TRAILING SHADOWS 19 Assigned

Still charged up by impetus, he jumped up and slashed diagonally. This time, from bottom to top, splitting the haystacks to flying debris.

He landed, putting a leg to force stop. Bowing slightly, he raised the blade again, letting it stand as if dividing him symmetrically.

Around him was the confines of a pit and other trainees. All dressed similar, donning s.h.i.+rtless baggy trousers with barefeet. Except for the girls who had a short skirt with just a piece of clothing over their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, leaving the rest of their bodies uncovered.

Despite that, each Irunmole trained, slas.h.i.+ng through the haystacks in simultaneous motions. In response to each slash, the haystacks would immediately resp.a.w.n, becoming much thicker only to be slashed down against. Each person testing his limit on far his or her slice could go.

At the mouth of the pit was a walkway that snaked through the entire pit, with a dimly burning torch placed at intervals along with various Yoruba inscriptions.

The pit itself was part.i.tioned into sections by net wires,each section having Irunmoles focused on a particular phase of battle. In one section, had the trainees driving their Lance's through a st.u.r.dy wall that seemed to condense and thicken once it was pierced. As they practiced, fatigue an absent factor, their rising auras clashed against each other, the backlash reflecting on the netting as Sparks.

At the mouth of the pit, a figure stepped in. This persona wore a sort of long bathroom gown except that this was designed like a coat and much more st.u.r.dier. The figure's skin was tanned and had line of moustache interacting with the line of beard below, forming into a beard box over his lips.

He walked over to the section where the Irunmoles slashed through haystacks. Looking around, his eyes settled on someone who had just slashed down in the forefront.

This particular Irunmole was skinny with a crewcut, looking somewhat underfed and had a perputal mute frown on. However, despite that, a thin cutting aura hazed around him, obviously different from the aura of the others in the pit.

"Tayo, Wa si bi, nnkan wa.(1)." The figure beckoned in a booking voice to the one whom his eyes rested on. At that moment, several Irunmoles stopped, turning their heads to the source of the voice and then to the Tayo who was called.

Tayo, however seemed to shy from the eyes as he looked down quickly, stabbing and leaving his blade in a stack. He moved deliberately slow, taking nervous steps as his body tensed all about.

"Come on here, faster , Tayo. Ko si akoko(2)." The figure called out again, his voice cutting through the silence around. More Irunmoles stopped now, reacting to the second voice.

"Yes, Asoju Ogun(3)." He responded very quietly

The boy seemed to be more alive now, as even more eyes rested on him. Quickly and tensely, he shoved his feets forcing himself to move faster than before.

He covered the distance now, over to the Asoju who responded with a big ridiculous grin as he ruffled the boy's hair.
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"You all resume your training. NOW." The Asoju boomed out once more, adding life to the pit.

"I am here, Asoju Lekan." Tayo replied with what could be cla.s.sified as a whisper. But for someone with keen senses as Asoju Lekan, that wasn't an issue.

"Come with me." The Asoju replied as he folded his hands behind his back. He took a step forward, a silent gesture that Tayo should follow.

But Tayo didn't.

Looking back, he shrugged his shoulder, his ridiculous grin disappearing from view.

"News has reached us about Ilu Obatala." He spoke, returning his gaze forward. In response, Tayor stiffened up, looking straight ahead.

"Yes, what about, Asoju?" Tayo whispered once more, rubbing his hands at his side.

"It is The Elder's son, Sunday. Certainly, you've heard the news by now. And he was your friend."

"Yes, I understand."

"Now, he would be your friend, again."

"This, I understand." This time, Tayo eyes mistened and slowly, he bent his neck, turning his gaze back to the ground.

"..."

"..."

Asoju Lekan heaved. This was harder than he thought.

Who breaks a friends.h.i.+p only to be the one to pull strings to get them back again?

"Listen Tayo, believe me, all that decision that was..."

"I understand. There is no need to waste your energy talking to an errant like me."

"Heh... You are not an errant, Tayo. You only wanted to come out of your sh.e.l.l." Asoju Lekan heaved as he bowed his head too.

"Asoju Lekan, I understand that you and the Council have good intentions for me. I was only childish, then." Tayo whispered yet again, his gaze never leaving the ground.

Just then, Asoju Lekan turned back. His eyes had mistened and without hesitation, he dropped to his knees, resting his hands on Tayo's shoulder.

"Don't understand, for once. You are only but a child. I'm sorry for all those years. I'm sorry but it was detrimental. But don't understand this. Your understanding of everything makes the whole council look like monsters. And we are not."

"Please, stand up, Asoju Lekan. You will bring a curse to my head if you remain on your knees." Tayo replied. Already this scene was drawing too much attention. Even though, the Irunmole didn't stop their training, he could see them looking at him from the corner of their eyes.

"Please, Asoju Lekan. You are showing weakness infront of your subordinates. Please!" Tayo pleaded.

At that, Asoju Lekan rose to his feet, his body once more a.s.suming the majestic pose. He could see the pain in his heart stabbing through his person as well. The fear, the disappointment and anguish this Irunmole had to go through as a result of the punishment enforced on him.

And yet, he was here asking for him again.

He felt..

*Sigh*

"I understand that all I went through was to build me. I understand as well as I am aware that there is more to this than you kneeling. Please don't be offended, I'm only curious."

"...but of course, you can choose to ignore me." Tayo added rather hastily.

"A horse has been prepared already, beyond the court. Your personal effects would be sent to you as well, when you desire. *Sigh*" Asoju Lekan replied, turning his back on Tayo.

"I am to intercept him, right?" The last word was barely audible.

"Yes. And befriend him."

"..."

"What is the mission? Asoju Lekan!"

"You will know when it is time." He turned now, to flash thatsame ridiculous grin at Tayo. But the latter did not return. Infact, he hadn't even seen him as his face was still gazing intently at the pavement.

"..."

Asoju Lekan's smile vanished now as his expectancy of a reply from the boy was broken. And that hurt deep into him.

"..."

"..."

The uncomfortable silence reigned for quite some time before Asoju Lekan s.h.i.+fted rather uneasily, dragging his heavy boots on the ground.

"I understand." Tayo replied, seeming to get the cue.

*****. *****

Sunday leaned forward as he grimaced at the five person's in the Artefact shop. One was the shop attendant Obedi as well as the four other armed Irunmoles who had bursted in earlier.

Unlike Obedi who wore simple clothing of a gown, the other wore black up and down. Their clothing had a belt containing various pouches, that were definitely spatial pouches. Whilst they held merely thin swords, the type for fencing, one could not be so safe as the pouches seemed to emanate deadly intent.

Sunday observed, noting that each of them had a patch of emblem attached to their left arm as they closed in on him. He took another step back and a quick glance behind.

But as he did, the gla.s.s door suddenly shut, the mocking laughter of Obedi ruining his spirit.

'Oh great! The door's shut. This was going on fine until Obedi called for more teammates. At least I could confidently handle him alone. But even Obedi, looks suspicious. Didn't he do some kind of summoning of sorts? The type that pulled me to the wolf but instead, all I see are just this four guys.

Or could it be that?

This four guys are the ones he summoned.

Yes but that essence I sensed earlier. This just can't be it. There certainly must be another Trump card he's holding.

Oh Obedi...'

'Ask for my help, Boy' The Wolf growled, eager and excited.

'Shut up. Didn't you just say you won't?' Sunday retorted mentally.

'That was before you offered to set me free. That's one opportunity I wouldn't pa.s.s on. '

The Wolf replied, it's eyes sparkling.

'Yes, yes, I mean it. I'll set you free.' Sunday replied frantic. The men had come with 5 walking steps now.

'But, you don't even know the un-bounding ceremony. Who do you want to fool?' The Wolf replied, testing the ground first.

Just then, multiple Omni Cla.s.s Auras clashed, sparking in the air they collided, temporarily blinding and p.r.i.c.kling Sunday's eyes.

"Aaarghh..." He groaned.

THWUCK!

Sunday froze as steel went through his heart, p.o.o.ping out from the other side. His breath became hagged as panic spread through him. Obedi's aid had used their aura to stun him and then attack while he was stunned, an easy victory for them.

"No..." Sunday muttered once he regained himself, looking down at the iron shaft that had lodged in his chest. He traced it, following the hand up to the the wielder's face.

THWUCK!!

'Ahhhhhhhh... d.a.m.nit...' He growled mentally as another blade visited his chest, p.o.o.ping out from his back.

And another!

And another!

Pain hit his nerves, shutting him out for few seconds in a stun. Then as quickly as the blades went in, they came out. Sunday gasped, essence escaping from his lips as he staggered to the ground.

'Help me... I'm too weak. Help me.' He let out one desperate call, his body forcing itself to shut down.

(T/N)

1) Tayo, come over here, there is something. 2) There is no time. 3)War Amba.s.sador >