"... 4... 3... 2..."
"I'm right here!", Azrael said, loud enough to get the trolls' attention as he stepped out of the tent. Katrin instinctively reaches out to stop him but her hand moved right through his shoulder. She sighs remembering that she doesn't exist in this memory.
The trolls all turned to Azrael, their massive forms casting heavy shadows from the bright sun. They all scanned the boy briefly before laughter erupted among them. Their deep voices echoing in the air.
"You? you are the great wizard Azrael? Why you're just a boy." One of the trolls, who seemed to be the one in charge teased.
Azrael moved towards the big creatures, his demeanor confident and calm. He nods, acknowledging the trolls' scepticism but doesn't try to prove himself immediately, "I am the one you are looking for"
The trolls laughed again, not being able to take him seriously. "Can you believe this; I don't understand why the Council heads would ask me to gather my finest warriors just to get a little wizard boy. How disgraceful, they could have sent the fairies to do this job."
As they laughed at the joke one of the trolls moved over to Azrael and shoved his teen figure about. His seemingly weak appearance was admiringly funny. "What a weakling, there is nothing special about you".
Azrael ignored their taunts, biding himself more time to think.
Back inside the tent, Katrin watches with concern as the girls held each other trying to keep themselves calm
"All right, that's enough." The troll in charged sighed, not wanting to waste any more time. "Tie up the boy and lets get a move on. Don't forget to unleash the beasts so they can have a little lunch before we leave."
"Wait!" Azrael brown irises widen hearing these words and he rushed forward pushing any troll that dare to block him aside with a wave of his had. "You said that you'd let them go if I was handed over. You can not just go back on your words".
"The troll scoffed, pushing him down to the dirt ground, "That was before I found out you were just a kid, there is no way you could stop us, even if you tried."
To them Azrael was nothing and could do nothing. "What are you waiting for feed the males first and the weak later, but capture the ladies, they can be put to good use."
Sly smiles appeared on all their faces accompanied with chuckles vexing Azrael even more.
He sighed, raised his hand and snaped his finger,making everyone go silent waiting for anything. When nothing happened the trolls laughrd and were about to resume the unleash when they were suddenly sent flying in all directions.
"The fact that I'm just a little wizard boy might be true, But the next troll who dares to attack these people will have their head flying of their body. You came for me, so take me and leave then alone.
" Willow no!" Lucy little voice came through to the silence as young Willow ran through Katrin and out of the tent. A frail figure stood in front of Azrael, trying to protect her brother.
"H-he's right. Don't trifle with my brother if you all value your well-being."
Eyeing the little girl one of the trolls so this as an opportunity and reach for her but with a wave of his hand Azrael sent his head flying into a rock. The rest watched as the headless body goes limp and collapses to the ground, spewing blue liquid.
Katrin gasped at the gruesome sight using her hands to cover her eyes.
"Anyone else want to lose their head?" The wizard asked loudly l.
With their miscalculation now apparent, the rest trolls reluctantly stepped back, allowing their leader to step forward. "You! That was my brother you just beheaded."
"And I have no regret."
"I see you are true power wizard child, but keep in mind that if we release these beasts from their chains you won't be able save everyone from their hungry teeths. Know this kid, the lives of these people rest on your next action."
"Then allow me to propose a bargain." Azrael offers stepping in front of his sister.
The troll nods giving him the go ahead "I, the Wizard Azrael, is will willingly go with you trolls if you promise not harm these people, the forest and my sister".
" Deal."
"No!" Willow screams grabbing her brother's arm, she was unwilling to let him sacrifice himself.
Tears formed in the young witch's eyes as her brother cast a calm gaze at his sister pulling himself away from her grip. "I am sorry Willy."
Willy, that was the nickname she had told Nigel not to call her, it was the last word her brother had said to her.
"Tie him!"
Azrael stands down and deliberately allows the trolls to take him into custody, working with his plan. As he is led away, he looks towards the tent and locks eyes with an almost dazed Katrin, she is taken aback and unsure if he was actually looking at her. He looks holds a meaningful glance, before he turns to Lucy, who reluctantly nods in understanding.
From her vantage point, Katrin continued to watch, she realized the depth of Azrael's sacrifice and the bond between the siblings, while pondering the true nature of Azrael's actions
Azrael is blindfolded and forcibly thrown into the back of a steel cage. The cold metal presses against his skin as he's locked inside, a sense of foreboding settling over him. As the trolls leave with him, the leader smile mockingly at Willow before the sounds of chains dropping could be heard follow by the screams of the Mixies around.
The trolls had gone against their word and had unleashed the beast which were now moving after the people. Katrin watched as one of them pined a man down and opened the wide salivary mouth, revealing its silver fangs. It lowers its long and fangy teeth to the man's head, but before Katrin could view the rest of the memory a gust of wind blew past pushing her back into the wooden seat of Willow's room.
As she opened her eyes, she noticed a weeping Willow's tear-stained face and puffy red eyes. Gently, she handed the crying witch a blue handkerchief from the table.
"Why did they want him? was it because he was powerful?"
"No" Willow answered, pulling herself together, "It was because of the prophecies he made, they always came true".
"Prophecies?"
Willow nodded standing up and moving towards her dresser "My brother was connected to the Five goddesses, he could talk to them, they were also the reason he was so powerful. One day, Altair, the goddess of destiny had informed him of a future that was bound to happen. He was warned not to tell anyone, but he went against her and told the council. He was ridiculed, then sent after. Luckily he got to me before they could catch him and we escaped by joining a group of traveling Mixies."
"Is that how you met Lucy?"
"Hmm, and we've been together ever since." She returned to the table, a black journal in her hands, she placed it on the table and pushed it to. "This is my brother's journal, he entrusted me with when he was captured, he told me that when I find the destined one, I should give it to them."
Katrin picked up the brown leather book, and flipped it around, there were faded gold marks on the front that she could make out into 'Azrael' "Then why are you giving it to me? I don't know who the destined one is."
Willow took her seat once again and lean forward into the table. "I'm giving it to you, because you Katrin Clunch, are the destined one."
***