Edited by: tommyjl7 , Flubbykin

The house of the village’s mayor was quite spacious, at least for village standards. It was made up of four rooms: two private chambers, one tiny storage room, which resembled more in-built cabinet where all the tools were placed and main hall, which was treated as a kitchen, living room and place where mayor used to talk with other villagers about their problems or mediating during quarrels between families.

We were sitting in the last mentioned room, near the big wooden table, waiting for members of brotherhood to come. Together with Gisele and Lanele we opened our traveler’s bags and brought out food rations. Disgusting, dry, throat-scratching caloric bombs. Every now and then Gis throws a glance at me, as if considering asking me a question.

I know what she wanted. To ask if we couldn’t use village’s inn to have some proper meal. Yet she knew that we couldn’t. At least not before we would have conversation with hunters. It is possible that we will have to leave in hurry, and as we did not know what awaits us, it is important to fill our stomachs now – to have strength to battle with whatever the world can throw at us.

Marie was sitting in the corner, as far from the entrance as possible. I could only imagine why. The local priest, that surely had some power and renown in the village, made her into a scapegoat – yes, it was her fault that things turned this way, but if I remember correctly, priest turned an accident into crime committed in cold blood, bah, if hunters and me wouldn’t interfere I am pretty sure that he would make the crowd kill her on spot. Poor girl was nervously playing with fingers of both hands, not sure how the hunters would behave now, knowing that she is responsible for this misfortune.

We didn’t have to wait very long when the door opened once again and seven people entered mayor’s house. Five hunters, mayor… and priest.

- “I am telling you! This woman IS evil! She was causing trouble her whole life! WHOLE! Even as a child! I simply cannot believe that this time it is an accident!” Shaveling hissed furiously

- “You are overly dramatic.” Jasper responded with angry gaze.

It must be something personal between these two.

- “Ha! You are saying so only because you were not here! I am pretty much sure that her corruption only grows with time this curse is our final warning! Warning, that her soul is rotting, and if we would not act she would spoil rest of our society!”

- “Do not look for wickedness in your neighbor, or you will find it within you.”

I joined the conversation.

- “I will not argue with you, that she is responsible for her deeds, but you have officially called her a blood lusting dark mage.”

- “Because I am sure she is!” fanatic yelled.

- “Then please, tell me why blood lusting dark mage would spend a month, sleeping on the road, eating poisonous plants which upset her stomach, only so she could continue her journey from one sacred grove to another trying to complete the spell that would fix her sin?”

In counterpart to priest, I was not yelling. You yell, shout and scream only when you want to influence the crowd, brainless mob. It is wonderful tool when you want to transform a village into a group of mindless worshipers – then the louder you shout, the more your cause is right.

Now, I was talking quietly, very quietly and slowly, drawing out every word.

- “Maybe to convince everyone that it was an accident and…”

- “Priest, we are not in your church. Keep your nonsense for villagers. Hunters already stated that Marie has no magical power nor skills that are required to cast such spell.”

- “Still, it would be better if she would just…”

- “SHUT. THE FUCK. UP!” Jasper completely lost his patience.

- “Jaspy, have you already forgot my lecture? What did I tell you about keeping your temperament on the leash?” hunters leader rebuked his soldier

- “I remember other lessons – that when just men are idle, the evil triumphs. That creature is already in the woods! The longer we wait, the greater the odds that it will attack someone! Not to speak about him gathering strengths! We need to act!...”

Now I know what zealot skill stood for. His eyes were sparkling with almost sick flame of duty.

- “… tell us, woman, everything from the start. What happened, how it happened and when it happened.” He looked at Marie, yet not with disgust, he didn’t have same gaze that priest which hated every magic form except for light

- “I… I just wanted to help Johann…” she started. A single tear danced in the corner of her eyes “… he was… he IS the person I treasure the most… what have I done!?”

Yet she lost the struggle with her emotions. She started crying loudly. The burden of her struggles finally forced her into dirt, helpless and broken.

And Jasper did something I never suspect worshiper of light to do – he actually did what was written in the Gospel of Sun. He comforted the crying girl.

- “There, there…” he said these words so… warmly, that even my heart melted a little “… it’s ok now. We are here to help, I promise you, I will do everything I can to help you, but to do so, I need to know. Ev-ry-thing.” His words were like music, like a lullaby that mothers sang to stop her children from crying.

And Marie stopped, though her lower lip was still trembling, though she was still weeping a little, she gathered left of her strength and once again said what she already told to us.

- “Johann… was always clumsy, or maybe he just had extraordinary bad luck… I… I thought that if I would ask a spirit of the forest for the blessing…”

- “Maybe I will finish…?” I suggested seeing the condition of girl. People in such states very often focus on less important aspects of story or mess up the order of events. After seeing a nod from hunters head I resumed the story of Marie “… during the night of spring equinox she summoned a spirit she thought was the defender of local forest. The guardian deity. Yet, instead of asking for a sacrifice, the spirit made pact with her.”

That was the most vital information. And hearing loud, vulgar curse from one of the hunters I was sure they understood.

There are three main groups of obtaining a blessing from the spirits – basing on their origin. The Holy spirits from Luxia domain would give you a quest – to prove you are worthy of the task. The Spirits of forest wanted an offering – spirits of hunt would ask you to bring them heart of specific creature that YOU killed, the spirits of protection would ask for a prayer in their names; and so on.

But, there is only one group that wish something in return. Only one group that is willing to give a blessing, and collect payment later, the one that assure it in form of pacts.

Unfortunately, it was not a common knowledge. Why? Because if people would learn that they can obtain inhuman power, and pay for it even years later… the number of abuses and devil worshipers would sky-rocket.

Also, vicious spirits tend to fulfill their end of bargain in most nasty way. We have an example right now – the man was supposed to obtain power of the beast, the simplest way to obtain that is by turning him into one.

- “What did it wanted in return?” Jasper asked after the moment

- “We can’t be sure. Our little witch can’t remember word-to-word, because…”

- “It was speaking in a riddle… I can’t remember” she said from the corner “…It was some weird poem.”

- “You do remember, child.” The leader smiled to her with kindness “… that’s the trick. You always remember them, because they were burned in your mind. The spirits doesn’t want you to remember them, so he makes you think you don’t remember, but if you would focus on it, very much – with all your strength, you will know.”

Marie closer her eyes and clenched her fists trying to remember.

- “When the seventh night would come,

when the seventh mark appear,

soul will let the sweetest thrum,

king of forest shall be fear.

I shall make the strongest roots,

rooting deeper in the soul,

till the evil bears its fruits,

claiming place I could call home.”

She opened her eyes bit confused, as if she wasn’t fully aware of what just happened.

- “Anyone have the idea what it was supposed to mean?”

One of hunters raised his eyebrow.

- “Seventh night and seventh mark means the duration of curse progress. The spell would be finish after seven days…”

- “But it has been more than a month since the place was casted.” Jasper noticed.

- “Instead of , as measurement of time was used. It may mean that the moon is the source of power. Johan after three days was closed in the basement, thus stopping progression of the curse…” it was only my speculation thought.

- “He escaped yesterday, which means we will be screw day after tomorrow.” Another of the brotherhood members noticed.

- “No, it means we have two more days before we would have to kill him…” Jasper said

- “NO! Please! Don’t hurt Johann! I beg you!” Marie jumped off her chair and grabbed leader by his leg

- “Child, listen closely to what Jasper said. Two more day before WE WOULD HAVE TO, which means that we also have two more days to break the spell… though it will be a pain in the ass.” He smiled making the whole situation appear as though he does this every single day. Well, technically, he does.

- “Do we know the localization of the altar used for the ritual?”

- “There is only one in the local woods, I guess it is this one…” another of brothers pointed at the map spread on the table, and looked at Marie for confirmation. She nodded slightly

- “Child, as much as we would love to keep you safe, we have to ask you to come with us. You have made a bond with the spirit, so we will need your cooperation in order to bring him from his hiding place so we could cast him out…”

- “Exorcism? What a pain in the ass…” Jasper whispered to himself, he was pretty sure nobody heard him

- “Fret not kid, I have you covered.” Well, I did hear him.

Saying so I raised my thumb up.

- “We… cannot put life of the oracle in the danger, so we have to ask you to stay and prepare the ritual to…”

- “Jasper.” I stopped him

- “Yes?”

- “We ain’t no bitch. We are coming with you.” Hearing these words Gisele smiled widely, showing of her sharp teeth in wicked grin. She looked like a devil smiling upon the soul it was about to devour. This single smile made almost everyone shiver. Almost

- “Gis, stop smiling. You have remaining of your breakfast between your teeth.”

In the instant Gis covered her face with her palms with reddened cheeks

- “What an embarrassment…” the tip of her tail was twitching extremely fast

- “Y-yet, I am afraid Jaspy is right. We can’t put your life in danger, your maje…”

- “Unlike her sister, Aira does not chose for her priests little good-for-nothing yellers which are all bark and no bite…” I looked at priest who throws an angry glance at me, yet said nothing “… to become one you need to reach certain level of understanding of nature magic. And let me remind you, you are about to fight with the spirit that corrupted the forest. And I cannot allow this crime to pass unpunished. So we can do it either my way or… oh, no, wait, there is only my way.”

I smiled back at hunters head. I could easily see that he was grateful of help of druid, yet my new role prohibit him to ask directly. When I didn’t give him any other choice, but to tag along he smiled brightly.

- “If that’s what you wish for, your majesty.”

- “I am no Majesty. Zariel is the name… On the other hand, sounds better, doesn’t it?” I asked at Lana

She nodded.

JUST BECAUSE I ASK YOU SOMETHING IT DOESN’T MEAN I WANT YOU TO ANSWER THIS WAY!!! You could say something like : or !!

I looked at Gisele begging her with eyes for support. She only snorted

- “Definitely, when you told me your name for the first time I thought you are telling me that you are sick and you try not to infect me!”

I pouted quietly.

- “Zariel, that is, very well, I will try to refer you with your name from now on…” FINALLY “… your majesty.”

YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!