Nduka's power and the new visitors

Half a year prior to the miraculous event at Ikenna's House, Nduka embodied fragility, yet his spirit mirrored the resilience of African soil, thriving amidst companionship. His haven, however, turned tumultuous as Ofoha, an authoritative presence among the boys, orchestrated torment. Envy fueled Ofoha's aggression towards Nduka, a delicate lad from a lineage steeped in both royalty and warrior heritage.

The once-solace of camaraderie now resembled a battlefield, where Nduka grappled with the hostility imposed by a peer whose disdain stemmed from resentment towards the fragility interwoven with noble lineage.

Beneath the majestic baobab tree, children reveled in laughter, the air buzzing with youthful vigor. However, Nduka's presence ushered in a foreboding change. Ofoha and his accomplices, driven by cruelty, descended on Nduka like vultures targeting wounded prey.

They ruthlessly pulled him to the ground, forcing sand into his mouth. Feeble attempts to escape were drowned out by jeers, resonating through the village like a haunting melody.

The once-playful gathering metamorphosed into a chilling tableau of aggression, shattering the carefree ambiance under the looming branches of the baobab tree.

Frequent bouts of illness left Nduka defenseless, his fragile frame unable to endure the relentless physical and emotional assaults. Amidst the dust kicked up by his stumbling attempts to escape tormentors, the villagers, immersed in their daily routines, remained oblivious to the anguish unfolding under the shadow of the baobab tree.

Nduka's struggle for respite echoed silently, unheard amidst the humdrum of village life, as his frailty became a tragic backdrop to the bustling scenes of daily existence.

The villagers feared that Ikenna's heir might not thrive in the upcoming challenges of assuming the role of a warlord, a tradition in his lineage. One of the perilous tasks involved retrieving the head of a lion from the dense Ikpa forest.

Amidst relentless bullying, Nduka's eyes reflected the pain etched into his soul. The tormentors, revelling in their power, remained oblivious to the seeds of resilience sprouting within Nduka's spirit. Despite his daily efforts to win over Ofoha, an elusive ability to defend himself eluded him. As the son of a warrior, fearfully avoiding anyone in the village was taboo, and Nduka bore the humiliation in silence.

Aware that his warrior chief priest father wouldn't accept such weakness, he kept his plight to himself. The cycle of abuse persisted for months, the weight of secrecy and societal expectations pressing on Nduka until this very day, an unspoken tragedy unfolding beneath the veneer of a seemingly ordinary village life.

On this fateful day, narrowly escaping the clutches of death, he bravely leapt from his mother's window into the inviting embrace of the woods. His destination: the towering baobab tree, where his playmates awaited. Despite his unsuccessful attempts to bring down a few elusive birds en route to the playground, he didn't succumb to despondency.

Instead, he perched on the ridge of a nearby farm, he mused, "It seems these birds have imbibed wisdom from Eneke, the avian sage, who claims that since men have mastered the art of shooting without missing, he has perfected the skill of flight without perching."

Taking a moment to inhale deeply, he rose and ambled a short distance, his playful whistle resonating in the tranquil surroundings. Abruptly halting, he scrutinized the landscape once more, stretching the elastic rope of his catapult in anticipation of any remaining avian prey. Alas, no feathery targets met his gaze. Undeterred, he declared, "I'll achieve success next time. Let me indulge in play for now." He listened as a small bird, launching from the nearby towering Ukwa tree, exclaimed, "Let's see how you handle this, mighty Ama Ogu!" His astonishment grew as he realized his identity was now unveiled to the natural surroundings.

In this poignant interlude between his exposure, life-threatening escapades and the pursuit of childhood whims, the resilient protagonist's spirit prevails, embodying the essence of optimism in the face of setbacks.

As Nduka neared the renowned baobab tree, all attention focused on him due to the village gossip. However, Ofoha couldn't resist the temptation to taunt him once more.

He approached with a swagger, surrounded by his friends, eager to witness another round of humiliation. "Nduka I heard you came back from the evil forest. You could have stayed died and escape my grasp. Now, who will save you from me? I'll show you your place," Ofoha jeered, his cronies laughing in anticipation.

Unfazed, Nduka rose from the ground, a glint of determination in his eyes. The baobab tree's shadow cast an ethereal glow on the unfolding drama. Nduka began to move with an unusual agility, his limbs resembling a cat stalking its prey. The other children watched in awe as Nduka gracefully dodged Ofoha's attempts to grab him.

Ofoha, growing frustrated, lunged at Nduka with all his might, but Nduka effortlessly sidestepped, leaving Ofoha stumbling in the dust. The crowd erupted in laughter, the once-confident bully now the laughingstock of the village playground.

Emboldened, Nduka unleashed a series of swift and calculated moves, mimicking the agility of a cat. He danced around Ofoha, his movements fluid and unpredictable. The onlookers were captivated by the unexpected turn of events.

With a final, decisive maneuver, Nduka swiftly disarmed Ofoha of his bravado. The once-mighty bully found himself on the ground, humbled and defeated. Nduka stood tall, a triumphant smile playing on his lips as he addressed the astonished crowd.

"Sometimes, strength comes not from size, but from skill and strategy," Nduka declared, earning nods of respect from the onlookers. Ofoha, now humbled, slinked away with his bruised ego, leaving Nduka to revel in his victory.

Under the ancient baobab tree, Nduka had not only defended himself but also gained the admiration of his peers. The playground, once a battleground of humiliation, had transformed into a stage where Nduka's resilience and village fighting skills shone brightly.

A week later, word of the defeat beneath the baobab tree quickly circulated through the village. The revelation of a fresh mark at his back, unveiled during the battle, captured attention, reaching even the ears of animals. The information remained secure until it reached the avian community, where a common raven caught wind of the news.

Beyond the ominous association bestowed upon this bird, tied to doom and death, legend holds that it traverses between the realms of the living and the dead every midnight of the afo market day.

Furthermore, it serves as a spy for demons, collecting information in the land of the living. Just a day after the news spread following the afo market day, the demons dispatched by the ancient dragon had already acquired the current whereabouts of Amaa Ogu, plotting on how to approach the village in human forms to destroy him.

For this crucial mission, two of these formidable creatures transformed into black common ravens, joining an unkindness-a gathering of ravens-to return to the land of the living. Ogudike, the tormentor of Umuigwe, now in his late forties and childless, delved into Okwe forest in pursuit of deer for a family reunion celebration.

Exhausted from the hunt, he chose to take a break. "I'll rest here for a while and recover my strength," he uttered, his eyes closing to the fading crickets' symphony, greeted by the evening breeze at his doorstep.

In this mystical depths of Okwe forest, the two sinister demons from lucifer lurked, shadows whispering malevolence as they observed every move of Ogudike, unaware of the supernatural gaze, "Let's claim a mortal vessel," the demons hissed in unison, swooping down to possess him.

The air crackled with dark energy as they merged with the unsuspecting hunter lying down to chase a shirt sleep, chosen for the innocent blood spilled in a village raid. A shiver ran through the possessed man as he became a conduit for malevolent forces, setting the stage for a nightmarish tale.

Having triumphantly captured their prey, they trailed him to his abode. Upon arrival, he joyously embraced his wife, sharing intimate moments that bestowed upon them the privilege to inhabit her womb, materializing their desire to take flesh and unleash harm on the village and surrounding villages.