The alarm bells of Opundi City rang like angry spirits in the night.
GONG!
GONG!
GONG!
"RUN FASTER!" Timi shouted.
Preye was already running.
The wood walkways of Swali Market rattled beneath their feet as they dashed between stalls and narrow bridges suspended above dark water channels.
Behind them,
Heavy boots thundered.
"STOP!"
The voice belonged to a River Guard officer.
Preye glanced back.
Five guards were chasing them, carrying long spears tipped with glowing Ori crystals.
Great.
Her first day as an unemployed citizen and she was already being hunted.
"This is your fault!" she said.
Timi looked offended while sprinting.
"My fault? You're the one who punched the criminals!"
"They attacked first!"
"Yes but you launched one into the wall like a flying goat!"
Preye sighed.
Fair point.
Another bell rang.
More guards were joining the chase.
They turned into a narrow passage between two tall wooden buildings.
The path ended suddenly.
A dead end.
Below them, black river water flowed quietly beneath the platforms.
Timi stopped.
"Oh no."
Preye crossed her arms.
"You said you knew the way."
"I do know the way!"
He pointed dramatically at the water.
"…Down."
Preye stared at him.
"You want me to jump into that river?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because the River Guard cannot swim here."
Preye blinked.
"That makes no sense."
Timi lowered his voice.
"Because of the stories."
She raised an eyebrow.
"What stories?"
Timi pointed slowly at the dark water.
"The Ancient River gods."
For a brief moment the wind became strangely quiet.
Preye looked down at the slow-moving water.
Legends of the Niger Delta had always spoken of them.
"Owuamapu".
Ancient beings said to live beneath sacred waters.
Most people believed they were myths.
But tonight something in the air felt… different.
The guards were almost there.
"Cornered!" one shouted.
Spears raised.
Timi grabbed Preye's arm.
"Decision time!"
Preye sighed.
"Fine."
Without hesitation she jumped.
"WAIT FOR ME!" Timi yelled before leaping after her.
SPLASH
Cold water swallowed them.
The river was deeper than expected.
Preye kicked upward and broke the surface, breathing hard.
Timi surfaced beside her, coughing.
"You see?" he said proudly.
"We're alive."
Preye looked around.
The guards stood on the platform above, staring down at them.
None of them jumped.
Instead, the leader muttered nervously.
"…Leave them."
Another guard frowned.
"But sir—"
"Leave them!"
The guards slowly backed away.
Preye noticed something strange.
They looked… afraid.
Very afraid.
Timi floated beside her.
"You see?"
"They didn't follow."
Preye nodded slowly.
"That's suspicious."
Then
The water beneath them rippled.
Not from the current.
From something moving.
Slow.
Massive.
Preye's instincts screamed.
"Don't move."
Timi froze instantly.
Why?
Preye whispered.
"Something is here."
The river surface became smooth.
Too smooth.
Then the water began to glow faintly blue.
The same color as Preye's power.
Her eyes widened.
Her hand began to glow again.
Ori energy spread across the water like lightning.
The river responded.
The glow deepened.
Suddenly—
A deep voice echoed through the water.
Ancient.
Heavy.
Like thunder underwater.
"WHO AWAKENS THE STORM?"
Timi's eyes nearly left his head.
"Did… did the river just TALK?!"
Preye stared into the glowing depths.
Her heart pounded.
The voice spoke again.
"MORTAL CHILD… YOUR POWER DISTURBS THE RIVER."
The water parted slightly.
A gigantic shape moved beneath them.
Something ancient.
Something powerful.
Timi whispered in terror.
"…River god."
Preye didn't run.
She didn't scream.
She simply stared.
Then she spoke calmly.
"If I disturbed your river, that was not my intention."
Timi stared at her.
YOU'RE TALKING BACK TO A god?!
The voice rumbled again.
"YOU CARRY THE STORM."
"A POWER LONG FORBIDDEN."
Preye's glowing hand clenched.
"What does that mean?"
The river surface rose slightly around her.
The voice whispered like flowing water.
"LONG AGO… THE STORM WALKED THESE LANDS."
"IT BROUGHT BOTH SALVATION… AND DESTRUCTION."
Timi slowly raised his hand.
"Um… mighty river god sir?"
Silence.
"…Yes?"
The water swirled slightly.
"Could we maybe have this conversation somewhere that is less drowning-like?"
For a moment the river went quiet.
Then the deep voice actually sounded… amused.
The water suddenly pushed them toward the shore.
A gentle current lifted them onto a muddy riverbank.
Preye stood slowly.
Her clothes were soaked but she didn't care.
The glowing water formed a tall figure made entirely of swirling river currents.
A manifestation of the Ancient River gods.
Timi fell to his knees immediately.
"I RESPECT YOU RIVER!"
The river god ignored him.
Its glowing eyes fixed on Preye.
"YOU ARE DIFFERENT."
Preye crossed her arms.
"So everyone keeps telling me."
The god's voice deepened.
"THE WORLD WILL HUNT YOU."
"THE STORM POWER IS FEARED."
Preye smirked slightly.
"I've already noticed."
The god studied her carefully.
"YOU HAVE TWO PATHS."
The river surged around them.
"BECOME A DESTROYER."
"OR BECOME SOMETHING GREATER."
Preye looked straight at the god.
Her voice remained calm.
"I'm not interested in destroying the world."
She paused.
"But I'm also not interested in letting the world destroy me."
Timi slowly nodded.
"Very reasonable position."
The river god watched her for a long moment.
Then it spoke softly.
"THE STORM HAS CHOSEN WELL."
The water slowly began to settle.
"GROW STRONG, CHILD OF THE STORM."
"DARK TIMES ARE COMING TO TAMUNOARA."
The glowing figure dissolved back into the river.
Silence returned.
Timi remained kneeling for several seconds.
Then he slowly stood.
So?
Preye looked at him.
So?
He pointed at the river.
"You just had a conversation with an "Ancient River God."
"Yes."
"And it called you "Child of the Storm."
"Yes."
"And apparently the world will hunt you."
"Yes."
Timi grinned.
"That's actually very exciting."
Preye sighed.
"You're insane."
"Correct."
Timi stretched his arms dramatically.
"Well!"
He looked at her proudly.
"What's the plan now, Storm Girl?"
Preye stared at the distant lights of Opundi City.
Somewhere in that city were the people who ruined her life.
Somewhere were the corrupt leaders who thought they were untouchable.
Her blue Ori energy flickered again.
This time stronger.
Controlled.
She smiled slowly.
"Now?"
Her eyes sharpened.
"Now we start winning."