As Akeh and Altine walked out of the infirmary, Ifeoluwa watched them with a knowing smile.
"You look good together,"
she whispered teasingly, her voice carrying just enough for Altine to hear. Altine shot her a warning glance, her cheeks turning slightly pink, but she quickly composed herself, leading Akeh away.
"We shouldn't go through the front of the courtyard,"
Altine said softly as they headed toward a less conspicuous path.
"If the students see you entering the chief's house, it might stir up something, and I don't want that."
Akeh nodded in agreement, keeping pace with her.
"Okay, if you say so."
Altine navigated them through narrow alleyways, avoiding the bustling heart of the village. They passed children laughing and chasing each other by the riverside and people paddling canoes in the distance. The sound of village life buzzed around them, but Altine kept them moving swiftly and discreetly.
Soon, they reached a quiet spot at the edge of the village, where the only thing separating them from the chief's house was a wide stretch of water. Akeh stopped and stared at the obstacle before them.
"So… what now? I can't walk on water like you, and I'm definitely too heavy for you to carry across."
Altine burst into laughter, the sound bright and light.
"You're so focused on the spiritual that you missed the obvious."
She pointed toward a small canoe docked nearby.
"You can use a canoe, Akeh."
Akeh blinked, embarrassed by his oversight. He slapped his forehead lightly and muttered,
"Come back to reality, Akeh. Focus."
Altine couldn't stop laughing.
"It's not funny," Akeh mumbled, though a grin tugged at his lips despite himself.
As Akeh stepped into the boat, it wobbled beneath his weight, forcing him to adjust quickly to maintain his balance. Altine, effortlessly walking across the water beside him, gave the boat a gentle push, guiding it toward the chief's house.
When they reached the other side, she helped Akeh out, and they quietly slipped into the house through the back entrance.
"Make yourself at home," Altine said warmly as they entered.
"I'll start working on the fisherman soup."
Akeh nodded and glanced around the space. It was his first time seeing the private sections of the chief's home, and curiosity got the better of him.
As he wandered through the house, his eyes fell upon a room where a young girl lay motionless on a mat. Her face looked eerily familiar, her features almost identical to Altine's and Trinity's.
Is this the sister Altine mentioned? The one who became a hollow? Akeh thought, stepping closer for a better look.
Just then, Altine appeared behind him, her voice soft yet somber.
"That's Bunmi," she said, her gaze falling on the lifeless figure of her sister.
Akeh's brow furrowed with concern.
"What happened to her? Was it… the soul eater?"
Altine shook her head, stepping into the room with a sorrowful expression.
"No, it wasn't the Soul Eater… My mother died giving birth to us...triplets. Trinity, Bunmi, and me. But unlike Trinity and me, Bunmi wasn't born gifted."
She sat down beside Bunmi, her hand resting lightly on her sister's still body.
"We learned, from the teachings of our ancestors, that spirit-gifted people like us could walk freely between the spirit realm and the physical world. We could visit our mother's soul in the spirit realm, even though we had never been there before."
Altine's voice grew softer, tinged with regret.
"But Bunmi… she couldn't. She was angry that she wasn't gifted, and Trinity and I… we teased her for it. We were young and didn't understand how much it hurt her."
Akeh stood silently, feeling the weight of Altine's sadness.
"One day, Bunmi took the spirit harmony scroll," Altine continued, her voice trembling slightly.
"We never thought it was possible, after all, she wasn't spiritually gifted. But somehow, her soul managed to slip into the spirit realm, leaving her body behind. Since then… she's been like this. Empty. We've tried everything we could to bring her back, but we haven't found a way."
Akeh's sympathized as he looked at Bambi's still form, understanding now the depth of the tragedy that haunted Altine and her family.
Altine sighed heavily.
"My father, Lamthe, wants us to focus on nurturing spirit-gifted students. But for me… I do this, hoping someone will find a way into the spirit realm."
Her voice cracked as she spoke, and Akeh could feel the pain she carried. He stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sure you'll find a way, Altine," he said quietly but firmly.
"In a way, we both have the same problem."
Altine looked up at him, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes. She gave a small nod, though her sorrow still lingered.
"Thank you, Akeh."
Akeh gave her a reassuring smile, his resolve growing stronger. This wasn't just about training anymore...he was becoming part of something deeper, something more personal.
To be continued...