Exorcism

Two weeks ago,

A woman was walking through a forest path with a basket on hand,sniffling her snot.She stopped and her eyes sparkled as she finally reached the place where the apothecary mentioned.She hurried,practically jogging as she kneeled and started to pluck the herbs.

"Finally!No more pesky cold!,"she delightedly said. 

As she was blissfully gathering the herbs,she was unaware of the person creeping behind her.Someone struck her neck from behind and she fell down.Her basket tumbled,spilling the herbs.

Someone dragged her away.

...

Sae was heading towards Polyo to tell her findings about Kuru when she stopped.Micha and other white robbed people are walking towards the east,their beads collectively clinking.Aside from Micha and the shamans,the other elders also followed and a few warriors.

Sae noticed that their expressions all bear furrowed eyebrows and a thin frown,Micha's eyes are crinkled,so as her forehead.She seems to be the most worried of them all as she hurries her pace and is now taking the lead.

Sae decided to follow them.

...

Meanwhile inside one of the abodes,Rama restlessly paces back and forth,his forehead creased and his hands on his chin,looking grave.He just received the news from one of the shamans that something is amiss at the barrier.

When he received the news,all sorts of thoughts raced in his mind but one thing is for sure,if the demon ever escaped then...then...

The image of Amallis surfaced on his mind then his deceased wife.People had always remarked how Alis and Amallis looked alike.

No!No,this simply cannot be!The incident from 9 years ago must never repeat!

"Ugh,shit!,"He groaned,slightly pulling his hair of frustration.

8 years ago before Alis died,he still remembered her exact words.

"Rama,if our child is to be possessed again,there is a crystal etched in the grotto,northeast of the forest,"those are her words said between wispy breaths.

He visited Elder Kuru not long ago and told his predicament but the elder said he can't do anything about it less find who took the crystal and take it back with his hands.It is true,there is nothing to be done aside from that.There is no way to make another concentrated crystal.But...but...

Rama slumped on the floor,clutching his head.He hates this,he hates that he can't do anything...

...

Inside the forest.Amallis looks up,shielding his face from the sun,he frowns.

"Isn't it weird that I can't hear birds?,"he commented.

The wind circled around his waist and the nearby plants bobbed their leaves.

He sighed,understanding what the spirits said."Guess the forest is just to—"

A sudden tremor approached,the wind stopped and the plants stopped as well.The spirits become silent.Amallis suddenly feels dreadful,he cautiously looks back,eyes wide.He can feel the beads against his skin slightly heat up.

He sprinted,looking for his grandmother.

...

9 years ago,

When the leaves start to change color and fall,a child was chasing wind spirits,his tattoos slightly glowing blue.Then he tripped,landing on some fallen leaves.A tremor surged forward.The winds stopped blowing,the plants stopped moving.Everything went still.The child looks forward,a magenta aura seeping through the tree trunks.

"Come child,"a voice suddenly spoke,a rough but gentle voice.

The child slowly got up,lulled by the voice.He walked towards the magenta aura.

"Such a good child."

The boy disappeared while walking.

...

Micha is almost close to the barrier,she can't help but stop to her tracks and cover her mouth and gasped.In the middle of the fields of pure orbs is a crack,dark magenta smoke seeping out.Pure orbs near the crack wilted.The rest of the people are astonished letting out gasps and mutters.

"Elder,"a young shaman approached Micha,"What should we do?"

"Find Amallis,"Micha said,"We can't afford to let him be possessed again."

The shaman nodded and went away.Polyo stepped beside her,"Did the demon escaped?"

"Not yet,"Micha answered.

"So are we just going to stay here and wait 'til that happens?,"Mori said,stepping forward.

"Mori,"Tina held her shoulder.

"Besides how did this even happen,huh.I thought the demon was sealed and now it just chose to come back?,"said Mori."Unbelievable,I think it's best to leave our village and relocate then."

"But Mori,"Tina said,"It's not safe travelling to the forest,besides where we will go?"

"Then it's better to take the risk,Tina,at least we have a chance to survive rather than staying here with a demon about to escape.Do you want certain death?"

Tina went silent.

"Mori,that's enough,"Micha said,"I didn't say we can do nothing with the demon."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"Do you think exorcism is that easy,huh."

"No,last time that happened,someone eventually died."

Micha tensed her jaw and went straight in front of Mori."You—"

"Fellow elders,please,"Polyo cut in,"I know that we are all stressed but what do you think our residents will think when they see us fighting at a time like this?"He looks at Mori,"Elder Mori,I know that what you've been through was hard but that is no excuse to bring up someone else's.Elder Micha is doing her best,please think about that."

He sighed,"Micha,how long will the exorcism happen?"

"I already sent my shamans to gather everything that is needed,Elder,"Micha answered.

Polyo nodded.Not long after the shamans returned carrying sacks and beads.

The shamans surrounded the crack with a distance with dried bay leaves.Meanwhile,Micha threw beads on the ground alongside 2 other shamans.After they did it,they all stood side by side,encircling the crack.They hold hands,then one by one closed their eyes.

"E nānā mai i kā mākou kāhea,"Micha loudly said.

"E nānā mai i kā mākou kāhea,"the other shamans followed.

"E kipuʻi i ka ʻino,"Micha continued.

"E kipuʻi i ka ʻino."

A white aura seeped out of their intertwined hands,all going forward revealing a white barrier pulsing,surrounding the malicious crack.The air around the area shifted,trembling with the spiritual barrier being fixed.

The crack suddenly reacted,sending out a wave of spiritual mana to the barrier.Micha creased her eyebrows.They continued the chant,fighting back the opposing spiritual mana.Then it had enough,the crack let out a huge wave pushing back Micha and the shamans,landing on the pure orbs.

"Elder!,"the other people at the back all rushed forward to help the shamans up.

"Elder,what happened?,"said a young warrior,helping Micha up.

"The demon...it's too strong,"Micha coughed.She can taste sweet iron,she looks at her trembling palm,it has blood on it.

"Elder,"the warrior worriedly said with wide eyes.

"Che—check on the others,"Micha said.

The warrior nodded and gestured with the others on the back.The remaining warriors all arrived helping the other shamans back.A warrior came back to report to the other elders.

"I...see...,"Polyo said.Mori tched.

"See,this is why we should leave,"Mori said.

"If we leave then where do we go?,"Tina asked.

"Listen Tina our other residents already left if they can,so can we."

"But if we leave,how about the town.Maybe we can go and ask for help!,"Tina suggested.

"Tina,I admire your compassion but this is no time for such thing,we should leave right now while we still have time!"

"Mori,you don't understand those people have this organization or something that deals with demons.They can help us!,"Tina said,"Besides,if they do nothing then the demon will target them next."

Mori heavily sighed.

"We can do that,"Polyo said.

Mori shook her head and scoffed,"Are you even thinking Polyo?We don't have time time for this.What I am worried about is,while we are still here asking for help that demon will break out of the barrier any minute and will kill us all!Is it that hard to understand!"

"But Mori we can't just do anything rash.Just like what Tina said,the forest is extremely dangerous we can't just risk our lives as well,"Polyo said calmly.

Mori shook her head with a mocking smile.She couldn't believed it."Unbelievably stupid,"she scoffed.She left.

Polyo sighed.

"My,how could this have happened?For nine years the barrier haven't reacted,why now?,"Kuru suddenly remarked.

Polyo narrowed his eyes,scrutinizing Kuru."After all this time,you finally spoke."

"You know that I am more of an observer,Elder,"he answered.

"Ahuh,an observer~You're really that an observer that you went that far to send a spy?,"Polyo jabbed.

Kuru softly laughed,"What are you talking about,Elder?"So Polyo is the one who did the overlapping pact to his hunter.

"You know what I mean,Kuru,sending someone to spy on Sae."

Sae,so that's her name.Kuru raised his eyebrow."Elder,I really don't know what you are talking about?"

"Oh really,"Polyo said,"Warriors!"

The remaining warriors went beside Polyo."Take Elder Kuru."

"What?"The remaining people also gasped."Polyo,what are you doing?,"Tina asked.

"Must I repeat myself?,"Polyo turned to the warriors.

The warriors all looked at Polyo then at Kuru,hesitating.Before Polyo can once again speak,Rama arrived.

He went infront of Kuru,shielding him."My apologies,Elder Polyo,but you can't just take away Elder Kuru without any reason at all."

Polyo sighed."Kuru was doing something illegal alongside the hunting department last 2 months,not only that but he also sent a spy to watch over the outsider.Isn't that suspicious?"

"Elder,what do you mean by suspicious?Elder Kuru may have sent someone to watch over the outsider for any suspicious activities.Come to think of it,ever since the outsider came the demon reacted.Isn't that something to think over?,"Rama replied.

Polyo caught his breath,he doesn't have anything to reply next.He looked over the remaining people and all of them are looking at each other,muttering agreements over at what Rama said.

"That's right,Rama,"Kuru said with a smile.He looks over at Polyo.Polyo clenched his jaw.

STEP!

The sound of grass being walked over."You're right that when I am here,the demon reacted but that is all just a mere coincidence."

When they turned to the direction of the voice,they all saw a covered woman with purple eyes.

"However,it is true that you sent your hunter to spy on me.If you are truly against me you should have said so from the beginning,"Sae said.

"Besides,there's also another reason why you would spy on me.I have relayed the information to the elders about my assumption about why the forest has been hostile,that is the disproportion between predator and prey."

Rama recalled what Kuru told him about his assumption.He looked at Kuru,whose eyes narrowed."Elder,so you knew?"

"Elder is afraid with what else will I uncover,that's why he sent the spy,"Sae continued.

"And what do you think it is?,"Rama asked.

"...""That I will find out that he's been lying.He's the reason why there are more predators than prey,in short he was overhunting."

Some people gasped.They can't believe what they are hearing,their own elder,overhunting?Against what Ameyalli stands for!

"So that's why he was busy for the last 2 months,"Polyo said.

"Wait!,"Tina blurted,"Do you have any evidence?"

"You can ask the hunters,elder,now that their elder has been found out,they will speak,"answered Sae."Regardless,elder wronged me."

Rama couldn't believe it.He lowered his arms,posture slightly hunched."Rama,"Kuru said.Rama looked at the elder.Kuru touched his shoulder,"I did what I have to do,"he softly said with a small smile.

"Elder...?"

Kuru was escorted away with the warriors.Sae sighed with relief,Polyo patted her shoulder then started to walk away.

"Wait!,"she blurted.

They all stopped to look at Sae,her purple eyes determined.

"I know how to get rid of the demon."

Author's note:

Heya,thanks for sticking until chapter 14, unfortunately I won't be posting this story here and will migrate in Tapas,Webnovel,and Wattpad.So if you still want to follow Amallis and Sae's journey why not migrate as well,if it's too much then that's okay.

Thank you for sticking until this chapter,you're one of the reason why I keep posting as proof that I am not writing for the void.Thank you really😁✨