Chapter 18

The elders sat in silence, their eyes fixed on Kuye, waiting for him to continue. Kuye took a deep breath before speaking again.

"My son Loye had a dream. A dream that has led him to seek training as a Mage Warrior. He believes that he has been chosen by the gods to fight against an ancient evil that threatens to destroy our world." Kuye's voice was heavy with emotion as he spoke.

The elders exchanged glances again, their faces reflecting their concern. Kito was the first to break the silence. "Do you believe his dream to be true, Kuye?" he asked.

Kuye hesitated before answering. "I do not know," he said finally. "But I cannot ignore the possibility that it might be. And if there is even a chance that my son's dream is real, then we must take it seriously."

The elders sat in stunned silence as Kuye finished his account of Loye's dream and his journey to find the old hunter who would teach him the ways of the mage warriors. For a few moments, no one spoke, and the only sound in the hut was the crackling of the fire in the center.

Finally, Iya, spoke up. "Kuye, are you certain that Loye is meant to become a mage warrior? We have not heard of such a thing for generations. And even if the old hunter is still alive and living in the forest, who is to say that he will be willing to teach our young clansman?"

Kuye nodded gravely. "I am certain, Adisa. The spirit that visited Loye was powerful and spoke with great authority. And Loye himself is convinced that this is his calling. He would not have set off on this journey otherwise."

Another elder, Okon, spoke up. "But what of the dangers of the Kiji forest? It is a place of great mystery and peril, and few who venture there return."

Kuye looked at Okon steadily. "I know the risks, Jide. But Loye is not an ordinary hunter. He, like the rest of us, has the blood of the mage warriors in his veins, and if anyone can survive the perils of the forest, it is him."

There was a murmur of assent from the other elders, who had all known Loye since he was a boy. They all knew of his innate abilities to perceive and understand what others his age and even his elders could not, however, many of them secretly wondered if he might indeed have the potential to become a mage warrior.

Iya spoke again. "But what of the prophecy, Kuye? You know as well as I that our ancestors foretold the end of the mage warriors, and the coming of a great darkness that would consume our land. Are you willing to risk unleashing such a force?"

Seeing the hesitant and worried elders, Kito stood up, his eyes scanning the faces of the elders in the dimly lit hut. He spoke with a calm and measured voice that commanded respect. "My fellow elders, we stand at a crossroads. The path ahead is shrouded in uncertainty, and the decisions we make now will have far-reaching consequences for our people. It is a time for us to remember our ancestors and the wisdom they imparted to us. They too faced great challenges and were forced to make difficult choices. But they did not shy away from their responsibilities. They remained true to their values and upheld the traditions that have guided us for generations."

Kito paused, his eyes locking with each of the elders in turn. "Let us not forget that we are more than just a clan. We are a family, bound together by blood and tradition. And like any family, we must face our challenges together, with unity and strength. If Loye's dream is indeed a calling from the gods, then we must support him in his journey. And if it is not, then we must guide him back to the path that is meant for him. But above all, we must remain true to our values and principles. Only then can we face whatever challenges the future may bring, with the wisdom and courage of our ancestors guiding us."

Kito sat back down, and the elders sat in silence, contemplating his words. They knew that he spoke the truth, and that the decisions they made in the coming days would shape the destiny of their clan. But they also knew that they could rely on each other, and on the traditions that had sustained them for generations, to see them through the trials ahead.