Legend of the seven siege

Lionel

I sat at the back of the other children gathered around, my ears paying keen attention and my heart longing for more, far beyond what words can express.

"Oh yes Lord ADLINE, defeated that great god whose name was HUTA(conqueror of all gods)" she said with her face beaming with smiles.

" Wowwwwwww!!!!....." all the kids screamed out feeling energetic.

I wasn't left behind, I felt all worked-up and energetic in my inside having some chills down my spine as I listened carefully to the story nai-nai(grandmother) as we would normally call her shared to us and my imagination flew wide and opened as though a well in me had been unlocked.

I imagined myself all great and mighty as the lord ADLINE, as I rode on my victorious brown horse and a flaming sword of my own coming home victorious and all the villagers hailing, welcoming and worshipping me, this was a picture I couldn't take my mind off. That picture has lingered on in my head for the past two weeks ever since that nai-nai has been coming around to tell us this story and I could say for sure that it woke something in me that I never thought was there.

"Lionel! Lionel! Lionel! you're missing out on the good part" Michael said waking me from my fantasy. I nodded back at him in response, coming back into my reality that I'm just some orphan who nobody will ever love, who nobody knows about, someone who doesn't even know where the next meal is going to come from. Nevertheless I wasn't going to let all that pain and suffering ruin a good story for me.

"Lord ADLINE smashed the golden gem on the earth surface, putting the great HUTA into the core of the earth forever never to be seen again" She said waving her hands from the sky up down to the earth slowly in a dramatic way.

"Woahhhhhhhhhh........." we all chorused excitedly.

"But that's not all, when he smashed the gem on the earth surface the seven siege then appeared all over the country."

"As you all know our country is the center of the universe which possess great powers." She said looking at each and every one of us.

"The lord ADLINE sacrificed himself for the greater good of the future" she said lying flat on the ground playing dead.

"Did he die???" one of the children from the crowd asked curiously. I was also curious to know if the fictitious man I looked up to actually died.

"Nothing has been heard of him ever since" nai-nai said.

"uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........tell us some more nai-nai" all the children chorused and she smiled back at us.

"When lord ADLINE smashed the gem on the earth surface and the seven siege appeared he sent a message through a magical talisman to all villages, that the siege must be activated every twenty years. This is done to keep the great HUTA in the core of the earth this has now become a new tradition for many villages who believe and it must continue in every generation" she said moving her hands and body to the rhythm of her story.

"Nai-nai, do I get to be among those who activates the siege and keep HUTA in the core of the earth?"Michael asked.

Michael and I have been good friends for fifteen years, he was my bed mate in the orphanage home I envied him a lot, but in a good way and I only did that because he was so full of joy despite the fact that he lost his parents. I lost my parents but I couldn't find anything that was worth being joyful about because losing my parents was losing my joy but I never understood the secret behind his joy. Here we are at twenty still listening to children stories.

Nai-nai laughed out......

"I don't know Michael, but some of you will be chosen by the gods or rather for some of you its your destiny," she paused, looking around.

"But, that will be at the right time, when you're older to activate the seven siege" nai-nai replied so full of joy looking straight into my eyes and winked. I shuddered at the wink.

Why did she just wink at me? Does it mean that I get to be one of the chosen ones? Does it..... No I'm probably just overthinking it.

"Nai-nai tell us some more......" the children cried out, snapping me out of my impossible thoughts.

"That will be all for today children. Some other time I'll tell you some more" She said, dismissing us.

"Next time, I'll tell you about the wolfs and the werewolves and all of the mythical creatures that exist in our world," she said, waving at the children.

All the children went back to their respective houses, but I hung around the corner just looking at her.

Not so long after the children had gone home, the villagers, parents of the children walked angrily towards nai-nai.

One of the mothers of the kid stepped forward and stood in front of nai-nai.

"You foolish woman, you need to stop feeding our children with stupid and untrue stories."

"Yes my child is beginning to have nightmares just from hearing the story" another mother said angrily.

"Get out from our village"

"You do not belong here, leave here at once or we'll kill you" the woman in front of nai-nai threatened.

She bent down to pick the coins she got from telling today stories as she picked up the bag where she kept her coins, the bag turned upside down and all the coins fell to the ground I lunged forward to help her.

I got a better view of her, being up close to her. She always had on a cloak, her long grey hair flowing down her shoulders, her blue eyes were so beautiful and the wrinkles on her skin the testament of how old she has gotten.

As I bent down to help her pick her coins I looked up to see their angry, unbearing faces. They were probably mad at me for helping her, for helping an outsider, for helping someone that they do not like.

A memory of me being in a similar situation came rushing into my mind, a memory I have chose not to remember. I quickly gathered the coins for her, stood up immediately and gave her the coins I had gathered.

"So you're going to help this strange woman?" The woman standing in front of nai-nai asked, looking at me with a stern face.

"It's no wonder you're an orphan," she said, tossing me aside. My forearm slightly grazing the ground, wincing in pain.

She then turned to look at nai-nai.

"And as for you leave this village and never ever return," she threatened nai-nai pointing at her.

The villagers present there all shouted in agreement that she should leave the village

"GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I looked at her out of pity she was old and yet still mistreated this way and despite all that treatment she looked towards my direction and gave me the most captivating smile ever.

She walked away passing through the gates, The villagers after seeing her walk through the gates all turned and returned back to the village. She turned back to look at me again with a smile on her face and I found myself smiling back at her, she was the sweetest thing I've known.

At that moment I started feeling some chills on my skin and I started having some thoughts that brought about some questions that immediately flooded my mind.

'Who is she? Could she be my nai-nai? My aunt? I would love to have an aunt' I wondered and giggled inwardly knowing quite well that she wasn't any of those things. I'm an orphan and will always will be.

I watched her squat slowly by the gate and noticed that she had dropped something just by the gate, she then smiled at me once again and then walked away.

I ran to the gate immediately to see what she might have dropped. I saw a piece of clothing, I took it from the ground and some things fell from it, some coins and an old locket necklace.

"Lionel! Lionel!!" Michael shouted from afar running towards me. I quickly put the treasured gifts in my pocket

"Yes, yes, yes Michael what is it????"

"What was that???" He asked, looking at me suspiciously.

"Huh???" I pretended as though I didn't know what he was talking about.

"Don't pretend Lionel I saw the way the woman looked at you and you came to pick up something here right?"

"Michael" I chuckled, making it seem like as though he didn't know what he was saying.

"It's nothing. I have no idea why she's behaving that way towards me and it was just a piece of clothing she dropped I came to pick." I said showing Michael the clothing to convince him that it was nothing.

He looked intently at my eyes to know if I was lying and he was convinced.

"Alright then," he said. I sighed in relief.

"C'mon let's go home it's getting late" Michael said holding my hands as we ran to the orphanage that we called home.

Luckily for us we could catch up for dinner. We were served some slimy soup and bread. Well, at least I could get something to eat today.

I rushed my food and went outside to the side of the house. I brought out the locket necklace. I opened the locket to see if there was any valuable thing and then I saw a painted picture inside it.

The picture was a man, carrying a baby boy who looked like he was twelve months old. The baby looked a whole lot just like me. I looked at the picture intently and I could instantly see the resemblance. It was me and a man in the picture. The man looked just like me and his face looked awfully familiar but I couldn't remember where I had seen him before. For all my life that I can remember I've lived in this village alone. So, who is this man?

I placed the locket necklace on my chest. Whoever this man was he must be related to me somehow and for nai-nai to have this locket necklace then she must know something that I don't.

I held it closely to my chest, this necklace felt like a treasure, far beyond the coins nai-nai gave me. Now I have a treasure that's worth fighting for. I couldn't be less happy

I could somehow feel that I and this man were connected somehow.

And in that moment I received a sense of purpose and I'm going to pursue it to the ends of the earth.

I lacked purpose in this village, but upon seeing this necklace I found a purpose and that is finding this man, finding nai-nai and figure out the truth.

Lionel

The following morning I woke up early, arranged my bag pack, sneaked around the kitchen and packed up some food, fruits and every other thing that I might need. I was going on a scary mission I wasn't so sure about and it gives me chills anytime I think about it but, I was not going to be weighed down by it.

'I AM GOING TO FIND MY PURPOSE AND FULFILL IT.' I mentally chided myself affirmatively over and held tightly onto the old rusty locket necklace to my chest.

I packed my bags, put in all my clothes, packed my half torn shoes, arranged everything accordingly, I placed the bag on my back about to set out before anyone could wake-up. Taking a step into the purposeful journey I felt someone grab my shorts. Was it destiny pulling me back?

I turned to look back, to see Michael looking up at me. Oh no! Michael has woken up, and I know for sure that he's going to stand against all that I wanted to do.

"Lionel, where are you going this early?" Michael asked, rubbing his sleepy eyes and sitting up on the bed waiting for an answer.

I looked down at the scrawny Michael looking at me, waiting for an answer.

"Go back to sleep Michael, you're just dreaming, this is only just a figment of your imagination" I said trying to convince him and put him back to sleep.

He scoffed. "Common Lionel, we're not five anymore," he said, chuckling.

"You can't fool me Lionel, we've known each other for fifteen years, I know when you're up to something. You better spill it out or I'll shout and wake everybody up" Michael threatened me with his eyes wide open. I knew he wasn't going to let me off easily.

That's right we were no longer five anymore and we were still staying in this shit hole of a place.

Looking at him right now with a sleepy face and yet with a deadly glare, I remembered when he walked right through the doors of the orphanage home with tears dripping down his eyes and a slimy mucous was drooling down his nostrils.

His brown skin that shined effortlessly and his full afro hair, his thin face, large blue eyes, and his thin lips. He hasn't changed much since he was a kid.

I was disgusted by him at first sight but well I was used to it because every now and then new kids walked through the doors of the orphanage that same way; This period was during the war between two neighboring villages fighting over the land that they will all end up being buried inside .

Fifteen years ago when men go to war against the demons out there and they never return and the women became widow, since the women can't provide for their family because the breadwinner of the family is dead they are forced to work in the fields separating the child from the mother and they bring them to this doom house called orphanage home which I wouldn't call a home.

All kids here went through similar situations but for me it was different. I never knew my parents or rather I don't remember what they look like anymore. Well that's how I ended up here and Michael also met me here.

When he walked through those doors I looked at him pitifully and I also envied him because at least he remembered what his parents looked like at the moment all I could think about was, imagine what my parents would look like so I could remember and keep in my heart as the most treasured thing but sadly I don't remember what they look like, I don't know if they're even alive, I don't know anything about them.

I looked at Michael again, the memory of him crying fifteen years ago crying non-stop. I couldn't help it. When I saw him fifteen years ago my instinct just kicked in and I ran into his arms, hugged him tightly trying to comfort him.

"I got you buddy, stop crying already if you need anyone I'm here for you," I said and he cried even more.

And that's how we became close friends or rather more like brothers that's inseparable.

"Hello!!!!! Lionel." Michael called out waving his hand at my face waking me up from my long timeline travel.

"Okay! okay! fine. I'll tell you where I'm going but that doesn't change the fact that you're not following me. You're staying put, right in this orphanage" I said getting a little bit pissed.

"Lionel we've been brothers for like fifteen years, you've always got my back, scared away all the bullies in this orphanage that ever tried to hurt me, you've been with me at my lowest and highest point and I don't plan to stay alone. YOU'RE MY BROTHER and my JOY. You're all I've got please Lionel" Michael said pleading with me with his cute little eyes.

I thought about it for a split second. Leaving Michael alone in this orphanage home was risky. All the other guys here would bully him and make him do all the work and even the so-called matrons are not helping at all. They are all a pain, one has to absorb and endure till your life on earth is over.

"Alright. You've convinced me. Pack your bags lets move, I'll fill you in on the way" I said feeling reluctant.

Michael was about to shout and rejoice, I lunged forward placing my right hand over his mouth to stop him from shouting.

"shhhhhhhh..........."I hushed him. Putting my finger on his mouth.

"I'm sorry. I'm just too overwhelmed" he giggled and quickly packed up his bag.

I looked at him once more, he seemed pretty excited than I was. Well it will be good to have mobile joy and hope with me on this journey.

We sneaked out of the orphanage home quietly without waking the other children. We had gotten to the post of the nosy and arrogant matron, Celine. She was on duty today. I've hated this woman right from day-one, she would always use the vulnerable piece of you to bring you down.

I opened the door slowly. This was the final lap before becoming free of this mini-hell on earth. I open it slowly, the door starts to creak as it creaks, she turns to position herself well on the duty-post chair, the door creaks again, she turns and mumble some words. This continued on and on till we finally opened the door.

Alas we finally got out of the orphanage home and we ran as fast as we could, as fast as our legs could carry us. Luckily for us the guards were not at the gate at that moment we paced-up even more and we finally ran out of the village. We looked back to take one last glance at it.

I looked at Michael as he looked at the village sadly, as if I could read his mind "I'LL MISS YOU MOM" that was what I could read from his pitiful expression.

"Let's go Michael, we have to go before everyone wakes up" I said holding Michael's hand.

Must be pretty hard for him to leave where he once had peace and comfort. Well it was now a living hell now.

"Do you know where we're going?" He asked me his gaze still fixed on the village.

"I don't, but I know there's so much out there than living in this shit hole of a place," I replied.

"Anyways, I trust you," he said, turning to look at me with a smile on his face. I smiled back at him, it felt so good to have a great friend who'd stick by you through thick and thin.

We set out on this great journey, and I couldn't stop thinking about what could possibly be awaiting us on other side of our lives, of our future.

We walked for hours and the sun was out in its full strength we took a rest for a while under a huge tree to rest for a while

"Lionel ?"Michael called out to me.

Somehow I felt like I knew what he was about to say.

"Yes Michael. I told you to stay behind don't tell me you want to go back now" I replied, without giving him an opportunity to say anything.

Michal and I were about the same age but I looked out for him as though he was my younger brother.

Michael laughed at my response

"I wanted to ask, what's the purpose of this journey?" Michael asked curiously

I looked at him intently and then looked around the area acting as though I wanted to tell him a top secret.

"I think my dad might still be alive," I blurted out, looking at him keenly for his reaction.

"What?!" He exclaimed, looking at me with an unbelievable look on his face.

"What gave you that impression?" He asked, curiosity evident in his face.

There was no need hiding it anymore, I brought out the locket necklace and showed him.

"This is what bore the impression in him...." I said, trailing off, holding back the tears that threatened to stream down my eyes.

"All this while I thought my parents were dead or something, but something calls out to me whenever I look at this locket necklace, I can't explain it but somehow I feel he's still alive," I said, expressing how I feel.

"I don't know, but I'm hoping that somewhere, somehow he's still alive... I may be wrong... I may be...." I stuttered, my voice trembling.

"Michael...." I said bursting into tears. I couldn't keep it in anymore. Michael rushed to me and put me in a tight hug. I cried out my eyes. I couldn't bring them to stop but I found comfort and peace in the arms of Michael and I didn't want to leave his arms. I felt even more safe. I gripped on firmly unto his shirt hugging him so tight. It felt indeed great for me, to know that someone's got my back.

"Don't worry, we're going to find him," Michael said, encouraging me.

"How are you so sure and why do you stick by me?"

"I stick by you because you're brother and you were there for me Everytime and...." He paused, heaving a sigh.

"I'm not so sure that you'll find your dad, and even if you don't find him, know that you've got a brother that'll stand by you," he said, patting my back gently.

Lionel

Dusk arrived before we knew it. Michael and I gathered some fire-woods and arranged it to make a bonfire to scare wild animals away and stay warm in the night. I had packed and stole some food and fruits from the orphanage home. I threw an apple over to Michael. He caught it happily and started munching on it, we ate some of the bread and reserved some for later.

"Just for how long did you plan this Lionel?" Michael asked jokingly after seeing all the things I had packed".

I laughed out loud holding my stomach.

"Michael, I planned this overnight and I made sure it was today that I'd set out" I replied.

We both smiled at each other. I looked at Michael again

'I couldn't ask for more, Michal was more than family to me' I thought within myself.

We munched on the fruit and bread joyfully because we never got to eat this amount of food. We felt so luxurious tonight. We cracked jokes, played our favorite games with our hands. Along the line we were both feeling sleepy, we set our bag pack as our pillows as we were about to sleep. We laid on the floor, as we looked up to the sky.

"Lionel?."

"Yes Michael?" I responded.

"I want you to know that I got your back anytime at all cost, I LOVE YOU LIONEL,"

"You're sounding so cheesy right now, Michael," I said, chuckling lightly.

"I know I am," he said, chuckling. "But I just had to let you know,"

"I want you to know that you can lean on me anytime, I live today because you were with me from day one of my life. You can say you were not there when I was born but let me tell you, life made sense when I entered into that orphanage home and met you. I live because of you and I'd die for you" Michael said.

I sat up to look at him, I was dumbfounded at the words he was spewing out. What could possibly make him say such kind of things?

"Michael!!!!........" I called out to him. There was no response, I stood up to check him and then I found out he was fast asleep already.

I felt a shiver down my spine and I wondered and wondered why he said all that till I drifted off to sleep. The warmth of the fire and the comforting presence of Michael lulling me into a peaceful slumber. In my dream, I found myself in a strange, ethereal realm. A figure, cloaked in shadow, suddenly materialized before me.

"You have awakened," the figure said, its voice a deep, resonant hum.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice filled with curiosity and fear.

"I am the guardian of this realm," the figure replied. "You have been chosen."

"This realm? Where am I?"

"Chosen for what?" I asked, confused.

"This is the realm between the earth and the underworld, the ones who create the balance," The figure said.

"You have been chosen to wield a power that's far beyond your imagination," the figure explained. "A power that can shape the world, or either destroy it."

I was bewildered. "What power?" I asked, my voice filled with disbelief. "I'm just an orphan boy, who doesn't have anything going well in life,"

The figure smiled, a knowing look in its eyes. "Not anymore," it said.

"You're the champion of this realm and successor of the previous herald,"

"Previous successor?" I asked, curious to know more. "What happened to the previous successor?"

"With time you shall know,"

"But for now, the world needs you now, more than ever,"

As the figure spoke, I felt a strange sensation, a tingling in my fingertips. I looked down at my hands, and to my astonishment, they began to glow with an ethereal light. They were what you would call magical, they were out of this world or rather the world that I know of.

I was terrified and excited at the same time. What was happening to me? Was this real, or was it just a dream?

Before I could ask any more questions, the figure vanished, leaving me alone in the ethereal realm. I tried to use my newfound power, but I was still too inexperienced. I stumbled around, accidentally creating small explosions and manipulating objects with my mind.

I woke up with a start, my heart pounding. The dream was still vivid in my mind, the feeling of power still lingering in my fingertips. I wondered if it was a sign, a glimpse into a future that was yet to come.

The next morning, I woke up with a strange sense of excitement. The dream I had last night was still vivid in my mind. I couldn't shake the feeling that something extraordinary had happened or is about to happen.

I turned to look at Michael, who was still fast asleep. I hesitated, unsure of how to share my experience with him. Should I tell him about the dream, or should I keep it to myself?

In the end, I decided to confide in him as soon as he woke up.

After a while, Michael woke up scrubbing his sleepy eyes.

"Hey, Lionel," he greeted, I turned to look at him.

"Hey, Michael," I replied.

"Did you sleep well?" I asked him.

"Yes I did, what about you?" He asked looking at me.

"I had the strangest dream last night."

Michael stirred and opened his eyes. "Oh yeah? What was it about?" he asked, yawning.

"Well, it was weird," I began, hesitating. "I was in this strange place, and I had this power... I could control things with my mind."

"Oh wow, slow down," he said

"You mean to tell me that you were controlling things with your mind? Really?" He asked.

Michael raised an eyebrow, a look of disbelief displayed on his face. "You were dreaming about being some kind of magician or something?" he joked.

I shook my head. "No, it felt real. Too real."

Michael looked at me seriously. "Maybe it was just a dream, Lionel. Don't let it get to you."

"I mean that's why it's called a dream, we are both poor and we are orphans we might as well just dream about getting so rich we wouldn't have to depend on anybody ever again," he said, chuckling lightly. He wasn't taking me seriously right now. I don't blame if I were him, I wouldn't take him seriously but then.....

"But..." he interjected before I could even continue what I wanted to say.

"It's just a dream, right now we need to focus on finding your father," he said, cutting me off.

"Right, yes, my father,"

I nodded, trying to convince myself that he was right. But deep down, I knew that something extraordinary had happened. I had to find a way to understand what was going on.

I walked a bit far from him, it was pointless explaining it to him, it would be strange if I had a certain kind of power within me. I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet.