We Spin the Stars Above: A West African GameLit Epic

[Commencing Tribulation in 3… 2… 1…]

Ayo opened her eyes and expected to be greeted by the searing pain of lightning and the roar of thunder. Instead, a suffocating silence welcomed her. She found herself in the familiar surroundings of her soulspace, but the open-air mausoleum, the intricate constructs, even Zuberi himself were frozen still. A chill crept up her spine at the lack of motion and the air, usually shimmering with the faint hum of her essence, felt stagnant and heavy.

Then, as if summoned by her unease, the Adjudicator materialised before her. A flicker of sadness crossed his usually stoic features. "Hello, Ayo. It’s nice to see you again. Although, I must admit this wasn’t quite the circumstances I expected for our reunion."

Ayo managed a brittle smile. "Neither is this," she admitted. "Where's the storm? The endless lightning? What’s going on?"

The Adjudicator remained silent for a moment, then raised a hand. A shimmering mirror rose from the ground, its surface blurring before resolving into a scene from the real world. Ayo's heart sank as she witnessed Tolu, Sebel, and Salim facing off against Folarin and the other disciples. Folarin's crimson dragon circled above them, fiery red essence leaking from its open mouth.

"What is this?" she gasped, a tremor in her voice.

"Your tribulation," the Adjudicator said, his voice heavy. "Prepare yourself Ayo and witness the consequences of your choices."

***

Wole awoke with a gasp, disoriented as he found himself on the deck of his ship, the familiar creak of timber replaced by an unnatural stillness. The churning sea below had been supplanted by a vast expanse of emerald green grass that met the horizon and in the distance, a towering mountain peak pierced the sky, its slopes covered in swirling mists.

Hold on, he thought. I recognise that mountain. Is that part of Mairo’s soulspace?

"Mairo?" he called out, searching the deck.

"Down here!" A muffled voice echoed from below. Wole found Mairo struggling to climb out of a hatchway that had become jammed. He hurried down and together, they managed to pry it open and stared out at the surreal landscape. The sea that was his soulspace wasn’t entirely gone; most of it still lingered just over the horizon and upon closer inspection, he realised that it wasn’t all grassland, there were Mairo’s trees growing there as well. The entire thing seemed to be a bizarre mishmash of their soulspaces and he and Mairo exchanged a single bewildered look.

A moment later, the Adjudicator flared into existence beside them, its form seeming to shimmer like a mirage above the grass. "Mairo, Wole. You awaken together, as you often do in life."

"Where's Ayo?" Wole demanded, his voice tight with concern.

The Adjudicator's smile was a thin line. "Always thinking of others, even in your own trial. A commendable trait, but one that can also end in disaster." It titled its head. “But, of course, you already know that.”

***

Ayo watched in horror as Folarin, Iman, and Diallo toyed with Tolu and the others. Tolu, so small and speedy, used her nimble movements and blade to deflect attacks, but the sheer size and ferocity of the techniques wore them down. Sebel and Salim fought valiantly, but they were simply outmatched. Despair gnawed at Ayo.

"Please," she pleaded, her voice echoing in the vast emptiness. "Send me back. I can help them. I have to help them!"

The Adjudicator shook its head sadly. "This is their choice, Ayo. And one they made freely. You wouldn't want to take that away from them, would you?"

Ayo sank to her knees, tears stinging her eyes. "But they'll die! They'll all die!"

Her pleas fell on deaf ears. And so she watched, helpless, as Tolu and the others, her stupid, brave disciples fought until they faltered, their movements slowing. Folarin barked a single command and her dragon unleashed a final, devastating blast of essence breath, engulfing them all.

“No…” she gasped and the mirror dissipated, leaving Ayo alone in the suffocating silence.

“I’m sorry,” said the Adjudicator once again, and kept speaking, uttering meaningless words that flowed through her like water. It was over. Tolu, Sebel and Salim were gone.

***

There was a certain brutality to the Adjudicator as it led Mairo and Wole through a series of trials, each one forcing them to confront their pasts and deepest fears. It made them relive their failures, their betrayals, the choices that led them down their current path. And when it finally asked a question, its voice was devoid of sympathy.

"Why do you hate yourselves so much?"

Wole's expression turned tense. "We don't hate ourselves," he replied defensively.

The Adjudicator's gaze remained unflinching. "Then why have you both refused to acknowledge the truth? That you are not just bound by duty, but by a deeper connection."

Wole furrowed his brow in confusion. "What are you—"

"The soulmate connection. How long have you been ignoring it, pretending it doesn't exist?" the Fragment pressed. "How much longer would you have let it hang in the air, unspoken between the three of you?"

It glared at them. "And how much longer would it have taken for the two of you in particular to admit your feelings for each other?"

***

Ayo remained in her frozen soulspace, reeling from the horror she had witnessed. Grief and rage warred within her. She wanted to scream, to lash out, to find some way to punish Folarin for her cruelty. But as the initial shock subsided, a strange sense of calm washed over her. It wasn't acceptance, not even close, but what was the point of weeping over something that had already happened? And when had tears ever solved anything? Wole and Mairo had tried to warn her, to prepare her for what life was really like and only now did she understand. Only now did you realise the only thing you must do when you just watched someone kill off people you cared about. Refuse to allow their sacrifice to be in vain. She would find a way to honour them, to make sure their deaths meant something.

And she would start by breaking Folarin until she begged for death.

As the Adjudicator continued its monotonous droning, Ayo tuned it out, focusing on her own thoughts. She thought of Tolu's unwavering loyalty, Sebel's sharp wit, and Salim's quiet strength. They would have wanted her to keep fighting, to become the Icon they all believed she could be. She would not disappoint them.

The Adjudicator's voice finally ceased, and silence filled the void once more. "I am ready," Ayo declared, her voice ringing with cold resolve.

The Adjudicator swivelled its head to face her, a flicker of surprise crossing its features. "Ready for what, child?"

"To face my trials," Ayo stated, her gaze unwavering. "To choose my Law and ascend."

The Adjudicator studied her for a long moment, then a slow, grudging nod followed. The sky above her soulspace darkened and a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. "Very well, then. Let us begin."

***

Mairo and Wole stood side by side, facing the Adjudicator as it prepared to administer their trials. The Fragment's presence was oppressive, filling their soulspaces with ominous energy.

"Are you ready?" it asked, its voice echoing through the void. “Once we begin we cannot stop. You will either face the truth of what you’ve been in order to choose what you will be or you will fail.”

Mairo squared his shoulders and nodded confidently. "I am."

Wole glanced at him before turning his gaze back to the Adjudicator. "Yes," he replied, though his tone betrayed a hint of uncertainty.

The Fragment's glowing eyes seemed to pierce through them, reading their souls. "Then let us begin."

A swirling vortex of memories materialised in front of them, looking very much like pooled satin and in a flash, it was pulling them into a shared vision of their past actions.

Visions of their past missions for House Whiterose flooded their minds, each one a haunting echo of the other. They saw themselves standing over fallen enemies, their hands stained with blood. Each death was a grim testament to the lengths they had gone to protect their home.

They saw Ayo's innocent curiosity, her silver eyes wide as she asked about the bond that held them together. They saw themselves divert her attention each time she brought it up. The truth always dancing just out of her reach.

More images flashed before them: Elder Oneshi, his face etched with lines of age and wisdom, weaving tales of the Great War; Ayo hanging on to every word, her gaze filled with awe and fear. They stood in the shadows as silent observers, each word from Elder Oneshi's lips a reminder of their own secrets – secrets they chose to keep locked away.

The memory replayed itself over and over again - Elder Oneshi revealing the history that shaped them all while they remained mute spectators. Their silence weighed heavily on them now, a bitter taste in their mouths as they watched Ayo grapple with truths that should have been shared by them.

They watched as they argued over Ayo's training, both stubbornly clinging to their own beliefs. They saw how their rivalry had escalated until it consumed them both, poisoning their relationship and ultimately pushing Ayo away.

Mairo winced as he saw the hurt in Ayo's eyes when she questioned why they had lied to her. He remembered the guilt that had weighed heavily on her ever since that moment.

Wole's fists clenched as he watched himself dismiss Ayo's abilities so casually. Sure it had all been with good intentions but now he saw how his pride had clouded his judgement and pushed him to make reckless decisions that endangered not only himself but also those he cared about.

The Adjudicator's relentless questions echoed through their minds, forcing them to relive every painful moment they had caused each other and Ayo. Mairo felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes as he was confronted with the harsh truth of his actions.

But despite the pain and guilt overwhelming them, they refused to look away or hide from what they had done. They faced each memory head-on, acknowledging their mistakes and regrets.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the memories dissipated into nothingness, leaving Mairo and Wole standing before the Adjudicator once more.

"Why did you not tell her the truth?" the Adjudicator boomed, its voice echoing across the landscape. “Why did you hide things from her?”

Mairo hung his head in shame. "I... I was afraid," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "Afraid of… of hurting her the way I hurt everyone else. She shouldn’t want us. It’s not safe."

Wole stepped forward, placing a hand on Mairo's shoulder. "You’ve never hurt me. And I guess I too was afraid of losing you both," he confessed, his voice rough with emotion. "You’re my best friend Mairo. Matter of fact for most of my life, you’ve been my only friend. I was just so scared of losing that."

A heavy silence hung in the air, eliciting a tense exchange of glances between Mairo and Wole. An understanding passed between them, as though they were speaking without words. And in a mad, unguarded moment, Mairo whispered, "I love you," his voice trembling.

Wole's stare lingered a bit too long and Mairo’s heart started to sink. But then he smiled and cupped Mairo’s face. "I love you too," he replied.

As their lips met in a hesitant first kiss, it was filled with unspoken promises of future moments to come. And in that embrace, all of the tension and uncertainty melted away, leaving only a peaceful solace within Wole's arms for Mairo to find refuge in.

Together, they turned to the Adjudicator, their eyes locked in a silent vow. "We choose the Law of Redemption," they declared in unison, their voices firm and resolute. “We will strive to rehabilitate not just ourselves but others who just want a second chance. Grant opportunities to those people seeking to rise above their past transgressions and become the best versions of themselves..”

The Adjudicator's form shimmered, its surprise evident. "An... interesting choice," it rasped. "Redemption is a noble path, but one fraught with challenges. Are you prepared to face them?"

Mairo and Wole exchanged another glance, their bond strengthened by their newfound love and shared commitment. "We are," they replied, their voices echoing as one. The Adjudicator, seemingly satisfied, nodded slowly. "Then so be it. Let your journey begin."

***

A tempest raged within Ayo's soul, a violent storm of emotion and memory. Each crackle of lightning illuminated images seared into her psyche: Tolu, Salim, and Sebel's lifeless bodies; her father's dismissive sneer, as if she were an insignificant speck beneath him; her mother's detached gaze devoid of any maternal warmth. Each bolt was a cruel reminder of loss and rejection, yet she stood firm amidst the chaos, her spirit refusing to be swallowed by the maelstrom.

She grappled with the Adjudicator's lingering question - the key to choosing a Law that would serve her purpose. The previous tribulation had demanded self-identity: Who are you? Now it asked for self-projection: Who do you want to become?

Visions of retribution swirled in the stormy abyss - images painted in ruthless fury that mirrored her father's merciless nature. But amidst this whirlwind of vengeance, a soft whisper echoed in the back of her mind. It reminded her that she was not him - she was not destined to follow his path. It reminded her of a promise made long ago to transcend his shadow and become something greater.

The voice murmured Tolu’s name, reminding Ayo that revenge was not what her departed friend would have wanted. The truth stung like a slap across the face but still ignited a spark within Ayo that flared brighter than any lightning strike.

She did not want to acknowledge it and despised its harsh honesty. But could not deny its authenticity. Beneath layers of pain and sorrow, something stirred in response to this revelation. With gritted teeth and clenched fists, she reached out towards this Concept - this vision of who she could become beyond the pain.

"I choose the Law of Justice," she declared, her voice echoing through the vast stillness of her soulspace.

The Adjudicator appeared before her, its expression unreadable. "An interesting choice," it said finally. "Justice can be a double-edged sword. Are you prepared to wield it?"

Ayo met its gaze unflinchingly. "I am," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "I will use my power to create a world where the innocent are protected, and the guilty are held accountable. But I will also offer the chance for redemption, for those who are willing to make amends. I will be vengeance and retribution, but I will also be salvation and protection. That is how I will honour my disciples."

A silence longer than age descended upon them as the Adjudicator considered her. Even the lightning and lashing rain paused, as if holding their breath. Then, the Fragment nodded once and allowed itself a small smile.

“Very well done,” it said. “This Law is accepted.”