The Heavenly Tale - Nameless God's
Chapters 10
When Faith awoke, she was lying in an uncluttered building, among the rubble. He didn't know why he was there and when he fell asleep, so he assumed that some of his memories were missing. First he saw the sky that was still red and he realized there was no way he knew what time it was. Second, when she slightly turned her head, she saw the red-clad man leaning against the wall that was most likely a window, hands folded in front of her chest. A red umbrella leaned not far from his feet. Faith immediately moved, and the man caught her movement.
“Don't move too much, your body is still not fully recovered,” the red-clad man said slowly.
Despite slowing his movements, Faith got up to sit down. Her bag lay beside her, but she was sure that it had been reduced because she was lying on her blanket, wrapped in her jacket. He should not have worn a covered garment like this, considering his injuries were re-opened earlier. Intending to examine her own body, the girl began to take off her jacket.
The man who caught Faith's intention approached and helped her take off her jacket. “I've treated your wounds before, so you don't have to worry. Supposedly, your wounds are almost entirely covered now.”
The man was right. Faith looked at her hands and feet in amazement. He remembered he had terrible torn wounds on his legs and hands, he also had scratches everywhere, and his dreadful broken nails. Most of the wounds have healed. The part near his ankle was still bandaged, as well as the arm near his elbow and the tip of his fingers. But other minor injuries have disappeared, leaving dust and soil stuck in some places. He could not see it, but the torn wound on the temple of his eye had already closed, leaving a white scar. There was no more blood in his eyes. He concluded that his wound could indeed heal even though it took some time, so he felt very relieved.
But then a thought shot through his head. He looked at the man and asked, “How long have I fainted?”
“Several hours,” replied the man calmly. “Now we are heading towards the end of the ninth day.”
Just a few hours? And he can heal like this? So Faith thought at first. But something else caught his attention, so he brushed off his previous thoughts.
Day nine. Those two words dragged him into reality as fast as lightning. He was going through the Judgment Day event for 11 days, and various calamities would descend upon the earth during that time. He remembered he started the first day with a mountain erupting, but as time went on, he almost forgot on what day he was. When the man reminded him, he felt a memory jump dancing in his head.
“What happened exactly? I was in a sinkhole before, and a terrible thing happened there. I don't know what happened to the people, not to the group of survivors who would accept me before. I don't understand.” After saying so, Faith shook her head and shifted her gaze. “But if it's not something I can understand, well I won't try to find out.”
The man smiled hearing that. “You deserve to know,” he replied. The girl raised her gaze and their eyes met. “When I tell you that in a larger crowd of people there will be a more deadly danger, it is real. What is happening here is huge and all of them aim to eliminate more humans. You must experience it when people suddenly freeze to death, when a big earthquake occurs and the ground collapses everywhere, and when slander spreads among humans. It was all a series of disasters that Heaven had arranged."
"Heaven determines four great calamities; natural disasters, mystical disasters, slander, and plague. Earth has experienced three out of four disasters. Everyone was tormented by natural disasters, then they were frightened by the mystical calamities that came every night. You've heard it, that every night the human body lives and dies. The mystical calamity was unforgiving, he would take anyone who touched the ground in the darkness of the night. Furthermore, what you experience in that hole is slander. The forms of people who should not exist are re-emerging. But they are not human, they are just a clone of nightmares, something that incarnates from your hopes of deceiving you and dragging you to death. Fourth disaster, plague, has not come and we should not meet him.” So said the man.
The man paused for a moment, his eyes staring gently at the girl. “Thank you for trusting me. You are a brave man.”
Faith opens her mouth, “I know it's not you,”. “The Spirit Master I know won't do something that wasn't in his plan. I thought... saving humans and acting as gods is not your plan.”
“You really know me in this short period of time? I'm so flattered,” said the man. “Do you enjoy time with other humans?”
“Oh yes, they showed me a pleasant light. They all struggle in their own way and they don't give up. This disaster changed many things from themselves, but they remained themselves, only for the better because now they could feel something they would never feel again. Some question their beliefs, but I'm sure it's because they're human, they're free to question themselves. Despite that, they still had their own beliefs and expectations, so in my opinion, they didn't really doubt his beliefs. I learned a lot from them even though the time we went through was only a short time.”
Hearing this, the man nodded in satisfaction. “You are really brave and smart, can be aware of the small things that are hidden.”
The girl nodded with a smile. “Actually, I know of another little thing, but I don't think I need to say it.”
The man accepted Faith's decision to be quiet, so he just nodded in understanding. He moved to one of the near sections of the building debris and carried a red box object. A rope hung the thing onto a rather thick tree branch. “I have a gift for you. It will be useful as long as we travel to the coastal city.”
The girl remembered about the coastal city and said slowly, “I saw that the road to the coastal city had been cut off, and the city was hit by a big tsunami a few days ago. Can we go there?”
The man nodded. “Of course. You've been hoping to reach a place where God's anger is not touched, so you're definitely going there!” said. “You have a lighter, right?”
Faith for the first time digested the object that the man was carrying in earnest. “Oh, lantern!” yells. “Where did you get it?”
“I made it,” replied the man briefly. “But that is my secret.”
The girl clucked from being touched. “Can we fly it?”
“Not this one. We'll take him during the trip.”
“Oh we can make more that can be flown later. I wanted to watch the lanterns being flown into the sky again like that time. But this time not to ask for help, but to convey my hope of being taken by the sky. Thank you if the gods grant it,” said the girl.
“Hm? Do you have any expectations you want to convey to the sky?”
“My hope? What hope I have but for 2 things; that Heaven may not close the door of forgiveness to those who wish to repent, and that men may receive their rightful place after their death, according to what they did during their lives and their regrets. In these times there is not much I can expect. I'll also die later, so that's my only hope.”
The man muttered for a moment. “I guess you have a desire to have something.”
The girl was silent for a moment. “Actually I have. When I was a kid, I used to write stuff and things I wanted to do when I was older. I listed it in a small diary, and the list reached three thousand! Unfortunately, the book is gone. My wish may also disappear with him, but I can make a new wish and do what I can to realize it.” He stopped and his eyes looked at the man. “Does Master Spirit have a wish? Something you want to have or do you do?”
The man muttered for a moment in a joking style. “Isn't it perfectly normal that all living things have their own desires? I got it.”
“Is it realized?”
The man shook his head. “Not yet,” answered. “But as you say, I can do what I can to realize it.”
They were still looking at the light in their eyes. But suddenly, the sound of a thunderous trumpet appeared in the sky. This sound was exactly like the sound he heard when inside the hole, before the second trumpet rang out and raised a monster flying from the sky. The girl was glued to the sky, just in case the same monster came again. But that's not what came up. When the trumpet stopped, the sky gradually blackened. The red light that previously dyed conspicuously turned gray, then black, then suddenly the entire earth was engulfed in darkness. There was a very dim light in the sky, but the girl could not see the moon. Their views became very limited.
“Master of the Spirit?” the girl asked.
“I'm still here. Can you find your matches?”
The girl did as the man requested with some difficulty. Their condition was engulfed in darkness, and she tried to feel her way in search of her bag. It was even more difficult when he reached into the contents of his bag wildly, trying to find his match. When he found it, he took pains to turn it on. The man thrust his lantern and the girl lit the fire. After some time, a reddish glow dyed their surroundings.
“It was the fourth sign of disaster, plague. From now on, the plague will surround the entire earth to touch whoever the human remains on earth,” said the man.
“And the sound of the trumpet?”
“It was a sign for the sky change. When the first trumpet rang, the sky had already turned red and was ready to open to take down the monsters that were eating humans. On this second trumpet, the sky became completely dark, removing all light sources from the world. From today, there will be no more morning or afternoon, the whole day will feel like a cold night. You better put on your jacket again.”
After a few hours of travel, Faith asked, “Have you ever slept?”
The man replied, “I think it's time you know now, that I don't need things like eating, drinking, or resting like a human.”
“Are you not exhausted then?” ask the girl again. He stopped suddenly. “I'm sorry I forgot,” he expressed regret for forgetting that the man before him had done things beyond human limits, he must have been much stronger than the girl could reason.
The man noticed the girl's carelessness and smiled. “Really it's okay, sometimes humans can forget.”
“Does that mean you remember everything?”
The man suddenly muttered as if he realized something. “After I thought about it, it turns out I did remember everything,” he said.
But he did not continue his words. He said nothing to the girl about the things she remembered. Actually, he had a very good memory, but there were things that he buried deeply inside of him and was reluctant to touch. Because he was wise, he did not do so to forget or to throw those things away, but rather to help himself. He took the core of the story, the values, and the lessons he could learn from those things, then buried the rest.
He recalled that he used to say that the end of the heroic stories of the gods occurred when Heaven agreed that the Allfather would be the only one to be worshipped. The gods must withdraw from all interference against mankind— except for things dealing with Heaven such as death, the punishment and grace of each soul—and man must take responsibility for himself and ask for help only to the Allfather.
It's not a lie, it's the truth. The man could swear by this.
But it is not the full story, but only the outline of the end of the story of the gods. It was when the gods were deliberating over this decision that the Heavenly Princess realized that it meant that humans would suffer greatly. Humans are intelligent and noble with many advantages over other creatures, but they are not perfect. If they were left to face the darkness themselves without weapons, they could easily fall. He left as soon as he felt that this decision would be final, called his two surviving companions, and asked them for sincere help.
“Give me the loyalty of your friendship once again. Whatever happens after this, right or wrong, good or bad, I don't know. I will remain your best friend at all times, you may come to me for anything. But for me, this is the last time I ask for your loyalty.”
His two best friends are loyal people, and they give their loyalty without hesitation. The Princess knew that back then on Earth man was in a great war with his fellow humans, and this was the interference of a filthy demon, so she said her plan; The Princess will descend to earth once more to give strength to man, and she will bring one of her two best friends. Her other best friend had to keep no one from touching or opening and entering her room, as long as possible until the Princess returned.
He understood the danger of defying Heaven's decision, and he apologized to his best friend. But his two companions followed him sincerely and faithfully, as the Princess always gave light and became their hope. So they parted ways, the Princess and her best friend came down to Earth, while her other best friend stood in front of her tightly shut door.
But just as the sky can be seen with the naked eye, Heaven knows everything that happens in it. The gods realized that something had come down from Heaven, just as they agreed on the decision that Heaven would stop its direct interference in human life. It was a brave and determined act! The rules were still fresh and something, or perhaps a god, had broken them! So the gods searched all over Heaven to find out what exactly had left Heaven.
The time difference between Heaven and Earth was magical, a few years for Earth could be just the blink of an eye of the gods. It was an advantage for the Princess and her best friend, but they still fought with time. The Princess who came down to earth plunged into a war with humans, occasionally disguised as a human, and occasionally in the form of a god when saving humans. He took innocent people and victims of injustice and war, and hid them in safe places. He led them to live through a path far from the devil, he taught them many wisdom skills, then he taught them to fight demons. He tells them that there are weapons that can fight demons and darkness that targets their sacred hearts. To get the weapon, they must follow all the guidance of the Princess, even undergo the test given by the Princess. Only those who persevere and pass can use the weapon.
In the end, when the Princess is convinced that the man she trusts can be released to return among humans and fight with the incitement of darkness, she and her best friend must return to Heaven. He knew Heaven must be waiting for him, and he knew very well that even though Heaven is forgiving, Heaven still has a system of punishment. Before returning, she instructs her best friend to do something for her. He obediently followed the instructions of the Princess, and the two returned to Heaven, ready to face whatever Heaven had given them.
Elsewhere, the gods who carefully examined the entire contents of Heaven had arrived at the room of the Princess. The great Gods were shocked when faced with the courage of a tiny warrior blocking their way to the Princess' room. After arguing somewhat alot, the soldier finally knelt down and firmly said, “Thousand praises to the Divine Heaven and the Great Gods. The servant had sworn to follow the request of the Heavenly Princess so that nothing could enter her room. This lowly servant begs for forgiveness profusely, for I cannot leave this place.”
To the gods, it was an insult. A soldier cannot deny his general's orders, and they follow his generals obediently. But this warrior was not even a warrior under the guidance of the Princess, he was under the command of another God General, and he was just an ordinary soldier with no particular status. Although he lowered his head, lowered himself, and steadfastly upheld the oath he made, the gods did not consider him honorable.
It is clear that for the soldier, the one waiting for him is punishment. And punishment is inevitable.
The General of the God of War and Wisdom himself raised his sword and gave himself to inflict punishment on the soldier. He would decapitate the soldier's head, then send his soul far out of Heaven. On his first swing, unfortunately his movement was hampered when he heard the door of the Princess' room opened. The princess and her best friend appeared from within. Despite this, the sword had already swung and slashed at almost half the neck of the soldier.
Deep sorrow encompassed the Princess and she ran to welcome the fallen body of her best friend. Her best friend fell into her lap, with a bloody body and stained the Princess' golden clothes. The Princess was almost heard howling, stating that the warrior was only carrying out his orders well, and if anyone was to blame, it was the Princess herself. But then with a convulsive body and a broken voice, his friend grabbed his golden shirt and said;
“Princess, I will always be a protector for you.”
And in sorrow, the Princess could only answer, “Then it came to pass, my shield.”
Her best friend disappeared into a golden-brown dust flake. The blood that had stained the Princess's clothes also disappeared into dust. Gradually the color of the brown dust turned black as it burned and a small thin smoke rose into the air. His soul went away at that moment, not to return to Heaven, but rather to wander far from there.
The Princess was still grieving while kneeling, for the first time her eyes were trembling. Behind him, his last one friend could not lift his gaze from the tip of his foot. Once he looked up to look at the Princess, but his body trembled to see the Princess who always displayed light now just kneeled down. He lowered his head again, his face water became hard.
“Daughter, Heaven has determined that there should be no more divine intervention in human life. Is that you who left Heaven and came down to Earth?”
Hearing that, the Princess's determination returned. He held back the trembling feeling in his body and straightened his back. Still kneeling, he stared at the gods standing before him. The God of War and Wisdom General stood closest to her, yet the Princess was no longer daunted.
“Iya. I have come down at that time to Earth to do something right,” replied The Princess.
“Princess, you are given divine abundance and high wisdom, but what you do we cannot understand. If there is something you need to explain, we will listen to it and weigh it wisely. You are given great power, just like the gods, so we will weigh you as a god.” The God of War and Wisdom said.
“But what the Heavenly Army soldiers did was very untrue. They will be tried as soldiers. From what I see, the two warriors who are with you are warriors who are under the guidance of the God of War and Wisdom, therefore it is appropriate that this God General himself will execute them punishment.”
The princess looked at the God of War and Wisdom with a stern look. “You will punish him with the death penalty as well?” voice rising.
“Punishment was inevitable.”
Hearing this, the Princess turned her head and looked at her only remaining best friend, Ren the Brave. His eyes radiated sadness, but behind that sadness he showed strength of courage beyond the limits of the other gods' comprehension. With all her strength, the Princess encouraged Ren the Brave with her energy. The energy was so great that when Ren the Brave was pushed up, the door of his room was pushed up and shut. He sent Ren the Brave back to Earth.
To Ren the Brave, he knew that the Princess asked him to do what he had instructed, so the soldier did so earnestly despite his restless heart. Later on after he finished, he knew he had to return to Heaven to face whatever Heaven bestowed upon him. He was a Heavenly Army soldier, he had never been such a coward. If he had to accept the punishment, then he would face it himself.
The story of the heroic rebellion of the Princess who also snatched away the soldiers of the Heavenly Army is the closing story of the gods. After the Princess, no more gods came down to Earth, either to just go around in disguise, or to help humans. The rules of Heaven became absolute, and the Allfather became the only god introduced to the world. That's the real end.
The man remembered it all well, but he did not say it to the girl at the beginning of the story. The reason for that, was probably because that part had indeed completely disappeared from his memory, or he buried that part of the story too deep inside him and he forgot. Only when he could remember it, did he feel that the story had already passed for too long and it felt strange to have to start again just to rectify it.
“Can you remember all the past events during your life?” the girl's voice revived her from her daydream.
“If I have to answer it, then yes I can remember it. But I am old and my memory is no longer perfect. Sometimes I need something to make me recall an event, like a trigger. If there is it, it will be easier for me to remember something.”
