Rai was snoozing on his chest when he awakened. It took him a while to get his bearings, what with the nearly uniform red of the surrounding grounds and the tuft of feathers tickling his nose every so often. He sat up carefully, not wanting to jostle her and looked around. His eyes landed almost immediately on Olisa and Kainene, who were snuggled up under an acacia tree, arms wrapped around each other—and their staffs well within reach.
Somadina stared at them for a beat, chest tightening with an emotion he couldn't quite name. He wondered, not for the first time, what it felt like to hold and be held like that. To have someone you trusted so completely that you could lower your defences and find comfort in their presence. It was a foreign concept to him, one that both intrigued and intimidated him in equal measure.
Other than his mother, whose embraces were now nothing more than bittersweet memories, the only person to have made physical contact with him was Mama G. And those interactions usually consisted of sharp cuffs upside the head when he was being particularly dense or reckless. It was kind of hard to forge meaningful relationships, or indeed any relationships at all, when you were an unbonded trying to scavenge enough supplies to keep yourself and your family from starving.
Somadina's thoughts drifted back to his life in the valley, to the other young people his age in Omata. He hadn't minded his isolation much at the time. Most of his peers had been, in his estimation, insufferable at best and dangerous at worst. Their casual cruelty, born of the security their bonds and cultivation provided, had always set his teeth on edge.
But now... Somadina's gaze was drawn once again to the sleeping pair under the acacia tree. His eyes lingered on the arm Kainene had flung over Olisa's waist, and he bit his lip, feeling a pang of something that might have been envy, or perhaps longing. Now, things were different. He was different. And maybe, just maybe, he was ready to open himself up to the possibility of connections he had never allowed himself to consider before.
As if sensing the turn of his thoughts, Rai chose that moment to stir. She yawned and stretched, opening her wings wide and giving an experimental flap. A wet tongue darted out and licked her nose as she gazed at Somadina, black eyes gleaming.
"Morning, Rai," he said softly, mindful of their still-sleeping companions. "Sleep well?"
The owlcat responded with another yawn, somehow managing to convey both contentment and mild disdain in the single action. She considered the acacia tree for a moment then took off, great flaps of her wings propelling her to the topmost branches. Somadina felt a knot of anxiety he hadn't even known he was carrying loosen in his chest.
Rai hadn't flown at all yesterday, seeming content to ride on his shoulder as they traveled. While he had enjoyed her constant presence, a part of him had worried that her reluctance to fly meant something was wrong. Now, seeing her perched high above, looking every bit the majestic creature she was, Somadina felt a wave of relief wash over him.
Maybe her wings were just wet yesterday, he pondered, rising to his feet with a series of pops and cracks from his joints. The red earth felt strange beneath his bare feet, its texture unlike any soil he had encountered before. As he stretched, working out the kinks from a night spent on the hard ground, Somadina's mind wandered to the challenges that lay ahead.
They were in unfamiliar territory now, both literally and figuratively. The landscape was alien, the dangers unknown. And while having Olisa and Kainene as companions was a comfort, it also meant he had others to worry about besides himself. It was a new kind of responsibility, one that both excited and terrified him.
Sparing one final glance at the sleeping duo under the acacia tree, Somadina grabbed his satchel. The weight of the book and cypher stone within reminded him of his purpose, of the path he had chosen. With Rai watching from her perch above, he set off to explore their surroundings and went in quest of breakfast.
***
Kainene and Olisa awoke to the scent of something cooking. They sat up groggily, stared for a moment, and exchanged perplexed looks. A little way before them Somadina was bent over their cooking pot, carefully poking at some mystery meal. Kainene took a deep breath and sighed in pleasure. A mystery meal that smelled divine.
“What are you doing?”
“Cooking. Obviously.” Somadina flipped the egg he had been frying and draped it over a small pile of golden-brown pieces. “I’m making fried eggs and plantain.”
He got out two plates—once again from their satchels—and divided the ones he had already prepared into two shares. “Want some?”
They accepted their plates in silence. Olisa considered his, fascinated.
“Where did you find the ingredients?”
“It wasn’t hard. While you guys were packing up yesterday, I noticed you had a bottle of groundnut oil and a few pieces of rock salt.” He finished up another egg and tossed it into the air, smiling as Rai swooped down from her perch and caught it, mid-flight.
"Rai discovered a guineafowl nesting area not far from here," Somadina continued, gesturing towards a thicket of bushes to their left. "And I found a couple of plantain trees growing wild near that small stream we passed yesterday. There were even a few patches of red peppers and onions scattered around. I took the liberty of refilling our supplies, so we won't have to worry about food tasting bland for a while. At least once I dry the peppers."
He scooped out the final egg, laying it gently atop his own portion of plantains. Turning to face the still-gawking dibias, he quirked an eyebrow. "Go on. What are you waiting for?"
That snapped them out of what had looked suspiciously like adoration. Kainene picked up a plantain slice, tore off a chunk of the fried egg and threw it all into her mouth. She choked and tears came to her eyes.
“It’s delicious!” she exclaimed, already reaching for another piece.
"Of course it's delicious. The trick is to properly salt the plantains before frying. And of course, do more with your eggs than just tossing them into the oil."
As Kainene and Olisa ate with gusto, Somadina continued, his voice taking on a lecturer's tone. "The type of oil you use, as well as the type of bird the egg came from, can affect the taste as well. Peppers and onions, along with a dash of salt, make for a good substitute when you don't have a proper spice mix." His voice softened slightly, a hint of melancholy creeping in. "My mother and I... well, we often had to make do with very little. You learn quickly to maximize what you have."
The mention of his mother brought a momentary silence, broken only by the sounds of contented eating and the distant calls of savannah birds greeting the new day. Then, as if shaking off the moment of vulnerability, Somadina's tone sharpened. "And on that note." He thrust a hand at their satchels, frowning. "You people don't know how to pack. I mean, you kept the oil next to your clothes. Who does that?"
Kainene rolled her eyes, licking a stray bit of egg from her fingers. "You're overreacting. Even if it did leave a stain, so what?"
Olisa stopped eating at once and shot her an affronted stare. "Kainene. You should know better than that. Of course, it matters. A person's clothes are the first thing people notice. Appearance matters." His voice carried the weight of someone who had learned this lesson the hard way.
Kainene rolled her eyes again, but acquiesced. She finished up the rest of the meal and took a swig from her water gourd, using some of the water, along with a bit of soap, to wash her hands. The others finished up in turn as well. Somadina put away the plates, intending to wash them later, and sat back, stroking Rai’s back when she flew over and settled herself on his lap.
“So,” he began. “What now?”
“Now, we decide what to do with you,” said Olisa. He was lying on his back and was using one of the satchels as a pillow. “You won’t get very far as you are now. You’re too frail. At this point, I could probably sneeze and accidentally kill you.”
Somadina frowned. He was right of course, but did he have to put it like that?
Somadina frowned. Olisa was right, of course, but did he have to put it so bluntly?
"We'll have to get him advanced," Kainene said thoughtfully. She sat cross-legged, her posture straight and proper despite their rough surroundings. "You know all the different rankings, right?"
"Yes. I think." Somadina's frown turned pensive. "There's unbonded, which everyone starts out as. Then Adept, Disciple, Practitioner, and Ordained."
"You missed Plain," Kainene corrected gently. "It's the rank that comes before Adept. I'll explain why in a minute." She flicked away a speck of dust from her clothes. "And those rankings you mentioned are mostly for the Minor or Body Realm. There's much more than those."
Somadina sat up straighter, his eyes widening with interest. This was the first time he was hearing of such a thing. "Minor Realm? I don't understand. I thought the ranking ended with Ordained."
"Who told you that?" Kainene's brow furrowed in confusion. "It absolutely does not. Where do you think Sages come from? In fact, the closer you are to Zin Kibaru, the more the base rankings for people living there increases. In the Courts, the seats of the Thrones, practically anyone that isn't a child is an Ordained."
Somadina blinked rapidly, trying to process this influx of new information. It was true he had no frame of reference and should not have assumed. But after watching the Omata villagers for years, witnessing their strength as Disciples and Practitioners, he had just taken it for granted that Ordained was the end of it. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Alright. So... You said something about Realms? What are those?"
Olisa answered that one, his voice carrying the patient tone of a teacher. "It's the way the various ranks are grouped, depending on which part of your being you're strengthening and purifying."
Kainene took over, her eyes lighting up with the enthusiasm of sharing knowledge. "When you cultivate, you draw in anwansi of a suitable aspect into your core, located just below your navel. Depending on your Firstborn, this can be more than one type of anwansi."
She paused, ensuring Somadina was following along. When he nodded, she continued. "From there, you force it through your channels, cleansing and purifying them along the way. That is called cycling. Since anwansi aspects vary in quantities depending on the location, you can't expect to always be able to cultivate. If your bonded Firstborn requires you to cultivate water anwansi, you can't expect to find it in the middle of the Dry Lands, for example."
Kainene's gaze drifted towards the horizon, where the shimmer of heat was already visible despite the early hour. "Cycling, on the other hand, you can do all the time, as you are using the anwansi already stored in your core to strengthen your channels. You following?"
Somadina nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I think so. So, the Body Realm... I'm assuming the ranks under that are the various levels to which someone has purified the channels of the body?"
"Correct!" Kainene beamed, clearly pleased with his quick grasp of the concept. "In the Minor Realm, when you cycle, you force anwansi through the channels that run through your physical body, strengthening them, and in turn, strengthening your body as well. The ranks are Adept, Disciple, and Practitioner."
She paused, allowing the information to sink in before continuing. "In the Major or Soul Realm, it is the same thing, except you're sending anwansi through the channels in your soul. Of course, there are more requirements than that to advance through this Realm but they’re not important right now. As for the ranks they are Ordained, Mystic, and Sage. It's the same for the Supreme Realm. Except, this time, what you purify is your aura."
Somadina raised an eyebrow, curiosity evident in his voice. "Aura?"
Kainene's expression turned thoughtful. "Like I said, it’s not something you need to concern yourself with at the moment. You have a long way to go before you'll have to worry about that. And almost no one gets to that stage." She considered it for a moment, her gaze distant as if recalling something she'd once been told. "The way I've heard it explained once was that an aura is the mark you leave on reality, purely by existing. If you can sense and control that, you can bend reality."
She shook her head, as if to clear away the complexities of such advanced concepts. "It's complicated. The only ones who can tell you for sure are the Apostles and Thrones, and they keep a stranglehold on who breaks into the Supreme Realm. Not that advancing through any Realm is easy in the first place, mind you. There is a reason why many people stay at Disciple and Practitioner."
Kainene's smile returned, warm and encouraging. "But that's all academic. At this point, things like that are far above our level. What we need to focus on is getting you to Plain. Then we can help you decide which Firstborn to bond with from that book of yours."
Her voice took on a more explanatory tone. "By the way, a Plain is just an Adept that hasn't bonded with a Firstborn yet and gained an aspect to their core. You have already taken an Ancestral Seed and activated your core. All you have to do is take the unaspected anwansi the Seed forced into you and push it through your Body channels."
Somadina nodded, his hands curling into fists, the determination in his eyes matching the intensity of the midday sun. He had listened carefully as Kainene spoke, trying to embed every word into his memory as if his life depended on it—which, in a way, it did.
"Tell me what I need to do," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Olisa, sprawled lazily on the ground with one eye open, drawled, "Well, for one thing, you need to relax. You're advancing, not preparing to fight a cobra-cat." Somadina had a sneaking suspicion that this lounging position was Olisa's favourite. "Close your eyes and try to visualise your core."
Somadina obeyed, his brow furrowing as he concentrated with all his might. The sounds of the savannah—the rustle of grass, the distant calls of animals—faded away as he focused inward.
"Allow your senses to turn within, into yourself," Olisa instructed, his voice taking on a more serious tone. He gave Somadina a few moments to settle into the meditation. "Now. What do you see?"
Somadina hesitated, searching within himself. At first, there was nothing but darkness. Then, suddenly, it burst into being, like a star exploding into life.
"They look like threads," he breathed, wonder colouring his voice. "Thousands of them, running every which way."
"Excellent," Olisa said, approval evident in his tone. "Those are your anwansi channels. Follow them down. See that little ball floating in the middle of the web? That's your core, freshly activated."
Somadina's mental eyes widened, taking in the sight before him. The ball—his core—was about half the size of his closed fist, pulsing gently and sending forth waves of warm, white light. He opened and closed his mouth several times, struggling to find the words to describe what he was seeing.
"It's—It's—"
"Filthy," Kainene interjected cheerfully, her voice cutting through his awe. "Fresh cores are like that."
But Somadina was shaking his head, his face contorting in disgust. Filthy did not even begin to cover it. Vile, putrid goo wrapped itself lovingly around every inch of the threads—his channels—as well as his core. So much was it that he was surprised he could see the pulses of light at all. Somadina knew, intellectually, that there was no way he could smell it. Yet his nostrils squirmed and shrank from the sheer unholiness of it of zll.
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"Mother have mercy," he whispered in horror, his voice trembling.
Kainene giggled, and Olisa followed suit, apparently finding the entire situation hilarious. Their laughter rang out across the savannah, startling a nearby flock of birds into flight.
"Calm down," Olisa said, still chuckling. "That's what cultivation is. Pulling anwansi from the world around you and using them to get rid of all the corruption that comes from being mortal. The threads you can see now are the ones connected to your physical body. You hit Ordained once you manage to clean all of them."
Somadina opened his eyes, blinking against the harsh sunlight. The real world seemed almost dull compared to the internal landscape he had just witnessed. "But there are so many," he said, a note of despair creeping into his voice.
"True," Kainene replied gently, her earlier mirth replaced by understanding. "That's why the various rankings exist and it isn't just Adept and Ordained. You do it in batches. Not all at once." She reached out, patting Somadina's shoulder reassuringly. "But that's for the future. Right now, what you need to do is take the anwansi the Ancestral Seed gave you and use it to clean your core. That's the first step."
"And don't bother trying to clean the channels as well," Olisa chimed in, his tone suddenly serious. "Unlike your core, the channels can't handle unaspected anwansi. You'll break them and run the risk of dying in agony. It's not fun, I promise you."
Somadina winced at that, a memory of his mother flashing unbidden through his mind. Something occurred to him then. Had the attack that had damaged her so badly been of plain anwansi? It was a thought he filed away for another day, a mystery to be unravelled when he had more knowledge and experience. There would be no experimenting with unaspected anwansi for the time being.
Olisa relaxed back into his leisurely lounge at Somadina's nod of understanding. "You're not a bad student. You listen, which is more than I can say for most people." He tossed a wink at Kainene, who responded, quite maturely, by sticking out her tongue at him.
"Keep it up and we might even get you to Disciple before we reach the Tower of Plenty."
Somadina brightened at the prospect, then almost immediately deflated. "Not that I don't think that would be amazing, because it is. It's just.... Wouldn't that be a bit too fast?"
Kainene nodded, her expression turning serious. "Very true. Normally, advancement is supposed to be a gentle process, attuned to your own pace. But places like the Tower... the anwansi around them tends to be very dense."
She paused, her gaze drifting to the horizon as if she could see these mystical structures in the distance. "Because of that, the areas around them aew usually dangerous and filled with Aberrations and soul beasts. If you step into its circle of influence as anything other than at least Disciple, you'll be devoured immediately. Or explode from the sheer deluge of anwansi on your body. Probably both."
Seeing the alarm on Somadina's face, she quickly added with a reassuring smile, "Don't worry though. Between Olisa and I, we will get you advancing in no time. Right, Olisa?"
Olisa merely grunted, idly playing with the hem of his clothes. "I don't know," he began, giving Somadina a thorough once over that made him squirm. His lips curled into a smirk. "He listens, at least for now, but I'd be surprised if he reached Plain by tomorrow morning. We can do all we can, but ultimately, a person's growth is entirely up to them."
As it turned out, Olisa's prediction was both right and wrong. Somadina did not advance the following morning.
He did it by sunset.
The day had been long and gruelling. Under Kainene and Olisa's guidance, Somadina had spent hours meditating, focusing on his core, and attempting to direct the unaspected anwansi within him. Still, by the time he was ready, the sun had traced its arc all the way across the sky, the heat of the day giving way to the cooler air of evening.
As the yellow orb began to dip below the horizon, painting the savannah in hues of orange and purple, Somadina sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in deep concentration, a line of sweat beaded on his brow.
Within his mindscape, Somadina could see his core, still wrapped in that vile corruption. But now, after hours of effort, he could also sense the unaspected anwansi flowing through him. It was like a river of pure, colourless light, waiting to be directed.
With a deep breath, Somadina gathered his will and pushed the anwansi towards his core. At first, nothing seemed to happen. The corruption remained stubbornly in place, resisting his efforts. But Somadina persisted, channelling more and more of the energy, lacing it with as much authority as he could muster.
And suddenly, like a dam breaking, the anwansi surged forward. It crashed against the corruption, and for a moment, Somadina feared it wouldn't be enough. But then, slowly at first and then with increasing speed, the foul substance began to dissolve.
Somadina watched in awe as the corruption melted away, revealing the pristine surface of his core. The ball of energy pulsed brighter and brighter, its light growing more intense with each passing second.
And then, in an instant, the last speck of corruption vanished.
The effect was immediate and overwhelming. Power flooded out from Somadina's core, rushing through his channels like a tidal wave. It saturated every fibre of his being, from the tips of his toes to the crown of his head and he felt as if he was being remade, cell by cell, into something new, something more.
The sensation was indescribable—a mixture of pain and pleasure, of being torn apart and put back together. Somadina gasped, his eyes flying open as the energy coursed through him. The world around him seemed sharper, more vivid. He could hear the heartbeats of small animals hiding in the grass, smell the complex bouquet of scents in the evening air.
As the surge of power began to subside, settling into a steady hum throughout his body, Somadina realised he was breathing heavily, his chest heaving with exertion. He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers. They looked the same, and yet, they felt entirely different—stronger, more alive.
Kainene and Olisa were staring at him, their expressions a mixture of surprise and pride.
“Well done,” said the former with a pleased smile. She turned to her companion, her grin widening. “And I do believe you just lost a bet.”
***
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight painted the world in hues of gold and amber, Somadina found himself sitting cross-legged beneath the sprawling canopy of an ancient acacia tree. The air was crisp and carried the faint scent of wild grass and morning dew and he allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction, a small smile playing on his lips as he recalled the events of the previous day.
Omaliko's Testament lay open on his lap, its weathered pages a stark contrast to the lush green grass beneath him. Kainene and Olisa hovered over his shoulders, their presence both comforting and slightly unnerving. The weight of the moment settled upon Somadina like a heavy cloak. This was the part he had both eagerly anticipated and deeply dreaded – the time to contact a Firstborn and gain an affinity.
His eyes traced the intricate script on the pages before him, his mind awash with possibilities and uncertainties. The gentle rustling of leaves above seemed to echo his inner turmoil. After a long moment of hesitation, he looked up at his companions, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Any advice?"
Kainene and Olisa exchanged thoughtful glances, the morning light casting long shadows across their faces. It was Kainene who broke the silence, her tone cautious yet firm.
"You probably shouldn't attempt to bond with any of the Six's Firstborn. Or even that of the Vassals," she said, her eyes scanning the horizon as if checking for eavesdroppers. "You're not a member. They'll kill you for daring, but only after they've tortured you into telling them how you got access to their scrolls."
A shiver ran down Somadina's spine at her words, the gravity of the situation hitting him anew. He nodded slowly, absorbing the information.
"Alright. So none of the Great Clans' Firstborn then." He paused, plucking a blade of grass and twirling it between his fingers. "What about you two? Do you think I'll be a good match with yours?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and charged. A subtle tremor passed through Kainene and Olisa, almost imperceptible to most. But Somadina, who had honed his senses to spot the faint glint of a moondew on a cloudy night, noticed immediately. The atmosphere shifted, tension seeping in like a fog.
"What's the matter? Did I say something wrong?" Somadina asked, his brow furrowing with concern.
Kainene and Olisa exchanged another look, their expressions guarded as they turned back to face him. Olisa spoke first, his words careful and measured.
"The thing is, you can't use ours either," he said, his fingers absently tracing patterns in the dirt. "It's our families. I'm surprised you didn't ask for our clan names."
Somadina blinked, caught off guard. "I didn't think it was important." A sudden thought struck him, and he straightened up, eyes widening. "You're not members of the Six, are you?"
The question seemed to ease some of the tension. Kainene let out a snort, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "No, not at all. My full name is Adichie Kainene. And this one's Ekwueme Olisa."
"Oh wow, you two are nobles." Somadina paused, his mind racing as he connected the dots. "Adichie and Ekwueme. Aren't those—
"Vassals of the Oseloka Clan, one of the Six," Olisa answered, still watching Somadina closely.
"Oh." Somadina's face fell, disappointment evident in his slumped shoulders. "I was hoping to get one of yours. Figured it would be easier to learn from you if I had the same Firstborn."
At those words, the remaining tension dissipated like morning mist under the rising sun. Somadina noticed the change but before he could ponder it further, Kainene reached over and touched his shoulder. The warmth of her hand seemed to melt away his concerns.
"It's not as hard as you're thinking," Kainene said, her voice softer now. "Just because two or more dibias don't share a Firstborn, doesn't mean they can't learn from each other. Despite the many different aspects, our techniques are more or less the same. And don't forget, many Firstborn grant the same aspect."
She shot him a wild grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "My trainers would have a heart attack if they heard this, but the truth is, half the fun of being a dibia is figuring out your own techniques and ways of implementing them. You'll never become great if you are just following the same path someone else created."
Somadina nodded, feeling a spark of excitement ignite within him. He turned his attention back to the Testament, its pages now seeming less daunting and more full of potential.
"I'm assuming you've gone through this book a few times. Any Firstborn catch your eye?" Olisa asked, leaning in closer.
"Not particularly. Though, I did find this one intriguing," Somadina replied, carefully turning to a page that depicted a figure cloaked in a robe of distorted rainbows, surrounded by many floating faces. Hovering above them was a smiling three-eyed cat, its grin stretched just a bit too wide. "The Charlatan. It says one of the techniques she grants the dibias she bonds with is the ability to shapeshift and transform other things. Seems useful to me."
"Perhaps. But it says this Firstborn belonged to the Nonso clan, and they are extinct," said Olisa, frowning. His fingers traced the intricate illustrations on the page. "The magic is unique, but the affinity she grants is chaos. Even with careful use, anwansi of that affinity does things to people. Chaos cultivators are generally known for being utterly insane. Scoot over."
Somadina shifted, the rough bark of the acacia tree pressing against his back as he made room. Olisa and Kainene leaned in, their shadows merging with his over the pages of the Testament.
"The Red Rain. Grants life and water affinities," read Kainene, her voice hushed with a mix of awe and revulsion. "I've heard of that one." She peered more closely at the dibia accompanying the entry, her nose wrinkling in disgust. "Ew! What is she... are those organs? What is she doing to that person's organs?"
"What about this one?" Olisa asked, deftly changing the subject and ignoring Kainene's faux retching. His finger landed on another page. "The Wandering Shade. It grants earth and wind affinities and its dibias can turn people and things to stone. Offers a great evasion technique too."
Somadina leaned in, squinting at the small text. "Yes. But the petrification is a high-level technique. You can't even perform it until you're at least Ordained. And the evasion forms require you to turn into mist." His frown deepened as he read further. "It says to expect to lose a few appendages the first time you try the technique."
"Hmm. So this is a no then."
"It's a no," Somadina agreed firmly, suppressing a shudder at the thought of lost limbs.
Kainene shifted, her expression turning serious. "Before you choose, something to keep in mind is the kind of dibia you want to be," she said, her voice taking on a mentor-like tone. "My Firstborn, The Sandking, grants me earth and flame affinities. It's something that I’ve worked into my style as an all-out attacker." She gestured to her left. "Olisa's Firstborn, The Dawnsinger, allows him to manipulate sound. He focuses more on defence and evasion manoeuvres. Both, however, are primarily ranged combat styles. You need to decide what kind of dibia you want to be. Others have to make do with the Firstborn they have access to. You don't."
Somadina turned this over in his mind, his brow furrowed in concentration. What kind of dibia was he? In the grand total of two fights he had been in, if you could even call those fights, he'd spent all of it running away. But as he pondered further, he realised that wasn't strictly true. Sure, he had been fleeing for his life, but it hadn't been blind panic. There had been purpose to it. Both times, he had been thinking, planning, even as his heart raced and adrenaline coursed through his veins.
Absently, Somadina reached up to touch his mother's necklace, the familiar weight of it against his chest bringing a sense of comfort. The cool metal seemed to clear his thoughts, helping him focus.
"Do you think there's an affinity that will allow me to fight at a distance as well?" he asked finally, his voice soft but determined. "I work better when I have the space and time to think and plan."
"All affinities have that to varying degrees," said Olisa, his expression thoughtful. "But we'll go over that when we begin training you. I think I know what you're going for." Olisa shot him a grin, a hint of approval in his eyes. "You're aiming to become a trickster, aren't you? Someone that uses illusions to fight."
"Something like that," Somadina admitted, returning his smile. The idea resonated with him, feeling right in a way he couldn't quite explain. "I don't do well at direct confrontations."
"I've noticed," came Olisa's dry reply, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You usually fall on your arse."
"If you two are done flirting..." said Kainene loudly, though she too was smiling. Her finger landed on another page of the Testament. "What about this one?"
Somadina leaned in, his eyes widening as he took in the illustration of a majestic peacock surrounded by swirling indigo dust.
"The Taleweaver. Master of Lies." Olisa tapped his chin, his expression a mix of intrigue and caution. "Sounds ominous."
"It does." Somadina began to read the text aloud, his voice barely above a whisper:
"The Taleweaver is a Firstborn that belongs to the Omalikos, a clan that has been brought to the brink of extinction through constant infighting. Gifting dibias with the dream aspect, our dibias were known for their illusions, which were so detailed and complex they were difficult to differentiate from reality, even to those practised in their defence. With mastery and advancement, these illusions grew stronger, often crossing the line of actual existence."
Somadina felt a thrill of excitement course through him. The Taleweaver's abilities seemed to align perfectly with what he had in mind. But years of caution made him hesitate.
"What's the catch?" he asked, looking up at his companions.
Kainene leaned back against the tree trunk, her eyes scanning the text. "It's dream anwansi," she explained. "Which can only be cultivated at dawn or twilight, when dreams are strongest. But honestly, it's not much of a problem . All aspects have their quirks."
"But you can always light a fire and use that to cultivate. And as for Olisa, there's always sound." Somadina peered at the additional text, his brow furrowing. "It says dream anwansi can also be cultivated at... schools?"
He looked up in bewilderment, but Olisa and Kainene were nodding their heads in agreement.
"Makes sense," Olisa said with a wry smile. "Schools are where hopes and dreams go to either flourish or die miserably."
Somadina made a face at that, then turned back to the book. He had to admit that the Taleweaver sounded appealing. It had the added benefit of belonging to a nearly, if not fully extinct clan, so there was little risk of some angry dibia murdering him in his sleep. Plus, the idea of crafting illusions and bonding with the same Firstborn as the Prophet-In-Chains sent a thrill of excitement through him.
As if sensing the weight of the moment, a gentle breeze rustled through the acacia's leaves, carrying with it the distant calls of savannah birds. Rai, who had been dozing nearby, stretched languidly and padded over to the group. She considered the peacock diagram with feline curiosity, then looked at Somadina and gave a decisive nod.
That was all the confirmation he needed. With a mix of anticipation and nervousness, Somadina took a deep breath, ready to take his first step towards becoming a dibia.
“Alright. The Taleweaver it is.” Kainene rubbed her hand together, excited. “Now you just have to contact him.”
“How do I do that?”
“The incantation dummy.” She pointed at the line of scripts below the diagram. “That’s the part of the ritual you can’t memorise. Chant it and you’re done.”
Somadina blinked. “That’s it?”
“Normally there’s a whole history chant that comes before that. Something about how the world was made and so on. But that part is the one that’s really necessary.” Kainene grinned. “It’s a bit anticlimactic, I know. Considering all the fuss the clans make over theirs.”
Somadina wasn't entirely sure he believed her, but he decided to trust her expertise. Taking a deep breath, he began to recite the incantation. The words flowed from him like a river down a waterfall, each syllable resonating with a power he couldn't quite comprehend.
As he spoke, a tingling sensation began in his core. It spread outward, racing through his veins like liquid fire. The feeling intensified, stretching beyond his physical form, forming an intangible line that seemed to reach towards the heavens.
Suddenly, the world around him faded away. In its place, a vision bloomed - vast and breathtaking. Before him stood an immense peacock, its iridescent feathers shimmering with colours Somadina had never seen before. The Firstborn's tail feathers were spread wide, blotting out the horizon in a dazzling display of cosmic beauty.
Then, the Taleweaver opened a single eye to regard him and that gaze, ancient and knowing, seemed to pierce through Somadina's very soul.
"Well," he said and his voice was thunder. "A dibia after all these years. This should be interesting."
And he gave a single, mighty flap of his wings.
A searing heat suddenly blazed on Somadina's neck, intense but fleeting. As quickly as it had appeared, the sensation vanished, along with the vision and the tingling energy. All that remained was a comforting warmth in his core as its anwansi underwent a distinct and qualitative change.
Somadina blinked, finding himself back under the acacia tree. He stared at Kainene and Olisa's smiling faces, his mouth hanging open in shock and awe. The weight of what had just transpired settled over him like a warm blanket.
Just like that, he had become an Adept.
Olisa leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, how was it? What did you see?"
Before Somadina could respond, Kainene interjected, her voice filled with excitement. "Let me see your mark!" She reached out, gently tilting Somadina's head to the side to examine his neck.
Somadina's hand instinctively went to the spot where he had felt the searing sensation. His fingers traced over a slightly raised area of skin. "Is it... is it there?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kainene nodded, a wide grin spreading across her face. "It's beautiful," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "A peacock pattern, just like in the Testament."
Olisa produced a small mirror from his pack, handing it to Somadina. "See for yourself, new Adept."
With trembling hands, Somadina took the mirror and angled it to see his neck. There, just as Kainene had described, was a delicate peacock figure, barely visible against his dark skin. The soulmark seemed to shift and change as he looked at it, sometimes appearing as a simple black outline, other times seeming to contain all the colours of the rainbow.
"It's... incredible," Somadina breathed, unable to take his eyes off the mark.
"Welcome to the world of cultivation," Olisa said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now the real work begins."