WARLOCK'S INTERNS

Chapter 9: A Discovery

Champaka loved to teach her daughter all the things she knew. She knew Vasundari was bright enough to learn everything fast. After the incident with the Witches of Mountain, her husband has strictly ordered to keep a close eye on Vasundari. They knew Vasundari could be very naughty and even tricky sometimes. Vaachaspati made it very clear that she should not be sent outside at any cost.

Champaka stirred the contents of earthen pot again and looked at her daughter. It is time for her to teach cooking to Vasundari. She was a girl after all; she has to learn all this things before her marriage. Champaka took the small pot and poured half handful of salt to her hands.

“Now we have to add the salt, then, stir it well again.”

Vasundari smelt the sweet aroma of the vegetables and began to like it, however; she was anxious to go out. She loved to be with her brothers. She was also afraid lest they many not go to another adventure leaving her behind. 

“Aha! It smells very good, I have learnt it mother, can I go now?

“No, you are not going out. First learn to cook well.” Champaka cast an irritated glance at her.

“Aha! Nice smell, mother have you seen Bakula?” Atma walked in smelling the dish.

Champaka looked at him affectionately, “He should have been to forest to fetch the woods.”

Atma turned to walk out, it is time to find him, he muttered under his breath, “I shall go and help him out.”

Vasundari saw the opportunity at once; slowly she got up and said to Atma, “Good idea! Let us help him.”

Champaka became alert at once, she knew her daughter. She took a stick immediately and waved it across, “No Vasundari, you are not. You are to stay here, with ME.”

**

Bakula ran hard, as hard as he could. Innumerable times before he had been in the forest, but nothing like this has ever happened to him before. He had a very good sense. He would know the presence of any animals from a long distance. He was very good at smelling them to. He has learned to differentiate the smells of different animals. But today he was entirely thrown off balance. He is being chased by a big wild boar! Wild boar is always very dangerous. He looked back again and saw that the boar was covering a good distance. He was unable to sense it before and now he was paying the price.

He had heard many tales about the wild boars; they can be entirely destructive if they want. He had heard about their persistency, they could chase their prey for miles. His mind began to work fast to see other options. Climbing the tree was one of them. Unfortunately he was very poor in climbing tree. Atma tried to teach the simple techniques many times, but he simply could not get it. It was Atma who could climb any tree; he could even climb tall trees without any branches at all.

Bakula turned once again and saw that the wild boar was very close now. It is going to catch him up soon. In the short glance he had noticed its sharp tusks. He knew wild boars are usually shy, but if aroused they can be very threatening. Bakula felt his legs and knees weakening up, he was panting heavily now, he cannot go on like this forever.

“Oh! God! Save me, someone help, help me.” He screamed in despair.

The boar was almost behind him now. He knew it is going to throw him up in an instant. Suddenly he heard a strange whopping noise just behind him and turned back anxiously. He saw the wild boar dropping dead as a sphere pierced its heart. He stopped at once panting heavily; he looked here and there for the rescuer.

“Who was that?” he cried aloud, there has to be someone and he was very curious to know that at once.

“It was me Bakula, are you alright?” Atma smiled at him from the nearby tree top.

With great relief Bakula panted out his anxiety, “Ah ah – yes – yes. What were you doing in the tree?”

Atma jumped down from the tree at once and walked at the dead wild boar. He began to remove his sphere from its dead body.

“I climbed the tree in order to look for you and then I saw you were being chased, So - .”

“You - You really are good with spear and arrows; I wonder when did you learn that?”

Bakula was very surprised with Atma. Atma has never learnt to use a sphere or an arrow, however; many times he had displayed a perfect combination of accuracy and power together, just like today. He seemed to have natural skill for hunting and in using weapons.

Atma walked towards him rubbing the blood from the dry leaves, “I too don’t know; where are the woods?”

“I did not come for woods; I had been searching the Witches hiding place.” Bakula looked here and there and said in a low voice.

“That was too risky, they could harm you.” Atma at once showed his anger; he never wanted his brother to get hurt.

“Don’t worry I am alright and I have found out.” Bakula smiled at Atma.

“Found what?”

“The Witches hiding place, their cave.” Bakula whispered again with twinkle in his eyes.

“Did you?” Atma still doubted him.

“Yes, and it is very well protected.” Bakula started to walk along.

“How?” Atma found himself strangely curious now. He knew his brother never lied to him; so this has to be the truth.

“It is guarded by all sorts of wild animals. To be precise, it is located deep inside a mountain.” Bakula grinned.

**

Mahapitha walked across and took the Sapphire, Blue Sapphire in his hand. He looked closely at it. He squinted his eyes to see it clearly. He began to smile inwardly, “Yes! This is what I wanted.”

He knew the importance of Moon Stone and the Blue Sapphire in the lives of Witches and Wizards. These precious stones can change lot of things depending on the user. He had never wanted to possess all this. These stones meant nothing to him all these days. But things are changing fast; he knew he should be prepared for that.

He had spent his whole life in roaming the forest and helping people of Swarnapuri whenever they needed him. He was happy to be left alone to himself. He knew people thought very highly of him, he also knew many feared him, for he was a Wizard. And they called him Warlock of the West! Sometimes he himself wondered why he had lived so long. What was the purpose of his long life?          

He always loved peace. He had thrived to acquire the inner peace since he was a child. His life seemed very mysterious to himself. At times he has to kill although he despised it immensely. But Swarnapuri meant a lot to him. He had helped them to be victories in what people called the great battle. But no one knew how he had helped them and he was thankful for that. He wanted no one to praise him; he wanted no one to be thankful to him. He was after all a ragged old man.

Lately, he had noticed the changes and that worried him too much. The dark things are gaining strength. The dark matters were lurking with their wide open mouth. It is time for him to interfere. It is time for him to take control on dark things.

He held the Blue Sapphire to his chest, “You are to play a very important role.” He said to it in a husky voice. Silently he closed his eyes and started to pray, “Oh Lord! Give me the strength, for I am too old for this.”

****