The elder shuddered like he had a bad memory before quickening his steps to get away from Ikem. Ikem watched the elder behavior with a weird look on his face " Hope not all this primate have a weird behavior"
Ikem steadied his nerves, drawing in a deep breath before venturing into the clusters of primates gathered beneath the forest canopy. As he approached, an unusual stillness swept through the group, each primate shifting aside to make way for him. However, one figure held his ground—an imposing hunter whose skin seemed to radiate an inner glow.
The hunter, engrossed in dismembering a deer skin, met Ikem's gaze with a blend of fierceness and gentleness. Ikem joined him, observing the skilled dissection. "Those creatures are quite swift. Was it challenging to catch them?" he inquired.
The hunter, relinquishing the stone knife, peeled the skin effortlessly. "Not really, especially with a circle of hunters closing in. Sounds like you've hunted them too," he responded, meeting Ikem's eyes.
"Indeed, I've encountered many on my journey here. They make for delectable meat," Ikem remarked with a grin.
The hunter agreed, "Couldn't agree more, young lord," rising from his work, revealing his immense stature. Stretching out his hand, Ikem hopefully proposed, "I'll need your guidance and assistance in the times ahead."
The ape regarded Ikem's hand with curiosity before looking up, stating solemnly, "Happy to be of service anytime, your highness." Taking the ape's hand, Ikem shook it firmly. "This signifies an agreement between two men," Ikem explained.
"I'll leave you to your work. Hope to sample your creation when it's done," Ikem said as he moved away.
"Most certainly," the hunter's voice echoed behind him.
Pleased with the encounter, Ikem proceeded toward his next target—the female gorilla with red skin. Despite the commotion around, she remained focused on her task, perched atop a tree near the waterfall.
Ikem spotted his target and, assuming a running stance, sprinted to build momentum. With a powerful leap, he effortlessly scaled the waterfall, seizing hold of a tree trunk as he made his way to where the female gorilla resided.
"You should be down there, your highness; after all, this commotion is for you," she remarked as Ikem approached.
Having come close, Ikem settled beside the female primate. "Then why aren't you part of the commotion?" he inquired.
Her gaze diverted from the sky, she explained, "This is something you'll come to notice, but our biggest enemy is the sky and the creatures that live in it. I am the only one in this settlement that can keep them away."
Recalling his encounter with the scary eagle and gaining his first scar, Ikem nodded understandingly. "Trust me when I say I have an idea of what you're saying. I had an encounter with such creatures myself," he shared, meeting her eyes with newfound understanding.
Smiling, Ikem exposed his canines, "How do you deal with these creatures when they come by?" he inquired.
The female primate ignited her hands, flames dancing at her fingertips as she thrust them forward, unleashing a wave of fire into the sky. Ikem, observing the display, felt a twinge of discomfort as memories resurfaced.
"That isn't enough to kill them," Ikem pointed out, indicating the flames.
Nodding in agreement, the female primate responded, "Which is why I said I am the only one keeping them away. These sky creatures despise the flames, so when I spread them out into the sky as I just did, they have no choice but to angrily retreat."
Ikem, initially poised to speak, remained silent as the female primate continued Talking. " There are special sky creatures with different talent, a relic of such creature was kept by my father from the battle fought by him, the elder and your father"
" My father met his demise at the hands of such a sky creature. He was able to inflict a huge wound on the creature causing it to flee but he himself was also wounded and with no healing ability around in the settlement, he died. Being his next of kin and one that inherited his ability, i took over his job of guardian" Ikem absorbed the weight of her story, drawing parallels to primate being talked about in his father's journal.
As the female primate finished her narrative, Ikem, with a newfound understanding, initiated a proposition. "I have a proposal for you," he said, locking eyes with her.
Perplexed, the female primate inquired, "What is the proposal, your highness?"
"I want you as a mother to my child," Ikem declared seriously.
Shock registered on the female primate's face, caught off guard by the abruptness of the request. Reflecting on the story of the father in front of her, she couldn't help but remark, "Asking people to bear your offspring seems to be something your family does a lot, huh, your highness?"
With a grin and a scratch of his head, Ikem simply replied, "I guess."
" I agree," The female primate said as she went back to looking at the sky.
To her unexpected agreement, Ikem subconsciously uttered a surprised "Huh." He had anticipated needing considerable persuasion.
The female primate, looking back at the sky, calmly explained, "No need to be surprised. I am at the age of having a kid of my own. I would have agreed to anyone that proposed it first." Her response was neutral, leaving Ikem to contemplate the unexpected simplicity of her agreement.
Ikem only nodded at that as they both sat in silence. As they both sat in silence, a joyous noise below caught Ikem's attention. Looking down from the tree, he observed that the celebration had already begun. The female primate spoke from beside him, breaking the silence, "You should get going. It's important for you to be there. We can continue our talk after the party."
Ikem nodded and descended from the tree, offering a parting suggestion, "Next time, bring the relic you kept. I'd like to take a look at it."
The female primate remained in solitude as Ikem left but was interrupted by his head popping back up. "I forgot to ask for your name," he confessed.
An amused glint shimmered in Aine's eyes as she responded, "Don't have one. Why don't you give me one yourself?"
Ikem pondered for a moment before uttering the first name that came to his mind, "Aine." The primate repeated the name to herself, then planted a kiss on Ikem's forehead. "I like it," she declared.
Curious about his own identity, Aine asked, "What about your name, your highness?"
Ikem's simple response was, "Ikem," before swiftly descending from the tree.
As Ikem rejoined the festivities below the waterfall, the party was in full swing. Food was distributed, and fruit juice was brought out, enhancing the jubilant atmosphere. Ikem took advantage of the celebratory mood to engage with the primates, bridging the gap between them.
When Ikem sensed that the party had reached its climax, he directed mana into the earth, causing vines to emerge and transform into a platform. Standing atop it, he cleared his throat and infused his voice with mana, ready to address the gathered crowd.
"Brothers and sisters," Ikem began, his voice projecting with a newfound confidence. "I stand before you today not as a stranger but as one of your own. The elder has entrusted me with the responsibility of leading our community, and I am humbled by this honor."
A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd, and Ikem continued, "Change is upon us, and I understand that change can be unsettling. But it is through change that growth occurs, and our development as a community relies on each and every one of us doing our best. I've learned about the incredible strengths and talents that each of you possesses, and together, we can overcome any challenges that come our way."
Ikem's eyes looked at the waterfall to meet Red's fiery gaze, and then informant's determined expression, his aunt's reassuring smile, and the hunter's stoic confidence. "Red, as our guardian, I trust you to keep us safe. Your abilities with fire are not just a source of protection but a symbol of our resilience. Informant, your eyes and ears see beyond what others can perceive. Keep us informed and alert us to any dangers that may threaten our home."
He turned to his aunt, "Aunt, your knowledge of healing herbs is invaluable. Your dedication to the well-being of our people is a testament to the love you have for our community, it will be appreciated if this knowledge can spread to the young ones. And Hunter, your strength and determination in providing for us do not go unnoticed. Your efforts ensure that no one in our settlement will ever go hungry.
Ikem paused, allowing his words to sink in. "Each of you plays a crucial role in our survival and prosperity. As your new leader, I promise to listen, to learn, and to lead with integrity. But remember, leadership is not a one-person task. It is a collective effort, and I implore each of you to contribute your best. Together, we will face the challenges ahead, and together, we will build a future that honors the legacy of those who came before us."