Chapter 278
"All is well, Ezinne. I was just curious about how far you have come with your research concerning the fifth stage realm. Last time I checked, the merchant of death brought a few good corpses," Nwadiebube said, staring eagerly at the elder shaman.
Ezinne looked at the king as she turned and began walking towards her home. "You are still young and have many years ahead of you to be so eager for success."
The king remained silent at the elder’s words. Seeing her brother’s embarrassment, the princess went over and hugged the elder woman, cuddling her. "I am also curious about how far you have come, Ezinne."
The elder smiled at the princess and said, "There has been some progress. If you both hadn’t come, I was planning on paying a visit myself as I need someone to test the path we’ve laid out and see if it works."
The people of the Omadi Kingdom revered Ikenga as their primary deity, and their understanding of mana was informed by the knowledge shared with them by the Apelings.
For years, they struggled to find a balance between their faith in Ikenga and the mana surrounding them. Eventually, it was suggested that they return to their roots and work from there.
This process began with developing their own understanding of nature, which for them was deeply intertwined with death—a concept they were very familiar with.
In their view, death is not an end but a vital part of life’s cycle. Long before they knew of mana, their society’s rituals involved practices that honored the transition from life to death. These rituals were deeply embedded in their cultural fabric and passed down through generations. They were not only a means to honor the dead but also a way to reinforce the community’s values and beliefs.
Their understanding of nature’s deity might encompass a duality where both creation and destruction are necessary. This led to the development of their own power system, divided into two paths: the "Physical Route," which focused on nature, and the "Shamanic Route," which focused on death.