Silverwood

The Blitz

Destruction and destruction everywhere. The plan of fairies fails. We were all prepared. Took the ship and attacked from the region that was isolated. We sneaked in, and get to a broken entry that was created by fairies in these years. Arun succeeds to extend that hole and our army entered the island's spell boundaries. Though it was the first time anyone could pass that boundary. But it was not enough. I don't know what went wrong or was there anything right about that plan or not. Fairies were in charge to handle witches. But all we saw were the fireballs hitting our other ships before reaching the shore. 

Our troop was only there. Moving forward with taking precautions of not getting caught. It was hard to keep going when we witnessed our fellow troops got shot. 

In the morning the fairies were well prepared, so does the other warriors. The troops were heading towards the island. Two to three ships were standing at the edge of the cloud. We all climbed up. It landed on the surface of the ocean. Arun was more focused on me rather than on his practice. The ship slows down and entered a cold and dark misty area. Shipwrecks, skeletons, and many more were there popping out of the water. That indicated their previous attempts. Though we were there in the middle of the day, it was dark as if it was the middle of the night. 

I had left plum at the castle. I didn't want to put him in any danger. If it will be a success, I couldn't bear his sad face while leaving. So it's better to leave secretly. But now I feel success or no success, I can never meet him again. 

"We are all surrounded. It's now or never. Let's sneak to the castle." 

"Devi... Devi"

"Come..."

"Are you listening?"

"Bam!!!"

"Dev"

Something pulled me to hide in the grass field. 

"Come to sense."

It was Arun who pulled me. 

They discovered us. Our archers are ready to aim at them. We look at the sky; we found no fairies. Witches scanning the field. An arrow hits one, and the witch falls down. Another one saw it and targeted our archer. She shoots green beams from her broomstick. 

An arrow hit a witch and turned her into a fish. She will definitely die out of breath. The archer keeping them distracted. According to the chief, we only need to break the castle's spell. For that, we had to get to the castle first. One down, two down. Our troop members are getting injured. I can't bear this bloodshed. I wanted to help them but got stopped by the chief. Still, as we are on a battlefield we have to go on. This is what Vidya says. 

"Boom!"

"Bam!!"

"Ahh!"

"Zoom!"

"Sheesh!!"

The chief, Arun, me, and Vidya are only moving to the castle.

"Does anyone know which direction we should go?" I ask.

I get no reply. Arun peeps out of the grass field and sees an enormous range of witches flying towards us. His suggestion is to go in the direction they are coming from. I can hear the roar of the battle. The scream of people. The blasts, the destruction going on. 

"Sheesh.."

"Wosh.."

"What was that?" I whisper.

"What?"

"That sound."

"Wooshh"

"Someone is following us."

"It's not only one."

The sound is getting closer. Wider. Sharper. They are so many. 

"Run" 

We are running harder. Smashing the grasses of about our height. 

They are chasing us. 

"Ahh!"

A c***k on the ground breathes fire. 

"What is it?"

"Fire holes."

"This is a booby trap set by them."

"What should we do?"

Arun shoots a beam. Chordewas followed it. Resulting in them falling into their own trap. This trick couldn't help us much. We are still being chased by the chordewas. We run in a zig-zag manner to avoid the fire holes. 

"I will stop them. You keep moving." The chief says and stays there to stop them. 

Leaving the chief behind, we three moved further. We can see the castle, but before even the spell barrier, there are scorpion men guarding the castle. 

"Try to break the spell."

Arun opens the book. We are hiding behind the rock. Waiting for the scorpion man to walk a bit far to cast the spell. In their oscillatory motion, we had to wait for that perfect moment as not to get caught. 

Arun got the spell. He tries once. Twice. It's not working. 

"Arun, what are you doing? Break the spell." Vidya says.

The risk of getting caught is getting high. The witches are back. The means the fight is over. If we don't get in, then we are over too. 

My heart beats faster. The nervousness, the panic mind of mine sees everything in slow-motion. I see the scorpion man roars at us. Moving towards us.

"Dam....Dam" Their powerful steps shaking the whole world of me.

"Bam!" A fireball slams into the ground, nearly hitting us. 

Fractals spiraling into the sky. A beam stretching towards me. 

"Boom!" Arun saved me. 

But still, I see death. 

"Kaak.." A sound that lifted my hope. 

I look around. Was it...was it him?

"Bam!" A green beam hits me and I see the darkness. All pictures fade in front of me. 

***

"Ammm umm"

Opening my eyes.

"Ah, it hurts." My arm is injured. 

"She woke up."

Wow, who was that? That startled me. 

I am laying on a bed. Bandages in my arms. Some transparent with a green tint of slimy gel is on my wounds. 

"Thank god you are alive." Vidya cries. 

"I am" I say with a choking voice. "Ahm ahm" After clearing the throat I ask. "Where is Arun?"

"Am.. he is in a meeting."

"Meeting?"

"Meeting for execution."

"No, they can't execute him."

"No, he is not getting executed."

"Then?"

She lowers her head.

"Vidya, tell me."

Her silence is scaring me. I got up.

"You need rest."

"I need to see others."

"It's better you don't." Vidya looked tense.

"But why?"

She won't tell me. Fine. I know how to get the answer.

"Vidya, give me the answer. They hold the meeting of execution for whom?"

This will work. She has to answer. This trick will work as I sensed her behavior. 

"Execution of you."

"Me?"

I didn't expect that.

"Okay, why?"

She is silent again.

"Vidya, give me the answer why are they want to execute me?"

"They feel that they are too weak. If the witches will find you and take you to the castle, the old spell done by the ancestor of Arun will get more strong."

"What? I didn't get it."

"A human is the only one not belonging to this world. So a human can set or reverse the spell casts on the entire Silverwood. According to the books, it is said that elves had cast a spell that had given the people of that island way too much power and limited the powers of others."

"Really?"

"It is written so. Only a human can set or reset the spell. A sacrifice of a human in that castle will enhance their power and will suck other's power too. They are afraid of losing even the little they had."

"So, the good guys will kill me so that the bad guys can't kill me?" What a great idea they got.

"Don't worry. Arun will handle everything."

"You know what. I have experienced death, I mean near to death so many times in these thirteen days. And my final hope of going back is over. I am over. Nothing is left in me now. It's better to die. Better to die with the hands of the one I care about. To save them. Rather got killed by the monsters. Harming so many people. It's better to die for them."

"How emotional." A voice from aside come. 

"Arun?"

"Hm"

"Hanging or shooting?" I ask.

He gave a look of questions.

"How are they going to execute me? By hanging to death, or chopping my head off with swords. Or shooting beams on me."

"Neither of them."

"Don't burn me alive. I was a quick death, don't give me much pain."

"You want a painless death."

I nod rapidly.

"Is that your last wish?"

"Yes."

"Sorry, we can not fulfill your last wish."

I stare at him. With a bit of hope in my eyes.

"I can't guaranty you whether your death will be painful or painless. It's not in my hand."

All my hopes broke. I broke completely. All my fighting will go in vain. 

"Fine, I am ready." 

"Are you?"

I nod my head. I am determined. Though I was nothing in my earth's life. I am something here. My death could even help them. At least my life worth something."

"If so, then come with me."

"Okay."

I get up. Walked towards him, limping. We are out of my tent. The sun is so bright. Not like the last visual. Dark and fiery. There are so many tents. Stretchers containing bodies. Crying women near those bodies. Screaming loud. Crying badly. The person laying on the stretcher could be their son, husband, or father. Could be their relative, friend, or beloved. The sorrow in each one's eyes is the same. The pain of losing someone is the same. 

"Arun, can I ask you something?"

"Sure,"

"Who rescued us?"

"Chief's griffin."

"How's chief?"

"He is fine."

"Oh"

In few steps, I see two of the three wizards. Meera, Mina. Wait! Where is Mariya? And why are they crying?

"Why are you stop?" Arun asks.

"They..."

"You know them?"

"Yes, I have met these three sisters."

"Well, now they are not three."

"What do you mean?"

"One of them was a part of our troops. And she is no more."

"What?" 

Tears slide over my cheeks. No, this can't be happening. They saved me. They helped me. They were afraid of war. Is this for? They knew if I'll get caught the war will rise. And they have to take part in it. It's all because of me.

"Are you still ready to die?"

Do I have any options? He is asking me as if he can stop them.

"Yes" I am determined.

"That guy over there, he lost his one leg in the battle."

Yes, all because of me.

"But he is practicing to get into his feet. Or I can say foot. You know why?"

"Why?"

"To fight again."

What is he saying?

"That kid, he lost his father. But do you want to know what he is willing to do?"

"What?"

"Let me ask him."

"Hey, kid! Why are you here?" Arun shouted.

"I am here to replace my father. I will complete the mission he was on it."

The kid replied.

"See, he lost his entire family. His mother was taken by the witches. His father is no more. Yet he is not depressed. He is determined."

So? So what?

"You know, people here had lost their hopes. They were scared. They thought they can never get that fearless life. So in the before battle, no one was willing to participate. Fairies had to force them to participate. The greed of compensation given to their families and the fear of fairies. Fear of hunger made them get in. But see there. Today they all came here willingly to be a part of this war of freedom."

"This is all because of you."

"Me?"

"Yes. After you showed up, we tried to fight. We get inside. For the first time. I blamed myself for being inefficient in breaking the spell. At the meeting, fairies suggested discarding us. Both of us. And I thought yes they were right. But you know at the meeting for the first time, everyone stood against fairies."

"That means, no one will kill me?"

"So sad to say but, yes. No one will execute you."

"But?"

"Those wizard sisters, they came and said you can help them. You are the hope. And now I saw you lost hope. Be as your name says. Though we thought we lost, we did something. We created a change. You have created a change."

I turn and saw the crowd getting denser.