Chapter 7: Sword and Spirit

I no let Zainab bandage am. The wound go heal by itself in thirty minutes. I just tell her to help me dress up, then bring me the sword wey my brother give me.

As Zainab dey arrange my wrapper, she dey whisper prayer under breath. Na so we dey take survive for this country—prayer and small courage.

As I rush enter Halima room, blood still dey her mouth corner, she dey weak for Musa arms. I enter with sword, but Musa guards block me for door. Dem no fit hurt me, so I wound two of them.

The guards dey fear me small, because dem hear rumour say I get juju. As I flash sword, dem jump back, sweat dey drip for face. Na so dem scatter, no fit stop me.

"Aisha! You don craze?"

Musa shout, hide Halima behind am. My sword dey point his neck direct.

I see fear for him eye. This one pass normal quarrel—na life and death.

"System, he don pass twenty-seven. Even if he die now, e no matter again, abi?"

My mind dey race. If I fit end am now, maybe peace go reach me. But system voice come cool me like cold breeze.

[Madam, abeg no do anything rash. You no fit kill anybody for this world. If he die, you no fit return.]

I just hiss. If not because system dey watch me, thunder for fire una today. Na wah.

The system sabi spoil show. Even for dream, no freedom. I just carry sword, hand dey shake small.

"Madam, na my fault, abeg no blame general. I useless. If you wan kill person, kill me."

Halima voice dey tremble, but I see real fear and love inside. Blood dey her hand, but her grip tight. For Naija woman, to beg for another person life, na big sacrifice.

I no know where Halima see strength, she just rush out hold my sword tight. Blood dey pour from her hand, her face white, tears dey flow. Musa really dey heartbroken. He knock my sword away, look me like say he go kill me next.

E pain him. For his eyes, I see battle of love and hate. That moment, I know say my own don end for his heart.