Published by Marvin Bryant Publishing Worldwide LLC

Copyright Marvin Bryant Jr. and Marvin Bryant Publishing Worldwide LLC, 2017
All rights reserved

2
Grasp your heart, and then let
go to understand
the imaginary part. Open your
eyes, and then close them only
to be mesmerized. Breathe
fast, and then breathe slow, so
the figments glow in contrast.
Heighten the esteem. Paint a
new color scheme, only to find
the grand daydream.

-Marvin Bryant, Jr.

3
This book is a complete work of fic-
tion. Each story is complete fiction,
and every character is fictional. Any
resemblance to actual events or per-
sons, living or dead, is entirely coin-
cidental.

Credit to DeviantArt Artist(s)

Sabin Boykinov
Anndr
jrmy2cool
Greenestreet
Mates Laurentiu
isdira
EmiliaPaw5
.

4
 Content
Capitulum 1..........7
Kayange

Capitulum 2..........28
Chiona

Capitulum 3..........39
Garionn

5
 Dream Verse
1
Greetings to you all, my name is Navy Brimrant, an owl

upon the watchers wall, and I think the time is upon us that I

apprised you about the subtle age before the tyrants, Chann,

Yandla, Alaric, and Garionn, claimed the continents and its

people. In that subtle time, there were tribes, e.g., the Kayang-

es and the Chionas, who lived their lives in their own way.

These are the stories of those tribes, and these are told by Do-

nex and Retulu, before the tyrants came. Enjoy what you can.

6
 Capitulum 1
Kayange
Told by Donex Kayange

I am Donex Muku Kayange, and as a young boy my father told me my name means
sunset on the moon. Throughout the many lands, the middle name is the honorable family
name, and the last name is the sacred tribe name that every family must carry and hold with
respect and pride.

We are the Kayanges, and this country of Malawi is not our original home; we came
from a country far, far away, called Tanzania. During that time, of our early beginnings,
we shared the land with other tribes (i.e., the Chionas, the Sukwas, and the Twinkers). The
Kayanges believed that in order to grow our people we must focus on the sciences and
philosophies to move forward. The Chionas were obsessed with the worship of their gods,
while the Sukwas were self- proclaimed deities who were practitioners of dark powers
known as vodun.

The Twinkers were dream- and fantasy-driven people who always threw festivals and
parties with loud music and light explosions in the night sky to celebrate life.

However, logic and science were the popular opinions of Tanzania at the time due to the
overwhelming number of Kayanges compared to the other tribes. My people thought that
such a belief in gods and magic was futile and a waste of good human mind. We decided
to not waste our time resorting to violent means because of difference in belief systems; we
focused instead on building infrastructure and investing in discovery. Our tribe was split
into two factions: Banti, the philosophers and scientists of the tribe who spoke and read in
over twelve languages, and Hidma, the architects and builders of the tribe who were well
versed in preserving valuable minerals and jewels found throughout the land. Before our
tribe could ever prosper the way we planned, we had to migrate away from the futility to a
country south of here, Malawi. There is where our legacy truly began.

In Malawi, we began our plans to build two cities, one in the mountains and another un-
derground. The underground city was planned to be the largest city in the world, connecting
the entire African continent with elegant tunnel transportation systems. The City of Ahune
was designed to become the central point of unification for Africa. There were several dis-
tricts throughout Ahune where different tribes could meet and unite. The only tribe that
chose to never visit Ahune was the Chionas.

7
 The City of Ahune

The city in the mountains would be used for scientific discoveries and
experiments. The city was designed so that there were biology, chemistry,
and physics sectors where scientists could study the living organisms and
chemicals all around them. The City of Yhune contained the worlds larg-
est library, filled with knowledge spanning thousands of cultures. The City
of Yhune is the only city in the mountains of Malawi.

8
 The City of Yhune

The brightest minds of the Kayanges were aware of the past Roman Empire through
the texts they bought from confidants throughout the lands and seas. It was a competition
of some sorts to construct a better empire, with stronger walls, better technology, greater
minds, and much much more. On one occasion, the Bantis spoke on the issue of introduc-
ing politics into the society, but a collective decision was made to never introduce potential
corruption into their tribe. The Kayanges introduced instead a system known as Noocra-
cy, inspired by Platos government of the wise. The system of Noocracy is a social system
based on the priority of the human mind. Think of it as a kind of central brain configured
for governance. Every Kayange had an equal share of power for moving the tribe forward.
The main goals for the Kayanges were intelligence, innovation, and wisdom. Under the
Noocractic government, individuals were able to have original thoughts without the worry
of catastrophe from a tyrant. Everyone was a leader, and everyone had the power to be-
come great. Gold and silver werent the currency of our society. Intelligence was our cur-
rency, the more ignorant, the more broke. Each individual, young or old, tries to strive for
enlightenment and scientific discovery. Individuals were able to meet at the City of Yhune
to discuss philosophical ideas and debate each idea. They were able to travel

9
throughout the City of Ahune and to meet other tribes to share their knowledge and inno-
vation throughout Africa. We would often get visitors from other parts of Africa to come
and tour the City of Yhune. Moorish men and Persian inventors would often come to the
City of Yhune to consult with our own scientists and do experiments together, but there
was one meeting, code-named the Noctura Maxis, which took place with all the scientists,
Persian monarchs, Egyptian Sultan, and heads of other tribes. Every important figure
was there except the ministers and leaders of the Sukwas and Chionas. They all meet to
discuss the problem of the foreign invader known as the phoenix, which is conquering
countries on the western hemisphere with an army two hundred thousand strong. They
were debating on building chemical weapons to protect Africa from invaders, but they
kept reaching the dead end of what if the weapons cause more harm than justice in the
future?. This was a serious issue for the Kayanges, because they were afraid that if they
use their intelligence to begin building weapons powerful enough to destroy thousands
of lives, then Noocracy would become a system of ashes. Who would guard the weapons?
What if a corrupt Kayange uses the weapons in the name of justice to destroy thou-
sands or even millions? There are no winners in war, so their meeting took a different
direction, and they decided to build several huge nine-hundred-thousand-square-foot
underground forts throughout the country of Ethiopia for Africas finest minerals. With-
in these forts were safe havens that people could escape to, guarded by the worlds most
sophisticated traps. Instead of inciting a war with the phoenix, we rather hide all of our
precious jewels guarded by sophisticated traps that only we can disable. This meeting
taught our people that we have a choice in conflict, to become like the killer and kill or
give an alternative option. Some Persian leaders attempted to negotiate a peaceful deal
with the phoenix, but the Persian leaders were never seen again.

However, despite this meetings success to find a peaceful option, there was a secretive
meeting between four Persian and Kayange scientists. This meeting led to a secret, now
defunct, program to create a gaseous compound that becomes more toxic when in contact
with oxygen; the more oxygen is around, the more itll expand and wipe out possibly mil-
lions of living beings. This compound wouldve suffocated Africa and each place around
it. Legend has it that this compound was created and never used in war but is buried in
one of the forts of Ethiopia. If the time ever came, I would have to travel to Ethiopia to use
the toxic gas.

A few years later, among the many great Kayanges that arose from this platinum age
of innovation was my father, Ohcani Muku Kayange. He was a beloved man who was
one of the greatest inventors and scientists of our time. He rose from being an orphan to
the main scientist of the Banti faction. I recall one evening some years ago, when I was
only sixteen years old, when he was baffled with one medicine he was trying to create as
a disinfectant to heal the wounds of our builders, more efficiently.

Donex hand me those water tubes. He said as my father and I sat in his lab.

Father, what are those little rocks on the table?

10
Those are baryta minerals I got from the Twinkers, in exchange for some of our wine.
He said.

Damn partying drunks. He added.

What do they do?

Well Ill have to try and send some electrical charges to make a reaction of some sorts
happen with those little rocks. He said. Suddenly an armored gentleman with gold
wrapped around his forearms and shins, who they called Ayn, enters with a bow and
arrows and proceeds to hand my father a note.

Sir, this came from one of your confidants in the West. Ayn said.

Donex, I think you should leave. Ayn added.

No, hes a growing boy who will need to know how to deal with this.

My father opened the letter and it read, Time is of the essence, the phoenix is closing
in on our homes. The phoenix has an army of two million men strong now and the
army grows with the more he enslaves. After the War of Persia and the War of Egypt,
the phoenix has conquered Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, and the Ivory Coast and will be
moving in on central Africa soon and before long the east.

11
Ohcani, how bad is it? Ayn asked.

Whats bad? What is going on? I asked because at the time I was ignorant on the pending
threat. I began to worry more and more every second after hearing those words. Ive never
been more terrified from just words on a piece of paper in my life.

Well need to meet with the leaders of the other tribes. He said.

You know damn well they will not listen. The Twinkers ceased communication with other
tribes years ago; the Chionas will just ignore it, and the Sukwas will probably think its a
trick. Ayn said.

We must try! Well need to gather evidence. He said.

Son, there is a foreign enemy coming to seek and destroy but we cannot and will not let
that happen. He added.

The phoenix I said.

Yes, and he and his men are coming to claim what is not theirs and we will not let that
happenokay? He said.

What will we do? I asked.

Well have to unite with our foes if we want to survive. He said.

Ayn, send three letters to each tribe to alert them of the phoenix. He added.

A soft knock was heard at the door. I looked toward the door as my father approached
the door to open it. A group of Ayns confidants was at the door. I slowly walked toward
my room with a deep feeling of fear and confusion, but I wondered how I can fear some-
thing or someone I dont know. I assumed fear has no bounds. When I entered my room,
I looked at a portrait I painted of my friends, Retulu and Nivram. I thought how could
someone come and bring evil to end all the good. I then overheard my fathers meeting.
In retrospect, I never heard horror in a persons voice until that meeting. These confidants
were telling my father and Ayn stories of what the phoenix had done. It was a relatively
short conversation; after that my father left with the men to take on a trip to Ethiopia. I was
left with my mother at home to await his return.

As I sat at home awaiting his return, all different kinds of thoughts were running
through my mind. I would often go through my fathers notes and attempt to recreate the
experiments he did. I nearly killed myself on one of the experiments with red iron oxide
and aluminum powder. I was young trying to prepare just in case the phoenix ever came.

12
I would practice every night, tirelessly, trying to understand physics and chemistry
more and more. My friend Retulu would visit to go fishing in Lake Malawi, but I was
always too tired from staying up all night, and when he returned two weeks later, ev-
erything in our tribe changed. I dont know what happened in Ethiopia but that trip
led the scientists to begin building weapons. This entire situation was bizarre because
my father was one of the individuals who fought for not using chemical weapons
during the Noctura Maxis, but this was the first time I saw him go against his beliefs.
The reality of death coming for his loved ones changed his moral code. He began to
have this demeanor of focus and worry as he worked in his lab day and night trying
to perfect more chemical weapons. When he would fall asleep in his lab from hours
of work, I would come behind him and try to duplicate his work. My father grew
older every week due to the stress of trying to save everyone. I pondered on the num-
bers; the phoenix allegedly has millions of soldiers and the population of the Kayang-
es is only two thousand. Should I form a militant group and go fight the enemy?
Should I negotiate peace with the enemy? Should I pretend like everythings alright?
Should I build chemical weapons and attack? Despite my numerous attempts to du-
plicate my fathers work, I wasnt as fluent in the sciences as my father is; as a child, I
preferred philosophy, but I didnt know how philosophy could stop a madman.

Once enough weapons were created, Ohcani, Ayn, and a Persian scientist sent in
eight hundred men with several tons of chemical weapons as an attempt to end a
war before it starts. This attack ultimately fails with the phoenix capturing the eight
hundred men by ambush. The phoenix rained hundreds of flaming cannonballs from
above using their war balloons. In minutes, eight hundred men were slaughtered,
and the chemical weapons were taken by the phoenix. Many have tried to shoot
down their war balloons with spears using guerrilla warfare, but all have failed. They
all suffered the same fate.

Six months passed, another attack was in the works of being initiated. One day,
my father received a letter from several scientists and builders urging him to com-
plete the calculations for new chemical weapons. He was reluctant at first because
the weapons they were trying to create could burn millions of innocent Africans. My
father decided not to partake in this attack, so I did. I went behind my fathers back
and worked out equations for the new weapons. It took me some time to figure out
the physics, but I had to make the decision to save Africa. Once I sent the remaining
calculations to the scientists, my father received a letter of gratitude, but he was con-
fused since he didnt send any calculations. Two weeks later, the attack was initiated;
though it was a success, the people that were killed were Africans enslaved into the
phoenixs army. Over seventy thousand Africans were killed due to my decision. I
found out that the phoenix uses the people it conquers as human shields for its
army. Once my father received word that

13
his calculations had led to a successful attack that murdered his own people, my father
declined mentally and physically. I didnt know how to tell my father that it was my work. I
felt guilt and pain for what Ive caused. I shouldve...I dont know.

A few months passed, the hysteria of the phoenix began to die down. My father hasnt
heard any news of any recent threats; its as if the phoenix stopped its conquest after that at-
tack and settled in northern East Africa. As the hysteria died,... so did my father. The thought
of him getting the credit for killing thousands of his people just to try and kill one man broke
him. He was stressed out day in and day out from being held responsible for that attack and
the worry of the phoenix still being out there. He traveled a lot trying to consult with oth-
er tribes, but to them, they considered the phoenix a myth and a bunch of rumors. He tried
pleading with other tribes to get them to listen, but some either left the problem to their re-
ligion or others simply dismissed it. This angered and saddened my father simultaneously.
How can somebody choose to ignore the smoke from the fire? Unless theyre blind; hence,
hear no evil and see no evil. The night before he died, he last told me that to do what I can to
survive the coming storm. Fear, guilt, and regret are on my shoulders every day. I questioned
my decision to attempt to save my people.

A few weeks after he passed, I walked to his grave during the night. I looked at what re-
mained of him and I didnt know how to express my feelings. I didnt know whether to cry,
scream, be angry, or be afraid. The haunting thoughts of my decision killing my people tore
my insides apart. All I can imagine was their agony from my choice to hopefully...save my
father. This moment brings back memories of the Lilongwe River. The longer I stood there
with the thoughts of what I caused, the more tears flowed down my face. As I stood there
in silence looking at his grave, I was spooked by the hoot of a giant owl. I turned in anger to
see this monstrous bird staring through my guilt, but once I looked back into its eyes, anger
turned to fear. I started walking back slowly, and as I was walking back, I stepped on my
fathers grave. I stopped and looked down at his grave and my fear began to disappear. I
walked forward and began to yell at the owl telling it to go away.

Why are you here?! I yelled.

Look at what you made me do! I continued.

As I stared in the eyes of this owl, I heard a voice in my head. Look at what you did to your-
self. Everyone has a choice.

My mother approached out of the shadows. Are you okay? She asked.

I told her, Yes...I was...it doesnt matter now.

My mother and I walked back into the house, and I went into my room to lay in bed. As tears
came pouring down, I looked around realizing that Im living in a glass house.

14
 In just three years, as I turn nineteen, our tribe still has heard no word of the phoenix. So our
tribe has begun to give birth to a new generation of different philosophers who have vary-
ing ideas of the nature of man and the world around us. One of these new philosophers and
also a close friend of mine is Nivram; he believes that the way to define a man, to see his true
character, is by leaving him alone in a room for a month with his greatest enemy; by then that
man would have been revealing who he really is. Others have taken the more scientific route
of believing the universe is this fluctuating isotopic plane of potential. Nivram became a very
popular philosopher among our people, especially after the legacy his father left behind. He
would hold rallies that encouraged people to think outside the world they create. He was one
of my closest friends as a kid, being second to Retulu. Nivram taught me many things I never
knew.

These philosophers are beginning to change the landscape of how we think. Although they
faced a lot of criticism from the Chionas who felt they were trying to change their perspec-
tives for the worse, there was a change for the better in the overall reaction. The two questions
that Nivram proposed that addled me and even Retulu for a while are (1) Is cruelty real or a
figment of human imagination? and (2) If there were no humans, would there be a universe
and how would you know? The first question we knew, since we were kids.

I remember once when Nivram and I were sitting on a bench by a patch of double-flow-
ered daffodils with butterflies flying around, while eating June plums, Nivram looked at me
and asked Have you ever wondered, if there were no more butterflies in the world, would
there still be an Earth? The answer is yes because as humans who can perceive different
things we could observe that the world would still be here without butterflies, but lets go
bigger. If there werent any more humans, would there still be a universe? How would we
know? Are we not the ones deemed the most intelligent in the world, who have given names
to different things, including to the word universe, or is this reality a dream or fictional place
of some sorts?

I was caught off guard by his questions. My initial thought was that Nivram might have
had too many June plums. I couldnt even reply with a suitable answer probably because I
didnt have one. However, apart from the philosophy and science in our tribe, spirituality be-
came a factor as well. Thats why some felt that the change in perspective was for the worse.
Many began to worship different deities and they also began to fellowship anywhere in the
community. The philosophers didnt see any problem with this because they believed in the
objectiveness of belief and opinion, although some religious people called the philosophers
liars and the philosophers refused to entertain the drama or should I say the trivial drama.

You may be surprised that despite the difference in opinions and beliefs, our tribe is still
able to come together and love and support each other in rough times and good times. It took
many years to get to this place of compromise that is both reasonable and rational and that
benefits both religion and philosophy. Decades ago, they would argue and belittle each other,
trying to decide how one should live in our society. They would also have a huge dispute on
how one

15
should think, dictating perception, but they were both blind to see that they needed each
other just like oxygen and hydrogen need each other to make water, but if you really think
about it, it is exciting that these different ideas truly exposed the nature of who we are. Our
tribe is not the best tribe, none of us are perfect, but it is our duty to take care of one another
and to make each other smarter by challenging ideas that push us to new limits. Thats the
type of reinforcement that helps us grow. Even Nivram believes that, considering the lim-
ited time we all have on this planet, we cannot afford the luxury of dividing ourselves over
trivial matters; he believes it simply shows our stupidity as a species.

Another current aspect of our culture is the dispute that divided our ancestors many
years ago: this all has changed, for me at least. I was able to learn from our ancestors mis-
takes to change for the better.

Just a few weeks ago, we had a few visitors from the Sukwa tribe of Ndali. They came to
help plan defenses against the phoenix and build more homes in the underground city. The
encounter with such a small tribe baffled me for a moment. Our historical records showed
the tribe to have a population of hundreds but only a few showed. The Sukwa tribe settled
in Malawi a few centuries ago. Its believed that their powers originated from Sapphire La-
pis, a visitor from a parallel world. Though this origin is believed to be mostly a myth told
by elders, some of it may hold some weight to it. A few philosophers from our tribe, e.g.,
Yeuhn, believe in the idea of infinity, specifically infinite worlds.

At the age of sixteen, I met up with an old friend of the Sukwa tribe who was quite
unique. Macabre was the nature of her whom I befriended; her name was Xentina Lazuli
Sukwa. She wore all black with four stones on her forehead: the first one was a citrine stone,
the second was an emerald stone, the third was a ruby, and the fourth was a lapis lazuli.
Her skin was the color of the enstatite gemstone with eyes the color of the aventurine feld-
spar. She always had nails the color of aventurine quartz gemstones. Every boy was breath-
less when she calls out their names. Xentina and I became friends when the Sukwas of Ndali
visited the Kayange tribe for a festival that the Twinkers hosted. Her close loved ones gave
her the nickname of Sumu. They never told me what it meant in their language of Cwaahilli,
until I asked Xentina herself. One night, when Xentina and I were walking through an aban-
doned flower tunnel, we had a discussion.

Do you remember the time when the moon wasnt full? She asked.

I remember the time when guys and even girls didnt smother you with attention. I said.

Xentina smiled and looked at me as I said, So, yes, I do remember when the moon wasnt
full.

You are the only one who is always honest with me; the rest just tell me what I want to
hear. She replied.

Like youre beautiful and what not I said.

16
Yeah thats like the number one pickup line Im told. Xentina said.

I laughed and asked her What is the reason you dont need to be told that?

What? You dont think Im beautiful? Xentina surged.

I think you should come with a warning label. I admitted.

Xentina mimicked me and then asked, What does your family think of me? Honesty is what
I want to hear, Donex. I know your family has a history of disdain for vodun and religion.

They love youdespite them thinking youre a witch. I answered.

Witch?

Oh, yes. I confirmed.

What gave them that impression?

Youre more of an enchantress. I said.

Donex, what gave them that impression?

No, no, you are the nymph of all lands. I exclaimed.

Donex?

Why does your family call you Sumu? I asked.

It means the strongest poison in Cwaahilli.

That is about right. I said.

She laughed at me and said shut up.

They know about the day you caught Juahi cheating with another. They know when you
saw him you conjured up bats to attack him and locust to attack the girl. I continued.

How do they know? She asked.

A few of my cousins saw you and ran in fear to go tell my family. I said.

17
I am amazed that many know but still pursue me. She said.

Yeah, they must be under your spell. I said.

Im surprised they let you around me. She said.

Well I try my best to defend you in front of them. I said.

Really? She asked as she looked at me with a look of sincerity.

Its the least I could do. I said.

Xentina then proceeded to grab my hand and looked me in my eyes. One of the best ways
to try and trust in the world is by trusting the heart of another. Donex, you should trust in me
and my heart. Her eyes began to turn deep blue as her breath began to smell more and more
like jasmine and vanilla. The clouds began to cover the moon and the night butterflies flew
around us both as I asked her Is this the best thing you can do yourself?

She smirked and said I am not a witch. I dont want to beDonex, Im just different.

How did you become the strongest poison? I asked.

My grandmother and great grandmother are practitioners of vodun.

Isnt your grandmothers name Zik, Zall something? I asked.

Yeah my grandmothers name is Zaila Lazuli Sukwa and her mothers name is Weleni Lazu-
li Sukwa.

Weleni Lazuli Sukwa

18
 Zaila Lazuli Sukwa
What about you? I asked.

I am notI try not to practice vodun and neither does my mother.

So how did you I tried asking.

When I was born, my grandmother stole me away one night and performed a ritual on me.
Then she returned me before my mother knew I was gone, and when you mentioned every-
one pursuing me, it was my grandmothers doing.

What about your mother?

As a child, my mother hated the practice of vodun; she preferred the teachings of the
Kayanges than magic, and each person that confronted my grandmother and great grand-
mother were turned into wooden puppets and her garden statues. My mother tried to con-
front her but she placed a spell of obliviousness and dubiousness on her.

I looked at her in disbelief and asked She placed a spell on her own daughter?

19
Yes, but she did it to protect her and the irony is when I conjured those bats and loctus, I
cried after, and the only person I could go to that night was my grandmother because my
mother wouldnt even know what I was talking about.

What did she say when you went to her? I asked.

She told me, O dear grace-eyed one, since that man doesnt appreciate your presence, I
will deal with that little underwhelming boy. Let me show you my children. She then took
me and showed me every statue and doll of all who hurt and opposed her. She knew every
single one of them and told me, in great detail, the story of each.

Why didnt you come to me that night? I asked.

I tried looking for you but I couldnt find you. Where were you?

Where is the boy who cheated? I asked.

My grandmother called upon the one person who is more powerful than her to put a spell
on him.

Who? I asked.

My great grandmother

Why didnt your grandmother call upon you? I asked.

She did, but I dont have the heart to hurt people like she does. I dont want to be like that.

But the bats and locust I said.

That was done out of anger in the moment, Donex, and when she told me about what she
wanted to do, I wasnt angry anymore. I am not like my grandmother.

What did your great grandmother do? I asked.

My grandmother had my great grandmother force him into six generations of laughter.

What? I asked.

For every breath he takes, he is forced to cry tears of blood and laugh nonstop when the
night comes, since I caught him with another girl in the night. This curse is a curse his future
generations will inherit. My grandmother said Since he took you as a joke Sumu, I shall
make him laugh at his own joke every night with every breath he takes for the next six gen-
erations.

20
Every child that carries his blood will leak his blood from their eyes in the night when its
their turn to share his joke.

He tried to kill himself several times. She added.

Let me guess. Your grandmother put a spell on him, so he couldnt kill himself. I said.

Yeah. She said.

Then why would anyone have children with such a curse upon them? I asked.

Xentina looked forward in silence and then she exhaled and said The girl he slept with is
pregnant.

So the generational cycle of the curse has already begun.

Yes. She said in a melancholy tone.

I looked at her and said Shouldnt you be happy that hes getting what he deserved? I mean,
he cheated on you.
I love my family but Im not like them. I dont want to be. I was angry that night, and from
that six generations of innocent children will be punished, all for one mans mistakes.

If youre more powerful than her, why havent you stopped her? I asked.

During the ritual at my birth, Weleni and Zaila placed a spell on me rendering me to never
forsake her or her mother. Two or more Sukwas are always more powerful than one.

Who else knows vodun in your family? I asked.

Just my grandmother and great grandmother. When my grandmother was a younger wom-
an, she teamed up with her mother to combine their powers to take out all who practice
vodun, which makes her so dangerous. The era was called the Crying Magnolia. My grand-
mother made that call to slaughter those people.

Why would Weleni agree to something like that? I asked.

There was an uprising.

Uprising?

You see when my grandmother was young she would get hurt by so many boyfriends that
she started turning them into garden statues, but the group of Sukwas who practiced vodun
didnt

21
agree with this, so they ordered to give up her practice of vodun for the safety of the commu-
nity. They were planning to ambush her and forcibly take her powers away.

What happened? I asked.

She admitted to her crimes and lied to them and said she would stop, give up her powers,
leave the town, and isolate herself away from the tribe. The tribe negotiated and thought of
this as a good option for her to just leave and never be a part of the Sukwa tribe again. Just
four months later when everyone thought they were better off, she returned with her mother,
taking each and every one of them out one by one. She did it strategically and in a calculat-
ed way to where she made it look like it was an accident or some type of natural cause. She
would take one person out, then the next five weeks later, and then the next two months later.
My grandmother is a patient woman when threatened. However, it was too late before peo-
ple could respond to her actions. My grandmother painted her house with the blood of those
who rose against her. She wore their upper bodies as jackets and feet as socks.

After hearing that story, I didnt know whether to stay or leave. I was frightened and con-
fused. Xentina and I continued to walk throughout the flower tunnel. She said When a per-
son has so much pain and anger bottled up inside him or her, her or she will begin to take it
out on innocent people, and until that person fully releases the anger out on the people that
actually hurt them, he or she will continue to attack those who he or she deems as a threat
and possibly hurt them even more. So she took them out I guess to prevent anymore hurt to
be brought upon her.

And Weleni tolerated that? I asked.

A mother will do anything to help and protect their childno matter what.

Did your mother inherit the powers? I asked.

My grandfather strongly disagreed with my mother getting such powers, and one can
only be given such powers within twenty four hours after birth. So my grandfather took my
mother away and hid her from my grandmother, but what is surprising is she didnt kill my
grandfather. She still loved him similarly to how she didnt kill my mother when she con-
fronted herI guess thats her weakness, the love for her family.

I want you to show me your power. I said.

Why?

We have been close for some time now. You always tried to hide your powers away from
me. Well no more, I want to understand you on that level. There is no need to hide that from
me. I said.

22
Are you sure?

Yes.

Xentina placed her hand on my chest as her eyes turned into the shade of deep blue again;
she whispered in my ear If you trust in the wind like you trust in me, it will make your
dreams of dreams look like nothing ever before with what the breathtaking air can show you
in reality.

She closed her eyes and took her hand off my chest and I then grasped her hands and said
Im not afraid and you shouldnt be either.

Standthere. Xentina positioned me and then looked at the moth on the flower and said
Mimi naona, huwezi. She then blinked her eyes and then every flower around her turned
the hue of the gems on her forehead. Her gems began to glow the same as her eyes, enchant-
ing and breathtaking. She made every dead dwarf bittern rise from the dirt just to fly one last
time in the glowing air. Xentina grabbed my hand and lead me out the tunnel into the field
covered by the pale moonlight. Xentina sat me down on a rock and then sang a hymn which
made every dead dwarf bittern and living collared dove fly around us. Each bird sang to the
hymn as the air began to fill with scents of vanilla and cherry oranges as Xentinas breath
flowed through the inviting wind. I sat there amazed as Xentina then showed me a large
magpie with purple and red eyes that was the size of three jackfruits. This magpie fluttered
its wings at me and off its wings came this chartreuse mist that flowed into my nostrils. I
smelled the mist and the iris of my eyes went from dark brown to the shade of chartreuse. A
triple moonbow appeared behind Xentina looking radiant but Xentina easily outshined the
moonbow itself. I closed my eyes and then opened them. I was in a new environment; the
moon was red; the sky began to play a trick on my eyes; it seemed as if it were falling toward
me. I was surrounded by white rabbits with chartreuse eyes, as mine, and double mirrors.
The white rabbits had a marking above their left eye that read 66342 and I found such a mark-
ing strange.

23
 Even the mirrors, in one of the double mirrors, I saw the name Gracejo marked from an angle
of view, on a navy blue marabou. I looked around and didnt see Xentina; the only things I
could see were the white rabbits and mirrors. Xentina then called out in the air. Donex not
even my grandmother nor her mother can create new realities for people. I have the power
to unleash magpies all over the world and trap the people of the world in a reality molded in
my image.

But youre not your grandmother. I said.

Youre right, Donex; that is why I showed you a piece of my capability.

A piece? I asked.

Oh, yes! This is childs play; I can do much worse but I wont. I never hurt the innocent.

Xentina I said.

Yes

How long has your family been practicing vodun? I asked.

That is a special story my great grandmother told me to only tell on the night of my wed-
ding when Im with the oneDonex I want to wait to share it with you. We have always
been great friends who treated each other like more than friends. If you and I are written in
the moons to be together, then on the night that we finally are one, I will tell you that special
story.

Xentina returned my reality back to the night where I can see her, the moon and its moon-
bow, and the birds. She grabbed my chin with her right hand and placed her left hand on
my chest and looked me in the eyes and said Remember about three months ago when you
asked me what I keep in my heart?

Yes and you replied daydreams. I said.

Yes, daydreams; as a child I would always daydream and not want to be bothered. My
grandmother understood that part about me. I remember when the music players of the tribe
would gather their instruments to flow rhythm throughout the hearts and souls of the Sukwa

24
tribe, and little me would just close my eyes and bob my head, taking in the groove of the
song and daydream away. Imagination has always been a crucial part of my childhood and
life as a young adult. Whenever I have my daughter, I want her to understand that. I cant
wait to tell her that daydreams open up the door for a person to have a world of their own.
If the physical world isnt the world you like, then build a world that fits your liking. Day-
dreams are better than dreams because everybody can control them. There are only a few
lucid dreamers who can control their dreams, but thats a few not all. All individuals can con-
trol their daydreams; its a place they can go to be themselves without judgment or negativ-
ity. Daydreams can keep you young at heart, always remembering what really counts. Time
may age you physically but daydreams will never age you emotionally and mentally. Youth-
fulness is important because its the awe inspiring positive relics of childhood that keeps you
pure. Daydreams are paramount because they are pure and wondrous. Ones daydream of
a brighter tomorrow brightens ones heart to be better, to love better, to work better, to think
better, and to know better.

I looked at Xentina and just gave her a hug and told her I know youll be a great mother.

My grandmother wants to use me as a weapon against the phoenix. She said.

I released from the hug and looked at her and said I didnt know that you know aboutum
the phoenix.

Are you okay Donex? You look sick.

Thats because I am, of this whole phoenix thing

What do you think I should do?

Well youre powerful enough to end this.

I heard the phoenix has an army of two hundred thousand men, women, and children.

Yes! Most members of that army are our people that has enslaved and forced to fight for
him. I said.

How can I use my powers to destroy my own people? I cantI wont be a weapon to harm
innocent people.

We both sat down beside each other and I said So I guess this leaves you with a terrible op-
tion to either kill the innocent or be killed by the innocent.

This was the same problem my father struggled with. I added.

She looked up and said Im afraidnot of the phoenix but of the choice Ill have to make
when

25
the time comes.

Until then, well have stick together as one. I said.

I proceeded to hold Xentina in my arms as that night proved the bond between a Kayange
man and a Sukwas of Ndali woman. A few years passed, Xentina and I are blessed with a
daughter and named her Anuli Bluephyre. Now at the age of 20 and 22, we have a beautiful
family together. Xentina and I joined tribes and decided to create a new one, the Bluephyre,
combining innovation and science with the powers of vodun. We intend to unite all our tribes
as one no matter the beliefs and practices. I convinced Xentina to allow Anuli to have the ritu-
al conducted on her so she may continue the legacy of vodun. The night Anuli was born, Xe-
ntina, Weleni, and Zaila all performed the ritual that made Anuli the most powerful Sukwa.
At such a young age, she is able to travel between astral worlds and different dimensions and
even control animals. Xentina and her grandmother were proud to see the next generation of
the Lazuli family so powerful. Zaila pulled me aside the night Anuli was born and said You
have aided in bringing the most powerful Lazuli of the Sukwas in existence. That baby will
be more powerful than Xentina and I combined. I dont have enough power to stop the com-
ing war with the phoenix, and Xentina is unwilling to kill a few good to save the many good,
but that baby, that goddess will have enough power and intelligence to make every knee
bow. Ive devised a plan that will aid Anuli in ending the coming war when shes of age. The
Grand Sacrifice is what youll need to pass down to her.

Zaila hands me sealed booklet as I respond to her, Yes, of course because Zaila isnt the
type of woman you say no too. I took the booklet and went inside the other room and wrote a
note giving Xentina instructions on what to do with the booklet, and placed the note and the
booklet in Xentinas yellow sack.

Her grandmother taught Anuli special tricks that are generations old in the Sukwa tribe.
Xentina and I taught our daughter about the different tribes, although Xentinas grandmother
disapproved of the teaching of the Chiona tribe. She despised them for submitting to false
gods when Zaila considers herself, each Lazuli woman, a God.

In retrospect, I never found myself to be hateful of the Chiona tribe unlike other Sukwas
and Kayanges. I try my best to be universal and rational as much as possible, which brings
up a great friend of mine, Retulu; he is a very hopeful man from the Chiona tribe that has this
calm demeanor about him that shows that he may be blinded by his faith. He has deep love
for his familys history. I respect him for his loyalty and love him as a brother.

When I was thirteen years old, Retulu and I were walking alongside the Lilongwe River.
We were discussing the future of each of our tribes. In a way, I was attempting to better the
reputation of the Kayanges with the Chionas. Retulu asks, How can your people thrive with-
out a creator? I looked at him and said, I guess the same way all of life has thrived, by just
keeping moving forward. After he heard that, four wild dogs are seen approaching us. I am,
at first,

26
nearly suffocated in fear, and then I look at Retulu and I see him with his eyes closed pray-
ing. His lips are shivering in fear. I pick up a thick tree limb and grab Retulus wrist and I
slowly walk back into the river. Dogs are better fighters on land than in water. As we walk
back further into the water to where it is reaching our thighs, the wild dogs begin to charge.
I tell Retulu to swim across the river toward safety. I then proceed to strike the first wild
beast on the top of its head, as the next one charges toward my forearm. I nearly killed the
animal with such a blow to the head that it breaks the stick in half. The high-pitch scream of
agony is heard from the wounded dog. The sound of the animal in pain gave me a sudden
dualistic feeling of both anger and remorse. Should I have just escaped instead of injuring
an animal? Nevertheless, the other dogs flee the scene as I do the same by swimming across
the river to reach Retulu. As I was swimming, I stopped and looked back to think of my
choices to cause pain. Once I reached the other side of river, Retulu thanked me for saving
his life, but I had this strange feeling whether I should either accept or regret the gratitude.
Retulu and I walked back home after that, but on our walk back home

Despite it all, I find it a little negligent to not consider the possibilities of what can hap-
pen to our tribes. Every time I bring it up to him, he simply dismisses it and leaves it in
the hands of his god. However, I havent seen Retulu in a while and Ive been looking for
him so we can talk. I hope he is okay. Ive tried contacting his family and all they could tell
me was that he was on a spiritual journey or some kind of find yourself thing. Further-
more, some of the similarities that both our tribes have in common are honor and liberty;
you know; we honor those who have done remarkable things in our lives and also liberate
those who feel that they have had unjust things done to them, but it still bothers me because
Retulu has been influenced and misguided by his tribe to dismiss real danger. I encouraged
Xentina to take Anuli and migrate to Ethiopia instead of Ahune, because the phoenix has
taken the Northeastern district of the city by Niger. Who knows how long until he reaches
the Southwestern district of Ahune? I need to find Retulu and head toward Ethiopia. The
toxic gas maybe my only chance to end this. I couldnt live with myself if I left my friend
behind. I just received catastrophic news from a survivor of the Twinker tribe of the East.
Several possums in cages where found several miles from Yhune. It was believed to be sent
from the phoenixI have to find him before its too late.

27
 Capitulum 2
Chiona
Told by Retulu Chiona

Our tribe was founded on the principle of a greater power beyond ours. For decades,
weve lived in the southern region of Malawi alongside Lake Nyasa. The Chionas are consid-
ered crazy fanatics by other tribes, but its easy to judge from the outside looking in. There is
a God who helps us when were down, who heals our sick and protects us from danger. For
a while, our ministers would receive letters from the Kayanges warning us of this phoenix.
Our ministers would tell us, Never worry my brothers and sisters. Our creator warns us of
all deceptions by the wrongful ones. I never considered my best friend, Donex, a wrongful
one like other Kayanges. His father would often visit our tribe to warn us of this myth. He
even brought us a human head wrapped in feathers as proof. It all seemed like nonsense
to us, nonsense without reason. However, something has changed about Donex after the
death of his father. He started to do things that are unlike him, and now I question his char-
acter since he has been hanging around Nivram more, and he even started this fling with that
witch of the Sukwas. My only best friend, now trapped with a misguided freethinker and
those evil people. The Sukwas have a history of doing horrible things to my tribe. Hell, the
witchs grandmother turned one of our previous ministers into a wooden toy because they
supposedly dated and he cheated on her, but I dont believe that. Why would a Chiona date
a Sukwa? It is our responsibility as the Chionas to care for nature and animals around us, but
the Sukwas disrupt that with their magic. How can I believe Donex after he chose to be that
thing? Its hard to believe the truth when its sleeping with lies. My family would never lie
to me. My grandfather especially has been through quite a bit. I loved him dearly; he would
always be honest with me no matter what.
One evening, I was outside by Lake Malawi with my grandfather, Gamilo Shaki Chiona.
We were praying for good fortune; however, I asked my grandfather if the phoenix was real.
He told me no such thing exists. It was no surprise he would tell me that; him and my grand-
mother are more alike than different, spiritually. My grandmother, Nakitha Oweyrin Chiona,
was a very spiritual woman, and shes the one that taught me everything I know about faith.
They eventually had three children, my father; my two aunts, aunt Ndwele, who is married
to the family of Twinkers of the East; and aunt Ngula, the last born daughter, who is married
into the Twinker tribe of the West. The marriage that took place between the Chionas and the
Twinkers was a secret and hidden from my grandparents and the Twinkers leaders because
of the oath that all Twinkers must abide by. The oath establishes that Twinkers shall only
marry Twinkers. The Twinker tribe was a community of people who partied, danced, and
drank wine all the time. They used silver to pay for prostitutes, and all they did was celebrate
life. Everyday being alive was a celebration to them. It was an amoral place my grandfather
and the Chionas hated. There were barely any laws or decrees for a stable system, just wine,
fireworks, food, sex, music, and

28
dancing. Everyone slept and danced with everyone, men with men, women with men, and
women with women. According to the myth, the name originated five hundred years ago
from a lost, young in love couple, Pascal and Pandora, who created their own music, wine,
and fireworks. They both accepted the idea that life is pointless. In time, after your physical
body and legacy have decayed, your existence will be washed away from the history of time.
They believed that creating goals, empires, religions, and systems was all a pointless venture.
So they decided to create a free society known as the Twinkers. This society was created to
celebrate the present state of life, not the past, not the future, but the now. Though the mod-
ern Twinker society has contradicted their founders ideas, they are invoking a national de-
cree. But then again, the story of Pascal and Pandora is from an old storybook, though some
believed its a prophecy for the two lovers to return to unite the world and throw the worlds
greatest yet last party.
However, when the leaders of the East and West found out about the secret marriage, they
both agreed to ban all other tribes from entering their land and from communicating with any
other Twinkers.
Our grandfather was not a rich man; all the little gold and silver he did have were taken by
the Twinkers of the East and West for violating their sacred oath. The leaders didnt take from
my grandmother because the Twinkers felt that the man is the supreme of the home and all
events that occur out of that home, the man is responsible for. Many years before, my grand-
father and his daughters, the Twinkers, signed a continental decree with each tribe stating
that no other tribe shall interfere with or violate Twinker doctrines. Despite being boisterous
and lustful people, they were extraordinarily selfish. This decree was established decades ago
that Twinkers were only supposed to marry other Twinkers. Unfortunately, my grandfather
took the loss for his daughters disobedience. In the decree, there is a clause that states that
every tribe is obligated to pass down the rules to each new generation so everyone can be
aware. Many of the other tribes only agreed to sign the decree because the Twinkers owned
land that had resources and minerals the other tribes needed. My grandfather told his daugh-
ters, but they insisted on how love triumphs all and still violated the agreement and married
the Twinkers. Who wouldve known those drunk and lustful people took their dogma so
seriously.
So when my grandfather lost all his gold, they only had to rely on what the children
brought in and what my grandmother brought in. At that time many people and rich minis-
ters used to leave Malawi to go to and preach Tanzania to get more gold and platinum. When
these high-class people were returning to Malawi, my grandfather would carry their luggage
to their home. They used to pay him three grams of gold if it was a short trip home but one
ounce of gold if it was longer. As my grandfather tried to make as much as he could, he re-
sorted to spirituality and faith later in his life to help him make it through his situation. At
the time one needed at least one hundred kilograms of gold to be in a stable position and to
have a nice living. I remember when my grandfather would just leave in the middle of night
and wander around in the fields. He would then fall to his knees in prayer under the crescent
moon, and its strange because he would never leave when there would be stars out and the
moon was full. Grandfather only left to go pray if and only if the only thing illuminating the
sky was the crescent moon.

29
 When my grandfather and grandmother grew old, they moved from their house and started
living with my father, for they could not take care of themselves. Soon after they moved in,
my grandmother died. I was only nineteen years old. I was shocked and heartbroken by her
loss. I remember when I was in denial for several weeks because this was the lady that made
my childhood what it was. She helped me understand what it means to be peaceful and to
have no worries. When she passed away, her in-laws came with one solid gold, five-inch ring
studded with emeralds each to her funeral. After a few weeks, my grandfather also died. My
grandfathers funeral ceremony was not as nice as grandmothers. Because grandmother was
a churchgoer since she was seven years old, church people entertained the funeral congrega-
tion with church songs. At my grandfathers funeral, people sang songs of a traditional dance
because he decided to convert to spirituality in his late forties which was too late for him to
be recognized for his faith in death. Although the traditional dance songs werent as interest-
ing as the gospel songs that the churchgoers sang, many people at that time were converted
to different spiritual beliefs, so they were not allowed to sing traditional songs. There are two
things that revolve around the Chiona tribe in Malawi: gold and faith. My father knew his
parents struggled to make sure he and his siblings had a great life, so he took all the gold he
saved, working in several different villages and countries, for emergencies and had both my
grandfather and grandmother burry it in opal-studded platinum coffins.
Now just a few years later, there are five of us in my family, three men and two women.
Our eldest brother is married but I and my brother are not married yet. One of our sisters is
married, too, but we all know that she only married this man from Mali because he has five
hundred thousand kilograms of gold in one of his seven storage spaces. The other one is in
school, and at this time we live with just our father because our mother left our father for
another man in September of 1578. From there I am just a young man who lives his life by
his faith. I recall an argument I had with Nivram which has led me on this spiritual journey.
I felt confused and vulnerable so I escaped to all what I know that my grandmother Nakitha
taught me. I told my father and my other siblings I was leaving to go on a journey so I could
isolate myself from everyone to find the truth and the answers from God about the phoenix.
For a while I lived off of the land. It has been a while since I last spoke with my family and
Donex. This isolation is my chance to understand my place in the world and the truth of the
phoenix myth. My life should have some purpose. Right? To understand I try to find comfort
around other animals in the grasslands; I feel they can understand me the same way I can un-
derstand them. These grasslands have fruit trees all around with little to no predators lurking
around. I spend one hour each day in prayer, and the remainder of the day either gardening
with only my hands and the seeds from the fruits or walking a few miles for exercise. On one
of my walks, I was in front of this hill with orchids and I can see across a flock of birds leav-
ing from West to North, and it was strange because they usually only migrate like that when
the winter comes. As I watched them fly away, a moth flew on my foot. I was not surprised or
scared to where I tried to get it off. I looked closer and the moth had a tear in its wing. I then
thought this little guy was trying to fly away but something held it back. So I picked the
moth up off of my foot and placed it on my shoulder and continued on my walk. It is pretty
strange to consider that I now have a moth as a friend on this journey. I finally reached a stop-
ping point for my walk as the sky began to turn a shade of red and yellow. I stopped at this
broad tree that has several scratch marks. My instincts lead to a

30
 large cat-like predator so I decided that the tree wasnt the best spot to rest. The moth
and I had to travel to another tree that was about half a mile away.
When we arrived at the tree, the sky was not fully dark but still lit with stars. I climbed to
the second branch of the tree and I took the moth off my shoulder and placed it on the biggest
leaf I found. As I sat there, I crossed my legs and laid my head against the trunk of the tree. I
looked at the stars and began to pray for about twenty minutes, and then I stopped because I
heard the hoot of an animal. I opened my eyes to discover it was a beautiful owl. I looked at
the owl in its eyes without any fear despite the owl having one eye with a yellow sclera and
the other eye with blue sclera. Both eyes had a huge dark black ring around them, yet I felt no
fear. As I looked into the owls eyes, I heard Gods voice in my head.
Dont choose to run from your inner truths. Choose to see. Choose to accept. It said.
There was a brief silence before I recollected on the questions I asked myself as a child.
I took a deep breath and asked myself what is the nature of my hope and existence? What
makes my existence in the universe different from that of a star or an owl? Is all life cruel or
is cruelty a piece of the human imagination? I asked myself such questions because I have
enough faith and curiosity to wonder. If the phoenix is real, should I be afraid like Donex?
My grandmother always taught me about spirituality so I can always hope, and Nivram al-
ways spoke about infinite possibility so I can always wonder.

My grandmother always told me, No matter how bad the problem is, dont tolerate it and
never worry because when you worry about a problem, you become just as bad as the prob-
lem.

Even when I was young, I remember when there was a disputation between my grand-
mother and Yeuhn, Nivrams father. You see, now, Nivram is the Kayanges most profound
philosopher, but well before him it was his father, Yeuhn. Yeuhn was not a man of faith but a
man of logic and rational thinking, and since Donex and I were really close as kids and Donex
was close friends with Nivram, our families were pretty close.

I recall one event as a kid when cool winds gust through the air of a summers afternoon,
Donex and Nivram were coming over to my home for lunch and Yeuhn joined them. As they
were approaching my home, I was praying in the main room with my grandmother, and
Yeuhn spotted us through our window.

Greetings! Yeuhn shouted.

My grandmother, Nakitha, opened her eyes and smiled as if she was ready for her antics.
She stood up, walked to the door, and opened it and replied, Hello children and Yeuhn.
As I continued to finish my prayer, Donex, Nivram, and Yeuhn entered my home, and my
grandmother greeted them all with hugs. I finished and then welcomed our guests into our
home as a good sign of respect, especially for friends.

Lets go play bawa. I said.

31
Bawa was a board game we would play in the summer and fall as a tradition. The three of us
went outside to go play as my grandmother and Yeuhn were left alone in the home.

We should go to the Twinker summer festival. Donex said.

You know Twinkers are only allowed there during the summer Donex. I said.

Are you sure about that? Nivram asked me.

I looked at Nivram and said, We are forbidden in their land.

Why? They get to have light explosions and loud music and we cant enjoy it. We should try
and at least talk with the leader of the Twinkers. Nivram said.

Who is going to talk to them? I asked.

Meanwhile in the house, Yeuhn and my grandmother were sitting in the kitchen drinking
honey coffee with a side of macadamia bread.

Maam this coffee is amazing. Yeuhn said.

Thank you, and Ive heard you released a manuscript. Nakitha replied.

Yes, it details new age rationale and reasoning to our universe.

I read through it and noticed that you described faith as hunting stupors.

Ah yes, a chase that is synonymous with a wolf chasing its own tail.

Nakitha choked on her coffee and then gave a nonsensical smile to him with a slight twitch to
her left eye. Maam I am not here to disrespect nor challenge your faith. Yeuhn proceeds to
laugh and says, however, consider the possibilities of more reasonable convictions.

Oh, I did. Theyre insignificant and unfulfilling like many things in a mans world. Nakitha
said.

Well the Twinkers are not the only ones who rejoice to fantasy, maam. Yeuhn said.

Your tongue is spotted; shall I launder it with soap? Nakitha asked.

Dependsdid your god make the soap or your belief?

I cannot be surprised; your impious nature has been predicted by many. Nakitha said.
Many with slow minds
As the tension grew between my grandmother and Yeuhn so did the persistence that Donex
obtained to go to the Twinker summer festival.
32
That is an amazing questionthat I think Nivram should go talk to them. Your father has a good
relationship with them. Donex said.

Fine. Ill ask my father to see if it is okay with him if Donex agrees to tell us about the phoenix.
Nivram said.
The phoenix? I asked.

The expression of Donex changed from enthusiastic from the festival to a still rigid sadness at the
mention of the phoenix. At that time, the phoenix was just a scary myth our grandparents would
tell us to get us to act better.

The phoenix doesnt exist. I said

Yes, it does. Nivram said as he then looked at Donex.

Donexs father has all the spies to know about it. He added.

I highly doubt that there is a phoenix. Its a myth. You know just a scary story. If it is real, Ive never
seen it. I said.

So because you havent seen it, you assume it is not real? Nivram asked.

It exists.... Donex told Nivram with a cold whisper in his voice as he stared at a group of ants de-
vouring a beetle on the ground.

I just doubt that there is a phoenix out there killing and enslaving people in Africa. I said.

You choose to be a cynic on this because of what? Nivram asked.

Donex, you know its real. Nivram added.

I know...but look Retulu there is a phoenix out there beyond your world. Donex said.

No way; if that was true we would all know about it. I said.

What? Youll believe in a god you cant see but not to a real thing killing your own kind. Nivram
said with a swift, angry, and unamused tone.

Excuse me? I said.

You heard me? Or does your god forbid you from hearing the truth? Nivram asked.

Enough you two! Donex yelled.

I dont believe what you believe. That is against what my father taught me. Besides youre only say-
ing that because maybe youre afraid to open your eyes and see the truth. Nivram said.

What truth? I asked.

The phoenix!! Nivram exclaimed.

33
There was a brief pause with nothing but my grandmother and Nivrams father being heard,
and then Donex vented to us his true feelings of the phoenix.

My fatherstruggles every minute on how to deal with a threat like this. We all come from
different backgrounds, my family being of science, Nivrams family being of philosophy, and
Retulu your family being of faith and religion, but you know whatno matter the beliefIm
still afraid of the phoenix! Its murdering our people! What can we do?! They have weapons
that shoot metal balls which can kill one of us easily with one hit! Each time! Each time my
father had Ayn send an assassin to kill the phoenix, all we found was the skull of the assas-
sin wrapped in the feathers of the dodo bird. Im afraid of the phoenix! Im afraid of myself!
Donex said with tears pouring down his eyes.

I felt so much sympathy for my friend; Ive never seen him like this before.
Look its okay, Donex. Everyone must be afraid in life because a life without fear is nothing.
Nivram added.

What are you talking about? I asked.

How can you know what to conquer in life without fear? Fear is a necessity in life because
only strength is a by-product of fear. The thrill of overcoming something or someone you
may fear is glorious. Nivram said.
There was another brief pause in the conversation; the only thing could be heard is the
sound of leaves rustling against other leaves. The silence broke when I said

Okaylets try to get our spirits up. I know whatll cheer you up, Donex, the Twinker sum-
mer festival, so Nivram go and ask your father and then well deal with this later.

I guess; lets have some fun to rinse out the sadness. What do you say, Donex? Nivram
asked.

As Donex is wiping his tears, he agrees to this deal.

We all went back into the house and discovered that Yeuhn and my grandmother were
still conversing.
Maam, there needs to be no quarrel. Yeuhn said.

I agree, but

But there should be one thingwe can agree on despite our polar perceptions. Yeuhn said.

And that thing is? She asked.

Human destruction is inevitable. Yeuhn said.

34
Humans have done harrowing things but my hope still remains rigid in our civilization.
She said.

Maam, throughout time many have observed and concluded that might trigger opposition,
opposition triggers war, and war spawns tribulation. Yeuhn said.

Nivram entered the room to confront his father with the question.
Excuse me, father, maam. Nivram said.

Yes, son. Yeuhn said.

Father could I, Donex, and Retulu go to the summer festival the Twinkers are holding?
Nivram asked.

Twinkers? Those lands are forbidden of foreigners. Nakitha said.

She is right son, despite her children being the cause of it. Yeuhn said.
Yes, similarly to how you using your brain caused the masking of your flaws with your
pseudo logic. Nakitha said.

Oh every visit here is a delight. Yeuhn said.

Well if we could talk with them to allow

Nivram that land has been forbidden for years; many have tried to negotiate to allow for-
eigners in, but their society and festivals are exclusive. Sorry son but no. Yeuhn said.

I walked up behind Nivram and said, What did he say?

Well great news, I dont have to pray. Nivram said.

Pray? Yeuhn asked.

Father, its nothing; its just a

It was just a condition of a bet. I said.

Praying would do the young boy good. Nakitha said.

Were leaving, now. Yeuhn said.

Yeuhn, there is no need to project your animosity toward prayer at your own blood. Na-
kitha said.

Tell me, what do you get from prayer? Yeuhn asked.

Hope and serenity Nakitha said.

Yeuhn laughs and then said, With fanatics like you, hope is baseless.
35
Like your logic and reasoning she said.

I could or maybe I shouldstate every possible fallacy, myth, and misapprehension in your
conviction and prove your delusionality. Yeuhn said.

How can you empirically prove something you dont believe is real? Nakitha asked.

Enough of the arguing please. I said.

It seems like this was a mistake. Donex said.

Well maam it was a delight but we must be on our way. Yeuhn said.

Donex and Nivram leave the house as Yeuhn follows behind them. Well see you later Retu-
lu. Nivram and Donex said.

My grandmother looks at me and says, Sit down, Retulu.

I sat down in the seat with the yellow cushion and she fixes me a plate of macadamia
bread and blueberry pudding with honey coffee. She says, No matter how bad the problem
is, dont tolerate it and never worry because when you worry about a problem, you become
just as bad as the problem, mentally and emotionally. I never worry about Yeuhn and his phi-
losophy no matter how many times he comes over here; my faith will always remain fixed.
When she would tell me that, she would always have a smile on her face, and her smile
would make me smile. I then asked her, Is the phoenix real?

Of course not; its just a story. She replied.

But Donex and Nivram told me it

Youre going to believe those non believers who disrespects your faith? My dear grandson,
the phoenix is just a tall tale. She said.

You wouldnt lie to me, grandmother? I asked.

No, my dear. You shouldnt worry about their ghost stories. If you feel fear for something,
just pray and God will handle it. Its Gods will.
Yes, maam. I said.

I understood what my grandmother was telling me but Ive never seen Donex act that
way, but I also never had my grandmother lie to me. Shes always been honest with me, but
at that moment I felt a strange feeling that she was lying to me.
From that moment, I left my family and went to my God and find the truth. For my faith to
lead me to this place, this journey, I am often walking throughout the day searching for one
answer for multiple questions. As the night grew darker and darker, my need for sleep grew
as well, so I closed my eyes and fall asleep for the night. When I awoke the next morning, I
noticed
36
that the moth and the owl are both gone. I can only assume that either the owl took the moth
or the owl left and ants devoured the moth overnight.
However, it wasnt the absence of the moth that saddened me; it was the realization that
maybe if I wouldnt have kept the moth, the moth could still be alive. I looked at the sky and
closed my eyes and said please God tell me the phoenix isnt real. I said. God spoke to me
and said, Dont worry my child; I will be here to strengthen you at your weakest. I smiled
and dropped to my knees but my smile turned to sadness as I asked God, Im afraid. Whos
telling the truth, my grandmother or my friend? He replied, You already know the truth,
you just need to accept it.
No, this is your will, Father; all are part of your plan. I said.

You will need to stand as a leader my son for the people who will need you, a leader to
stand for them when they cant.
What do you mean, Father?

After that, I didnt hear anything else from God. I sat on the ground with thoughts rac-
ing through my mind. I can roam around the landscapes to understand nature and faith on
a greater scale until the stars are no more, but the demise of all living things is inevitable. I
jumped out of the tree and began my morning prayer, and instead of going on a walk, I sat
down and closed my eyes and reflected on the thought of the blood that is flowing through
my veins.

The Chionas were built on the values of preserving life and devoting ones life to our God.
We are nonviolent, if we ever have a dispute; there was a time when we would simply have a
civil discussion to reconcile any differences. Our God teaches us that violence is forbidden of
a person. I try to teach this message to the children of my tribe so they may continue in good
works of nobility and purity. In the winter, the fathers and grandfathers would prepare a
feast for the women of the family, and the children would perform a traditional dance in the
snow to honor their parents as the ministers preached gospels, to show that no matter how
cold the world is, the love they have for their parents will be warm enough to triumph all evil
and destruction.

During the winter, everyone would also marvel at the snowbow; contrary to the normal
rainbow that shows all colors in the spectrum, a snowbow shows only shades of purple and
yellow. Our elders taught us that the colors in the snowbow are a symbol for transformation.
Furthermore, the male friends of the families would bring huge bouquets of gerbera daisies to
the grandmothers. During one winter when I was thirteen years old, there was a girl I liked at
that time; her amber eyes glistened in the snow as they would in the sun. I knew it was apart
of tradition to give the gerbera daisies to the grandmothers of the other family, but this girl
caught my attention. I gave her the flowers instead and in return she gave me a kiss on the
cheek. Throughout the rest of the ceremony, we ran into the orchids to observe the radiant
snowbow, and we sat there for hours. However, that only lasted as a winter fling; she grew
up and ended up with another guy, and when I look back on what I did, I do not regret one
bit of it. Aside from the traditions we held in the winter, the Chionas would come together
in the summer to have an open meditation and prayer. We would gather at the center of the
village, and each of us would eat a
37
kumquat that has been soaked in honey and exchange pieces of engraved gold. After the
exchange, we would sit down and then cross our legs and hold hands; as our eyes would
close, we would have our personal prayer. Being connected to powers greater than nature is
very important to my family and my tribe. From that each house has a patch of flowers with
several fruit trees, and each family has their own animal that they take care of, e.g., my family
takes care of all the red-necked falcons in the area while other families take care of the butter-
flies, gazelles, goats, etc.
As I still remain on the ground reflecting on my culture and tribe, I hear a sound from up
above, so I opened my eyes and looked above to see what it is. I looked and see a red-necked
falcon, and I can only assume one separated from the others. I got up off the ground and
stretched my hand out to the falcon and called out to him, but as I called out I heard a strange
voice calling for me. That voice calling for me was the voice only one friend of mine can
make. I knew it had to be Donex.

38
 Capitulum 3
Garionn
Told by Navy Brimrant

Thus far you have come across the lineage and culture of both Donex and Retulu; now
at long last I apprise you when the phoenix, Garionn, came and conquered the Kayanges
and the Chionas as its trophy. Bleak was the fall evening of 1580 when he arrived on Malawis
border to initiate a surprise attack. Retulu was in the fields on the green pasture stretching his
arm at the sky. Donex came to converse with Retulu to bring him along to Ethiopia.

My friend, Ive been looking for you! Donex shouted.

Well I have been here for the past months admiring the clouds and how free they are in the
wind. Ive spoken with God, everything will be okay. Retulu said.

Donex closed his eyes for a brief moment and then he opened his eyes and said, Retulu its
time for us to go.

Retulu walked over to Donex and grabbed his hand to look Donex in the eye and tell him,
I can sympathize what you feel but we must have hope.

Donex shook his head and smirk to respond by saying, I dont think you understand the
danger of the phoenix but we need to leave now to Ethiopia.

Retulu took a step back from Donex as he was in a state of shock and said, Considering
the way you speak, I see youve been hanging around that witch. You should give your life to
God. He spoke to me and I listened. You need to listen my friend.

Donex said to Retulu, She is the mother of my daughter, watch your mouth, and you are not
an optimist right now; youre being a cynic. When will you stop ignoring the fact that there
are dangers out there that your god cant stop? Now lets go.

Retulu responded, Why are you here, if youre just going to insult me?

Donex said, Retuluthe phoenix is coming for Malawi. There are weapons in Ethiopia we
can use to safeguard our home.

Many passed along the rumor that one of the men was coming to claim the land. Despite
Retulu ignoring many of the rumors because of his deep hope in a better tomorrow and his
faith, even I know hope begins to fade into irrationality, so Retulu refused to entertain the ru-
mors. However, Donex did not want to put his people at risk of extinction because of hopeful
thinking.

39
 Donex approached Retulu, Look, for years Ive been trying to figure out how to kill an
unknown enemy. I made a horrible decision as a kid that still haunts me. His army may have
our people apart of his game, but his army still has his own kind fighting for him. My father
wanted a peaceful solution but pondering on a peaceful or violent solution has killed my fa-
ther, and I wont end up the same way he did; there is no way this could end peacefully. We
need to head to Ethiopia to get the toxic gas.

Retulu responded by saying, Im not a fighter.

Donex exclaimed at Retulu, I know my friendbut the sense of death causes a man to reveal
his true self.

Retulu said, I always thought the phoenix was a myth that you hear just to scare the chil-
dren.
Donex sat on the ground, The Twinkers are goneRetulu.

Retulu took a big exhale and responded, Whatexactly happened to them?

Donex looked at Retulu and said, Just four days ago, Ive been told, when the Twinkers of
the West were having their annual musical celebration, it began to rain cannon balls on fire.
Children began screaming louder than their parents, and the only thing that was louder than
the screams of the children suffering was the sounds of the last breath leaving their parents
bodies.
Retulu sat next to Donex on the ground and said, My God.
Donex continued to tell the story, It came without any warning; it took their land, music,
fireworks, culture, and freedom. Once it conquered the Twinkers of the West, it then proceed-
ed to slaughter the Twinkers of the East just for fun. Retulu asked Donex, Who told you all
this?

Donex replied, A few managed to flee from the West and East and come to the Kayange
tribe before it totally took over and killed the remaining ones. Those rumors were the effects
of paranoia and terror not myths to scare children.

There is a sudden silence between the two and then Donex added on by saying, Whenever
the world is about to endnow would be the right time to not go into isolation.

Retulu stood up and looked up at the clouds and said in a soft voice, Donex when youve
been raised around nothing but faith to where that is all you escape too, it begs the question.
Who is really blind, you or the world?

Donex stood up alongside Retulu and told him, That is a question I do not have the answer
too, but let us not end up like the Twinkers.

Retulu looked at Donex with a face of concern and responded, Let us travel to Ethiopia.

Good Donex said.

40
The two begin to walk and leave but Donex suddenly stops to ask Retulu, Have your people
evacuated?

I dont know. Retulu said.

What should we do? Ethiopia or my people? Retulu asked.

Nothing is said between the two as Donex begins to think on what to do.
Before we leave, we should warn your people. Donex said.

Retulu hears a falcon in the sky and looks up and asked, Are you sure?

Yes. Donex said.

Donex and Retulu spend two hours traveling back to the village of the Chionas, and there
he was, the phoenix, Garionn, wearing a slash made of possum fur, while standing with his
own son. He stood there with a look of gorgeous carnage. Surrounding them both were men
and women with weapons far superior than what the Kayanges and Chionas possessed.
Donex and Retulu looked around as his men killed his friends and the people of the Chio-
na tribe. As Garionn stood there, Donex charged at one of the soldiers beating a woman and
launched at him and then grabbed a stone to smash his face in. Donex took his weapon and
looked at it with curiosity. He ran back to Retulu and then looked around to still see the may-
hem that is taking place. He yelled, Stop! and then fired the musket into the air. Garionn
looked at Donex and Retulu.

Who are you? Why are you doing this? Retulu asked.

Are you the leader of this tribe? Garionn asked.

Retulu looked around and saw the fear in the eyes of the people and said, No, but this is my
family.

Garionn slowly walked around looking at the fear on the faces of the Chionas as he then
proceeded to give a short monologue to the villagers: The time has arrived for every square
inch of where you breathe to become mine. Think of this as more of a message from the mes-
senger, the phoenix, the eyes that will watch you dream of a hopeless tomorrow. Garionn is
my name; its a pleasure to meet you all and your childrens future is mine to claim. I am the
Omega of Conquest.

While Donex was looking Garionn in the eye, Retulu noticed that standing aside some of
Garionns men were Kayange captives, and Retulu could only assume that Garionn and his
men and women got to the Kayanges.

Retulu stepped forward and looked at Garionn and then his son and said, The Kayanges and
Chionas are peaceful people we dont

41
Donex interrupted Retulu with a smile and said to Garionn, You have caused so much pain
to so many. People I loved are dead because of you. May the best man win.

A young Chiona girl ran behind the house to release the hundreds and hundreds of
trained red-necked falcons to attack Garionns son. Garionn moves his son out of the way as
the falcons launched themselves at the enemies. Donex charged for Garionn. As Garionns
men began to fire their weapons at the red-necked falcons and the Chionas, Retulu picked
up a shield and ran as fast as he possibly could to pull Donexs shirt, so he stop Donex in his
tracks to block him with a shield from the bullets. As the men reloaded their muskets, the
people started to attack; however, Garionn had much greater reinforcements. Several hun-
dred more of the enslaved men and women began to flood in with cannons and muskets but
that did not stop Donex and Retulu. Retulu used his shield to block the musket balls and de-
fend against the attacks without harming any innocents. Donex on the other hand picked up
a triple-bladed spear and charged again at Garionn, but that was stopped when Garionns
son picked up a musket and fired at Donex in his right leg. When Donex fell to the ground,
Garionns men fired the cannons which began a greater level of catastrophe. Retulu ran to go
check on Donex but was shot in the abdomen by Garionn himself.

Retulu fell to the ground by Donex and said as he coughed, You cannot invoke violence
when I just said were peaceful.

Shut up! Donex said.

Oh the irony but this small rebellion was not the first to be launched against Garionn and
the tyrants, but like this one, they all failed and ended with blood flowing through the dirt
making blood mud.

Garionn had his men picked up Donex and Retulu. Donex says a quote from Nivram to
Garionn, Everything youve done will come back to you on a greater scale, and if it cannot
get to you, then it will get to your children.

Then Retulu said as he coughed up blood, Only a fool would sacrifice peace for a gener-
ational curse.

And only a fool would try to teach order to chaos. Garionn said.
Garionn then closed his eyes as his men shot Retulu but then proceeded to look Donex
right in his eyes as his men reloaded their muskets and fired to kill Donex.

Garionn walked to Donexs lifeless body and picked him up by his head and said, Here I
hold every dream youve ever had, every temptation you ever desired, every emotion, every
thought. I hold in my hands all your familys memories which have now all faded to red.

Garionns son walked up to the body of Retulu and said, Peace is a figment of your
imagination. From this point these tribes realized that the world and life they once knew
were soon no more. A Chiona mother stood up and spotted a dark blue and white patch
sewn on the shoulder
42
of Garionns narrow arm that read his name, GARIONN. The mother yelled out, Gari-
onn! Garionn turned his head with a look of disdain curiosity on his face.
Weak is the heart of the man who chases destruction. You have trespassed on our sacred
landscape with weapons. Whenever a man has to use a weapon to conquer, he is not really a
man, just a boy ready to be handled. So be wary boy because in this land magnolias always
grow at night. There are seven letters in your name; therefore, I pray seven shall be your
demise. Garionn smiled and winked at the woman as he and his men continued to spawn
catastrophe across the village.

As time passed, Garionn changed the way the Kayanges and Chionas dressed and the
way they ate. Garionn changed the entire structure of what it means to be a Kayange and a
Chiona to his liking. Garionn stole all of the Chiona gold. As he stated before, him being the
Omega of Conquest, he truly traveled many miles claiming lands and lives for what he calls
his FunFun Collection to complete his mission along with other Omegas, set in place by
Abaddon. Garionn kept a logbook that contained 1,600 pages full of names he had given of
the individuals he conquered. He named Donex, Falha, and named Retulu, Gracejo.
In the village, as the catastrophe still reigning free, Garionns lanky, Willard, approached
Garionn in a pale blue jacket with an atmosphere of timidity around him. He had a scent of
gracelessness drifting off his jacket and bizarre standing ruff. Willard is one of Garionns close
hands; however, since Willard is Garionns wifes cousin, he decided to do his wife a favor
and make Willard his main close hand. The position of a close hand is not really that extrav-
agant; you just take notes and record data for the tyrant youre serving. Willard asked Gari-
onn, Sir, we have been across both countries, Tanzania and Malawi. Where is the next place
you desire to go?

There must be more tribes on the move in different areas. Garionn said.

I do believe it is plausible sir. Willard said.

What and where is the nearest village with gold? Garionn asked.

The closest one is about an estimated ninety-two miles west from where we are. Willard
responded.

Willard Garionn said.

Yes, sir. Willard responded.

Didnt I ask you what the next village is? Garionn asked.

I do believe so sir. Willard said.

Willard Garionn said.

Yes, sir. Willard responded.

43
Are you going to tell me? Garionn asked.

Yes, sir. Willard said.

Then what is it?! Garionn said with a strong tone of annoyance in his voice.

Oh, oh well um it is a uh uh village where

Garionns son walked up beside Willard, which he called Lebby, and said, The next village
is Ndalidad.
Yes, yes. It is uh Ndali sir. Willard said.

Thank you, son Garionn said.

Willard whispered under his breathe, Well the question was what was the village not the
name of the village. I guess, but sure why not.

Garionns son looked at Willard and said, Do you have something to tell dad and I, Lebby?
Willard closed his eyes and smiled then looked at Garionns son and said, I dont like
the name Lebby son of sir. Willard opened his eyes and told him in a shaky condescending
voice, But you did a quite fine job handling the man who spoke against your father.
It is the reason he is my son. Garionn said.

How long will it take us to arrive in Ndali, Lebby? Garionns son asked.

I estimate about two days. Willard said.

Willard Garionn said.

Yes, sir. Willard said.

I need you to stay here while I travel to Ndali, and son you will take a ship to China and join
Chann in his regime until Im done. Garionn said.

Wait, I thought I was going to Ndali with you? Garionns son said.
And shouldnt I be by your side whenever you migrate to the next land? Willard asked.

Look I am your son, your only blood son. I am not one of your many bastards you have had
throughout the years. I am the only one who can carry you and moms legacy, and you want
to ship me to China and with Chann. Garionns son said.

Yes because guess what? Garionn asked.

What? Garionns son asked.

There is still a lot of land to be covered. Willard what is the estimate of all the land the Ome-
gas had claimed on this planet? Garionn asked.
44
Only 0.0002 percent of all the acres, sir, and sir

You see son; we havent even cracked one percent so in order to speed up the process we
must reevaluate our positions. Garionn said.

Sir Willard said.

But it will take me five months at least to get there. Garionns son said.

Sir Willard said.

Yes, Willard. Garionn said.

Why must I stay here? I dont think Willard said.

Youre staying here to look over this land. Im promoting you to supervisor of Malawi. Gar-
ionn said.
So he gets the land with the gold and I getChina. Garionns son said.

Dont be ungrateful. Garionn said.

Im not, I

Sir I thank you for your decision to promote me. Willard said.

Good. I want you both to get started on making wise decisions that will help the Omegas
reach our goal. Remember you two; we do not have enough time for incoherent decisions, so
son pack your things because a ship will be here in
In two hours sir Willard said.

Thank you. Son, pack your things because Chann is in China to make room for your future
reign, so dont fail yourself or this opportunity. Garionn said.

Willard and Garionns son walked away as Garionn stood there staring at the village of
Chiona with vindictiveness in his eyes and heart.

Garionn is not the only one of his kind; there are others much worse. Chann, Yandla, and
Alaric, they acknowledge themselves as the Omegas. After Garionn and his son finished with
Malawi, Garionn then notified Alaric, who began starving the men and women who wore
markings on their skin on the continent in the West. Alaric was pleased with what Garionn
has accomplished and requested Yandla to join Garionn to gather the individuals they con-
quered and ship them to the New World. This world that flourished with culture, enriched
family bonds, and innovation soon became their world of waste and darkness as Garionns
war balloons moved in and began raining fire from above.

To be continued
45