The Sorcerer and Storm Maker

Delamu roamed the forest aimless almost as if he was unsure of where he was going but kept on riding his horse deeper into the forest.

“They have to be here somewhere” Delamu said to himself.

He continued to roam the forest until he eventually saw what looked like a farm and on top of a great hill near the farm was a small farm house.

He smiled upon seeing this and rode his house to the farm house.

He got to the farm house took a deep breath and knocked at the door.

A few moments later Afini opened the door.

The two men froze upon seeing each other.

Delamu and Afini then began to smile and embarrass each other in a warm hug.

“It’s good to see you again old friend” said Afini.

“Likewise” said Delamu.

“Please come, we have a lot to talk about” said Afini inviting Delamu to come in.

Delamu accepted the invitation and came in.

Once inside the two men sat down next to each other and began to relive old memories from their past.

A few moments late Alaelra emerged from the kitchen and froze up in shock upon seeing Delamu.

“Hello Alaelra” said Delamu.

“If it isn’t the reckless frog that always leaps without looking” said Alaelra.

“It’s nice to see you haven’t changed” said Delamu with a smile.

“Why are you here Delamu and how did you find us?” asked Alaelra.

Delamu then sighed before saying “I’m here because is suspect that something bad is coming for Buganbal and as for how I found you, a few people said they saw a storm maker and sorceress help defeat a moonlight beast and then I knew you two would not be too far from Buganbal”.

“Wait did you just say a storm maker and sorceress helped defeat moonlight beast” asked Alaelra.

“Yes but wasn’t it you two” asked Delamu thinking they were the storm maker and sorceress that helped save Buganbal from the moonlight beast.

“No, we’ve never stepped our feet in Buganbal ever since king Atoni’s law was made” said Alaelra.

“Then who were the storm maker and sorceress that defeated the beast” asked Delamu.

Alaelra and Afini looked each other for a brief moment and realized who the sorceress and storm maker were.

“ANJA AND BRAIBA!!!” screamed Afini furiously with a voice that echoed and shook the ground around them like thunder.

The Anja and Braiba came out of their rooms with a fearful look on their faces upon hearing how furious their father sounded when he called them.

Delamu was shocked at first to see the young storm maker and sorceress as they emerged from their rooms but was pleased with the fact that his old friend had children of his own.

“You called father” said Anja nervously.

“I just want an honest answer from you two, did you two go to the kingdom of Buganbal” asked Afini.

Anja and Braiba looked at their father’s angry and furious face and could not bring themselves to come up with lie.

“Yes father, we did but we did so to stop a beast that would have destroyed Buganbal completely” said Braiba.

“Wait are you telling me that the both of you not only disobeyed us and went to Buganbal but you also fought a dangerous beast as well” said Afini with storm clouds forming over his head as his anger grew.

“Calm down Afini” said Alaelra.

“CALM DOWN!!!!!! Did you hear what they did” said Afini angry at both Anja and Braiba for not only going to Buganbal but also fighting a very dangerous beast.

“Yes I did but their hearts were in the right place when they did it” said Alaelra.

Afini then took a deep and calming breath before saying “I guess you are right dear”.

Anja and Braiba who were frozen with fear gave a brief sigh of relief upon seeing their father had calmed down.

“Why are you two so calm, you two are still going to be punished” said Alaelra.

“But…” Anja and Braiba were cut off midsentence by Alaelra giving a serious and angry glare to the both of them.

“That seems fair” said Anja with a nervous smile with Braiba nodding her head nervously in agreement.

“Now what would make the best punishment for the both of you, oh I know, you two are to tend to the crop in the field without using any of your powers” said Alaelra.

“But…” Anja and Braiba were cut of midsentence Alaelra glaring at him once again.

“Yes mother” said Braiba and Anja before they both left to tend to the crops in the fields outside.

“So the both of you have children when did that happen” asked Delamu.

“Do you remember how Alaelra was feeling unwell before we left Buganbal?” said Afini.

“Yes, I remember” said Delamu, thinking back to the last few days before the king made that law that forced every mystical creature out of Buganbal.

“Well it turns out she was actually pregnant” said Afini.

“Really” said Delamu with a smile on his face.

“Yes, it took us by surprise when we found out but after that we decided to stay in the forest and raise our family here” said Alaelra.

“Wow, a lot can happen in just a few years” said Delamu with smile on his face, happy and pleased to see his old friends were happily married with kids of their own.

“By the way how is your wife doing, do you have and children of your own” asked Alaelra.

“Actual Ebiera passed” said Delamu as small tear droplets fell down from his eyes.

“I’m sorry to hear that Delamu, I know how much you loved and cared for her” said Afini who was able to see the pain and heartache in his friend’s eyes over his dead wife.

“Don’t be, *sigh*, because as much as it hurts me to say, she’s gone and she’s never coming back but at least she left behind a son for me to always remember her by” said Delamu with a weak smile on his face as he wiped away his tears.

“You have a son, what’s his name” asked Braiba.

“Amasu” said Delamu.

“What a nice name, I’m sure he takes after his father” said Afini.

“Yes he does, that’s the problem” said Delamu with a deep sighed as he thought about Amasu and how reckless he was, just a like he was during his younger years.

“Anyway, I didn’t come all this way just to talk” said Delamu.

Afini and Alaelra faces then began to display signs of fear and worry as they both knew the real reason Delamu had come.

“Sorry old friend I don’t think we can help you” said Afini.

“But you two are the only ones I know that can stop the threat that is approaching Buganbal” said Delamu.

“We’ve left Buganbal and all the memories associated with it behind us. We have a family now with two children to worry about” said Alaelra.

“I understand but if you don’t help us Buganbal may fall” said Delamu.

“I’m sorry we can’t” said Afini.

“Is your grudge against the king so great that you will let innocent people suffer because of it and if so you two are just as arrogant and rage blinded as him” said Delamu.

Alaelra and Afini looked at each other as they thought about what he said

It is true that they may have hated the king for the law he made against them and all mystical creature but their hatred wasn’t so great that they would allow the entirekingdom to suffer because of it.

They then looked at each other and nodded their heads knowing that they had to help not just their friend but the people of Buganbal as well.

“Fine we will help you but just this once” said Afini.

“Thanks old friend” said Delamu grateful to Afini and Alaelra for agreeing to help.

“That’s what friends are for” said Afini with a soft chuckle and a warm smile on his face.

After that Afini and Alaelra went to their rooms to get themselves ready for their trip back to Buganbal.

Afini’s face was filled with fear and worry as unpleasant memories of day they left came flooding back in to his mind.

Buganbal was Afini’s home for a very long time, where he was born and the place where he wanted start his family with Alaelra in but then he was forced to leave when all he and Alaelra were trying to do was save the former king’s life.

Now they have to go back there, to protect the people of Buganbal and the king that forced them to leave in the first place.

Alaelra could sense that her husband was lost and troubled by his many thoughts about returning to Buganbal.

Alaelra then held Afini’s hand and said “I know it’s going to be hard going back but we have to”.

Afini just sighed before saying, “I know but it doesn’t make it any less difficult”.

“I know but I’m here with you” said Alaelra as she kissed his cheeks softly.

“I know you always are” said Afini with a smile on his face.

Afini then went to an old trunk and opened it up.

Inside was a large battle axe.

Afini then picked the axe up.

“It’s been so long since I used this thing but the feeling is still the same” said Afini as he took in breath recalling the days of old when he, Alaelra and Delamu were adventurous young soul, roaming through the many lands across their world, fight beasts of different kinds, seeing wondrous and majestic places, it was a descent life for them at the time but then at time went on Anja decided to leave and go back to Buganbal to be with his family upon hearing the tragic news of his father falling ill and was knocking at death’s door, Alaelra, not wanting to be separated from the man she loved followed him back to his home in Buganbal, where they eventually got married.

Delamu was the only one who continued adventuring, moving from different villages to cities and then to kingdoms, enjoying the thrill that came with being an adventurer, saving lives, slaying great beasts and being praised far and wide for his accomplishments.

Afini and Alaelra never thought that Delamu would ever settle down, he was far too free spirited and enjoyed the thrilling life of an adventurer far more than anything else which was why it shocked when he returned to Buganbal several years late looking tire and worn up, wanting nothing but simple life.

It seemed as though he had gotten his fill of adventure for a life time and was more eager to live a simple life in Buganbal which he sought out to do by getting married to Ebiera, a fine, fair and elegant lady, and deciding to start a family with her, and although the news of her passing was tragic, it was also nice to hear that at the very least Delamu had a son to console him after losing his beloved wife.

After this Afini and Alaelra came out of their room.

Delamu smiled upon seeing them, noticing the book Alaelra was holding as well as the axe in Afini’s arm.

“Are you both ready to leave” asked Delamu.

“Almost” said Afini.

“Anja and Braiba come!!!” yelled Alaelra.

Anja and Braiba then came down from their rooms.

Anja and Braiba were both worried thinking that their parents wanted to give more punishments.

“Yes Mother” said Anja nervously.

“We have to leave for a few days” said Alaelra.

The both of them then looked at each other with look of relief, happy that they were not in any more trouble.

“Where you two going?” asked Braiba.

“Out” said Afini.

“Out where?” asked Anja.

“Out” replied Afini as both him and Alaelra thought it was wise not tell their children where they were going.

“And don’t think because we are leaving we’ve forgotten about your punishments. You two still need to still need to do all the farm work with using your powers, am I clear” said Alaelra.

“Yes mother” said both Braiba and Anja.

“Good because if I come back and sense magic of any kind I will cast a spell that will make both your skins itch and feel like small all fire ants are biting them whenever you touch or try to scratch them” said Alaelra.

“But…” Anja was stopped by the powerful glare of his mother which sent chills down his spine.

“Yes mother” said Anja.

“Good” said Alaelra.

Afini then went to his son.

“Look son, since I’m leaving you’ll be the man of the house, which means it would your responsibility to protect this place and your sister if anything happens, do you understand son” said Afini.

“I do” said Anja.

“Good” said Afini before he turned to Braiba and said “Braiba you’re in charge, try to keep your brother out of trouble”.

“Don’t worry I will” said Braiba.

Alaelra then went to Braiba and Anja.

“Be safe my little ones” said Alaelra as she kissed them on their foreheads.

“We promise will come back as so as we can” said Alaelra.