I drag myself across the streets, feeling lethargic. My head feels heavy, my mind more so. I slowly massage my temple, sensing an imminent headache, and the surrounding noise does nothing to help. It is still a bit early in the morning, but the streets are crowded. Many shops are already open with customers examining the items for sale.
My pace is slow—I wish I did not have to leave my room at all and stay in bed. Better yet, I wish I had not awoken at all, that I had stayed asleep in my sarcophagi for however long I was supposed to be. At least like that I would not have had to deal with this situation.
Alas…
I momentarily stop at the sight of the statue in the distance, standing at the very centre of the city. Sabar and I used to frequent that place when we were little, either playing around it or simply daydreaming, imagining what we would be as grownups. And here we are, her blissfully asleep while I now live in our hometown now taken away by a whole new civilization.
I turn away as I try to push down the bubbling feelings threatening to spill out. A while later, I stand in front of a large building. I walk the stairs then proceed inside. The clerk, a young man with long locs held in a half bun, smiles at me.
"Good morning my lady."
"Hello, Nyemb." I hand him the books and papers. "Here are this week's reports."
He goes through each of them, crosschecking with the ledger at his side. "Everything seems to be in order… You are good to go."
He takes the documents and place them on the shelves behind him, humming a happy tune.
"I see that you are in a good mood."
"And that is all thanks to you. Ever since you have been working for Scribe Owono work has been going on a lot more smoothly." He turns back to me with a happy smile. "Before you, I had to personally go to his household and beg with him to give his work on time—if he did it at all—Ah… It was such a pain."
"He likes to do things at his own pace… Even if it is at the expense of others."
"Don't tell me about it."
He looks at me from head to toe, some concern emerging in his eyes. "You look like you are in need of two good nights of sleep. It is that demanding to work for him full time, huh?"
I do nothing to correct him on his conjecture. It works for me that he believes Uncle Owono is responsible for my lack of rest, even though it is not true. At least like that he will feel less inclined about questioning me. I feel a bit guilty for not defending Uncle Owono's honour since he has been nothing but kind to me, but his reputation appears not to be the most once.
I lean on the counter, looking at him curiously. "Are you volunteering to help me?"
"I... will have to pass," he says leaning from his side of the counter, "still, make sure to not overdo it. If you get sick I fear I might have to take over, so ask for a break alright?"
"Of course." I smile.
Nyemb's gaze moves past me and upward. He straightens up and I reflexively do the same as his demeanour takes a more serious tenor.
I move out of the way, leaving ample space for the newcomer to attend to whatever business he has come from, and as I do that we make eye contact, and—Skies, is he handsome.
He is well-built with smooth dark skin and carries himself with poise, exuding an air of confidence and charisma. His eyes are deep and sharp, framed with perfectly groomed eyebrows. His gaze glides through me then a charming smile spread on his lips.
"Please, do finish with your business, I'm in no hurry." He sounds as beautiful as he looks.
"I just finished, actually. Go ahead."
"Oh…"
He briefly greets Nyemb then hands him papers of his own.
He is a sorcerer. His essence is dense and powerful, just like Kayin, but as I try to get a better feel of it he turns to me, and a withdraw my Gaze from him.
In that moment I fear that he sensed what I just did. I shift to leave to leave but react to late as he quickly makes his way to me and smiles.
"I have never seen you in this, are you a new hire?"
"I, I have recently started working as a Scribe's assistant."
"Is that so?" He silently watches me for a brief moment before adding, "You are not from here I presume."
I look down at myself. Since I have started to live in Asso I had discarded my usual robes to dress more like a typical local.
"What gave me away?"
"Your accent." He points out.
"Ah."
It seems that it is a trait that will incessantly betray me… unfortunately, it cannot be helped. My accent is not as heavy as it used to, but it can still be picked up, it will take a while before it completely disappears.
"I also heard about you. You are a guest at Scribe Owono's house, right?"
I freeze at his words. It can't be… Did my cover somehow got blown away? No, I have never done something that could attract attention on myself, there is no reason why rumours should be spreading. I slowly take a deep breath to keep myself from panicking.
"Where did you hear that from?"
"Well, Scribe Owono is a bit of a prominent figure in our milieu, and he never taken an assistant before. Added to the rumours of Kayin having apparently brought with him a woman back from a recent expedition. It raised quite a few eyebrows."
"I see. Then, you are a colleague of Kayin's?"
"Yes, we both work at the Archaeology Institution. By the way, I am N'jobu. Apologies for the late introduction."
I shake his extended arm. "My name is Vyswe'eyaga."
His smile extended a little more, revealing two dimples on his cheeks.
"Nice to meet you Vyswe'eyaga. Since we are out here would you like to go somewhere to drink? I had love to talk some more with you." But then I look around and realize that we are outside now. I had not realized that we had been walking since the conversation started.
I turn back to N'jobu who is still smiling, nervousness suddenly creeping up on me. "I… umm… Sorry, I can't. I… I still have some other thigs to do. Maybe next time."
He looks taken aback but quickly recovers. "Of course. Sorry for holding you back."
"It's… alrgiht."
"Then… Until we hopefully meet again."
"Have a nice day."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Having completed my tasks for the week and with no appointments with Uncle Owono, I head straight to my room as soon as I return home. My legs finally give out and I let myself collapse on the floor once I close the door to my room, burying my face in my hands.
I feel so tired, the headache I feared would come is now in full swing. Glancing at my room, I spot several colons of books haphazardly lying around. The bulk of them are on the low table at the centre, a few columns are lying on the floor near my bed, and some have been left open on my bed. I should properly arrange them but the thought of moving a single finger makes my head spin.
"I should really take a nap."
I whisper to myself; it has been days since I had more than two to three hours of sleep and the missing hours of rest are starting to catch up on me.
A meowing breaks the silence of the room, and a small grey and black-stripped kitten appear from under the table. It comes straight at me, jumps on my lap and starts cuddling against me. I look down at it and scratch the back of its ears, causing it to purr in satisfaction. I could almost forget of my headache as I pet the little ball of fur.
I tap the back of my head; the encounter I made a month ago slowly resurfacing again.
◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
"Who are you?"
"Just someone who have been waiting for you for a long time." The boy said with a tranquil smile, much to my annoyance. I dropped the bags I was holding and immediately retrieve my staff, pointing it at him.
"Stop evading my question. We both know you are no normal child—or no child at all—so a start making some sense before I make this escalate more than it needs to be."
"Please, calm down. I just want to talk. Not harm you."
He made a step towards me, but I raised my staff in response, preparing a spell just in case, and he stopped dead in his tracks.
After a deep audible sigh he said, "I swear to you, I bear no ill intention and I will not cause you any harm of any form, I never will."
His words caused a subtle change in the air as his promise resonated with the world.
"You made an Oath." It was more a statement than a question.
He nodded. "I figured it would be the only way for you to trust me a bit more."
Now I was more than a little confused, I lowered my staff but did not dismiss it. "What is the meaning of this? Why are you looking for me?" I swallowed before adding, "Are you… Are you like me?"
He cannot be a Genie or a Shapeshifting beast, the flow of his Spiritual essence is too steady compared to the erratic nature of theirs. So, he definitely is a human.
But his unbelievable skills in sorcery... No child this age—whether in this era or the one before—should be so proficient, no matter how talented he might be. Yet, something about him feels familiar.
"If you are asking if I'm Nchāren, then yes."
I was unable to stop the surprise from showing on my face.
"Aha… You did not expect that, did you?" He said with a crooked grin, and the next second his appearance changed, nothing truly drastic, just his eyes. The iris of his light brown eyes brightens, emanating a soft golden colour. Something that all the humans in this time seem to lack. Hence, becoming a trait specific only to the people of Nchāre.
I stared agape, "Then, does it mean that there are others too?"
He grimaced a bit, and I felt my heart sink. He mentioned that he had been waiting for long time, could it be that he is the only one? And he had to face this world all alone. The taught of it made me feel a surge of sympathy toward him.
"Unfortunately, we are the only two Nchāren roaming this world."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I know it." I waited for him to explain himself, but he did not say any further. "But that is not the point, I came here to warn you. A great evil is approaching, and you must stop it, if not people are going to die."
A long silence followed his declaration.
"Is this some sort of joke?"
"I am very serious."
A non-comical laugh escaped my lips. "Am I really having this conversation? And with a child no less." I say more to myself than him, "So what? I have to 'save' the world from its impending doom now? Do you hear yourself?"
"I know this is a lot, but you have to take this information with the upmost seriousness, lives are at risk—"
"—Says who?"
"Me!" He exclaimed, his voice becoming commanding. "I am a Prophet. You will do well to not dismiss my warning."
"Be careful of what you say." I said after another moment of silence. "That title is not something that can be said lightly."
"Yet that is what I am doing. Will you deny me?"
"I know to look out for false prophets."
We quietly stare at each other for a few seconds. The boy is the first to break the contest as he sighs tiredly.
"I understand that you are doubtful—I know I would be, was I in your shoes—but I promise this is the truth, and we are running out of time."
He did not make an Oath this time, yet I had the intimate feeling that he was truthful with his words, that he was sincere—why would he even lie to me? We are from the same land, almost relatives, and I can't see what he would gain from deceiving me.
And if he is really what he claims to be…
"Even if what you said is the truth… I, I am not the best suited to deal with it, you should ask for someone else." I say after a moment of silence.
"Believe it or not, but you actually are." I don't miss the genuine surprise in his voice. "I was sent in this city, you see. He told me I would find one of my brethren here and that that person would be the one to bring back the balance that was broken."
"I know I am repeating myself, but again, you are not making much sense."
"Head north from this city, and you will understand." He simply said.
He had not said a single straight answer since we started talking, and I felt my frustration and uneasiness build-up as the seconds went by.
"It shouldn't be me—This is a mistake." I blurted out while looking away from him. I felt incredibly ashamed of saying it. I would help if I could, but if the 'world is at stake' like he said then it is not something I can assist with—Someone like Teacher or Zaylany at the very least would have been better.
I turned my gaze back to the boy and was met with an expressionless face, he scrutinized me with the eyes that did not belong to a young child his age, and I felt once more than he was far older than what he appeared to be. It was disturbing not to say the least.
"I must say…" He said with eery calmness. "I am disappointed, I expected better from you."
His words pierced me like a dagger, deepening the shame that threatened to overwhelm me.
He dispelled the ward that was surrounding us and turned his back at me.
"I carried out my duty. You know what happens when the words of a Prophet are ignored… Nothing but lamentation and the grinding of teeth."
He walked away a few steps then disappeared into thin air.