The Descendants

Epilogue

It was a breezy evening, the sun was low on the horizon, glowing bright red as it set over the city.
Everyone else had gone, but Tobi stayed behind looking at the cairn of stones laid for his brother on the hill not far from Akachi's lab. He had told them that John always wanted to live on a high ground where he could overlook the city, that's why he had requested to bury him on the hill.

Dara was reluctant to go but he had told her that he wanted to be alone.
    
It was still a shock to him. His brother was gone, now it was only him left.

Tobi sighed deeply.
His chest hurt so much, he wished he could just rip out the pain. He wished he had never told John about the key that had appeared on his hand that faithful day. If he had hidden it from John, maybe he'd still be alive today.

Tobi was so angry. He was angry with himself, and with whoever was responsible for his brother's death. He should have been there to protect his brother. Dara had told him not to blame himself, but that day's events happened so fast, and he was distracted, he should have searched for his brother first when Nailah brought him to the battle front.
It had been a week since it happened, but the pain of losing his brother was still as strong as ever.
    
Akachi was right about one thing though. He should channel his anger to the right source. He should be angry with Mtawala, he's the one responsible for his pain.

Tobi swore to himself that he would have his revenge. He would become so strong, stronger than any Ujuzi pilgrim to ever exist, and he would kill Mtawala himself.
    
"It's time. The car is ready Tobi. Let's go." Sabra said from behind. Tobi didn't even hear her approach. He was too busy brooding. 

He sighed deeply and turned around to face her. For the first time, she looked truly remorsefully.
    
Tobi looked down the hill as he followed Sabra down. It was true that the car was ready. Nailah, Dara and Zola were standing by a black SUV. They had joined forces with Akachi, and he had agreed to take them back to North Country to join Donkor's alliance. Roland was already a registered member of the alliance, and he had agreed, with Akachi's permission, to aid the alliance.

Their plan to earn their key's powers and head over to the castle of Isabis would wait, besides, not earning the power of their keys is part of Nailah's assurance that Akachi wouldn't go behind their backs and steal their remaining keys to undo the seal on the beast. That was meant as a last resort in case Mtawala proved too strong. But that wouldn't be happening anymore, since their only means of controlling the beast has been taken.

Also, Arowan's plan to gather the keepers worked, even if it wasn't at the castle of Isabis, all the keepers were already gathered together and would join forces against a great foe.
    
Tobi sighed again.

He had started off with the intent to prevent Akachi's plots, but now he was joining forces with him. It was crazy!

Professor Kuame had told him of the Queen's prophecy of how her descendants would gather together when needed, and how she had scattered her keys about by sealing them, now even though it's not as Tobi would have expected, the Queens descendants were truly being gathered together, and the prophecy in a way, was now balanced. It was a 'scatter'nbalance operation' prophecy.

Tobi wondered how he could make up his word mash-up antics at a time like this.
    
"Are you ready? We're leaving now." said Nailah as he approached.

Tobi nodded as the others made their way into the vehicle. They had been given some cloths they could carry along which were already in the car, neatly packed up in their luggage.
    
Tobi was about to step in but he paused when he noticed a figure in the distance running toward them at full speed, wheeling a luggage along.

Timothy! What was he doing there?
    
"Wait!!!" said Timothy as he stopped before them, panting heavily, trying to catch his breath.
    
"Tobi, I'm coming with you." he said after finally catching his breath.

"You don't have to" Tobi replied in a flat tone.

He knew he ought not to be angry at Timothy, but he was. He couldn't help but feel that in a way, Timothy was also the responsible for his brother's death.
    
"Look, I know you're still mad at me, and I don't blame you for that. I'm truly sorry for everything that happened. You can be mad at me, but I want to restore our friendship. I want to make it up to you. What do you say Tobi, will you take me along?" said Timothy, stretching out his hand, inviting Tobi to take it.
    
Tobi simply stared at Timothy's outstretched hand. It would be foolhardy to push Timothy away from his life completely. They'd been friends since he could remember, besides, Timothy wasn't to blame for anything. Akachi is his family and he had to follow him, even though his key was a stolen one and Akachi had a warped perception of world peace.

He looked to Nailah, knowing that she didn't fully trust Akachi or any member of his crew, including Roland. But it would also be a good way to monitor Akachi. Tobi stretched his hand and took Timothy's outstretched hand.

"I forgive you Timothy. You're welcome on board." Tobi answered with a soft smile. "But know this. We're venturing on a treacherous path. We're going to hunt down Mtawala and kill him, whoever he is. Do you think you can handle that?"
     
Timothy simply scoffed. "I can handle anything."
That was the egotistic Timothy Tobi knew.

"But first, I'll need you to get rid of that." said Tobi, indicating Timothy's ring.
    
"This? Why?"
    
"Just do it Timothy. It's what John wanted before he passed. I'll explain to you later."
    
"Okay." said Timothy, pulling off the ring, and handing it over to Tobi.

Tobi sighed a sigh of content, at least he could have the old Timothy back. He gave a silent thanks to his brother for telling him about the ring and then he stepped into the SUV as Timothy went to the back to drop his luggage.
    
It was a full car, but there was enough space for everyone. The ride out of the city was comfortable enough. Nailah could have just used her power of rift to teleport back to North Country, but she was their only guide into North Country once the driver dropped them off at the airport.

Tobi looked out the window as the rain battered the glass. It surely wasn't going to be easy, but they would find Mtawala, and once they did, he would have his revenge.

***
    
The bonfire flickered as the wind blew on it, bouncing off the cave walls. It made Gatura look eerie as his shadow danced on one half of his face. He sat bare chested and cross legged in his baggy trousers, with his eyes shut in concentration. The tatoo of a star with four points - embossed with a cross and an X - glowed white on his forehead and on the back of both his hands which were clasped together.
    
He could see a vast wasteland, the land was cracked and nothing grew in it. There was nothing there for him. He moved on and then he saw a vast land of rocky hills, the Cairn Plains. He was getting closer, he could feel it. Though he couldn't see them, but the land crawled with creatures filled with the life energy of the one he sought.
   
Gatura moved beyond the cairn plains and into a thick forest. Beyond that was a large body of water, but he couldn't see beyond the water. Something hindered his vision.

Suddenly, he sensed activity at the edge of the forest. Gatura brought his vision back to the forest. Four figures appeared from nowhere. Two of them wore dark red coats, one of them had wings of which one was cut off, and the last one, a female, wore a black coat streaked with red, and she was carrying a large rectangular box which hovered above her raised palm. They were walking towards the edge of the water when suddenly, they vanished into thin air as if entering into an unseen portal.
    
Gatura opened his eyes, and the light glowing on his tattoos died down. He was back in the cave. He looked to the bonfire by his side, and with a smile on his face, said

"Finally. I've found you, Buziba".

Congratulations!!! If you're reading this, you have just reached (or skipped to) the end of book one.

This journey wasn't easy, but it's been a blast for me, and I hope you enjoyed it too.
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