Chapter 03 "The Begining of My Adventure"

For a while, I felt oscillated in a dark and vacuum room. A different dimension, where there was nothing other than the cold empty space. There was nothing I could do here. Besides waiting for this room to took me where ever it wanted.

"Why is this happening to me? Am I going to really die?"

I didn't know what crossed my mind. I thought to die like this was not a bad thing. Perhaps this incident would make me stop troubling others. It was just a crazy idea in my head. But inside my heart, I was screaming muttered this misfortune.

I still wanted to live. I wanted to be useful to others. At least I didn't want to die in a state that couldn't do anything.

"That, I ...."

Suddenly I felt pulled by the gravitational force. I wonder what happened. The empty dimension where I was, was shrinking before finally disappeared without a trace.

My body seemed to be thrown from a height at high speed. The crazy cold was piercing my bones from all directions. My breathing was a bit tight because of oxygen lacking and heavy air pressure. My five senses started functioning. Now I had the right to control my own body. The first thing was my ear that captured noises. At first, it sounded faint but increasingly echoing in my ears.

"What is this ...?! What happened!?"

"We're surely going to die if this keeps going ... !!!"

"Why are we suddenly fall from the sky?!!!"

I opened my eyes and realized the sound that I heard before was the screaming of Dimas and my friends. Their figure somehow suddenly appeared at my side. Haven't had time to think about it clearly. I have been shocked again. When looked up, a vast expanse of green forest posted in plain sight. On the other side, a super big morning sun peeked out from behind the arch sky. Although hindered by clouds, I was pretty sure its size was several times larger than the usual sun I knew. My head was spinning. But that didn't make me not realized if I was falling from the sky in a state upside down.

Wait! What's on earth going on?

I tried to recall all events by sequence. It was all started when I picked up a strange pin on the riverbed. Then it suddenly shined brightly, releasing the heat that grilled over my body. After that, I was seriously didn't know what happened. My clubmates and I miraculously were above the sky. My common sense really couldn't sum up all these strange incidents became one.

But for now, didn't bother about it. Below us, there was a vast forest that got closer. With this height, anyone would die as hitting the ground. Plus, I didn't have something like a parachute to slow the pace of gravity.

Suddenly, there was someone who took my sleeve. He also squeezed another person's shirt with another hand.

"Hold me! Never let go no matter what!"

Dimas?

At his command, everyone was trying to hold each other. Not all immediately did so. Because some people are in fear or waiting to be rescued. At first, I fell down irregularly, but after I hugged him, my directions track turned. Dimas did an outstanding maneuver in the air and led to a large river that divided the green forest into two.

At first, I thought I was going to die. Because even if I fell into the water, my body would be crushed for sure. Hitting the water's surface from the high above clouds wasn’t a good idea. But that was my mind before found out my whole body was shrouded in a glowing white aura. Honestly, I didn't know what was it. But it seemed to be useful to reduce the risk of injury when falling on the water surface. It seemed that Dimas and some of my friends had realized it, that was why they directed the direction of falling into the river.

Every second ran out. The distance between us with the river down there was shortened. I was got ready while closing my eyes. I told my body position to do perpendicular to reduce the impact of the water surface elevation.

A few moments later, my body fell hard into the river. I felt crushed by force. The one thing that I was grateful for was the river depths that were so deep, hence not made me hit the riverbed directly. Below the river surface was crystal clear waters, making my eyes caught some figure of other people who fell into the river. Because I couldn't swim, relying on Dimas's arm was the only I could do right now.

That man took me to the surface. The fresh air got into my lungs, now I could breathe normally. Dimas trying to drag another person and me to the riverbank. The river flowed swiftly, making it difficult for us to get to the side. My head was repeatedly immersed below the surface of the river. We were almost washed away before being caught in the rocks. Although I couldn't swim, I tried to move my arms and legs as much as possible. Hoping at least helped us a little bit away from the middle of the river.

After struggling for some time, we finally managed to get to the bank. I coughed and let out water from my mouth. My head was still a bit dizzy. My hands were trembling. I was so scared. Really, I didn't believe I could survive after what just happened.

"Bring him here! Lay him down!"

Without realizing it, Dimas was helping someone who fainted after pulling him out from the water, while I was frightened to death. Then he went again to the river to help others who were swept away. Not only Dimas but other friends who are still fine also helped him. It seemed that his action had moved the hearts of the people.

It took no time until everyone was rescued. Luckily there was no one seriously injured. Most are bruises caused by collisions with river water and rocks on the riverbed. Most people seemed traumatized by what we had just experienced, likewise with me. Snuggling under a tree while hugging my own wet body to reduce trembling and fear from inside me.

I just noticed the white aura that enveloped my body in midair, disappeared after reaching the river surface. It seemed the mysterious thing disappeared after carrying out its duties.

"Is everyone survived?" Asked Kak Indra.

"I think, yes."

"There's another person who hasn't survived," said Dimas, sitting on a stump. The looked on his face was dogged by sadness. "It's Anggi. We can't find him here. We even don't know what happened to him after he suddenly disappeared into the mist. I hope he's alright somewhere."

Wait, what did he just say? I was glad he was worried about me, but I really disliked being forgotten. Especially when I was right next to him. But there was something strange. Not only Dimas who showed expression like that. Everyone looked depressed. As if they mourned what happened to me.

I was astonished. Did they also forget my presence?

Strengthening my courage, I raised my hand so that everyone could see me." Umm ... I'm here, you know."

Having realized my presence, they were surprised. Exchanged glances at each other with puzzled expressions. Paused awhile for observing me, like someone when tried to buy goods carefully. I felt a little uncomfortable. As if stripped by the intense gaze from everyone here. Some of them seemed to whisper. Dimas turned to me and raised his eyebrow.

"I've been curious since before. Who are you, Miss? I didn't remember anyone like you in the Taekwondo club. And also ... I'm curious about this. Sorry if I'm rude!" That man looked at me strangely, then swallowed his saliva.

 I was crawling back against the trunk of a tree when Dimas extended his hand towards my face. His fingers got closer to my cheek and then caressed my long hair that down to the chest.

Wait a minute! I never remembered my hair would be this long.

"Gosh!" Yelled Dimas while touching my ear. He stroked it gently as an old man twisted his beard. "Who and what are you, Miss? You have pointed-long ears!"

Immediately I held both my own ear. Groping from bottom to top. From what I remembered, there was a mismatch in shape, texture, and long earlobes in my current ears. My ears now had a softer feel and elastic. But the most outstanding was its 20cm length.

"Wh-what's this? What happened to me?" I yelled roughly.

"Be quiet for a while! First of all, could you mention your name? Then, had you fallen from the sky with us before?" Asked Dimas while touching my trembling shoulder.

"I am ... Anggi. Anggi Nandatria."

Once again, everyone exchanged glances with mouth opened. They were clearly confused. So was I because of their reaction. Did they really forget about me?

"Anggi? Your name was similar to our smallest member," said the club captain who was drying clothes on a tree branch.

"It's me, Anggi the Midget. Did you forget you're the one who gave me that nickname?"

When everyone was astonished, Dimas suddenly grasped my shoulders tightly. I was so frightened to see his sharp gaze. This time he looked at me that way. "Hey, we've just lost a friend. I won't forgive you if you lie."

"But I'm really Anggi. Why do I have to tell a lie?" I answered simply.

"But ... you are different from Anggi I knew."

"Different? What's your mean?"

The guy stammered. Repeatedly opened his mouth, but no sound out. Instantly my eyes glued on his exposed forehead showed clearly the trace of stitches along two knuckles. It reminded me of something.

"That wound," I said, pointed to his forehead. "You got it when fell from a tree on the school backyard when we first met."

Dimas startled and stepped back. Her eyes widened at me in disbelief. Maybe in his mind, he was wondering how I could know about it.

But of course, I knew. How could I forget the proof of my friendship with him? That wound resulted from he tried to retrieve my bag that caught on top of the tree. At that time, I was often bullied by my classmates, but I thought that was too excessive. No one could help me. It was late afternoon, and the tree's location was located a little away from the school. At that moment, I cried endlessly under a tree until Dimas came to help me.

He climbed a tall tree to take my bag, though he fell because of a slip in the end. But he just laughed and told me not to worry him. Because of that incident, I made friends with him.

If I remember, Dimas wasn't among those who liked to tell others about the past and personal matters. So I was very confident. In addition to his family, only I knew about the origin of the wound on his forehead. If he still didn't believe after this, I didn't know what else to make him trust me. I knew my ears turned into pointed-long ones, But ... why he came to doubt that I was Anggi?

Does the changing of my ears was too significant that made my friends didn't recognize me?

"Why are all of you doubting about me?" I asked with a big question mark on my mind.

"That's not what I mean. Anggi, are you aware of the changes happening to you?" Said Kak Shella softly.

"The changes? Oh, right! I wanna know why my ears became long ones like this. And my hair too."

"Hey, did you know? It's not only your ears," said Dimas. Then turned in the other direction. "Is there anyone who could lend me a mirror?"

One of the identical twins, Vian, groped into her wet sweater pocket and took out a folding mirror from it. Dimas received it from her hand, and then he gave it to me.

Everyone was silent and waiting. It was a bit annoying, but I tried to ignore it. The surface was so slick. After four attempts, I was finally able to open the folding mirror. There were some water droplets on the surface. I wiped it out by hand so the mirror could be used.

At once, I was flabbergasted by a portrait in the mirror. There was a reflection of a young girl. The emerald color eyes looked stern and dazzling, she had a small and pointed nose. Her face was enhanced with thin red lips, which seemed very sensual, even though not wearing lipstick. However, the most caught my attention was the presence of something stuck out of my long and thick hair. I pushed it aside behind my ear. As I thought before, the earlobe was indeed had a long shape and pointed tip. The form was very different from ordinary people.

One thing I noticed, this image was not another person but indeed myself. Instantly astonished, my mental was fell down rapidly.

"I-It's me ...? Really?" I said with a shuddering voice.

It couldn't be denied again. The figure of a young girl in the mirror was me. In that second, I instantly rechecked my own body. I realized the other irregularities in my body. My light brown skin became fair white like easterners girls, with the softness of silk. On the chest, growing two average lumps that men hadn't have. Not only that, but I also didn't feel any presence of my willy between my legs.

I was shuddering again after noticing many changes in me. No, rather than the changes, it was more like total transformation to a new body. The greatest fear wrapped my heart. I dropped the mirror. Bowed my head while tightly grasped my hair.

"Impossible! This is crazy!"

"Calm down first! I knew you were very shocked. For now, don't panic! Let's think about it together." Kak Shella embraced my shoulders and stroked the back of my head, making me feel a little better.

"So, What else should be considered? Didn't all this happen because of him? I mean her. Geez ... whatever! It's all Anggi's fault we all caught a strange black mist, and then miraculously fell from the sky, and lastly ... we are stranded in the middle of a random forest!" Kak Erik suddenly shouted with a tense tone.

"Wait! Don't blame him for alleged arbitrarily like that! I'm sure there must be a logical explanation of these incidents," protested Kak Shella.

"Explanation? It's clearly obvious! All seemed fine before he took that shitty strange thing!! If-."

"Shut your mouth, motherfucker! Can't you silence for a while or not!!?" During the debate, Dimas suddenly screamed aloud. His voice was able to thrill people's hearts and made them silent instantly. That man glared at his upperclassman.

"What did you mean to say that, huh? Didn't you think you're too cocky? Finally, a time comes for me to punch that handsome face."

Kak Erik's tendency not to be outdone made him wanted to vent his emotions. But soon held by Kak Indra beside him.

"Shut up, you two! It's not the time for arguing or fighting. We should think about getting out of here. was there anybody who still has a mobile phone on?" Kak Indra instructed everyone to check their luggage. Many of their phones were off because of a short-circuit or lost at the river. There was only one person who still has a phone on." Did you get a signal? Can you call someone?" Asked Kak Indra to that person.

"No, I can't get any signal at all."

"Actually, where are we now? This forest was very different from where we were camping," he muttered as he looked around.

I followed his gaze. It was exact to Kak Indra's words. The structure and composition of forests were different. The trees in this forest grew very tall and could reach a few tens of meters, unlike previous short one's woods. With the shade of the foliage, made a few trees formed canopies that overlapped each other, shaded anyone who was below it.

The intensity of the sunlight fell down was not too much because the environment around here was damp. Green moss and grasses thrive on tree trunks and rocks. Coupled with the wide crystal clear streams and large lakes.

"Looks like we are not in the camping site forest. Whereas before it was night, but this time the sun about to rise," said Kak Shella.

"Have we underwent some sort of teleportation?" Said Vani, who suddenly pulls out his voice." Just like in the western movies?"

"I don't know. But obviously, we have really moved to another place."

"Hey, did you hear something?"

Because of Dimas's words, everyone was immediately silent. I tried to sharpen my hearing sense. From a distance, the conversation sound of several people could be heard clearly by my ears. There were probably about five or seven people, some of them were women, and there was also a kind of animal sound. Although I could hear them, I didn't know what they discussed because it was too far away. Their footsteps noise indicated that they were headed here.

"They're coming!" I said quietly.

Dimas and other people were turned to follow the direction of my gaze. Everyone seemed to be cautious and vigilant. Every second, voice conversations and footsteps were more clearly heard. I swallowed my saliva. Scared when the bad luck that happened today still hasn't ended.

One second later, some people came out of the lush trees. They gasped and froze when meeting us. Those people were wearing strange clothes like tribesmen. Equipped some traditional weapons such as arrows, daggers, spears, and some sort of machetes.

But what made my friends and me wonder was the existence of animals that kept whinnying. Look gallantly with white fur without stain, long and curly tail to touch the ground. Its shape was almost similar to a horse. But what set it apart was a single protruding horn from his head. Somehow, the animal remembered me on the mythical beast that often appears in fairy tales, the Unicorn.

The next time I took a breath, that people were in attacking stance and directed their arrows, while two men who are held dagger and spear came forward and pointed their weapons at us. Suddenly I had the reflex to stand and took cover behind a tree. While others took a step back.

"Calm down! We didn't intend to intrude on your forest! We got lost. Could you lend us help?" Asked Dimas, who came forward, raised both hands as if to yielded.

They responded with a cold stare. I thought they were didn't use Indonesian or any local languages. It was clearly strange words.

Yet somehow ... I could understand their words.

"What did he say? These people ... aren't looked like people who lived around here," said the spearman.

"You are right. Their clothes strange!" replied skinny ones.

"So what are we going to do to them? It could be dangerous if the news about us spread to Elvian city."

"We'll kill them. Nobody would care about the news of the bodies found in the woods like this. I'll start to rip the face of this handsome boy! From the beginning, I don't like all handsome men." The ugly face of this skinny man looked disgusted at Dimas's confused face.

"Well! I'll count to three." Two men nodded simultaneously without distracting their eyes. "One ... two ... THREE!"

"Wait a minute!" I wondered what I was thinking. Just before the two men thrust their weapons at us, I suddenly jumped forward Dimas and held them back as if protected him with my body. "Hold your weapons! We really don't mean any harm to you. We got lost and wanted to get out of this forest."

Both of them looked at each other. Then turned to their comrades in the back. Those people probably didn't think there would be one among us who could speak in their tongue. So did me. Although the words were very different, my ears and mouth as had known it for a long time. So I had no trouble understanding, even speaking in their language.

After some time, one of them, who seemed the leader of this group, came to me. He was a middle-aged man whose a big and muscular body. His face looked terrifying yet dignified. Seemed to accentuate his leadership aura. His eyes were sharp, able to give intimidation to all his opponents. He looked at me for a while. Then, without further ado immediately revealed the hair that covered my ears.

"Elvian! This woman was Elvian!" cried the skinny. They seemed stunned after looking at me, or more precisely towards my earlobe.

"She's not Elvian," said the leader. "Her hair was dark brown, not golden bright. Also, her skin isn't yellow pale like the long-eared race. Physically, she is not much different from us humans."

"Then what is she actually?"

"Haier-Elvian," murmured the leader. "The worst race ever."

They were shocked. Looking straight at me with their eyes almost popped out. While I paused where I stood without knowing the meaning of the leader's word. As a person who had just been stranded in nowhere, I didn't understand any particular terms in this place.

Maybe for now, I just assumed it was just a passing wind and thought all would be back to usual. But this was my big mistake. Because all sequence of strange events that I just had would lead me to the way of life full of dangers in the future.