The Sorcerer and Storm Maker

Delamu, Amasu and king Atoni had nowhere to run to as they were blocked by Alaelra who stood before them and Afini from behind, both corrupted with dark magic from the Dark Sorcerer.

Delamu then bought out his sword.

“Alaelra, Afini please fight whatever dark spell that has been placed upon you. I do not wish to fight you two” said Delamu as he didn’t want to fight Alaelra and Afini, they were his friends after all and he hoped they would be strong enough to fight whatever spell the Dark Sorcerer placed upon them.

But sadly the spell placed upon Alaelra and Afini was too strong for them to break free from and no matter how much they tried to free themselves from the Dark Sorcerer’s control they just couldn’t do it.

Afini and Alaelra then readied themselves to attack, with Afini bringing out his axe with lightning flowing through it and Alaelra summoning every ounce of magic she had.

They then attacked with Afini firing a lightning bolt out of his axe and Alaelra firing raw magic out of her hands.

Delamu stood in front of Amasu in an attempt to protect him from the blast of lightning and magic that came from Afini and Alaelra.

The lightning and magic hit causing a massive explosion that shook the earth underneath them.

A thick cloud of dust and smoke caused by the explosion covered the area where Delamu, Amasu and king Atoni stood.

The cloud was too thick for Alaelra and Afini to see anything so Afini snapped his fingers, summoning powerful winds to blow away the dust and smoke.

As the dust and smoke cleared away Alaelra and Afini were shocked to see that Delamu, Amasu and the king were unharmed and protected by a shield of magic.

Afini and Alaelra then sensed their children’s presence near them.

They then turned around and none other than Anja and Braiba standing behind.

Braiba then used her magic to make the protective shield she created to protect Delamu, Amasu and the king from their parent’s attack disappear.

Amasu smiled upon seeing Anja and Braiba, knowing that they were the only two people who could save them and quite possible break the dark spell placed up there parents.

Delamu looked at Anja and Braiba with a look of worry and concern, fearing what Afini and Alaelra could do to them in the current state they were in.

Now Afini and Braiba stood before their parents shocked and horrified at what they were looking at.

They could sense the dark magic in them and instantly knew it had taken full control over them.

They could not believe it, their own parents corrupted with a darkness of dark magic.

Afini could not hold his tears back and as they fell he crushed his arm in to a tight fist.

Anja felt only two emotions flow through him, sadness upon seeing his parents in the state they were in, and an intense anger and hatred for who or whatever corrupted them.

Storm clouds then began to fill the sky high above caused by Anja’s sadness and rage as a storm maker.

Braiba looked at her parent unable to recognize them and what they had become.

The love and care she once saw when she looked into her parent’s eyes were now replaced by a lifeless cold gaze.

Seeing her parents in that state broke her heart and caused her to shed a tear.

Afini then spoke with a heavy voice fill with sadness as tears continued to fall down from his eyes, “what did this to you”.

Afini and Alaelra gave no reply Anja’s question and their silence made the anger and rage Anja felt within him grow.

“I said, WHAT DID THIS TO YOU!!!!!” screamed Anja filled with nothing but rage at that very moment.

The lightning then rained down from the sky above because of Anja’s rage and struck Afini and Alaelra.

“Anja, what have you done” asked Braiba unable to believe that Anja just struck their parents down with lightning bolts.

Anja was shaking with feeling an overwhelming amount of guilt flow through him.

He did mean to strike his parents with lightning he just lost control of himself upon seeing them in the state they were in.

Anja looked at his shaking hands and then asked himself softly, “what have I done”.

Braiba then rushed to their parents to help them, Anja this and chased after her to help them as well.

Both Anja and Braiba rushed to their parents who were now on the ground unconscious thanks to Anja’s lightning strike.

“Father, mother” said Braiba with tears falling down from her eyes as she tried to wake them up.

Anja as well tried to wake them up, crying out with tears overflowing from his eyes, “Please, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt the both of you”.

As both Braiba and Anja cried for their parents to wake up some their tears fell down on them and as they did their parents opened their eyes.

Braiba and Anja were relieved to see that their parents were alive but soon that feeling turned to fear and horror as their parent’s eyes began to glow red.

Afini then struck Anja with a lightning bolt and Alaelra blasted Alaelra with her magic.

Anja and Braiba were now on the floor in immense pain because of their parent’s attack.

They then got and saw that their parents slowly approach them.

Afini then brought out his axe with lightning flowing from it; he then aimed it straight for Anja and Braiba.

Afini then fired a lightning bolt at the both of them but before it could reach them someone rushed it and blocked it with a sword.

It was Amasu using his sword which had been enchanted by Braiba’s own magic he managed to block Afini’s lightning strike.

As Amasu used his sword to block the lightning it bounced out of the sword blade and flew straight for Afini and Alaelra, striking them down.

“Are you two okay” asked Amasu to the both of them.

“Yes, thank you” said Braiba.

Anja remained silent as he still could not believe that his own father just tried to strike him and his sister with a lightning bolt and was save from being struck by it by Amasu, a Buganbalian.

“Anja, are you okay” asked Braiba noticing that her brother was lost deep in his thoughts.

“I’m fine” said Anja as he came out of his deep thought.

“What happened to them” asked Anja looking at his parents.

Delamu and the king then came to them.

“They were corrupted by dark magic from a man who calls himself the Dark Sorcerer” said Delamu.

“Why would he do that to them of all people?” asked Braiba.

“Because they were trying to protect me and my kingdom from him” said king Atoni with his bowed down in shame.

Anja the moment he heard what the king became filled with nothing but rage and anger, blaming the king for the state his parents were in.

“It’s because of you, are the reason my parents are in their current state” said Anja as his eyes began to glow like lightning before he grabbed the king by his neck.

Amasu was a bit shocked and taken upon hearing Anja say the storm maker and sorceress that attacked them were his parents and seeing his anger and rage towards the king.

“Anja please, claim down” said Braiba seeing that Anja’s anger was growing beyond control but Anja didn’t listen, he was too blinded by his anger and rage hear what his sister was saying.

Braiba, Amasu and Delamu just watched Anja and the way held on to the king, fearing that driven by his anger and rage he might hurt the king or do something far worse.

The king looked at Anja and understood why he felt the way that he did.

He had caused so much pain to his parents, forcing them to leave Buganbal and make a home in the forest outside the kingdom and now they were the mind slave a mad man because they fought to protect him and his kingdom.

“Your anger is justified; I have spilled the blood of many mystical creatures, made many more suffer including your parents and now you. I know my apology would mean nothing to you at this point but please let me still say it. I am sorry for everything I have done to you, our parents and your kind. I repeated my parents’ mistake, the same mistake that took away my brother’s life but this time it may cost me the life of my people and my kingdom” said the king.

Anja upon hearing what the king said still felt an immense rage burning within his heart of the king but could not bring himself to harm him.

Anja’s eyes stopped glowing and he threw the king to the ground.

“I hate you with every fiber of my being but I’m not going to soil my hands with you blood because that would make me a bigger monster than you” said Anja complete and utter hatred for the king in his voice as he spoke.

Atoni then bowed his head down, feeling nothing but shame upon hearing what Anja said.

Then sky began to rumble with thunder and storm clouds filled with red lightning began to form in the sky.

They all then turned around and saw that their parents were now standing on their feet, ready to attack them.

Both Delamu and Anja brought out their swords and readied themselves for battle but Anja and Braiba stopped them from attacking.

“They are our parents so if anyone is meant to face them it is us” said Anja.

“Are you two sure” asked Delamu.

“Yes” said both Braiba and Anja.

Delamu saw that they did not want to face their parents in the state they were in but understood they knew they were the only ones at that very that could possibly make them see reason.

“Very well then but please be careful” said Delamu.

“We will” said Braiba with a smile before she and Anja left to face their parents and possibly fine away to break the spell but upon them.

“Are you ready for this” asked Braiba as they approached their parents.

“You mean am I ready to fight the two most important people in my life apart from you, do you even need to ask” said Anja a bit annoyed by the question Braiba asked.

Braiba could sense the fear and worry that Anja felt as they approached.

She then held her brother’s arm.

“Anja, everything will be alright, you this right” said Braiba looking at Anja in an attempt to stop him from worry and give him a little bit of hope.

Anja gave no reply to her as he could not bring himself to believe what her words.

Right now they were going to face their parents and Anja feared what was going to happen after this.

Anja knew their parents were not themselves and there was little to know no chance they would hold back their power or even show them mercy.

He knew he and Braiba could not afford to hold anything back as they were not their parents at that very moment, Anja hoped Braiba realized that too.

Braiba on the other hand hoped they could talk to them and help free them from the dark magic that had corrupted them.

She still believed that her parents still loved both her and Anja and would not go too far as to end their lives.

She hoped the love in their hearts for them would be strong enough to free them from dark magic.

Braiba and Anja finally reach their parents, standing still before them with a saying a word.

Braiba looked in to their eyes and search for the little love and shred of their humanity that was not corrupted by dark magic.

Anja stood still and just watched his parents; he too, despite him still fearing that the dark magic had taken ful control over them could stop himself from hoping that there was still a little part of them that remained pure and untouched by the dark magic.

Braiba finally found what she had been looking for, a small shred of their love and humanity in their eyes.

She smiled upon seeing that her parents still had love even though it was very little in their heart.

“Mother” Braiba called out to her mother, wanting see if she would respond to her as mother would her child but Alaelra said nothing and remaining silent.

Anja saw what Braiba and decided to follow her lead, calling out to their father, “Father”.

But like Alaelra Afini said nothing.

Braiba then grabbed hold of Anja’s arm.

“What are you doing?” asked Anja confused by what Braiba was doing.

“Mother and father are still in there and it’s up to us to bring them back” said Braiba

“But how are we supposed to do that?” asked Anja.

“We are their children aren’t we, that means that the love they have for us is strong, strong enough to break free from whatever spell put upon them” said Braiba.

Anja just looked at his sister utterly confused by what she said.

Braiba just sighed upon seeing that he didn’t understand what she said.

“Just follow my lead brother” said Braiba.

Braiba then went close to her parents dragging Anja who still did not understand what she was planning with her.

Once they reached their parents Anja wanted to question his sister, wondering what she was thinking bring them so close to their parents in the currents state they were in but Braiba shuts him up before he could speak.

“Hush now brother” said Braiba keeping Anja from saying anything.

Delamu, king Atoni and Amasu watched from afar what Braiba was doing and wondered what she was planning on doing.

Try as they may they could not seem to understand her plan and all they could was hope that her plan, whatever it may be worked.

Once Braiba had succeeded in keeping her brother quiet turned to her parents who had been watching them since without taking any action against them.

Braiba then grabbed hold of her mother’s hand and placed it on her cheek shocking everyone including Anja.

“I’m your child mother, don’t you recognize me” asked Braiba.

At first Alaelra remain silent, showing no reaction to what Braiba did and just stood still but then after a few short moments Alaelra whispered softly, “Braiba, my…child”.

A tear then fell down from Alaelra’s eyes.

Braiba then smiled upon seeing that the love her mother had for her was still in her and even though she had been corrupted by dark magic that love never faded away.

Anja was shocked upon hearing what his mother said.

Despite the fact that she was corrupted by dark magic Alaelra could still recognize Braiba.

Anja then understood what Braiba was trying do and that was to use the love that their parents had for them to free them from the spell.

Anja looked at his father, then grabbed hold of his hand and placed it on his cheeks just like Braiba did.

“It’s me, father your son, Anja” said Anja with tears falling down from his eye.

Like Alaelra there was a moment of silence but after that moments passed Afini spoke softly in the form of a whisper, “Anja”.

Anja smiled upon hearing his father say his name.

He hugged Afini feeling and overwhelming amount of joy and happy because his father recognized even though he was still under the influence of dark magic.

Braiba too hugged her mother, feeling the same way Anja felt.

But as Anja and Braiba hugged their parents Afini and Alaelra set their sights on the king Atoni who stood next to Delamu and Amasu.

They were still under the control the Dark Sorcerer and he had commanded them to get the king and bring him to him, the Dark Sorcerer, a command the dark magic in them refused them from disobeying.

Lighting then flow out of Afini’s body and struck Anja who was busy hugging him, causing to fall and lose consciousness only to be caught by Afini before he reached the ground.

Afini then placed his unconscious son gently ground.

Alaelra did something similar with Braiba, striking her down with magic that flowed out of her body causing Braiba to lose consciousness and then placed her on the ground next to Anja.

Afini and Alaelra just stood in front of Braiba and Anja’s unconscious bodies and could not help but smile.

They might have been corrupted by dark magic to obey the Dark Sorcerer’s command but they were still Braiba’s and Anja’s parents and he sight of them sleeping together so peacefully in their unconscious state made them smile like it would any other parent.

Soon they stopped focusing on their unconscious children and then turned their attention to the king.

Delamu, Amasu and the king saw that Afini and Alaelra were now focusing on them.

Afini and Alaelra then began to approach them.

Delamu seeing that Afini and Alaelra were coming to them knew he had to act quickly before they reach them.

“Son, go with the king and run, look for somewhere safe to hide” said Delamu.

Amasu looked at his in shock and disbelief, he wanted him to run away with the king and hide while he stayed and fought both a storm maker and a sorceress.

Amasu knew what he was planning was suicide and if his father stayed and to fight while he ran away along with the king he would never see his father again as he was must likely to perish in the battle.

“I’m not going anywhere” said Amasu.

“This is no time to disobey your father son” said Amasu.

“And this is no time to turn your only son into an orphan” said Amasu with tears falling down from his eyes.

Delamu then turned to Amasu, seeing the tears falling down from his eyes and sighed before saying, “do you want to know why I stopped being an adventurer”.

Delamu then wiped away his son’s tears.

“I fell in love with you mother and then had you before your mother died. After that I stopped wanting to go on adventures because you were my greatest adventure, far greater than any beast I’veslain. I treasure you more than I treasure my own life so please, I’m not asking, I’m begging you as you father, leave now with the king” said Delamu.

Amasu saw in his father’s face a look of pure and utter terror as he spoke, it was a fear not of death but of worry and concern for him, a fear that seemed greater than that of death, a fear of a father losing his son.

Amasu then pulled his father in and hugged him tightly.

“Please try to survive, for my sake” said Amasu as more tears fell down from his eyes.

“I will, I promise father” said Amasu.

King Atoni watched the warm embrace between a father and his son with a look of sadness and shame, feeling guilty for what was happening, it might have been the faults of his parents and their fearful beliefs towards mystical creatures but it was also he’s a well for inheriting the same backward beliefs from.

“Your majesty, go with my son” said Delamu.

As Delamu spoke, addressing him with a title meant for a king the shame Atoni felt only grew.

“Please stop this Delamu, don’t sacrifice your life to save me. Let me go to the Dark Sorcerer, maybe his blood lust will end once he has me” said king Atoni as he was wielding to sacrifice himself to the Dark Sorcerer if it meant it would put an end to all the chaos and suffering.

“A mad man like that cannot be reasoned with; he has been blinded by both his power and his thirst for revenge. Neither his blood lust nor would his reign of chaos and destruction end if you willingly give yourself to him” said Delamu.

“But Delamu…” Atoni sentence was cut off before it could be completed by Delamu saying, “I am the head of your royal guard and as such it is my duty to protect you as well as the kingdom of Buganbal, please let me fulfill my duty and save you my king”

King Atoni upon hearing what Delamu said could not find the words to go against his and agrees to leave even though he did not wish to.

“You are the greatest and the most loyal guard to ever serve me” said king Atoni.

“I only wish to server you and the great kingdom of Buganbal my lord” said Delamu.

“Good luck and I sincerely hope you do not perish in this battle” said king Atoni before he and Amasu leave.

Delamu was now left alone to face Alaelra and Afini alone.

Delamu would be lying if he said this was a battle he could win as he knew Alaelra and Afini out classed greatly in both strength and power.

He knew he could not win but he could keep them busy for enough time for Amasu and the king to get far away from them as possible, hopefully hiding away in a place neither them nor the Dark Sorcerer could find.