Grand Adventures of the Witch King

Ask and You Will Get

After a while the chief stood up from his seat, he then gave a small speech to the already aroused spirits of the young men and the crowd.

This time it was the young men to perform, unlike dance this was a small test of strength, a grappling match. One by one the names were all called and each one had to choose their opponent.

The rule was simple, get the opponent on their back. One by one the hot-blooded youths that had been filled with ferocious fighting spirit got to the stage.

Each one had a special hide that was slung across their chest and shoulder, these hides were of the first beasts that each have killed during their training, all of them were normal beasts of course. Other than that they were bare-chested with nothing but a cloth wrapped around their loins like a diaper.

The fights were exciting and spirited, each young warrior had fought against the other many times over the years and knew each other well. But all in all, it was a great spirited fight and everyone was cheerful, each one warrior that succeeds in gaining a beast form will be a new addition to the village's strength and prosperity.

Among them was Yuje, and of course, his strength shone brightly compared to his peers, he went even as far as taking on two at once and putting them both down with ease. Making the crowd rowdy and chant his name, a large smile could be seen on his face as he bathed in the glory.

He was even more excited when he would hear about their talks on him being the next chief and when they spoke about how Assini and he would make the greatest couple this village had ever seen, he would look at her and send her flirtatious glances over and over again. But to his dismay she just ignored them. And that would cause him to burn with hatred, but it was soon swept away when he would hear the crowd’s talk.

‘That bastard is out of the way but she still refuses my advances, humph! We shall see once I return how she will still refuse me!’ Yuje thought with venom and glee how he will dominate her and put her in her place once he gets his almighty beast form.

What he didn’t notice was that he started to think about Ullo once more, or more specifically Ezekiel.  

An hour or so of the match passed and the youths had finally burned out their fiery will and seemed tired but calmer. The chief stood up once more to both congratulate them and praise them as well as end the festivities of this year for now as the one that will be held once they return would be even greater.

"… As such I pray to the mighty sacred treasure that none of you young warriors, yes even the ones that didn't make it today, ever fall prey to the monsters out there. We are a community, united and strong, together we must stand and help one another in times when we are weak. Push each other forward and bring forth prosperity to the coming generations. For our village!" He said as a look of fire burned in the eyes of everyone as they slowly started to remember what happened months ago.

"Well said my dear chief, and help each other we must." A familiar but deep and raspy voice echoed from the back in the dark, frightening those sitting at the edges as the voice sounded as if it was next to their ears.

Everyone soon looked back and saw a figure melt out of the darkness. They couldn't see its face nor recognize it but it gave everyone goosebumps. But then it spoke once more before anyone could get extra jumpy.

"Perhaps it is time I stopped hiding and came forth to seek help from my fellow villagers at last." The figure moved closer to the light and removed its cloak and everyone went wide-eyed when they looked at it or him.

There was an odd feeling of familiarity about this old man, but they couldn’t remember him at all!

Yet for some reason, his pale blue eyes that shone brightly for that captured their eyes for a moment, as their minds slowly tried to put back the puzzles in their heads at this mysterious old man.

"So my dear people, am I getting your help tonight too?" He asked as he scanned the confused people who tried to remember him.

To the villagers they were mystified as well as confused, who this old man was and why he spoke as if he knew them, not to mention the strange feeling of guilt that slowly started to well up in their chests as they continued to look at him, that increased even more when they thought of how they had forgotten a fellow member of their tribe.

But there was one person who was able to recognize this old man and called out.

"Ullo is that you!” The chief could not help but be startled at this new look of Ullo, he looked as aged as the most aged senior of this village!

Soon everyone gasped at this, as memories of the youth began to flood their heads. To think they had forgotten him for 3 whole months especially after the battle, guilt started to build up in their chests and it made them slightly stifled at this, especially the young maidens who had thought that they would take care of him the following day. And now to see his face had become so dry, his hair white and body so shrunk, everyone had a sensation as if there were heavy rocks on their hearts that made a few weaker people begin to tear up slightly.

The chief was shocked, to say the least, he remembers the handsome, strong, and brave young man from 3 months ago, but now if not for being incredibly familiar with him he would have not even recognized him and recognized those eyes.

Giving a dry and torn smile, Ullo or unknown to them as Ezekiel spoke, with a sad chuckle, "Hehe! Am glad the chief still recognizes me, as everyone else can't seem to do so. Heck, you all didn’t give a damn at all, I don't remember meeting anyone at all after being left for dead in my house!"

He paused and clenched his head as if in pain trying to remember something and he continued in a choked voice that echoed across the silent crowd.

“All I remember was going hunting a few months ago one night. I remember hearing something that kind of touched me that am sure of, but I can’t recall at all as if I was in deep sleep or a dream. And then I wake up in pain, all dried up and weak! Only to hear that I have harmed this village that has given me nothing but shelter.”

“I been left alone since I was barely a boy, I have no clue why I have been abandoned. Yet, to think I would even dare harm the people I have slowly begun to think of as family. You know what, perhaps it was best you people decided to abandon me too, but the chief’s words moved me so much that I just had to come forth and see… See if there is any hope of help from all of you.” As if trying to fight back the tears and the lump in his throat his arms shook as he held his hand over his face as if he didn’t want anyone to see his tearful face.

But what they didn’t see was him having a smile and controlling his body from bursting into laughter, hence the trembling.

That and unbeknownst to them all, there were 3 small green glowing skulls within his cloak at this moment all turning to dust as he continued to take.

To think they the Tambe villagers would ever abandon a child all alone, even they took care of the orphans of their fallen comrades as if they were their own. They couldn’t believe themselves for doing this to a child, he was abandoned, left behind by his family and this also solved the mystery about how he was corrupted by the evil spirit that must have used this loneliness as a weakness in his heart to capture him, they had purged it in the end but forsook him again.

What is to say that once he recovers he won’t be captured by another once more? The guilt and turmoil swirled and grew in their hearts and minds the longer they plunged in their thoughts.

The chief himself had his mouth opening and closing with eyes wide like a fish out of water, just to come up with a reasonable answer yet nothing at all came to mind.

After he recovered a month after the battle he didn't even bother to think of the poor child, yet now here he was preaching about unity and giving a helping hand, all the while a little outsider left in their care was alone all this time.

He felt guilty even more after he remembers the favor this child’s father said to him. And to one who was honorable like him, this was humiliation!

'Perhaps it was our negligence in the first place that made him become into a Buburu host. Poor child.' The same thought floated in everyone's minds.

Ezekiel could smell the previous festive air turn into thick, dark, and heavy clouds of self-guilt, pain and depression as well as shame.

And the more Ezekiel spoke the more the waves of pain, loss, loneliness, and desolation came off him, soon people started to feel suffocated and drowning. The children started crying and most of the women started to whimper as tears flowed down their cheeks at this, for their maternal instincts had been shaken greatly.

Few looked down in shame and tried to hide the red eyes, others that had pools of tears that threatened to fall at this moment.

This was the charm Ezekiel work on for the past few days. All for this moment, the last piece for the little gift for these people. To help shift their emotions, it made people feel extreme empathy for him, and by using Ullo's emotions that he had tried to always hide to fuel it, it made it work like – well a charm.

Of course, it worked only slightly to Yuje and his mother, making them barely formulate any proper thoughts and even argue, as the feelings of gloating and pure joy collided with the feelings of pain, hurt, and suffering. That and they didn’t want to say anything and tell them the truth, yet the behavior of Ezekiel was very contradictory with Ullo, making them think dark and frightening thoughts.

‘Perhaps we did just survive the evil spirit!?’ Both mother and son looked at each other for a moment and saw the look of panic and fear in each other’s eyes.

Seeing the villagers in this state made Ezekiel smirk inside, he then removed his hands from his face and showed everyone a small gentle smile along with red eyes, this hurt them slightly, even more, he then said in a warm tone, "But I will forgive you all, all I need is your help, chief you said that you would help anyone in this village right?"

With those words, he canceled the charm, for the people it was as if a weight was lifted and they could breathe again, but the memory was still there and they didn't want those feelings again, in their minds already they would do anything not be feeling that 'guilt' again.

"Yes young one, you can count on the village to help you stand up once more. What do you need child, speak don't be afraid?" With a soft voice and expression that even he didn't realize he made as he asked.

"Is that true for everyone too?" Instead of answering he looked around the crowd that still had red puffy eyes and asked, soon all of them nodded others voice out saying yes.

"Ahaha! Wonderful! You all are the best. To think I would meet such people in this life!" With extreme elation that was not faked at all, Ezekiel looked up to the cloudless starry sky and laughed out.

Everyone had smiles on their faces looking at his jovial mood and expression. For many, this felt great and the lingering feelings they had just experienced were melting away like snow under the sun, feeling them with warmth and peace of mind.

For the maidens, they couldn’t help but blush, for even if he looked old, there was a certain charm and charisma he gave off now that they saw this look.

"Yes! Ullo! We will help you!"

"Don't worry young man, you don't have to feel left out!"

“Worry not at all, we will meet your request!”

Hearing the name made Ezekiel snap out of his elation, "Wait! Please, don't call me Ullo anymore, that name brings back bad memories. I have been reborn, am a new young man. I have chosen a new name for myself, please all of you call me Ezekiel Helstrum!" Ezekiel requested to be called by his original name, a name that rolled of his tongue with pride as if he was indeed a new man, which he was unknown to them of course.

This made people freeze over slightly, but seeing this they felt even prouder for him, seeing that he had moved on by giving himself a new name.

"Very well then, Ezekiel Helstrum, we the Tambe village are happy and willing to give our help from the depths of our hearts to even aid you in becoming stronger. Isn’t that right my people!?" With that the chief called loudly as looked at everyone and received nods and loud declarations, he even looked to his 1st wife next to him and she just nodded, still slightly dazed as she felt his gaze fall on her and then the rest of her co-wives.

"Brilliant! Haha! Am happy, happy this all went well. I honestly thought it would be hard to ask for help. Now I can carry on my mission." With relief on his aged face, he said out loud as he stretched his back and stood straight and clenched his staff tighter.

"Mission? What mission son? Say it so we give you a hand." The chief asked, this question was on everyone's minds too, they had agreed to help, now they just had to find out what was that he needed help with.

Looking at everyone, he saw expressions like little puppies that were waiting on a master to feed them.

'Adorable people. I almost feel bad, Almost'

"The mission my wonderful people is to stand above all existence and beyond. And you are the sacrifices that will start that path for me!" Ezekiel answered as he lifted the staff slightly up and slammed it slightly into the ground but change nothing while giving everyone a bright and warm smile.

Everyone was confused at first, but as they wanted to say something they all felt a strange power wash over them that made them freeze and tremble for a moment.

Just then, a warm breeze brush against everyone's faces, this was strange as the warm breeze came from behind Ulo, oh wait he wanted to be known as Ezekiel now.

And behind him was nothing but the darkness and it was where the cold chilly breezes should be coming from!

The warmth increased very quickly and now it was from all directions, soon it felt like they were in front of an actual fire. This was enough for people to discover that something was wrong!

Just as they tried to move and ask, everyone realized, that they couldn't move at all much less speak!

Their eyes couldn’t even move! Extreme fear rose in their hearts especially when they saw the same sunny smile on Ezekiel's face. To them, this was the smile of a demon, a monster, no worse!

Shaking his head slowly, he opened his mouth and spoke in a sing-song tone, "Oh, my sweet little lambs.” Before he paused for a moment and placed a finger on his chin as he continued, “Hmm? I guess none of you know what a lamb is right? Never mind that as what is important is that all of you had promised to help me, willingly if I might add. Thus, you have all become sacrifices for this righteous ritual.”

“And I accept it all!”