A Mother's Premonition
"My son, you are growing to be the man your father would have been proud of. Your life, from the day you turn fifteen, will take a profound turn. You will meet friends who will become your allies, enemies who will test your resolve, and you will discover a love that will change you forever. But know that I believe in you, my son, on your journey to become the greatest leader this clan has ever seen…" Justina, with a quiet strength in her voice, delivered this premonition, a solemn narration of the tale to come. It was a secret she held close to her heart, a prophecy of the future that only she, the queen, could foresee. She watched him from afar, her eyes filled with both love and a hint of concern for the challenges he would face.
A Prince's Morning
The scene faded in, and there stood Hakuna, a boy of fourteen, on the expansive balcony of The Letebele Clan palace. The morning sun was warm on his skin, and a gentle breeze stirred the air. He was lost in a world of his own making, his eyes fixed on the small, bustling village below the palace walls. The villagers were starting their day, a rhythmic, harmonious dance of life that Hakuna found endlessly fascinating. His gaze was distant, his posture pensive.
Suddenly, a voice broke his reverie. "You're only fourteen, and already you look like Dad planning an attack on an enemy clan…" Max, one of Hakuna's older brothers, appeared, playfully poking Hakuna's right shoulder before shifting to his left. Max's easygoing nature was a welcome contrast to the rigid formality of palace life.
Hakuna giggled, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "What the hell are you even talking about, Max? I thought we never went to war!"
Max's smile was infectious. "Exactly. Now snap out of it and get down for your breakfast." His tone shifted slightly, a gentle reprimand to bring Hakuna back to reality. He gave a final, soft jab to Hakuna's arm.
"Wait, shouldn't fancy clans like ours have servants or something?" Hakuna asked, his voice laced with a subtle hint of sarcasm. He was testing the boundaries, a playful challenge to the aristocracy he had been born into.
Max's expression became more serious. "Less talking, more getting ready to eat. Remember, we are humble despite our aristocracy." He emphasized the point by playfully poking Hakuna's head, tilting it in the direction of the door.
Hakuna, feigning defeat, surrendered. "Alright, alright, I'm on my way down…" he pleaded, gesturing for his brother to stop.
Max smiled triumphantly. "Good…" As he said this, he left the room, his long strides carrying him down the corridor.
Hakuna followed, a small smile still on his face. As he rounded the corner, his smile vanished. Standing in the middle of the hallway was Sehloho, his eldest brother and the current clan leader. Sehloho's presence was always imposing, a stark contrast to Max's casual demeanor.
"What are you wearing? That is not how a prince walks. You seem to be enjoying the life of a prince so much that you've grown weak. Are you even training the boy well, Max?" Sehloho's voice was a low growl, over-asserting his position as clan leader with every syllable. He glared at Hakuna, his eyes filled with a stern disapproval that Hakuna was all too familiar with.
Max turned to face Hakuna, a silent apology in his eyes.
Hakuna met Sehloho's gaze, his own eyes narrowing slightly. "You know, I never understood the concept of dressing 'well' for BREAKFAST. And don't you have important clan leader business to attend to?" The words were spoken sheepishly, but there was a defiance in them that Sehloho could not ignore.
Sehloho's expression tightened. "Quite the arrogance you have acquired…" he stated, his tone shifting to one of near condescension. He took a step closer, his presence radiating an authority that was meant to intimidate.
Max, ever the peacemaker, stepped between them. "That is not the way to treat your elders, Hakuna…" he reprimanded, his voice low.
Hakuna held his ground. "I'm just saying, there are much more important things to worry about than the state of someone's clothing…" he said, his voice firm. The words hung in the air, a quiet victory for Hakuna.
Sehloho, realizing he was not going to win this argument, simply turned and walked away, leaving the corridor in defeat.
An Unexpected Proposition
Hakuna and Max walked into the dining room, a silent understanding passing between them. The dining table was large and ornate, and gathered around it were Justina, their mother; Uyanda, Sehloho's young son; and Bernice, Hakuna's eldest sister.
"Morning, little brother…" Bernice said, a playful emphasis on the word "little."
"You do know that I'm taller than you now, right?" Hakuna retaliated, feeling very proud of himself.
"And I'm still older than you, by a huge amount even…" Bernice remarked, a mischievous glint in her eyes, knocking Hakuna down a few pegs.
Hakuna accepted defeat with a good-natured smile, and they all prepared to dine. It was a silent breakfast, the tension from Sehloho's presence still lingering in the air. Hakuna found himself slightly annoyed by his brother's attitude, the way he carried himself as if he were the most important person in the room.
Just as the silence was becoming unbearable, Sehloho spoke. "Hakuna, I think it's time you go to school."
Hakuna looked up, surprised. "I've been well educated here already, why?" he questioned. The palace tutors had taught him everything from history and mathematics to the ancient arts of his clan.
"I want to take you to Milner so you could develop an understanding and further improve the power within you," Sehloho replied, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
Hakuna was utterly surprised. When did Sehloho become so considerate? The thought felt wrong, an alarm bell in his mind. There had to be an ulterior motive. He began to wonder what Sehloho's plan was, but for the life of him, he couldn't find what his brother's true intentions were. So, he questioned his brother again.
"Why are you doing this?"
"However do you mean, little brother?" Sehloho enquired ignorantly, his eyes meeting Hakuna's.
"You rarely think of ways to benefit your siblings, let alone sending me to Milner…" Hakuna said, his voice laced with suspicion.
"I simply want you to further your studies there. You are even guaranteed to meet strong people of your age," Sehloho spoke with a decisive undertone. The conversation was over.
Hakuna accepted hesitantly and went back to his room to freshen up, his mind still reeling with questions.
Later that day, Max came home, a small bag in his hand. He saw Hakuna walking down the corridor and stopped him.
"Congratulations, you're going to Milner…" Max said, a genuine happiness in his voice.
Hakuna couldn't shake his suspicion. "I still don't get it. I've done my research, and Milner is one of the most sophisticated schools in South Africa…"
"I recommended that school…" Max chimed in, a straightforward look on his face.
Hakuna's eyes widened. "I knew it wasn't his idea. He'd never act like that!" he exclaimed, a sense of relief washing over him as he found his "Eureka" moment.
"Hakuna, you need to grow stronger. Sehloho saw that, and I recommended the school. Milnerians are some of the toughest teenagers of their time, and you can fit in just fine," Max explained, placing a reassuring hand on Hakuna's shoulder.
Hakuna considered his brother's words. He felt a newfound optimism about the venture. He would go to this school and become stronger.
The First Test
The next day, Hakuna bid farewell to his family and left for South Africa. After a two-hour flight, he arrived at the prestigious school. He began unpacking in his new room but stopped for a while, a restlessness settling in. He decided to take a walk outside, to clear his head and get a sense of his new surroundings.
Hakuna became lost in thought as he continued with his walk. He often did that, his mind drifting to his family, his future, and the power that lay dormant within him.
Suddenly, without warning, a Level 3 Ogre Class demon appeared from the shadows, its hulking form and glowing red eyes a clear sign of its intent to attack Hakuna for no reason. Hakuna, startled but not panicked, chose to evade instead of retaliating, his instincts kicking in.
His technique and evasive maneuvers were flawless, far outclassing anyone his age. He weaved and dodged with a graceful agility, blocking the demon's monstrous swings with mere ease. His years of training within the palace walls had prepared him for this, his body moving with a fluid precision that seemed to mock the demon's brute force.
However, in a moment of distraction, the demon tripped Hakuna, and he fell on his back. Just as Hakuna presumed he was defeated, a mysterious figure appeared, a flash of motion that was almost too fast to follow. The figure stopped the demon's killing blow with a single, open palm. Then, with a loud, explosive bang, he knocked the demon out immediately, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground.
"There you are, escaping from the training enclosure was pretty ballsy…You, on the other hand, should really stop holding back like that and always focus more on the fight. That's the way of the Milnerians, new kid. I'm Enzo, by the way, what's your name?" The mysterious figure, a young man with an air of confidence, asked, noticing his overextended monologue.
"It's Hakuna. You're really strong," Hakuna replied, still in a state of shock, yet a deep curiosity burning in his eyes.
"I know. Nice to meet you, Hakuna. Stick with me; we should spar sometime…" Enzo declared with a hint of pride.
"Yeah… we should…" Hakuna managed to get the words out, still processing the situation.
Hakuna was astonished at Enzo's strength and power. In that moment, he dedicated himself to becoming stronger, to mastering the power within him. But a single question lingered in his mind: how did Enzo know he was holding back?
Fade Out…
End of Episode 1…