Tunde took a deep breath as he gazed at the grand city before him. The Lost Kingdom of Udene.
Golden rooftops shimmered under the setting sun, and stone pathways wove through ancient buildings. Vines wrapped around tall towers, and Nsibidi symbols pulsed softly on the city walls, whispering forgotten secrets.
The Iwin hovered beside him, its glow flickering with excitement. "This place shouldn't exist. Udene was erased from all maps centuries ago."
Tunde gripped his staff, his heart pounding. Had he truly uncovered a forgotten civilization?
Two choices stood before him.
1. Enter openly and announce himself.
2. Sneak in quietly, in case the kingdom was hostile.
Tunde exhaled. This was no time for reckless bravery. If the city had been hidden for centuries, there was a reason.
He would sneak in.
The Forbidden Entrance
Tunde skirted along the edge of the towering stone walls, searching for a hidden way inside. His keen eyes spotted an overgrown archway, vines covering what seemed like a secret tunnel.
The Iwin hesitated. "This does not feel like an ordinary entrance, traveler."
Tunde nodded. "Then let's find out why."
He pushed aside the vines and stepped inside. The tunnel was dark and cool, the air thick with ancient dust. Carvings lined the walls scenes of warriors, kings, and a powerful masked figure holding a staff like his own.
Tunde's breath caught. What was this place?
Then, a whisper.
Not from the tunnel.
From the walls themselves.
"The traveler returns… but does he remember?"
Tunde froze. What did that mean?
A gust of wind rushed past him, and suddenly the ground disappeared.
The Trial of Memory
Tunde fell into darkness. His mind swirled as visions flooded in.
He saw a great war, warriors in golden armor battling shadowy figures. The masked figure from the carvings stood at the center, wielding the Guardian's Staff.
The staff glowed, shattering the shadows until a dark force struck the warrior down.
The vision shifted.
Tunde saw himself standing in this same city, but in another time. The people of Udene bowed before him, chanting his name.
The Guardian's Staff was in his hands.
Tunde's heart pounded. Was this real? Had he been here before?
Then, a voice echoed.
"Do you remember now, Tunde Adeyemi?"
Tunde gasped as light consumed him,
And he woke up.
The City Awakens
Tunde opened his eyes. He was no longer in the tunnel.
He was standing in the middle of the Lost Kingdom.
Crowds of people stared at him, whispering. Some dropped to their knees. Others stepped back in fear.
A man in royal robes approached, his face pale with shock.
"The Guardian… has returned."
Tunde's breath caught.
The people of Udene… knew him.
The Guardian's Return
Tunde's pulse raced as the people of Udene stared at him in awe and fear.
Some knelt. Others murmured among themselves, pointing at the Guardian's Staff in his grip. The royal figure in front of him a man in flowing white robes adorned with Nsibidi symbols stepped closer, his expression unreadable.
"The Guardian has returned," he repeated, his voice carrying weight.
Tunde swallowed hard. Had he truly been here before? The visions, the carvings in the tunnel… something connected him to this place. But he didn't remember.
He had two choices:
1. Demand answers about his past.
2. Pretend to remember to gain their trust.
Tunde clenched his jaw. Revealing his ignorance could be dangerous. He decided to play along.
He straightened his shoulders, gripping the staff tighter. "Yes. I have returned."
The crowd gasped. Some wept, others chanted in unison.
The royal man studied him carefully. "Then you know why you have come back?"
Tunde hesitated. He needed to be careful. "I must complete what I started."
The man's eyes darkened. "And you remember the price?"
Tunde's stomach twisted. Price? What price?
He forced a nod. "Of course."
The man watched him for a long moment before turning to the crowd. "The Guardian walks among us once more. The time of reckoning has come."
The crowd erupted into cheers and prayers. But Tunde's mind swirled with confusion.
What had he just committed to?
The Throne of Secrets
Tunde was led through the ancient streets of Udene, past golden temples, high towers, and glowing lanterns. The people whispered his name with reverence and fear.
He was brought into the Royal Hall, a grand chamber filled with historical relics and Nsibidi-painted walls. At the center sat a magnificent golden throne empty.
The royal man, now identified as King Obasi, gestured for Tunde to stand before it.
"Sit, Guardian. The throne of your ancestors awaits."
Tunde's breath hitched. His ancestors?
Slowly, he approached and lowered himself onto the throne.
As soon as he sat,
A pulse of energy surged through his body.
His vision blurred. The room vanished.
He was somewhere else.
AMemory Unlocked
Tunde stood in a vast plain, the sky burning orange with twilight. In front of him stood a warrior in golden armor the same masked figure from the carvings.
The warrior removed his mask.
Tunde gasped.
It was him.
A past version of himself, centuries ago.
The warrior Tunde spoke. "You swore to protect Udene. But you failed."
Tunde's chest tightened. "I don't remember."
The warrior's eyes darkened. "You will."
The sky cracked, shadows rising from the ground. A monstrous figure emerged, wrapped in darkness, eyes burning red.
The Shadow King.
The warrior Tunde raised his staff, chanting Nsibidi spells, but the shadow struck him down.
The vision shattered.
Tunde gasped as he returned to the present, seated on the golden throne. His hands were shaking.
King Obasi's voice was solemn. "Now, you remember."
Tunde stared at him. "That… that was me?"
The king nodded. "You were our greatest warrior. But in your final battle, the Shadow King cursed you. You lost your memories, and your soul was reborn outside Udene."
Tunde's blood ran cold. A curse. A lost past. A kingdom waiting for his return.
And a Shadow King… still waiting to rise.
King Obasi stepped forward. "Guardian, the time has come to fulfill your destiny."
Tunde inhaled sharply. Destiny?
He barely knew who he was. But one thing was certain Udene was in danger.
And he was the only one who could stop it.