TRAILING SHADOWS 26 Training

Ijinle Eshu stood surrounded by a dense canopy of trees. It had grey walls present with dents of after battle effects although not quite as p.r.o.nounced as the Ijinle Orun.

The entrance was held high by towering pillars. And atop The roof was a statue of Eshu lying down with one hand supporting his head along with a sly grin.

Eshu, the Orisha of Chance, Trickery and Travellers was severely revered in Ilu Eshu because the Orisha had a knack of punishing those who for once faltered in their worship of him.

And as a result, incense pillars were built around the Ijinle Eshu signifying their worship to him. Although, Eshu seemed quite overbearing, unlike other Orishas who were rarely involved in the affairs of the Ilu Realms, the Irunmoles in his realm could boast that the Agbara Eshu technique was quite endowed with so many powerful techniques ranging from speed to illusions to mind powers to intelligence even to a borrowed principle from Fate Agbara which was Lucky Principle that dealt with slight manipulations of fate to present fortunate chances to the users.

Now, a female Irunmole stood in the midst of a practical ground. She stood in the midst of four incense pillars that signified the length and breadth of the ground, wearing a white kimono, red leather boots and with a black knee length gown.

The signature attire of Olukoni Mayowa.

As a tutor posted to Ijinle Eshu, she was able to acquire the practical ground for a training session with Ibiyemi.

But till now, Ibiyemu hadn't showed up, making her worry if she had gotten her message.

Just then, a slender figure dropped to the ground behind Mayowa, stooping.

The figure wore a waist length jacket with red beads on her neck, a flay gown with sandals.

"You've improved for you to be able to sneak in without making any sounds, Ibiyemi." Olukoni Mayowa spoke, without looking back.

Ibiyemi stood up.

"Well, how did I fare? Did I scare you?" She spoke, a smirk to her lips as she stretched.

"Heh... Even though you made no sounds, I detected your presence by sensing my surroundings. You should learn to mask your essence later on."

Mayowa smiled, turning to Ibiyemi.

"I was beginning to think you didn't get my message. Here." The Olukoni said, flinging a brown parchment scroll over to Ibiyemi.

"Well, nothing goes into the Alliance House without getting to me." Ibiyemi stretched a palm, grabbing the scroll.

Upon looking closer to it, her heart sank.

"Not theory again!."

"Well, you should read that skill scroll to be able to activate your primary Elite Ability. The Illusion Blade."

"You could have just taught me that, instead of having me read an entire skill scroll. " Ibiyemi complained.

Mayowa shrugged

"I don't know Agbara Eshu technique since I am not an Indigene of this Ilu and I have taught you that Irunmoles who can manipulate two or more techniques are considered to be geniuses."

"Fine! So much for practicals." Ibiyemi pouted, opening the scroll now.

"Come on, its not like I am punishing you to read that. Even I read it before you came." Mayowa replied, a small smile appearing over her luscious lips.

*** *** ***

Ilu Obatala, Maerius's residence, that same day.

Three Irunmoles sat at a small dinner table. On the table was a basket of fruits and a silvery jug. Around the center of the table were hovering fireflies that shone brightly, adding a fire effect to the room.

At the end of the table was 3rd Prime, Maerius munching at bowl of eba and egusi soup(1). The other two, one a female and the other a male,sat opposite each other, having a different dish from Maerius.

Just then, Maerius stopped short and washed his hands in the bowl beside his plate. Doing so caused the female Irunmole to look up at him.

"Kilo shele? Shey o ti yo ni sisin?(2)" She looked questioning, dropping her spoon.

Maerius simply tugged at his beard, his signature habit.

"Soro na(3)" She asked again. With a scarf tied around her head and a long gown, added with the pleading look, she look very very desirable.

Maerius swallowed.

"Oh, it is nothing. I just need some fresh air." He spoke, standing from the table.

He walked over to the nearest windon by his left, gazing out of it.

How could he say it was nothing? When something had actually happened.

After he deployed Sunday on the way, he had expected Arlan the Alpha Cla.s.s Irunmole to send a report back to him that Sunday had gone to Earth already.

But that report didn't come. And so he wrote to Arlan in the High Council Deployment Zone. Only to receive a report that Sunday had not graced the deployment zone.

Till date.

Maerius frowned.

Since the , he had tried to sense Sunday's essence even though he was doing that at a very large scale since he didn't know where exactly Sunday was.

And that was sure to have some rebound on him. A rebound that made him absent from the Council for some time.

But yet, he couldn't just stay silent. He had to do something. However whatever he had to do was something he himself must not be involved in.

Seeing that the Elder had already sent search teams to find Sunday already.

'Wait!

If The Elder sent teams out, that means, I should also send some of my trusted aides out too.

How come I never thought of this all along.

Well, now, I know what to do.

Yes!'

Maerius smiled briefly before turning around.

***. ***

"Now, the first step in you activating an Agbara imbued technique is sensing your soul essence, okay?" Mayowa spoke, calmly with the scroll in her hand now.

Opposite her was Ibiyemi who had closed eyes with her hands joined in a pleading gesture and a little frown.

"It's called meditating too. But this is Active Meditating and you most be proficient with that to get ahead of an opponent. You need to free your mind too as that can stop you from reaching your soul essence." Mayowa added.

Ibiyemi's eyes fluttered before she gasped, opening her eyes.

"I can't. My mind is too clouded."

Mayowa sighed softly.

"You need to let go of all that resentment, Ibiyemi. It seems like you are holding grudge and that alone can impair you from touching any Aspectual Law."

"I know." Ibiyemi sighed." It's Wole. I found out that he has being the one instigating my brother, Afolabi just recently."

Mayowa oohed.

"You want revenge, right?"

"Yes. For him daring to play with my family issues. Yes. I want to see him regret why he ever came in contact with me. That evil..."

Mayowa raised her hand, a Stern look in her face.

"Enough. Let's do this again. Or I will leave you alone."

"I am sorry."

"Shush. Don't be sorry. Just clear your mind this time, okay?" Mayowa said, a finger to her lips.

This time, Ibiyemi did just that. She heaved deeply, closing her eyes as she started once more.

Fewconds later, a wisping torrent of energy began to sprout from her joined palms.

"You are doing it, 'Yemi. Now, control the energy according to what you read in the scroll and condense it into one palm." Mayowa spoke, looking into the scroll this time.

Ibiyemi eysi fluttered once more, a frown appearing over her eyes.

She had been taught how to activate her primary skill at Ijinle Orun but here, it seemed difficult despite having the energy to spare.

A vein popped up by the side of her head. She ground her teeth fiercely, manipulating her soul essence to coat just on hand in her soul s.p.a.ce.

She watched, seeing a tiny current of energy appear to be sucked to her right, sending sensational chills through her body.
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Opening her eyes now, she saw a wishing thread of energy blade on her right.

Excitedly she looked up, calling to Mayowa. Only to stop cut herself short.

"Yes yes.. I did ... Why are you holding a sword, Olukoni?"

"All the better to slice you with, my dear." Mayowa replied, a cold smile appearing on her lips as she dashed.

Olukoni Mayowa's sword slashed diagonally upwards from Ibiyemi's left.

In response, Ibiyemi raised the Abẹfẹlẹ iruju(Illusion Blade) up to counter the strike. To her surprise, the sword pa.s.sed through it, unhindered, making its slash towards her frame.

Ibiyemi panicked, unable to understand what happened.

Just then, Mayowa's other hand blurred, pushing Ibiyemi out of range as the sword slashed through the air.

As a result of the sudden push, Ibiyemi lost her footing, falling face down.

"What happened?"

"In battle, you should not only rely on your weapon, but also on your reflexes. Never stun yourself in any fight no matter what move your opponent pulls on you. Stand up!" Mayowa grimaced as she struck the spot where Ibiyemi lay.

Seeing that, Ibiyemi rolled to the side quickly, avoudni the blade by few inches. She threw her legs Into the air,using that to gain momentum to jerk her self off the ground.

"Trust your blade, your reflexes and your environment." Mayowa voice trailed off coldly as her blade struck where Ibiyemi rolled to.

Now on her feet, Ibiyemi activated the Abẹfẹlẹ iruju with opened eyes, easily. She reached from her tutor with a surprise slash to her left.

Surprisingly, Mayowa did not counter the slash. Instead she threw her blade to the opposite direction of the slash as if to counter an attack.

Doing that left Ibiyemi confused as she did not understand why her tutor would make a counter to the wrong direction.

CLANG!

Mayowa's blade rang out as energy rang out concussed out before vanishing.

"Having a weapon you don't understand is as good as you having no weapon, Ibiyemi." Mayowa smiled before reaching for Ibiyemi's back with a slash.

Quickly, Ibiyemi twirled, slashing her energy blade to counter the strike.

But again, Mayowa's blade went through, unhindered for her chest.

Suddenly, the flat of Mayowa's sandals found her chest before her blade did, kicking her out of range

Again.

Ibiyemi Stumbled backwards as Mayowa blade struck into the ground.

With that, Mayowa had a satisfied look on as she dusted her hands.

"The Abẹfẹlẹ iruju is not just any ordinary skill like Imole Mo. No. It is quite renowned for the ability to create Illusionary strikes like the name suggests. Here!" Olukoni Mayowa extended her hand to Ibiyemi who took it promptly as she stood up.

"You tried. The way you adapted your reflexes suddenly after I told you is applaudable. " Mayowa said.

"But obviously you didn't read through the skill scroll otherwise you would have known that once an Abẹfẹlẹ iruju strikes left, it's effect would be seen at the right.

That is what earns it the Name Abẹfẹlẹ iruju, The Illusionary Blade.

I expected you to have have performed better since it's pretty tasking to defend against a blade that strikes you left but it's effects are seen at the right.

You should practice more, Ibiyemi.

But nice, you tried for today. I should be going now." Mayowa spoke, pleased at her student as she patted Ibiyemi's cheek.

"Yes, Olukoni. Thank you. " Ibiyemi spoke, a wide grin across her face.

_______________________

(T/N)

1. A Yoruba type of dish

2. What Happened? Are you okay so soon?

3. Talk