Chapter 9: Aftermath and Cliffhanger

As e wan go, dem begin shout from below:

Fear never still allow some people rest. Dem no fit hide their mouth even for pain.

"Ifunanya, you fit beat us?"

"We no be core Disciplinary Council, but you no fit fight us o!"

"Once we report to Disciplinary Elder, you no go fit survive!"

"You don die finish!"

For Naija, this na the kind talk wey people dey use form bold after dem collect beating.

As Ikenna hear, e pause for air.

Ikenna just float, e wrapper dey fly for breeze. E no even look back—e confidence dey show say e no dey fear anybody.

Strong breeze dey blow the blue wrapper, e dey fly for air.

The wrapper na real traditional one—blue like river Niger, pattern sharp like Benin art. The breeze just dey dance with am as Ikenna dey float above hill.

Ikenna just look down, talk coldly, "If death dey call you midnight, you wan rush go die eleven."

For Naija, na proverb dey always end fight. This one loud, sharp. Everybody for ground just mute.

The one wey injure small stand up, shout, "Ifunanya, make I tell you: senior brother no like you since, e dey wait to finish you. Bring out junior sister Sacred Golden Seed now, maybe you go survive."

This kain gossip fit scatter family for village. To call person secret for open na big disgrace. Ifunanya heart cut. E dey show for her spirit face.

As Ifunanya hear senior brother name, her soul begin shake. The thing pain am.

E pain reach bone. Ifunanya spirit just dey weep; e dey show for her body, even Ikenna fit feel am.

If na before, Ifunanya for don break, give them the Golden Seed, talk one kind emotional thing like—

E for just surrender, dey beg, dey explain—like person wey dey beg elders for forgiveness.

Na for una I keep am since.

She for try justify am, dey show say her heart pure, but the world no dey always reward good heart.

She go touch herself, pain body and heart.

You fit see as Ifunanya spirit dey hug herself, dey shake small, dey cry for inside.

Last last, if she die for senior brother hand, e go pain am pass.

For Naija, heartbreak dey kill pass disease. This kain betrayal, e no dey heal quick.

"Bring out Sacred Golden Seed!"

"Bring out Sacred Golden Seed!"

Dem shout.

Their voice loud, dey echo for hill. Na real mob mentality.

Ikenna just dey dig ear, look confused. "E be like say I catch cold. My ear dey block."

Ikenna dey play with them, dey form say e no dey hear nonsense. For Naija, na so you dey use joke fight pain.

"I dey hear say person wan enter my Ancestral Spirit Banner?"

As e talk, one small black flag appear for hand.

For Naija, this kain thing na real juju. The flag dark, e get markings wey only elders sabi read.

Na black forbidden banner—e get heavy power, no be small.

If you see am, you go run. Even elders go dey warn say 'no touch that kain thing.'

Three months ago, fellowship go forbidden ground go train. Na only main woman enter ancient secret place, get Sacred Golden Seed and this black forbidden banner.

Everybody dey wonder how she take survive. For spiritual world, na only person wey ancestors love fit come out alive.

No matter your level, if you swallow Sacred Golden Seed, you go jump reach divine stage straight, no wahala.

Na shortcut to greatness, but e dey always get price. For Naija, elders dey always warn about quick blessing.

Main woman no use am, say she go keep am as bride price.

E mean say she still get hope for marriage, dey prepare for future, even as others dey plan against am.

The black forbidden banner, na ancient wicked priest make am, to dey collect soul. Main woman no like evil things, so she no use am.

She dey always dey avoid evil, even when wahala dey knock door. E show say her mind still dey pure, even if world dey dirty.

"Which Ancestral Spirit Banner?"

"You think say we be mumu? That thing black anyhow—how e go be Ancestral Spirit Banner?"

Their fear dey hide under mouth. Na real Naija style, dey use bold talk cover shaking.

Dem dey fear, but still no believe say Ifunanya fit do anything.

Dem dey test her, dey try push her go edge. For Naija, if you push person reach wall, na only fight remain.

But—

Ikenna no wan waste time. E just form hand seal, activate the banner.

The movement sharp, like Babalawo wey dey chant. For spiritual world, na only small sign fit turn life upside down.

Power of law burst out. Black light shoot, pierce dem body. Even their soul enter the banner.

The thing fast, powerful. For village, elders for don run, children for dey cry. Here, na only spirit dey waka.

"Ah—!"

Their cry loud, but nobody dey hear for normal ear. E enter air, e vanish quick.

Inside the banner, you fit hear small small cry.

If person put ear, e fit pick their lamentation, like spirit wey dey find way go house.

If you no hustle for spiritual growth, na inside banner you go meet your mates.

For Naija, dem go say, 'if you no wise up, you go end for basket.' Here, na banner you go enter.

Everything happen fast—even Ifunanya never react.

The speed dey shocking. Spirit just dey look, dey learn. Ikenna no even break sweat.

Ikenna look main hall for hill top. "Make I see—who else wan enter my Ancestral Spirit Banner?"

Na real challenge. For spiritual world, na only person wey get strong mind fit reply. For Naija, na so elders dey call out enemies for village square. The air just heavy, everybody dey hold breath, dey wait for next move. Somewhere, a new enemy dey plan.