Akeh woke the next morning with a jolt, his body still aching from the wounds of his previous encounter. His muscles groaned as he pushed himself up, but he managed to sit on the edge of the rough wooden bed. The room around him was large, it's walls made entirely of wood, with lanterns hanging from hooks, casting a soft, flickering light that danced on the floor. It was strange and unfamiliar. He rubbed his temples, trying to piece together the last thing he remembered.
The thought of his mother and the strange girl crept into his mind. A wave of tension surged through him, and his fist clenched at the memory.
Sluggishly, he rose to his feet and made his way to the door. As he opened it, the air was warm, slightly humid, with the scent of something cooking nearby. He stepped into the narrow hallway, the soft creaking of the wooden floor beneath him. Akeh walked, slowly at first, searching for a clue to where he was. The place felt too peaceful, too distant from the horror he had left behind.
He reached an open area and spotted a kitchen. There, in front of a wooden counter, a girl stood, her back turned to him, rhythmically chopping vegetables. The scent of the soup filled the room, earthly and rich. She moved with calm precision, as though fully aware of his presence.
"You should be resting." The girl said without turning around, her voice smooth but with an edge of familiarity.
Akeh stopped, his brow furrowed. "I don't need more rest." He muttered, the confusion in his voice growing.
"Where am I?"
The girl continued chopping for a moment, then set the knife down. She finally turned to face him. Akeh's eyes caught something on the counter behind her, a mask. His heart began racing as the realization hit him. It was the same mask the stranger wore when she had tried to kill his mother. He tensed, his hands balling into fists.
"You..." He growled, stepping back slightly, ready to defend himself if needed.
"Where's my mother?"
"Your mother is alive, she's fine. She's resting, like you should be."
Akeh's heart slowed a little, but his doubt still lingered.
"How am I supposed to believe that?" He asked, his voice sharp, suspicion dripping from every word.
"You tried to kill her not long ago, now suddenly she is well alive and resting. What game are you playing?"
The girl wiped her hands on a cloth and sighed, as if this conversation was inevitable.
"My name is Altine. And as a purist of this division, I apologize for what I did..." She began.
"... But understand, I only followed orders not to leave a hollow unchecked." She paused, her eyes hardening for just a moment.
"... If one becomes that way it's the same as being dead. I had a sister once... She became a hollow when we were still children. I've searched ever since then, but there is no way to undo it."
Altine let out a heavy sigh, "it's frustrating when you search for an answer and come up empty, no matter how hard you try."
Altine stepped forward, closing the distance between her and Akeh. She stopped in front of him, pressing a finger firmly against his chest.
"If you want to save your mother then go ahead. But I'm not here to hurt you, I only brought you here to show you the ways of the spirit."
Akeh's mind raced, but something in her tone, in her eyes, made him pause.
"Altine..." He repeated, testing the name on his tongue.
"Where is this place?"
"Come with me." She said, gesturing for him to follow. Akeh hesitated for a moment, but then nodded, trailing behind her as they stepped out of the house.
They emerged into a wide, open courtyard, and Akeh's eyes widened in disbelief. The entire area was built over water, with narrow wooden walkways connecting houses that stood on stilts. The structures were patched together with whatever materials the inhabitants could find. Metal sheets, wooden planks, old tarps, but there was life here. Children ran through the narrow alleys playing with sticks and laughing, while women knelt by the waters edge, washing clothes or canoeing from one house to another.
"This is the spirit harmony division, in makoko." Altine explained.
"A place for people like you. Spiritually gifted. Most of the people here have some connection to the spirit realm, whether they know it or not."
Akeh watched, his eyes darting from one scene to the next. The bustle of life here was unlike anything he had ever seen. He saw a woman paddling a small canoe across the water with ease, her hand moving the oar through the murky water with grace. People lived in harmony with the water, almost as if they were part of it.
But then something caught his eye. Near the far end of the courtyard, a girl walked gracefully across the water, a bucket of fish balanced on her head. Akeh's breath hitched in his throat.
"She's walking... On water?" He asked, his voice hushed in disbelief.
Altine smiled. "That's Trinity, my sister. When you reach a certain level of mastery over your gift, you can do things like that. It's not as difficult as it seems once you understand how to channel your spirit."
Akeh watched in awe as Trinity stepped lightly, each foot barely disturbing the surface of the water as she crossed toward a fisherman in a canoe. She exchanged a few words with him, then took the fish he offered and turned back towards the houses.
"Spiritually gifted..." Akeh whispered, more to himself than to Altine.
Akeh finally turned to Altine.
"Is it possible to use this gift to return my mother's soul?"
Altine, feeling uncertain. "Like I said, there is a way but it's impossible to find. All I can say is, prepare yourself to lose her."
Akeh remained silent, the weight of her words sinking in as he tried to comprehend everything that had happened. As Altine led him back towards the house, the sounds of makoko slum buzzing around them, Akeh couldn't help but feel that his world was about to change forever.