'Words That Kill' Curse

Chapter#8 Confrontation

As they trekked across the open field, Daniel's mind wandered back to the mysterious Stone Ziliga. "Why does she need the other part so badly?" he pondered, his curiosity piqued.

Gaby, who had overheard Daniel's silent musings, offered an explanation. "Maybe it's to break her curse," he suggested.

A flashback played in Daniel's mind: The old witch's voice echoed, "I need you to find the second Stone Ziliga. It's located near this country, but be cautious. It's more secure than I anticipated, as it's guarded by one of the gods."

The prospect of seeking a divine being for the stone weighed heavily on their thoughts.
Questions buzzed in their minds:

Would they need to confront a god to retrieve the stone?

How would they even approach such a powerful entity?

They finally arrived at the border of the country that held the coveted Stone Ziliga. The entrance was heavily guarded, with security personnel scrutinizing every newcomer.

As they approached, one of the guards asked, "What brings you here?"
Gaby stepped forward. "We need to speak with the god for assistance."

The guard chuckled derisively. "No one has met the god for ages. And you three teenagers want to see him? What for?"

Tina, quick on her feet, lied smoothly. "We made a deal with a witch and are unsure how to proceed. We heard that the god might help us."

The guard's expression shifted. "You're talking about the witch dealer? Haven't she had enough with tricks? Fine, follow me. I'll see what I can do."

As they followed the guard, Gaby voiced his concerns. "Isn't it odd what he said about the witch? Maybe he's trying to deceive us so the witch can get the Stone Ziliga after all."

Daniel nodded in agreement, but Tina was skeptical. "I don't think the witch dealer would deceive us. Let's see what happens."

They arrived at a grand house, its walls adorned with vibrant, multi-colored crystals and guarded by an array of sentinels.

The guard knocked on the giant door and announced, "My lord, these teenagers seek an audience. They've made a deal with the witch dealer."

The door creaked open, revealing an overwhelmingly bright room. The god's presence was almost blinding, and his voice resonated with an otherworldly authority. "I know what you seek," he intoned. "But I must tell you that the witch dealer is a deceiver."

The trio exchanged glances, Daniel's thoughts swirling with a desperate need to break his curse. "I want to be free so badly," he thought.

The god continued, "I understand your plight. But the curse you bear is unique. Sometimes, what you perceive as a curse may have its uses and benefits."

"But why me?" Daniel thought, his frustration evident. "I just want to be free."

"Sometimes, a curse can be more of a gift than a burden," the god explained. "Silence is a powerful language, one that few can master. You're learning it with remarkable ease."

Daniel's gaze fell to the ground. "I'm afraid of what I might do with the curse."

"But you haven't harmed anyone anymore once you knew about it, right?" the god said reassuringly. "I will assist you, but you must confront the witch dealer."

With the god's guidance, they returned to the witch's house, Stone Ziliga in hand. The witch's eyes gleamed with avarice as she saw the crystal.

"Bring it to me," she demanded.

"But first, free us as promised," Gaby countered.

"Not until you hand over the Ziliga Stone," the witch insisted stubbornly.

Tina smirked, sensing a trap. "I knew you'd say that. Are you deceiving us?"

"No, no! How could I?" the witch stammered, her façade slipping.
At that moment, the god materialized before her. "What a welcome," he said with disdain.

The witch groveled, "My lord, what an honor. I didn't mean to-"

The god cut her off. "You've deceived many and sought to steal from me. Yet here you are, welcoming me? How shameful!"

"Please, my lord, I am guilty," the witch pleaded, falling to her knees.

"Punish me as you see fit."
Gaby, Daniel, and Tina watched in astonishment. The god's explanation echoed in their minds: "The Stone Ziliga is one of the world's treasures, too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands. Its misuse could bring about great calamity."

As they prepared to leave, the god spoke to them. "Your loyalty to each other is commendable. I will lift your curses. But Daniel, will you break your own curse or that of your family's?"

Daniel reflected deeply. "My lord, I've seen the power of my curse. I'd like to keep it but free my family from theirs. Silence is indeed a potent language, and I will strive to master it."

"Wise words, Daniel," the god said approvingly.

Gaby added, "I'd like to keep my curse. It's never been a problem for me."

The god turned to Tina. " Can you remove my curse? It's always been a source of trouble." Tina explained.

Gaby and Daniel chuckled softly. "You are now free from your curse," the god declared, as dark liquid poured from Tina and dissipated into the ether.

With their curses lifted and newfound clarity, they left the god's domain, ready to face whatever lay ahead.