"Where have you been? You're not at the cliff. Did you change your hideout?"
I froze.
It was Raquel.
I instinctively felt the book in my bag. Luckily, I had hidden it before going out of the Thorny forest.
"I never knew that you'll hide this far just to escape Adji." She looks very disappointed, and I can't blame her.
"I really don't know what's going on your head but can you just spare three days to make my father happy? To be honest, at this point, he doesn't mind if you don't believe in our God. He just wanted you to become a leader. He likes your judgment and great hunting skills. No one else can protect this place but you."
No, Raquel, your father is wrong. Maybe our ancestors have been fooling us. There was no world war three. People are living beyond this island. We can go beyond!
How I wished I can tell Raquel about everything I have encountered today. Unfortunately, she's the daughter of the chief. Furthermore, it's still too early. I have to learn more.
"You already know why I'm looking for you right?"
With that, she leads the way. She stays quiet until we reach the entrance of the village. I feel truly sorry for her. I'm aware that everyone in this village is pestering her day and night to tame me. She might get bullied by the Adji council every time she attends all by herself.
Do I need to apologize? Normally, people should, but I think about it a thousand times before. I'll only apologize for things I promise to never do again.
The silence is killing me and it's not getting any better when we arrived in the Chief's lair.
"My son, Nabi, do you hate Adji that much?"
I found myself sitting in front of him again. My new-found knowledge might have given me courage for tonight, I proudly meet his gaze.
He's surprised. I'm nervous too. It instantly vanishes when I saw his warm smile. For some reason, I feel guilty. I shouldn't feel that way considering the circumstances but the chief has been a good father to me ever since my family died.
"Nabi, there are secrets I haven't told you yet. As part of the tradition, they'll only be revealed once you're wed on the chief's son or daughter." He started.
Yeah, me too. I have a very big revelation to share. Are you going to be shocked, happy, or mad once you learned every piece of information I had uncovered?
I might be the only person on this island that wants to get out now, but even so, I deeply believe that the knowledge we'll acquire from the outside can drastically change our lives forever. No more Adji, sickness, and limitations.
Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. I can feel warm waters rolling down my cheek.
"W-wait, are you crying just because of Adji?!" He misunderstood me and that's fine.
"When I was on your age, Adji wasn't that hellish. Maybe, I should reform it? Ah! Those elders might have messed up with it again. I told them to shorten the lessons. They might have increased it again. I'm so sorry my son. They told me it's for the best."
I chuckled. The chief has indeed the quality of a good leader. He cares about the tribe. After the epidemic killed almost every adult and teenager on this island, he worked day and night to guard and feed the kids and villagers. He's an outstanding man. In my personal opinion, he's more god than the God everyone praises.
After listening to another long hour of lecture, I went home in a hurry, light the oil lamp, went to bed, and took the book I keep in my bag. It says prologue.
I can't contain my excitement. This is my first time reading a fictional book. How I wish I could freeze or paint the moment!
After finding my composure, I read every word with an open-minded. It's still a made-up story according to the outsider. I know how much of the story will be very useful in my study.
The book says:
The Bless and Curse
Written by Zilla Mana
What would happen if God decided to answer everyone's prayers? That bizarre event happened on August 14, 2020. Hungry children from the poorest sectors of the world were suddenly given the power to make food. Patients with life-threatening illnesses woke up from all hospital beds claiming that they're cured. Lonely people who are dreaming of a perfect partner have found their prince charming and princesses.
Faith healers who believe that they can cure all types of illnesses possess extraordinary healing ability that can't be explained by Science. Desperate and hard-working employees who dream of a lifetime financial security suddenly get rich. Even the lazy beggar who wished to find a penny under a vending machine has found one! It's a complete miracle – a miracle that can only be enjoyed for a day.
While other prayers and wishes are meant to satisfy personal needs, some people have bigger ambitions. Leaders of totalitarian countries and leftists who wanted to have full control of the world also gain destructive supernatural powers to destroy and seize nations. Serial killers and punished people seeking for revenge were bestowed with the power to kill. Worst, individuals who desire to end the world were destructive ability to cause famines, natural disasters, and plagues.
Power and talents give humans freedom. That very day God sent a miracle, wars, famines, and killing occur in every part of Earth. There is not a day peace-loving people, including nonbelievers, pray for everything to return to normal. Unfortunately, God didn't reply.
Ever since that miraculous day, not a single prayer has been answered. Everyone just concludes that their last wishes serve as God's farewell gifts before abandoning Earth, and indeed, they're not wrong.
The war lasted for 20 years, 11 months, and 3 days with only 1/8 of the population remain alive. On July 17, 2040, a group of charismatic and powerful individuals, lead by Nora Thana, step in to challenge all newly established monarchs, empires, cult leaders, and politicians for a war.
When he demonstrated his power, the sky split open. The sea rumbled and the wind bowed under his feet, as though he was God himself. No modern technology or supernatural powers can defeat him and his team, and with that, the long war ended in just a week.
Peace returns to the lands. To restore it, environmentalists who are given the power to grow trees and restore other natural resources help the courageous group in healing the Earth. The rest did whatever they can do to bring back the lively civilization. Nora's group in particular, with the help of trusted experts, redesigned the world's judicial, educational, and economic system to match the new era. They also changed the world's geography to have a strategic monitoring base.
Although wars and violent attacks from humans have been suppressed, there's one thing that remains constant, and that's the continuous natural disasters happening around the globe. Through extensive research, they've located some owners of the disastrous power and learned two things. First, those people can't control their power. Second, the only way to put an end to their ability is by killing them.
It was a difficult decision, but for everyone's safety, Nora declared the execution of all wielders of dangerous powers. To make it easier for everyone to classifies someone's power as a threat; he divided God bestowed powers into two categories, bless and curse.
For powers to be categorized as blessings, wielders should know how to control them. Also, they should be able to use their power for the greater good. Any welder who fails to meet the categories for the blessed will be executed for their existence alone can disrupt peace. A huge amount of money is invested in hunting and searching for them.
This is Nora's greatest legacy before he was appointed as a living god by citizens who had finally found light. With his 8 elite members, who were at that time appointed to lead the most powerful military positions, they continue to govern and promote peace on lands.
This is the history of the current god system and how the Elite group has been founded.
After reading the first page, I immediately closed the book. On my conclusion, this fictional book is useless. Nothing of it makes sense. I shouldn't have taken it from the outsider. I should just ask the old man directly tomorrow.
Since it's the first book I read from the outside world, it'll be a shame to return it to the old man. I can use it as insurance in case things go south.
I pull out the wooden box under the bed and put the book underneath my old clothes. It doesn't have any seal but I doubt someone will open it.