Chapter 38: The Shadow of the Divine

The sky stretched out above, endless and cloudless, painted in a deep blue that seemed almost unreal. The wind blew gently, bending the tall grass around me as we walked. Each step on this land seemed to echo differently, as if the very earth was sending back a resonance from the past. Yet, it wasn't the sounds of the outside world that filled my head, but the voices of my past, the shadows of Eyoma.

Memories of my childhood came back in waves, fragmented but vivid. Eyoma, that once prosperous land, now swept away by oblivion. The colors, the sounds, the smells of my youth. The laughter of children in the stone streets of my village, the vast green fields that stretched endlessly. The evening gatherings, where everyone, regardless of age, status, or role, found their place under the stars. A people united, not by wealth or power, but by a bond stronger, purer. A bond forged in community, in the sharing of everything life had to offer. I still remembered my mother smiling tenderly as she told me stories of the Ancients, those who, it was said, had shaped Eyoma with wisdom and love.

My father's voice echoed in my thoughts: "We are the guardians of this world, Alaric. Our people live to serve, protect, and honor the land. The Ancients left us their wisdom. We must preserve it, no matter the cost."

At that time, my father's words felt heavy with meaning, almost inaccessible. How could a child understand the gravity of such responsibilities? Yet, even as a boy, I felt that weight resting on my shoulders. Every smile, every proud look, every moment spent listening to the legends of our people, was silent preparation for what was to come.

But that innocence, that sense of belonging, had been shattered. War had come like a black storm, sweeping away everything in its path. The Mpaya, greedy beings, burning with the desire to conquer and dominate. Their arrival had turned our peaceful lives into a nightmare. They came for the élimo, that precious resource our land cherished. It could heal all ailments, and with it, we had built a unique prosperity. But that blessing was also our curse. What we didn't understand was that others, far away in distant realms, coveted this treasure. And when the Mpaya took the élimo, they also took the lives of my people.

I still see the flames devouring my village. The screams. The cries. The lost looks of men, women, and children fleeing, their lives destroyed in hours. And amid that chaos, the Mark of the Dawn appeared on my forehead, burning, incomprehensible. It was as if the Ancients themselves had carved destiny into my skin.

As I walked in the silence of the night, my companions around me, a sudden thought struck me, as if lightning had pierced through the darkness. I wasn't merely a survivor. I wasn't just a warrior. I was more than that. The power coursing through me, this mysterious force, was unique. The others around me might be powerful, but none of them had what I had. This connection to the Ancients, this mark that bound me to them—it was a sign. A sign that I wasn't destined just to survive. No. I was destined to rule.

The thought, strange and unsettling at first, began to take root in my mind, growing stronger with each passing moment.

I had always dreamed of revenge, of showing the Mpaya that they couldn't destroy a people without paying the price. But that wasn't enough anymore. I had to go further. I had to show them that their greed, their desire for domination, was nothing compared to real power. I had to show them what true power was. And that power… was me.

The weight of that realization filled me, leaving me breathless. My fingers clenched, my muscles tensed. I felt a force, an anger, but also a clarity I had never known before. I wasn't just a mere mortal. I knew that now.

"They will see...," I whispered to myself, almost in a trance. "They will see that only a true god deserves adoration. And as God has been killed, the one who comes closest to divinity must be exalted. I am the one closest to the divine, and the world will kneel before me."

The idea, this terrifying idea, took up more and more space in my mind. But it didn't scare me. It reassured me. This was the truth. My truth. I had to rebuild Eyoma. Not just to avenge my people, but to restore its greatness. It was no longer just a lost land. It was my kingdom, my destiny. I had to gather the survivors, if there were any left, and forge a new empire. An empire worthy of the Ancients, worthy of me.

My body still bore the marks of recent battles, my muscles burned, and my thoughts were clouded, but this only reinforced my feeling of invincibility. Despite the blows, despite the pain, I was still standing. And if I could survive this, what could stop me? Nothing and no one.

Kimpa Vita, walking beside me, seemed to observe me in silence, as if sensing the change in me. Her eyes studied my features, as if trying to understand what was happening behind the mask of confidence I now wore. Yet, she said nothing. She merely watched, analyzed, perhaps judged.

My episodes of narcissism, those moments where I felt the shadow of the divine within me, were becoming more frequent. Sometimes they were brief, fleeting, but other times they consumed me, taking control of my thoughts. Those around me might think I was becoming arrogant, that I was letting my power go to my head, but it was deeper than that. I was meant to rule, to show the world what real power was.

Each enemy I defeated only confirmed this truth. Each victory, each battle won, brought me closer to that reality. I was invincible.

And soon, everyone would know it.

We approached a village, a place where we would stop before continuing our journey. My thoughts were focused on the challenges ahead, but another thought never left my mind: I had to give God a land. That land would be Eyoma, my Eyoma. I would rebuild the kingdom. Not just for myself, but for everything it represented. The world needed a guide, a living god, and I would be that god.

In the shadow of these growing thoughts, I marched, determined, more convinced than ever of the greatness of my destiny. The world belonged to me, and soon, it would be aware of it.