Neir stepped into the quiet, old library. The air inside was warm, filled with the distinctive scent of old books mixed with finely floating dust. In her hands, she carried a package containing the fresh kahlun fish, Mr. Gharrick's order.
From the top of the somewhat rickety wooden ladder, the figure of Mr. Gharrick could be seen cleaning a bookshelf with a small feather duster. The soft sound of the duster sweeping away dust was rhythmic, like a soothing melody. Without turning, the middle-aged man said, "Those small footsteps are like the whispering morning wind, carrying the scent of fresh fish. I knew you were here, Neir."
Neir smiled slightly. "Here is your fish order, Mr. Gharrick," she said, holding up the package.
Mr. Gharrick descended lightly, accepting the package enthusiastically. "Ah, my favorite kahlun fish! You are like a messenger of the sea goddess delivering this blessing." He chuckled softly, then looked at Neir. "But wait, did you come just for this? Or do you want to learn to read with me again? You've asked your mother's permission, right?"
Neir nodded. "Mother allowed it, Sir. She was actually very happy I'm learning with you."
Mr. Gharrick's smile widened. "Ah, that is news that makes my heart as vast as the ocean. But..." His eyes stopped on the green pendant hanging from Neir's neck. He moved closer, his gaze full of curiosity. "That pendant... it's beautiful," he murmured softly.
Neir held the pendant for a moment. "Thank you, Mr. Gharrick," she said innocently.
"Pendants like this are very rarely seen," said Gharrick. "May I look at it more closely, Neir?"
Although hesitant, Neir took off the pendant and handed it over. Mr. Gharrick held it carefully, examining every detail. His face changed; his eyes widened, his forehead furrowed, and his lips parted slightly, as if he had just read a terrifying secret.
"Neir," asked Mr. Gharrick in a more serious voice, "where did you get this pendant?"
Neir was silent for a moment. "I-it's from Mother," she answered, but her tone sounded nervous. She unconsciously scratched her temple, a clear sign she was lying.
Mr. Gharrick smiled faintly. "Ah, interesting. In that case, perhaps I can ask your mother where she bought such a beautiful pendant."
Panic began to show on Neir's face. "N-no need, Sir! Mother is busy!"
Mr. Gharrick let out a long sigh, then looked at the little girl with eyes that were gentle yet firm. "Neir, you are a terrible liar. This pendant... is dangerous."
Neir was stunned. "Dan-dangerous? What do you mean?"
Mr. Gharrick leaned closer, his voice lower. "This pendant might be part of an Etherium ritual. Objects like this are often used to teleport specific body parts. In this case, perhaps sensory organs. If someone is looking for you, it means they already know you have this pendant."
"So... I'm in danger?" asked Neir in a trembling voice, her eyes beginning to well up.
Mr. Gharrick nodded slowly, but before he could explain further, a roaring sound was heard outside.
BOOOMMM!!!!
Suddenly, a powerful explosion shattered the library door. The sound of cracking wood and crumbling walls echoed, accompanied by the CRASH! of falling bookshelves. Books flew through the air like a rain of paper.
"Neir!" Mr. Gharrick shouted, immediately pulling Neir into his embrace. Debris flew everywhere, one piece hitting Gharrick's head, causing blood to trickle down his temple. Yet he stood firm, protecting Neir with his body.
"Mr. Gharrick... You're bleeding!" Neir said panickedly, coughing from the dust.
"I'm fine," Mr. Gharrick answered breathlessly. "You are what's important, Neir."
From behind the dust cloud, the figure of a woman in a white robe emerged with graceful steps. Her robe fluttered slowly, reflecting a faint green light. A shrill laugh came from her lips, making Neir tremble with fear.
"Ah, I finally found it," the woman said in a mocking tone. "Little girl, you have something that belongs to me. Return the pendant!"
Neir took a step back, her eyes full of fear. "W-who are you?"
The woman smiled coldly. "The rightful owner of that pendant. Don't make me repeat myself, child. Hand it over!"
Mr. Gharrick stepped forward, standing in front of Neir. "I don't know who you are, but you will not touch this girl!"
The woman stared sharply at Gharrick, then smirked cynically. "You think you can stop me, old man?"
She raised her hand, and instantly an invisible force pulled Neir towards her. Neir floated in the air, screaming hysterically.
"Neir!" Mr. Gharrick jumped, trying to grab the girl. But with a wave of her hand, the woman threw Gharrick aside with her magic. CRASH! Mr. Gharrick's body hit a bookshelf, smashing it into splinters of wood.
"Mr. Gharrick!" Neir screamed, crying in terror.
The woman laughed shrilly, holding Neir who was now in her grasp. "Little child, you are too valuable to let go. Come, we're leaving."
A flash of green light enveloped them both, and in an instant, Neir and the woman disappeared, leaving behind the shattered and silent library.
The dust slowly settled, but the sound of shifting rubble could still be heard. From within the wreckage, Gharrick's faint voice murmured, "Neir... I will save you..."
---
Shadows of the Past
Dani opened his eyes slowly, staring at the bedroom ceiling which was starting to crack in several corners. As usual, he woke up late, around eight in the morning. Reluctantly, he dragged himself to the bathroom to urinate. After finishing, instead of showering, Dani went straight back to his room, grabbed his phone, and submerged himself in the virtual world.
His social media was full of a mix of various things: corny memes that were no longer funny, news that only made him feel increasingly irrelevant to the world, and posts from his old friends whose lives seemed far better than his. Dani sat cross-legged on his thin, rumpled mattress, leaning against the wall with its fading paint. In his heart, he muttered, "My life is just like this, huh. No different from a robot just running a program."
As his fingers continued scrolling through his phone screen, his mind suddenly drifted to the past. A memory long buried but never truly gone.
---
Nisa. That girl lived in the next village, not too far from Dani's house. They had been friends since childhood. Nisa was always the first person to greet him whenever Dani visited that village with his family. Her hair was long and shiny black, her eyes always sparkled with spirit, and her laugh—that laugh could always liven up the atmosphere.
"Dani! Let's play again!" Nisa called out one afternoon when they were still in elementary school.
They often played in the rice fields, chasing each other, or sat under a large tree eating candy. Dani felt comfortable with Nisa. Even though he was quiet, Nisa always had a way to make him laugh.
However, everything changed after graduating from elementary school. Nisa continued to junior high school in the city, while Dani remained in the village. Their relationship slowly drifted apart. Dani rarely went to the next village, and their meetings became infrequent.
Years passed, until Dani entered vocational high school (SMK). At that time, he didn't expect to meet Nisa again.
Dani had just finished class when a familiar voice called him.
"Dani?"
He turned and was surprised to see Nisa standing there, smiling broadly just like before. Her hair was still long, her face cheerful, and her attitude unchanged.
"Nisa?" Dani answered nervously.
Nisa chuckled. "Wow, you still remember me?"
"Ye... yeah, of course I remember," Dani replied, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Nisa walked closer. "We're in the same school now. I didn't think you went here, hehe."
"Yeah, still... but... well, the school is here," Dani answered softly.
That conversation became the start of their reconnection. Even though Nisa had many friends and a larger social circle, she always made time to chat with Dani. They often talked about their childhood: the games they used to play, their little mischiefs, and other things that made Dani feel warm.
However, Dani still felt a distance. Their classes and majors were different, as were their friends. Dani, as usual, was often alone or only spoke with one or two close friends.
Time passed until near the end of their third year at SMK. Dani finally mustered the courage to plan something. He wanted to confess his feelings to Nisa.
Dani didn't have huge expectations,but he decided he would try his luck. However, his plan was shattered when Nisa suddenly didn't come to school for a full week.
"Hey, do you know why Nisa hasn't been at school?" Dani asked a friend in the canteen.
"Oh, you haven't heard?" the friend leaned in and whispered. "Rumor has it, she's pregnant."
Dani fell silent. Those words hit him like a sledgehammer.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, that's the rumor. I'm not sure either."
Dani couldn't say anything. His steps felt heavy, and the noise in the canteen seemed to disappear, replaced by the echo of his own thoughts. He could only look down, staring at the empty table in front of him.
A few months later, Dani graduated. That day, he was going home with his mother. As they passed through the next village, Dani saw Nisa's house adorned with wedding decorations.
"Dani, isn't that your friend's house? There's a celebration. Weren't you invited?" his mother said.
Dani didn't answer, but his heart felt tight.
Upon arriving home, a neighbor came by with an invitation that had been left for Dani. When Dani opened it, his chest felt as if stabbed. It was Nisa's wedding invitation. What made it more painful was that the groom's name was someone who had had problems with him in junior high—someone who had broken Dani's spirit in the past.
Dani just remained silent. After the neighbor left, he went into his room, locked the door, and sat in the corner. No tears came out, only a profound emptiness.
---
Dani's phone suddenly vibrated, snapping him out of his long reverie. A call was coming in from Susanto.
"Bro, what are you doing? Daydreaming?" Susanto's voice was heard as soon as Dani answered the phone.
"Yeah, something like that. Why, To?"
"I have important info for you. Get to my house quickly."
"Wow, that important?" Dani asked, half-heartedly.
"Yep, very important. But I'm not promising you'll be happy to hear it," Susanto chuckled lightly. "Just hurry up. And don't forget to shower, you might stink."
Dani just sighed. Although reluctant, he knew there was nothing else he could do that day. With an unshowered body and messy hair, he stepped out of the house, walking on foot towards Susanto's house.
....