Chapter 179 TEIGEN III
Geneva joins in, trying to pull Teigen away as Ayer pulls him to the town square where the town's people are gathered, waiting. The town head is standing before them, watching the scene. Other town men come to carry Teigen before the town head. Geneva goes after them but Ayer hold her back, forcing her to his side.
Teigen is forced to kneel, his sobs filling the air. Geneva falls to her knees as the town head calls everyone to order. The boy who was burnt is brought before the town and the town head narrates how Teigen burnt the boy with his evil demonic powers.
"People of Mortisia, we cannot have a demon spawn living among our children. He will corrupt them and inflict pain on them one by one, like he has begun doing" he begins but Geneva interrupts.
"Please sir! Please do not punish my baby. He doesn't understand what he has done, he is confused and scared. Please!" She wails, falling to her knees once more, her pained eyes drifting to Teigen who is still crying.
"Quiet down woman. This is for the good of our town" the village head scolds and Ayer pulls Geneva away.
"Look at the color of his eyes! He is not one of us and to ensure this devil is removed from our land, he will be banished to the forest at night without any form of survival!"
"The goddess will punish him how she sees fit. If he survives he will be allowed back but if he does not it will prove he is a demon" The town cheers, encouraging the town head's verdict.
They charge on, leading Teigen to the forest.
"No! Please, my baby boy!" That was the last thing that echoed in Teigen's ears before he was blindfolded and darkness consumed him.
~
I could hear the voices of the men murmuring behind me, their harsh words causing my ears to hurt. I am not a demon, I am Teigen. I wanted to cry, my eyes hurt from how tight the blindfold was over my eyes, darkness was all I was left with.
I had heard the town head telling the two men to lead me further into the forest and leave me here. I did not want to be left alone. It was scary here, wild animals were everywhere, looking for little preys like me to eat. I shivered, the cold night breeze whisking past me. I wanted mother, her sweet pies, muffins and all her baked goodies. I missed how she would kiss my cheeks before bed, how she would sneak me an extra cup of milk from the farmer's cow on her way back from the pub when I was extra good.
My stomach growled, reminding me I had yet to eat anything. By now mother would be setting the table with bread made from whole grain flour and cheese and curd. Mother knew I disliked cheese, so when father wasn't looking she would slip me a muffin if I cleared my plate.
I missed mother so much. I could not hear her loud cries, calling out to me anymore. I was going to be left out here, all alone with the scary animals and spirits.
"We have walked far enough, let us leave the boy here" one of the men grunts, fatigue evident in his tone.
"The poor boy wouldn't survive the night out here. It is really cold" the other one speaks up, looking at Teigen with pity. "We should help him" he reasons, trying to convince the first man.
"Are you a lunatic? Help this demon spawn. Do you wish to die?" The first man glared suspiciously at the second man. "We have reached far enough, let us be on our way back to the town. The wild creatures would be lurking soon"
The second man pursed his lip, watching as the first man walked off, nagging about being tired and having to walk all the way back. The second man's heart went out to Teigen, he felt like he had to help him somehow. The second man told his friend that he was on his way, meanwhile he pulled off the blindfold from Teigen's eyes. It took him a while to adjust his black spotted vision but when he did, he looked over his surrounding and tears gathered in his eyes once again.
Teigen turned to the man and began to weep helplessly, "Please sir, please help me. I do not want to die out here, the animals, they would eat me" he sobs.
The second man takes pity on him.
"See here boy, I cannot take you back to your mother because she would be punished. I can help you get to the next town from here" the man picked up a stick from nearby and began to draw a pattern on the sand. He traced and drew arrows, directing Teigen to the town over
"Follow this path here, go left, then take the narrow and steep pathway. If you see a running stream follow it down and you will get to the outskirts of the open city, that is all I can do for you little boy"
The second man wishes Teigen good luck before he leaves. Teigen hugs himself, folding into a ball beside the pattern on the sand. Tears free fall down his cheeks and he begins to sob again. He sobbed out of fear that he would never see his mother again, his sweet, caring mother. He sobbed because he knew he might die in this forest before he would reach the city. He peaked down at his palms, observing their normal color.
Did I really burn that boy? My palms were very hot and I burnt the grass. How did I do that? He tried to pat the sand bit nothing happened.
Am I really a demon? Am I a curse to everybody? He cried out of frustration, hatred for himself filling his heart. He picked up a handful of tiny rocks and began to vigorously rub them between his palms. He hissed in pain but did not stop his outburst. By the time he was satisfied, his palms were bleeding from the cuts.