It was the night of a blood moon in the land of Rainard, a land densely populated by the Humans. A blood moon though rare was never a good omen. The humans spoke in hushed tones about the strange occurrence that left many ill at ease.
That fateful night in the town of Mylda –a border town to Origoth the land of witches, most of the inhabitants were fast asleep in the comfort of their beds oblivious to their surroundings and the havoc brewing.
In one of the houses, a woman that appeared to be in her mid-fifties paced around the room. Her agitated footsteps cutting through the thick silence of the night.
"We need to protect her!" She sighed.
"This is not just about her anymore, we have been found out and we are going to die." A man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties said. His tone that of frustration. "We can't take care of her if we're dead. In order to protect her, we have to protect ourselves."
"This should not be happening. We blended as one of them for so long. How could they find out now?"
"It was bound to happen Hilda. Wherever she goes destruction follows. Just look at what happened to my brother and her mother." The man scoffed. His thin moustache bending along with his lips. "She is a curse."
"Do not say such about her, she's just a child."
"A child that should never have been!"
"Alfred enough!" Hilda frowned. Her words almost echoing across the now-empty room.
"None of those things matter now. We have to leave, the witches will be here soon."
"They..y are here." A little girl of about eight uttered staring at the door ahead, her little hands shaking as she sensed an ominous presence approaching.
"Olive, y..you are here?" Hilda was shocked that she had been there their entire conversation.
"She's right, they're here." Alfred confirmed. "Let's leave through the back door."
Grabbing whatever they could, they left through the back door which led deep into the woods.
"It's going to ra..rain." Olive glanced at the clear night sky. Fear coursed through her veins.
"Rain?" Alfred stared at Hilda confused.
"Arrows." She replied, making some incoherent incantations.
They looked up and saw arrows headed their way but it vaporized before it got to them all thanks to Hilda's spell.
"Grandma I'm scared." Olive whimpered clutching to the hem of Hilda's dress.
"We are going to get through this dear. There is need no to be frightened." Hilda smiled lovingly at her.
Alfred picked up her
and carried her on his back.
The arrows stopped raining and they resumed running at a faster pace than before. Ducking branches, and cutting off plants that blocked their path, they moved through the thick forest as swiftly as they could.
Alfred stopped in his tracks when he heard a thud. He saw Hilda on the floor a few feet away, she had tripped over a root that stuck out of a tree.
"Hilda, get up. We have to go."
"There's nowhere for you to go, we'll always find you." A croaky voice was heard.
Getting up, Hilda moved closer to where Alfred stood.
"The girl is all we want. Give her to us and we might consider sparing your wretched lives." Another voice was heard this time. It was closer.
Alfred and Hilda stood facing opposite sides with their backs to each other.
"We've been surrounded!" Hilda scanned the nearby trees that had witches on them.
"Uncle what shall we do now?" Olive mumbled from behind him.
"Keep your head down," Alfred ordered and she quietly obeyed.
The witches came out of the shadows into the light.
"Hilda, who knew you were this foolish." One of the witches sneered.
"Leave us be, will you? She's just a child." Hilda yelled.
"She's against the laws of nature." Another witch spat out. The venom in her voice was enough to bring down an army if need be.
"Don't worry, we do not plan on time wasting. We'll be done with you in an instant." The witches stood ready to attack.
Hilda patted Olive's head gently before drawing out her sword and advancing for battle. Alfred placed her on the ground and she stood, watching all that was going on, scared.
"Don't move. Alfred whispered to her. She nodded and stayed closely to his side.
"I see you underestimate us, that's why there's only twenty of you." He mocked the witches.
"I'm afraid it is you who thinks too little of us." A witch replied and drew his sword.
Alfred held onto the hilt of his. 'This should waste no time.' He said to himself.
Charging towards them, eight witches attacked Hilda and the remaining twelve attacked Alfred.
Still standing next to Olive, he glanced briefly at her to make sure she was safe. "Remember, don't move." He said and turned to face the twelve witches who were now in front of him. Pulling out his enchanted sword, in just a single slash, he cut off the heads of two witches. They vaporized instantly.
"How did he do that so fast?" Olive wondered from the spot she stood.
Swiftly, Alfred avoided every blow and strike aimed at him. Though he seemed to be calm, he was finding it a bit hard to keep up with them all at once.
A few feet away, Hilda fought relentlessly against the witches. Moving her sword, she aimed for one of the witches who had his sword held up, ready to make a slash. With her legs steady on the floor, she aimed at his chest, a tree root tied around her ankle and pulled her to the ground.
She gave a loud thud as her body hit the floor. Still holding onto her sword, she noticed an axe going straight for her head and arrows for her chest.
Lifting her head, she whispered a spell and the weapons returned to where they came. Cutting the root around her ankle, she launched at two witches. With a wave of her hand, the earth stood in front of her and from behind, she sliced off the legs of one witch and then thrust at his chest.
She caused the wind to lift her up and made a big slash in the direction of the other witch. A large force of wind cut her head off and she turned to vapour.
Turning around, she saw she still had four witches around her. The reversed weapons had killed some of the two killed witches.
She panted heavily trying to regain some of her lost stamina. Owing to her age she wasn't as agile as before. As a young witch she could have taken them on easily.
She successfully fended off three of the witches by slashing off their off heads in one strike. Her powers had weakened and she was struggling to keep up with the battle. She was left with one who appeared to be stronger than the other witches.
"Any last words?" The witch sneered. Her black eyes held so much fury.
"You sure are arrogant for someone who's about to die?" Hilda scoffed and made for the witch, her sword aiming at her heart. She muttered some spells causing the witch's feet to remain stuck to the ground.
"Any last words?" Hilda mocked as she stood in front of the witch. She enjoyed taunting her before finishing her off.
The witch cackled. "In battle you should never let your guard down. I thought you of all people knew that."
In that instant, an arrow pierced through Hilda's back before vaporizing into dust.
"You disappoint me. You should know that a common arrow won't..." She couldn't complete that statement as she began spitting out blood as thick and pitch-black as the darkness of the night.
"What did you...?" Hilda slumped on the ground, her body momentarily numb. Blood trickled down her lips like water from a leaky dam.
"Oh Hilda you were always so foolish and now that folly will cost you your life. Say hello to your daughter for me. I hope you have a nice journey to the afterlife."
The witch broke free from Hilda's trap as her powers had considerably weakened.
She blended into the darkness around her and glided over to where Alfred was in fierce combat with another witch.
The witch tried to grab Olive and escape with her but Alfred took notice of her presence and skillfully thrust at her heart.
He finished off the other witch and rushed to side Hilda's with Olive on noticing she was injured.
"What happened?" Worry lines appeared on Alfred's forehead.
"I got hit by a poisoned arrow." The words forced their way out of her weak lips and she spat out some more blood.
"I didn't protect you as I should have. I'm sorry. I've failed my brother."
"Do not say such things. You did your best. Death is just one of those things we cannot escape no matter how powerful we are.
Now take Olive and run, run far away from here, go to somewhere you both would be safe."
"I can't leave you like this."
"You need to, there's no more hope for me. Just leave!" Her voice was firm. "More witches would come for her soon. You need to be miles away from here before that happens. Olive is your responsibility now. Take care of her. Train her on how to master her powers. Go!"
"Grandma, you need to get up and come with us..." Olive moaned grabbing hold of Hilda's arm.
"My journey ends here dear. I can no longer be with you on this quest but it will be alright darling. I will always watch over you. I love you." She wiped the tears off her little cheek.
Alfred carried a reluctant Olive on his back and ran as fast as he could out of the forest. Hilda used the last of her powers to place a spell hiding their presence, making them impossible to be tracked.
"I did my best, did I not?" Hilda smiled at the starless night sky as she slowly vaporized until there was nothing left of her but ashes.