The village was awake and moving as usual. Women carried baskets of food, children ran around, and men gathered for their morning tasks.
I went about mine, checking the small farm my family tended, making sure everything was in order. After which, I will be moving to the blacksmith's shed, where I usually helped old Okeke with simple tasks.
I had just finished stacking some tools when I heard hurried footsteps behind me. Before I could turn, small arms wrapped tightly around my waist.
"Obinna!"
I looked down. My little sister, Adanna, was hugging me tightly. She pulled back, eyes wide with excitement.
"You're really you!" she said.
I placed a hand on her head. "Of course, I am."
"The spirits said so!" she grinned. "I told everyone you weren't lying!"
I smiled. "You never doubted me?"
"Never!" she said firmly.
I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that. While the elders had accepted the truth, there were still people watching me with uncertainty. Adanna had never wavered.
She took a step back. "I have to go! I'll be helping Aunty Nkechi with weaving."
I nodded. "Go on then."
She flashed another smile and ran off.
With Adanna gone, I was alone again. My mind immediately returned to the system.
I needed to understand it.
I stepped away from the main paths, finding a quiet spot behind the palm grove. Taking a breath, I focused.
"System."
A familiar ding echoed in my mind.
[System Interface Activated.]
[Current Status: Active]
Good.
"What is my first function?"
[First Function Unlocked: Insight of the Heavens](Eyes of the Ala Nchi)
[Description: Grants perception into people, places, and situations. The more you observe, the clearer the truth becomes. At higher levels, hidden intentions and spiritual influences may be revealed.]
I frowned. "What does that mean exactly?"
[You can detect lies, sense strength, and uncover hidden connections. The more you focus, the more you perceive.]
That sounded useful. If I could tell when people were lying or gauge someone's strength, I would always have an advantage.
The villagers were still adjusting to my presence. As I walked, some greeted me cautiously, others openly. A few still avoided me. That was fine. It would take time.
I stopped and began scanning the crowd. How did I activate it?
As I watched a man haggling over the price of a goat, something changed.
A faint glow surrounded him. His voice was confident, but his stance was tense. He was bluffing.
I looked at the seller. He seemed frustrated, but his grip on the goat's rope loosened slightly. He had already decided to sell for less.
I blinked.
That was insight.
I turned to another person—a woman arguing with a trader. Her words were sharp, but there was hesitation in her posture. She wasn't truly angry.
I exhaled.
This was real.
I didn't need to be the strongest warrior. If I could see what others couldn't, I could always stay ahead.
For the first time since waking up, I felt like I had control.
The realization settled in.
With Insight of the Heavens, I had more than just strength or intelligence—I had foresight.
It wasn't mind-reading, but it was close enough. If I trained this ability, I could navigate the village's politics, uncover hidden motives, and ensure no one could deceive me.
That was power.
I continued my trek through the village, my mind racing with ideas and possibilities.
The system hadn't just given me numbers and vague stats. It had given me something practical, something I could use.
I decided to test it further.
Soon enough, I reached the blacksmith house where I spotted Okeke, the blacksmith, leaning against a wooden post, speaking with Agozie, a well-known trader.
I focused.
Their conversation was casual on the surface, but something was off. I watched Okeke's hands—clenched slightly. His shoulders were stiff.
Agozie was smiling, but it was strained. His weight shifted from foot to foot, a nervous tick.
I stepped closer.
"…so you'll get your payment soon, just a little delay," Agozie was saying.
Lies.
Okeke nodded, but I could tell he didn't believe him. His jaw tightened for a split second.
I had seen enough.
Agozie was stalling. He likely didn't have the payment at all. Okeke knew it but wasn't calling him out yet.
Before, I wouldn't have noticed these things. But now?
Now I could see through people.
I turned away before they noticed me watching.
This ability had limits. It didn't give me direct answers, only hints. I had to interpret what I saw.
That meant practice.
I needed to observe more people, see how the insight worked in different situations. I needed to understand the patterns.
If I could master this, I could shape my own future.
No more uncertainty.
The system had given me a tool. I just had to use it properly.
With this thought in mind, I gave up on continuing to the blacksmith's store and made my way back home, my mind still analyzing everything.
Upon reaching, I gave our hut a good look. It wasn't much, just a simple structure with a thatched roof and enough space for our needs.
Inside, it was familiar—our sleeping mats, a few clay pots, and the faint scent of burning wood from the cooking area.
I sat down, letting out a slow breath.
The day had been overwhelming. The Spiritual Revelation, the system, this new power—I needed a moment to process it all.
I opened the system again.
"Status."
[Ding!]
The interface reappeared before me, the same stats from before staring back at me.
[Strength: 12
Agility: 14
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 16
Wisdom: 17
Spirit: 20
Charisma: 15]
I stared at the numbers.
Each stat was more than just a number. It represented something real.
I had good intelligence, meaning I could process things quickly. My wisdom was even higher—it let me understand people and situations in ways most couldn't.
And my spirit? Dibịa-Level Sensitivity?
That meant something.
I didn't know what yet, but I had a feeling it had a lot to do with my blessings.
For now, my focus was clear.
1. Train my Insight – The more I observed, the stronger it would become.
2. Understand my Spirit stat – If I had dibịa-level sensitivity, what could I actually do with it?
3. Unite the clans – The system clearly tied my progress to this goal. If I wanted more power, more answers, I had to bring the village together as one.
That last one wouldn't be easy.
The five clans had been divided for years. Some had old grudges, others simply didn't trust each other.
But if I could read people better than anyone else…
If I could understand what moved them…
Then I could make them listen.
I exhaled, leaning back against the wall of my hut.
This was my path now.
And I wasn't going to fail.
The future of the Igbos and Africa at large depends on it.