Chosen: The Legend of Saqui

BOOK I CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VII - SPIRIT OF THE DANCHI

The danchi is an animal similar in size to a komodo dragon, but white in color. It has the ability to camouflage itself to match any surroundings when threatened. It can also sneak up on prey in complete silence.

The next morning, Rimac took her to meet Kijika.

"I do not think I can do it today," she told him. "My heart just is not into it. I cannot stop thinking about Inalef."

"He would want you to finish your training," Rimac replied. "Not even the Great Spirits can bring him back from where he has gone."

"I have all this power, and yet I feel so helpless."

"Then use this to make you stronger. Do not let his death be for nothing."

She started crying.

"Inalef will always be with you. As long as you remember him, then he is never truly gone."

She started thinking back to all the moments they had back in Nielol. All the happy times they shared.

Then, she heard a voice whisper to her, "You must finish."

She knew the voice, but she knew she was imagining it. The voice was Inalef's. She heard the voice tell her again, "You must finish."

She turned around. Standing before her was the spirit of her friend. He had a smile on his face.

"Finish your training. This is what you were born to do. I will always be here with you. Anytime you need me, just ask."

Suddenly, the tears stopped and she had a smile on her face.

"Thank you. I feel better."

"Good. Now, let us go see the elder." Rimac could not see Inalef, nor know he was speaking to her.

They went to see Kijika. The walls of his house were different colors and different textures, just like all the buildings in Yottoko.

"You must learn to blend in with your surroundings. If your enemy cannot see you, he cannot harm you."

She placed Peyeche's hand against the red wall. "Now, blend with the wall."

She closed her eyes and tried to picture herself as one with the wall. She looked at her hand and noticed no change.

"How do I blend?" she asked her.

"You must do more than picture yourself. You must become it. If it is red, you must become red. If it is purple, you must become purple."

She tried again. She thought, "What is red?" She tried less picturing and more expanding her horizons. As she did, she turned a darker shade of pink and eventually red.

"Very good. Now, try the blue stone wall."

She walked to the wall. Using the same process, she was not only able to match the color but also the texture of her surroundings.

"Very good. Now, something a little harder." They pointed to a wall with multicolor stripes. "Try that wall."

She had a puzzled look on her face. How can you become green and yellow stripes? It took her several attempts, but she was able to change to the difficult color.

"Excellent."

They walked her to a path with bells scattered throughout.

"Another characteristic of the danchi is its ability to walk anywhere in total silence. I want you to walk down this path without making a single bell ring."

"That is impossible."

"Not for a danchi."

She took three steps and set off a bell. "Try again." She took five steps before setting one off. "Again."

"It cannot be done."

Kijika stood at the edge of the path. She started walking the path. With each step, she failed to make a peep. She reached the end of the path, completing it successfully.

"Yes, it can be done," the elder told her. "You lack faith."

She stood in disbelief at what she had just seen. "I want to do what you did."

"Then do it. You have the ability."

She tried one more time, relaxing her mind. She took her first step. Nothing. A few more steps. Still nothing. She continued. She took her last step from the path.

"I did it. I cannot believe it."

"That is why you could not before. Now, you do believe."

After a bit more practice, she joined the village for a community dinner in her honor. To her right, she heard a voice tell her, "I am so proud of you."

She turned and saw Inalef. "I could not have done it without you. Thank you."

The gentleman to her right told her, "You are welcome." He did not know she was talking to her friend. In fact, he had no idea why he was telling her that.

"I am sorry," she told him. "I was walking to my friend."

She tried to explain the situation to him. He did not know she was the Chosen One.

"My name is Jumoke," he told her.

"I am Peyeche."

They spent the rest of the night talking. He took her for a walk along the Anca. She was falling for him.

They walked back to his house.

"Wait here. I have a gift for you." He walked in. He came out carrying a leather tunic. "This was given to me by my father. It is only fitting that someone worthy use it." He placed the tunic over her head.

"Thank you." She shared her first kiss with him.

She walked back to her place for the night.

Meanwhile, Amaru arrived in Aa Tlorec seeking the final Quesmi.