The year according to the Gregorian calendar is 1551. It has been nine years since Khisa transmigrated.
The war between Kilwa and Nuri had ended the previous year. The once-thriving coast was now a place of slow recovery—charred villages being rebuilt, graves freshly dug, and scars hidden behind hopeful eyes. Lusweti, King of Nuri, had remained behind at the coast, ensuring the healing process was not just physical, but spiritual and political as well.
Construction of the road to Nuri had begun. Dust rose each morning as laborers cleared paths through rocky ground and dense thickets. From both ends—coast and capital—they worked tirelessly, building what would become the lifeline of trade and travel. Children had finally returned to school, their laughter slowly returning to village paths. Trade resumed cautiously, though not without confusion. Arab and Indian traders, long familiar with the bustling markets of Kilwa, were taken aback by the sight of its fractured glory.
