Now some of the villagers respected her, but some still mocked her. When she walked past, they still covered their noses. They still whispered. They still laughed. They could not sit close to her because of the smell.
Yet whenever they had problems, whenever they were confused, they ran to her.
The same people who mocked her.
The same people who laughed at her.
They needed her power.
And Abseed would sit quietly, listening to them.
But among all the villagers who mocked Abseed, one girl was different.
Her name was Lolad.
She was a little older than Abseed.
When Lolad’s friends mocked Abseed, Lolad did not mock her. Lolad watched her. She admired her power. She wanted to be like Abseed. She wanted people to talk about her name in the village. She wanted people to respect her, but she did not want the dirty part. She did not want the smell.
So one day, Lolad went to meet her mother, because her mother was a witch. She knew many secrets.
“Mama,” Lolad said, “I want to be like Abseed. I want to do magic. I want people to talk about my power.”
Her mother looked at her seriously.
“That is not possible,” she said.
“Why?” Lolad asked.
“Because Abseed is not ordinary. The reason she can do those things is because she has never bathed. The day she bathes, her power will be destroyed.”
Lolad’s eyes widened.
Her mother continued, “That is her secret.”
Because she was a witch, she knew everything.
From that day, Lolad made up her mind.
She started getting close to Abseed. She became her friend.
At first, their friendship was smooth. It was peaceful. They laughed together, even when the villagers still mocked Abseed. Lolad did not care. They talked together.
But as Abseed’s power became greater, and people kept talking about her miracles, jealousy began to grow inside Lolad’s heart.
Everywhere in the village, it was Abseed’s name.
Abseed healed this.
Abseed saw the future.
Abseed saved him.
The jealousy became too much.
Lolad wanted to destroy her power.
One day, Lolad spoke carefully.
