The Ceremony

Standing not far away from the platform, Ochieng' saw six familiar figures wearing vexed expressions. They were Kuru, the four lions and Jade Eagle. They were bound by an energy that came from a creature behind them. The creature was no different from humans: if not for its humongous physique which was twice the size of normal humans, it would not have been any less human. It stood there calmly not worried about its captives.

The creature that had tried to capture Kuru and the others failed. It almost lost its manhood from that incident. As it fled, Kuru and the others went after it. Even though they had been careful, the creature still realized that it was being followed. It took the opportunity to lure the six to its master who had sent it. That is how they were captured. In any case, the creature's master was extremely powerful.

"You...want me to k...kill them?" Ochieng' asked the High Priest with reddened eyes.

"You must be on our side to help our Lord win. This will just be a test of loyalty." The priest smiled playing with the necklace on his right hand apathetically.

"Okay... I will do just that."

Sighing heavily, Ochieng' declared before leaping off the platform. He harried towards his friends with tearful eyes.

"Ochieng', are you really going to see us dead?" As soon as he was a meter before them, Kuru asked with look of contempt.

"I have already pledged loyalty to them, if this is what will make me part of them, I won't mind doing it." Ochieng' forced a smile.

Kuru wanted to say something but suddenly heard a voice in his head.

"Kuru, I can never harm you and my dear friends. Beside you are beasts but to me, they are a father and brothers. I don't have time to explain. These people have really tortured me since they separated me from you and they believe that I have been broken. Unfortunately for them, I am stronger than before..."

"Pu!" Kuru spurted on the ground in disdain before saying to Ochieng', "Then go ahead. If killing your own to serve your enemy is what you deem as appropriate, then do it. I have to worn you though, your end will be worse."

Understanding what Ochieng' was saying through psychic means, Kuru decided to also put up a front so as not to be suspected. After Ochieng' told him that they could communicate through their minds, Kuru willed, "Hehe, it will be an interesting fight if you are within them, what are we supposed to do then?"

"I just want the six of you to not resist me. I want to discreetly teleport you back to Keniya while I kill six Black Fiends and disguise them as you."

"But, your animals already think they have been betrayed, how..."

"Do not worry about them. I have already talked to them. Just get ready."

"You are wasting a lot of time young man."

Seeing Ochieng' 'hesitate' upon hearing Kuru's words, the huge man warned.

"Harumph! Kuru, whether my end is worse or not is my problem. All I have to do now is to do what is required of me."

Harrumphing coldly, Ochieng' lifted his arm and a sword appeared in his hand. One by one, he slit the throats of his companions. After all was done, he patted his hands before going back to the platform.

"I am done." He said.

"Good work." The High Priest nodded in approval before taking a glance at the enforcer.

The enforcer upon noticing the priest's look of approval smiled in self-satisfaction. After all, it was the one who had broken that young man.

It may look like a long time had passed but from the moment Ochieng' left the platform to 'kill' his companions to the time he returned only a minute had passed.

"Now, please kneel because I want to make you the servant of our Lord officially...good. In my hand is a necklace that symbolizes the power of our Lord. When you meet his assistants a month from now, you will give to them." The priest lifted the necklace with a smile before putting it on Ochieng's neck.

"With the powers bestowed to me by the assistants of our creator, I welcome you in the Crimson land. Here, we love brothers, keep peace and work hard to make our land prosper. As you know, our greatest enemy is humans from Keniya, you must kill them without a second thought..."

And like that, as his voice reverberated in the coliseum, the tip of his golden staff released smoke-like energies. The entire place was filled with shouts of applause. It was an atmosphere of joy for the time they had waited for so long, was finally at their doorsteps. No one even noticed that there were six random seats that were now empty yet were occupied when the ceremony began.

...

It was already dark. The chirping of the crickets and the laughing of hyenas were the sounds that filled the peaceful night. The chosen ones were scattered near the ruins of their hall and all of them were lying peacefully on the ground waiting to catch a sleep. That was a hard thing since they had buried their head earlier in the day. The hooting of a certain owl kept reminding them of the misfortune that had befallen them.

"Chosen ones, please sleep not my dear ones for our land is in trouble. Our Ordainer has been captured and everyday we lose track of him. Our dwelling place has collapsed and our hope I know is gone. But, how can we sleep, when our enemies are already in our land in large numbers. They are hungry for blood and we know not how many they will kill tonight. I know it is tough for all of us, but sleep is a luxury right now, and we cannot afford it. Some of your fellow men are now captives, some places are now flooded with blood, some homes are now empty. Go out there and give them shelter in the deserts of the Northern areas. Make sure they're hidden from the Black Fiends, for they have come, and are still coming."

When they thought they could sleep, an anxious and sorrowful voice sounded. They all stood up and bowed respectfully.

"The One from above."

They did not have to know that it was Heir of Communication's voice, for that was not important.

"Please stop the formalities, every second is worth several lives, please go and save my people." The voice sounded again.

Knowing that this was serious, the chosen ones started performing their magics and one by one, they disappeared. Only the general guardian, Mboya, Mwiga, Okeyo, Apeleka, Labosa and Jakony were left behind.