Present
"Hmmm," Chibuzor groans, crawling through the thick, sandy, poisonous air. Everything around him pulses with an eerie strangeness—purple-black flames lick the ground, and the trees bear leaves of the same fiery hue. Jagged mountains rise in the distance, towering and unnatural. This is no place in the human realm.
The last thing he remembers...
24 Hours Earlier
Chibuzor stares upward, frozen in a mix of disbelief and dread. Standing above the altar, his expression cold and superior, is Ifeanyi.
"I banish Chibuzor na Uzodimma to Ajofia for life—for attempting to usurp the throne and destroy the royal family."
The last human words Chibuzor would hear.
Present
"That's not good," Chibuzor mutters, glancing toward a distant sound. A deafening roar rains down from the heavens, shaking the very air. It's far off—but drawing closer.
Scrambling, he pulls himself beneath a rocky ledge just as the roar explodes overhead, ripping through the terrain. Dust and fire erupt above him—but he's spared.
He exhales shakily.
Then, he sees it.
A beast—tiger-like but impossibly grotesque—soars through the sky. It glides, hunts, and roars with ungodly fury. It uses the same sonic blast to take down a creature much larger than Chibuzor, then vanishes into the clouds.
"At least I'm safe here," he mutters, curling into the hollow beneath the ledge and drifting into sleep.
Hours Later
He wakes—not on the ground, but in the arms of a creature. A humanoid turtle—wrinkled, ancient-looking, with eyes like deep wells of time. It moves slowly but with purpose, wise and unexpectedly agile.
"You're finally awake, eh, human?" the creature says in a rasping voice.
Too weak for shock, Chibuzor can only whisper, "Who... what are you?"
The turtle ignores the question.
"Ajofia is dangerous for soft-skinned creatures like you. You know that, right?"
Chibuzor coughs harshly. "Ajofia… You said Ajofia. How do you know of that?"
No response. Just silence.
"At least tell me your name," Chibuzor pleads.
The turtle eyes him with something between pity and curiosity.
"Mmbeke," he replies at last, drawing closer.
"Mmbeke? Like in the stories?" Chibuzor scoffs, sarcasm heavy in his voice. "Please. Wake me from this dream."
But Mmbeke doesn't flinch at the disrespect.
"Ajofia is split into three," he continues. "It confuses humans across space, time, and realm."
He shifts, voice lowering. "In space, if you enter Ajofia from Awkuzu, it might spit you out in Onitsha. That happens when you accidentally step in."
"In time, things are worse. You might walk in circles for moons, only to realize it's been six market days. That happens when you knowingly step in—maybe trying to take a shortcut. The gods hate cheaters."
"And in realm... well, that's how you ended up here. The only way to enter this cursed layer..."
He pauses.
"...is through banishment."
48 Hours Earlier
The kingdom gathers before a dark, swampy forest—Ajofia. Priests form a protective line before it, incanting prayers of warding. The crowd is tense.
The new king stands proudly with his family.
In front of them, a badly beaten Chibuzor pants with every breath, a bag over his head. Two hulking palace guards drag him before the priests.
Chibuzor hears nothing. His senses are dulled, his fate certain. All he can do is pray—for mercy. For forgiveness.
The priests begin their incantations.
Ajofia erupts in violet fire.
This is no mere exile through forest paths. This is exile from the human realm.
The guards force him to his knees. The bag is yanked from his head—and all he sees is flame, purple and holy, as it consumes him whole.
Present
Yes... banishment, Chibuzor admits to himself. I was banished.
But that's not what truly vexes him.
What went wrong? he wonders. Where did I fail?
I had Ifeanyi in my grasp. That foolish boy. I gave him his heart. I raised him. And he betrayed me. Only because I showed him his crown. Only because I told him who he truly was…
Where did I go wrong?
72 Hours Earlier
We return to the entrance of the plantation where Chibuzor had just left Ifeanyi.
From a distance, Uzochukwu watches.
Maybe it's just a friendly chat, Uzo tells himself. But then he notices Ifeanyi's expression—disbelief, horror.
No, he concludes. Something's definitely wrong.
Just then, Chibuzor walks by Uzo, flashing him a maniacal smile. Uzo stiffens and follows, leaving Ifeanyi alone, staring at the ground, stunned.
Later, in their shared bedroom, Uzo sits deep in thought. Ifeanyi enters quietly.
"Where have you been?" Uzo asks gently.
"And how is that any concern of yours?" Ifeanyi replies sharply.
Uzo ignores the jab. "What were you and that snake talking about?"
"The snake you speak of," Ifeanyi answers coldly, "is my guardian. The only one there when you and Father were busy playing warrior. He taught me politics. He saw that while my body may be weak, my mind is sharp."
Uzo snaps. "That doesn't compare to what we have. What did he tell you?"
"Don't be concerned, Uzo." Ifeanyi's tone softens. "He sharpened my mind. And that... will be his downfall."
Uzo straightens. "We must tell Father."
They rush to the king's sanctuary.
"Igwe," they call as they enter.
The king sits, drinking a strange liquid—likely medicine. He dismisses the maid and turns his eyes to his sons.
"You may rise," he commands.
They relay everything.
"A plot?" the king says, stunned. "He dared plot against me?"
He chuckles bitterly. "A clever move, I admit. But his mistake is underestimating my sons' hearts."
He looks to Ifeanyi. "I'm glad he couldn't poison yours."
The king coughs.
"Father," Ifeanyi whispers, rushing to his side.
"I'm alright," the king says, wiping the blood from his lips.
"You shouldn't speak," Uzo says softly.
"I have less than a hundred moons left in me," the king says with a fading smile. "It warms my heart to see my sons united. Still bonded. Still strong."
He turns to Uzo. "My warrior."
Then to Ifeanyi. "My king."
He closes his eyes.
"My kingdom is in the right hands."
Present
"The air is toxic," Mmbeke says grimly. "Poisonous. Soon, you will become like one of us."
Chibuzor says nothing. The weight of his reality hangs heavy.
"There is a castle," Mmbeke adds, pointing skyward. "High above the clouds. 'Eze bi n'igwe' rules there. He may offer you a path forward... maybe even a way out."
He turns, a sly glint in his eye.
"But you'll need to put your... slippery nature to good use."