Chapter two - Running through exposition

The boy ran through the streets of the O’oni. He never expected the war god to give chase. He had always snuck to the battle field to train with the warriors. Moving from battling the weakest to challenging the war god in the span of three years, and he also survived their just concluded battle.

It was incredible, he never wanted to win but just survive, and he didn’t think he could pull it off, no one had. He must admit that he had some close calls, but that’s why the war god chased him, he wont live down the embarrassment of a kid surviving an encounter with him.

He passed some buildings and checked them off his mental list. The buildings came in many styles. The ones with slopped roofs were homes, but without were strewn ovals and rectangle houses as well and he knew this in case he ever needed to avoid running on the streets.

He was tempted to run on the roofs because there will be nobody to impede his escape but he needed the people to also slow and divert the war god’s attention.

The boy would have been able to exhaust every word he knew and he wouldn't still be able to define one-thousandth of the holy splendour showering him.

All throughout the city were idols, altars , fountains, markets and doves to populate them. Each corner he raced past had a distinctive style, and there was a distinctive flavour in every construction, paving stone, mural and statues.

They were tall dignified and full of majesty- images of the gods as though they were there. The boy took notice of the war god’s statue as he raced through the streets.

There was a sense of harmony in every building, tranquillity in every street. From the colour, to the style and the materials, everything was in balance. A single, unified work of art that needed nothing added nor taken from it. Simply exquisite, the city was also unique.

He knew he had little time left but he was already close the temple. Going straight up will lead to the temple, but the guards might slow him down.

He turned to look at the road to his right, the road leads to the grand library, but he would have no place to hide there. He then turned to the road on his left, this will lead him- his thoughts were cut short by the presence he felt. It was faint but he could feel it nonetheless. He quickly made up his mind and went straight up.

He increased his speed and people blurred. He was getting close to his destination. He knew that immediately from the people he passed.

At the battle field you could see blood and madness and at the market a hint of impatient and mild annoyance, but in these people he passed, he saw tranquillity and peace.

They were eyes he’d only know from people that had frequent dealings with the temple of Agbonirregun.

The boys eyes suddenly went wide, before him, was revealed the center of O’oni City.

Therein sat a mountain, that was so large it took up a tenth of the total area of the city. The mountain didn’t have a peak at the top, instead, on it sat majestically a temple, It was pure white and whatever it was made with had the texture of polished jade – a colossal white-jade temple.

The space around it was empty, a large public square lined with smaller churches and magnificent buildings of all sorts.

And the temple itself?

This grand and magnificent structure, silently, cast a light over the whole city. It served to deepen the feeling that all were in the presence of the divine.

No wonder the citizens revered the gods, they were gifted this magnificent city to display their glory. Even the least pious would shake and fall to their knees in awe.

As he raced towards the base of the temple, the boy felt them even from far away. The guards.

He could feel the resonance from the bodies, ashe, the life force that runs through all things, living and inanimate. Divine energy from the One above all.

“Halt” a voice boomed

He was surprised, he never expected them this soon. A troop of soldiers marched in the midst of the sound of clattering armour and he was quickly surrounded.

“The square of the temple is a sacrosanct ground. You sully its dignity, dressed as you are!”

He looked down on his apparel and although it was ruined from the previous battle, at least he was still covered.

Actually, he could count on one hand the frequency with which he would have had a clean couple of clothing since he began participating in training sessions.

The War god’s attack were too powerful, his clothes wont be regenerating any time soon. But he knew about the rules of dressing and purity in other to enter the temple and from the looks of it, these soldiers were itching to teach him a lesson.

Under the circumstance the boy didn’t have many choices. Stopping here will only ensure the War god catches up, but trying to bull-rush his way through wont be a mean feat and will only put him in more trouble. He had to rely on the token of his master.

“Okay, okay, I guess we’re all tensed but I have a token of the high order. i just have to fetch it from my pocket” He stretched his hand out and grab at the air. He reached into his Apo and pulled out his token and called out in the most authoritative voice he could muster.

“This is a token of the high order, I need to see the holy father, I have important business to report. Who dares obstruct my mission?"

“Even Cardinals would show respect here. Flaunting your token here is an affront to the glory of the gods. Take it off!” The guards were not impressed, rather, they felt challenged.

The boy was struck dumb. The token wasn’t going to help him here? He always had it just in case of emergencies like this and the day he really needed it…

As the soldiers were preparing to pounce on him a frigid growl arose. “Have you forgotten where you are? What is the meaning of this?"

There wasn’t a soul in the entire city that did not recognise that voice. The soldiers turned and fell to one knee. The boys face paled. It was over now. He’s been caught!

A man in a white pallium walked over to them. There were two people in his wake, different from the kind the boy just encountered. They were were differently dressed, in priestly Mozzetta’s. They were Cardinals of the temple.

The man looked like he was in his forties, maybe a hundred and eighty centimetre. He had big eyes with thick white eyebrows and scholarly, a dignified bearing, and looked regal in his pallium. His calm visage carried with it an arrogance that seemed to cut everyone he looked upon down at the knees.

“My lord Agbonirregun, this man is making a scene. I was about to arrest him for interrogation.”

“A scene?” Lord Agbonirregun scowled. He looked at the boy calmly. “Its been years since since anyone's dared caused trouble in this holy place. Your insolence is extraordinary. The temple shouldn't be tainted by stench from the battlefield. What are you looking for Ogun Lakaaye?” He then calmly looked above the kneeling guards towards a man no one had noticed prior. The War god.

“...” the War god seemed to be unbothered by being exposed, instead he silently stared at the boy. All eyes followed his gaze and fell on the boy as well.

The boy winced in anticipation of the judgement that will come, he was caught now, he is going to be punished for going against clear instructions.

Lord Agbonirregun looked at the boy, still standing in the midst of kneeling guards, and scowled “Rhema”

“Hey teacher” the boy sheepishly smiled.