TRAILING SHADOWS

The sun had set already and color had dimmed in all the realms. The sun had long set and by Earth standard, this was night time. But there was no night in Orun. The brightness of Eledumare's glory would never allow for that. And so, instead of night, it was called Sundown in Orun. Although, no one would know if the dimming of the day was result of the dimming of Eledumare's glory. Or perhaps , Eledumare might have wanted them to have a feel of Earth

In the midst of the Sundown sky, a large saucer shaped silver vehicle wheezed through the air, rotating and revolving as it sailed. Inside it, at one of the windows, was an Irunmole wearing a simple white gown. The gown was hung loosely by two knots over his shoulders revealing lean, long hands with spirals of white light that sn.a.k.e.d round and round. His face was quite young also, partly covered by dreadlocks that fell around his face. He seemed contented with himself as he looked out through the window, on his feet.

"Shey e wapa, sir?" Ibiyemi called, tapping him slightly on the arm closest to her. Ibiyemi was already disappointed that the treatment she had in the curtained section of the vehicle was only for VIPs. A reminder to her of the hierarchy that existed in the order of things. She had been wondering why they had to be a hierarchy when her eyes fell on the silent, contented looking Irunmole that looked out through the window at the back.

"Yes?" The Irunmole turned a soft smile on his face. Ibiyemi couldn't believe her eyes. She blinked severally as if she was trying to see through an illusion.

This couldn't be right. "Shola? You?" She mouthed, taking in his features slowly. Lean muscles, handsome build that other males would be jealous of. The dreads settled smugly on his face, falling from the head in short strands. She swallowed, noting the air of calm about him.

Had it been only eight days since they graduated and he was already this desirable?

"I know. I look changed right? It's amazing how Eledumare, through the Orisha can reorder a person's steps."

"You looked different. And humble too." She mouthed.

Shola simply smiled, running a hand trhough the dreads on his left. "You, too. But I am not surprised, not whe you are the daughter of General Folarin. It is expected." Shola exhaled, closing his eyes. He appeared to be thinking.

"What is it? Some trouble?" Ibiyemi asked, moving closer. She stood beside him, watching the Sundown sky in admiration.

"Sundown is beautiful." Shola muttered, to which Ibiyemi simply nodded. The air already was tense between them and he was in a mood for that.

Let bygones be bygones!

"Look, I'm sorry, About those times myself and Wole bossed about. We were so imm.a.t.u.r.e and narrow minded, then. " He coughed, eyes darting about.

"Whoa! I wasn't expecting that from you. What changed you?" Ibiyemi replied, stealing a glance. 'Damnit, he was so gorgeous.'

" Well, I had some teachings with the patron of chance, crossroads and travelers and he isn't exactly nice with his lectures. Also, been a messenger Irunmole helped quite a lot. It's amazing how you think you are some kind of boss.

That's how I felt then. Until I got to Earth and found that, I was only a speck of existence in the grand scheme of things.

That's one thing Wole and I got wrong all along. But I've fixed my perception and want to make right with every one I might have wronged then. Starting with you, then Wole. You haven't encountered him yet, have you?" Wole asked, putting a hand to a chin while restin the other at the glass.

He canted his head, observing silently as Ibiyemi shifted, visibly uncomfortable with the subject of discourse. "He has been troubling you, has he?" She nodded.

"He's helping my brother usurp my father's position through his innate ability, Life Seeker ability." She grimaced. "He won't just leave my life alone."

Shola s.u.c.k.e.d in air. "I am so sorry. He's letting his gift get to him." He sighed deeply, watching Ibiyemi carefully.

She took it as a cue and begun talking. Telling him about what had happened in the course of time. She spoke of the time with Olukoni Mayowa, her training, her father status as a Tainted, her trying to take Afolabi out and the knockout by Wole.

She heaved, guiltily. She knew she shouldn't have told him about her father. Infact, she should have avoided him from the first moment. But she didn't, anyway. Something about Shola just seemed to soothe her. And that same feeling had told her, he could be trusted.

'You will find warmth and love where you least expect.' Orisha Esu's voice came rushing into her ears. She shut it out, reining on all the control she could muster.

"Ibiyemi, there's so much on your shoulders. But I know you'll come through." Wole gasped as he jerked his face forward, almost hitting into the glass window. His eyes glowed, a burst of white light escaping it. "The bounty you're on, you will be faced with a decision that will both break ties and build bonds, a decision that will either save a life or destroy it."

"Rulers eyes, you can still use it!" Ibiyemi exclaimed, stunned. In the response, the light from Wole's eyes shut out as he held his head in a hand. He backed the window now, sliding down to the ground, each breath he took, a very laborious one.

Ibiyemi panicked, crouching immediately, worry in her eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. Don't wory, My Rulers Eye just pops out occasionally. But this time, it allows me glean the lines of fate briefly but just enough to form a prophecy. But i-.."

Ibiyemi was taken aback. "A prophecy? What you just said now was a prophecy?" Her eyes widened, realization dawning on her.

"Weakly, Shola nodded, his fingers curled around the ring on his left. In a second, several pills were on his hand, all of which he gulped down immediately. "Sorry about that. I really envy those who can acess Agbara. Ruler eyes on a body without Agbara is quite straining." He smiled, pushing himself up.

She found herself returning the smile. Against her instincts!

Yes, Irunmoles couldn't hold grudges. The ones who did were the ones already tainted or demonized already. But still, her instints didn't want her around Shola for all the troubles he caused.

Still, she was here, smiling at him, like a idiot.

"…was going to help you. You need to be really strong enough to hold your own against what comes." That was what she got from Wole. She saw him, sliding a ring of his finger. "Here, take it. Inside there are 125, 000 gold mints. You will need it to vastly increase your strength."

"WHAT?" Ibiyemi nearly choked. "125,000 Gold Mints? Surely you must be joking? How did you get that amount? It's a lot!"

"I know. And I want you to have it."

"How did you get it?" Ibiyemi asked once more, startled. Having 100 Gold mints was already been rich, having 125,000 Gold Mints was living at the top of the hieracchy. "You got it from the Headmaster?"She asked, curious.

Shola smiled, oncemore. It was intoxicating. "No. I did Headmaster a favor once, that's why he let you in. Not that I am affiliated with him in any way. Besides, being a Messenger classed Irunmole has its benefits. You know, running errands from here to Earth and the Orisha are often generous.

They are always occupied maintaining the Aspects of reality so seeing someone to run their bidding is quite endearing to them. The reward system for Messengers is quite high.

Plus I noticed that, the more I give, the more the Gold Mints I have, increases. I was told, it was a principle that Eledumare had built the creations into."

"WOW!" Ibiyemi muttered.

"I guess that's the consolation we get for not having access to Agbara. By the time I ascend to Elite, I would no longer be in Council service but I have enough to hold up for my retirement, except if I apply for guard duties."

'If you are this rich, why are you in a Saucer?" Ibiyemi asked him.

"All of Eledumare's creations are wonderful. Why be in a hurry when you can just simply observe them slowly in their beauty. Here!" He pushed open his palm towards her. His white arm bands, gleamed as the hand came closer.

"I can't! I can' accept that." Ibiyemi turned away. "I must return to my seat."

Immediately, Shola reached, grabbing her by the shoulder. He pushed closer to her, his breath heaving just at her neck. "Please, don't look at this like I am looking down on you. I am only atoning for all the wrongs I and Wole have done. Besides, you need these gold mints to increase your power."

Ibiyemi turned, her eyes glassy as she watched Shola. "Why do you care to help? Why can't you just act like Wole and taunt me as you used to do? At least, it was so much easier knowing where I stood."

"No!" Shola countered, Hhis eyes revealing tiny hints of pain. "The future is a new start that must never be defined by the constraints of the past. The past belongs to the past." He roughed his dreads with the free hand. "Look, I see potentials in you. And I get that you are putting up a front to seem so capable but there are times you should accept help from others too. Please."

Sighing, she reached for the ring, sliding it across her finger. It wasn't like she didn't want it but she didn't want that to make her weak . She was supposed to be strong, strong enough to defeat Afolabi and not get herself carried away by pity.

And Shola pitied her. No, he didn't pity her.

He cared, he cared for her. Yes, that had to be it. She mused, warmth spreading through her body. She tugged mentally at the ring that had appeared in her soul space. The ring shivered before vanishing, leaving behind an astral box filled with several gold mints. At the top left was a little square that read 'x125000 goldmints, x2 Ashari blade'.

She exhaled, looking at ther sheer number of mints in the spatial ring. Valuable Gold Mints. It was not the fact that they were Gold and used as currency that made them quite valuable.

Yes, that was part but the major reasons these were valuable were because they were consumables that could be used to increase Soul Quality, purifying their soul in preparation for Ascension. A Gold Mint could increase the Energy Point Wall faster than meditation and could also induce Ascension into higher classes.

And for her to have 125,000 Gold Mints in hand then Afolabi was surely going to have it.Now, all she needed was time and patience to consume them. Smiling broadly, she hugged Shola tightly not minding the stares commuters were giving them.

' You would find warmth and love where you least expect.'. Esu's voice resounded in her head but she shrugged it off, tightening the embrace.

What did it matter if She was hugging someone who she thought was evil a week ago or so? At least,for now, he was a changed person and that was all that mattered!