Renwar Vallée The Battle for the souls of Néarbi Town

The Town’s Prophecy

October 2015, four months after Ren’s accident, Néarbi Valley seemed eerier, like there was something different in the air. 

The wind blew and howled and changed direction as if being led by an invisible force. Suddenly, the sky became dark, and the moon turned a dark shade of blue, and six stars seemed to emerge brighter than before. Then seven planets seemed closer than normal, almost in line with the moon. The sea rose and crashed and beat along the rocks as if in a violent rage.

The people of Néarbi Valley seemed to be going on a wild rampage: blood was being spilt for little or no reason as people seemed to become eviler and unkinder as time passed on.

Mrs. Nutti’s home became the new hangout place for Ren’s friends as they waited for word on Ren’s condition from the hospital.

“What is up with the sky and the wind today?” Satin asked as she closed the window that was blown open suddenly by the wind.

Mrs. Nutti, as if in a trance, recited a prophecy she heard while bouncing on her father’s knees as a six-year-old child. 

“Néarbi Valley has a prophecy of its own. Only a part of the prophecy was ever found on a torn old parchment: ‘As darkness overtook the world, a prophecy was made that a town would be saved when the seven planets align. Seven stars will burn bright, and the moon will turn blue. One will lead the town to the true light and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

“‘A war for the souls of man will be in the balance as Satan and his demons e*****e the town and the world. Trials and tribulations will be burdened on man. The balance rests on the shoulders of the church and eight souls, the travellers, the reborn, the Nephilim, and the stranger, who must—”

“What just happened?” Satin asked while everyone exchanged glances with shocked expressions on their faces.

Mrs. Nutti closed her eyes, and when she opened it again, all was normal. She coughed; Dastiní brought her a glass of water, and she slowly drank it.

“It happened again?” Mrs. Nutti said after resting the glass on the table.

“What do you mean it happened again?” Satin asked.

“When I was fourteen, I was told I went off in a deep trance and no one knew or understood why. I have since prayed it will never happen again.”

As Mrs. Nutti continued telling the young ones of her early childhood and family legacy, they became enchanted by her words, which seemed to sway them in a hypnotic rhythm as she spoke.

“Growing up in the olden days, things were a bit different than it is now. My family made weapons for a living, selling them to the army and nearby countries." she paused to drink some more water before continuing her story.

“My grandmother wanted a different life and chose to nurse to save lives instead of taking it. Her siblings continued the weapon-trading tradition as money had to be made, and they saw this was more profitable than nursing or any other career path." Gran-Gran got up and walked towards the window before sitting on the couch next to it. She glanced out the window, but her eyes seemed far away and started talking again.

“She was walking in the woods one day and heard someone crying for help. When she went to see who it was, she saw a beautiful woman dressed in white and knew immediately that she was a witch of the light. She didn’t feel threatened by the witch as she saw that she was pregnant and bleeding where she lay. My grandmother saw a demon standing behind a tree, smiling, and wondered if the fall was an accident at all. The witch asked her to help her, and so Nurse Theresa did, being the kind, gentle soul that she was, took her to the hospital, and helped deliver a healthy baby boy. The light witch also recovered from the fall. It so happened that seven years later, a battle between the witches and humans began," her eyes flickered as if coming back to reality. 

"Please pass my water," she said as she held her throat. "I feel so dry," she said.

Satin brought her a new glass of water and placed a pitcher on the side table beside the couch. She took it instantly and drank it off. Now where was I? she asked as she recalled where next she was going in thought. "Ay yes..." she started.

“The humans lived in constant fear of the witches and warlocks that lived in the North. There were two types, light and dark, but the dark was always the ones using humans as sacrifices. Whenever there was a blue moon, we would have to seek refuge in our homes or the church as we waited to hear which family loved one was taken. But on this particular day, the townsfolk couldn’t take it anymore as they took not one or two children but seven all at once.

They marched into the woods, searching for the witches’ hideout until they heard the children screaming and knew exactly where to go. A lot of souls were lost that day, but a lot has changed because of that day too. My mom went to the woods to provide help where she could and found four children being manhandled by men of faith. She came in time to see a little boy being stabbed with a sword and another girl slumped on a tree. She looked after the boy’s wound and told the men to leave the children alone. As it turned out, the little boy’s life she saved was the same boy she helped deliver seven years ago. Tommy and his sister, Girda, along with the light witch—their mother, Mrs. Farfo—brought him to the hospital, where he was not breathing. Father Bishop at the time was the healer of the town as God used him to heal the sick and perform impossible miracles, such as raising the dead. Tommy was dead, as he had stopped breathing completely before Nurse Theresa, as they called my grandmother, rushed to take him to the hospital.

Father Bishop saw the light witch, but instead of walking away, he helped and laid his hand on little Tommy and prayed. When he finished praying, Tommy was healed and became a changed boy. He grew curious about Father Bishop and the power he felt while he was on his sickbed. He would visit my grandmother at the hospital, and then he would talk with Father Bishop. He needed to know what it was and how he can have this newfound joy and peace that threatened to overflow his heart constantly. 

He turned to Christ after many years of searching and married a halfling, Linda Vallée, a beautiful half-light witch whose human mother was a devoted Christian, and lived a life making positive changes in Cantala, and that is why witches like you are now able to walk freely among us, Satin.

Tommy and his family paved the way for equal living and freedom for all and gave each of his kind the opportunity to hear the Word of God themselves and be changed.

Once a witch was able to renounce his or her sorcery, they would be baptized and given a Bible and a spiritual leader to pray and talk with them as they walk the new Christian life. As you know, not everyone was keen on this change, and thus many churches began to grow in Cantala. I believe we have a new church too, the Unilateral Church, that was formed out of the Sancian Church, which used to be the only Christian church in Cantala.”

Knock, knock, knock.

The group in Mrs. Nutti’s home jumped at the sudden knock on the door, and Satin went to answer it.

“Who is there?” Satin asked as she noticed it was almost midnight on her watch.

Another knock was heard. As Satin turned the knob and was about to peek through the cracked opening, the door was suddenly pushed back, knocking Satin to the floor. A green eight-eyed monster stood over her body, smiling. As it was about to jab its claws into her belly, Ésam grabbed the wine bottle from the nearest table and aimed it at the demon’s head.

Bull’s-eye, Ésam thought as the dazed demon spun on its heel and tried to attack Ésam instead.

Satin, regaining composure, held her hand up and began pointing to the demon. “Daemonium shatter!” Instantly the demon shattered into multiple pieces.

“Get to the cellar. There are weapons in the basement. Hurry!” Mrs. Nutti cried out.

As more demons clambered through the open door, they rushed to grab anything their hands could grab on to. The basement walls were lined with an arsenal of every weapon of choice—different types, shapes, and sizes of swords, daggers, hammers, spears, shields, claws, whip with blades on the edges, nunchakus, long and short bows with arrows. Everyone was in amazement but couldn’t express that now as they had a barrage of demons to overcome.

“We need to get them out of here and close the door. We need something to keep them out. Can you come up with a spell, Satin?” Dastiní asked.

“I can try.” Satin shook her head as different spells came up. Not that, no. Nope. Nah not that either. Smiling at Baní, she said, “Okay, got it! I need time to perfect it.”

“Can you guys guard Satin while she perfects her spell?” Dastiní asked Baní and Mrs. Nutti.

“Yes, we will,” replied Baní and Mrs. Nutti.

“I am going to draw on some of your energy as there are a lot of demons here. Is that okay with the both of you?” Satin asked before she used their strength.

“Take what you need, dear,” replied Mrs. Nutti.

“Can I take some of your energy too?” she asked while staring at Baní.

“Yeah, man, just don’t drain mi,” he replied.

“Thank you,” she said. While closing her eyes, she touched both Baní and Mrs. Nutti. She inhaled deeply, and with each inhalation, her hands began to glow a bluish-white light. As the light got bigger and brighter, she released her touch from Baní and Mrs. Nutti and held her hands in the air. Using her index finger, she wrote in the air, “Parari omnia daemonia et redire iubeo.”

While Satin began her chanting, Dastiní and Ésam took the lead as they left Satin in Baní and Mrs. Nutti’s care.