Goddess

Paraag- the land of powers

Jackals and Vultures corner me as I look ahead at the dwarfs.

“ There is the witch. “

Now jackals and vultures were talking. Although, I wasn’t amazed. Just as the jackals and the vultures run towards me I look back to see the dwarfs were running for their lives.

I hear a sound of a lion growling. It was the lion that saved me at the first.

“ It’s Richard the lion. He is here to save us”

The dwarfs ‘  fear had vanished seeing the mighty lion.

The lion kills a jackal with a single paw strike. Seeing their friend killed all of the jackals and vultures run.

“Are you ok lordess?”

“Yes might lion. Thank you for saving me again”

“Well you should have gone west but you headed east.”

“Well I remember nothing but everyone remembers me. Some even try to frame and kill me”

“Well did you meet the monkey?”

“Yes she told me about my name”

“Yes I know too. But you need to know more. Even I knew my name after I heard about your name”

“Really? But how?”

“It does seem we are connected. But I am still not sure.”

One of the dwarfs reach me and says “ My lady. We ask our forgiveness. We didn’t know the lion was your savior”

“ Well he is my friend”

“ Well a lion who can beat a dozen number of beasts is surely a king”

“ But who are these beasts?”

“ Well they are the count’s army. Only the lion and the mage can defeat his army”

“ The mage? Yes of Sumatra. And I am to meet her. But i am stuck here for three years”

“ Well you need to reach Paraag. It’s only across that river”

“ But how will I reach there. Even the lion can’t take me there”

I look back at the great beast as I remember him talking about his memory.

“ So what is your name?”

“ I believe it’s Richard”

“ Richard I think I have heard that name before”

“ well, he is the friendly lion or the saviour as he is called. He and the mage always protect the unknown lands”

“Well, still how will I reach Paraag?”

“Well the lion can take you at the shore and Neera the croc can help you?”

“Neera the croc?”

“Well she doesn’t listen to anyone. She is the only one who doesn’t fear the count. She can take you there.”

“Well, the lion is my friend but a crocodile who I don’t remember”

“Well, Rose as I can deduce, we both don’t remember. But dwarfs never lie. We should be taking their advices.”

“Tell me Richard can you take me there?  I do feel  unafraid with you around.”

“ Me too. Ok Lordess let me take you there hop in my back.”

The dwarfs see the 300 pound mighty lion take her to the shore.

“ Tell me Richard Lion…. Can I call you that?”

“ Yes lordess”

“ How did you know my name the time we met when I escaped from the witch?”

“ Well I remember being like this for 3 years now.”

“ What do you mean?”

“At the moment, you should only know that we are to reach Paraag and gain one of your powers”

“You know everything. But how come you are following me. Shouldn’t you be leading the team?”

“Why lordess? Did you meet someone who defeated you?”

“Yes a sheriff? How did you know. “

“You mean Jack the Sheriff. We need to cross the river. He can smell your blood faster than the jackals”

“ Tell me Richie…………what is this with the blood smelling thing?”

“ The foe you will be facing is a Dracula, a cold blooded monster who is immortal as is to be believed. Only sunlight can prevent us from him and his psycophants. And I have been searching myself for 3 years now.”

“3 years?”

“ Yes, 3 years.”

“ And how  are you sure about 3 years?”

“ I will answer that when you find your first power at Paraag”

“ Ok but do you know about my powers?”

“ Well, you had one power to heal yourself, one to create a weapon, one to smell even an ant from miles away…………well I know only three. But I heard it was more than 30. I heard the great Mage Grielle gave you 32 powers at your birth. No wonder the count is after you. He and the witch Ryca must be after your powers”

“But if they know I have lost my powers why did they imprison me?”

“ Well let’s cross the river. Maybe Neera can tell us…Look”

A huge crocodile comes ashore and meets them.

“ Richie? I can remember you from your face. Unlike the other big cats you have quite a charming face. And lordess Evalina it’s my pleasure. You can sit in my back at the time being while I cross the river”

“ Ofcourse Neera, How could I forget you. 3 years ago you found me when I was drowning. I was a mere cub. “

“ Well for a lion you were already 2 years old then. But you are a fierce adult now. Even the great Bear Thorka won’t stand a chance against you mighty lion. I heard the mage gave you claws that can rip even a croc’s head”

“ Well you are my friend. But please take care of the lordess and make her safe from jackals”

“ The paraag territory starts from here mighty one. Even the great Count can’t smell anyone’s blood here”

Richard leaves. I sit on Neera’s back which was huge. I was standing on her back like a person in a boat. But with respect I sit again near her head.

“ Tell me Neera…..what does this count actually want from me?”

“ Well my dear he has already taken what he needs from you. He only needs your blood now which is impure”

“ What do you mean?”

“ Well these are all tales…. We are the predators but due to our well works in our earlier life were made the saviours of this land. The great bear on the other hand is a bad soul.”

“ Tales………….but if what you say is true then I must know?”

“ Well only regaining your powers will truly recover you lordess”

“ And where will I find those powers?”

“ There is a small hut at the other end of this island. There is mud everywhere but there is an are marked for you I guess”

“ Is that all?”

“ Well the people here are generous. They will aid you as they must know how you are. I am not sure that you will find all of your powers here though. But still even if you find one of it. Myself and Richard can be sure that you will reach Sumatra in 3 years even without us”

“ So I won’t see you again?”

“ Well wherever there is water I can reach there and smell your fear. As I have smelled you now it will be easy for me to find you. But with Richard with you, you won’t need me. He can even defeat an army of bad souls if he wants to.”

“ What about me?”

“ Well with more than a dozen powers in your arms you would be  a force to be reckon”

We reach the shore as I bid Neera goodbye as I had to find myself and finding yourself would be to be done alone. I could have asked Neera more details about me but I insisted on finding the power first. I knew that finding the first would be the first step towards Sumatra. I could smell the land. It gave the fragrances of flower as the dwarfs said. Paraag, a land of fragrances and power.