TRAILING SHADOWS

Light seemed to glow right in the center of the forestation, giving out a curious appeal to any onlooker. A closer look would have one looking at a battle horse, and Esin Onina breed grazing contentedly in the undergrowth while a small fire burned a little before it.

By the other side of the fire was a girl, Niniola holding roast meat that was stuck into two sticks over fire. She closed her eyes briefly, inhaling the mesmerizing aroma from the barbecue she made. Beside her was Tayo who lay on the ground, a knee up and his arms propped up as support for his head.

"Ounje ti jina(1)." Niniola"s voice cut into his line of thoughts, startling him as he jerked up.

"What?"

"Food. We rest today, by sunrise, we continue. For now, I should like to know who my partner really is." Ninola replied, handing Tayo a stick.

Tayo reached to take the stick. "I"m sorry I blacked out. I could swear, I felt a brooding—" Their hands collided as fingers brushed past each other. Immediately, Tayo pulled back but Ninioa was faster. She grabbed his fingers with her other hand, letting her own barbecue fall in the process.

"You know, you really don"t have to be scared of me. I"m not as bad as what they say." Niniola spoke, silently, looking him in the eyes.

He felt somewhat uncomfortable and could give just anything to be elsewhere but something in her eyes seemed to pull him close. "Not as bad? What did you do?" He asked, this time, Niniola looked away. But before she did, he could pick out hints of regret in her eyes.

"I-I… You will hate me if…"

The air shimmered now, symbols weaving into the view. Niniola panicked, gasping in horror as her eyes widened. "No, no, no… Not now… Not here… Please…"

Tayo"s Principle of Fervor picked up pace as it began to fuel his body rapidly. His breathing doubled. Quickly, his hand clutched the scabbard by his waist as a feelng of weightlessness overtook himself. It was enough to panic as he suddenly felt powerless but somehow, he felt calming energy seeping into him through the fingers on his hand.

Already the scene infront had melted, having a sort of vintage hue that could have been pa.s.sed off as a drawing. Except that, they both knew that this was real.

"You wanted to know what I did. This is my memory, a constant reminder of ths day. Relax." Niniola"s quiet voice sounded quite distant.

They were standing in a hallway that had incense pillars, fireposts and guards and statues about its walls. Just then, a girl wearing nothing but a wrapper that barely covered her developing b.r.e.a.s.t.s ran across the hall, completely oblivious to them.

"That"s me, long ago. When I snuck into the Aganju Council House, the day Aganju came visiting." Niniola whispered.
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Her younger self was pursued by guards behind her but the way she flew across the hallway proved that her power levels were quite high for a child. "Come." Niniola beckoned, leading Tayo after her younger self.

It took quite some time to locate young Niniola. But when they did, she was already in the meeting room. Aganju stood, enraged that she had interrupted his meeting with the council heads, pointing a finger at her from across the conference table.

" Geez. This guy is hot headed!" Tayo whispered.

"I don"t blame him though. An order had been given that no activity was to take place within that vicinity but I went in there. It seemed only fair that he punished me."

Orisha Aganju wore rather simple clothings for a G.o.d. He had blue dan shiki,(2) sandals and eti aja(3) cap. His face was hardened and had stress lines that cracked about. With the scowl he had on, he looked even more terrifying.

"My daughter, Sango was my son before Eledumare deified him. I trained him as a good father should do and that is where he got his discipline from. From me. Look at my hands." Aganju opened his plams for display. And as expected, the palms were rock hard with red cracks all about.

"I got this from disciplining him. Your curiosity led you far, and I admire it but I do not take to people lightly to people who directly flaunt orders. "

Suddenly, Aganju"s eyes glowed, miniature lightning visible in the pupils. He closed his palms now as his presence began to fill the room to the extent Niniola and Tayo doubled over. Aganju looke up, sniffing the air as his eyes normalized.

"Niniola, you brought a friend to watch your curse. Very well then, fine by me!" Aganju"s form shivered as he adjusted his eyes to Niniola and Tayo who lay flat out under the reinforced presence of Aganju. The G.o.d looked at them briefly, observing how the duo were shakng, utterly terrified.

"This is a memory, right? This isn"t supposed to happen!" Tayo whispered, losing control of his body.

"Yes, its not supposed to happen. While being a memory, I still contain te power of my original self, even if it but a fraction of it. But I have no business with you, for now."

So saying, Aganju waved his hand dismissively. Immediately, the scene reset, returning back to the part where Niniola and Tayo simply held hands.

"Niniola, this day, you have committed a taboo and broken my command. And so, you will be regarded as nothing. An abomination to relate with. Your own will despise you but in so doing will you find yur greatest strength…Ah… Eledumare is not letting me curse you entirely. " Aganju groaned, holding his head.

Younger Niniola seemed to be in trance. Upon hearing the words spoken to her, she gasped. "Me, an abomination? Please, death is better than that. Take my life instead!" She pleaded, tears running dow her face.

Slowly, Aganju shook his head.

"No, child, there are some things worse than death itself. You would be hunted, rejected, despised, hated, living the rest of your life as punishment for this day. My mark is imprinted in your soul already. It would shield you and protect you lest you should try to take your own life or beg others to do so."

"But Eledumare commands that in the end you would be sought for. For now, your banishment begins."Aganju decreed as the memory began fading off.

At the last minute he turned, casting a knowing glance at Niniola before vanishing, like the rest of the memory.

A tugging sensation pulled at their insides. Doubling over, they suddenly felt nauseous as the present scene warped into view. Light flashed about as a molten wall shattered into pieces as heavy momentum overtook them, sending them flying into the air.

"Jack…Pot!" The masked Irunmole with a red belt gloated. Beside him was the lightning sabre guy, charging up lightning in his right fist.

Niniola"s eyes widened, in mid-flight, as she took in their surroundings. They ought to be dead or knocked out but Aganju"s mark had protected them!

Finally, she understood what people had said to her that Aganju was only being merciful to her then. With watery eyes full of grat.i.tude, she muttered a silent thank you to her patron Orisha while taking in on her attackers.

***

A total of 5 days had pa.s.sed since Sunday had a briefing with Maerius, the Third Prime. Not that the time mattered to him as he spent most of it in confinement.

At present, Sunday hung suspended from two chains that sprung from opposite sides of the ceilings. Two red belts was formed at the point the cuffs held his wrist, his entire expression pained. And just above his head was a fairly visible astral projection of the p.r.i.c.kled Bane Winged Wolf.

About him were 5 men in black, sprawled on the ground, knocked out. Agbawo, the wizened oldman was not left out.

Obedi too.

Both men were a sorry sight. Agbawo knelt on a knee while Obedi had landed on his b.u.t.t, whiplash of rogue winds spiraling across the room. Boxes flew about, caught up in the unrest, followed by swords, orbs and whatnot.

"How did it manage to get so bad?" Obedi queried weakly. H e reached into his pocket, pulling out five shining pills.

"Oh, shush! The wolf cannot hold out anymore. We"ve made progress."

Obedi swallowed, shooting Agbawo a venomous look. "Progress that took 3 d.a.m.n days to attain?"

"It"s something still. You and I know Rare Type beasts are harder to tame. Besides, the boy would wake soon since the wolf has served its possible. That"s better."

"How is that good, old fool? Don"t you know that once he"s up, he will be so much stronger." Obedi cried, frantically clawing his face.

Agbawo simply laughed.

"And who told you he knows how to use his soul bound. Both of them are complete opposites, that"s why I am surprised the wolf is fencing me off. Again, you can tell him that you would teach him how and that"s the bane."

"Yes, I offer to help and he takes it and somehow, I get him to unbound with the wolf. Excellent!" Oedi said, clapping excitedly. He staggered to his feet only to duck to avoid a wooden box that flew past. Whistling, he muttered some words, patting his chest as the air cooled, looking at Sunday.

"Alright boys, stand up!" Obedi ordered, injecting his aura to make him sound like a majestic ruler. The words had an immediate effect. The men slowly rose, and as they did, Sunday"s eyes opened, fire burning in them.

(T/N)

Food is ready.

A type of native Yoruba clothing

A Yoruba cap