Renwar Vallée The Battle for the souls of Néarbi Town

Prologue 4 Tommy and Girda

“What have you done to my brother?” Girda asked, holding the back of her head as she regained consciousness.

“Your brother will be okay. I have stopped the bleeding, but we must take him to the hospital,” Theresa Nutti answered after placing the last bandage around Tommy. “The sword did not touch any vital organs, from what I can see, and over time, he will be okay. I think you should come too, as your head is bleeding. Let me see it.”

“I don’t need your help, and neither does my brother. We take care of our own,” Girda snapped angrily as she took her brother from Theresa Nutti.

As the men attempted to stop Girda from leaving with her brother, Theresa Nutti stopped them, advising to let them be as they are only children. Looking at Girda, Theresa said, “If he starts bleeding again, use this.” She handed her a medicine kit. “And if indeed any of his internal organs were in fact damaged, you can return to the town and I will help you. We also have a healer, so if you do not believe in going to the hospital, then you can take him to our priest that heals the sick.”

“How can he heal him? Humans do not have magic unless you are working with witches of the dark or light,” Girda argued.

“Our magic, as you put it, does not come from Satan or an eclipse, as your witches’ powers do, but from God, who is our Heavenly Father and soon coming, king. He has given us the power to cast out demons and to raise the dead by laying our hands on them. He sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. That is where our power comes from. You know where to find me when you are ready. Remember, not all humans are bad. I must warn you to leave this place and never return, as tonight will be the last of the human sacrifices,” Theresa Nutti said, walking away.

* * *

“What happened? Tommy asked as he tried to stand up properly, but he had to rely on his sister to help him.

“You were stabbed, and some human wrapped you up,” she said as she waved her hand over her brother and tried to heal him when they were a little distance from Theresa and her army. Tommy felt better in a little time and started walking normally; however, every five hours, the wound would start bleeding again, and Girda would use her magic once more. She was losing energy and was now worried that her brother was losing too much blood.

“Where are we going? I wanted to say goodbye to Sáphire and Anna,” Tommy said as he ate the last ration of food his sister managed to take before they left their home.

“I’m sorry, Tommy, I could not guarantee our safety if we returned to our village. We are going to the light witches on the south side. They can help us,” Girda said as they reached a far distance and could no longer hear the screams.

“But won’t they try to kill us?” Tommy asked, trying to manoeuvre the hill they were climbing. Holding his side as he climbed, he noticed the bandage was bleeding again. He didn’t want his sister to worry, so he kept his side out of her sight for as long as he could.

“They won’t, as our mother is of the light coven,” Girda said as they crossed a small stream.

“But Father said our mother was killed,” Tommy said, stopping to look at his sister.

“That is what Father told everyone so that they would not try to find her.”

“Why would they want to kill her?” he asked.

“The same reason they tried to kill Father but instead banished him from the coven and kept us as punishment so that others would know never to mate with a light witch,” she explained as they continued walking for miles, only stopping for food and rest and bathroom breaks.

* * *

“It’s been days now since we left home. Is it any closer?” Tommy asked, waking from his slumber.

“We are almost there now, Tommy, not much farther. See, look,” Girda said as she pointed at a bolt of lightning symbolizing that a light coven was nearby. Tommy tried hard as he might to see what his sister saw but gave up when she said, “It’s only visible to those who know where to look.”

“Stop where you are!” ordered a tall blond-haired boy about the same age as Girda.

Looking at him from head to toe, Girda smiled and thought that he reminded her of a childhood friend she once had.

“What are you smiling at, little girl?” the boy asked.

“Hey, who are you calling little, Philip Degree?” Girda said as she walked right up to him, staring him in the eye. She was a little shorter than he was, but she hated being called little.

“Whoa! How do you know my name? Have we met before?” he asked.

“Well, my father took us snow-fishing once. It was the day before he took me and my brother away seven years ago.”

“Girda? Little Tommy?”

“What is going on here, Philip?” an elderly man asked as he walked up to the children.

“It’s Girda and Tommy. They have returned!” Philip exclaimed as he hugged them.

“Well, that is great news. Let us find your mother,” the elderly man replied, shaking their hands. “I am Elder Frank Vallée, and we have been expecting you,” he added as he ruffled Tommy and Girda’s hair while they looked at each other and followed Philip and Elder Vallée through two giant white-and-gold gates guarded by two giant white eagles.

Entering the coven of light was much different from that of the coven of the dark. Everything was white and beautiful and so serene. They had white cottages, white birds, eagles, lions, and tigers. Each animal was free to roam with the witches and seemed to speak when they were spoken to.

“How are the animals communicating?” Tommy asked.

“They are our past ancestors who died and returned in the form of any animals of their choice,” Philip answered as they walked by a white elephant.

“Wow! If we die, we can choose to return as any animal?” Tommy continued.

“Yes. Only children of the light return if they have unfinished business to attend to with their bloodline.”

“So, if I don’t have anything to do, I just die?” Tommy asked.

“If you have no unfinished business, then there is no need for you to return, is there, Tommy?”

“I guess not,” replied Tommy sadly.

As they continued walking, Tommy wobbled and held out his hand to hold on to his sister before he started falling. Girda caught him before his body could hit the ground.

* * *

Pacing the white floors, waiting for someone to tell her what was happening, Girda started to give up hope as the time lengthened. Thinking her brother was dead, she decided that she would return and kill the man that took her brother away from her. As she was about to turn and leave, she heard footsteps and turned to see a slender jet-black-haired woman with kind cerulean eyes emerge from another white room.

“Is he okay, Mother?” Girda asked as she ran into her mother’s outstretched arms.

“Your brother has lost a lot of blood. His wounds got infected, and his inside seemed to have been damaged. We managed to clean the wound and tried to heal him, but his wound keeps opening as if there is something stopping it from healing completely,” Mrs. Farfo said, wiping a tear from her daughter’s cheek.

“Is there anything that the healers can do? There must be something. After all, you are supposed to be the most powerful of witches, aren’t you?” Girda shouted angrily at her mother, who only tried to console her by holding her in her arms and hugging her.

“We will find a way to heal him. Our powers are stronger under a solar eclipse. Perhaps he can be healed then.”

“When is the next solar eclipse?” Girda asked as she held on to her mother as if she were her only anchor in the world that could help keep her nightmare of losing her only brother alive.

“The next solar eclipse is in six months,” she replied.

“Tommy won’t survive that long. Please, Mom, there must be something else or someone else,” Girda said in tears.

“There is someone I met some time ago when I was pregnant with your brother. You and your father had left for the north that day, and I wanted to see the human town,” her mother said as if staring into space. “I wasn’t looking where I was going. I was just captivated by this little orange-and-blue bird with green-and-black feathers singing the most beautiful song I have ever heard, and I tripped and fell. Luckily, she was nearby.”

“Who was nearby, Mom?”

“Theresa Nutti. She was a young nurse, I believe. She had on a nurse’s gown. I was in and out of consciousness and don’t remember much, but I remember she took me to the hospital and helped me get better. She also helped me deliver your brother. In a way, you could say she was my guardian angel.”

“Did she know you were a witch, Mother?”

“If she did, it didn’t seem to bother her. She only wanted to help. Perhaps she is still at the hospital and can help,” her mother said.

“I may have already met her. I think she bandaged Tommy in the woods. She said I would know where to find her when I was ready,” Girda said as she ran her fingers through her wavy black hair.

“We can leave at first light to see the human nurse. Let us pack up some food and water—I am sure we will need it for the journey—and a blanket to keep ourselves warm,” her mother continued.

“What about the hunt to kill all witches? Do you think they will let us walk into town just like that?” Girda asked as they started packing for the trip in another white room. “I’m sorry, Mom, but don’t you get tired of white all the time? I mean, don’t you want other colours here?” she asked as she packed that last bag of food for tomorrow while looking around the white kitchen.

“No, Girda. White signifies purity, and we must remain pure.”

“I don’t understand. Your hair is not white, so why can’t you have colour here? If I stay here, I am going to go crazy.”

“It is because you were raised with your father but give it time. Learn our ways and you will be surprised to know how much you will love it here.”

“Mom, I love you, but there is no way I am living here in this white monastery place.”

* * *

Early the next morning, they set off to find the nurse that helped Tommy. They wondered if they should leave him and bring the nurse or carry him and have the nurse attend to him, but they chose the latter as they didn’t want outsiders knowing their exact location.

“Nurse Nutti, there is someone here to see you,” said an orderly as she brought Theresa Nutti a note. Rising from her seat, she went to the waiting area.

“I see you made it, little one, and how are you feeling today, Billy?” Theresa asked a little boy who was tied to one of the posts a few weeks ago by the dark witches of the north. Billy shook his head and pointed to the sweet in her top pocket. Taking it from her pocket, she asked if he wanted the sweet and promised to give him if he spoke with her for a little while so she would know how he was doing.

He nodded and started answering her questions verbally and in writing, as he preferred this form of communication. He normally drew on paper his request or anything that was able to hold his scribbles after his trauma; this would alert his parents to know what he was thinking or what he wanted.

“Do you remember what happened to you some weeks ago, Billy?” Nurse Theresa asked.

Nodding again, he whispered that he was taken. Theresa then asked, “Do you remember why you were taken?”

“Yes,” he said as he repeated what he heard the demon say that night. “These seven human bloodlines will help bring hell on earth with their sacrifice.” Looking up at Nurse Theresa, he told her he didn’t want to die.

“You will not die, Billy. The witches are no more. Let’s say they are in no position to hurt you anymore,” she said, giving him the sweet.

“Run along now and return as often as you want to talk.”

“Will I get more sweets?” Billy asked as he unwrapped his sweet.

“Nurse Theresa, come quick. A little boy needs your help,” an orderly said as Billy ran away.

Walking briskly, manoeuvring through the crowded hospital floor behind the orderly as they stepped into a private room, she saw Tommy lying on the gurney with Girda and a familiar-looking woman holding his hand.

“Oh, thank God you are still here,” Mrs. Farfo said as she hugged the nurse.

“Is this your son? The one I helped deliver seven years ago?” the nurse asked.

“It is,” Mrs. Farfo replied as the nurse looked over Tommy’s wound.

“We can’t seem to heal him, and nothing works. But I know that you have a healer here. Perhaps he can heal his wound and give back Tommy a clean bill of health,” Mrs. Farfo said, removing a stray hair from her son’s face.

“I will call him and ask. Please continue waiting. I will be with you in just a moment,” the nurse said before she left the private room.

“What if he can’t heal him, Mom?” Girda said as the nurse left them alone for what seemed like over an hour.

“Have faith, my child. We must all have faith.”

“I thought your faith is in sorcery, Mother.”

“I have experienced the healing touch of the one she brings. I do not understand his powers, but I know they are real.”

“But what if he can’t? What will you do next? Will you help me take revenge on the one that took him away from us?” Girda said as she walked to the door and turned to look back at her mother and brother.

“We do not and should not take revenge on anyone that hurts us, as this is the pathway to darkness, my child.”

“How can you stand by this when your own flesh and blood is lying there? How can you not hate them? Look at them.” She opened the door to view the humans walking by.

“You must let go of this anger. It will only fuel hate and push you over in the deep. Then you will be just like them, striking at innocence,” she warned, walking to the door to touch her daughter. She looked into her daughter’s eyes and saw the reflection of her own anger and pain.

“Hmmm,” Tommy moaned. Both turned and hurried to his side, each holding his hand.

“Ehhmm,” Father Bishop said as he entered the private room. “Hello, I am Father Bishop, and Nurse Nutti had another emergency, but she filled me in on what the issue is.”

“There would not be any issues if you humans stayed away from our home. Tommy would still be alive,” Girda said, spitting at the man.

“My dear child, you speak as if your brother has passed on. He is merely sleeping,” Father Bishop said as he went to look at Tommy.

“How do I know? You’re not like him who stabbed him for no reason.”

“My dear, Girda, is it?”

“Yes.”

“My dear Girda, I have no hate towards anyone. I believe there is good in everyone. We must always try to bring out the good in others, not the bad.”

“Your people have managed to bring out the worst in us and—”

“Girda, please, let him heal Tommy first, then you can talk about this later,” Mrs. Farfo said, taking ahold of Girda’s hand.

“Dear Heavenly Father, as we gather here together, we need your healing touch. Have mercy on this innocent child’s soul and prove yourself to these witches that your power is far more supreme than any witches’ faction in the land. Anoint this child, heal and save him. Let this boy and his family be changed and converted to Christ and show them compassion as you accept them into your kingdom. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.”

As Father Bishop removed his hand from the boy’s body, Tommy started shaking, and then he was very still as if he stopped breathing. Girda’s heart, felt tight as she waited for her brother to return. Her breathing became slow, shallow, and laborious as she waited for the miracle to happen. Her faith began to fail her as time ticked on and Tommy still hadn’t started breathing. Feeling that her brother’s life was over as his breathing still had not returned, she felt a stab of pain in her heart and anger toward the man of God.

“That’s it! That is all there is! Mom—”

“Girda, Mom!” Tommy cried as he opened his eyes and sat up.

Both hugged him as Father Bishop stood a little distance from the happy family.

“Your family has been given a second chance at happiness, Mrs. Farfo. Please ensure it is not wasted,” Father Bishop said as he closed the room behind him, giving them some privacy as they embraced one another.

Once the happy family left the hospital, Tommy wanted to find out more about this healing power as he recalled feeling at peace and bursting with joy when he felt a warm feeling course through him while hearing a small voice telling him to let go and let God. He kept it to himself for a while as he couldn’t understand what it meant. As the weeks and months passed by, he met with Father Bishop, researching and learning and reading the Bible. The Bible seemed so much like a fairy tale; he couldn’t believe that someone sacrificed his only Son to save the world. This was just unheard of. They sacrificed lives to rise in power and to serve Satan, learning another life existed separately from the witches of dark and light. He decided he had to learn all he could before resolving to change his religion and accept Christ into his heart.

A few years later, Girda married Phillip Degree and settled close by the humans and joined their church, while Tommy also got married to a halfling, Linda Vallée, whose father was a wizard and mother was a Christian, a woman of God who also chose to serve the church, leaving her witchcraft and settling close by Néarbi Valley, advocating for change and togetherness in a society that fought against differences and inequality among one another.

As the years went by, some of the witches and warlocks married humans and gave up their sorcery and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. The Sancian Church grew, and as it grew, there were some humans and witches who could not let go of the old ways of segregation and the hate they had for one another and formed their own churches. With more churches being built all over Cantala, more people soon wandered off in search of the true church, never stopping to search their own hearts to forgive and let God.