A Hero's Journey By Abdul Katevar

There were no maps. No one was sure of what lied behind the large stone walls. The quaint forested village had been sustaining its usual pleasantness until the confusions and unknown anomalies of life took place, one night, in the town of Dalvar. A storm brewed fiercely, bearing more rain than he had ever seen. The dark, stygian clouds congregated in menacing fashion. Staying inside seemed safe enough; yet the next day, when going outside to fetch water from the river as usual, someone was yelling from the market. The woman, or at least it sounded like a woman, was complaining about how her house was invaded by a strange man. The only things she could recall about him were his piercing purple eyes and a large golden stick with branches. As he filled the bucket, he overheard the woman wailing on that the man asked her where “it” was, “Where is it? Answer me will you, where is it?” She recalled, also adding she had almost

Are you sure she is upon death’s doorstep?” Asmer asked in disbelief. “The only way she could possibly survive is if she had that herb. Unless of course her body somehow, miraculously, decides to weed itself of the illness; which could be possible considering her body is probably stronger from the laborious work she performs in her tomato garden.” Asmer contemplated the probability of such an event taking place, and at the same time he wondered, “Raveen, do you know, or believe if this illness is contagious?” It was almost as if Liet didn’t even hear Asmer, perhaps because he didn’t care if he died or not at this point. Raveen turned an eye around, so only half her face was visible, and replied, “I would take care Asmer. You have touched her the most and if anything were contagious, it would probably infect you as well. Do not take me the wrong way, Asmer. You are strong for your age, but again, you are not quite as strong as even Jala. I would return to your home with no interaction with anyone; even your