The Shadows Gather

Volume I: Children of the Earth

Chapter 4: The Shadows Gather

The sun was already high in the sky when the search began.

Eze Nnobi stood at the entrance of the palace, watching as his guards, dressed in ceremonial armor, marched out in neat lines toward the village. Their mission was clear—find the child of the earth spoken of in the prophecy. The council had been thorough in their planning. They would search every home, question every family, and leave no stone unturned. Whoever this child was, they would be found.

Beside the king stood Udochukwu, his most trusted councilor, whose sharp eyes gleamed with anticipation. He had been the first to suggest the search, and his fervor for rooting out potential threats had not wavered. "We'll find them, Your Majesty," Udochukwu assured him. "And when we do, we'll know how to proceed."

Eze Nnobi gave a curt nod, his expression impassive. "I want no harm to come to any of our people," he said. "We must handle this with care. The spirits are watching."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Udochukwu replied, though his eyes betrayed a hunger for more than just answers.

The king turned his gaze toward the horizon, where the village of Umudike lay nestled between the hills and the forest. The people there were simple, hard-working, and loyal. Yet, within their ranks, there could be a force capable of unseating the throne itself.

This was no ordinary threat. This was destiny itself unraveling before him.

Adanna's Dilemma

Adanna paced the floor of her chambers, her thoughts a whirl of confusion and frustration. She had overheard her father speaking to the council, his voice low but stern as he ordered the search for the child of the earth. Even now, as she stood in her room, she could hear the distant sounds of the guards fanning out into the village, their orders clear.

A child born of the earth. The phrase gnawed at her. The Oracle's words had felt personal, as though directed not at some unknown figure, but at her. But how could that be? She was a princess, born of royal blood, not some mythical figure destined to reshape the future.

And yet… why did the prophecy weigh so heavily on her heart?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. It was Nkem, as always. The high priest's daughter entered quietly, her expression serious.

"I heard they've started the search," Nkem said, closing the door behind her. "The guards are everywhere, questioning everyone. Do they really believe this child could threaten the throne?"

Adanna stopped pacing, her arms crossed. "I don't know what they believe. All I know is that the prophecy has everyone on edge. And it's only going to get worse if they don't find what they're looking for."

Nkem frowned, stepping closer. "What about you? You were there, Adanna. The Oracle spoke to you directly. Don't you think…?"

Adanna cut her off with a sharp look. "No," she said firmly. "It can't be me. Whatever the Oracle meant, it has nothing to do with me. I'm not a child of the earth. I'm the daughter of a king."

Nkem looked unconvinced, but she didn't push the matter. Instead, she sat down on the edge of Adanna's bed, her hands resting in her lap. "So what do we do? Do we just wait and see what the guards find?"

Adanna sighed, running a hand through her long braids. "What choice do we have? If my father thinks this child is a threat, he'll stop at nothing to find them."

"But what if the child isn't a threat?" Nkem asked quietly. "What if the prophecy is being misinterpreted? The Oracle's words aren't always what they seem."

Adanna didn't respond right away. Deep down, she knew Nkem was right. The Oracle's prophecies were never straightforward. They were riddles, meant to be deciphered over time. But the council was treating this one as though it were a warning of imminent danger.

And what if it wasn't?

"I don't know," Adanna admitted softly. "But something doesn't feel right about all this."

Nkem nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe we should find out for ourselves. If this child is real… and if they're innocent, we can't let them be hurt."

Adanna looked at her friend, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "You mean… we should go after them?"

Nkem met her gaze, her eyes determined. "I'm saying we shouldn't sit here and do nothing. If there's even a chance that the prophecy is being twisted to serve someone's agenda, we have to act."

Adanna felt a strange sense of clarity wash over her. Nkem was right. The child of the earth, whoever they were, didn't deserve to be hunted like prey. And if the prophecy was truly about them, then maybe it was her duty to protect them—not as a princess, but as someone who understood the spirits better than anyone else in the palace.

"Alright," Adanna said, her voice firm. "We'll find them. But we have to be careful. If my father or Udochukwu finds out…"

"They won't," Nkem assured her. "We'll be smart about it."

Adanna nodded, feeling a newfound sense of purpose rise within her. She wasn't sure what the future held, but one thing was certain—she couldn't stand idly by while her kingdom was swept up in fear and uncertainty.

Alozie's Realization

Meanwhile, in the village of Umudike, Alozie was oblivious to the hunt that had begun in the palace. He had spent the morning in the fields, helping his mother and younger siblings tend to the crops. It was hard, backbreaking work, but it kept his mind focused—kept him from thinking too much about the vision.

But as the sun climbed higher in the sky, he began to notice the unease around him. The villagers spoke in hushed tones, their eyes darting toward the road that led to the palace. A group of guards had passed through earlier, their presence stirring whispers and rumors.

Alozie wiped the sweat from his brow, pausing to glance over at his mother, who was bent over a row of yam plants, her hands caked with dirt. She hadn't said much since the guards had passed, but Alozie could sense the tension in her shoulders.

"What's going on?" he asked, breaking the silence.

His mother straightened up, squinting at him in the harsh light of midday. "The king's men are searching for someone," she said, her voice low. "A child, they say. Born of the earth."

Alozie froze, his heart skipping a beat. The words struck him like a hammer to the chest, the memory of his vision flashing before his eyes.

Born of the earth… destined for the sky… You will walk with the gods or fall with the mortals.

Was it possible? Could the prophecy truly be about him?

He swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady. "Why are they looking for this child?"

His mother glanced around, as though the trees might be listening. "I don't know. But there's been talk of a prophecy, something the Oracle said. People are scared."

Alozie's stomach twisted in knots. The vision had been strange enough, but now, with the guards scouring the village and the whispers of a prophecy in the air, it was becoming harder to dismiss.

Could he really be the child they were looking for?

He didn't want to believe it. He wasn't a warrior or a leader. He was just a farmer's son, a simple man trying to survive. But the vision… the spirits… they had chosen him for something. And now, it seemed, the entire kingdom was looking for him.

He had to make a decision. Should he stay hidden, hoping that the guards would pass him by, or should he face whatever fate the spirits had laid before him?

Olaedo's words echoed in his mind: Sometimes we don't get to choose, Alozie. Sometimes the path chooses us.

He didn't know what to do, but one thing was clear—he couldn't stay here. If the prophecy was about him, the king's men would find him eventually. And when they did, he didn't know what they would do.

"I need to go," Alozie said suddenly, his voice tight with urgency.

His mother looked at him, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What do you mean? Where are you going?"

Alozie shook his head, already moving toward the edge of the field. "I'll explain later. I just… I need to find someone."

His mother called after him, but he didn't stop. He couldn't explain, not yet. All he knew was that he needed answers—and fast.

As he hurried through the village, his mind raced with possibilities. The prophecy, the vision, the spirits—they were all connected, and he was at the center of it. He just didn't know why.

But he would find out. And when he did, he would be ready for whatever came next.

The Hunt

Back at the palace, Udochukwu stood in the shadows of the council chamber, his eyes narrowed as he watched the guards return with their reports. So far, no one had found anything, but Udochukwu was patient. He knew it was only a matter of time before the child was found.

The Oracle's words had been clear, and he was determined to see the prophecy fulfilled—on his terms.

As the guards filed out, Udochukwu turned to Eze Nnobi, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "It won't be long now, Your Majesty. The child of the earth will be found. And when they are, we will have the power to reshape this kingdom."

Eze Nnobi said nothing, his expression unreadable. But Udochukwu could see the doubt in the king's eyes, the uncertainty that gnawed at him. That doubt was a weakness, and Udochukwu intended to exploit it.

The prophecy was more than just a warning—it was an opportunity. And Udochukwu would stop at nothing to seize it.