The morning sun hung low in the sky, its rays piercing through the mist that clung to the trees.
The village of Ndiagbo, Obinna's home, sat nestled between rolling hills and vast stretches of farmland. It was a land of warriors, where boys were trained in the ways of battle from an early age.
The name Ndiagbo carried weight in Aku—not just for its fighters but for its unshaken pride. Many of Aku's greatest warriors had come from its ranks.
Obinna was not one of them.
He had learned to fight, of course, no son of Ndiagbo could afford not to, but strength alone had never been his path. His name was not spoken in awe for the battles he had won, nor for the foes he had bested.
What made him different, what set him apart, was his mind. He saw beyond strength, beyond the endless cycle of war and honor.
It was this foolish righteousness however, that led to his death.
Akaibute, the land of the diviners, lay to the east, past the great forest of Uhere, beyond the Njaba River.
It was said that the Akaibute people could read the winds, that their dibias spoke with the spirits, and that wisdom itself was their craft.
If anyone could help Obinna understand his Spirit Stat, it was them.
The journey would take most of the day if they moved quickly, but Obinna had no intention of rushing. This was not a mission of war, nor a simple trade venture.
They were going to seek knowledge, and knowledge was not something to be seized like a blade in battle.
It had to be earned.
Obinna stood at the edge of the village, waiting.
He was dressed in a dark, fitted tunic made from dyed raffia, a hunting knife strapped to his waist. His spear, which he usually carried as a warrior of Ndiagbo, had been left behind.
Today, he was not a fighter. Today, he was a seeker.
Ekene was the next to arrive, yawning as he stretched his arms.
Unlike Obinna, he had brought his weapon—a long spear with a sharpened iron tip, slung over his back.
His muscular frame was wrapped in a short tunic, his feet bare, as always. Ekene hated wearing sandals, claiming they made him feel slow.
"You know," he said, rubbing his eyes, "if we were going to talk to warriors instead of old men who stare at the wind, I'd be more excited."
Obinna chuckled. "You're the one who stayed up drinking palm wine last night."
Ekene smirked. "What kind of fool goes to sleep early before a journey? Who knows if today will be my last?"
Obinna sighed and ignored him and just then, Nnamdi arrived smirking disdainfully as he looked at Ekene. "And yet, you'll be the first to complain about hunger before we reach Akaibute."
Unlike them, Nnamdi carried nothing but a small pouch tied to his waist. He had dressed lightly, his cloth a deep blue, a color that only wealthy individuals could afford.
His steps were unhurried, his face completely relaxed, as if he were walking to a feast rather than a meeting with powerful spiritualists.
"I didn't bring food," Ekene admitted, rubbing his stomach.
"Of course you didn't," Nnamdi muttered. "You probably expected me to."
Ekene grinned. "That's why you're here, isn't it? You traders always carry food. Even for a trek.
Obinna sighed as he didn't need his day to start off this way. "If you two start fighting before we even leave, I'll feed you both to the Njaba River."
Ekene laughed, throwing an arm over Obinna's shoulder. "Come on, great leader, don't be so serious!"
Ikenna was the last to arrive, dressed in deep brown cloth, his belt holding a small dagger and a few pouches, likely filled with medicinal herbs or other useful items.
His gaze swept over them, "You're all wasting time," he said. "If we move now, we can reach the river by midday."
"Always in a rush," Nnamdi chuckled. "You should try being late sometime. It keeps life interesting."
They were used to Ikenna's impossibleness—the way he somehow managed to arrive last yet still made them feel as though they were the ones delaying him.
Ikenna ignored him and turned to Obinna. "Are we ready?"
Obinna shook his head and nodded. "Let's go."
…
The path from Ndiagboto Akaibute took them through Uhere Forest, a thick expanse of towering trees, winding roots, and the constant hum of unseen creatures.
It was a place of myths. Some believed spirits dwelled here, watching and whispering to themselves.
Ekene led the way, stepping over fallen branches. "If a spirit attacks us," he said, "Obinna can talk to it. Maybe it will give us directions."
Nnamdi chuckled. "Or maybe it will drag him into the trees, and then we'll finally go home."
Obinna shook his head. "You two don't take anything seriously."
"I take food seriously," Ekene said.
"I take my craft seriously," Nnamdi added.
Ikenna sighed, walking a little ahead of them. "If you both had common sense, we would've been rich and powerful already."
The four of them had traveled together many times, but this journey felt different.
There was no war to fight, no trade to negotiate, no clear enemy. Instead, they were walking toward something unknown.
As they moved, Obinna's thoughts drifted. His Spirit stat remained a mystery.
Was 20 high? Was it low? He had no way of knowing.
But considering it was the stat with the highest numbers, he leaned towards the high possibility and If the diviners of Akaibute could sense spiritual power, perhaps they could finally understand what it meant.
Just then, a rustling in the bushes caught his attention.
Ekene turned immediately, gripping his spear. "What was that?"
Nnamdi sighed. "Probably a rabbit. Or a spirit coming to tell Obinna his journey is a failure."
Obinna gave him a flat look. "You are the worst."
Ikenna crouched, peering into the trees. "Nothing dangerous. Let's keep moving."
Ekene groaned. "I still say we should've gone to the warriors first."
Obinna glanced at him. "If we went to the warriors first, we would gain strength. But strength without knowledge is just swinging a blade in the dark."
Ekene snorted. "And knowledge without strength is useless when an enemy cuts you down."
Nnamdi grinned. "That's why I prefer wealth. Neither of you can argue that wealth makes everything easier."
Ikenna sighed. "Enough. We're close to the river. Let's keep moving."
Obinna adjusted the strap on his shoulder. Ahead of them lay the Njaba River, and beyond that, the land of Akaibute.
He could not shake the feeling that this journey would change everything.
…
PS: Ndiago literally means People That Fight.