanings formed on the lips of the two of them, and Helly looked increasingly happy about the appearance of the ships.

From a distance, a person was seen waving at one of the ships. Fatih who saw him without hesitation immediately returned the hand and raised both hands high.

“Be careful, yes! Don't fall!” Shouted Fatih as loud as possible.

That guy laughed. From his voice, he must be a man. “Take it easy! I won't fall, kok!”

The ships sailed further and further, until finally invisible to the eye.

“Why are you so happy, Fat?” Ravril asked a little astonished.

“Yes, it feels weird. You see, it's been two years that I've been looking for an answer to that question, but, I didn't expect the answer to be this simple.”

“Hmm..” With a sweet smile, Ravril stared lazily at the sky that lay before him. “God creates people because they deserve to. Whoever it is. Even including your friend Jojo. It's just... God works in a very mysterious way.”

“Ya... everyone is worth it.” Bisik Fatih's.