TRAILING SHADOWS

Malinton paled.

What was this bearded figurehead spewing out of his big mouth? The attendant too, Roselle had similar thoughts as she stared at Malinton's accuser.

"If he was going to be of any threat, the guards would have refused him entry. Their weapons are fitted with..." Roselle tried to explain only to be cut short.

"If he was going to be of any threat blah blah blah" the bearded mercenary shook his head, mimicking.

"What..." Roselle almost coughed blood. "how dare you..." She flared.

THWUNK!

The mercenary shot the dagger deep into the table in one perfectly timed blur. At that, Malinton took a step back, raising his hands to signify he wasn't any trouble.

"How about you shut up, Roselle. Malinton and I have a talk and you will keep sealed lips about that, okay? Or I'll seal themselves, Roselle." He gave an evil grin, one that had a glint of greed in it.

"Oooh...Kay...fine. I pray your plan backfires." Roselle said, shrugging her shoulders. This was one of the regular occurrences that happened where a mercenary would try to thwart a bounty from being filled officially.

And that was because an officially filled bounty would have o be screened by those at the top, after which, a balloting of some sort would hold and mercenaries would be chosen. Or in the worst case scenario, the bounty would be open to the whole Alliance House, making the chances of one being the sole Hunter very very slim.

That being said, mercenaries we're usually not allowed near the desk anymore to prevent things of such but with time, even the strictest rules become lax.

"Ho ho, Malinton, let's have a talk, shall we?"The mercenary nodded eagerly as he swirled around. He blurred briefly, and appeared beside Malinton, one hand swing across the messenger's shoulder.

Malinton turned. "Wait, you know just the people?"

The man led him, f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y by his hands on his shoulder, directing him along. They walked into a corridor. But before that, the Malinton brushed shoulders with a lady Irunmole who had a red kimono on and black short gown alongside with stiletto boots.

"Oh, sorry!" He mouthed. "I hope you don't have any crazy ideas though. Like I said I am not the one offering the bounty. Inotherwords, I am under the cover of ... Councilhouse." Malinton spoke, trying to sound intimidating.

They walked off, their voices getting mixed up in the endless chatter of various Irunmoles entering and departing the hall. Soon, they merged with the crowd and simply vanished from sight.

Meanwhile, the lady Malinton had brushed shoulders with, turned back. She observed the fellow who had hit her accidentally for quite some time. Seeing that the duo were out of sight, she continued to the front desk.

And as she did, eyes turned, following her strides. She snorted, rather annoyed about the attention she was receiving.

Walking up to the front desk, she caught on a side conversation.

"Hey, look at her, isn't she just so pretty? " The first one spoke

"Yes, I agree. Her face is so chiselled, sharp and inviting edges, thin waistline, a bum that fits so perfectly on her and oh my God's... Those lovely little eyes of life. I could swear she is the Orisha Osun herself. " A second voice replied, voicing out his admiration orally.

SHOVE!!

"Do you even know the lady, before you call her cold? Don't call my soul mate cold, brother." The owner of this voice appeared to shove the other person.

The lady sighed at this, keeping her eyes straight up as she strode gracefully to the counter.

"Shut up. She can't be your soulmate."

"She looks young and unlikely for her to have had a mate already. So I fit best."

"I tell you brother, shes the cold infamous Mayowa from Ilu Obatala. I wonder what she is doing here! Nobody has ever succeeded in getting to her. She's cold. And beautiful."

"Really brother?"

"Yes, such a waste. Let's get going." The first replied.

At this point, Mayowa could no longer hold it anymore. She hated when people gossiped her. So what?

'After all, we are all getting strong for one main purpose. To vanquish evil. So let emotions remain by itself.'

"Hello, Mayowa, How can I help you today?" A feminine voice cut into her thoughts.

At that, she brightened up, returning the cheerful look of the attendant.

"I am here to see my former student, daughter of the Alliance Guild General, Ibiyemi. " She responded, tapping her manicured fingers on the counter, trying to drown out the incessant gossiping.

"Oh. Olukoni. Sorry, the information from fate about you is really vague. I didn't know." The attendant replied remorseful.

At that, Mayowa tilted her head.

"Put a call to her, will you. Tell her I am outside, in the garden park, okay?"

"ER...okay! I'll do just that. " The attendant eyes began to glow now. She had begun transmitting a message via a fate channel designed just for the Alliance House.

A fate channel was the manipulation of fate to send sepcific encrypted messages that only a fate essence user could detect and possibly decode. In so doing, Irunmoles were able to communicate with each other over long distances, provided, there was a fate essence recipient at the receiving end.

Once she got out, she made for the park. Exhaling, Mayowa let out her swallowed anger in one gasp.

"It's okay. " She told herself before stretching and making for a seat under a tree with rainbow fuits. The tree was in it's season so it had fruits all on it. Actually, all trees in Orun were always in their season.

She reached leisurely for one fruit and plucked. Bringing it to her lips, she closed her eyes as her teeth began to work on it. Bite after bite, she savoured the taste, enjoying every moment of it, an irrepressible smile on her face attesting to the bliss she was indulging in.

"Olukoni Mayowa!!!" A shrill rather excited voice rent the air. Then someone jumped on her, with a bearhug around her slim frame.

It was Ibiyemi.

"Uh... Yemi, I didn't expect to see you so soon." She spoke, putting the fruit down by her side. As she did, Ibiyemi snaggled even closer, hugging her neck as she sat down over her Olukoni's t.h.i.g.hs.

"What are you doing in Ilu Esu? " Ibiyemi asked excited, her breath rate spiking.

"Well, I came to check on you. Or is that a taboo in Ilu Esu?" She lifted up Ibiyemi with both hands and placed her on her left.

"Hmm... You've lost weight, 'Yemi. Whats happening?" Mayowa commented, knitting her eyebrows.

"What? I told you not to push yourself too hard. It will come to you eventually, you know."

"I know. But I don't have that time now. I need to get strong as soon as possible."Ibiyemi replied silently.

"Uh huh. That's sweet. " She patted Ibiyemi on the head. "But why the rush? You can confide with him, you know?" Olukoni Mayowa added.

"It's a long story, Olukoni. All I know is that I must get stronger." Ibiyemi clenched her fist now. "This raw energy in me, I must learn to channel it properly."

"Hmm...I am impressed! I too need to get strong. The zenith is still quite far from me." Mayowa pouted, picking the fruit again and eyeing it as if trying to decide where to bite again.

"Yes, what's up with that? Why does it seem like there is this urge in everybody. A feeling that they must get strong? I really can't explain but everybody I have seen so far feels the need to get stronger. Why?" Ibiyemi turned, her right leg folded across the chair she stard at Mayowa.

She chuckled.

"That's a smart observation. I tell you, you'll eventually become very powerful if you keep up with this. I see that greatness in you, 'Yemi."

"Uh... That doesn't answer my question!"

"Wait" Ibiyemi's face suddenly beamed. "First of all, before you answer, why were those guys referring to you as one cold lady? Is it true? Why don't you have a hubby, as they say on Earth.?" She asked.

And Mayowa's face paled. She stopped halfway, her teetch refusing to bite anymore into the fruit while her head turned to her curious ex-student.