9. The Trials Of Zuri |2|.

14 years ago.

Saglinn Covert.

Her powers were magic, the greatest treasure that could ever be bestowed upon one. Whether the gods had blessed Zuri with a fracture of their heavenly possessions, or they had cursed her with the power of the Dark One, no one knew. No one knew anything at all, not even Zuri.

If there was anything else that was a hard nut to crack, it would be the mystery ways to properly control the powers Zuri was born with. One could focus on this illustration as a guide; the blind girl's theory. Zuri was blind, yet, she had better vision than those with eyes. She could see clearly and more efficiently, not when her eyes are opened, but when they were shut tight. Only when Zuri kept her eyes closed, and then, opened her mind. She would see the peaks of mountains so high. A thick wall would become invisible.

But what people never realized again was that, Zuri was blind.

She knew she had eyes like everyone else, and she could see what anyone would see.

Only, she could also see even more better whenever she closed her eyes, which had always been a puzzle to her. Only when she truly concentrated will she able to see through walls, and effortlessly move mountains. Zuri didn't know her capabilities, and that thought alone was what had always kept her in the dark.

Her chains were free, but she knew she wouldn't be. Not after all those eyes that were already on her.

She had to think. Fortunately for her, the brain of a merely eight years old was filled with great survival knowledge.

One thing Zuri had learnt again over the last eight years she'd lived was that, her type of magic always came with a price. Unless she was smart enough to negotiate with the demons, she would only become nothing but a mere slave of the dark.

She could close her eyes and imagine for them all to fall dead. It could happen, the whispering voices in her head were telling her to do so. Only, if she did and became a tool to the darkness, they would request from her a big and mighty price. They would use her and wreck her till she became nothing. The evil inside of her would grow to the point where it will never be managed. The damages she would cast would be strong enough to end the whole world.

And it would start the moment she decide to kill her abductors. The first price she might have to pay would be to claim the lives of the entire village. Not intentionally of course, but who was to say something wouldn't go wrong? It had happened before, but smartly for her, Zuri had learnt from her mistakes. She had not meant for it to happen.

They were all staring at her, not saying anything. Perhaps most of them were just realizing how great she truly was. Pulsifer wore an expression that held complete bewilderment. His brother on the other hand, was soon starting to gain consciousness. His posture began to adjust as he thought wildly in his head, the next step to take.

Zuri was scared. Her whole body began to shake as her heart pounded inside her chest. Then, in that terrifying moment, an idea hit her. She needed a distraction. Her eyes instantly wandered round her vicinity as she thought of a safe spot to hide.

Distraction.

A hut directly beside her revealed two old people staring poorly at her. She figured that they might not have kids inside, or perhaps anyone. But it was too risky. Broken barrels laid disorderly on the ground, muddy path filling the narrow street. Huge rats crept through, crossing the road sluggishly. She was still searching. There was no time.

She fixated her mind towards the next few buildings, carefully trying to reach inside to see if it were empty. The only one that would had been perfect for her distraction was about five huts in front. Again, too risky. She could pick to her race but those men wouldn't spare her the chance. It wouldn't be long before arrows would unleash on her poor body.

All of the thinking happened in her mind in less than five seconds. Five more, and Thomas would plan his next attack on her. The same hut with two old people outside was the perfect one, though that was a huge price she would pay. Without wasting another time, she yelled out, pointing towards the hut. "Fire!" All eyes followed the direction of her hand, and to their surprise, watched the tiny hut already covered in hellish flames.

Instantly, Zuri sprinted in the direction of the hut, darting straight for the fire. The poor elderlies must had been crushed in the raging fire because they were nowhere to be found. On the inside, Zuri could only hope that it had indeed been empty. The heat grew stronger, seizing her breath. Noises rose from behind, but she didn't listen. She didn't care. Her tiny feet would carry her behind the hut, and the flames would stop burning. Then she would act up her plan.

Pulsifer and his brother sighted Zuri sprinting off into the flames and for a moment, paused in complete terror.

"Go after her." Ordered the captain.

"Me? Why?" Pulsifer stopped, a frown working its way up to his face.

"What do you mean why, you moron? Get him!"

"No you get him." Replied Pulsifer.

They both roared into a pointless argument, questioning both their authorities. Neither of them stopped for a moment to observe the fire had all been a distraction.

Zuri had managed to ignite the strong flames, and as well extinguished it at an instant before it hurt anyone else. Now that she was alone in a corner, she knew what she had to do. There was nothing else she could do as she was completely powerless compared to those men. She wouldn't dare try to fight them—two possible things would happen; they could probably (in their wildest dreams) kill her, or she, bringing down the entire village into flames.

Instead, she would use their detest towards themselves, against them.

"Who the hell do you bloody thing you are!" Boomed Pulsifer, who couldn't handle his temper anymore. It was so sudden that even he too had been shocked. Noises vociferated behind as other men transfered a common aggression against one another. It was an uncontrollable feeling because little did they know that they had all been compelled by little Zuri. They would argue and each of their languages would become unfamiliar to their ears. The unity amongst them would be crushed and destroyed.

Zuri took it as her moment to run, until an angry set of eyes was shot at her. Pulsifer couldn't explain what was truly happening in that moment but he knew Zuri was behind it.

Perhaps Zuri flinched, or maybe it had just been the will of the gods. When Pulsifer had not been attentive, a hefty flesh of palm pounded a fist directly at his wide opened left eye, a sudden accident that hadn't been expected at all. It was his brother's punch that landed on his face. Wailing in a loud scream, Pulsifer slowly fell on his knees. It happened so fast he knew in that moment he would never see again with those eyes. The serene look on Zuri's face would be the last thing he would see. Anger overwhelmed him, but Thomas wasn't done with him yet. He was still fuming with unknown anger as he channeled another slap across Pulsifer's face.

That heavy punch had initiated a hell gate of madness. Soon, all of the other men started a combat field of intensive training. One that was not neat to watch. They each dropped their weapons on the ground, and began lunching attacks with their bare hands and legs. Men fell to the ground, battle cries arising from left to right. What was worst was that, even the poor villagers hadn't been strong enough to escape the compelling magic behind Zuri's curse. They too, were soon entangled in the terrible battle of the Saglinn Covert.

Watching from behind, Zuri took a last glance at them all, before she took to her heels. More men that could had been a threat to her soon followed in Pulsifer and Thomas's footstep. They all left their safe spots and ran behind to where the combat was taking place. The only people who had been safe were the ones inside their hut while their doors were shut tight.

She ran like she'd never done before, because her life depended on it. What would become of that village, Zuri didn't know. Would they ever stop the fighting? How long would it last? How many people would die from the unfortunate incident?

That was a price that came with Zuri using her magic. Every time, she regretted her actions. If only people could let her be. Then she wouldn't have to call upon the darkness she'd been cursed with. If only people learned to love her like she was a normal little girl, maybe she would be safe then.

If only.

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