TRAILING SHADOWS 20 Tainted

General Folarin's target, all Irunmoles crafted from the Aspectual law of trickery, opportunity and travellers. Of which the patron Orisha was Esu, the trickster G.o.d.

The targets were alive, felt pain, and their attacks could be felt visibly. But one thing was that they were all illusionary or mere clones of the nether.

The Lord Cla.s.sed expert jumped up now, twirling in the air as releasing a series of tornado slashes. Long curving strikes of blade swept out in succession, chopping up all the targets into Oblivion.

His feet hit the ground now and he heaved. He had been trying real hard to ascend into Alpha Cla.s.s and found it difficult due to the presence of two conflicting energies within him.

The energy of creation and the tainted energy of darkness.

Two opposing energies that had kept his soul from advancing. One thing for one to advance in the laws of Irunmole was to have a pure unadulterated soul, one capable of touching into the realm of the Orisha themselves.

But with the presence of darkness within, his Ascension in Irunmole law was hence stunted. And if he did not deal with that on time, more and more darkness would flood into him, hence cutting his access to creation essence.

Ultimately driving him into the laws of darkness. As the heavens only accommodated the strong. The weak were non existent.

Not that they didn't exist but they were practically at the bottom of the hierachy. But for someone with the status of the Moon dust mercenary alliance, that would only drive him to the edge of a coup of no confidence.

And that was something he could not afford.

So he had sought solution. A light cleansing pill.

The light cleansing pill was a pill that stored Agbara essence of Aspectual Law of light and was effective against Darkness invasion. Usually taken by those who regularly plyed the depths of Orun Apaadi, the sealed realm of darkness.

For an organization such as MoonDust, plying the Orun Apaadi was a regularly thing as they hunted out some beats for the rare attributes. Each essential in providing meat or soul aiding medication.

Aside from hunting, the mercenary alliance were quite effective in aiding the Council Houses in their various tasks especially that of getting rebel Irunmoles to justice. Although this rarely happened but once it did, and the council was sure it was not going to be able to react on time or quickly, they would contact any of the guilds who were within the area to engage the targets, after promising a reward of some sorts.

Most rebels usually found their way running into the realm of Orun Apaadi, the land of the unpure to escape the justice system. And as such, the guild would be naturally be deployed to fish the errant. However, the effect of being in a darkness dominated realm would eventually wear out the soul of the mercenaries.

And so the council houses were able to push out large quant.i.ties for soul cleansing pills as it's way of purging Irunmoles from the darkness essence.

It was a regular thing to find a cleansing pill on a Guild Hunter, for General Folarin, it was more than just trying to push out the effects of staying in darkness imbued environment.

His was a case of an Irunmole whom darkness had already taken roots. So much for the cleansing pill to do any purge.

All the pills could do was to stall the invading darkness but never strong enough to expel it. And with time, the light cleansing pill had become more and more ineffective.

He knew that and this was his greatest secret. Sooner or later, he would be turned fully into the laws of darkness, making him into a demon by default.

But being a demon was something he would never allow. He had determined to kill himself the moment darkness took full roots withing him.

That was not an issue.

But the inheritance of the Guild was.

Wearing a long red coat with some beady red necklace on his neck and skinfit white vest, General Folarin reached into his pocket, pulling out a soft glowing pill.

In one smooth motion, he popped the pill into his mouth, swallowing.

"How was it, Ibiyemi? My performance." He asked smiling at the railing up above on which Ibiyemi stood, looking down at the training session.

Still in awe, she blinked as if waking from a dream.

"I...I don't know. It's too... Fast. " Folarin chuckled.

"Daughter, listen, if I am going to leave the leadership of the guild in your hands, then you must be extremely fast and strong too." He said, sheathing the blade.

"I know. I just ascended recently, you know." She replied with a pout. Her father seemed to take her achievements as nothing.

Folarin laughed, waving away her comment.

"Oh, come here, let's spar. Then we know if your Ascension is truly worth it." He beckoned to her.

Ibiyemi frowned.

*'hump*She sighed, jumping down from the balcony and landing down, stumping on her feet.

Superhero style.

With a smile on, she crooked her head.

"Let's see how long you can hold, father." She said, rising to her feet. Taken aback General Folarin took a step back, smiling at her newfound confidence.

"Some days ago, you were one timid Irunmole who would hide behind me the moment she saw a battle. I'm proud of you. " He commented, pulling out his blade.

"Yup!" She blushed, quickly ducking her head to hide it. Despite her chocolate toned skin, a red tinge was visible on her cheeks.

"Your Olukoni? Who was he?" Folarin asked

At that, Ibiyemi shot her head up, angling it to cast a what-do-you-mean look at her father.

"Her. It's a her. Olukoni Mayowa. She's really strong. I'm pretty sure she can take you out in one look." She boasted.

"Ooooooh... I'm scared." Folarin mocked. "I hope you weren't with her for nothing. That you learnt much from her. Right?" His face grew serious and cold now.

"Yes."

"Show me"

Ibiyemi smiled.

At that her father threw the sword at her. The sword slashed through the air, diving for her chest, the principle of cutting from the Aspectual law of Ogun.

Principles were the various derivatives of Aspectual laws. And mastery of a principle meant someone was fully specialised in the particular technique of that law.

Folarin had fully mastered the principle of cutting from Aspectual law of Ogun despite the fact that he was an origin of the Aspectual law of Esu. Placing him at the top only to be hindered by a stalled soul.

The blade tore through as the aura hazered around it. It seemed the blade itself was tearing through reality and any attempt to come closer would be slashed into pieces.

Seeing this, Ibiyemi heaved.

A calm of spirit was one prerequisite for winning battle's, Olukoni Mayowa had once told her.

"Grab that blade. Don't run from it." Her father ordered.

Upon hearing that, she bent over as the blade aura seemed to rip against her face. As she did, her hands went up simultaneously.

Still bending backwards, the blade pa.s.sed over her chest, neck and her face. As it sailed past, she smiled, her hands suddenly jerking into a clap.

A clap that clasped the hilt of the blade.

Her smile grew broader.

"I got it, dad." She muttered, regaining her superhero stance.

The next second, General Folarin rushed forward, his aura filling across the room adding more presence to his bulky yet slim face.

Ibiyemi suddenly felt sickened.

"I know." He responded as his hands grappled her neck and slammed down on the ground.

"Aaargghh... Go easy dad.. " Ibiyemi yelled, pain coursing through her back.

"Uh..." Folarin blinked.
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"That was just a small slam, yemi. And you're screaming like this?"

"Small slam indeed!" Ibiyemi hissed angrily as she made to her feet.

Folarin blinked again. He had thought that with his daughter Ascension that she would be able to withstand a light choke slam as that.

But if anyone had heard his thoughts, they would have cursed him immediately. A choke slam to an Early Elite Cla.s.sed Irunmole from an Lord Cla.s.sed Irunmole was as comparable to a lion swiping it's paw at a snail

"What? You are supposed to be..."

"...Strong? She's supposed to be strong? " A new voice chuckled, startling both father and daughter.

Folarin turned back slowly whilst cursing in his heart. It was that errant son of his.

Now what trick had he brought up again?

At the entrance was an Irunmole dressed similar to his father except that he had a dagger in place for a sword and the emblem of MoonDust Mercenary Alliance.

Afolabi.

"What do you want, Afolabi?" Folarin muttered, his face hardening instantly.

"Simple, as I have always wanted. The inheritance of MoonDust Mercenary Alliance." He smiled, a rarther crooked one.

"I shall not have an unruly son of mine as the future of this guild that I painstakingly led."

A gasp of surprise escaped Afolabi's face.

"That you painstakingly led? You see father, I did some digging. And I found out that you didn't even meet the requirement for the leadership of MoonDust." Afolabi said wagging a finger as he appeared thoughtful.

His father simply shrugged, one that depicted he was used to antics like this.

"You want to hear, do you?" Afolabi taunted, suddenly appearing playful.

"Oh, speak or excuse us, son!" Folarin waved his hand dismissively.

At that, Afolabi raised an eyebrow as he put his hands on his waist.

"Really?"

"You really want me to say In front of Ibiyemi who worships you. Do you know how that would affect her. That her idol all along has been a 'tainted'" Afolabi grinned as he playfully staggered to a wall.

A gasp escaped Ibiyemi mouth.

"You have no fact." General Folarin simply shrugged, before picking his sword.

"Then why did you swallow a light cleansing pill just moments ago?" His son smacked his lips.

"That is a common thing amongst us mercenaries. Your fact is baseless.!" Folarin snapped back. He was getting tired of this discussion.

Afolabi leaned forward, mock admiration in his eyes.

"Then why do you wear an soul cloaking necklace? So that you don't get soul gazed, right? So that, no one knows that you are merely Lord Cla.s.sed who was lucky enough to study various principles and laws just to make up for your lacking soul strength? Just so that no one knows that the leadership of MoonDust is not at the official cla.s.s of Omega but instead at Lord, demeaning to our existence.

That is why, right, father?" Afolabi laughed heartily, taking a step forward.

At present General Folarin was standing, eyes widened and shocked. He hadn't expected this kind of surprise from his son. And what more, he never expected that anyone would be able to know. After all, he was wearing a necklace forged by a Prime.

How in all the heavens did his son even figure the pieces together. A mere Omni Cla.s.sed Son of his.

"H-how did you know?" Folarin stammered.

"Oh, that is irrelevant. All I want is for you to will the leadership over to me. After all, i am the first born, the rightful heir."

"I will never do that. Never! Your sister is a better Irunmole than you."

"Then, watch me tip the crown from your head."

"You will let other know? So what? I would be removed as I haven't met the soul requirement to be the strongest in soul strength. But, that would only take the leadership to another lineage. One you would NEVER BENEFIT FROM." Folarin clenched his fist.

"If at that, it is enough for me. As long as you don't wear the crown, I am satisfied."

"YOU ERRANT SON, TODAY , I WILL TEACH YOU MANNERS..." Geeral Folarin exploded, his aura ramming In the corners of the pit. The aura rushed back, forcing Ibiyemi down to the ground and making Afolabi stagger mindlessly.

However, Afolabi jeered.

"You better save that strength. You know the rule. The more you use the Aspectual Laws of creation, the more darkness floods into you. And the more you are cut off from your root power. And as a result,one day, you will find yourself unable to draw that power and when it happens, you will be left with no choice but to rely on darkness to survive and then, you would need to learn everything again. Because, darkness and light are two opposing energies, once you begin using darkness, you be at the bottom of the chain again." He laughed.

At that, Folarin stabbed angrily at the ground,sending ripples of cracks about as his aura vanished suddenly.

What his son was saying was infact true.

The more he drew on the powers of creation, the more darkness flooded his soul and the closer he came to becoming a demon.

And if that happened, his son would be appointed in his stead.

Something he would never allow.

And that was why, he needed his only daughter, Ibiyemi, to get strong enough.

Strong enough to dispose Afolabi.