Tunde clenched his fists. His mind was a storm of questions, but one thing was clear Udene was in danger. The Shadow King was waiting, and if he was truly the kingdom's Guardian, he needed to be ready.
He chose to train with Udene's warriors.
King Obasi gave a satisfied nod. "A wise decision. The Shadow King is patient, but his power grows stronger each day. You must regain what was taken from you."
Tunde exhaled. "Then let's begin."
The Warrior's Camp
Tunde was led to Ajochi Fields, an ancient training ground surrounded by towering stone pillars. Udene's finest warriors stood in formation, their armor gleaming under the morning sun.
At the center was General Nkemdilim, a fierce-looking woman with braided hair and a scar across her cheek. She studied Tunde with sharp eyes.
"So, you're the lost Guardian," she said, voice laced with skepticism.
Tunde nodded. "I don't remember everything, but I'm ready to learn."
She smirked. "We'll see about that."
Without warning, she lunged at him.
Tunde barely dodged in time. The General moved like a shadow, her blade slicing through the air.
Instinct kicked in.
Tunde spun, raising his staff just in time to block her next strike. Sparks flew as metal clashed against wood.
The warriors watched in silence.
General Nkemdilim grinned. "Not bad. You still have something left in you."
Tunde's breath came fast. "Was that a test?"
She nodded. "And you passed barely."
She turned to the warriors. "Prepare the trials! The Guardian must remember who he is."
The soldiers roared in approval.
Tunde's heart pounded. What had he just signed up for?
The Trials of the Guardian
Over the next three moons, Tunde endured gruelling training.
Trial of the Blade: He sparred against Udene's strongest swordsmen, learning the lost combat styles of his past life.
Trial of the Spirit: He meditated in the Caverns of Echoes, where whispers of past Guardians tested his will.
Trial of the Elements: He learned to wield Nsibidi magic, controlling fire, wind, and earth through ancient symbols.
At first, he struggled. His body ached. His mind resisted.
But something awoke within him.
The Guardian had never truly left.
Warning from the Shadows
On the night of the final trial, Tunde sat alone beneath the Moonstone Tree, recovering from training. His staff pulsed softly in his grip.
A cold wind blew through the trees.
Then, a voice.
"You cannot stop what is coming, Guardian."
Tunde shot up, eyes scanning the darkness.
A figure in black robes stood at the edge of the trees, face hidden beneath a hood. The air around them shimmered with dark energy.
Tunde gripped his staff. "Who are you?"
The figure chuckled, stepping closer. "I serve the true ruler of Udene."
Tunde's blood turned cold. "The Shadow King."
The figure raised a hand. Dark mist swirled around their fingers. "He knows you are preparing. And he is waiting."**
Tunde's heart pounded. "Tell him I'm coming."
The figure chuckled again. "Oh, he already knows."
Then, a blast of shadow erupted.
Tunde barely leapt away in time as the figure vanished into darkness.
The wind stilled. The forest was silent once more.
But Tunde knew the truth.
The Shadow King was watching.
And the final battle was drawing closer.
The Hunt for the Lost Relics
Tunde could not afford to wait. If the Shadow King was watching, then time was running out. He needed power more than just his staff, more than just his memories.
He needed the relics of the first Guardians.
Tunde stood before King Obasi and General Nkemdilim the next morning. "I must find the lost relics," he said firmly.
The king frowned. "A dangerous path, Guardian. The relics have been hidden for centuries."
General Nkemdilim crossed her arms. "And if the Shadow King knows of your search, he will send his own forces after them."
Tunde clenched his jaw. "Then I'll get to them first."
The king studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. There are three relics, scattered across Udene."
He turned to a nearby wall and pressed his palm against a Nsibidi symbol. The stone shifted, revealing an ancient map.
Three glowing points pulsed across the kingdom.
1. The Mask of Omenka – buried beneath the ruins of Odogwu's Tomb, deep in the western mountains.
2. The Ring of Ezomo – lost in the depths of Ekechi's Swamp, guarded by a spirit.
3. The Sword of Obiajulu – hidden within the sacred temple of Ala's Chosen, a place long abandoned.
Tunde inhaled sharply. Each relic held a piece of his past.
And now, he had to claim them.
The Journey Begins
With General Nkemdilim's blessing, Tunde set out at dawn, carrying only his staff, a leather satchel, and his determination.
His first destination: Odogwu's Tomb.
For two days, he journeyed west, through dense forests, across rocky cliffs, and past villages where whispers of the Shadow King's return were growing.
By the third night, he reached the foot of the Western Mountains.
But something felt… off.
The wind was too still. The trees too silent.
Then a movement in the shadows.
Tunde whirled just in time to block an incoming blade.
A masked warrior in dark robes leapt at him.
Tunde grunted, pushing the attacker back. More figures emerged from the darkness.
The Shadow King's assassins.
Tunde spun his staff, deflecting blows, dodging strikes. His training had sharpened his instincts, but he was outnumbered.
Then, one assassin lunged, a dagger aimed for Tunde's chest.
Tunde barely had time to react,
A whistling sound cut through the air.
An arrow struck the assassin in the shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground.
Tunde turned, a figure stood on a nearby rock, holding a bow.
A woman, dressed in green and brown, her face partially covered by a scarf.
She notched another arrow, her voice firm. "If you want to live, follow me."
Tunde had no time to question her. The assassins were regrouping.
With one last glance at his enemies, he ran after his mysterious savior.
Who is the Mysterious Archer?
After an hour of running through the rocky paths, they finally stopped near a hidden cave.
Tunde, still catching his breath, turned to his rescuer. "Who are you?"
The woman lowered her hood, revealing sharp eyes and tribal markings along her cheekbones.
"My name is Adanna," she said. "And you're not the only one looking for the Mask of Omenka."
Tunde narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
She exhaled. "The Shadow King's forces are already ahead of you. If you want to reach the relic first, you'll need my help."
Tunde studied her. Could he trust her?
But he had no choice.
If the Shadow King's forces were ahead of him, then time was running out.
He straightened. "Then we leave at dawn."
Adanna nodded. "Good. But be warned, Guardian. The tomb is not just guarded by warriors."
She looked towards the mountains, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Something… else protects it."
Tunde's stomach tightened.
Whatever waited for him inside Odogwu's Tomb, he had to face it.
Because the fate of Udene depended on it.