25 A Sacrifice Worth the Price

"Oh, look at little Nana! She's finally growing up," Spoke a sweet voice as she combed the hair of a little girl; so short and so innocent. As the woman pressed her hands on little Nana's head, she felt nubs finally coming. A sign of maturity, even if they weren't mentally prepared.

"Your scurs are finally growing! Little Nana is going to be a big girl!"

Smiling with an enormous gap-toothed smile, little Nana spoke with her usually shy and reserved tone, barely over a whisper. Though if anyone truly knew her, they would know how deceptive it actually was. Having been the tiny villages biggest troublemaker, she was always with at least two adults supervising her.

"I am going to be like Mother and aunty Cecil?" She said in the purest voice any could have heard, but the lady knew otherwise. Strengthening the lock she had on the girl, she continued to brush her white hair. Something unusually rare for any of The Woolen, then again when do you find someone as unique and pure as little Nana.

"Aunty Cecil?" called the whispering voice.

"Yes, sweety?" Cecil answered warily. Wondering the entire time, if that voice was a touch to reserved from this master of disaster.

"You're tightening your legs around me too much. It's hurting." Looking back with wide eyes that seemed to begin watering, little Nana looked closer to an angel than that of a mortal.

Caught off guard, Cecil instinctively weakened her hold on the girl. How could she not? The purest and innocent eyes stared at her, and behind them stood an accusation she could never handle. One that spoke of crimes untold.

But, what she had forgotten was the little girl was a master at escaping trouble. Or the few times they caught her for a brush down of her hair.

Within the span of a second, little Nana broke free of the hold Cecil had her in and rushed towards the door. Hoping to escape this most horrible fate; the brushing of her unkempt hair.

"No! Catch her Wener! We can't have another mill or barn collapsing!"

The only other occupant in the room, Cecil's mate, jumped to his feet as he hurried to close the exit before Nana got through. But, the giggling typhoon had too much of a head start to be stopped. Exploding in a rush of wind, Nana escaped the clutches of the two and ran out towards the fields to play with the Oels.

They were animals known to be extremely territorial and aggressive. They were usually kept to themselves. But, unlike their usual, they scattered at her entrance. All running to escape the innocent devil that had come for them. Unfortunately for a specific calf in the herd, Nana had focused on it as a prospect for its unrelenting love and care.

Having caught it, she brought it down to the floor. The sat it on her lap. Plucking the brush from her wild hair, she began to groom the calf, who had yet to shed all its fur and grow its scales.

"Don't worry, Mister Snuggles. I'll make sure you look your best! I even have Mothers colors. She likes painting her face whenever Uncle Zesis comes around."

Unbeknownst to little Nana, a desperate Mother bellowed in sorrow as her child was grabbed by the innocent devil. But, was too afraid to do anything lest she incurs its wrath as well.

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After a few hours of grooming and beautifying the calf. The sun had begun to set, and the darkness began to creep ever closer to the tiny and peaceful village. Hidding what should have been seen.

There gathering at the outskirts of this village, hidden by the thick forest, were a band of evil men. Hoping to use the misfortune of others so they may profit.

They watched as the little girl ran home and the Oel finally gathered in their huddle to sleep. They prepared themselves, they had been told of a clan of Woolen who would give them enough gold pieces, so they may all retire in luxury.

"Send the signal, and let team two know to begin, while we take care of the Oel before they wake." Spoke a deep and cold voice. One belonging to a cruel-hearted man.

A sudden flash of light bloomed in the night sky. Confusing the inhabitants of the village, but informing those that sought them harm.

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As Nana ran towards her home, she heard unusual hollers of anger and pain. But it mattered not to the little girl. Her mother had told her never to stay out after sunset, so she was determined to make it home no matter what new thing she discovered. Or what fun she could have had.

As she continued on her way, she caught glimpses of red splatterings on the ground and people rolling on and around them. She laughed to herself that looked fun. When she had discovered that she could color the house with her hands, Nana had covered all the walls with paint. But she found it tedious to decorate the ground because she couldn't jump around while doing so. But now, she had discovered another way to color! Coloring by rolling on the floor! It solved all her problems!

Oh, she wanted to try it out so much, but she knew better. Mother was waiting for her with food already laid out on the dinner table.

It took her a while, but she finally reached her house. Yet, it was broken down. And her mother was nowhere to be found.

Coming to a halt, she tried to remember if she caused it to fall like the other ones. She could not recall that happening though. Her home was strong and lovely. It never broke no matter how many times she had accidentally hit the big long sticks.

"Mother! Mother, where are you?" She called, hoping her mother was waiting for her near the house with wonderful food.

"Nana? No, Nana! Run, There are bad men here! Run!" Her mother called desperately from behind the house. Yet, unlike what her mother had demanded, her curiosity had her walking around the rubble that was her home. Wanting to find out who the bad men were. And why did they come?

As she passed the final beam that hid the scene from her sight, she caught glimpses of flashing metal and red paint on the floor. She watched in awe as her mother stood tall. A might spear in her hand, colored the same as the puddles of red that five men laid in. While seven more held, red covering their clothes, as they encircled her.

"Get the girl!" One of the bad men called. Two separated from the group and rushed towards her while she watched confused. As they grabbed her, her mother cried in a voice she never heard. Her mother ran towards her with a desperation that Nana could not understand.

She watched as her mother had a sword sprout where it did not belong. And red crawled down her body.

"No! Nana!" Falling, her mother cried as she crawled towards her. Tears began to fall, similar to those that fell when her father had left to that lovely place her mother had named heaven. Reaching out, as though she could grab her from afar, her mother spoke with a voice Nana would never forget.

"Nana, remember to pray! The One never forgets those who are hurt and pray to him with tears running down their faces! Remember to pray!"

As they dragged Nana away from her mother, who seemed to be leaving to visit father in a place more beautiful and lovely than this world, she heard her mother give her last prayer. The last thing that would leave her as she became still.

"Oh, you who hears my prayers. The prayers of those oppressed. Do with my soul as you wish, but please, no matter where my daughter goes, or who takes her, that in the end, she would be free."

It was then that, Nana smiled even though she knew she would not see her mother again.

She looked up in the sky and caught sight of a floating being. Who seemed to stand on the wind itself. She smiled at him because she knew he was going to answer her mother's prayer.

Whispering to herself, so the bad men did not hear, she spoke with a certainty that shook the heart of the messenger floating far away; watching as he prepared to answer the woman's call.

"Mother never lies, and she said everything would be okay. Someone will save me from the bad men. I know it! Cause Mother said it!"

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A messenger floated as he watched a little girl taken away from her mother. A dark future was in store for her if he acted not.

He stayed there, musing on the commands he had been given. Of what actions would be deemed against the Laws, and what he could get away with. But, as he continued to do so, he was startled by what was thought to be impossible.

The little girl, weak and pitiful, looked up into the sky. And stared intensely into his endless eyes. A small smile crept onto her face, as though she knew he was going to be there to answer the call.

She saw a messenger, a true Angel. A being as powerful as a forgotten one. He, who warped space as though he walked a simple stroll, was left flabbergasted at what happened. It was inconceivable that a child, no older than twelve years of age, would achieve what the gods would have failed.

It was then that she whispered a whisper spoken silently, yet to him, it was as though she yelled in his ears. And in her speech a surety and confidence that had him acting before he could catch himself.

"Mother never lies, and she said everything would be okay. Someone will save me from the bad men. I know it! Cause Mother said it!"

He could not stand watching such purity be tainted, so he did what was forbidden. He changed the string of fate in her ultimate favor. Twisting them in ways they were not meant to be bent. Stretching them in ways they were not made to extend.

As he removed his hands from fate, he felt a resounding call deep within his soul. It ate him from the inside, disintegrating his very being. He acted against the Laws he enforced. He knew a punishment was meant to be delivered. No being, as powerful as he, was meant to act so decisively in the mortal realm.

Another, one with horns and leathery wings suddenly appeared. A friend and rival; his opposite. The being watched, as slowly, ever so slowly, the messenger began to break into particles. Starting from his toes and moving upwards, steadily.

"Was it worth it, Rezizil? Was your sacrifice worth the cost? Was that mortal girl worth your soul?"

Smiling, Rezizil stared at the true Demon. Waiting until the final moment. And as the disintegration finally reached his neck, he spoke with a surety he tried to match. With the confidence, the girl had spoken.

"Yes, it was."