More than a Game

The lipato field had two circles, one inscribed into the other. The first and smaller one was the inner ring and the second and much larger one was the outer ring. The team with the most players in the inner ring won the game that was the first rule.

The Boma yé ceremony was centred around this ultra-popular sport among the three villages. In details, a team had to allocate some of its players to a space between the outer ring and the inner ring, these players could not leave it and their Goal was to prevent the other team's attackers from passing through this area in order to reach the inner ring. These were the defenders. The attacker's Goal was to access the inner ring by passing through the defensive zone.

Although this sport was very popular. For this ceremony, something special had been prepared, in the center of the playing field, a 40-metre giant with a monstrous appearance was chained with chains made of maqala. The aura of the monster hung over the whole stadium, the children hid in their mothers' dresses. This monster on the center of the field served to boost the pressure inherent in the important missions that the youngster elites would have to carry out later on. This monster was the Geto, it's growling muffled the whole stadium's noise from time to time before going silent.

"Who do you think will win the game ?"Fololo was asking her elder sister.

"Of course it is Malamu, he even has the flower you gave him" The elder sister was smiling at Fololo.

Nearby, Matsouma was sitting accross the village head having some discussion about the match, people knew that this game was not only the younging playing but also political interest at bay. Behind all this appearance of sympathy, the future of the village was being played. From time to time somebody would ask some inquisitive question as to guess what consigns the sponsors had given to the players.

It wasn't just a match between these future elites, at the very top it was also a match between the village chief and Matsouma. Although he fervently denied it, everyone suspected that Matsouma had political ambitions. After all he had achieved, how could they not ? This would have been the next logical step. Only he had been passive for a long time until his first perceived move was to invest on a youngster that only had a weak aptitude of one Konga, that astonished many.

But with the time and feats, this young person had gained the approval of his companions at the academy but also of the population through the game of the lipato, it was Malamu one of the great players of lipato.

From 10 years old young mist users at the academy will start playing lipato on a smaller field as they grow older. It was a way to gain sponsor and also merits in the community, if they were lucky or talented enough they could even make it to a professional team.

Dombi was the head grandson, since young, he was praised and treated with respect by everyone in the village. The Elders would always nod at everything he did and give him advice one life or in fighting in order to gain esteem from his grandfather.

The head of the village was someone outstanding he first had finished his ruling mandate before the crisis 32 years ago when the previous village head died in midst of the crisis.

All this time even though his family produced many 2 Konga aptitude mist users, they never had someone with 3 Konga except for himself. He placed his children here and there in the head office of the village, but if his clan was to last, they had to ensure it by having someone strong. So when he discovered that his grandson had this top notch aptitude he was really happy and invested in his grandson growth like a mad man. The news of Matsouma sponsoring a youngster scared him at first until he found out that this youngster had only 1 Konga. Even if he had to admit that the achievement of Malamu while only having 1 Konga was outstanding the further time will pass the greater the difference will show itself.

'Everything has changed since this rat came' Dombi had a calm and gentle demeanor while thinking this, his grandfather father had taught him how to mask his emotions.

The game was going on, Dombi, couldn't help but gaze at Malamu and the other competitor with cold eyes.

' I have to completely humiliate them…' these were Dombi thoughts.

The game started a long time ago, the defenders were already in their zone while the attackers moved in parkour on the maqala obstacles, avoiding each other, gauging each other, using their crossbow or maqacross.

Note: The maqacross is a special crossbow developed by the Ngangas of the village that allows great mobility, it can grant a skilled user tremendous mobility, it is also equires strength, and skill, both of which must be honed through constant practice. It is simply used by aiming and firing the grapple hooks from the crossbow at an object and then it reel oneself toward said object. Users can then disconnect the hook and continue moving forward.

Usually however, soldiers must be able to move around in order to navigate in general. Therefore, they tend to use their momentum in order to swing around targets. More advanced techniques include changing directions while still being reeled in.

Another rule of the lipato was that once touched on a body part the player who had been touched, had to remain immobile for a certain time not exceeding a few minutes. The touch was usually a blow that reduced the opponent's maqala shield. Once all the maqala shields were destroyed the player was eliminated and left the field.

Malamu had found his target, he managed to get close to it with dexterity. At this stage none of the attackers of the 5 teams had approached the defensive zone, each one sought first to immobilise the other before continuing.