Oya: Warrior Of The Moon

3.

*

As I walked through the gates of the Moon academy, my breath caught in my throat. I was in awe of all the things I saw, and if I didn’t know it was a school, my first instinct would have been to assume that it was a palace of some sort, long forgotten in the mountains. The school was a grand stone structure, towering up into the sky like a majestic castle. The walls were lined with intricate carvings of African animals and symbols, and the roof was adorned with thatched turrets.

The courtyard was bustling with activity. Students clad in colorful robes ran past me, laughing and shouting as they hurried to their classes. The air was thick with the sweet scent of African flowers and herbs, and the sound of drums could be heard in the distance.

A group of girls were training with weapons while another group seemed to be praying to the moon. It was as if the whole place was alive with magic. A few of them stopped to greet Naima, while they gave me questioning looks. I wondered what they were thinking, seeing a girl just like them with dirt on her face and probably in need of a shower.

I followed Naima through the courtyard, trying to take everything in. The girls training with weapons were so focused that they didn't even seem to notice us walking by. They moved with grace and precision, their swords and spears flashing in the moonlight.

The other group seemed to be in some sort of trance. They knelt on the ground, facing the moon, their arms outstretched. They looked like they were praying, but there was something otherworldly about the way they moved.

“What is that?” I asked Naima, whose gaze followed my finger before she turned and faced me.

“They are praying to your namesake,” she said with a smile, gesturing to the moon. “Our goddess protects us from evil and keeps us safe from our enemies.”

“And you really believe that?” I asked.

Naima raised a questioning eyebrow as she looked at me. “I would have assumed that you of all people would be more respectful to the goddess. You bear her name, and it is her magic which courses through your veins right now. A little bit of respect would be appreciated.”

I apologised when I saw how pissed she was, and I avoided her gaze. This was all so strange to me, and I had never known a place like this existed until now. I was struggling to wrap my head around it, as it was a lot to take in.

Naima led me to a large, stone building at the center of the courtyard. It was surrounded by gardens filled with flowers I had never seen before. The building itself was ancient, with ivy creeping up the walls and gargoyles perched on the roof.

Inside, the building was just as impressive. The walls were lined with tapestries depicting scenes from ancient battles, and the air was thick with the scent of incense. Naima led me down a long hallway lined with doors. We stopped in front of one and she knocked.

"Enter," a voice called from inside.

Naima pushed the door open and we stepped into a large room. The walls were lined with bookshelves, and there were tables and chairs scattered throughout. At the far end of the room sat an old woman, her hair as white as snow.

“Makeda,” Naima said as she bowed before her. “She is here at last.”

The old woman looked up at me like a person who was seeing the sun for the first time in decades. She smiled at me, a warm, almost motherly smile which made me feel drawn to her instantly.

"Welcome, Oya," the woman said. "I am the headmistress of the Moon academy."

I bowed low, unsure of what to say. The headmistress was a powerful old witch, and I could feel her magic pulsing through the air.

"We have been searching for an elemental like you for years now," the headmistress continued. "Your arrival is fortuitous, for we are in need of your talents."

I looked up, surprised. "My talents?"

"Yes," the headmistress said. "You possess a power which transcends the normal elements, do you not?"

I nodded slowly, still unsure of what was happening.

"Good," the headmistress said. "We are in need of an elemental such as yourself. One of our own has fallen ill, and we need someone with your talents to take her place."

I felt a surge of panic. "Take her place? I don't understand."

The headmistress leaned forward. "The Moon academy is a school of magic. We teach our students to control and harness their powers. It is a great responsibility, but also a great honor. We are offering you a place at our school, where you can learn to control your magic and use it for the greater good."

I stared at her in disbelief. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, but it was also a huge responsibility.

"I'll do it," I said without hesitation.

The headmistress smiled. "Excellent. You will begin your test tomorrow. Naima will show you to your quarters."

“A test?” I asked. “Didn’t I just pass the test when Naima abandoned me in the forest?”

“Not quite,” Makeda said. “That test was to determine whether you are worthy of setting foot in our halls. Now, we need to determine if you are worthy of being trained by the most elite warriors in the entire African continent. We do not accept just anyone into our school. So keep that in mind and get some rest. You’ll need your strength for tomorrow.”

I followed Naima out of the room, my mind whirling. I had never imagined that something like this could happen to me. I was just a girl from a small village on the outskirts of Damara. But now I was given an opportunity to train at the most prestigious schools of magic in the land.

We finally arrived at my room, and Naima opened the door to reveal a cozy, comfortable space. The walls were adorned with colorful African textiles, and a soft rug covered the stone floor. The bed was covered in a bright, handwoven blanket, and a small desk sat in the corner.

“Your dinner will be brought shortly,” Naima said. “I would suggest you eat quickly and rest. You’ll need it tomorrow.”

After the food arrived, I ate it and settled in, my mind racing with excitement. The Moon Academy was a place unlike any other, a school where I would learn to harness the power of magic and use it for the greater good. As I drifted off to sleep that night, I couldn't help but wonder what adventures lay ahead of me at this magical school.

I found myself running through a dense forest, the branches whipping past me as I stumbled over rocks and roots. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel the hot breath of a wild animal on my heels. I didn't dare look back; I knew that the creature was gaining on me, and I could hear its low growl getting louder with each passing second.

I pushed myself harder, my legs burning with exhaustion, but I knew I couldn't stop. I had to keep running, had to keep going, or else I would be caught by the predator behind me.

But then, just as I was about to give up hope, I stumbled and fell by the riverbank. I scrambled to my feet, ready to face my attacker head-on, but as the creature stepped out of the shadows, I was surprised to see that it had transformed into a man.

“Hello, Oya,” he said. “Long time no see.”

I was hesitant at first, but he approached me, his voice soft and gentle as he spoke. He said that he was happy I had returned, and my heart began to race again as I realized that I recognized him from somewhere, but I couldn't quite place where.

As he took a step towards me, I felt a chill run down my spine. I wanted to run, to scream, to do anything to get away from him, but my feet were frozen to the ground.

Suddenly, he lunged at me, and I screamed as I felt his claws sink into my flesh. I was trapped, pinned down by his weight, and I could feel his breath hot on my neck as he whispered in my ear.

Just as I thought it was all over, I woke up. But as I opened my eyes, I realized that I was not in my bed. I was writhing on the floor in agony, thrashing about like a fish out of water. My magic was out of control, and I could feel it tearing through the room around me. I screamed as I tried to regain control, but it was no use. The more I struggled, the more destruction my powers caused.

Naima burst into the room, flanked by several other students who had been woken up by my screams. They tried to calm me down, to talk me through the panic, but it was too late. I was lost in the chaos of my magic.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Makeda push past the girls and stand in front of me. Her eyes began to glow, and as she waved her hand in front of me and muttered a spell, everything went dark and my powers seized for a brief moment, and she quickly ordered them to hold me down.

It was only after they managed to pin me down and sedate me that I finally fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. But even as I slept, the memory of the creature chasing me haunted my dreams, and I knew that I had to find a way to regain control of my magic before it consumed me entirely.

*