"Are you sure about this? You're still injured" Brennan asked as he took his quiver from the floor.
"Yes, the creature is a danger for the people. We have to get rid of it as soon as possible." Darius explained while strapping the scabbard in his side.
While fixing the scabbard, Darius stared at his arm, which is now fully healed. His wounds healed quickly. Quicker than expected or even humanly possible, but he thought it was due to Ravana's power.
"Here," Darius handed the younger male a dagger. It wasn't anything special, just a regular iron double edge dagger. After his experience fighting Black Annis, he recons that Brennan might need extra protection. The witch was quick and almost undetectable, just like an assassin in the night and that's why they have to be more cautious.
"Where did you get this?" Brennan asked.
"I took it from the armory, I thought it would be handy and now my instinct was proven correct."
"We should get going," Darius said as he opened the door.
Brennan only nodded before following Darius.
As the young men left the inn, the sun was still up in the sky. The scorching hot waves of its rays bite the skin of whoever steps outside.
Even with the sun shining brilliantly, the people are still nowhere to be seen. Aside from a few people walking around and the person watching the small fruit stand.
The entire place just felt so isolated.
Looking over the massive wall that divides the city, Darius couldn't help but feel annoyed. Those rich bastards cut off this side of the city, just because they have the better cut of the bargain.
'If only there is something we can do about it.' He thought yet knew better than to continue thinking about such heroics.
"Can't we do something about this entire situation? I feel bad for these people, they were just abandoned by the rich city folks." Brennan remarked.
"What can two travelers do? Lecture them? This unjust system is probably going on for decades now, politics is not our forte but of course, I'm speaking for myself. If you think you can do something about it then, I won't stop you." His brutal honesty made Brennan keep his silence.
Of course, he can't do anything, he doesn't have the power to change this world – and even more, this city.
"Well don't look so glum." Darius turns to Brennan.
"Indeed, we can't change the way they live, but we can help them a little. In the way, we can… in the way we are good at." He reassured him.
"R-right! We will take care of the witch for them." Brennan smiled making Darius chuckle, he really is like a child.
So young and innocent… just like…
The thought alone makes a bitter taste in his mouth, just thinking about his brother puts him in melancholy.
"How will find the witch thought?" Brennan asked.
'Well that was a good bloody question,' Darius thought.
All he knows is that he encountered the witch in the southern gate but nothing beyond that.
'With such refine stealth ability, it definitely depends on that to go in and out of the city. And to ensure complete concealment of its activities it will only attack at night.' He pondered.
The young travelers headed to the southern gate to gather more information.
And after talking to some people, it turns out that the attacks inside the city only started after the gate broke down after a storm. But since they were cut off by the city center, they cannot find any means to fix it.
And because of the fear, the guards stopped watching over the southern gate.
It wasn't long before Darius and Brennan reached the place where Darius first encountered the witch.
It was dark then but the place was recognizable, not because he remembered it well. But because of the huge mark on the ground.
It was like black tree roots that spread to the ground, but of course in a closer look. One could tell that it was a burn mark from the lightning that struck the ground.
Looking around the area, Darius found the young woman that warned him that night.
Standing under a shed, she was staring in the air. Her attention was far from the world.
"Miss"
"Miss"
"Miss!" Darius had to call her attention thrice before the young woman finally look at the traveler.
"Oh!" she uttered her eyes finally focusing on Darius, immediately recognizing the familiar face.
"It's you," she meekly added.
"Miss, do you mind if we disturb you for a moment?" Darius asked.
"I just need to ask you a few things."
"No, not at all." The young woman replied, turning her gaze to Brennan then back to Darius.
Steaming hot tea was placed on the table, along with a few biscuits, and sliced fruits. The earthy scent of the tea, mixing perfectly with the sweet scent of the treats.
"Oh no, there had been rumors of missing people even in the morning." The lady Darius met the night before said, now sitting at the comfort of her home.
"But it only happens outside the gate. Some people had been missing every now and again, but the officials had been shaking it off as wild animal attacks."
Tears started pouring out of her eyes, "They just ignored the reports even after the death of so many."
"Only recently that they saw Black Annis, they spotted her dragging a child to the forest. But of course, no one can do a single thing. Everyone fears her, so they just cower and hide." The lady bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying.
Brennan being the man he is, started rubbing circles around her back to comfort the young woman.
"It's alright, everything will be alright. We will take care of things." He reassured her.
"We will get rid of that witch," Brennan added.
"I-I saw… what you did…" she looked up at Darius.
"Y-you fought… against her l-last night…" she said between sobs.
"I-is it t-true…? Will you kill her?" her eyes desperately search for any sign inside of Darius's purple orbs.
Darius felt awkward, he doesn't like making empty promises. But for her sake, Darius nodded his head. "We will do what we can," he simply said.
Standing up Darius looked at the young woman, "Thank you for the information but we should get going."
'The forest it is,' he thought.
"I-I understand," the young woman replied following Darius's example. Her hand fidgeted as if she wanted to say more to express her gratitude. But alas, the words never came out.
"Well, thank you for your hospitality," Brennan said as he stood up.
The young woman nodded her head slightly, "Please do be careful." She said with worry reflecting in her hazel orbs.
Without another word, the young men left the tiny house.
As soon as they step out, the dove came. Taking its seat atop Brennan's head per usual, the little creature wiggled its body ever so slightly to make itself comfortable.
"Where were you?" Brennan asked with a chuckle, finding the bird adorable.
"Ever consider roasting that?" Darius commented, earning a glare from the bird.
"You really are smart," he mumbled under his breathe.
"What?" Brennan asked.
"Nothing, let's just go."
The night was cold, the sky is dark, and everything was silent – as if the world itself is anticipating the battle ahead.
Swatting the mosquito away, Darius scowled.
Maybe searching the woods without a sufficient amount of evidence wasn't a good idea after all.
Darius groaned, "You know what let's call it a day. It's already dark, let's just continue tomorrow."
"Yeah, let's do that. It's more dangerous to be out here at night anyway." Brennan agreed as they walk along the dark forest.
"Aaaahhhh!" A high pitch scream shook the forest.
The bloodcurdling sound made sent shivered in Darius's spine, the hair in his nape standing on end as his stomach crunched.
Without second thoughts both Brennan and Darius bolted in the direction of the scream.
The cold air brush against their skin, the sound of the hooting owls, the echoing of the cicadas sound – enhances the pounding of their hearts.
In the middle of the blinding darkness, a new opportunity arise.
In the distance, the old hag mercilessly held the child by the hair. While the little girl was holding the witch's hand, hoping to fry it off of her hair.
Alas, no matter how hard the little girl tries. She's no match to the strength of the shivered hag.
Even with the faint light of the moon, it was evident how hideous the old witch looks.
Wrinkled skin that can easily be compared to a prune, long pointed nose, sharp black claws – her appearance alone can make a grown man run in terror.
"Let me go!" the girl shouted as he tagged her hair back. Her eyes filled with tears and she endure the pain of the witch's iron hold.
The witch did not comply nor reply, she just roughly tag the little girl's hair higher.
"Ah!" the little girl yelped both due to pain and surprise.
The poor child was forced to walk on tipped toes just to relieve herself from the pain.
"We have to do something," Brennan whispered to Darius.
"I know, but we will have to wait," Darius said coldly his purple eyes burning holes at the witch's back as it walk further away.