Chapter 8.

Ayoola’s POV.

I watched the scenery unfold from inside the tea shop, away from human sight. My fingers held the book gently as I leaned against the wall near the window. The sun rays had turned the ground into a golden grassland. The mixture of both the green and brown grass complemented each other to bring about a vivid scenery. The blinding rays of the sun had turned golden and a bit gentle on the skin.

The farmers got off their farmlands to gather around the local tea shop. It was a straw baled house turned into a local tea and sometimes into a liquor shop depending on the festive seasons. Customers gathered outside the straw baled house under the shade of the thatched umbrellas. They sat on benches around small rectangular wooden tables. I drove my focus back to the book I was holding.

Every ritual helps to connect with one's ancestors. Thus sleep was essential for a spirit warrior to strengthen his connection with his ancestral lineage.

“Ayoola, go serve them. We cannot make our customer angry on this day.” Tumi said. She was the owner of this coffee shop. I was helping her out for a small pay. It did not matter as long as I could keep living a decent life that would not drive attention to myself. I closed my book and placed it on the windowsill.

I walked outside the shop to the counter just at the entrance. I breathed in the welcoming air, another afternoon to tackle. I picked up the stainless steel cups and walked towards the nearest table.

"Habari za jioni!" An elderly man shouted his greeting to me, even though he was just next to me. I responded with a shy nod. On the old man’s side, there was this heavily built young man. He had a heavily melanated skin with a tantalizing steel right hand. He had placed his elbow against the table. He rested his forehead on his hand as he faced the table. His dreadlocks were tied into a ponytail behind his head.

"Why are you so silent my dear, when life is full of noise?"

"In my time people loved to chat and laugh about things that made us human, you know." The old man continued speaking as he held his cup.

"You know back then when our culture was the very thing that held us together and not power." He laughed loudly as he ran his hand through his long grey beard that reached his chest.

"Now it's always war, one after the other. So many people die for stupid things nowadays. We use to die of old age or some mosquito bite. Now people die in the hands of other men." He continued laughing.

I went back to Tumi, I brought back with me two cups, the last cup I placed next to the guy with the steel hand.

"Excuse me sir-“ He lifted his head. He shot me with those types of stares that would freeze you on the spot with his deep dark eyes.

“I-I... Your drink, sir.” I said at last. The old man near him laughed as he looked at us.

“I don’t want it.” He placed his head to its previous passion, facing the table.

“Then if you don’t want anything, then stand up. You are taking someone’s place.” Someone from another table shouted at him.

“It’s okay, Lesedi. I’ll make plans for anyone who is missing a table.” I said as I placed the cup next to the man.

“You don’t have to pay, it’s on me.” He didn’t look at me. He stayed still. I turned around, I heard a cup fall on the table with a clang. I turned around to see the tea spilled all over the place. I rushed to the old man helping him to stand up.

“I told you, I didn’t want anything!” He roared. The table fell silent with all eyes on me. Scared, nervous, daring, confused. I let them all bore into me. Tumi placed her hand on my shoulder. I did not see her coming but I was glad that she did. She dealt with angry customers better.

"Ayy, he looks like an Imanu warrior. How was it losing the war? I bet somebody had some mercy that's why you're standing here." Some laughter erupted behind me. I tried calming everyone, it was in vain as it only made them eager to throw more insults.

"Look at that steel hand, he thinks he is a lion. You are lucky they didn't hand you a steel left leg or so." Another rumble of laughter exploded. Just enough to tip that guy off. The guy with the steel hand stood up, and so did Lesedi.

“Not here, boys take it outside!”Tumi tried stopping them, but the steel man pushed past her. He held Lesedi by his neck before anything else and slammed his head against the table until I could no longer hear the sound of his whiny voice but the cracking of his skull.

“Let him go!” I grabbed the steel man’s hand. An electric current ran through me when my hand touched his arm. I heard bubbles burst in my ear. A fast clip played out in front of me like a vision. It was too fast I could not grasp the images.

My heart hammered hard against my chest, making my eyes water. The sound of my surrounding faded away. I was in a different world. I heard screams when I removed my hand. Lesedi’s blood was spilled all over the table.

He was dead.

I looked at the guy standing in front of me. There was no regret in his eyes. They were unapologetic for taking away a life. He grabbed the table cloth from Tumi’s left shoulder and wiped his hand. Once he finished, he threw it on Leside's face.

“He killed him.” It was meant to be a whisper but he heard it. He looked back at me before walking away. Tumi held me, we walked back to the hunt.

“Lesedi was defending me and he died. They just looked! Is he going to get away with it?” My voice trembled.

“He is a warrior. Who is going to do anything to him? Instead, if anybody goes after him, his kingdom is going to wage war.” She let me place my head against her chest.

“Oh my, Ayoola. You are such a baby.” I lifted my head, smiling through my fake tears. I had seen men die even more petrifying deaths. That was part of acting normal.

What was really on my mind was that the girl I picked up near the forest had the same attire as this steel man. They were both warriors and shared this odd energy. There was something about her bracelet that I cannot wrap my mind around.

When I touched him, it was like I traveled between two worlds. I still felt the electricity between my fingers as I brought them together.