Legends of Nduara

Kairo of Ashango

Before the prophecy.

Before the crystal.

Before the stars broke.

Kairo was simply Kairo.

Most mornings began the same way.

Late.

"Kairo!"

His grandmother's voice echoed through the small stone house.

The boy sat upright.

Again.

The sun was already peeking through the window.

Again.

And again he had overslept.

He scrambled from his sleeping mat, nearly tripping over a basket in the process.

"Kairo!"

"I'm up!"

"You said that yesterday."

"I'm really up this time!"

The old woman laughed.

Kairo smiled.

He loved hearing her laugh.

Many children in the village lived with both parents.

Kairo did not.

His mother had died when he was very young.

His father had been a traveler.

A storyteller.

A dreamer.

One day he had left on a journey beyond the mountains.

And never returned.

Most people assumed he was dead.

Kairo never did.

Every evening he climbed the hill overlooking the valley.

Every evening he watched the road.

Just in case.

His grandmother never told him to stop.

Some hopes were too important to break.

Even when they hurt.

After breakfast Kairo hurried toward the village square.

His best friend was already waiting.

Toma.

Tall.

Loud.

And constantly hungry.

"You are late."

"I am not."

"You are."

"How do you know?"

"Because I finished breakfast twice."

Kairo laughed.

That was probably true.

The boys spent most days exploring places they were not supposed to explore.

Ancient ruins.

Abandoned shrines.

Hidden caves.

Every elder in Ashango warned children to leave such places alone.

Naturally, that made them irresistible.

"You know," Toma said as they walked, "one day we're going to get caught."

"Then we'll run."

"What if we can't?"

"Then we'll run faster."

Toma groaned.

Kairo grinned.

The truth was Kairo loved adventure.

Not because he wanted treasure.

Not because he wanted fame.

Because he wanted answers.

Questions seemed to follow him everywhere.

Why did the old shrines feel familiar?

Why did certain symbols appear in his dreams?

Why did he sometimes know things before they happened?

Why did the stars feel different lately?

Most importantly—

Why did he feel like he was waiting for something?

Something he could not explain.

Something just beyond reach.

That afternoon the boys discovered an injured skycat tangled in thorn vines.

Most people avoided skycats.

They were wild.

Fast.

And known for biting anyone foolish enough to approach.

Toma immediately took three steps backward.

Kairo stepped forward.

The creature hissed.

Its silver eyes narrowed.

One claw slashed toward him.

Kairo stopped.

Slowly knelt.

And spoke softly.

"It's okay."

The skycat stared.

Something changed.

The creature relaxed.

Just enough.

Kairo carefully cut away the vines.

Moments later the animal sprang free.

For a second it lingered.

Watching him.

Then it disappeared into the trees.

Toma blinked.

"One day you're going to get yourself eaten."

"Maybe."

"You know that thing could have killed you."

"It was scared."

"It was a skycat."

"It was both."

Toma shook his head.

"You are strange."

Kairo smiled.

He heard that often.

As the sun began to set, Kairo climbed his favorite hill.

The same hill where he watched the road.

The same hill where he imagined his father returning.

The wind carried the scent of rain.

Below him, lanterns flickered throughout the village.

Everything felt peaceful.

Normal.

For a moment he allowed himself to believe it would always stay that way.

Then he looked toward the horizon.

Far away.

Beyond the mountains.

A flash of golden light appeared in the sky.

Gone as quickly as it came.

Most people would have missed it.

Kairo did not.

Something deep inside him stirred.

The feeling returned.

The same feeling he had carried for years.

The feeling that something was coming.

And somehow...

It was coming for him.

To Be Continued...