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These words alerted me. I asked “Who or what are you?” She replied “It is a secret I have been keeping for time uncountable. People see me and say see a monster. Run!I t is an abomination! kill it! Little did they know that I was once human. My name was Ajisoge. I was a beautiful lady, a daughter of a village chief. Ife Odan is my village. I was the most beautiful lady in Ife Odan. This made me the hotspot of all men in my village, be it married and single, old and young. I attracted many suitors and admirers. The distraction was so much on me that I began to lose focus. I did not like any man. I could not distinguish men. I got carried away by the noise of the market. I refused to accept all men coming to me.

I saw ijini with two wild rabbits. She was already devouring one raw. The sight was gory to me. I went there, I dragged the two kills away from it. I said angrily “how on earth will you devour meat raw? Do you want to spoil our meal?” It snapped back at me, this time her female voice was off, her voice was like that of an angry dog. With a growl, it said “Spoil what meal? The meal is still fresh and the blood is tasty?” I said “A tasty food is a food well cooked with seasoning”. She said “hold it right there. Remember I am no human. It is only a human who will burn out the sweetness of a food in the name cooking” She continued “I beg you please do not spoil this food for me” I got tired of the argument and I replied “I will not have you behave like retched dog while hunger punishes me here”.

Suddenly it just stood still, became disabled like a boiled vegetable. Sadness took over face. She walks away and sat under a tree close by. I just ignored it. Prepare a fire, plucked some scented leaves and spices and started roasting the meats. I made a delicious barbeque. When I finished, I took a portion and gave it to Ijini. It ignored my gesture, I asked, “what is wrong with you? What did I say wrong?” After many persuasions, she said “you called me a dog”. I replied “I was furious then. I guess you are hurt by my words. I am sorry for all my actions”. She replied
“You do not need to plead. It is not your fault.
You do not know my past.
You do not know who I am.
You do not know why I am like this.”

-----Update------------------

Ijini
We continued our journey with courage, new relationship and energy. We were filled with confidence. At that stage, I had nothing to fear. I thought, after all, I have encountered a feared monster and I overcame it. We walked though thin and thick of the forest and plantation of Awe. We walked till sun set, and we felt there is a need to rest and eat something. I noticed Ijini was totally famished and tired. I was hungry but could still go few days without eating because I feed on edible fruits I see as we walk.

However, I still felt the need to eat food. My body felt like I was missing oil and spices. I asked Ijini “what is on your food list?” She responded “Food list? I have no food list. The only food I have is flesh”. Then I murmured “Oh what did I even expect… you have a dog head”. So we decided to stop and hunt. We agreed to thread separate paths and meet at the same spot after the hunt.
I was not lucky to get any wild hunt. I only manage to kill a small bush rat. But its flesh will not satisfy child. After many unlucky attempts, I decided to go back to our agreed meeting point. What I saw at the meeting point baffled me.

To be continued

Ijini the burden
The beast then immediately changed its tactics. It shifted its attention to Ijini, it started attacking Ijini. That was when I knew Ijini did not enter the new dimension with me. Ijini struggled to dodge the whip for a while, then it started showing a sign of tiredness. Ijini was too precious for me to lose at this time. Then I had no choice but to try and save Ijini. I moved close to this beast, still unseen, with full force, I struck one of its giant foot digits with my cutlass.

It roared in pain and shifted its attention to its leg examining it to determine what could be wrong. It saw nothing because I was invisible. It raised its whip again to attack Ijini. I struck again harder on another digit. It aborted and took a look at his leg. It still did not see anything. Then it slowed down and started looking at Ijini with bewilderment. I sensed he thought Ijini was the one attacking it. I told Ijini to hide under a stone. Ijini was surprised to know I was with them despite not visible.

I seized that opportunity, I continued attacking its foots repeatedly without stopping to breath. It screamed in agony and started running away in fear. It ran towards a rock. In an attempt to climb this rock for escape, its leg slipped, and fall flat. It made no move to stand up. Then, the ground started shaking and opening up like a crack right under it. Like a snake swallowing its prey, the ground swallow it. The passage suddenly opened up on both ends. Then I asked to return back to human dimension. Ijini saw me, ran to me, bowed its head and started licking my feet. It started singing my praise. In disbelief, it said “No human has ever achieve this feat. Only gods are capable of defeating this beast. I will forever be in your debt.

It kept trying to whip me, while I used my body size advantage to avoid its whipping. This made it furious the more and try harder. Slowly, it pushed us back to the entrance of the walk-way. I suddenly noticed something. The entrance we passed suddenly became close with darkness. It was as if there was a barricade at the end. Therefore were running towards a closed wall. And that will allow the beast to catch up on us with no alternative path for escape. I ran out of ideas. Then a thought came to my mind. I remembered this beast was living in the same dimension as humans. And I remembered the green lord told me I now have the same power as the green beings. Without wasting time, I quickly recite the incantation the green lord taught me. Yet, nothing happened. I decided that incantation was not relevant with the problem at hand at that particular time. The beast was already close to us with our back against the dark wall. Then suddenly, I quickly took a gamble. I said “I choose to enter a dimension higher than that of any human”. Then suddenly I felt day light became brighter. The monster stopped, looked left and right, and started searching everywhere for something. Then I realized it was looking for me as I had become invisible to it. To my surprise, it was a mistake.

The stone passage of gods

Ijini explained further “This is the boundary separating humans from the gods. Once you cross it, there is no return. After this path comes our death”. I shrugged it off. I said “We will not die in this journey. We will come back safely.” It looked in my eyes in anger and mustered “You are a sacrifice meat. Death is your destiny. Destiny is unfair to me. That is why I have to go along with you to be sacrificed with you. I hope the gods will favor me.” It continued further “This is called Oke-Iparun. There is a steward living in those stones. Be ready.” I said “I am hoping to meet him. I hope he will be friendly”. Ijini looked at me and laugh mischievously. It said “Meet him? He is no human? He is beast that only understand one language. Blood!

The only way to make it out live here is not to provoke the beast”. I asked “What provotes it?” Ijini replied “I was not told” I saw carcass of humans and other unidentified animals everywhere. We walk half way through this landmark full of rocks of different sizes. Nothing happened. Everywhere was silence.

On about few stone throws to the other end of the landmark, a big teste fly came flying provocatively and attempting to enter my right hear. At first, I gave it no attention until I discovered it was violent and hell bent on harming me. I had no option but to clap for it. I got it in-between my hands. My hands were smeared in blood. Then suddenly, we heard a sound of a thunderous cry of a giant from under the ground. We could hear a giant metallic gate opening up under the ground. The sound effect cause everywhere to tremble.

And suddenly not far from us, land started opening up like giant earth quake. Then came from the ground a huge, tall and black man. It had a whip of burning flame on its hands. Its two eyes are like windows to a burning furnace. It stood like humans, but its legs are that of an unidentified animal. Its look more of a lion. Ijini began to tremble in fear. On sighting us, it sent its whip flapping at me. I bent down to dodge it. The unlucky rock that stood in the way of the whip shattered into pieces. That was when I knew what I got myself into. The whip looked flexible but could break anything it comes in contact with.

I could still see Ijini because it was operating in human dimension, meaning any human could see it with their naked eyes. We set out on our journey. Ijini led, I followed. We headed in another direction other than the previous. This time, we were heading towards Oyo. We journeyed night and day for 2 days without meeting any human or life form until we got to a mysterious rocky region. Ijini told me to be at alert here. It said where are getting closer to a juncture where everyone is on its own. You cannot help me, I cannot help you. This is where a pretender is differentiated from a valor.

The oath, the contract
Then I lowered my weapon. It looked at me surprisingly and said “You spared me. You are a good human. You have kindness in your heart. I will forever be your loyal subject” Then I said “I have a purpose for you”. It said “ah… you dare to trust me? What makes you think I would not harm you again? He trusts me eh!” I said “Actually I do not trust you. But I will make sure you are trustable.” It said “How?” I replied “We will swear an oath”. It suddenly kept quiet and started looking like a man with bad news. I asked if it does not like Oath. It said, humans are difficult to trust. They can betray at any time. I snapped at it “But you have no choice right now!” With my cutlass, I drew out blood from my arm, I gave it to it leak and I took blood from its wound on the neck and lick. I said “It is now a contract. Anyone who betrays shall die mysteriously” The tree climbing monkey creatures were disappointed, they left cursing in anger. I stopped seeing them and other beings in this dimension immediately I left that position. I explained my mission to the creature. It said it’s a suicide mission but it’s bound under oath and promise to serve me. So it said it will be my guide to the rivers.

One of them noticed I was preparing for a fight while looking up. It suddenly told the rest to keep quiet. It asked them “is there a fruit or an animal on this tree?” They all looked around and collectively said “No”. Then they started looking at me and I was looking at them. One of them said “It appeared he can see and hear us”.

Then one of them started climbing down and I was looking at it to show I could see it and I was ready to attack it if it makes a stupid move at me. It then screamed at the top of the voice “He can see us”. All passerby minding their business suddenly stopped, started looking at me. “It is impossible”, “Abomination”. Then pandemonium set in. The trading market became a stampede. They all ran away with fear. Some of them cursing me especially the human ghosts. “The unfortunate one has come to disturb our peace. Can’t we rest?”

Then I saw my old foe racing towards me. The dog-headed lady monster was the Ijini those monkey creature went to summon. It came back and said “I told you, you cannot hide forever. You are cursed. You cannot escape me”. It came running towards me, but I stood there with boldness. I raised up my cutlass, aimed at its neck. It gave a groaning sound of pain. It moved back a bit to assess it wound. Then I decided to make it fear me. I picked up the hacked head of the wild dog I killed.

I tossed the head forward. It saw the head and screamed “Murderer! That is what you are. Wicked Human!” I saw fear in its look. I charged forward at it. It laid on the ground using its hands to guide its neck and started crying “Please have mercy. Spare my soul. Your kind have mercy in their heart”. I said “Not all humans have mercy. This human you see today have no mercy on devilish, wicked filthy, foolish dog like you” It continued begging. “If you spare my life, I will be your servant. I will be your subject for the rest of my mortal days”. I moved closer, with full force, I raised up my cutlass to target its head, then suddenly, a voice sounded in my head. It said “Do not kill your map to the seven rivers of death”.

After saying the words, I heard a sound of something breaking on my forehead. It sounded like a bone fracturing. Then I felt cold breeze blowing towards me. It was colder than I have ever felt my entire life. I started seeing different colors. I have never seen these colors before. I started seeing strange things. Strange creatures walking pass me as if they did not see me. They are in different sizes and shapes. I saw humans too. They were trading buying and selling. I thought to myself “So I have been amidst of these things without knowing”. Then I realized these humans were actually human spirits, dead long time ago. I could now hear more voices as if I was in our village market.

I heard some voices coming from the tree top. One of them said “The stinky human is here again and won’t stop smelling.” Another one said “Let us call Ijini to come and get rid of her prey.” Then I looked up. Some creatures like monkeys were actually playing on the tree where I was resting. I saw one of them departing the tree, racing away. I knew it was going to call whatever Ijini is. I knew the sound of that is trouble. I prepared myself for battle.

I thought of continuing my new journey then I realized I didn’t ask for direction from the green beings. But I knew it will be least of my problems. I suddenly became bold and confident without fear. Then I remember the incantation. I was eager to try it out like a child’s first toy. Then I said
“I refused to be blindfolded by earthly reality
I choose to see all reality on earth and in cosmos
I choose to see the real forms of beings or objects camouflaging or hiding from my reality”

The leader then said “It is time!” His sharp edged staff appeared in his hand again and this time pointing It at me. I murmured “Not that rod again!” I immediately became unconscious and went into a deep sleep.

Then I saw myself laying on a surface made of gold and silver. Beside me were ornaments and golden pots filled with sweet wines. The fruity aroma of different wines filled the place. Then from the dark a woman emerged. She was a goddess of beauty. She was dark in completion, tall, with big hips. She moved closer to me and let loose the robe covering her body as she walks up to me. That was when I knew she was naked under the robe. She mounted me, wrapped me with her shiny clean legs. She started kissing me all over my body.

Then, she started licking my face and this time it was quick as if she was possessed by a spirit. Although, I was enjoying the heavenly feeling, I was apprehensive. When she noticed my apprehension, she suddenly stopped and grabbed my head and bite me on my cheek. Then she turned to a hairy wild dog. Everything around me changed. I found myself in a bush. I was under a tree. The tree looked familiar. It was the same tree I was hiding before the dog-headed monster attacked me. Then I noticed it was still same mid night I left my village. Then I realized the lady licking my face was actually in my dream. I was back in human world. I was back to human reality and dimension.

The wild dog, on realizing I was awake warily sprinted back, then attempted to attack me again. It charged at me again, but I grabbed its neck. I wrapped my hands around its neck with all my strength. I sensed it could not bear the force. It surrendered and sat down waiting for me to be merciful. I seized that moment and drag its head towards the bark of the tree. I repeatedly knocked its head against the tree wall until I felt it was lifeless. I hacked off its head with my cutlass.

Its ok for today folks.

Will continue tomorrow

One eye to see all
Then they took me to another hall. There were another set of creatures in this hall. They look a bit human except they are gray, their fingers are extremely long and their teeth were tiny and uncountable. They also have three eyes. I was placed on a surface-like table. Then they inserted a cord into my throat through my mouth and a green liquid started flowing through down inside my stomach. This same liquid started coming out through my nose. I started feeling pain and ecstasy as the same time.

I quickly resisted, their leader noticed and signaled to me to calm down. He said “It is for your own good. We are flushing impurities and counter-magic, that may affect the effectiveness of your new eye”. I had no option but to surrender. After all, if they had the intention of hurting me, I should be dead by then. After about five minutes, I started feeling differently. My strength became renewed. The pains from the wound I sustained from the dog-headed monster bite suddenly disappeared. I became energetic and strengthened like Sango stewards. I felt I could crush a stone with my bear hands. My hands felt strong like metal. I could see the creatures looking at me warily. I asked “what have you done to me?” The leader answered “When Adari uhrion was created, they were perfect, strong and intelligent. But they were contaminated and modified by rebellious followers of Eldion.

You have been purged of all impurities and implant. You are now a perfect and original human. All your senses and powers are restored”. I interjected “What power?” At this point, all beings in the room looked at one another. Suddenly, the mood in the hall changed. The atmosphere in the hall became toxic, some beings became angry. I could sense a rebellion brewing in the hall. Then, suddenly, from nowhere, a green sharp edged wand appeared in the hand of the leader. He pointed it to one of the rebels in the room. Like a smoked fish, it dried up and never to live till today.

Then with anger, the leader looked at me and said “You were like us before you were enslaved. You had all our abilities. You had our powers. But Eldion was betrayed. You now have your third eye again. It’s already in you and your kind, but was closed. ” Many thought came to mind. I first thought another eyes is now showing on my forehead like them. No human will want to look different among his kind without being seen as an abomination. He heard my thought, so he moved closer to calm me down. He said “The eyes will open up anytime you need it to be. To open up your hidden eye say the following
I refused to be blindfolded by earthly reality
I choose to see all reality on earth and in cosmos
I choose to see the real forms of beings or objects camouflaging or hiding from my reality”
I knew I was already entering spirituality and incantation. I said to myself “I can’t wait to meet those nasty village priests again”. Right there, I repeated the incantation to see the effect. But, nothing happened. The leader looked at me and said “You have already broken into our dimension. That is why you could see us. You have detected our energy fields.

The eyes will start working when you are in another dimension that its frequency is lower than ours. You will know when you get there.” He added “You will need your weapon also”. This time I was filled with euphoria. I interjected “So you are going to give me one of your weapons?” he replied “You already have your weapon” I asked “What weapon?” He answered “We saw a weapon on you the day we suck you into our dimension”. I became totally confused and was trying to recall what that weapon could be. Then, I remember I was actually holding a cutlass when I left the village. I was disappointed. I said “That cutlass? A farming tool that could not be used for fighting off my cursing nemesis” He said “That monster cannot be fought with any weapon. That monster is the easiest of the monsters you will face on your journey. And this is a lesson to you that human tools or guns are not always the answer to fight all creatures. Some are afraid of your thoughts, some do not want you to cry, some hate songs, some feed on your happiness. You will learn how to survive as you start your journey.” One of them brought my cutlass. I reluctantly claimed it.

Purpose
I asked the lord, “What must I do?” He answered “You are a true blood. Your genes are pure. You are a threat to these beings. That’s why they want you dead as a sacrifice to them. You must journey to their world. You must cross the seven rivers of death. That is where they are. That is where you will see them. Their dimension is concealed in between your world and the last river. Crossing these rivers takes courage and the right blood. You have the right blood in your veins.

Your blood is the key.” I added “But my people call it seven heaven, why are you calling it seven rivers of death?” he replied “They are not heavens, but rivers. These beings told your people that they are living in seven heavens so they can be feared, untraced and unquestioned. They are not living in heaven. They are in hiding at the end of the seventh river. They were casted away by eldion after the great war”. I said “I have never heard of any seven rivers and never seen these rivers before.” He replied, “Many structures exists that your kind can never see with your two eyes. You need to be in the right dimension to see these rivers. We have the means to help you see what your kind cannot see. It is a power that you will wield and have to be careful not to misuse it, else you will be blind forever. We will give you a third eye. One eyes to see all”

He said “You are wrong. These lords are a threat to our existence too. You are their sacrificial meat. But you are our only hope to wrestle with them. If you are not sacrificed to them, they will descend on your village and afflict it. Like you were told initially. You are not the maker of your destiny. But the choice and decision you make now can shape your destiny for better or worse.”

We walked through a tall corridor decorated in different beautiful ornaments. Then, one of my captors gestured to me stay where I was. Then they flew away. Let me mention that they have no wing, yet they could lift up in the space and fly. After waiting in that position for one minute. At the other end of the wall, the wall open up and another set of beings came out. Then I thought “It seems everything here is controlled by magic. Interesting”. These new beings walked up to me. One of them was different.

It has a horn like cow, but made of shiny metal. He is covered in red robe like gown. Then I concluded based on the appearance that it must be their king. He approached me and called me “Adari urion”. That word sounds familiar. It sounds like a yoruba word for “Adari Uhrun” – Human being. He continued “How do you greet your kings?” I quickly sensed he was demanding respect from me. I prostrated like we do at the presence of our village heads. He asked me to rise up. In a deep voice that sound as if he is speaking through an empty pot of water, he said “I heard many questions coming from your heart. One question is; what are these things?” which was the exact question on my mind. He added “We are the over-lords. We have always been with you. We were there when your kind was created by eldion”.

I asked what “eldion” is. He said “eldion is a creator” I quickly interpreted it to be “eleda. He continued “We have relationships with your kind. Be it good or bad. Your kind regards us as gods. They pray to us. They make sacrifices to us. We grant them their wishes. We teach them new tricks and magic. In turn, they work for us”. I have never seen any human working for the gods except sacrifice, worship and rituals. I asked “How are we working for you?” He said “You will learn in your journey. I know who you are. I keep you safe. I have been waiting for you to journey here. We knew you will come. It is your destiny, it is your path. I broke you free from your dungeon. The old man was my worker. I assigned him to that dungeon waiting for you for years. Your destiny is to be sacrificed to the lords of the seven rivers” At this point I became apprehensive. I said “I guess that was why you have been keeping me alive away from danger”.