Writer: Jekob Okpanachi

THE MAGICAL GAME
1. Esuj was shown his god.

A boy was created, no way! not the right way to say this. It'll be better if I say, a boy was born. Yes! a boy was born long time ago. He was born in a village called "Daji", where all the natives had magical powers, but their powers were greater than each other, and the best was much venerated. He was born at midnight, and the moon was present, but halfly. His father came out under the moon and raised his face and hands to heaven "Thank!" instantly, a night bird pooed in his mouth. He closed his mouth immediately, and swallowed the poo mistakenly after bringing down his face "Rot in hell bird!" he lamented. It wasn't bad of him insulting the silly bird, or was it? Remember it was a poo. He blinked his eyes twice, and faced heaven once more "Thank you the greatest One" he said gloriously at last.

In Daji, every soul had his or her god, fabricated on the hour of birth of every child, it was believed to be a good spirit watching over a person till old age, and death. When a person become 10 years of age, the handing over of his or her god would be done.

The boy born, that I said earlier was Esuj. When he was 10, his father took him to his god. Esuj never saw it before, because, apart from the hour of a child's birth, he or she never pays visitation there until the tenth year later.

In a great sunshine, Esuj and his father stood before his god, housed in a dwarf red hut, thatched, with the dirtiest white cloth he had ever seen, and he held his nose to not take in the awful smell.

"Esuj take" his father said quickly, and stretching his hand towards him.
Esuj turned his face in ninety degree and faced his father, who was standing at his right hand side. A bottle, filled with blood, and covered on the body still with blood was held in his father's right hand. Esuj became fearful. Should he take it from him? Yes, he collected it anyways, despite him not witnessing such before, he had heard of it many a time from people. It was a norms there.

"Esuj!" his father called again looking at the dwarf hut "Part the cloth Esuj"

Esuj took his left foot first, and forth he went. He raised the filthy white cloth, still with his hand to his nose, and behold was a stone, the same size as your (Reader) head, and dried blood was covered on it body. Should he leave the cloth, to cover the opening back and run away? No! He remained, now, bent his waist to reduce to the height of the hut.

"Esuj, in Daji, the dream of everyone is to become the best magician, it's every family's dream. It's the pinnacle, to reach that height, you ouhgt to serve your god endlessly. Every occupation you see anyone doing is to earn money, and buy what their gods need. I want you to be that, I want you to be more than me, and to be the best. Now, pour the blood on your god, and say 'I'm welcome' Esuj"

Esuj gazed straight at his god, he started tilting the bottle, and blood began pouring out, and unto the stone "I'm welcome" he opened his mouth and Uttered quietly, but his father could still hear him.

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2. Esuj became a hunter.

Esuj held in his hands a palm stick, and a knife. He tried to peel off the hard back, so he could make a basket (craft). But, he couldn't make it the way it was needed for the work. He threw to the ground vexatiously the knife, and the palm stick.

"Esuj, you can keep on trying, you'll be like me one day" his father who was knitting a basket said positively.
Esuj folded his hand to his chest, and looked to heaven. Should he answer his father? Yes, he should, but he had nothing to say.

"Esuj, don't worry, you're still 18" his father said "You're still young"
"Baba!" he called "Be honest, I can't succeed in craftsmanship no more and you knows that. Always here since my birth, still I don't know nothing about it"

His father dropped the half made basket, and walked to Esuj who was sitting on a stub, put his hand on his shoulder "Esuj, which occupation are you loving now?"

"I'm going to be a hunter"

"Alright, go and succeed son" his father blessed him.

"What about my god?" Esuj asked strictly "Why has he turned his back on me?"

"No enough sacrifice from you son" his father said plainly "Look son, your god is dying. He needs blood, the same manner you need food. It's improper, and I'll face the wrath if I provide the necessity for you"

The next day, his father bought a local gun for him, and he was ready to start his hunting game.
After 5 months of intense gun training, alas, Esuj couldn't still hit the target from the closest range. He would still miss a 10 inches distance. His mentor was tired of him, although, he was a wise man, and he planned to use him in another department, so he could earn money for himself to serve his god.

"Esuj" his hunting mentor called "Don't give up, you could still be good in another hunting department" Esuj said nothing, but his face was tilted towards earth "You know rabbit holes have more than one opening. From today, you'll become a coverer of hole. You cover one end with your foot, leaving the rabbit with an option, and when its tries coming out through the only option, I shall be there, and kill it. Alright Esuj?"

"Alright master!" Esuj returned lowly, still with his face towards earth.

Rabbit holes were seen later, and Esuj was ordered to cover one with his foot, while his mentor stood before one. His mentor threw fire inside the hole "Esuj stay still, it's going to follow my side out, if it couldn't follow your side due to your blocking"

"Alright master" he answered cheerfully, so cheerfully because he had seen what he could do best. He hung his gun around his neck, and was doing his face like he was smiling. Should i smile? He asked himself, not yet, let him succeed first, he can't wait to tell his father of his mentor discovering what best he could do in the world.
Now, the rabbit was under Esuj foot, and started hitting him hard repeatedly "Master!" Esuj said in a fearsome tone "The rabbit is hitting me hard"

"Stay still Esuj, it'll turn towards me soon" encouraged his mentor, who was set with a stick in his hand.

Some seconds later, a thought was conceived in Esuj mind "what if it's a snake, and not a rabbit?" Should he run a bit, and give this angry creature a way? Yes! He has to, he don't need no bite at all. He ran away a bit, and the creature ran away through there, behold, it was a rabbit truly.

"Esuuuuuj!" His mentor screamed "You're not worthy to live. Your hunting game with me is over"

Should he beg for another chance? No! He's never going to succeed in hunting truly. So, he left sorrowfully, and threw away his gun on the way home "Why not used a stone to cover that hole? Foolish" he said to himself.

NEXT: Esuj finds another occupation.
8:00pm tomorrow.