ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
STORY: For Himself Who Has Been Away

He was only twelve years old when Kevin cried for the first time in a long time. In the middle of this silent forest, the golden-haired skinny little boy knelt before despair. He cried in front of a small board stuck in the ground, where on the board was also engraved the name of the person he loved so much in this world.

A memory swirled in Kevin's sight.

He saw a white-haired boy fall under him. The boy's hand was stretched out toward Kevin as if he wished for Kevin to help him immediately. Kevin was unable to do anything. The only thing he could do at that moment, was just watch him fall into a sea of fire raging deep in the land.

However, just then, Kevin caught a smile forming on the boy's lips. He smiled at Kevin. Even though he knew that death was now just one inch away from his life, strangely, the boy smiled instead.

“No... No. gabe... I'm failing... Oh my... “ That short sentence slid out of Kevin's mouth. His tears flowed down his face and could no longer be contained. It was very painful, because he had failed to protect a friend and family who meant the most to him. “Those who live by the sword will die by the sword... Does this mean? But... Why?“

After his struggle all along, after all the sacrifices he had given all this time, he finally failed. Kevin fails to protect Abi, who he considers a younger brother in this life.

Abi always stood in front of Kevin in any situation. Every morning, at sunrise, the bright white-haired child was the one who always stood at the very front to welcome tomorrow. He was the bravest boy Kevin had ever known in his entire life. Although his body was small, but he had a very brave heart like a lion.

But now Abi has left life.

Everything Kevin has been through with Abi and other friends on the way to the human world, has now turned into a painful memory.

In the past, they all slept in the same room, ate in the same place, swam in the river together, joked together, sat in front of the campfire together, sang together, and played together, and follow the same path. They all do everything almost together.

However, due to the war, Kevin is separated from his other friends, and the only one who accompanies him until his journey is over, is Abi. However, Kevin did not expect, that the person who was always there for him, now is gone.

Even so, Kevin knew he could not linger like this. His sadness was enough for a day. He must leave all his sufferings in the past and head to the future, so that the same events do not happen again. Enough Abi is the proof that Kevin never failed. No one else needs to be a victim of their mistakes.

“If only I hadn't killed him... I'm sure I won't be here now... “ Kevin got up and looked at the board with an angry look. Her eyes were swollen considering she had been crying all day. “Well, if that's what you want, I'll make sure I don't make any more mistakes. Never will be.”

The next day, Kevin decides to find his other friends who survived the war, and may have also reached this world. Moreover, they had all made promises to start a new peaceful life in this human world together. And as the leader of their entourage, the first person to have to continue with the plan was Kevin.

Yes, or so he expected.

However, a few months after mourning Abi's departure, a terrible fate unexpectedly manages to find Kevin and drag him back into the forest. For the second time in the world, Kevin was again forced to kneel in front of two new tombstones that were beside Abi's tombstone.

There is a pair of fire-shaped earrings located in front of the left tombstone, while on the right tomb is smaller, smaller, decorated by a dark blue bow wrapped around green roots with flowers growing all over.

Now, two more names have gone, namely Ronzo Putra and Arima Putri. An older brother who looks like a market thug but has a sincere heart, and a jolly little sister who can solve any problem with archery.

“Yes God! what exactly is my fault with you, huh!?” Kevin roared loudly. His hand squeezed the grass in his grasp, and his head fell down until his forehead hit the ground. “I've finished everything I can! I completed the task you gave me! But, why did you even take them from me?! WHY!?”!

Kevin's cries rang out under the rain. The power is dark, the thunder comes and goes. Inexplicably Kevin felt as if someone was sitting behind the clouds and watching himself in agony.

His entire body was crushed into small pieces, because now Kevin had lost two more family members.

However, Kevin suddenly thought of one thing.

He remembered the times when he was reunited with all his friends—all his family—in the Garden of Eternal Flowers, Faharum, after three years apart. And on that very day, for the first time they could all feel what peace was after all these years. Yes, although the next day they had to go back apart to complete their respective tasks, but still, Kevin was very grateful to know that they were all fine.

“Sa-at that time, you-you all said that the Faharum flower a-is the most beautiful flower you've ever seen. So, I-I hope you're happy with this gift of mine. You too, Abi, I-sorry I just gave you a gift now.” Kevin then looked up into space, and closed his eyes tightly while sighing deeply. He's feeling very tired.

“Wish... You showed me your mercy... God.” Kevin sighed once more, and resigned himself to the Fate.

But, in fact, the gravestones continue to grow as time goes on. Days change, seasons change, and months change, Kevin always comes to the forest to grieve, cry, and suffer. Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and by the end of the year, there were ten headstones in total that Kevin had placed on the spot.

Maybe this is what it's like to plunge into the abyss of despair.

Kevin could barely feel anything more, his heart was already shattered. He was just standing there, under the torrent of cold, piercing snowfall, staring blankly at the line of gravestones. Kevin thought that the body was no longer his. Soon, Kevin fell to his knees, and began to cry in silence.

The world became quiet at that time.

His whole family has left him alone.

“Abi... Ronzos... Arima.... Uncle Zara... Anna's... Brother Alam... Sister Olla... Brother Amalia... Sellas... Also Brother Lion, wherever you are... Ii'm sorry... I can't anymore. I don't know why this happened to all of us. Though... we've saved this world, but... why did you all leave?”

Kevin raised his head and looked at the gray sky.

“God... I know that we have all sinned... But... I really didn't expect that the pay turned out to be this expensive... I thought. All of our screams there, all of our cries, all of our wounds... Apparently I was wrong... “

Kevin's face, which had been empty, slowly emitted a sigh.

“Why I'm always late! WH WHY!? Please, just once in my life, can you stop torturing me!?”

Sadness, anger and regret began to seep into him.

“You put us there. That terrible place where peace is only considered a dream! We have helped many people! We fought already! But why are you torturing us!”

Kevin was there in the lead-up to their final moments. From Abi, to Sella, Kevin was by their side and held tightly to their hands. He heard the last sentence they said, he also heard the last breath of them all. And the only thing Kevin felt when that happened, was unparalleled pain.

“One more time..I'm sorry, yes, everything.” A small smile suddenly formed on Kevin's lips. “I'll start all over again... But, you guys take it easy. I promise to bring those memories to my new life. So then... Goodbye to.”

Yes, it was too painful to look at, so on that day, Velicia chose to close her eyes from that pitiful sight.

Finally, the day before the new year, Velicia returned to the forest to see the existence of the tomb. The golden-blonde girl was standing there. He looked at the gravestones with his golden-colored right eye lit up, as well as his shiny blue left eye.

“It is outrageous to make children like them feel that kind of suffering. But, how else. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” Velicia smiled strangely.

Veli stretched his toes. He was not wearing any footwear, so it was natural that he could feel the coldness that pierced the soles of his feet like needles.

“Suffering, right? the fate of those who coexist with the miracle.”

Veli stared sadly at the tombstone located at the very front.

“Sorry, yes, Vin, I can't help you when you're trying to deal with all that misery.” Then, Veli turned and intended to leave the forest. “You've tried, Vin. So... you can rest now.”

There were many golden bird feathers scattered around the gravestone, as well as a gray jacket hanging over the gravestone. One name was engraved on it, and that name was his. Kevin's.