Blessings Of The Void

Chapter 2- The Revival

The next time I was back to my senses, it was a different place again. The rhythmic left and right oscillation of the thing I was laying in was uncomfortable.

It was terrifying to open my eyes. But I still did and I looked around of the thing I was riding in. The interior was wooden except for the cloth that acted as the walls and the ceiling while being supported by wooden frames. It was a wagon, with barrels and boxes inside it.

Before I get a good glance of the surroundings I hear, "Finally awake boy?" It was a voice with an essence of confidence and a different accent. "You're okay to move?"

I turn my head to the voice and a man with his head slightly bent, gazing at me. He had a young look, someone with a mid 20s with a patchy stubble.

"Let him rest for some more time Hirek." Said another voice. He was sitting next to the stubbled man, Hirek I suppose. His voice have not yet gone into puberty,I could tell that but his accent shared the same with Hirek. I got to see his face when he turned around. He had a shade of olive with a spotless skin apart from the light brown eyes that somehow, no matter how elegant, didn't quite complement his face. To my surprise he was older than I thought he was, around 14, maybe the puberty will hit him anytime now

"Hello I am Zuma, and this is my brother Hirek." Introduced Zuma and continued "If the gods bless, what's your name?"

"I..I am Joy." I uttered, still trying to make sense of the things happening here. "I am sorry, but which place is this? Where am I?"

"I had my doubts but that confirms it. You're not from here it seems. Well, we are passing through the valley of Myloft, on our way to Munravi."

"No...wait, what just happened? I was in my class, and then at I was in the tent and..." Tears condensed at the corner of the eyes remembering the horror of last night. I quickly saw my fingers and touched my face, trying to make sense of what happening.

"Are you okay? Joy?" Zuma had his eyebrows dropped with a worried glance over his face.

"I am sorry, I had a terrible dream.... I don't know what is happening." I tried to explain while smearing the tears from my lids when I saw the holes and tears of my clothes, and a huge stains on my left oblique. Now that I lay attention to the small red stains that lay in my outfit.

"What was that dream?" Zuma questioned, and with the way he looked, it seems he already knew the answer.

Stil puzzled, without meaning to, I looked him dead in the eyes and replied, "I was killed by those people."

Zuma and Hirek turned forward now and Zuma sighed. He remained silent for sometimes and replied without looking back. "It was not a dream."

"What do you mean? And what's going on? Are you two planning to kill me too?" While I said those things witho stammering, my voice still sounded of fear with the last part coming out more like a threat.

"No! Absolutely not, Joy. You're a Zakir we dare not lay hands on you." Zuma spurted out in an instant. "I swear on your emblem coin, we are just merchants. I am sorry if we did to make you think so." He was scared, I could tell.

"I am sorry, I am just frustrated and it seems that you're the only one who could help me." I closed my eyes took a deep breath and thought about everything that has happened till then," But can you two please tell me what happened last night?"

"Joy, I don't think you're read-" Zuma explained when he was interjected with Hirek.

"Let him know. You take on the horses. I'll show him." Hirek ordered facing him. He then turned his face towards me and stood up and crossed the wooden border between us. Now he came before me and sat. Then he placed his hand on my head.