Chapter 2

The hall that would usually contain up to 150 people spread apart was now only a waiting area since the examination scheduled for today was a practical one. The front desk had a big gourd with an open mouth, and participants would go up and pick a number that they would use for identification during the exams. Since the exam itself hadn't started, I decided to find a seat and wait for further instructions. I placed my head on the table in the hopes that I would fall asleep, but the chatter from nearly a hundred students was like the buzzing of bees; extremely annoying. It was then I heard wisps of conversation from nearby students. And as usual, they were talking about me. "Is he here?" one boy asked. "Yes. That fool, sometimes I wonder why he even tries. It's not like he can do anything amazing anyway." Another replied. "Hahaha, you're talking as if he can do anything at all." Said a third, laughing as if he heard the funniest joke in the world. "Let me tell you some inside information. The lecturers from Katunga Royal Academy are here to scout. And I know for sure they'll only take someone like Olaolu, the class genius. Apart from him they also have to consider some of the students with important backgrounds. Nobody is going to even think of him." He sneered. I, on the other hand, perked up my ears. If the lecturers of Katunga were here to scout, then it means they have opened their doors again. They do not take students every year. No one knows why the school runs on such a policy. But when they do, there's usually a lot of people eager to sign up. And it's no wonder since they produced some of the best warriors and most influential people in the Oyo Empire. But I wasn't interested in all that. What this simply meant for me was that my cousin had finally graduated and was coming home. Though it was a good thing, I deemed it as an annoying subject to dwell on. Especially since he was always looking at me with eyes of pity. He liked to help me out and train with me. But in sparring matches, he would never use his juju, since he thinks it would hurt my pride. I rose up my head and stretched my arms, startling those boys who were making jest of me moments before. I shook my head and breathed deeply. "This year, I am going to ask him for a serious match. He had better use his juju." I thought to myself. Just then the door opened and our teacher, Mrs. Olatunbosun, came in, her round figure filling up the doorway. She had thick arms and legs that seemed as if they had been filled with water as they jiggled whenever she moved, and the black tribal marks on her face seemed to disappear into her dark skin. Her eyes were dark and looked at the students as if they were ants and her Students rushed to take their seats, the fear of her name and her strict nature echoing soundly in their heads and reflecting on their faces. I could have sworn she smiled when she saw them scatter and suddenly become silent like meek little lambs, but I was too busy thanking God that I had stopped my fake sleeping act just before she came in and simultaneously praying that she didn't pick on me today. Unfortunately, it seemed her day wouldn't be complete if she didn't, so she did.

"Oludare…" She called, stopping directly at my table. "…Is something the matter? You look a little green today." "N-nothing ma, I'm fine ma. Ah, g-good morning ma." I said while bolting upright from my seat. She looked at me and, satisfied that she had successfully ingrained the fear of God into me, smiled and began to slowly walk away. "It's good that you're alright. Just try not to trip yourself when you're out there. In any case, your condition can't be blamed on me. I still don't know why the gods agreed to embarrass your family and give them an incompetent like you for a son. Well, it's not my business now is it?" she sighed, and her statement gave rise to snickers from amongst my mates, many of whom shared the same sentiment. I shook in absolute rage and anger. I wanted nothing more than to wipe the floor clean with their faces and make them apologize to my parents and all of my family's ancestors. I took a deep breath, and having calmed myself, sat back down.

"En?! Who told you to sit?!" Mrs. Olatunbosun suddenly stared at me with eyes full of contempt. I gulped and quickly stood back up. I should have known a simple taunt wasn't the end of her malicious act. Now I had freely given the class an opportunity to laugh at me again. "Silence! And you…," she pointed a fat finger at me "…Remain standing." She looked at me for a while and with a long loud hiss going "Mtcheeew", she proceeded to take her seat at the front desk of the hall. After ascertaining that she had the class of fifty's full attention, she cleared her throat and began to speak.

"As you all know, today's exam is going to be a practical exam. This is your last exam as a student in this institution and so you must not take it lightly. Out there are scouts from prestigious academies and institutes, including the very famous Katunga Academy, so you're all advised to comport yourselves and do your utmost to secure a place on their lists. Any student who fails to make an impression will only have themselves to blame and live their lives in utmost shame." At this point, she turns to me and I can clearly see those eyes of contempt staring at me again. My body begins to shake and beads of sweat form above my brow. "No…," My mind screams "… I will not let her intimidate me again. Not today." I took yet another deep breath (I've been taking a lot of those lately) and steadied my body. She smirked and continued. "Each of you will come up and select a number from the gourd. That number will be called and you will be expected to appear in front of the judges in the school arena. You will then proceed to carry out your examination. At the end of the exam, you will not come back through this door but rather go to another waiting room you'll be directed to as your results would be announced later today. If you sustain any injuries, you'll be directed to the medical bay instead for treatment. But on no condition are you to leave the school grounds before the results are announced at the closing bell. Is that understood?" "Yes, ma!" chorused the class. "Good. Now come up one by one and receive your numbers. Row by row please." One by one, I watched my mates get up and go to the gourd and pick a number. When it was my turn, I went forward to receive my number and was on my way back to my seat, only to trip over someone's extended foot. "Ogbeni, watch where you step. Don't dirty my shoes for me." Said a boy in an arrogant tone. I sighed. I knew this guy, he was one of those hell-bent on ruining my day, and life in general. And yep, he was the same person I had been avoiding all morning. "I'm sorry Tunji." I apologized, even though I know he put his leg out there to trip me on purpose. He had timed it perfectly so I wouldn't know till the last minute. "You're sorry? If you're sorry, why aren't you cleaning my shoes for me? Don't you know how expensive they are?" Adetunji said, stressing the word expensive. He was the son of a minor chief here in Ilorin, but a chief is still a chief. I walked away without saying a word more. Though he wasn't brilliant, he was favored by the teachers de to his father's influence and could easily get away with anything. At least, almost anything. "Adetunji Adedokun. No noise in my class." Said Mrs. Olatunbosun. Even though she picks on me, she only does it when I give her an excuse to do so. So, in a sense, she's quite fair. In a sense.

Tunji hissed and snapped his forefinger and thumb at me, a warning to expect him to pay me a visit soon. I sat down and ignored his antics. At the end of the day, I would just have to pay another visit to the medical bay. That place was a second home to me, and the nurses there were kind to me as well. They would often treat me with their healing juju so that my parents wouldn't notice anything. They were my friends. Sort of. I sat in my seat, patiently waiting for my number to be called. I kept wondering what kind of exam this would be. If they required that I manifest some sort of juju, now that would be embarrassing. But if it was close rang combat technique they wished to see, then I would totally ace the exams. The reason I've survived this long in school is because of my combat prowess. Nobody is my match. After all, I trained under my father and grandfather and occasionally sparred with them. So I had a huge advantage in that area. If they asked for me to demonstrate that, then I was sure to pass my exams. The hall was slowly thinning out as it got to my turn. I was already thinking of taking a nap when I heard a shout.

"Number Thirty-Two! Come in for your exam!" I glanced at my number and making sure it was me, I got up and walked towards the door in the front right side of the hall. After hesitating for a moment to swallow back a bit of saliva, I pushed open the doors while the heavy drumming of my heartbeat signified either the beginning or the end of my fate.