Ewa moves swiftly and dodges the red beams with ease, she quickly closes the distance and swings her arm at the machine's main body—directly where the jewelled core is located. It shatters and the other parts simply fall on the ground.
N'jobu, meanwhile, raises his hands. With a sharp snap of his fingers, a blazing bolt of fire bursts forth, fracturing into a dozen flaming shards that rocket toward the clustered machines I'd trapped. Each projectile finds its mark—dead centre—with surgical precision and fiery impact.
I pivot toward the stragglers, and a wave of relief washes over me as I spot the last of them slipping through the trees, their sleek frames weaving through the foliage. They're not regrouping. They're running. It looks like they have decided to run, or retreat at the very least.
Once they are all gone I approach the ensuing wreckage, taking an appendage after some hesitation.
It feels more like stone than metal to the touch, but it doesn't appear to have been cut from it… It is like the stone had been moulded into that specific shape through some obscure Nchāren technique. This piece, like the other ones too, is entirely covered in tiny engravings—wards—and even though it is not functional anymore I feel the remnants of essence coursing in it.
The gem on the central piece… it is a Spirit crystal!
Is that how it was able to function? The glyphs must allow it to do all what it is capable of, I wish I was able to make sense of it. The Nchāren had a way of making the wards they crafted undecipherable, be it on the on the structures they built or the devices they made, like that centipede-looking transportation device—Vyswe'eyaga called it… the Spirit Crystal-powered locomotive engine?
But now, it appears they were also to literally breath life into their creations, or something close to life. Still, I had never seen or head of inanimate objects that could act independently—It was like they could think and act on their own… Or maybe they were being controlled by somebody who can.
"I think these are a type of mechanized soldiers."
I look up, finding N'jobu equally studying the rubbles.
"I don't think so, they seem more like guards to me; defence mechanism against intruders."
He scoffs derisively. "Didn't feel like that to me. When Sazayi and I found them, they were moving around like they were searching for something."
"Oh? What do you think they were looking for?"
"Us." He answers matter-of-factly. "They jumped on us the moment they detected us."
I hum pensively.
"He's right. I swear, their timing... It was just after we were attacked by those Mayibi NKams."
I glance at Sazayi from the corner of my eyes. Since he couldn't really fight he stayed behind the whole time—with the wounded Azikiwe. Despite the fact that he had not participated in the fight, he is sweating and panting heavily, looking more exhausted than all of us.
"That's one more reason to not linger," Ewa comments lightly, twisting and turning her dagger expertly between her fingers. "Anyway, who are you guys and what are you doing here?"
A heavy silence falls after her question. N'jobu and Sazayi exchange glances then turn to us, suddenly they look embarrassed to be here.
N'jobu clears his throat.
"We were… just passing by," he says weakly.
"…Just passing by," I repeat in a daze. I don't know if I should be appalled by his flimsy attempt at a lie or that he had the nerve to do it at all.
"This is pathetic."
"Say that again?" He snaps.
"What? Is that not the truth?" Sazayi walks over to N'jobu. "Let us not make it more complicated than necessary. We were tracking you—No, he was tracking you."
"You!"
"Oh please. You were so sure you would uncover whatever Kayin was hiding, and what did we get? We got lost in this—this god-forsaken forest! We lost our mounds and all our belongings to thrice-damned monkeys, and somehow, even the Moyibi Nkam has an issue with us. Then as if it were not enough we are attacked by those… those things!" He paces around like a caged animal, muttering aloud. "I am sick of this—sick of you. I am tired, I am hungry, and thirsty, and I stink!"
"Again, I never asked you to follow me. You did that on your." N'jobu folds his arms calmly, though his expression is one of pure annoyance and anger.
"You would be dead by now if I was not with you and you know it. That's what friends do right? They cover for each other when one acts like an idiot, but you know what? I regret it!" He snaps back. "Why do I even care. I hate it. I want my house, I want comfortable my bed… I want to see my Anhso." Then, as if the fight's been ripped from him, Sazayi sinks to his knees, looking defeated.
I stare a little speechless at the scene that is unfolding. I now have a general idea of what they are talking about, but I don't know how to react right now, especially after Sazayi's outburst. I slightly feel sorry for him.
"Uh-huh… I don't understand, explain again, and make more sense while you're at it." Ewa says, alternating stares between N'jobu and Sazayi.
"Fine." N'jobu sighs. "I will tell you." Then he looks at me, pointing an accusing finger in my direction. "I know you are hiding something. The way you acquired that lexicon from your previous expedition is suspicious, and your account on what happened has way too many inconsistencies. That's why I followed you, I want answers, I want the truth."
I am taken aback for a moment. Well… I admit my story of losing the original manuscript is a bit of a stretch, but he should not have any reason to doubt its authenticity. Vyswe'eyaga wrote it herself after all. And why go to such a length, does he suspect something else?
I take a deep breath to maintain my composure.
"You really have too much time on your hands." I sneer. "You followed me here without any proper reason—I just saved your life—and you dare demand anything from me? Let's say I do have something to hide, why would I even tell you? I don't owe you anything."
"Oh. I think very much you do." He replies with a small smirk, like he had been waiting for my reaction. "I could report you for fraud. Once people at the Institution to calm down about the lexis they will start to ask questions, and I doubt your little story is going to satisfy them."
"You bluff." I say after a small stare-down. "You would have reported me long ago if you had any evidence, you are just throwing baseless accusations." His composure visible weaken. His jaw tightens and he glares harder at me.
"You will excuse me, but I don't have time for your nonsense. Ewa, Azikiwe, let's move."
"What? Where do you think you are going?"
"If you hadn't realized we were busy before you arrived." I heft Azikiwe over my shoulder, Ewa casually follows my lead without a word. "Do whatever you want, I don't care."
"What about those things? They look valuable, it would be a shame them behind." Ewa asks quietly so that only Azikiwe and I can hear.
I cast a glance at the broken pile of machines on the floor, feeling a pang of regret in my heart—I wish dearly I could take them and study them some more, it would have been even easier with Vyswe'eyaga here—but we don't have time.
"We will have to leave them behind."
From the corner of my eye, N'jobu makes a move in our direction, opening his mouth to say something but his words are drowned out by a thunderous, chilling wail. The sound makes my heart sink.
Massah! Why now?