The Sorcerer and Storm Maker

The sorceress led Anja, Braiba and Tari through the enchanted land known Akiriwabuko, showing them things like the massive mountain size homes where the giants live in, the stone caves that were home to trolls and ogres, the large tall trees with houses on of them where the elves live, the tiny homes within the flowers in the fields where fairies stay and the regular looking homes where sorcerers and sorceresses alike stay.

Anja and Braiba could fill the magic of the village all around them, flowing from the ground underneath their feet to the very air breathe, it made them feel a strange but yet incredible feeling that no words could describe.

“What is this strange feeling?” asked Anja, wondering what the feeling cause by the magic that was flowing all around them.

“It’s the magic that is making you feel that way. It is truly an incredible thing, not only does it empower us but it also connects us all” said the sorceress.

Anja upon hearing what the sorceress said understood what the strange feeling both he and Braiba felt, it was their magic to connect he and her as well all the mystical creatures in the village had.

Tari felt a little uncomfortable being in the village especially since the creatures there were the same creatures her father forced out of Buganbal all those years ago and she couldn’t help but feel frightened as she wondered what the creatures would do if they found out she was the daughter of the man that forced them out of Buganbal all those years.

Anja noticing that something was troubling Tari came closer to her and then asked, “What’s wrong?”

“All these creatures living here were all forced out of Buganbal by my father. I’m just a little scared that if any of them find out who I am they might…”Tari sentence was cut short by Anja saying, “If any person, troll, ogre or even giant even thinks about laying a finger on you, I won’t hesitate to send a thousand lightning bolts their way”.

Tari upon hearing what Anja could help but smile and lessened the fear she felt.

As they roamed through the village Anja remained by Tari’s side as wanted nothing more than to make her feel safe.

Soon they arrived at the sorceress’s house which stood at the top of a great hill.

Upon reaching the house the sorceress opened the door with just a snap of her fingers and then welcomed them all to come in.

Once in her home, she led to living room and then told them all to sit down.

“Now then, would the three of you like anything maybe some food or drinks” asked the sorceress.

“Actually we’re not…” Anja stopped midsentence by Braiba saying, “Some food would be nice, haven’t really had anything eat throughout the day”.

Anja could not believe how Braiba of all people could trust the sorceress to the point where she would ask her, a total stranger for food.

“Actually some food would be nice” said Tari shocking Anja as he was left wondering whether the sorceress put some spell on his sister and the princes to make them trust her.

“Alright then” said the sorceress before making a feast appear in front of with just a simple snap of her finger.

Tari and Braiba upon seeing the food thanked the woman before they began to help themselves to the food laid before them.

Anja who was still skeptical and distrusting about the sorceress then felt his stomach begin to grumble like thunder, he tried his best to fight his hunger, not wanting to eat food served to him by a total stranger but his hunger kept growing until it reached the point where he could no long bare it.

Anja then swallowed his pride before joining Braiba and the princess to eat the food provide to them by the sorceress.

Once they were done eating, the sorceress with just a snap of her fingers made the plates and dishes they used in eating disappeared.

“Now that you’ve all satisfied you hungers I believe I still owe you all an explanation” said the sorceress before sighing deeply.

“This is not a tale I’m fond of tell as it reminds of how I lost the only family I have left but it is still a tell I must share with you two to help you understand why your parent or your father in particular never told you about me” said the sorceress as began to tell them all a story of the past.

“My name is Alali and I’m the adopted daughter of Adiba and Anya Thorgo, your grandparents, and the elder sister to your father Afini” said the sorceress.

“What happened between you and father that would make him never tell us about you” asked Braiba.

“It all started when after the king passed to law for all mystical creatures in Buganbal to be slaughtered. I suggest we leave along with the other mystical creatures but your father on the other hand wanted to stay, saying that the land of Buganbal was where he was born and he would rather die than leave Buganbal because of that I and Afini got in to an argument. No matter what I said your stubborn father refused to see reason but eventually he agreed to leave after your mother, the only person apart from our father would could actually subdue his stubborn spirit and make him see reason, talked to him and made him understand that leave was the only option they had” said the sorceress.

“Yep, that sounds like our mother alright” said Braiba with a small smile as she remembered how whenever her father got mad, the only person that was able to tame and calm him down was her mother, sometimes she did it with something as simple as a glare other time she would go and whisper some to his ear that would immediately calm him, her mother was so effective at calming her father down at sometimes she wondered if she had put a spell on him.

“Your father did agree to leave but didn’t go too far from Buganbal. I and the rest of the mystical creature traveled deep in to the forest and eventually found this land and decided to settle down here. After we were done settling here I went back to your father and try to convince him to come and stay with us here in Akiriwabuko. You two were just newly born infants at the time, I still remember how cute you two were when I laid my eyes on you for the first time” said the sorceress with a smile as she remembered how cute Anja and Braiba were as babies.

“What happened after that?” asked Braiba.

The sorceress sighed before saying, “Well I told your father he should follow me to the Akiriwabuko along with your mother and you two but Afini refused which sparked another argument between me and him. In the heat of the argument he said that I betrayed and brought shame to our late father’s memory for memory by choosing to forget and leave the land he raised us on and in response I called fool that fool that chooses live in the past”.

“The argument ended with me giving your father a final chance to come with but father still refused and so with a heavy I left but I assured your father that they would always be a place here for him and his family if he ever changed his mind and that was the last time I saw him” said the sorceress.

Braiba and Tari, upon hearing the story of how the sorceress and Afini separated and went their separate ways couldn’t help but feel sad for the sorceress especially since Afini and Alaelra were now dead, making any form of reconciliation between the sorceress and Afini impossible.

Anja, even though he was still skeptical about the sorceress’s identity, not fully convinced she was who she said she was also felt bad for her upon hearing her story.

The sorceress then sighed before saying, “Enough of me and my old tale. Tell me, what made you two wonder so far from home, do your parents know about this?”

Braiba, Anja and Tari, upon hearing what the woman’s said became silent and bowed down their heads, not knowing how to tell her that their parents were gone and they were forced out of their home by the mad man that took their lives.

“What happened?” asked the sorceress with a worried look on her face upon seeing the look of loss and sadness on all three of their faces.

“It’s a long and painful story, and I don’t think you would like to hear it” said Braiba with her face still down, trying her best not to shed a tear as she thought about everything that had happened to them all.

The sorceress then placed her on Braiba’s, seeing the pain in her eyes could understand just by looking at them that whatever they had gone through was something truly horrific and painful for them, before saying, “Tell me the story, I may not like it but I have to hear it”.

Braiba upon hearing what the sorceress said took a deep breath, gathering all the strength she needed before she began to tell the sorceress everything that happened, from the beast she, Anja and Amasu slew to the Dark Sorcerer and how he killed their parents while they were defending Buganbal from him, she told the sorceress everything even about how Tari is the princess of Buganbal and that their parents saved her and sent how to their home, she also told her about how the Dark Sorcerer attacked their home and forced them to flee from it.

Anja upon hearing everything Braiba had told the sorceress wondered if his sister had gone mad for trusting the sorceress with so much information about them and everything that had happened to them.

“You’ve all been through so very much, I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you all maybe if I was Afini would have…” the sorceress was stopped before she could complete her sentence by Braiba saying, “Don’t blame yourself for what has already happened. It is true that our parents are gone and we’ve lost our home but at least we are still alive and here with you”.

The sorceress upon hearing what Braiba said could help but shed a tear before smiling and saying, “You are the spitting image of your mother both in looks and heart”.

Braiba smiled upon hearing what the sorceress said to her.

The sorceress than turned her attention to Tari who began to shake nervously upon noticing that she was watching her.

“So you’re the princess of Buganbal and the daughter of the man that forced me and so many other mystical creatures out of my home” said the sorceress, looking at Tari with an unreadable expression on her face.

Anja, fearing that the sorceress might do something Tari, said, “Leave her be, she has done nothing wrong to anyone. Don’t punish her for a sin committed by her father so long ago”.

The sorceress then turned to Anja and then said with anger and bitterness in her voice as she spoke, “Are you really defending her, knowing everything her father had done to every single mystical creature including your parents who died fight to protect the same king that forced them out”.

Tari upon hearing what the sorceress said bowed her head down in shame.

Braiba was about to come to Tari’s aid and try to explain to the sorceress who she believed to be her aunt that Tari had a kind heart and did not deserve to be abused or punished for an act she neither committed nor had a say in but before she could anything Anja got up from his seat and went to the sorceress, looking her straight in the eyes and said “Did I stutter when I spoke or did you not just hear me well. If that is the case late me make myself as clear as the morning sky, if you lay a finger on the princess, I will make it rain thunder and lightning over this beloved village of yourself. Leave behind only a cloud of dust and smoke as the only remains of this village”.

Anja spoke, with his eyes glowing like light and his voice roaring like thunder, in such a way that both Braiba and Tari weren’t sure if what he said was an empty threat or if he was actually being serious.

The sorceress upon hearing what Anja said just sighed in defeat before saying, “Fine, I won’t lay a finger on her or try to harm her in anyway. The heavens know that after spending some many years living with two storm makers I know that it would take a special kind of insanity to harm someone a storm maker loves with all his heart”.

Tari upon hearing what the sorceress said could help but blush a little as the thought of Anja harboring any form of love for her made her feel overwhelmed with emotions she could not explain but brought her immense pleasure within her heart.

Anja, not thinking too much about what the sorceress said and made his intentions clear on the matter of what he was going to do if the sorceress dared to harm Tari in any way, just went back to his seat, and upon sitting he noticed the strange way Tari was looking who.

“Are you feeling okay?” asked Anja.

Tari upon hearing what Anja said turned away from him, not wanting her to see her in the state she was in as now she felt immensely shy around him.

“I’m fine” was all Tari could say but that was enough to reassure Anja that she was alright.

“Young love what a beautiful thing” the sorceress whispered softly while looking at Anja and Tari with a smile on her face.

Braiba, hearing what the sorceress said couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Anja falling in love with Tari, slowly accepting that it could be a possibility.

“Thank you for the food and everything but we have to leave” said Anja as he got up from his seat.

“Come on Braiba and Tari, we’re leaving” said Anja.

Braiba was about to say something to Anja as she didn’t want to leave, at least not yet as she wanted to know more about her and Anja’s aunt who their father told them nothing about but before she could say a word the sorceress spoke, saying, “But why do you want to leave so soon. I mean you can stay here for as long as you want, we are family after all”.

“With all due respect madam, we know nothing about you and as far as we know the story you just told us about being our aunt could be nothing more than a lie” said Anja.

“Anja” said Braiba, angry at Anja for suspecting that the woman was lying.

“What Braiba? Are you forgetting that a few moments ago she had me and Tari tied up”said Anja.

“Yes but that was before she knew who we were” said Braiba.

“You can’t be serious Braiba, she’s a total stranger. How can you trust someone you just met?” said Anja unable to believe his sister was defending the sorceress.

“She brought us in to her home and feed” said Braiba.

Anja’s eyes, filled with rage over his sister defending the sorceress and not wanting to leave, began to glow like lightning.

“Listen Braiba, we’re leaving this place and that’s final” Anja spoke with his thunderous voice.

“No, you can leave if you want to but I’m staying” said Braiba.

Anja, driving by his rage then grabbed hold of Braiba’s arm and said, “You coming, even if I have to drag you with me”.

“ENOUGH!!!!” screamed the sorceress who could not stand seeing Anja and Braiba fight anymore.

“You two are sibling for goodnesssake; you shouldn’t be fighting with each. What would you parents think if they were here” said the sorceress.

Anja then turned to the sorceress with his eyes still glowing and driving by his rage before saying, “Stop talking about our parents as if you know them”.

The sorceress then sighed before saying, “whether you like it or not I am your aunt and I knew your father and I knew your mother, I also know that if they could see you now and the way you were treating your sister they would be ashamed”.

Anja upon hearing what the sorceress said calmed down knowing that she was right, if his parents were alive they won’t be happy seeing him fight with Braiba.

Anja’s eyes then stopped glowing, he then let go of Braiba before saying to Braiba with a calm voice, “I’m sorry”.

Braiba smiled upon hearing Anja apologize to her, pleased to see that he wasn’t allowing his rage control him anymore.

The sorceress then sighed before speaking to Anja, saying, “I understand what you’re going through. You just lost your home and your parents, and now, you’re scared of losing of the only thing precious you have left. Please, you don’t have to believe I’m your aunt but atthe very least trust that I won’t harm you or them”.

Anja upon hearing what the sorceress said turned to Braiba and Tari, the only two people left that he care about and wanted to above all else protect, and then turned to the sorceress.

Even though Anja didn’t trust her or her claims about being his and Braiba’s in the slightest he, at that very moment, had to come to terms with the fact that he, Braiba and Tari had nowhere else to go and at the moment the sorceress’s home was safest and only place they could stay.

“Fine, we’ll stay” Anja begrudgingly said, even though he still didn’t trust the sorceress he, Braiba and Tari needed a safe place to stay and her home was their best and only option.

The sorceress upon hearing what Anja said smiled out of joy and happiness that Anja had agreed to stay along with Braiba and Tari in her home.

“Alright then come with me, I’ll take you to your new rooms” said the sorceress before taking Anja, Braiba to the spare bedrooms she had in her house.

The sorceress only her two spare rooms in her home so decided to give Anja one room and allow Tari and Braiba to share the other room.

Anja at first protested against staying a separate room away from Braiba and Tari, fearing that if anything were to happen to them in their rooms he wouldn’t be there to protect them.

Anja’s mind was then put to rest when the sorceress told him that his and the girls rooms wouldn’t be too far apart and reminded that if anywhere to happen Braiba, being a capable and brilliant sorceress would be able to protect both herself and Tari.

Even though Anja did not like the idea of being away from the girls the sorceress’s word assured him they would be alright staying in a separate room after all Braiba was more than capable of handling herself as well as protecting Tari should the need arise.

Soon night fell and Braiba along with the princess laid on their separate bed before slowly drifting away to sleep, feeling a sense of comfort and safety as they slept together in their shared room while Anja on the other hand could not sleep not even for a second as each and every time he shut his eyes close he would be haunted by horrific images of the Dark Sorcerer ending the lives of everybody he cared for, from his parents to Braiba and Tari.

Anja just lied on his bed thinking about everything that had happened, from his parents to him, Braiba and Tari having to leave their home, the place he born in and the only true home he knew to be his.

He at that moment felt like a failure despite having all the strength and fury of the storm behind him he was still powerless against the evil that was the Dark Sorcerer, he couldn’t stop him from ending the lives of his parents and he also couldn’t stop him when he attacked his home.

Anja wept while remembering everything he had lost and failed to protect that were ultimately destroyed by the Dark Sorcerer.

Anja then thought about Braiba and Tari, the only two people left that he cared about, and how they, at that moment, were the only source of comfort, peace and happiness he had, and he was determined to protect them.

Then decided to go the see how they were doing in their room.

Upon reaching the room Anja slowly opened the door as he didn’t want to disturb them while they slept and upon seeing the two girls lying on the beds, sleeping peacefully, the young storm maker couldn’t help smile.

Seeing the two girl sleeping so peaceful made Anja feel a sense of warmth and calmness he had been lacking since his parent’s deaths.

Anja stood by the corner of the door watching the girls were they sleep before hearing a voice from the behind say, “It isn’t a good sign when a boy open’s room to two young beautiful girl while they are sleeping so late at night”.

Anja upon hearing the voice turned and saw the sorceress standing behind.

“What are you doing up so late?” asked Anja as he was shocked and surprised to see the sorceress.

“This is my house, I sleep when I wish to, the question is, why aren’t you in bed like your sister and the princess” said the sorceress.

“I…I couldn’t sleep” said Anja, slightly embarrassed.

“So you decided to come to sneak in to the room were the girls were sleeping in” asked the sorceress with a look of suspicion in her face.

“No, I was just checking on them, to see if they were alright” said Anja feeling even more embarrassed upon seeing the look of suspicion on the sorceress’s face.

The sorceress then came closer to Anja and looked at him from his head right down to his toes, an act Anja found very unsettling, before smiling and saying, “You’re just like your father, you care deeply about people closest to you and feel a strong desire protect them from anything. It’s actually quite adorable”.

Anja upon hearing what the woman said remained silent as she are words were true; he did deeply care for Braiba and Tari, and wanted to protect them in whatever way he could.

“It’s actually a good thing you’re still awake. I actually wanted to show you something. Come with me” said the sorceress before taking Anja to her room.

“Why did you bring here?” asked Anja.

“To show you this” said the sorceress before using her magic to lift a massive chest off the ground and placing it before Anja.

She then used her magic to unlock the chest before saying, “open it”.

Anja, though cautious as he still did not trust the sorceress, opened the box out of curiosity, wanting to know what the sorceress wanted to show him.

Upon opening the box Anja saw something he didn’t except to something that the sorceress shouldn’t have unless…