The girl was licking the soup of her fingers one by one and paused to look at a bright-eyed efe.
"What?"
"You were about to tell me about alignment or whatever?"
"Oh, I will but you have to eat first it's going to be a long journey"
"Where are we going?"
"First things first you have to eat". Efe turned to his spread of dishes and wolfed down the whole thing drink and all. The palm trees began to sway to and fro
"Miss, what's your name?"
"Anansi," she said in her sparrow form fluttering over his head.
"That's a nostalgic name reminds me of all the stories my mum told me"
"Those aren't even funny the really good ones are kept secret" she perched on the trunk of the tree before looking back at him. The earth below him slowly rumbled and gusts of sand flew around.
"Hug this trunk would you?". He hurriedly obeyed.
"You talk like you were there".
"My predecessors should know after all they were Anansi"
"Wait what?" the roots of the palm trees violently broke out from the soil and began to move, rather they were running sporadically swaying from side to side.
"What is happening?" she flew down and perched on his shoulder
"These are dancing palms, they generally require a certain amount of nutrients to sustain themselves but they have shallow roots once the top nutrients diminish they run off to the nearest feeding stop".
"So where are we headed?"
"The nearest farm and if it is in the city I'm thinking it is then all your questions will be answered shortly". With that, he peered on occasionally coughing and rubbing his eyes out until the tree came to an abrupt stop causing him to fall face flat.
"We're here," she said turning back to her human form.
"Where is here?" he said admiring the long brick walls that seem to circle the town decorated with carvings of men locked in a power struggle trying to overpower the other and many other wrestling references.
"The city is called Cat's Eye come on the entrance is that way". She pointed to the large rectangular opening in front of them. Efe ran in and stopped in his tracks.
"What is this?" he was referring to the internal structure of the walls. It seemed to spiral down like a stadium with houses filling what would ordinarily be the stans and several walkways that lead up, down and across the stadium-like walls. At the centre of it was a standard city with cobblestone roads and five-story buildings but not a single voice was heard except for the wails of the animals wandering around the city. He wandered around looking at the sign boards and inspecting the houses.
"There's cooked food in a few of these, burned kitchens here and there but not a single soul"
"Well, I'll also have to explain that later"
"Well is there anything you can explain now?". Anansi sighed and rubbed her hands together.
"So you are what people would call a compass type. People with the ability to map out places, perfect for scouting and recon and a bunch of other things but your powers aren't limited to that,"
"Alright, but what does that mean exactly?"
"The reason you're red-haired friend was so eager to teach you is because you can navigate this dimension and maybe a bit more than that"
"so what's so special about that?"
"You see my predecessors have a tradition to uphold. The next Anansi is to have impeccable wit cunning blah, blah, blah and to prove yourself worthy you must attain the Golden Arachne and seal away the mask of Anansi. The problem is that it could be anywhere at any time and distorts the laws of logic that things are bound by causing planes of existence to change form and patterns and distorting all fundamental forces but a compass type can subdue these wild fluxes and create a path to the treasures stopping this mad reality"
"I think I understand but what's this alignment business?". She put a hand under her chin and rolled her eyes fixing it on an open house her eyes flickering she sprinted in and came back with a large block-shaped bread and a jar of jam and a butter knife. She sliced open the bread in one hand and continuously but slowly poured the jam.
"Your physical body is the bread and the jam is your spirit and the jar is your soul. You've been leaking more spirit into your body without stopping but because it wasn't a big amount there has been no real harm but if you continue" she emptied the jar
"Your body will be overrun with spiritual energy which would either age you to dust in mere moments or disconnect your soul from your body, both options lead to death". Ife's eyes widened and the warmth in his hands turned ice cold.
"what do I do?"
"Well you have to make both equally flow if you want to keep living and that's what alignment is"
"And this city will help how?"
"if I told you, you may not want to move forward with me, to be sincere I'm a terrible teacher when it comes to these things because I'm very extreme so let me ask you, do you trust me?"
"Yes"
"And you will obey my instructions?"
"yes"
She closed her eyes and bit into the bread
"Okay then before we begin let me tell you the spirit body is much like the physical just dormant because we tend to rely on one more than the other so to wake it I'm going to take advantage of your senses you ready?"
"Yes," he doubled over as burning pain formed in his eyes and warm red flowed down his cheeks. He was conscious but the world had turned void.
" I'm going to be at the natural hot springs at a plateau at the other end of town, you have three days to get to me if you heal your eyes before then you fail and have to take this test again and finally if the deadline is near a chicken will crow to signal it, goodbye"
"Wait how do I see? What am I meant to do? Anansi answer" he kept howling for her but received no response. He sat down and sighed. He had gotten himself into this and he had to get himself out. He began to recall her words and pieced together what he had to do.
I have to see with my spirit eyes but how?
He slowly stood to his feet and walked clumsily tripping himself and walking into walls. Tired of his numerous misgivings he put his hands against a wall and felt around it till a smooth wooden surface was reached. He felt around and got a grip on the cold metal handle and opened the door. He tripped on the floor and proceeded to stay on the floor.
He churned over her words and curled up into the fetal position.
Was there something I missed?
A brief image of Belle flashed through his mind and his heart lept as he remembered the brief teachings she gave him.
I think…
He sat up and inhaled a deep breath. He could feel the earth beneath him and hear the gentle breeze that enveloped him, and for a brief moment, he could see faint lights of different colours and then went back to black.
I was right Belle wasn't forcing her aura to envelope her hand she just increased the amount on hand.
His mind raced at the revelation and an ear-splitting smile emerged.
If it's just like the physical body then the organs must all work simultaneously. So what she meant by don't heal my eyes if I can send aura there it's only logical I can send it all over.
He began to feel a slow warm sensation throughout his body almost like feeling blood circulate through him. He began to see flickers of light and waves of aura with formless bodies. He fell back and broke out in a sweat. He could see but couldn't identify what he was seeing. He was laughing hysterically and throwing his legs around before stopping all motion as his body weighed heavily on him.
My spirit body must be settling it's tiring.
He yawned and curled up shortly after he was gently cooing in his sleep.
**********
He felt a gentle tap against his shoulder and turned still seeing formless waves of aura.
He felt a hand gently lifting his head and placing it on top of warm, soft flesh.
"Umm Anansi how long has it been?" a soft chuckle followed.
I'm definitely on a woman's lap but who is it? The town was empty the moment I stepped into it.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes" Well it doesn't matter her lap is soft and she isn't problematic.
"Open wide" The moment it touched his he could tell it was food but didn't know what it was. The flavour was rich and sweet almost like plantain but with a mild smooth texture. He kept on indulging himself dreamily
I could stay like this forever
"The morning sun feels good doesn't it?"
Wait, morning? Didn't we arrive in the afternoon? How long have I been out?
"Umm miss how long have I been asleep?"
"I don't know but I met you sleeping here from around last night "
Then I still have time then
"You have somewhere to be right?"
"Yes, my friend is waiting for me at the hot springs but I don't think I can face her yet"
"Why is that?"
"I haven't figured it out yet but there's something I'm meant to do and I'm close"
"Sounds difficult"
"I know right? But she's frustrating me because she won't help me or explain it"
"That sounds odd, it's something you must do? But it's her to help you?"
"Yes it's sort of difficult"
"is it something you want to do?"
"I need to"
"then it only makes sense you do it on your own, we all feel better when we accomplish things on our own right?"
"I guess so" he gave off a soft expression.
"Thanks miss you are really easy to talk to what's your name?"
"It's-"
There was a screeching sound of a cock crowing. Efe slowly opened his eyes and groaned in pain
I didn't see her but she was kind. To think it was all a dream.
His sad countenance was quickly replaced by shock. He twisted his neck around searching the room and it dawned on him,
The energy of the table, the walls I can see them! And I can also see the bricks too!
It was a weird sight. Everything was coated in spirit energy or rather produced spirit energy but it clung to it like a thin layer of glass that holds water but it wasn't just objects waves of aura freely drifted through the air. Another realisation dawned on him it was the day of the deadline!
I need a shortcut if I'm going to get there.
He rubbed his forehead and fixed his eyes on a particular sight. A two-headed arrow of aura pointed towards the door.
Is it my compass thing? So if I follow this.
He stood up and ran in the direction the arrow pointed.
I feel so much lighter now and faster!
The arrow led to a gently dancing palm tree. Efe sighed in reluctance as he held onto the tree's trust. The arrow hovered to the top of the tree and Efe reinforced his grip as the tree dashed across town, and straight for the plateau. It went straight past the path up and moved forward to the base of the rock and stopped.
"our path isn't this way better turn around"
The tree slowly moved back and then bolted forward
"What do you think you're doing?" efe screamed with terror
and leapt unto the rock, planting its roots in small openings and generating static electricity with its aura it started its mad dash to scale the plateau. Efe hugged tightly, fighting against the influx of air and the swaying of the tree. Alas, the air thinned and he slowly lost his grip, his legs gave up and now he was dangling from the trunk legs flying. He willed himself to swing his legs in a desperate move to straddle back but lacked the strength failing on each attempt. The sweat from his palms loosened his grip evermore. His head hung back in defeat and his hands let go of the trunk but he was abruptly woken up by a shock to the head and a tug on his arms. He could see his spirit hands stretched out and wrapped around the trunk of the tree.
Oh, yeah it works similar but differently
He focused on pulling and his arms reeled him back to the straddle position. The thinning air would make his consciousness fade but an electric shock would pass through his head and chest forcing him awake. On a sharp turn, the tree reached the top and abruptly stopped flinging efe into a pool of warm water. He quickly swam up and gasped for air
"You look like you had it rough" he looked in front of him and clicked his tongue as Anansi came to view her neck below fully submerged.
"You have no idea"
"but first let's run a test" She pulled herself out of the water and sat on the edge. Efe used all his strength to not smile at what was right in front of him.
Maybe this is heaven's compensation
"Am I wearing anything?"
This is bad but wait if I feign it I could get a closer look
"Your aura is looking devious something the matter?"
Reality is cruel
" I can see". She slid back into the water, she shot him a sly grin.
"I thought you'd be a bit happier by eye candy"
"I don't need to thank Heaven for seeing a girl's body"
"so it wasn't to your liking"
"it was but-" she feigned a scream and clutched her chest
"Efe the pervert"
"It's not that deep"
"How can you say that after practically licking me with your eyes?"
"that makes no sense" she erupted in laughter floating in and out of the pool gargling water.
"choke on water"
"All right enough of that" She looked puzzled momentarily
"You have something there?" she tapped on her lower lip. Efe licked it and was wide-eyed.
"What's wrong you look like you've seen a ghost"
"When did you get down the mountain?"
"I've been here all through".
"Come on, don't extend such a joke"
"I've been here really what happened?"
"Then who was the woman with me…" a twinkle of realisation sparked in Anansi's eyes
"Oh, that" her voice trailed off and her smile faded.
"You do know something don't you?".
"I can't tell you yet, but please trust me"
"You've been holding out on me ever since the town was brought up don't you think it's time to tell me?" she swam to his side and hugged his arm firmly between her chest.
"Please trust me for just a little longer". She whispered.
"I guess I can't overlook how you've helped me but once this is over you explain" She nodded slowly and released her hold.
"Ready for the next challenge?"
"Yes"
"but first" she put her hands over his eyes and poured aura into them and healed them.
"Since you have cleared one part it's time for the next challenge you have to get me mermaid scales before the sun rises tomorrow". Efe slid down further into the pool
"Well, I don't have a way down so you just have to extend the time" A shadow slowly enveloped him. He slowly turned around and saw tree roots wriggling.
"You have got to be kidding me" Two roots wrapped around his arms and torso and slowly dragged him out of the water.
"My skin won't survive scraping against the rocks"
"Compass abilities aren't that illogical" Efe heard flowing water.
"Anansi, Anansi!"
"You won't die from falling off a stream… probably"
"did you just mumble probably? Anansi answer!" those were the last words before his descent into the stream. His lungs quickly filled with water and air was nowhere in sight. His head was slowly brought out of water but his body was submerged. He coughed and wheezed and squinted as water sprinkled into his eyes. He submerged again and resurfaced over and over
Kill me, wait I don't want to die but kill me
His consciousness faded away and all turned black.
Efe slowly opened his eyes and spat up water as the palm tree slapped his chest with its roots. Efe felt a vibration in his right hand and held the roots of the tree sending a current to alert it to stop. He slowly got up feeling the humid air making his hair rise and looked on as the aura of everything illuminated the night.
Almost feels like the sun is up.
"So where do we go?"
the tree scurried forward into the forest and Efe followed behind. A fog began to thicken as they went deeper and Efe felt on edge every time a howl hooted or the crickets made their nocturnal noises. He began to calm himself after hearing a soft voice singing nearby. He approached cautiously hiding behind the palm and fell on his buttocks as the tree rooted itself abruptly. He heard laughter and peeked cautiously and was met with the sight of three ladies in water one had sea blue eyes with fiery red hair, another possessed dirty pink hair with seaweed green eyes and the last had pearl white hair and ink black eyes laughing. Even more on their hands were scales.
How do I get it?
His heart raced and he swallowed hard. Before he could muster the courage to move forward the girls started talking
"But Onu why don't you sing us that song you made," the pink-haired one said.
"Otuto mind yourself oh" the redhead replied sheepishly
"But why now Onu?" the last one said.
"Chinyere don't start"
"Onuoha!" they both replied.
"Okay, okay" She cleared her throat and began her serenade
"Would you tell me that beautiful lie again?
That you love me but I see you flirting with that dame,
I see it in your eyes and feel it when we kiss,
How much do you want to go to the one you miss,
Staring daggers into me,
You look away to your true love to see.
On a platter, I gave you my heart,
And to the dogs did you give to tear it apart?
I just want to hear it again,
I will love you till the end
Could you tell me and only me I love you?
And not tell that to your lovers too.
Would you hold me tight
But this time treat me right?
I want to hate you and loathe you
But it hurts to admit I can't bring myself to
Because I love you despite all the things you do.
She looked off and was bewildered by Efe wiping off his tears with a leaf.
"What a beautiful song" he managed to say before he was pushed to the side by the tree as a jet of water sliced through it.
"dangerous noted" The tree grew back its top half and wrapped its roots around Efe's torso and ran off into the forest. Jet streams of water zipped by and the tree had to take a sharp right when Otuto leapt out of the fog with a trident in hand desperately trying to stab them. Chinyere emerged on the back of a crocodile attempting to bite them in half but the tree shot its fruit into its mouth and took a sharp left.
I see the fog serves as an extension of water and by turning it to liquid they can fire at us and move around unaffected, how do I counter that?
He paused his thoughts and searched with his eyes but didn't see any of them. Onuoha leapt in front of the tree and let out a terrible screech that knocked over the tree and efe and shredded the surrounding trees around them.
****
"What happened?" efe slowly stood to his feet and slipped down, splashing himself in a warm liquid. He looked at it and shuddered as he was met with the realisation it was blood but not his. He felt a hand around his ankle and looked down and saw a heavily mutilated vision of his father,
"Why did you live?" he asked coldly. Another hand grabbed his shoulder and he turned to the stench of rotting flesh and saw his mother, missing teeth and empty eye sockets oozing with blood.
"How great it must be to watch everyone except you die".
He felt a hand on his face, another on his back and was met with one of the burned corpses of his brothers
"You shouldn't abandon us again"
"Don't you think I wanted to see my son again?" A voice cried out
"My innocent daughter who hasn't finished nursing is dead but here you are," another said
"How bold of you to flaunt such a disgrace"
. He felt his skin crawl and a weight heavy in his heart. He managed to clutch his chest and let the bitter tears flow. He had forgotten about it, the guilt of surviving the slave trade, the shame of being weak. He sunk further and further into voices and corpses, intoxicating himself with the smell of death and rot. Wallowing in despair and anguish and ultimately empty.
"Hey kid" a familiar voice called.
"Boy, his Majesty calls" Efe looked up and saw Oduduwa and his attendant.
"I guess the experience is still mind-shattering," Oduduwa said sitting beside him.
I remember this it was after I came back to the village but where is my brother?
"it's okay to hate me" Oduduwa started.
"I was away settling business and I didn't take the rumours seriously and ended up with a desperate rescue attempt".
"Why did I live?" efe asked his chest burning with anger.
"why couldn't I just die" Hot tears rolled down his cheek. Oduduwa looked at the sky and back at him.
"to prove a point"
"what point?"
"People got separated from their families and lost friends and family but here we are free to remember them, honour them and if possible avenge them but that's not what people need to hear right now, they need to hear the truth. Everyone loses people of importance eventually but the people we lost would rather we live for ourselves than wallow in mourning." He patted Efe's back.
"You are a kind kid for not hating me but it's my job as King to carry my people's burdens so feel free" he looked up and saw an angry crowd with a woman trembling with a dagger in hand bloodlust in her eyes he stood up and walked towards her. She lunged and stabbed him on the left side of the chest.
"If you had been here my daughter wouldn't have been burnt! My husband would have been here and everyone would be happy!" he hugged her.
"bluff your heart out ill try to take your pains instead one person at a time yes," he disengaged the gesture and pulled out the dagger
"I am to blame for this so please scold me, hate me, resent me to your heart's content and let it be a reminder to all you young ones this is a society of a man who would always carry the weight they choose. Overwhelming, annoying, terrifying no matter what for the sake of the ones you love to carry on"
I have been an idiot
******
The mermaids circled carefully creeping closer but maintaining distance from the whip-like roots that swung at them. Efe groaned and yawned
Thank you your late Majesty.
He staggered to his feet but firmly placed his legs. efe's aura emitted a bolt of lightning scattered through the mist electrifying them unconscious. Efe limped to Onuoha and picked a couple of scales and collapsed on the palm tree.
"I will carry it all" Memories of his family and people flashed through his mind as he went to sleep. The tree gently wrapped leaves and roots around him, as a makeshift bed and gently scurried away.
*****
The morning sunlight gently warmed Efe's body, and the cock crowing promptly woke him up. He was disoriented and gradually remembered the last moments he could recall.
"You seriously need to work on your sleeping problem " Anansi said seated on a table in the corner. She dropped the knife and wood in her hand and threw him a simple brown cotton shirt with a pair of shorts.
"The bathroom is down the hall, the last door on your left". She picked up her knife and started shaving the wood of its bark.
"Where are we?".
"city square hotel now hurry up we've got a long day ahead of us"
"Can I get a break today?"
"You've been asleep for three days I think that's enough rest" She slowly sped up the shaving process.
"You're such a handful you know, you come back bleeding and have your eyes closed and barely breathing and just sleep off if you were stronger-" she scraped the flesh of her index finger and promptly healed it. Her body shivered quietly and her lips quivered
"Maybe if you had a better teacher…". She trailed off.
"Do you hate me efe?"
"not at all"
"After everything?"
"I decided this for myself and you've been trying your best so I have to carry myself like this if I want to maximise the opportunity". Hot tears slowly streamed down her cheeks
"You are too kind"
"if you'll excuse me". He got up and washed up with a bath and after dressing up. They walked out of the hotel towards a stadium in the middle of the town.
"Wow" escaped Efe's lips at the sight of the interior of the stadium. The stadium was made with finely polished cobblestone, the ring for the fight was made with fine sand that almost gleamed like dust and a giant mosaic of a cat's eye was made with obsidian for the pupils and fine precious stones for the eye veins. Efe liked the feel of the soft sand under his feet and the warm sun on his back.
"Today will have lots of things to learn but don't let it overwhelm you because it's the last steps of the basics everything else you learn will be on you"
"seeing as we're in the ring I guess we're fighting" he shifted his body forward, placing a leg in front of the other.
"please go easy on me". Anansi laughed
"You're half right, it is a fight but I'm not your opponent it is" She pointed behind him to a mechanical monster with its top half being the body of a man with six glass eyes, sharpen wooden spikes for hair and a massive body which was the length of a man horizontally and twice a man vertically. Its lower half had the appearance of 3 pairs of horse legs and a whip for a tail. It cranked as it made moved and had a small metal-plated covering as skin. It had a black aura that leaked out immensely. It was in every sense a mechanical monster.
"What the hell is that thing?". Anansi smiled
"Let me guess I'll get an explanation soon?". She waved him off and ran to the stands. He turned back to the beast and took deep breaths to ease his fears.
"Don't worry it's not going to kill you but it will make you suffer". Efe lowered himself and began to circle the beast. The moment he circled to its back a few spikes fired off silently piercing his forearms and legs, the tail wrapped around his legs and swung him through the air before releasing him into a wall firmly imprinting himself with a terrifying thud. Efe slowly fell out of the imprint into the sand. His body ached and his vision blurred and doubled. He felt the spikes promptly falling out and the pain subsiding. Anansi clapped in the distance
"Your spirit body no longer needs you to manually tell you to heal we're progressing". Efe slowly stood to his feet.
"Oh, great a chance at a slower death". The beast dashed to Efe barely missing as it crashed into the wall. He ran to the other side of the ring as the beast tried to free itself from the wall.
"Your spirit body is very responsive now, and is shielding you a great bit but now it's time for some offence use everything you know to try to land a hit on it". Efe ran at full speed hoping to land a hit on its back and was brushed off by the swipe of its tail to his side producing an uncomfortable cracking and squishing sound as he lay on the floor coughing up blood. His body healed once more but the beast was free it dashed across and grabbed him by the head and firmly slammed him down into the obsidian centre and gallantly strode back kicking sand against him with its hind legs and stopping completely.
"Efe are you alright?" he was abruptly woken up by a shock to the chest. He sat up and looked at Anansi with the palm tree retracting its roots
"What was this meant to teach me"
"What to expect from this place, monsters that defy reason, monsters above strength and the feeling of powerlessness" The tree swayed as if to say it was agreeing with her
"So losing?"
"it's more than just losing it is about how to react under those circumstances, remember the artefacts have made this place dangerous so you need a sample of sorts"
"So what's next?"
"Oh, you're going to fight it again. By breaking and healing yourself you are conditioning yourself for the extreme and the spirit-infused attacks it's giving is sharpening your spirit body"
Efe groaned
"You want me dead don't you?"
"I didn't say you will fight it immediately I'm going to teach you how to train without me". She said sitting down in front of him.
"The true power of the Spirit that is enlightenment"
"Enlightenment?"
"Yes, you see your brain limits your body and comes with the know-how of how it works making almost all the activities you do automatic but the spiritual mind can force the limits open while making the risk of overload lessen"
"How does that have to do with you not being here?"
"If you've noticed there's a wisdom that comes with spiritual leaders. It is no coincidence the spirit mind to has its own set of instructions for its body but in regards to learning it has a unique feature of accessing a certain amount of information depending on what you need and how strong your spirit-to-physical connection is and imparts it to you that knowledge is what we call Wisdom and one who can maintain the state of learning is called enlightened."
"So I can learn how to beat that thing?"
"even better you can learn more about your powers from past, present and future as well as many more things about this world".
"Let's start".
"All you have to do is send more spirit energy to your brain". He flooded his mind and fell on his back unconscious.
"Compass, magi, navigator of life wake up" a soft-spoken voice whispered. Efe awoke and sat up and saw nothing but white stretching across infinitely and he looked up and saw a patch of black in the white skies.
"You had a rough landing here buddy, pal, friend" Efe turned to the voice and was met with a tall figure, with chestnut brown skin, blue eyes and long smooth silver hair in an all-white robe.
"Who are you?" efe said staggering up. The man rubbed his chin and looked up
"Answer me this, what is the true path to enlightenment the power cultivated by oneself or the power nurtured with the teachings of others?"
"What?"
"I guess it's still too early but rest assured by the time we get to the end you'll understand"
"Of course, he withholds information as expected of the enemy" a silk-smooth voice gently whispered in his ear
"Who was that?"
"So you can hear him huh? What does he have to say about me?"
"none of this makes sense" The man laughed boisterously and clamped a hand on Efe's shoulder
"Guess it's tough being you"
"Enough of this shit tell me who you are and where I am"
"As for who I am you have to draw your conclusion by the end of the road as for where we are its safe to say we're on the road to the heart and judging from this distance we'll be there shortly so let's get a move on" he patted efe's back and skipped cheerfully down the white stretch of land. Efe followed shortly behind curious as to what this place is
"Do you trust that man?"
"Well what other choice do I have" he whispered
"You could do this on your own you know"
"Yeah right"
"I'm serious it's easy let me explain. We are on the path to your 'heart' but before we get there you need to settle something with yourself first"
"What would that be?"
"Your missing memories for one, you are going to go down a rabbit hole deeper than anything you've encountered until now but you can do it all on your own and I can guide you"
"And if you're lying?"
"There's no need for me to do that and besides are you going to trust someone who's head is in the clouds and won't tell you anything or me?"
"Guide boy look ahead!" the man enthusiastically yelled out.
Efe stopped in his tracks and looked around the land in front of them, was a void space with a mix of voices and floating fragments of what he pieced together as his memories.
"What is this place?"
"Memory Lane a constitution of experience and emotions"
"How do we get across?". A door floated towards them and fell plainly on the floor. The man opened it and a mixture of anguished voices and terrified screams erupted.
"We go through here, and quick note nothing you see is happening it has happened so there's nothing you can do about it understand?" he said sternly
"I guess so"
"Well hop on in" The man jumped down pulling Efe by the leg.
Efe felt disoriented as he stood up and looked up and saw his younger self, his brother Ike, and a handful of people circled around a pond fetching water in their hands to drink. He stretched his hand to tap his brother on the shoulder and passed through him.
"well I guess I really can't touch him them". He watched on as the events unfolded. Ike had detached from the group and Efe followed shortly
His brother fell back on the grass and laughed heartily. "Paradise after hell is truly sublime". Efe rested on a nearby tree eyes closed preparing for sleep.
"Ike I'm afraid we have a problem" a man beside him said with a small group of men around him
"What Ugo?"
"The camels and horses won't be enough for everyone and also between you and me " he peered over his shoulders and whispered
"I'm worried that we may be followed by the opposition"
"There won't be any need would there?"
"Well, I'm not sure about that because I and a few others went scouting yesterday and just across some dunes we saw a small group on horseback looking around for something"
"Well, we can't rule out that possibility it's they are looking for can we?" ike sat up crossing his legs
"Then what should we do we don't even have enough weapons that we stole and this landscape is their home terrain"
"Massively overpowered and outmatched right now the tortoise or Anansi would come up with something special"
He chuckled dryly.
"This is no time for tales what do we do?" another said frantically.
"Bring me the map" One hurriedly spread it down and ike stroked his chin in thought.
"If we split into groups one to protect and one to fight we can manage"
"What are you saying?". Ike tapped on the map
"Women and children with a few weapons and men can go through here, then the remaining men can take up the rear and draw the enemy away from the main group"
"But wouldn't that make the men a suicide front?"
"Yes"
"Are you mad?"
"probably" A man quickly connected with his jaw and Ugo separated them.
"We are grateful you saved us but this is just too much". Ike sat up and spat blood.
"We have some of their garbs to wear and fool them and we can stage a bit to make it a close fight if we lure them to this canyon some will stay at the top and the sides and the remaining will bait them in"
"Fuck that!"
"Ike I'm trying my best to see where this is coming from"
"How can you be so calm like it doesn't concern you?"
"Look at my brother over there sleeping carefree whether he knows the situation or not he's sure his elders will be able to take care of him and here are the elders panicking don't you think it's a bit sad?"
They all kept quiet and looked at him.
"I'm shaking so much I may piss myself from terror but isn't it a man's right to hide those fears away for the people he loves?". They bowed their heads in shame and steeled themselves.
"If I have gotten your attention and there are no objections we will first need a head count"
"I don't remember this"
"The spirit is always awake and watching," the man said
"Now let us continue"
Everyone had gotten busy. The men were practising archery, sword fighting and spear throwing and the women were crafting bows, twisting rope and sharpening sticks to arrows out of fallen trees and the children were gathering supplies and making bags out of the skin of the wildlife. Efe sat behind Ugo and ike carefully listening on their conversation as he sewed bags.
"One hundred and fifty women and children and two hundred men" Ike muttered to himself
"And if we take hundred and fifty men to fight and fifty to take care of the rest we'll manage somehow"
Ugo beamed with hope and ike sighed in relief.
"What happened to the elderly there should be at least one with us"
"The women can be sold off as maids and cooks, the men can work as labour, children could be used for labour but if they can be trained they can maybe serve other purposes and the elderly don't have anything to sell" Ugo said plainly. Ike cupped his hand and released it against Ugo's shaved head
"Don't talk like a slaver it's creepy"
"What the fuck was that for"
"old man Ogaku taught us that remember? You cup and release for maximum pain"
"He would do it to us every time we stole mangoes from his farm" They both laughed and traded stories of times that seemed rather distant from the moment.
"Ike there's something I need to tell you" he cleared his throat and looked sombre
"What happened?"
"The men are doubting you and your leadership because whether you live or die your brother is safe"
"So what are they suggesting?"
"You bring him with us so we know you're with us". Ike opened his mouth and closed it at a loss for words.
"If everyone trusts my brother why won't I?" Efe chimed in.
"See you don't know what you are in for"
"I'll follow you, don't worry I know you will win no matter what" ike's eyes widened and a cackle followed.
"I guess that's that"
*****
Onwards to the next day, and a scene of mothers and children saying tearful goodbyes and prayers for victory before splitting up. The men rode off into the desert and soon arrived at the canyon. One hundred positioned themselves along the walls and top of the canyon and the twenty stood at the back of the canyon wearing the enemy's chainmail and turbans. Efe was hiding in a small cave along the walls able to see all that transpired. Thirty rode out into the desert hoping to bait the enemy to a chase, Ike leading them. The campaign proved successful as they came running with a slew of men behind them. The hundred rained down arrows and halted leaving the remaining fifty to take control of the battlefield. The enemy was swiftly defeated and were stripped down to their briefs and they made off with everything. Efe hugged his brother tightly as they rode off in victory singing songs of victory one in particular they kept singing till their throats went sore;
"To our forefathers, we thank you for guidance,
Now our enemies are in silence,
They came mighty and strong,
Now they must listen to Victor's song,
We offer our victory to you Shango,
For aiding us with your spirit to vanquish our foe"
They laughed and traded stories as they entered the final canyon before meeting up with the others. They stopped in their tracks as they looked on at a band of well-equipped mercenaries staring them down. As they tried to quickly arm themselves gunshots ran out and a third of them were down in quick succession. A mercenary in leather armour rose a hand to signal a stop and rode up to them
"Who is the leader?" the mercenary said in fluent Yoruba catching them off guard.
Ike gradually removed Efe's hand from his waist and gave him to another rider and stepped out calmly.
"Who are you?". The mercenary took off the turban and revealed a young woman with short rough hair and a fetching scar across her cheek.
"A secret admirer" she smirked
"What?"
"You didn't notice, did you? A few days back some of your men went to scout and were spotted by me of course, not to ruin it I feigned ignorance and kept a distance between us carefully following you and might I say you are almost impressive almost. But I guess it's time for this dance to end unless you are willing to listen to my proposition"
"And what would that be?"
"A duel between the two of us. If I win your people surrender and follow me or what's left of them and if you win your people go scot-free"
"Why are you-"
"I was impressed you made it this far, it would be a dull ending to just end you all like this now wouldn't it?"
"I guess I have no choice then" he dismounted his horse and twirled his spear. She came down and drew her sword.
"Might I know your name?"
"Ike"
"And I'm Njai Jatta"
"What a mouthful" he thrust his spear which was quickly dodged and countered with a swing to the head which he sidestepped before punching her in the jaw stumbling her and he thrust to the chest and was met with a slash to the chest causing him to move back. She charged forward and was met with a whack to the liver causing her to buckle to a knee. He twirled and swept her feet off the ground firmly placing the spearhead to her neck.
"Looks like I won" he kicked her sword away and backed up.
"It seems you did" A gunshot rang out and ike fell to a knee.
"I didn't want it to come to this," she said getting up.
"But as a woman of my word they will go but you don't "She picked up her sword and with one swift motion cut off his head. Efe wailed and tried running to reach for his brother but was held down. Njai picked up his brother's head and kissed it passionately
"In another world, we would have been lovers". And all faded to black
"Do you blame yourself for being weak?" the silky voice whispered to Efe
"No, I mean yes, I – I just wish I could have helped him"
"You couldn't then but now on your own you can protect whatever you want so long as you trust me"
A warm hand settled on Efe's shoulder. The man in the robe had tears in his eyes
"How do you feel watching this?"
"I felt powerless"
"What do you truly feel safe?"
"I feel… I feel sad and angry and weak and – and" he trailed off as tears clouded his vision
"Go ahead and immerse yourself in those feelings, take your time to cry it out, you don't need to be strong here just let it all out"
"But how am I supposed to protect anyone if I'm this weak?"
"Your brother laid down his life with the odds against him and lost it so that you and everyone can live the way they want. It's painful to lose a life, and it's equally painful to be a survivor that's why as a survivor you shouldn't live with a chain of responsibility but the gratitude to go on, even the power you seek doesn't really on just you. It relies on everyone". The void space gradually flourished into a lush garden. Efe looked at the man and wiped his tears
"I am ready to move on"