Witchcraft

Ch.4 The Truth is Out

Far from the home Cain and Lania reside in, an outlaw from seven years ago gathered up an army to rebuttal Shauna Cain's reigns on the village. His name was Guishe and he was a powerful and trained killer. He was after the half blood human girl, along with his men, for a gift came from Themiades if they killed her. Themiades warned to give the girl up in another of Cain's dreams. Cain, learning to love his adopted daughter, rushed to the forest where the boolberry bushes grew and found where she'd been running off to four the past year and a half.

When he'd swung the latch open to reveal the magical artefacts, he knew why Themiades had commanded an attack against him. He had failed to keep magic at bay. More in shock was his seven year old daughter who was caught in the headlights of his gaze. Before she could do anything, he ordered her to continue her studies and left. If there was anything that could prevent her death it was the goddesses, who blessed her with this knowledge. While Ghoulra was the goddess of death, she could not completely stop it either.

Lania, in shock, continued to craft the familiar summoning cauldron, as her father instructed. It took quite a long time, but the sudden decrease in chores helped complete her project. She cast the spell, pronouncing the words as best she could, and waited. She had checked the ingredients twice: spice off of a lemon spice leaf, grik root, water and nutmeg. They were common ingredients, but all they did was disappear. She tried again, but this time, they didn't go anywhere. It was a failure.

Searching for an answer to the problem, she searched the books from cover to cover. The final print in the fifth book stated, only a witch has the power of witchcraft. Her troubles had swiftly become larger.

Returning to the house, upset surely, Cain greeted her, only to be pushed aside. Lania went straight to her room and cried in defeat. While she wad a brute and brutes show no weaknesses, she was a child and had an excuse.

Cain entered to find a crying lady on her bedside, becoming grave himself. He turned to her to speak.
"My Lania, do not cry. Brutes don't cry. Crying shows no pride."
"Papa, my pride has long left. I have been studying magic. I know of advanced words. Ghoulra should pick me up and sweep me away."
"I believe" Cain began, "Ghoulra and Fraria wished for you to study. For as long as I've lived, that library has not been there."
"Papa, I've failed. I've failed at the most basic spell. I tried to create a familiar and I've failed." Lania croaked.
"My child, I think it is time for a story. I'm not your papa. You are a witch's child, and you most likely did not fail."

As the conversation of how Lania and her parents brought her to Cain continued, her eyes glittered. Lania knew a witch in brutecountry was treason and so it was kept hidden.

When Cain left, Lania had fallen asleep. Hours later, she awoke to hear noises outside. She heard a click on he door lock, and she slid down her bed to find herself shut inside like a prisoner. Looking from her window, she saw armed men and the front of the house open up to invite them in. She her howls from Cain and other men. Another man with a bow shot an arrow with fire into the window of her room. He head jolted to the door handle as it wiggled furiously, turning to loud banging. She hid in the corner as the fire started blazing. The door started to break, revealing a large axe. Tears streamed down her face as the room engulfed the hand and the ceiling collapsed over her.

Lania began to scale the roof to escape the powerful smoke. She was fading in and out of consciousness as she heard loud cries from angry men. Everything had suddenly gone black.

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[At this point, the story will shift into first person. Be aware]