Chapter 2

With a small smile, the god continued speaking, "I am called..."

The boy was momentarily confused when a static sound surfaced out of nowhere and blocked every sound there was to hear in the night.

Till he remembered a certain story circulating endlessly in all places he has been in.

It seemed that the folktales about ordinary and unworthy humans not being able to hear the names of gods were true, so the boy, who had done grave sins in the past, did not hear it.

"I am the god residing and guarding the gates and spaces between the worlds. Your deeds have been recognized, and I am here to propose an idea."

Thinking it was a reward that could possibly help feed his family, the boy immediately accepted without waiting to hear the whole proposition.

"I accept! It was this righteous god who has come to grace the earth of his presence. I have no right to disagree!"

Although a bit crude and lacking the correct etiquette and manners, the uneducated boy did have a point.

Right now, this unknown god has come to meet him personally. It would be very impolite to deny his request, and there was also the possibility of a divine punishment if he were to offend the god.

Yet contrary to his calculating and cautious thoughts, the god was only delighted.

"Then very well! All my instructions and my blessings shall be sent through a dream. I expect great things from you, boy!"

Just like that, there was another quake and thunder, and the boy's body finally gave out. Sprawled on the ground for unknown hours, he felt the warmth of familiar small hands support him up.

As if suffering from delusions, when he opened his eyes, all he saw was smoke and his brothers and sisters reaching out a hand to him. Their faces unrecognizable from the burns still crackling with sparks flying about in the air.

He paled and shuddered uncontrollably.

"Brother, are you okay?" a small voice asked, and he was back to reality.

"Did you trip yourself?" someone jokingly said, and the children laughed upon imagining how their big brother must have missed a step and slipped.

After recovering from the shock of seeing a true god in person, he remembered how good things also have karma. Watching the smiling faces of his siblings, he instantly regretted his foolishness.

In the spur of a moment where he was afraid to lose his life and could not think of anything else, he did something irreversible.

He should have just died alone and avoided cursing his family for generations.

Some centuries ago, it was said that the cursed family of witches had already been burned and perished. It was such a huge event and it was even recorded in history.

Multiple clans gathered and brought with them the protesting common people who demanded the witches be put on trial.

Driven by the fear for their lives and the fear for their children's safety, they marched to the shrine the family was building.

The commotion did not even last long.

After a few hours of throwing hate and accusations upon the family who they forgot once helped them rid of the untamed spirits troubling them, the half-built temple together with the children were burned down.

And the mother of these children, whose face was wet with tears, was no longer struggling. No more water trickled down her cheeks.

She was just quietly staring into nothing. She no longer reacted to the thick smoke, to the smell of burnt woods and corpses, and to the loud crowd.

This part of the past was really unbearable for many, and they never mentioned them again in hopes of not getting bad luck.

Yet what was this news now? Apparently, there was a witch survivor who's even raised by one of the most respected clans in Selaphiel.

"Do you think she's really dead?"

"Idiot! How about I hand you to the Eld Clan to throw you into the mouth of Volcano of the Lost as well? See if you'd still live."

"But I am only a weak man while she was a witch. I would die while we are not sure she is dead."

"Tsk, tsk! Did you forget why it is called Volcano of the Lost? Have you forgotten how the witch was exposed? Use your head!"

"I am using my head! That is why I am unsure and asking. There are no remains, so how sure is this news?"

"You would burn from skin to bones and ashes. There may be no remains, but there are many witnesses!"

"What of her soul? Doesn't everyone tell stories about how spirits of witches don't shatter even after their bodies rot? They can possess or steal bodies! What if she haunts the clans that punished her and we common folk get involved?"

"Those are just stories and legends. Besides, she is gravely indebted to the Sachiel Clan. If she causes trouble, Sachiel will be annihilated."

"What are the Sachiels thinking, adopting such a child? They brought their own misfortune to themselves."

"She must have disguised herself and deceived them. The Sachiels are just so kind. She is deceitful and uses immoral means. Her death is but a small sacrifice for the family that raised her."

"Tch. Everyone said before that they were gone, but there is one who is even the talk of the town now. Who knows when history will repeat itself again?"

"What an ominous topic! Go away. Don't rub my shop with this bad luck!"

"Come with us to pray for a long peace at the temple later."

"Alright, alright! Just don't disrupt my business here."

The clans consoled the town folks and spread news that this time, the lineage of the filthy witches have really been cut. So many people were doubtful and skeptical at first, almost living in temples and shrines just to ask for the gods' protection.

Yet a decade has already passed, and nothing happened.

The continent was finally back to its peaceful state, and the people no longer mentioned anything about the incident.