"what? Why?' asked Okuagu. "sit down and listen to what I'm about to tell you'' his mother said before she wiped her tears with her cloth. Taking in a huge breath she continued: "After that the stranger went to the shrine and massacred all the warriors leaving only your stupid father and the priest" "how do you know all this? Asked Okuagu "I may have not told you this but I have the gift of foresight, which is why I wasn't worried about your safety as I knew you would come back safely" replied his mother "like I was saying your father tried to use his gift to fight but the stranger overpowered him. The stranger was looking for an item he called the 'leopard's eye' and since your father or the priest couldn't provide an answer regarding its location, he killed them" added the mother with her eyes taking on a silver hue. "Okay I have two questions, firstly what is or rather what was the old chief's gift and two, how does all of this prevent you and I from leaving the village? Asked Okuagu "in answer to your first question the chief had a lame gift of turning into a massive lion and two the reason I can't follow you is because you have to take this" his mother said as she brought a beautiful emerald amulet from a skin bag hidden in the floor of the hut. "Okuagu you have been a blessing to me but it is time for you and I to part. This amulet is a family heir loom passed down in my family and now I want you to take it and run and use it to get stronger so you can use your strength to help others said his mother as she touched his cheek. No mother let's leave the village together" retorted Okuagu with tears coming from his eyes. "Go NOW! Shouted his mother "Go where? if I may ask" Okuagu and his mother turned and there standing at the entrance of the hut was the foreigner wearing a red mask with flames engraved all over it. "Surprised? To think that the precious amulet was with a village whore this whole time, I guess learning your wretched language had its use" the stranger said as he walked towards the both of them grinning."you take that back! Shouted Okuagu. "Be gone brat" said the stranger as he blasted a fireball at Okuagu. "Now where were we bitch" said the stranger as he shifted his glance to his mother. Please leave my son" murmured the mother. "don't worry you will join him in the afterlife" he replied as he drew a short sword from its scabbard. "Not on your life! Shouted Okuagu as he drove his spear into the strangers back. "interesting "remarked the stranger as the spear burned and his wounds began to heal. "So I get two treasures at once "added the stranger as he gave Okuagu a massive punch to the belly. No you don't" shouted his mother before she slit herself with a silver blade "Goodbye Okuagu remember to always be strong and don't fight for revenge instead fight for justice "cried his mother as her body began to catch fire. Okuagu tried to attack the stranger but soon everything began to fade and soon he found himself standing alone in a massive forest with the amulet around his neck."what? Where am I? He thought as he took a look at his surroundings. "Mother, Mother! Where are you?' Okuagu cried as he began to remember what happened before he was somehow 'transported' here. Soon enough he began to smell smoke coming from a distance. "Oh no! the village "he remarked as he ran to the direction of the smell. After much running he arrived at the village or rather what was left of the village as the whole place was just full of ashes and bared little semblance with the village he had grown up in. Okuagu ran towards the location of his mother's hut and everywhere he had passed by looked the same; covered in ash with no evidence of life being once there. Okuagu eventually reached his mother's hut, but every step he took brought tears to his eyes for all that was left of his mother was a silver blade in the midst of ashes. Okuagu buried her ashes and some charred remains in the spot next to the resting place of Black his dog. He took a look at the blade and noticed the intricate patterns on it which were in the form of swirling flames and after taking one last look at the village, retreated into the forest.