We reappeared in a thick forest cast in darkness. Only the barest sunlight filtered in through the mammoth trees and broad canopies, and the sounds of birds and other animals which should be tumultuous in such a forest was lacking.“You are here.” a tall stocky boy appeared before Iditan and I like a ghost.I strengthened my shield and took a stance immediately, taking it as another of Iditan’s tests. The boy was taken aback for a second but his reaction was quick. He retreated fast, putting a distance between us, and a short glimmering broadsword appeared in his hands. “What’s going on? Who is this?” he asked.Iditan had a quirk which could go for a smile on her face as she replied. “This is Toke, one of our witchlords. Toke meet Thabiti, the first guardian from Kenya in a very long time.” Iditan introduced.I slowly stood at ease, embarrassed at my overt reactions. “I’m sorry,&rdqu

Nub’s smile widened at their reactions. “You all missed his bastard son that year, Jap, born to his servant girl. Somehow he escaped before you came to destroy them, and having learned a little of the magic from his father and from some other evil spirits he became stronger over the years. A little over four years now, he captured me, seeking to turn me towards his magic and use me for his plans. I spent four months as his captive, and he was every way as mad as his father.” Nub’s countenance turned sour.“My best friend who was with me when he took me could not continue and she took her own life, but I made him pay in the end, when he thought he had me under his finger. He died begging for death.”   “That was about the time she changed,” Iditan muttered, her words opening my eyes to see a bit of why Nub seemed so bloodthirsty during the battle against the cursed ones. The darkness in Nub’s eyes at this mom

Sunday night, Lara and I were done for the day and were heading to the entrance of the training ground where we would open a portal to our different homes when I sensed Iditan inside the forest below. A surge of happiness ran through me because I was sure it was her act of reaching out to me. I wouldn’t have sensed her if she had not wanted me to.“Go ahead, I have somewhere I must go first before heading home,” I sent to Lara.“Ok,” She replied, too tired to ask questions.I headed down to the forest to meet Iditan seated beneath a great oak tree on a patch of green verdant grass, her eyes closed and her body relaxed as she leaned against the tree. I stared at the Oak tree which was the size of a small house, surprised to be seeing it for the first time. Ever since I have learnt to morph and fly I have never passed the way through the forest, choosing to fly over it, but still I should have seen a tree this big from above, or so I

RAMATU FLEW INTO THE AIR as I breached her defense by piercing through her magic shield with a strong concentrated burst of magic. She leapt back to her feet seeking to quickly return into the fight as I took the opportunity to face off against Chike, striking hard against him, only for her to fall again as a spell I subtly threw at her feet entangled her—one of  the few tricks I learnt from watching Nub fight.Chike held his defense tight with a sword and a dagger as I attacked with two small swords, up and down, up and down. He met all my attacks with a tight look of concentration, only defending against me as I built a powerful momentum with each strike. I smirked at him. He was trying hard to by time for Ramatu to get back on her feet. I changed my movements, striking in a crisscross pattern with the two weapons.Chike stepped back to take a breather as he heard Ramatu’s growl signaling her return to the battle. I quickly triggered the illusion I h

WE ALL STAND QUIETLY on the path leading up the dark-gloomy castle entrance as the three matrons carry out a ritual. Seven small outcropping rocks lie spread wide apart in a horizontal line at the path leading to the castle steps and Oniko with the assistance of Bashir and Biola moves to each of the rocks, taking one of the seven rams that had been made available for the ritual, slaughtering the rams upon it and letting the blood spill upon the rock while the matrons follow them from behind chanting incantations.  They step back after spilling the blood of the last ram over the final rock, leaving the rest to the three matrons who begin a singsong incantation. Powerful magic ignites on the rocks, and the bodies of the ram and their blood catch fire, burning till nothing is left of them. We all sense an invisible barrier before the castle lifted as the fire goes out.“Opening the castle does not demand much from your magic, it is only a matter of your will p