CHAPTER 2 ( INTO THE HEART OF DARKNESS )

Ivana found herself standing alone in the middle of nowhere, the darkness of the night swallowing her whole. She looked around, but there was no sign of buildings. The only sound was the soft rustling of the wind.

"When the wind blows, the tree bends," Ivana thought to herself, trying to make sense of her surroundings.

She had used her powers to travel to Ebenebe kingdom in just one night, a journey that would normally take five days. But now, she was lost, with no idea which way to go.

As she walked, she spotted a market place in the distance, and her heart lifted. She rushed towards the market, hoping to ask people for directions to the King's palace.

But as she arrived, she was met with an eerie silence. There was no one in sight, no stalls, no houses, no signs of life.

Ivana's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with suspicion. She smiled to herself, knowing that this was her grandma's doing.

"A trap set for a lion can also catch a leopard," Ivana said to herself, remembering her grandma's cunning ways.

She knew that her grandma was trying to confuse her, to make her lose her way. But Ivana was determined. She would not be deterred.

"When a child is stubborn, they will always find a way," Ivana thought to herself, her eyes flashing with determination.

She found a place to sleep, a small clearing surrounded by trees, and settled in for the night. She would continue her journey tomorrow, and nothing would stop her.

"The sun will shine brighter after a dark night," she said to herself, her eyes closing as she fell asleep.

But Ivana's mind kept wandering back to the demon that had attacked her in her dream. Who was it? And what did it want?

"A question that is not asked will never be answered," she thought to herself, her mind racing with questions.

But she was determined to find out. She would follow her heart, and her instincts, and see where they led her. Little did she know what dangers lay ahead, waiting to pounce on her like a predator in the night.

As Ivana slept, she was transported to a dark and foreboding realm, where the same demon from her previous dream awaited her. This time, he appeared even more menacing, his eyes blazing with an otherworldly intensity.

Ivana stood tall, her heart pounding in her chest. "If you think you're strong enough, come and fight me," she challenged the demon, her voice steady.

But the demon just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You're just a little witch, a mere morsel to be savored tonight," he sneered, his eyes gleaming with malevolence.

Ivana's anger flared, and she drew her sword, its blade shimmering in the dim light. "Fight me, then," she commanded the sword, "and show this demon the power of a true witch."

But before the sword could even reach the demon's side, it suddenly transformed into a handful of sand, which trickled harmlessly to the ground.

Ivana's eyes widened in shock, and she quickly touched her necklace, summoning a blast of fire to consume the demon. But instead of engulfing the demon, the flames simply hung in the air, casting eerie shadows on the ground.

The demon laughed again, its eyes glinting with triumph. "You're no match for me, little witch," it taunted, raising its hand to strike.

Ivana tried to defend herself, but she was too slow. The demon's blow struck her with incredible force, sending her crashing to the ground.

"A tree that is not strong will be uprooted by the wind," Ivana thought to herself, her mind reeling with pain and shock.

As she fell, Ivana felt her consciousness slipping away, and she wondered if she would ever wake up again.

"When a warrior falls, they must get up again and fight," Ivana's mind whispered, but her body refused to respond.

Just as Ivana lay helpless on the ground, a figure appeared out of nowhere, striking the demon from behind with a blast of magical energy. The demon let out a deafening screech as it disappeared into thin air.

Ivana's grandfather, a wise and powerful wizard who died many years ago, stood over her, his eyes shining with concern. "Child, are you okay?" he asked, helping her to her feet.

Ivana nodded, still shaken but grateful for her grandfather's timely intervention. "Grandfather, who was that demon?" she asked, her eyes wide with fear.

Her grandfather's expression turned grave. "The witches and demons are ancient enemies, Ivana. We have been sworn enemies for centuries, and our hatred for each other runs deep."

Ivana's eyes narrowed, confused. "But why? What did we do to them?"

Her grandfather sighed, his eyes clouding over with memories. "It's a long story, Ivana, but I'll tell you. You see, many years ago, the witches and demons lived in harmony, each respecting the other's powers and boundaries. But as time went on, the demons began to crave more power, more control over the world. They started to attack the witches, trying to steal their magic and dominate them."

Ivana's eyes widened in horror. "That's terrible!" she exclaimed.

Her grandfather nodded. "Yes, it was a dark time. But the witches refused to give up. We fought back, using our magic to defend ourselves and our way of life. And in the end, we emerged victorious, but the demons never forgot their defeat. They vowed to one day take their revenge on the witches, and that's why they're after you, Ivana."

Ivana's eyes narrowed, determination burning within her. "I won't let them hurt me, Grandfather. I'll fight back, just like the witches of old."

Her grandfather smiled, pride shining in his eyes. "That's the spirit, child. Now, let me tell you a story to illustrate the hatred between the witches and demons."

And with that, Ivana's grandfather began to tell her a story.

"Many years ago, in a small village nestled in the heart of the forest, there lived a young witch named Akua. Akua was a powerful witch, with magic that rivaled the greatest witches of all time. But Akua was also kind and gentle, loved by all who knew her."

"One day, a demon named Kofi came to the village, seeking to destroy Akua and steal her magic. Kofi was a ruthless demon, with a heart blacker than coal. He had a particular hatred for witches, and he delighted in causing them pain and suffering."

"Akua, sensing Kofi's presence, prepared to defend herself. She summoned all her magic, calling upon the ancient powers of the forest to aid her. But Kofi was too strong, and he managed to overpower Akua, stealing her magic and leaving her for dead."

"The witches, finding Akua's lifeless body, were filled with grief and anger. They vowed to avenge Akua's death, and they launched a fierce attack on Kofi and his demon followers. The battle raged on for days, with both sides suffering heavy losses."

"In the end, the witches emerged victorious, but not without great cost. Akua's magic was never recovered, and Kofi was never seen again. But the hatred between the witches and demons only grew stronger, and it has continued to this day."

Ivana listened, entranced, as her grandfather finished the story. She felt a deep connection to Akua, and she knew that she would do everything in her power to protect herself and her fellow witches from the demons.

Her grandfather looked at her with a serious expression. "Ivana, if you don't want the demons to locate you, you should remove the necklace on your neck."

Ivana's hand instinctively went to the necklace, a family heirloom passed down from her grandmother. "Why? What's wrong with the necklace?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

Her grandfather sighed. "The necklace is a powerful magical artifact, one that can be traced by the demons. If you wear it, they'll be able to find you easily."

Ivana's eyes widened in alarm. "But if I remove it, what will happen?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

Her grandfather's expression turned grave. "If you remove the necklace, you'll lose your sense of direction. You'll never know the road, and you'll be lost."

Ivana's eyes flashed with determination. "I won't remove it," she said, her voice firm. "I'll fight instead."

Her grandfather's face creased with worry. "Ivana, please listen to me. It's not safe for you to stay in Ebenebe kingdom. Many demons lives here, and they are too powerful, they'll stop at nothing to destroy you."

Ivana's jaw set in a stubborn expression. "I won't leave without my mother," she said, her eyes blazing with determination. "I'll find her, no matter what it takes."

Her grandfather sighed, shaking his head. "You're as stubborn as your mother," he said, a hint of a smile on his face. "But please, Ivana, be careful. The demons are not to be underestimated."

Ivana nodded, her mind made up. "I'll be careful, Grandfather," she said, her voice firm. "But I won't back down."

Her grandfather looked at her with a mixture of pride and worry. "A tree that stands tall will weather any storm," he said, his eyes shining with a deep wisdom. "But sometimes, it's better to bend with the wind."

Ivana smiled, her heart filled with gratitude for her grandfather's wisdom. "I'll remember that, Grandfather," she said, her voice soft. "But for now, I have to go."

And with that, Ivana wakes up and realize that it's morning already.

STORY CONTINUES...

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Megastar J

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