chapter 41

On morning Balak and Alec left the village, they decided they will go to a village Sadhon which was situated in Angroshi Valley, Balak had heard rumours that witches was causing problems in Sadhon.

It was a sunny day, birds on sky chirping, insects making buzz sound, it seemed peaceful, it was not long before noon when Alec said "Someone is following us" looking at the shrub behind them, "Since we left the village he is tracking us" said Balak "We know you are following us, show yourself before we consider you enemy", a sound was heard behind the bushes as if someone was coming out of it Balak and Alec was prepared if it was something dangerous, they grabbed their weapons and was ready to attack any second, "I ain't a Witch" said a boy coming out from behind the shrub "I am Mathias and I am a witch hunter", Balak looking at boy knew he wasn't strong like Alec but he was shook when he saw the boy carrying the Axe of Aastak, no doubt it was the legendary weapon made to kill powerful trolls which holded special powers but how a weak guy like him could have this weapon, Balak realizing it instantly asked "where you get that Axe from kid", "I ain't no kid" said Mathias "I founded it in the cave of Aastak".

"Why are you following us" asked Balak with a heavy tone in his voice, " I am going to Sadhon to attend the rumours regarding witch" said Mathias, Balak knew that the kid got lucky to find that axe but was ignorant "You wouldn't start a chance against witches" said Balak, Alec till now was observing Mathias he spoke softly "Uncle Balak is right", Mathias was also full of himself laughing at Balak and Alec he exclaimed " I am a witch hunter and I ain't weak".

Balak knew the kid won't survive on his own also by his nature Mathias seemed to be stubborn, "You won't stop following us, will you?", Smiling at both of them Mathias said "I don't know way to Sadhon", Alec couldn't stop his laugh, Balak and Alec decided to take Mathias with them, they asked him what was his motivation for becoming a witch hunter, "Nothing" said Mathias "destiny probably", Mathias was a real talker he wouldn't stop talking about himself, he told Balak and Alec all about himself.

Mathias told them he was from a village called Malokh which was near the Aastak, Malokh was a village of warriors but they wasn't the witch hunters they lived in land of trolls, ancient warriors of Molakh spent their whole life fighting Trolls and made them all perish but after the battle with trolls was over they didn't fought much but still even if they are just normal farmers now but they still have that warrior blood inside them, but Mathias was not like them at all he was always a trouble maker no one in village liked him he didn't attended lessons at halls he would just run around causing trouble to villagers, he was a loner he had no friend no one wanted to play with him, so he used to spend his time roaming around caves of Aastak, but when his father died due to an unknown illness he started thinking about his life, it wasn't much later that the curse of regret came upon him spending his whole childhood causing trouble he was worthless good at nothing he had no friends his family dont expect anything from him soon he thought his life has no meaning and he need to do something to make himself worth living he needed a purpose to stay alive he wanted to give his life a meaning then one day when he was roaming in caves he found a secret place deep inside in one of cave where the Axe of Aastak was kept by warriors of ancient times, as he gazed at it Mathias realized what it is and he holded it in his hands he could feel the power in weapon flowing through him, as if the warriors of ancient time are hungry for killing evil, Mathias knew at that exact moment destiny wants him to be a witch hunter, he left his home and village of Malokh and came to journey just like Alec and Balak.

Mathias was a little stupid, he wouldn't understand most of the things also he was full of himself, his physique was not less than of a girl, long hair, big brown eyes, weak arms and legs, Mathias built wasn't like Alec rather he was weak and skinny but the boy had courage or rather he was stupid to think he can be a witch hunter.

After 2 days of their journey finally three of them reached the Sadhon, they couldn't believe what they were seeing at the whole village was destroyed no sign that it ever existed all perished to dust and dirt,

"What happened" asked Mathias confused " Is this Sadhon?", Balak was not sure what happened but he was sure that they were in Sadhon which was nothing more than grave of 100's of villagers, upon scouting the area they saw no sign of humans, "Where they all went uncle" asked Alec, Balak didn't had any answer to his question, he decided they should wait there and gather some intel on Sadhon.

They decided to spent the night in one of Sadhon's vacant house, Balak had an unusual feeling about this but Alec and Mathias seemed to not notice the upcoming storm they were getting together because Alec and Mathias was almost of same age.

Balak decided he will let the kids sleep and stay awake to guard and keep an eye for any trouble, it wasn't much late after midnight, Balak heard a voice he knew something was coming, looking at the window he saw a shadow looking inside at kids, whatever it was doesn't saw Balak hiding behind the table.

Door opened slowly it was impossible for a normal person to open the door this way without any noise slowly the shadow moved in direction of kid, it was a witch there was no doubt about it, face burnt, fingers twisted, jaw broken, hair twisted and burnt, the witch had smell like rotten flesh, as witch was about to lay down her hand on Alec and Mathias a spear came from behind the table witch was quick she realised it's a trap she ran out of house while Balak was getting his spear out of wall, Alec and Mathias woke up hearing the noises "It's a witch let's go" said the Balak and he jumped out of window Alec grabbed his sword in no time and started running behind Balak, Mathias was scared and didn't know what to do seeing at Alec running he thought it's good to follow them he picked up his Axe and started running. 

They chased the witch in woods for a while but it was too dark to see anything, they can't spot the witch in this darkness thought Balak, but also it was too late to go back they decided to stick together and look for witch, they didn't know what they was going for.

They was walking in dark they knew they can't put on fire because that will make witch knew their position, 30 minutes later Balak saw something from far, he saw a witch he was about to attack but something stopped him, he saw around 45-50 witches in front of him their was a whole witch lair in front of them and he recognised the witch that attacked them was talking to others.

Alec and Mathias was also stunned to see that much witches in front of them, Balak realised the witch destroyed the town that's why no present news of Sadhon was heard, there was no one to tell what they saw all dead by these witches.

Balak smiled to himself, he was feeling blood gushing through his veins he knew what they had to do, he looked at Alec and asked if he was ready, Alec holding his sword knew he was ready, Mathias was scared but he knew he has to face them to stay alive.

Balak jumped out he grabbed his spear and threw it as hard as he could to the witches, with his amazing strength he managed to get 3 witches at same time spear just went in and out of their body like it was nothing, witches knew they were under attack by someone.

There was sputtering in whole lair, they was low level witches and they knew they would die if they didn't ran, but Balak had blocked the exit of their lair and Alec was making his way through witches cutting them into pieces, Alec could feel rush in his body he felt like this is what he was made for, his movement was perfect his blows strong and his reflexes were like an eagle's.

Balak and Alec killed almost all of witches but it was that time they heard a cry it was Mathias crying for help as he was attacked by 3 witches together and he didn't knew what to do, his Axe was too much for witches but he didn't had courage or right mind to realize that, Alec knew he could not make it in time to save Mathias, the witches had Mathias cornered up, Mathias thought he was dead he thought this is it for him, he closed his eyes, just one thought came in his mind "meaning of his life" was he to die just like that didn't destiny chose him and lay this great weapon and it's power on him, it was enough to help him gain courage, his will to survive grew stronger and he opened his eyes, his aura was changed he knew it's either die or kill and he wants to live, he moved his Axe quickly, Alec and Balak was shocked it was the same guy who couldn't even pick his Axe nicely was there moving it like it's nothing, Mathias killed all of them. Balak and Alec was done too they burnt down the whole lair before leaving the woods.

Today they killed almost 50 witches but they was all low ranked witch, Mathias was satisfied with himself, he was laughing and joking around whole night, he knew his destiny was right to make him follow this path.

Balak remembers the time when he was a child his mother would tell them stories of Malokh warriors how they defeated the trolls and made peace for humans, looking at Mathias he said " Your ancestors will be proud", Mathias knew what he meant and this gave him more courage to move on this journey.

They spent the night at Sadhon, Balak decided they would head for a town called Bustar which lies at the ground of valley, it was a market place so it was good to take supplies for journey from Bustar.