When I pass the house of our neighbour, he greets me. Carzo's standing in the middle of the road. He's sipping green tea and people watching. He doesn't hold down a job like most grown ups do because he prefers to do this all day, everyday.
I quickly hide my hand behind my back. The wound is glowing gold, like I'm burning. I can feel the sword burn through my steels. I bite my lip to stop myself from crying out in pain.
He's wearing tight orange yoga pants and a ripped t-shirt. He's dyed his hair red with green tips from the last time I saw him. He's a tomato. Which is what made him a poor excuse for a teacher. Maybe that's why he left. Or maybe it's because he's gay. Most gay people hide, like my brother, Commodore.
"Imani, ya brownie! How was yer time at Sword Universe? Heard ya done bagged yerself the Bakantwa. Hail." He bows. "Rumour also has it ya bolted, screaming for yer mama, isn't?"
Oh Leza!
I need to get out of here.
Carzo is the kind of person that knows everything about everyone. He can't keep a secret nor does he appreciate people who keep secrets from him. He must've milked the details about my blazed getaway from my old best friend, Sindiswa, his much younger sister.
"Good evening to ya too, Carzo. I'll swing by later but it was great. The rumours are slightly untrue."
I speak through clenched teeth. He looks at me and shakes his head. One eyebrow is raised and I just know he's trying to piece my obvious discomfort, my blazed gateway, my contorted face into a gossip worthy situation.
I waltzle down the road.
"Wait, wait," he says, flagging his hands rapidly. "Now there's only one thing left to say."
I stop, doubtful, impatient.
"Congratulations."
I nod, then race past my house and into the forrest.
The woods are deserted. Noddon is even more beautiful at night. The ferns swing in the summer breeze. They're dunked in a foggy fairytale glow.
I stop under the tree of life and stripe to my underwear. A shape of the bakantwa sword is engraved and glowing where it touched my skin.
There's a history lesson engraved on the tree. The words seem to have been curved out with a magical knife as they've never disappeared over the years. They're written in black witchery letters. And before the merryz can help you, you need to recite the words. I begin:
"Leza gave up her life inorder for all things Noddon to survive. We should worship her. And avenge her death, the masked man killed her."
Some strongly believe D'ziko is the masked man.
I quickly pick a few merryz and squeeze their juice into my wounds. The pain is maddening. It's like I've been burnt by a steam from boiling water.
I bite into my arm to stop myself from screaming as the merryz works it's magic. Leza forbid someone sees me like this, they'd know why my skin is glowing. They'd know I'm a fraud.
When the pain subsides, I collapse under the tree and watch the dark sky.
Suddenly the hairs on my nape stand. The pace of my heart speeds.
I'm not alone. Not anymore.
There's an aura more powerful than anything I usually encounter. His is oval-shaped, multi-colored band of light and vibration. I can't see who it is as the aura completely surrounds him. It is black which pertains to controlling and transferring magic essence and has shades of brown which indicate insecurity and patches of red that suggests anger, unforgiving and danger.
It makes the animal life run.
"Hello?" I call out, my grip finds the hilt of my sword. The fake Bakantwa. "D'ziko. It's ya, isn't it?"
But I know it isn't. His aura is powerful, dark but not evil.
This is the essence thief.
I can't stop myself from making panicked, whimpering sounds.
Yes, I wanted to unearth the essence thief but I didn't think he'd find me so soon.
I find my steels and quickly put them back on.
Cautiously I proceed forward, my eyes scanning the forest for the essence thief, and as I look at the tree of life, the brown trunk turns gold and it's green leaves turn blue.
But how is this possible?
The tree only changes if and when the rightful owner has touched the sword recently and then walks within a ten meter radius of it. I was going to avoid walking this route for as long as possible to keep the ruse going. But now... now strange things are happening. Things I have no control over.
I can no longer feel the thief. What the hell is going on?
Investigating seems like a great idea but the sword is vibrating under my steels. It's magic can't be contained. If I don't lock it away soon, the merryz will wear off and I'll die.
I run home.
"Mama...?" I say, the second I enter the house.
"In the kitchen," she says. Her voice is filled with emotion. I'm sure she's heard about the sword.
She takes me in her arms the second I enter. I close my eyes and will the moment to last for eternity. I don't remember the last time she held me. I don't remember the last time she told me she was proud of me. And I darn certainly don't remember the last time her fingers combed through my hair as they do now. I would steal the Bakatwa Sword everyday, every hour, every second if it meant I'd receive such warm hugs. My mother's hug says what I haven't heard in ten years; she loves me too.
Tears sting my eyes. It's the most meaningful conversation we've ever had and not a word was said.
A throat clears and Mama and I break apart. It's Kaseke.
I quickly wipe my tears before they can escape. She mimics me.
Kaseke sighs in relief. Tears make him uncomfortable.
He jogs to the window and pulls the blinds. There's a crowd outside. People cheer when they see me and I wave. Oh, now we are friends. Now I'm worthy.
"There, look," they shout.
"Where?"
They point at me and jump in excitement.
"Oh my Gods, it's Imani."
One faints.
"Would ya look at the Bakantwa. It totally suites her."
"And that gorgeous gold hilt. Like, I'm so jealous."
Yesterday I was a nobody. Yesterday they were turning up their noses as I walked past but no more. That is all a thing of the past.
"Shouldn't they be home, celebrating their new gifts with family?" I ask and wave some more, almost making the move comical.
They scream and chant my name. Imani. Imani. Imani.
I'm flattered. I wipe non-existent tears from my eyes. As a toddler I used to fake cry for Mama's attention, much to her frustration, and so I've had years of bursting into tears very dramatically. The crowds do the same. How cute. I place a hand over my racing heart. They follow my lead.
They hold me of a high standard. I'm like a God.
It's like a cult following.
I bow my head and they fall to their knees.
Mama licks her lips and smiles. "They're waiting for ya."
"For me?" I ask unsure, as my people murmur on the front lawn. "For me to what? To speak, to come out?"
"This is a historical moment for our people." Mama looks into my eyes as she says this. "Address them. There's unease, uncertainty. They need to know they're safe under yer leadership. New leader. New laws. You do know that your sword now makes you the most powerful person in Noddon?"
My people.
"Isn't it wonderful?" Mama asks my brother.
Kaseke's lips press together the way they normally do when he's trying to stop himself from saying too much. He had a vision.
"What is it?" I ask him, backing away from the window.
He follows me. "Nothing."
He keeps his eyes on his shoes. He smells like mint and deodorant. He's chewing on some bubblegum.
"Look at me," I bite out.
He closes his eyes.
"Kaseke, what aren't ya telling me?"
"Imani, please."
My heart kicks at my chest like it's trying to get away.
"Kaseke." I keep my voice firm, a warning. "Ya saw something and ya gonna tell me what it is."
"Imani, you sure do enjoy disappointment." He walks to the fridge, takes out an apple and pours himself some milk. "I'm not telling you a damn thing. It's not my place."
The villagers outside sing, their voices hallowing.
"Ya need to get them off my property." Mama's voice sounds like a peach pit in a garbage disposal.
"What do I tell them in the meantime?" Kaseke asks.
"Tell them to -- ugh, I don't know." I shrug.
The last thing I want right now is to lead these people. My only interest is unearthing the essence thief and killing him. When that's done, I'll take the sword back. I won't even try to lead them. I won't bother.
I turn for the bathroom. I need to dye my hair blue before they start noticing my hair is still black and put my new gold contacts on. I am the Bakantwa owner, I have to look the part. My heart is speeding as I enter the narrow hallway.
A hand snatches my arm and yanks me back. Ow. I turn, eyes narrowed. Kaseke, the fool, glares back.
He looks worried. "Ya sure ya wanna do this?"