Chapter 1: Seeing Ghosts
"Take off your shoes." His father ordered.
In front of them was a large hut well known throughout the village. Its infamy was evident from how few houses could be seen nearby. In the wide expanse of overgrown grass and the towering mountain range in the back, the lone resistance stood silently. What people feared, however, was not the hut but rather its resident.
A witch.
Or rather a witch doctor. The only known person throughout the whole kingdom to be able to heal the injured or help those in need of mystical guidance. Such a person was also the only person who could help Elfa, the young man accompanied by his father.
Taking off the leather sandals off, he and his father entered the hut. What pulled his attention immediately was the dreaded witch. She sat on her mat made of hay. Her face was hidden under a metallic mask, while a head full of dreads came out from behind. She wore a long skirt that was painted red. This long skirt, however, had a deep slit that reached her waist, leaving one of her legs bare.
The sight of her plump figure pulled Elfa's mind to indecent thoughts. But such thoughts drifted away with a single glance from her. The young man swiftly averted his gaze. Fearing being cursed later on.
What his eyes landed on was the assortment of dead animals hung high on top. The carcasses ranged from all kinds of things, like dead goat heads, pelts, and a variety of bones. This prompted his dog, the pet that followed them, to cower in fear.
Perhaps even it felt the eeriness of the place.
Elfa stood silently as his father greeted the witch doctor. The two guests ended up sitting down on another mat nearby.
"Do you have a request of me?" The witch's raspy voice sounded from the mask. Elfa could not figure out if her voice was naturally like that or if it was the mask's effect. Regardless, the witch's words sent a chill down his spine. In the village, he had heard rumours of this woman. Wherever she goes, she always asks that very question. If she ever asks you that question, you should always say no.
"Yes," his father answered.
"Really?" the raspy voice responded with glee. Elfa could feel the excitement from the tone of her voice.
"Please help us; it's my son..."
When his father said this, the witch's gaze fell on Elfa.
"I think he has been bewitched." The witch only looked back at her, prompting her to continue. "A week ago, our family dog died... but Elfa, the one who was so close to it, didn't seem sad. When I asked him why, he said it was because he could still see it..."
When she said this, the dog beside them barked. Elfa was startled by the bark, so he grabbed the animal and tried to calm him down. But then he remembered, other than him, nobody else had heard it. His dog was after all just a ghost now.
"What's her name?" The question was directed at Elfa.
"What?" The young man was slightly startled.
"I said, what is her name?" the witch said whilst petting his dog.
This action sent a shiver down Elfa's spine. The witch's calmness in that situation, however, caused him to answer. "Fly."
"That's a terrible name." She then turned to Elfa's father. "I see what is wrong with your child. But truly, there is nothing else I can do to remove this problem of his. For what he has is a calling."
In the village, it is that if you agree to give the witch a quest, she will grant it to the greatest of her abilities. Making the blind see, making your loved one fancy you, or even bringing the dead back to life. It is said that all of that can be done. But beware, for each request has its subsequent cost.
...
"My father sold me?"
Elfa was still in shock. In the village, it was not uncommon for women of marrying age to be sold off to grooms. Such scenarios were usually done in the case where the girl's family was in dire need of money. But never in his life has Elfa heard of a man being sold. The worst part, however, was that unlike those situations where a woman was sold, he wasn't even given a wedding. His father just returned back with 15 goats in hand.
And of all the people he could sell him to, why the witch? What did she intend to do with him? In the village there are some stories of witches who buy special children and use them as ingredients in their magical experiments. Albino people are said to be the target of such experiments.
'But there is an albino girl in our village, and she is still fine. So she could not be doing such things, right?'
Elfa looked up ahead; the witch was walking a few meters in front of him. The two were currently trekking the large mountain behind the witch's hut. The hill was not the steepest in the land, but for Elfa, who rarely left his home, it felt no different from a brutal trial.
Not knowing where they were going and why, he could only follow behind. The thought of escaping had crossed his mind, but who in their right mind would run away from a witch. As long as she know your name, its over. If there was one thing that had made this scenario bearable, it would be the sight of the witches alluring behind. Something which he sneaked glances at every once in a while.
While doing so, something else pulled his attention, the witch's feet that constantly alternated in his vision. The witch was not wearing any shoes, leaving her feet bare to the hard rocks. What brough his attention however was the complexion of the feet. Her right leg was mostly hidden under her skirt, but on closer inspection, it seemed to be darker than the other.
"Are you enjoying the view from behind me?"
"N-no I wasn't looking." Elfa was freaking out. 'She knows!'
"Don't lie to me." The witch stopped. She turned to Elfa and started down at him.
"I'm sorry... it was an accident, it wont happen again."
"Ohh~that's good then. I've done a lot to make sure my body looks great. If you didn't stare that would mean I am ugly. I'm not ugly am i?"
"Of course not. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
Well, that was an exaggeration, as he hadn't even seen her face at all. But he could say her body was one of the best the has ever seen.
"We are almost there"
As such, the two continued. Elfa was still puzzled at the exchange that had happened between them. One moment it seemed like she was going to gut him, and the next she spoke about how well she took care of herself.
At some point, they seemed to have reached their destination, as the witch stopped. She looked at Elfa and said, "alright, do you see her?"
The young man looked around. There really was no one in this mountain other than her and him.
"I forgot you are still new to this" she pointed to close to a large rock that sat nearby and said, "Focus where i am pointing. And without turning your head or eyes, look at at the rock."
Elfa did as told, but the moment he focused his vision onto the rock at the corner of his eyes, he was shocked. Because there on the surface of the rock was a head. Two hand sticking out in the same manner flanked the head.
"Hello." The head spoke shyly, while the right hand waved lightly.
Elfa almost tripped from how shocked he had been. "Is that..."
"Yes, this is Irian, a ghost." The witch spoke. "I'm sure you've been wondering why i decided to buy you and even brough you all the way here. Well its actually pretty simple..."
She crossed her arms, causing her ample breasts to perk up.
"I want you to fuck her."
"..."