The Healers

Every night at midnight, the purple clouds came out to dance with the blushing sky. As the first forms appeared, the world would fall into a hush, watching closely as beauty unravelled.

The rich hues of each cloud glowed in the fading light as they danced and collided, creating a scene so spectacular you'd think you were in a dream. Young children gripped at their windowsills in awe as they watched the clouds enveloped one another, creating a swirling vortex of colour and light that took the form of their beloved saviours: the Chimera, Satyr and Phoenix.

They galloped, skipped and flew through the sky, swimming in a sea of violet, magenta and heather, descending each night to bring cures to life's troubles. The Chimera would roar as he lifted the weight of all evil, absorbing it's darkness and expelling it in flames, burning away the pain and anguish each being had suffered.

Beside him, the Phoenix would illuminate the sky as she cawed, casting spells of protection among the people below. The Satyr followed, singing blissful melodies that restored peace across the land.

As the sky grew lighter, the healers would begin their ascension, ready to resume their dance. Scales and feathers would litter the sky as they spun in unison, emitting an iridescent glow that bled into the morning sun. With each movement, their form would dissipate, returning them to the clouds that they resided in each day.

This was a story that had repeated itself for decades. But one fateful night, it all changed. As midnight approached, the people gathered to welcome their guardians, but instead of glowing lights and dancing clouds, they were greeted by something much worse.

The purple clouds had darkened to a charcoal grey and the once blushing sky had turned fierce, emanating a burning red hue. Commotion arose as the people feared for the wellbeing of their healers, calling out at the moon for their return. It was then, the skies began to thunder. One by one the villagers fled as the heavens erupted, expelling their healers and engulfing them in flames.

The evil their once dear Chimera had absorbed from their land had contorted his soul into something demonic. His flames ignited their Phoenix and filled her with rage, as their blazing Satyr swam the sky, singing the riddles of Satan. The twisted world had morphed the healers into something unrecognisable: malevolent entities, who sought to bring hell among earth.

Panic and chaos ensued as the villagers ran in search of shelter, watching as the fire spread uncontrollably across their land. Smoke billowed into the sky as flames consumed everything in their path, leaving nothing but destruction and devastation in their wake.

Frantic and desperate, they stumbled through the thick smoke towards an old hall that had managed to withstand the flames. Inside they huddled together in darkness, holding each other tightly as they prayed for the night to end.

In time the mayhem faded; the sun rose over the horizon and a blanket of silence fell across the land. The cindering fires crackled as their embers dwindled away, leaving behind nothing but a sea of grey, powdered debris.

Hand in hand the people returned to the village, coming together to stand above the charred and blackened ruins of their homes. In the place they once waited eagerly for their healers to arrive, the people gathered to share what they were able to salvage. They sat side by side in solemn silence: the loss of their healers lingering in the front of their minds.

"We must fight the evil that burns this world." echoed a deep voice from within the crowd. "Then our savours will be freed."

The villagers departed to reveal a man who stood tall with great conviction. His eyes shone with a fierce determination as he spoke of the power of unity. His words stirred the hearts of all who listened, igniting a flame of hope that burned bright in the midst of their despair.

"Tonight, we fight!" The man roared, as the crowd followed suit.

There they marked the beginning of their quest to defy evil: a pursuit that would change the path of history, forever.

To be continued...

This story has been entered into the 'Under the Purple Clouds' writing challenge, where we were tasked to write the first chapter of a magical realism story, starting with sentence: "Every night at midnight, the purple clouds came out to dance with the blushing sky."