CHAPTER 33
"The villager to whom you were talking, his name is Banquo. He is one of the kindest people I've ever known. That day he managed to get me to come over to his house was one of the happiest days I've had in a long time. He told me about how he found me in the woods as a baby and brought me to our village. He also told me if he knew this was going to happen to me, he would have raised me as his own, instead. He asked me what I liked to do, and I said I liked to read. It was then he showed me his library of books. He told me I could read any of them I wanted. When I saw the books on wizarding, I felt drawn to them for some reason. I began reading them. I managed to read a few chapters of one of them before my brother caught on that Banquo's daughters were hoodwinking him. He came into the library and saw me reading. Banquo managed to convince him that he was letting me take a break and I was doing a good job with the cleaning. My brother decided I've done enough cleaning for the day and took me home. As I was laying in my bed in my room, I heard a tap on my window. I opened it, and saw the books I was reading hovering in the air. I grabbed them, and looked around to see if anyone was there. I didn't see anyone, so I closed the window and began to read the books. It was the books that began my path towards becoming a wizard. As I read them, I managed to learn a few spells. The first one was invisibility, which I cast on the books so no one could find them but me. Then I learned to cast illusions. Then I got an idea. At night I cast an illusion of myself asleep in my bed, then I cast an invisibility spell on myself so I could go into the woods and learn more from the Spirit of the Forest. He was concerned about me about learning wizardry, as he felt it would drive me insane as it did to others he knew."
Finn listened in awe. He could tell by looking at Huntress Wizard that she has a look of relief on her face, as telling him all this has lifted a heavy burden from her. She continues to talk about her life.
"But, I was unconcerned about it. I felt I was becoming empowered with all my new knowledge. Before, I felt like was soft and weak, but not anymore. I was determined not to become that way again. But I did."
"What happened?"
"My father got sick with the same illness that took my mother. Even though he turned cruel towards me after my mom died, I still cared for him. I tried my healing powers again to see if I could cure him. Then, he realized he was wrong about me and felt ashamed for the way he treated me. He tearfully begged my forgiveness. Of course I did. I cried too, thinking everything was going to be better from now on. But it wasn't meant to be. He died a few days later, just like mom. After that, Garrick took over as town leader, and it became hell on Earth. He threw me out into the streets, saying he had no sister. Thankfully, Banquo took me in. After that, Garrick made everyone suffer. His rules for farming made it impossible to grow anything properly, he threw people in jail for questioning him on anything, even if it was for something trivial. Eventually, everyone got tired of him and successfully overthrew him and sent him into exile. He swore revenge as he left. Then, everyone decided I should be leader. But I didn't want it. They asked me to rest on it and make my decision the next morning. But I didn't wait."
Finn continues to listen. All this pain she kept quiet about. He secretly wishes he could have been there to help her. Huntress Wizard continues on.
"That night, I packed my bags. The last things I packed were my books. When I looked at them, I decided this would be my path. The path of becoming a wizard. If I stayed, I felt I would have been soft and weak, always caving in to everyone's wants and needs, and when I couldn't do it anymore, they'll treat me like Garrick treated me and eventually overthrow me and send me in exile too. I wasn't going to let that happen. I left a note saying I wasn't going to be the town leader and suggested they give the position to Banquo. I cast an invisibility spell on myself and left. I went into the woods and told the fairies and the Spirit of the Forest goodbye and told them I couldn't deal with life in the village and decided to become a wizard. They tried to talk me out of it, but I told them my mind was made up. I told them goodbye and left the forest for what I thought was better things."
One of the villages that Garrick and his army destroyed appears on the horizon. Finn and Huntress Wizard notice a few villagers rummaging through the wreckage.
"Thank Glob there's survivors here. Let's go check on them, Finn. I'll finish the rest later."
Finn and Huntress Wizard ride into the destroyed town to offer help and to get information about Garrick.