The air was filled with the rich smell of roasted yams and sweat, vibrating with the sound of drums, a familiar beat that shook the earth beneath Obi's bare feet.
The Festival of Nine was already at its climax, The Ohando village's Ogbunike Square blazed with life.
Torches were lit, flickering shadows over yam stalls, kola nut traders, and dancers in lion masks, their bodies swaying to the ogene's metallic clang.
Obi, a sixteen year old who was lean as a reed, slowly made his way through the crowd, his dark eyes were wide with hunger, both for food, and for the sight of the Nine Totems.
This was the only night that an ordinary kid like him had a chance to see it. An Item that wielded such power...what would it look like?
As an Umu-Oka orphan, he had never been allowed to near the sacred shrines, but tonight, he had snuck past the star-watchers guarding his clan's mountain pass.
"Move, boy!" Growled a burly Umu-Inya warrior, his bronze armor glinting with flame runes against the nightsky.
Obi ducked quickly, his heart pounding. He quickly darted behind a stall that was piled with smoked fish.
The warrior's Burning Lion totem, a miniature carve of a lion's head was slung at his hip, it radiated heat, making the air shimmer.
Obi swallowed as he stared at the lion totem, his fingers itched to touch it, to feel the power every clan wielded—except him, the outcast with no totem, no family.
He wasn't exactly an outcast in the sense of an Osu (the banished outcasts) but he was treated like one, he just wasn't banished into the evil forest. And even that was because he hadn't committed any crime yet. But everyone's mouth itched to pronounced him an outcast, they just needed him to commit a serious offense.
Obi looked over the square, taking in the sight, this was his first time seeing so many totems and their affinities.
The square was a kaleidoscope of the Nine Clans. Umu-Miri priestesses wove through in blue robes, their River Serpent totems coiling like liquid silver, mist trailing their steps.
Umu-Ala builders, broad and stone-skinned, hauled carved tablets, their Stone Elephant totems humming with earthen weight.
Umu-Ife scouts soared overhead, their Sky Hawk totems granting them bursts of wind that ruffled Obi's tattered cloth. Umu-Nnunu hunters prowled the edges, Great Panther totems glowing in their eyes, while Umu-Oma priests chanted, their Radiant Antelope totems casting golden light. Umu-Ncheta seers, cloaked in rune-stitched hides, clutched their Eternal Tortoise totems, muttering prophecies.
Obi sighed in wonder as he caught sight of a young Umu-Ndu girl charming a vine snake, her Totem glowing faintly at her neck. And Obi's own Umu-Oka stargazers stood aloof, Celestial Python totems sparkling like constellations.
Obi's chest tightened.
"One day," he muttered, "I'll stand with them."
He shoved the thought down, walking toward the central dais where the totems would be displayed. The original thing, wielded by Clan leaders and not the clones that he saw everyday. It was a once-a-decade honor.
The crowd parted as Ichie Okoye, Umu-Ncheta's high seer, ascended the dais, his Eternal Tortoise totem—a palm-sized shell etched with glowing runes—held aloft.
"Tonight," Okoye's voice boomed, "we honor the ancestors who forged our totems, binding us to the gods!"
Cheers erupted, but Obi's gaze was fixed on the Tortoise. It pulsed, not it's normal faint glow, but something else, something irregular, something wrong.
Obi wasn't sure, but he had made sure to gather knowledge of every Totem and history, and this wasn't what he was supposed to see, according to all his years of study.
A chill ran through him. He glanced at a nearby Umu-Miri priestess, her face was sharp and serene.
Obi stared at her, but the priestess noticed him immediately, her senses were that sharp.
She met his eyes, and then she frowned.
Obi heard her voice sound in his head. "You, boy," she said, her voice like a stream. "Why stare so?"
Obi froze, but before he could answer, the Tortoise flared.
A crack split the air, it was sharp and carried a thunderous sound, and the totem shattered, it was thrown into the air, it's fragments scattering around and raining down.
The noise that followed was deafening, the crowd was gripped by panic and fear.
This had never happened before.
A black mist exploded outward, circling around them, it moved very quickly, stopping only when it got to Obi.
Obi stood there while everyone darted away, keeping a safe distance from the centre.
However, Obi didn't notice it, he stared at the black mist, only him was there.
Screams pierced the night as clans scattered, raising their totems in defense.
Obi felt a sharp burn in his chest, and he winced in pain, fear coursing through him now. The dark mist was still suspended in front of him.
"Heretic!"
Okoye shouted, pointing at Obi, who still stood there, staring blankly.
Obi didn't bother to respond to the shout, the pain in his chest was his main problem, it was killing him.
He couldn't take it anymore, Obi's hand raced to his chest, and he pulled his wrapper, scratching his chest.
The crowd gasped at the sight of it, the elder frowned, but Obi didn't know what was going on. He was yet to see it.
The Celestial Python's Seal...
It was a glowing spiral sigil, it was pitch black, forbidden, and blazing like a star. It looked alive.
Silence sounded through the crowd.
"T-the Tenth Totem!"
"He's cursed!"
Obi stumbled back, panic seizing him. His eyes dropped down to his chest and he froze, even he knew the implications of this Totem.
It was the only totem that didn't have to be carried around manually, this was inscribed on one's body, giving the wielder all the totems powers.
"I didn't—"
"He has meddled with the darkness! He would bring curse onto this land!"
"Traitor!" Ekene, an Umu-inya warrior roared. He grabbed the totem on his neck and raised his hand, the totem glowed, and fire brimmed around it, the fire stretched forward, taking the shape of a spear.
Ekene hurled it.
Obi's pupils constricted, and he immediately dove out of the way, the spear barely missed him, scorching the ground. The immense heat burnt his skin.
He was on the floor now, but Ekene didn't care. He had always been one hot blooded warrior. His hand glowed again, another fire spear appearing.
He hurled it at Obi again.
"Stop!"
The Umu-mmiri shouted, leaping between them. Her River Serpent totem spun immediately.
She raised her hand, and water suddenly rose up from the floor, creating a water shield.
The spear rammed into the water, but the water was significantly stronger, and it doused Ekene's flames.
"He's just a boy!" she snapped, her face stern. She surveyed the crowd, a cold blue glow emanating from her eyeball.
Obi stared at her, wide-eyed. For a heartbeat, something sparked—fate, maybe, or destiny.
Time would tell.
Before anyone had time to react, their surrounding had gone up in flames, the chaos of the night spread even more.
Umu-Nnunu hunters shifted into panthers, their claws slashing at the mist which was spreading now, while Umu-Ife scouts soared to the skies, barraging it with wind attacks.
Obi scrambled behind a stall, Nneka followed, right beside him.
She placed the totem on the wall and water bubbled around them, turning the stall into some sort of water hideout.
Obi was surprised, both by her power and the act of kindness. She was meant to be with the rest of the village, against him.
"Why help me?"
"Your seal..." she began, glancing at his chest.
But before Obi could process it, a cloaked figure emerged from the mist. It took form now, a bone mask covered its face as it stared down at the rest of villagers.
Everyone froze now, staring at it.
That Mask... only one organization wore it...
The priestess frowned, her face looking grim, Obi caught the change immediately. She turned to him, "Stay here." She turned around and darted out of the water.
Obi nodded quietly, he wasn't the most obedient child that they had, but obeying her seemed like the smartest thing to do now.
He peered out of the water, watching as the priestess made her way to the front of the crowd, the nine elders stood behind her while the warriors stood lined up in a battle formation behind the elders, ready for a showdown.
The villagers looked on in horror, and fear of things to come.
"The Tenth rises,"
it spoke, raising it's hand like it was performing a sacred ritual.
Obi frowned, staring at the cloaked figure that had materialised from the mist.
For some reason, he knew his life was never going to remain the same.