TRAILING SHADOWS

"Whaaa??... She's sending us to die?" Ibiyemi gasped

"No, no no... I didn't sign for this. To face Omnis or Alphas?! " Shola exclaimed, scratching his dreadlocks

"No, she didn't say that exactly. She said we might... If we are lucky, we won't." Toyosi, the short and chubby boy said

"Oh, shut up. You depend on luck, just like that Sunday. " Wole scoffed. "Haha... No wonder both of you two are losers. "

"Come on,let's hit it and leave the fool behind." Shola said, gearing his legs up as he began to run.

They had a long long way to go and they had to run all the way there. A distance of several kilometres. And it was to test their endurance and then they still were required to hold their own to gain access to the battle field and yet, rescue decapitated Irunmoles without having to get caught. Tough, but it was necessary, unless they were willing to settle down for Messenger Class and the God's knew, it was not their thing.

_______

The air stilled about, the landscape barren with no creatures in sight except for the Alphas that had followed Maerius, Ralia. She stood in a distance, allowing the Prime have some air to speak unabated to their catch, Niniola.

She watched as he engaged her in conversation, noting the Gryphoon that soared up in the sky. But what she didn't seem to come to grasp with, was why 3rd Prime had set his Gryphoon loose, in the first place.

No, the resemblance was uncanny. But again, besides the fact that Maerius was her by far superior, she had no sufficient proof to tell that The Gryphoon was Maerius's Soulbond. After all, she was damn sure that she alone had come to see Maerius with the Gryphoon, the day he soulbonded with it.

" Hmm...I hope you know what you are doing, 3rd Prime. I hope you know." She sniffed, the lower ends of her gown floating lazily in the little breeze that blew.

She stood, supporting her weight with hands on her slender h.i.p.s as she observed Niniola c.a.r.e.s.sing Sunday's C.h.e.s.t.

'The damned girl. You want to spread your abomination on him too. Humph...' She said, trying o maintain her compusure as she focused on Maerius.

'But come to think of it, Maerius does have some nice abs too. Ah, cramp... I am a member of the High Council and my feelings should not get in the way. Heh... But he's handsome na... " Ralia m.o.a.n.e.d, going through her mental torture.

'Finee... He's handsome but hey, no fraternising with a council member. It's the law. Heh, but who made that law, Ralia... You're making up things now right? You l.u.s.tful nymph. " She face palmed.

'But it's not my fault. He should be covering his c.h.e.s.t na. I mean, why don't I go about exposing my b.r.e.a.s.ts too. Why is it always different with the guys? But First Prime isn't like that tho. He's all wrapped up... Yes, but that man's old. Heck, 3rd Prime Maerius is far... Aaaaaaaaaargghhhhh....' Ralia screamed mentally.

"Focus, Ralia. Focus." She said, taking deep breaths as her aura oozed peacefully from her.

"Now, let's see what is going on up there." She blurred.

"I WILL! I would go on that Mission to Earth." Ralia narrowed her eyes as gasps of surprise escaped NIniola and Maerius's lips.

"I will tour the Earth for whatever mission it is." Sunday added, standing on his feet now.

"You can't, Sunday. No..." Niniola retorted, holding him with a side hug.

Annoyed, Sunday jerked her hands off him, leaving her with a shocked expression.

"I cannot grow if you let emotions can in the way, Niniola. I can't allow that. " He spoke, his eyes guilty.

"Then I'll come with you. I'll be with you... Till the end, Sunday... Because...I... I... I lo.....'

"Save it , Niniola. This is a path I must take alone. " With that, he turned to the opposite direction.

"3rd Prime, may I speak to you..." Ralia spoke

"Yes?" He looked to her expectantly.

"In Private! " Ralia added, her aura filling her words with authority as she looked at the younger Irunmoles.

Taking a cue, they turned away, walking to some distance before stopping to watch the two members of the High Council.

"3rd Prime, what is this that I hear?"

"Ah, you came a little too late, my dear Ralia." She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"All missions are to pass due process and must proceed from Ilu Obatala High Council House. What is this that you do? And the Gryphoon... It has your scent all over it. Tell me, 3rd Prime, what is it you are after with all these?" She asked with a Stern look.

"I'm just playing my part in fixing things right, Ralia. That's all I say." He called signalling to Niniola and Sunday.

When they were within earshot, he spoke.

"Sunday, your mission is critically of great importance. Listen carefully now. As we depart from here, you would be on your way to the High Council deployment zone. Walk in, ask of Arlan. He's an Alpha too. He will give you a light cleansing orb. You know what to do with that when you see your target. He would give you clearance to pass through heaven gate into the realm below. A team of elites would escort you through to the Clouds of Earth. From there,you are on your own. Complete your mission, get stronger and protect the girl. I've already sent advance word to Prime Micheal of the Irunmole Emergency Segment, base #0045 in Nigeria, to be precise. You will stay with him and adopt the I.E.S camp as your home until I send for you. " Maerius spoke, giving so much detail in so less time.

" Wait... He's going to Earth and ... " Niniola countered.

"Fair enough by me, 3rd Prime. " Sunday spoke, relieved.

He felt better as his soul completed it's healing process. His opinion of Maerius changed again. 3rd Prime was living up to his expectation. The unpredictable Prime, Maerius.

'Should I tell him about the encounter with Maerius?! No, no... He'll probably give me another prep talk. Of which there is no time for that. I have to be on my way.'

"Sunday... I'm coming with you." Niniola said.

"No, no you won't. Ino Agbara: Temporary Boundary seal." Maerius replied coolly, the flat of his palm hitting down onto the ground.

"No, don't do this, Sir..." Niniola gasped, terror over her whole frame.

"Seclude!" Maerius added, a gust of Aura exploding into the area.

Lights shone through cracks in the ground in a semi circle. Simultaneously, Niniola propelled herself, pushing her body by stamping hard on the ground as she dived.

But she was not so fast.

The beams of light seemed to condense into a wall at the point where she dived to. She saw it and tried to will her body to flip over. As she begun to twist, the condensed wall of light, expanded and contracted, zooming in in a blur and slamming her down.

"Like he said, this is a path he must take alone. You need to respect that. If .. if you truly love him. " The last words were spoken in a whisper, audible enough for Niniola to hear but not Sunday.

"Be on your way, Sunday. May the Orishas lead you true." He gestured, signals flashing about his hand in a semi circle. "Ino Agbara; Shooting Star"

Light flashed about Sunday, the latter having a small appreciative smile on his face. In an instant,he blasted off the ground, the smile widening into a grin as he zoomed, a sensation of power flushing through his whole body.

"Thank you, 3rd Prime. But Earth can wait. I'm taking a detour. " He grinned.

'Wolf, how do I control this energy surrounding me?' Sunday thundered mentally, awakening the wolf from it's grudging silence.

'ANSWER ME!!!'