Naagin (rise of the serpent)

Chapter Sixteen: What Led To The War.

Scrambled eggs with cheese was one of my favorite food. Making it would not be that hard for me. The old lady passed me a bowl of eggs, really big eggs.

"Crack those eggs while I do the rest" she said, slicing some onions.

Yuck!

I hate onions. I covered my nose in order not to smell the stench coming out of the onions.

"You hate onions" the old lady said with a chuckle.

I nodded then she smiled.

"My two daughters also hated onions. I would usually tell them that even if they hate onions, one day they will make use of it" the old lady smiled as she remembered her daughters." They died during the war, along with their brother and father" she says as her mood suddenly changes.

I felt for her. Loosing a whole family to a useless war between two communities. She must have gone through a lot. What actually led to the war?

"Old lady Papirus" I called out bringing back her attention." What led to the war?" I asked her.

She dropped the scarf which she was holding. Giving a pout, she looked me in the eye. This kind of staring would have given me a heart attack.

"It's because of HIJIRAR'S Jewel" she whispered. Her voice was somehow bringing back cold memories.

I couldn't believe my ears. It was just because of a jewel that led to a war. A war that took lives and loved ones.

"I will tell you what led to the war. Bring those two little chairs let's have a seat" she said showing me the chairs, which I brought.

Sitting face to face with her,a smile crept into her face.

"Let me ask you a simple question" she said,her eyes not leaving mine.

"Ask"

"How many Cities and Communities are in the country of Casablanca?" She asked without blinking.

I took a deep breath before answering.

"Three Cities and two communities" I answered.

"Name them"

"Swagbucks, the country's capital city

Benin city, the country's centre of attraction.

Aiden city, the country's centre of trading.

Agbejor community, the community of weapons.

Umuguor community, the centre of worship to the snake god."

I named, respectively.

"That's nice. Now this was what happened years ago"

"The people of Umuguor community worshipped the snake god with utmost sincerity and respect. They kept His rules and commandments, obeying his laws with strict penalty for breaking the his laws. As the priestess of Umuguor community, I made sure the people of Umuguor community Obeyed the laws of the snake god.

The snake god, seemed to be pleased with the way the people of Umuguor worshipped and Obeyed his laws, gave them a gift"she paused when I asked a question.

"What's the gift?" I asked.

"A blue crystal jewel" she replied.

She raised her right hand as her eyes immediately glowed blue. A glowing blue Crystal appeared in her right hand.

I could feel strong energy coming out of the Crystal.

She snapped her left hand and the Crystal vanished. Bringing down her two hands, she took on a sigh.

"What's so special about the Jewel?" I asked out of the blue.

"It has immense power. So much power that can make a mortal invincible" she answered and continued" Because of the immense power of the Jewel,it earned the people of Umuguor, jealousy from the other cities and community especially Agbejor community. The jealousy from the others died down when I couldn't activate the powers of the Jewel"

"So, what happened next?" I asked eager to know what actually led to the war.

"The snake god spoke to me one certain night. He showed me the future and everything that would happen. He said he would disappear and go in a search for his mate. But not without using me in prophesying about The Chosen one"

"So, you are the one who prophesied about the chosen one?" I asked, interrupting her.

"Yes I am" she said with a smile and she continued"When the people of Agbejor community heard about the Prophecy,it increased their jealousy, which eventually turned to hatred.

A certain sorcerer from Agbejor community was so overtaken by greed that he gathered the people of Agbejor community, convincing them to attack the people of Umuguor community. This sorcerer's name was known as Mr Huck. His main intention was to get the Jewel and the chosen one who he learnt has the power to activate the Jewel. He wanted to have the immense power of the Jewel.

The Agbejor community attacked Umuguor community by surprise leaving the people of Umuguor community no chance of fighting back.

They were out numbered and they were not good specialists at fighting war. I was able to escape during the war but on getting to the path that led into the Umuguor forest, I saw a female baby. She was wrapped in a swaddling garment and possibly, crying.

I picked up the baby and continued on my journey into the forest while trying to escape from the Agbejor warriors that were after me. I saw a young woman who should have been about 40 years or so. A young man lay dead on the ground while she was wailing and weeping. I figured out that the young man must have been her son who is dead. I gave the female child to the woman, telling her to protect her and raise her.

I happened to find out that the female child that I had picked up in the bush while trying to escape the war,was the chosen one. The child had HIJIRAR'S MARK at the back of her hand. I took the jewel and escaped into the Umuguor forest while the woman I had given the chosen one was able to escape the war, alive. Ever since the war, I have been living in this forest hoping that the chosen one would come to me" Old lady Papirus narrated.

I let out a sigh after listening to the brief story. I tried placing all the cards well in order to get a clue.

I was from Umuguor community and the only female that escaped the war except from the priestess. Funny! I had a mark at the back of my palm. It was a snake's drawing drawn naturally at the back of my palm. I would usually call it my birth mark. Also the Black Cobra snake told me that I was the chosen one.

Could it be that I was the female child that was picked up from the bush by old lady Papirus. Could it be that my grandma is that woman that was crying over the death of her son. Everything just felt confusing to me.

I stood up to check the 🍞 bread that was being baked in the oven. When I had removed the baked bread from the oven and prepared everything, I went over to the old lady so that we could serve the food.

"Old lady Papirus, the food is ready" I announced to her.

She nodded.

"Sit down" she said.

I didn't know why she told me to sit but I had to.

"What is it?" I asked concerned.

"Tell me the truth, Naagin" she commanded.

"What truth?" I snapped back as fear crept into me, somehow.

She smiled.

"Where are you from?" She asked, peering into my eyes.

I breathed heavily.

"Like I said some minutes ago, I am from Aiden..."

"That's not the truth, Naagin" she Interrupted me.

"That's the truth ma'am" I snapped back a little bit angrily.

"Then why do you have HIJIRAR'S mark at the back of your palm" she spoke out angrily.

Before I knew what was happening, she dragged my right hand, turning it to the back a snake's drawing could be seen at the back of my palm.

She let go of my hand and a smile was all over her face.

"Just as Hijirar had said, the chosen one would come back to me" she said raising her two hands.

It was like she was actually praising a god. It then dawned on me that I was an orphan.

*******

So it was actually not my grandma that had saved me during the war,it was the priestess that had picked me up from the bush. As the chosen one, I am the only one who can activate the powers of the Jewel, but first of all I need to know more.