Chapter 1: Foxfire Beginnings

I once practiced dual cultivation with a fox spirit for many years!

Back then, the world was wild, and I, always curious, allowed myself to move close to things people whispered about in the dark. The kind of things old women warn their daughters never to entertain. But me? My spirit no dey hear word, especially when adventure dey call.

In the end, I cut off all my feelings, left him without looking back, and ascended to immortality!

I did it with my chest. My eyes dry, my feet steady, my heart empty like Oyingbo market at midnight. I pause small, fist tight, look back one last time—my mind dey shake, but I lock my heart sharp-sharp. I no even look his face again, just waka. The wind wey blow that day even blow commot the scent of his body from my skin. That kind of heartbreak, na only people wey get strong mind fit do am.

He turned cold immediately, declaring that from that day, he would never have anything to do with heartless, ruthless women again!

People say fox spirits dey sharp, but the way he change, e shock even me. Ehn! From soft talk to serious chill, like harmattan wey enter uninvited.

Later, the heavenly laws changed, and I was thrown back down to the mortal world. Only if I grew new threads of affection could I return to my post!

When dem announce am for council, the air stiff, everybody dey look me like say I dey wear wrapper backwards. I suppose feel shame, but for my mind, na new problem be this.

Once that fox spirit heard, he rushed over sharp-sharp!

Word spread faster than market gossip. Before one cock crow, Folarin don reach, breeze never dry for road when he land.

He burst in with the smell of wild bush and rain, like thunder just finish for his body. Inside a remote mountain church, he stripped off his clothes and climbed onto my bed!

The bed self dey shout under his weight. He no even send spirit etiquette; just strip sharp-sharp, like say na him house. Na so the fox tail begin dey do shakara for my leg, dey find trouble.

"No go think say na because I still dey miss you o! I just swear say I go personally scatter your heartless path!"

Na the thing about Folarin be that—him pride no dey let am admit soft spot. But the fire for him eye dey burn pass Abuja sun.

I gently pushed his tail, which was busy rubbing my leg:

"Abeg, this one no too convenient... My fiancé no go like am!"

I talk am soft, but for my mind, I dey beg make breeze carry am go far. Who wan dey explain this kain thing for family meeting? E get some wahala wey only fit happen for bush, no for family compound.