《DUNGU THE LOST KINGDOM.》


 Chapter 1 : Ghana.

    The sun hung high in the azure sky, casting a golden glow over the sprawling university campus, where a vibrant energy pulsed through every corner. Students thronged the hallways, their laughter and conversations creating a symphony of youthful exuberance that rang in the air like a celebratory anthem.


    Clusters of friends animatedly discussed the latest campus gossip, while others meandered with their heads buried in books, occasionally lifting their eyes to share a smile or a nod with passing acquaintances.


    The sprawling university grounds, adorned with lush greenery and dotted with benches, were alive with life. Some students lounged against the warm stones, their faces turned toward the sun.


    A group nearby was sprawled in a patch of wildflowers, their backpacks strewn haphazardly around them, serving as makeshift pillows as they ruminated over a challenging assignment.


    Meanwhile, in the southeast corner of the campus, the atmosphere shifted. The staccato rhythm of footsteps led students toward a large, brick building, where the doors swung open to reveal a lecture hall brimming with anticipation.


    The soft murmur of murmured conversations spilled out from within, where eager minds prepared to absorb the wisdom of their professor.


    Inside, rows of students took their seats, their notebooks ready, pens poised to capture every insight that would flow, eagerly waiting for the lecture to begin¡ªa microcosm of academic ambition amid the vibrant chaos of campus life. The lecture immediately started,they were covering the History of Asante kingdom.


    The lecture hall was adorned with vibrant African art and surrounded by rows of students, the atmosphere buzzed with the unmistakable energy of curiosity and engagement.


    The professor, a charismatic figure with a cascade of silver hair and a warm, inviting smile, leaned slightly against the lectern. His eyes gleamed with knowledge as he wrapped up a discussion on the Asante Kingdom, an influential empire full of rich history and cultural significance.


    "Alright, let''s conclude for today," he said, his voice resonating across the room, converting the previous chatter into focused attention.


    "I hope you now understand the Asante Kingdom, the fight for the stool, and its enduring purpose!" The authoritative yet approachable tone carried a hint of encouragement, inviting all to reflect on the wealth of information shared.


    As he turned his gaze toward Renny, a medium tall young lady with an afro and an eager expression, the professor¡¯s demeanor shifted slightly, embracing a more personal touch.


    Renny, having made the journey from America to study in this vibrant nation, seemed both excited and slightly overwhelmed by the different culture surrounding her.


    "How is Ghana treating you Smith?I hope you haven''t encountered any problems," The professor inquired.


    "Ghana is great, thank you," Renny replied, her voice laced with a genuine enthusiasm that contrasted with the slight hesitation of an outsider navigating an unfamiliar world.


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    "That''s good," the professor responded, nodding appreciatively. His voice softened, carrying an air of guardianship. "If anything bothers you, ask anyone around for help." The words hung in the air, an affirmation of community and support that resonated within the walls of academia and beyond.


    Renny''s face broke into a relieved smile. "Okay sir, thank you," she replied, her voice brightening as she absorbed the professor''s encouragement.


    The professor then carried his laptop and moved out after the one-hour lecture.


    "How is Ghana treating you?" Suddenly, a bright voice said, but one could tell that she had adjusted her voice so that she could imitate a male voice.


    Renny turned around and saw that it was Ewe Rose standing behind her with a bright smile, displaying two dimples on either side of her face. Her braids were neatly tied behind her head.


    "Ewe! What if Professor Tommy hasn''t gone far and he hears you?" Renny warned; however, Ewe didn''t take her words to heart as she chuckled.


    "Professor Tommy is always asking that very question every lecture!" Another girl with a round afro said as she gently smiled, standing beside Ewe.


    "Nandi is right," a boy with a clean crew cut said as he adjusted a book bag on his shoulder.


    "Edi, you also know that Professor Tommy is just worried about me. After all, I am new in Ghana. You were also like him when I just arrived," Renny helplessly smiled as she said, standing up and picking up her laptop bag and water bottle before heading outside the lecture room.


    "Well, you had just arrived in Ghana. I had to ask; however, Professor Tommy is different. You spent one month in Ghana so far, but he still asks," Edi replied, following behind the three girls. Renny smiled at him and didn''t comment any further.


    "Ah! It''s Alu! He came to school!" Ewe suddenly screamed, startling the rest, whose attention turned towards the direction Ewe was facing. Nandi and Edi wore surprised expressions. Renny also followed their example and saw a strikingly handsome man with a slight smile; his smooth skin shone as the sun cast its shine on him.


    He wasn''t wearing his usual clothes but a kente wrap; however, he didn''t look out of place at all. Instead, it highlighted his strong shoulders and forearms, which looked particularly handsome.


    The boy was talking with some elderly school staff who showed a humble attitude despite being his elders, which Renny found odd. She had been in Ghana for a full month, and what she gathered was that elders were respected by their juniors, and any slight rudeness to elders was considered a grave mistake.


    Students who were walking nearby also stopped in their tracks and silently stood aside. Some strong men in suits also silently followed behind them vigilantly; they looked like bodyguards at first glance.


    "Who is that?" Renny couldn''t help but ask as she looked at the scene before her in puzzlement.


    "That is Alu Asantehene III! He is the direct successor of the throne! The son of Asantehene II! He is so handsome!" Ewe explained as she exclaimed like a fangirl.


    "So he is a prince? Does he also go to school here?" Renny curiously asked.


    "Yes. He studied in the UK in his younger days, but he completely refused to go back for his higher studies and chose our university. He has encouraged the youth to pursue education and invested heavily in science; overall, he is a role model for many, young and old," Nandi calmly explained. She seemed to have snapped out of her surprise, unlike Ewe.


    Renny nodded in understanding as she turned her eyes back towards Alu in deep thought.


    "Let''s go and have lunch before our favorite school restaurant gets crowded," Edi suddenly reminded the girls. Alu had already disappeared from their sight, so their attention came back. A few murmurs and exclamations of surprise could be heard, and unsurprisingly, they were all about Alu. It seems Nandi didn''t exaggerate; Alu really had a well-built reputation. The group then headed towards the school restaurant.


    -----------


    NB: Kente is a traditional Ghanian fabric originally from Akan tribe.

 Chapter 2: Its always Summer.

    Since they had different classes in the afternoon, Renny separated from her friends and headed for her lecture room. Ewe, Edi, and Nandi still had a lecture together, so they bid goodbye to Renny and vowed to catch up in the evening.


    In the evening, Renny, Ewe, and Nandi met at the university gate, but Edi had an appointment to play football with his colleagues, so he couldn''t join them.


    "Are you still using Uber to and from home, Renny?" Ewe asked as they exited the university gate.


    "Yes, is there a problem?" Renny inquired.


    "Of course, there is a problem! Uber is too expensive! It''s better to use public you transport or Trotros, especially for us broke university students!" Ewe passionately expressed as she held a book to her chest defensively. Renny was amused by her actions.


    "How much is the Uber guy charging you?" Nandi inquired.


    "¡é40," Renny replied as she gauged their reactions.


    "¡é40! That''s too much! I assessed the distance the last time I visited your home; it wasn''t that far! It''s at most ¡é10!" Ewe exclaimed.


    "Let''s wait for that scamming Uber guy! We must teach him a lesson and demand a refund!" Ewe added.


    "It''s okay; no need to cause a scene. At most, I will take your advice and start taking public transport," Renny explained.


    "That''s not okay, though. That guy clearly took advantage of you; his company might not even know what he is doing. It''s better to get his details so he doesn''t scam another person," Nandi said.


    As they were in the middle of the conversation, a car approached them and parked beside them. A middle-aged, slim man with a hat came out of it and approached them.


    "Madam Renny! I am here to pick you up!" the man excitedly said.


    "Is that the Uber driver?" Ewe asked.


    "Yes, but no..." Renny replied, but her statement was cut off midway as Nandi and Ewe cornered the man and started arguing in Twi, a language Renny hadn''t grasped yet.


    "Mr. Man, you are so shameless; you are giving Ghana a bad name!" Ewe remarked. The man angrily pointed at her forehead as he continued to argue in Twi once again.


    "Madam Renny, let''s go. Don''t listen to these foolish girls," the man said as he abruptly approached Renny, pulling her hand. Renny immediately tried to free her hand from his grasp, but the man couldn''t budge as he was strong.


    "Let her go, or I will call the police!" Nandi commanded.


    "Call it! Call it! I am Ghanaian, is she? Who will the police arrest? Call the police!" the man suddenly shouted angrily.


    Ewe was so enraged by him that her eyes turned red with anger.


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    "I am no longer going. Also, from today onwards, don''t come to pick me up; I will be taking public transport," Renny said as she calmly looked at the Uber driver.


    "Refund the money you owe her too; you clearly illegally got money from her," Nandi added.


    "I called the police," Ewe said, holding her phone to her ear.


    "Refund what, you foolish girls? Who will marry you, talking to men like that! Pah!" the Uber driver cursed as he ran off toward the car and hurriedly drove away.


    Ewe and Nandi awkwardly looked at Renny, who appeared to be calm.


    "No need to involve the police; such things happen in America too," Renny comforted them.


    "I didn''t call the police; I was just angry at that shameless guy. Not all Uber drivers in Ghana are like this guy; he needs to be reported to his company and lose his job for this," Ewe said.


    "Are you really okay, Renny?" Nandi inquired.


    "I am okay; I promise you," Renny said.


    "Also, don''t listen to his statements. Ghana is your home if you want to stay," Nandi added.


    "I didn''t take his words to heart; such people are in every country. There is nothing you can do about that. So, are we taking public transport or trotro?" Renny inquired.


    "Let''s take public transport. Mine and Nandi''s rentals are not far, and the bus will also stop on the way to your apartment. Trotro will take forever to be full for us to go, which is exhausting," Ewe said.


    "Okay, public transport it is then," Renny said as she smiled at the two. Nandi and Ewe finally relaxed after seeing that Renny wasn''t affected by the Uber driver''s words.


    Renny could see their expressions very well she was happy to see that they weren''t frustrated by the actions of the middle aged Uber driver from before. They were the first people who made her feel welcome in her very first month in Ghana. She could see that they were not just doing it to gain benefits like other people she had met.


    When she first arrived in Ghana, she didn''t know anyone apart from the man who rented her an apartment. He was an African American man who had left America to settle in Ghana, so he filled her in on the ins and outs of the country.


    Because of her accent, people would immediately assume that she was a tourist and would immediately hike the prices of goods she wanted to buy. So, she learned to silently point at things in the market; that way, the prices would always be consistent with local prices.


    Actually, she wanted to buy a car, as she already had a driving permit back in America. She had sold her car and had money to buy a new one in Ghana, but most of the university students didn''t use cars to drive to and from school. She didn''t want to stand out.


    Also, her apartment wasn''t that far from the university, so buying a car would be a waste of gas and money. Renny thought as they walked towards the corner where buses met passengers.


    "Hm? It might rain tonight," Nandi commented.


    Renny looked up at the bright sky and wondered how she could tell.


    Ewe laughed at her bewilderment.


    "Nandi''s predictions about the weather are always right. I also couldn''t get used to it at first, but she is always accurate. Let''s get on the bus and arrive home early since it''s going to rain tonight!" Ewe said as she climbed onto the bus.


    "Really? You can tell it''s going to rain?" Renny inquired as she looked at Nandi.


    "I don''t know; it''s just a habit from childhood. I kind of can tell; I don''t know how," Nandi helplessly shrugged as they stepped on the bus and sat down.


    "How is the weather like in America?" Ewe asked after they had comfortably taken their seats.


    "The weather depends on the seasons, but I prefer summer, when the sun is up. It''s when most schools are on break, and people go to the beaches and have get-togethers with friends," Renny said.


    "Well, it''s always summer in Ghana," Ewe commented with a smile.


    "It can be cloudy, rainy, and sunny in Ghana; winter is, however, out of the question here," Nandi commented.


    "So, summer!" Ewe asserted. Renny helplessly smiled; she always thought that it would be lonely if she traveled to Africa alone, but she always wanted to go. Her mother also wanted to go back; that was her wish, and she brought her back.


    She wasn''t lonely; she made friends that she didn''t have back home. Her depression also seemed to have reduced much, plus it was always summer, Renny thought as she smiled, looking outside the bus.

 Chapter 3: Young People nowadays have mood swings.

    Ewe and Nandi had been dropped off at their respective addresses. The bus stopped on another street, and some people around Renny prepared to get off the bus at that exact stop.


    That was also Renny''s stop, so she stood up from her seat and headed toward the bus door. She paid the bus driver and headed in the southeastern direction where her apartment complex was located.


    There was a mini grocery store on the way, so Renny paused her movement and decided to buy some eggplants and cabbage to cook for dinner.


    She was still shocked by the cheap prices of organic greens and vegetables in Ghana, but she didn''t hate it; she liked greens and enjoyed trying new recipes.


    "Good evening, Auntie!" a young, cheerful girl with cornrows aged between 12-13 smiled at Renny, who was now inside the store.


    "Hi," Renny silently smiled at the girl as she reciprocated the greeting.When she had first arrived in Ghana, she was surprised by the form of address, as she was 22 years old. With no known relatives in Ghana, she was also too lazy to correct them.


    However, as time went on, she saw Nandi and Ewe being referred to as "Auntie" by random people. That''s when Nandi explained to her that every person younger refers to their seniors as "Auntie" or "Uncle" as a form of respect. Teachers were also referred to as such in schools, so she later learned to go with the flow.


    She bought groceries and headed to her apartment. A blue gate came into view; coincidentally, the gate man was opening it. A red car exited, and the gate man quickly closed the gate.


    The car suddenly came to a stop, and a tall, dark, and handsome middle-aged man with white hair came out of it. He had aged like fine wine.


    "Renny, it''s really hard to cross paths with you even though we stay in the same building," the man said with a sigh as he approached Renny.


    Renny silently looked at the man as she stood in the same spot. She was slim with a big afro, and coupled with the big sweater she had on, she looked like she could be swept away by the wind and disappear at any moment.


    The man was her landlord, who had relocated to Ghana. He owned different apartments in the country, but he was staying on the 6th floor.


    "Good evening, Mr. Greg," Renny slowly greeted.


    "Apart from university and this apartment, where else have you explored? I only ever saw those two friends come to visit you, but I haven''t seen you going out. It''s really not good to stay locked up in your apartment," Greg advised.


    Renny wanted to tell him that she didn''t come to Ghana to explore; she just had a wish to fulfill, and she would go back after that. But she just swallowed the words; she didn''t have to explain herself to anybody.


    "How about this? There is a family I am going to meet; they just arrived in the country. They have two children around your age. Come with me to meet them; it could be good to have someone from the same country interact with them and fill them in about Ghana," Greg added.


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    "Sorry, I can''t go," Renny said, making Greg sigh in regret.


    "I have an assignment I am working on; I can''t go out now," Renny added.


    "Oh, how about Saturday? They are going to Elmina Castle; it would be great if you went with them," Greg enthusiastically said.


    Renny hesitated a bit. She knew about Elmina Castle, built in 1482 by Portuguese traders. Elmina Castle was the first European slave-trading post in all of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a historical site recognized by UNESCO as a heritage site. She had wanted it to be the very last site she explored before leaving Ghana.


    "I am not ready to go there," she slowly spoke.


    "When will you be ready? I know your hesitation, but trust me, once you go there, some part of your soul is soothed," Greg said as he suddenly looked at the watch in his left hand.


    "Okay," Renny said.


    "Really? Are you willing to join them? Alright, I understand! Let me make the arrangements," Greg excitedly said as he ran towards his car. He didn''t want to let Renny change her mind midway; young people nowadays had mood swings, and one couldn''t comprehend their way of thinking! Greg thought as he drove off.


    Renny silently looked at the red car in the distance before going into the apartment.


    "Good evening, madam!" the gate man greeted with a smile.


    "Good evening, Joshua," Renny replied as she went inside. She observed that people in Ghana were always full of energy and happy, even though most things were out of their reach. She wondered why that was  and what made them joyous. She reached inside her bag and picked out her apartment keys, opening the door.


    She arranged the groceries, then headed towards the bathroom. She took a shower and then changed into her pajamas; she wasn''t going out anyway, so it made no difference what she put on.


    Preparing dinner only took 30 minutes. She ate in silence but couldn''t taste the food, so she left it and stored it in the fridge. She then headed towards the small cupboard, picked up a small bottle of antidepressants, and swallowed them. After that, she lay down on the soft sofa with her eyes closed.


    A woman''s picture was placed beside the TV. She was wearing a black gown typically worn by lawyers and smiled brightly.


    She had planned to rest her eyes a bit and then work on her assignment; unexpectedly, sleep took over her.


    Sirens could be heard in the distance. Renny looked at her hands, covered with blood, and at a woman in her hands.


    "It''s okay," the woman smiled as she spoke, a stream of blood escaping through her mouth.


    "Mom!" Renny softly called and then abruptly sat up from the sofa.


    She turned to her right and saw the picture beside the TV stand, then stood up and headed towards the window, standing there and silently looking outside. It was already dark, but she knew she couldn''t sleep at all.


    She decided to work on her assignment for the time being. At around 1:00 a.m., just after midnight, a call came in. Renny picked up after seeing the caller ID.


    "How are you doing, Renny? I am worried about you. It has already been one month. Are you really not planning to come back? There is already a provision at Michigan University if you decide to terminate your exchange student status," the woman on the other side of the phone said.


    "I am alright, Aunt Jackie. I also plan to finish my program here before I return," Renny said. The woman on the other end sighed with resignation.


    "You have always been stubborn. It''s been a year since the incident; you haven''t been yourself. I am worried. Hold on, it has to be midnight over there, right? You haven''t gone to bed? Are your symptoms growing stronger?" the woman asked worriedly.


    "I am fine. My mood has also improved ever since I arrived. I just got up for a glass of water when you called; no need to worry," Renny said.


    "Really?" the woman insisted.


    "Really," Renny replied.


    "Go to bed then, don''t stay up late. Let me cut the call. Have a good night," the woman said.


    "Have a good day," Renny said as the woman hung up. Renny looked at the phone silently before going to the bedroom and lying down. Although sleep didn''t come, she complied with her auntie''s request.

 Chapter 4: The seer

    In a distant neighborhood where the ordinary person in Accra, Ghana, can''t dream of staying, a large exquisite villa stood erect beside the seashore.


    Inside, a young man in a hoodie and shorts sat at the dining table, slowly sipping tea. If one paid attention, it could clearly be seen that he was the Prince, Asantehene III, Alu, who was present at Moon University.


    "Oheneba, there is a call for you," a man with a hunched back and a respectful bow said to Alu.


    Alu''s actions of sipping tea stopped, and he slowly sighed. He had his own cell phone, which he used for his personal matters. It could only be his family that called, as there was another strict line designated for non-personal matters. If his father wanted to call, he knew his number; him calling using that specific line only meant business.


    "Alright, lead the way," Alu said as he stood up, towering over the man.


    The two headed upstairs and turned east, where a huge door with a golf emblem stood. The man with the hunched back personally placed his palm on the emblem, and the door opened.


    He pushed it open and respectfully let Alu go through first, then followed before closing the door behind them.


    Inside the room, most things were adorned with pure gold. The pictures that hung inside held a deep reminiscence of the historical past, featuring previous kings, princes, and princesses.


    Alu headed to the chair in the center of the room; its handles were covered with gold, and so was the table before it.


    The call was already on and waiting for him. He sat down in the chair before answering.


    "Father," Alu unhurriedly called.


    "Alu, were you busy just now?" a gentle but powerful voice answered on the other end of the phone.


    "No, Father, you can tell me any matter bothering you; I am willing to take on your burden," Alu responded.


    The man laughed heartily on the other end of the call. One could tell he was happy hearing Alu''s words.


    "Your majesty is favored by the gods to be able to have such a son. You will live long and enjoy many blessings," Suddenly, another voice said from the other end of the phone.


    Alu''s facial expression cracked after hearing it. He was suddenly lost in thought.


    "Oh, forgive me, seer, I forgot to introduce you before. I am getting old, Alu. The seer is here with me," the king said.


    "Your majesty is just in his youth. No need to worry," the seer responded.


    Alu had yet to respond as he was still lost in thought. The man with the hunched back quickly walked towards where he was seated and signaled to him to respond, snapping him out of his thoughts.


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    "Oh! Right, Alu, remember the incident the seer talked about one year back? Have you seen anything out of the ordinary at Moon University?" the king inquired.


    "I remember, Father, nothing out of the ordinary. I have surveillance all around the university; if anything is to happen, I will be the very first to know," Alu replied.


    "That''s good. This matter has to be handled with great caution; it relates to the whole kingdom, Ghana, and even the whole of Africa. The seer has already given us a heads-up; what else do we need?" the King expressed.


    Alu reluctantly complied with his father. "I understand, Father. Please be at ease; I will handle everything," he said.


    "May the gods bless you and be with you, Oheneba. The going ahead will not be easy," the seer commented.


    Alu really didn''t believe in any of these supernatural talks; he was just complying to ease his father''s worries. Although by tradition, he had to follow all the kingdom''s norms and rituals, he didn''t believe them at all.


    "Thank you, elder, for your blessings," Alu replied.


    "Alright, Alu, I will call you later to talk further. We were still in a conversation," the King said.


    "Alright, Father, rest early," Alu said before bidding them goodnight and hanging up the phone.


    He immediately stood up and swiftly left the room; the man with a hunched back quickly followed behind him.


    "Oheneba, prepare. Tomorrow you are to meet the prime minister at 12 o''clock," the man said.


    Alu showed some impatience and irritation at the reminder, but his upbringing didn''t allow him to be rude, so he just waved at the man to show he understood before entering his room and shutting the door.


    He slowly massaged his brows and sat on a sofa beside his bed. Suddenly, a ringtone penetrated the air. Alu put his hand in his short pockets and picked out his phone. After seeing the caller ID, he proceeded to answer.


    "Your Majesty! In his glory, he has finally answered. How is Ghana? Now that you left the UK, you have forgotten us, your buddies," a string of nonstop words echoed through the phone. Alu distanced the phone from his ear and gently shook his head.


    "Shut up, Andrew. I told you not to call me ''majesty.'' My father is still alive. Do you want me shunned by the masses, saying I wish my father a short life to usurp the throne?" Alu explained as he stood up and headed to the water dispenser, pouring himself a cup of hot water.


    "You don''t seem to be in a good mood, my friend. Tsk, tsk," Andrew commented.


    "Just family issues," Alu stated as he sat back down, holding the cup of hot water in his left hand.


    "What family issues? You are the only son; the throne is automatically yours," Andrew remarked.


    "Is that the only family issue?" Alu absentmindedly said.


    "Wait, are they forcing you to marry? Man, let me finish my degree and visit Ghana. I can''t seem to find a girlfriend here in the UK; my wife might be in Ghana," Andrew lamented.


    "What marriage? Don''t think nonsense all day long. Also, you are a playboy; that''s why you don''t have a girlfriend. Aren''t you worried that if you get a Ghanaian wife, your Ghanaian in-laws won''t beat you to death with that character of yours?" Alu rolled his eyes as he said.


    "After getting myself an African queen, I promise not to cheat," Andrew promised, making Alu snort.


    "Man, are you really alright though?" Andrew inquired.


    "I am fine. There are many traditional secrets I can''t reveal, and even if I did, no one would believe what I say," Alu said as he sipped the water.


    "Hm, I might not understand, but give yourself a break. You are a good pal; I wouldn''t like to see you burdened," Andrew said. Alu was touched by his words before he heard Andrew''s other statement that woke him up from his good mood.


    "Besides, if you are stressed and burdened, who would take me around Ghana to find myself a wife when I come there?" Andrew added with a hint of laughter.


    "Buzz off, I am going to bed. Goodnight!" Alu said.


    "Hi, listen..." Andrew didn''t finish his words before Alu cut off the call and threw his phone to his right side on the sofa, shaking his head in annoyance. However, his mood, which had slightly fluctuated, improved.


    Alu then headed towards a side room in the same space, and a small office came into view. He sat in the office chair and looked to his left. A large number of files was piled up.


    He picked up the file on top and started going through it. Upon a closer look at the file, the name ''Renny Smith'' came into view.

 Chapter 5: I have some other questions.

    At Moon University, studies went on as usual. Ewe and Nandi had a presentation on this very day and, after completing it, they met up with Renny and Edi in the afternoon at the university''s rest grounds under a huge tree that provided shade from the bright sun.


    "Chedi!!!! If I catch him alone, I will peel him alive," Ewe huffed as she spoke.


    "What did he do this time?" Edi slightly smiled as he asked.


    "This is not the first time he has done this! He only asks questions when I am presenting to make it hard for me! It''s only when I am presenting!" Ewe said in frustration.


    "Maybe he didn''t understand?" Edi commented.


    "Don''t defend him!" Ewe shouted.


    "Isn''t that the guy who was asking questions?" Renny gently asked as she pointed her chin towards the eastern direction.


    Ewe turned her head and squinted her eyes in that direction. She immediately gritted her teeth, and her eyes turned sharp.


    A tall, handsome, dark-skinned boy wearing a plain white Ankara shirt, blue jeans, white sneakers, and a stylish black backpack with a clean cut could be seen from afar.


    He was surrounded by a short boy with a strong build and another tall, slim boy. They seemed to be deep in discussion.


    "He is really handsome," Nandi, who had also turned to look in that same direction at some time, sighed as she commented, turning her attention back to Ewe, who was now fuming with anger and attempting to stand up.


    "Haa, Ewe, sit down; no need for violence. We finished the presentation, didn''t we? Besides, we didn''t make any mistakes. I am sure our scores are just fine," Nandi awkwardly laughed and advised.


    Ewe sat down, but then her facial expression cracked. Nandi was puzzled and turned to look at Edi.


    "Chedi is heading towards us," Edi pointed out.


    Not far away, Chedi walked towards them; his steps were neither fast nor slow.


    "Hello," Chedi greeted them with a smile after approaching.


    "Hello," Edi returned a polite smile and replied.


    "My name is Chedi. I really enjoyed your presentation. I have some other questions. After seeing you seated here, I decided to come and exchange numbers," Chedi expressed his intentions straight away.


    "......." Ewe blankly looked at Chedi, but she was cursing him in her head. If you don''t understand, can''t you just go to the library and do some research? Am I your tutor? Go away! Stop being an eyesore here!


    This led to a string of laughter among Nandi and Edi. Edi tried to control his laughter, but it came out as a snort. Renny also cracked a smile.


    Chedi looked at them in confusion and puzzlement.


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    "Sorry, before you came, we were in the middle of telling funny jokes. Here, put your number in my phone first," Nandi commented.


    "Oh! I didn''t mean to interrupt," Chedi said as he put his number in Nandi''s phone, returning it to her after finishing. He then turned towards Ewe and looked at her, waiting for her to give him the phone.


    Ewe¡¯s lips twitched as she attempted to put on a smile. Nandi had already given Chedi her number; she would seem like an ill-mannered individual if she didn''t give out her number, so she also gave him her phone.


    Chedi entered his number and called his phone, nodding in satisfaction after the call went through, then returned the phone to Ewe.


    "See you around," Chedi bid them goodbye with a polite smile as he left.


    "See your grandmother!" Ewe angrily mumbled.


    "Hm? Did you say something?" Chedi suddenly paused in his steps and turned back to look at Ewe then asked.


    Ewe shrank back in guilt. "Nothing," she softly said, then remembered that Chedi had made it hard for her in class by asking a thousand questions, and her anger resurfaced. Why was she feeling guilty? Chedi should be the one having that experience!


    "Oh, I thought I heard something," Chedi scratched his head and then left to catch up with his friends in the distance.


    Ewe huffed in anger and picked up her phone, immediately putting Chedi on the blacklist.


    "I said something! What will you do?" Ewe said.


    "Chedi is gone, and besides, I think he is cool and friendly," Nandi commented.


    "That''s because you don''t attend most classes with him! I do! When others are presenting, he rarely asks them questions, but when he sees me presenting, he asks and asks and asks! Hmph!" Ewe said.


    "Alright, I understand. How about we go jewelry and clothing shopping this Friday? We have been postponing for two weeks now," Nandi said, attempting to divert Ewe''s attention.


    This method seemed to work, as Ewe''s smile returned to her face and her eyes sparkled.


    "Renny, remember I asked you to come with us last time to experience Ghanaian shopping? You refused as you already had plans, so I kept pushing the shopping dates to accommodate you. How about you come with us this Friday?" Ewe asked with pleading eyes.


    Renny was amazed at how fast Ewe''s mood changed. She indeed had many things to do when she had first arrived, both in school and accommodation; she was therefore guilty of what Ewe accused her of.


    "Alright, I will go with you come Friday," Renny said, making Ewe smile in excitement.


    "Good! Edi, you are coming with us! We four friends shall experience the joy of shopping!" Ewe exclaimed with joy.


    "I have a match; I don''t think I can go with you guys," Edi groaned with frustration. He hated shopping. He had once gone with Nandi and Ewe, but they had rotated in circles for half a day before they could get what they liked.


    Whenever he went to the market or shop, he already knew what he wanted to buy, and he went and bought that item. It wasn''t the same with Nandi and Ewe, though; they touched this and that for the whole day. Football would be less time-consuming than shopping.


    "Don''t think I don''t know that you are always free on Friday! Freddi already told me the time for your matches. Prepare, be on time come Friday," Ewe snorted as she said, turning her attention back to Nandi and talking about what to buy.


    Edi cursed Freddi in his head. Freddi was his friend. They came from the same tribe and community, leading them to attend the same schools, so they got along well.


    His girlfriend was also Edi''s cousin, but his aunt didn''t know about the relationship, or Freddi would be skinned alive, so he tried every possible way to please Edi, which included his friend group.


    He was welcome to visit Edi''s home and vice versa. They kept up their brotherhood even at university.


    He had no excuse not to shop with Ewe and the rest now, Edi sighed as he thought.


    "Why are you sighing as though someone died? Who hates shopping in this world? It''s okay if you don''t come," Ewe snorted as she commented.


    "I was thinking about something else. I will be there on Friday. Plus, Renny is new to the Ghanaian way of shopping; I will go to guide her along the way," Edi smiled as he explained.


    "Alright, don''t force yourself if you have other plans or if you don''t want to go. I can handle things on my own, including shopping," Renny said, her voice neither high nor low.


    "If I didn''t really want to go, no one would force me to. I also want my own custom-made leather shoes," Edi said.


    The group had lectures in the afternoon, so they picked up their bags and went to their respective lecture rooms.

 Chapter 6: Which grandmother? The street was empty.

    Friday didn''t take long to come. The group of friends didn''t have classes from Friday to Sunday, so they were free to use their time in whichever way they pleased.


    As they had made plans to go shopping, they met up at a popular snack store at around 11 o''clock in the morning, ate some cake and macchiato, then used public transportation to head to a popular jewelry and clothing store with cheap prices, especially for students.


    There was a traffic jam on the way, causing Nandi to sigh in frustration.


    "Accra jam is the worst," Nandi commented.


    "Right, prices are normally cheaper in the morning hours. The more we delay, the higher the prices," Ewe commented.


    Ewe looked at them in confusion and interest. Although the shops hiked the prices due to her accent, she didn''t know about this rule.


    "Morning customers are the very first customers of the day, so the prices are always cheaper. Same as evening customers; it''s a common practice among store owners here," Edi explained.


    "Oh," Renny nodded in understanding. Jam let go, and the bus proceeded with its journey. After 20 minutes, they arrived at their destination.


    Renny was dazzled by the large crowd and the sounds of store owners calling customers to come and buy. People were going through one path and coming out of another.


    "Madam, bread," a rough male voice pulled Renny''s mind out of her absentmindedness. It was close to her ear, so she pulled her head slightly back.


    "We are not buying," Edi said to the man.


    "Follow me, Renny. Ignore everyone that calls you to buy. Ewe and Nandi know where the female jewelry and cloth stores are located. No need to worry; it''s okay to look around if you see anything that interests you," Edi elaborated. Renny nodded in understanding.


    "Okay! Queen of Bargaining, here I come!" Ewe cheered as she charged in. Nandi nodded in amusement. Renny also smiled; she knew about bargaining; prices depended on your tone in Ghana.


    The group entered the marketplace and turned west; a row of jewelry stores lined up before them.


    "I am going to customize my leather shoes, Ewe. You know Eba''s shoe store? After you are done shopping, come and find me," Edi suddenly said. He really didn''t want to walk around in circles with the girls again; he had learned his lesson.


    Ewe saw through his intentions but chose to ignore him. Anyway, he had come with them; that''s all that mattered.


    "Alright," Ewe replied.


    Edi nodded and headed east. Nandi chuckled at his hurried departure. "You traumatized him last time," Nandi said to Ewe. Ewe pretended not to understand as they headed to a bangle and earring store.


    "Sir, is this real gold? We don''t need fake," Ewe asked the store attendant.


    Renny was surprised; authentic gold must be expensive. Could the jewelry be real? She doubted it; she just wanted to follow the girls around; she had no interest in jewelry.


    "Madam, Ghana is known as the Gold Coast. Of course, the gold is real; my family''s great-grandfather had relations with Mansa Musa! Rest assured, we sell first-class," the store attendant said with a smooth tongue, but Ewe just snorted.


    "Don''t you know that Mansa Musa was from the Mali Empire? How is he now connected to your great-grandfather?" Ewe questioned.


    The man was shocked that someone knew the history of Mansa Musa. He normally lied to others and waited for them to ask who Mansa Musa was before diving deep into his identity. In the end, they would be convinced and immediately buy.


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    "Haa, my great-grandfather met with him on his tour to Mali back in the day," the attendant hurriedly answered.


    "Mansa Musa is older than your great-grandfather. Find another lie to convince your customers. Also, so what if they met? He couldn''t have possibly stored the gold from back then up to now," Ewe said as she looked at the shop attendant.


    "The gold is real, just check and see," the store attendant said with impatience, but his voice was now lower than before.


    Ewe turned away from him and started checking the bangles and necklaces.


    She put on one necklace that she had stretched and checked.


    "It looks good on you," Renny genuinely commented.


    Nandi and Ewe both turned and looked at her blankly.


    "What?" Renny asked doubtfully. The necklace really looked good against Ewe''s skin; her judgment wasn''t wrong.


    "Of course, gold looks good on every daughter and son of the African soil. The sun loves us, and so does gold," Ewe smiled as she said, picking up another necklace and placing it against Renny''s neck as though to back up her claim.


    "See?" Ewe said as she forcibly turned Renny to face the mirror.


    "Ewe is right; gold makes the skin stand out. I have never seen a Ghanaian look bad in gold," Nandi smiled as she said, proceeding to select a few necklaces.


    In the end, Renny bought two gold necklaces and a bracelet.


    "You really don''t like shopping, just like Edi. Let''s go to the next store," Nandi commented.


    The next store was a clothing store, featuring Kente crop tops, skirts, Ankara shorts, and many other items.


    "I have never seen you in any Kente cloth. Come and buy at least a shirt," Ewe said, pulling Renny towards the shop.


    They ended up buying shirts, skirts, and dresses. They walked around and bought other items that they needed. As time went on, they ran out of energy.


    "My hands are killing me. Let''s go and find Edi. I am so tired; I need a break," Nandi commented. Renny was also tired from running around, but her mind was surprisingly stable and cool.


    The trio then went towards Eba''s shop, which specialized in making custom shoes. Edi spotted them in the distance and ran to help them carry their bags.


    The girls sat down on the nearby chairs and sighed in relief.


    Edi bought the water from a nearby shop and served each one of them.


    "Thank you, Edi," the girls said at once, making Edi chuckle.


    "Nothing much, I saw how tired you are," Edi said.


    "Still, thank you," Renny said as she opened the cap of the water bottle.


    "You''re welcome," Edi said.


    "They finished making my shoes; they have designs for ladies too. Don''t you guys want a pair?" Edi inquired.


    "Need!" Ewe said; it seemed her shopping spree hadn''t ended.


    The girls ended up getting two pairs each and picked out the designs they wanted, then sat back down.


    "My pocket is now empty. Friends, I will be depending on you now that I am a peasant," Ewe said in an aggrieved tone.


    "Ahh!" Suddenly, Nandi shouted as she ran outside the store. The rest didn''t have time to think and followed after her.


    An elderly woman with a head full of white afro hair had fallen down on the street. The group now had a clear picture; they headed straight towards her.


    "Grandmother? Are you okay? What happened? Why are you alone on this street?" Nandi slowly inquired, as people passed by them as though they didn''t care about the life and death of the elderly woman, making the group frustrated.


    "Omwiri is back. Don''t let him win again; remember my words," the elderly woman said, her voice strong and stable. She suddenly lifted her head, and the entire pupil and iris of her eyes were pure white like a cloud.


    The group was stunned for a second and lost their concentration. When they turned their focus back on the elderly woman, she was long gone.


    The group looked around in confusion and worry. "Where could she have gone? Her eyes seem to have a problem; she might be blind," Ewe commented.


    "There," Renny slowly said as she pointed into the distance.


    The group turned in that direction and saw a big white head of afro in the far distance.


    "That fast, maybe she knows her way, but her words were really not well connected; she might have a problem with her head," Edi said, shaking his head in pity.


    "These problems are prevalent in Ghana; mental health isn''t taken seriously. We can only hope that something changes," Nandi said, shaking her head in understanding. The group returned to the shop.


    "Why did you run in an empty street and start talking to yourselves? Are you making videos? Young people nowadays, you have ways to enjoy your time," Eba, the shop owner, said in amusement, while the other shop attendants laughed along with him.


    The group looked at him blankly. "You didn''t see the grandmother on the street? We just helped her; she had lost her way," Edi inquired and explained.


    "Which grandmother? The street was empty; I have clear eyesight," Eba said as he turned to supervise the final touches on the shoes.


    The group looked at each other in doubt.


    "Strange, who was that grandmother we just saw then?" Ewe rhetorically asked as the group fell silent in thought.


    Eba looked at them as they continued to pretend with their act and shook his head. Young people in this generation really had tricks up their sleeves, trying to trick people.

 Chapter 7: Travel Safely.

    After the unexplainable incident at the store, the group used Uber to go back to their respective places of residence.


    "Bye everyone! Can we meet tomorrow and go to the beach on the East side?" Ewe said as her Uber arrived to pick her up.


    "I can''t make it tomorrow; I already have plans," Edi said as he typed away on his phone using his right hand while holding his shopping bag in his left.


    Ewe looked at Nandi to gauge her opinion. "I really wanted to go, but my younger sister is sick. I will be traveling to have a look. Let''s make it next time," Nandi replied.


    "How about you, Renny?" Ewe inquired.


    "I also can''t; I have prior plans," Renny noted.


    "Alright then, I guess I will have to sleep the whole day tomorrow. Going to the beach alone isn''t fun. Bye!" Ewe said to them as she ran towards the Uber that had now parked on the side of the road.


    "Bye," the trio replied.


    A few minutes passed, and their Ubers arrived. They each boarded and headed to their homes.


    In the car, Renny slowly closed her eyes, and the image of the elderly woman appeared in her mind. The whole thing was really bizarre: the woman''s eyes, firm voice, and her appearance at large.


    Her gaze was so firm, contradicting the assumption of being blind. Renny slowly sighed as she looked outside the car window. She decided to put the matter behind her since she didn''t have a proper explanation for the event; it was better to ignore the entire incident.


    Reaching her apartment, Renny got off the Uber and headed towards the gate. Joshua, the gateman, opened the door for her. She greeted and thanked him, then headed to her unit.


    Hardly had she reached inside when she heard a knock at her door. She immediately went to open it.


    It was Mr. Greg, her landlord.


    "I heard you enter your room, so I immediately came to inform you. The family I told you about will start the trip to Elmina Castle early in the morning, so be ready. I won''t go along but will take you to meet them," Greg said.


    "Okay. Thank you, Mr. Greg," Renny politely replied.


    "No big deal, just be ready by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow; I will drop you off," Greg reminded her as he went downstairs.


    Renny saw him off, then went back inside and closed the door behind her. She made some coffee, drank it, and then took a shower.


    She would have liked to rest due to all the movement she had, but unfortunately, she had insomnia, and even if she got some sleep, she would be haunted by nightmares in her dreams. So, she headed toward her small makeshift desk and chair, sat down, opened her laptop, and began to work on her assignment.


    When it was almost midnight, Renny decided to go to bed. Although sleep might not come, at least she would just lie down and rest.


    Unexpectedly, sleep took over her. She had set the alarm clock for 6 o''clock in the morning in order to prepare for the journey.


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    At exactly the set time, she was awakened by the alarm. She woke up in a daze, took a shower, and packed her bag.


    She boiled some milk, picked two slices of toast, and ate her breakfast in silence. Afterwards, she washed the cup and properly arranged it with the other utensils. Everything in her unit was meticulously arranged, and nothing was out of order.


    She then went to the cupboard beside her wardrobe and picked up an exquisite wooden Urn, placing it in her travel bag. Shortly after, a sound of a knock was heard on her door.


    "We promised to come together for this; let''s go," Renny softly spoke.


    "Renny? Are you up?" a loud male voice called out; it was Greg.


    Renny silently opened her door and closed it quietly, then turned towards Greg.


    "Good morning. Are you really ready for the journey?" Greg inquired.


    "Good morning, Mr. Greg. I am ready," Renny affirmatively said.


    "Alright, let''s set off," Greg smiled and said as he shook his car keys, heading downstairs. Renny silently followed behind him.


    Greg''s car came into view. The two sat in the car, and Greg drove off. Renny didn''t really like to speak a lot, and Greg noticed that, so he refrained from starting a conversation.


    "So, the family you will be meeting is from Detroit, the Johnsons. They have a daughter aged 21 called Amika Johnson and a son aged 25, Danty Johnson. This is their very first time visiting Africa¡ªI mean Ghana, the country. I told them about you already, and that made them relax a little bit," Greg couldn''t help but fill Renny in on the situation as he was driving. Renny also attentively listened to his statements.


    "So, I will be acting as a tour guide?" Renny asked.


    "Not really, there is a local going along with you guys, but you are an American who spent a month in Ghana and knows some local customs, shares the same culture as them; it won''t be a loss on their part. Besides, you are in the same age group as their children,  they were also excited to make friends with you," Greg elaborated.


    "Oh," Renny replied. She had never had friends her age back in America; both in school and outside, it didn''t help that she was an introvert.


    Most of them were so fake it was laughable. Immediately when they knew who her mother was, all of a sudden they wanted to be friends, which wasn''t always the case in the beginning.


    Renny silently thought as she looked outside the car window. As it was very early in the morning, there was less traffic on the way, so they quickly arrived at their destination.


    The two quickly arrived at their destination. A van was parked in front of a luxury hotel, and a medium-height girl with brown braids neatly tied behind her head, wearing simple brown office pants, a plain white shirt, sneakers, and glasses placed in front of her shirt, came out of the hotel.


    Renny saw that she impatiently turned around and said something, then a tall man with a fade and waves followed behind her. He seemed to be talking to someone on the phone. The two then walked towards the van.


    In the distance, Greg met with the girl, and the two talked for a minute. Then the girl turned towards the parked car where Renny was seated. She decided to move out and head in their direction.


    "Oh, so you are Renny? My name is Amika; this is my brother Danty," Amika said as she pointed behind her at the man with a fade, who was still talking on his phone. The man nodded at her with a simple smile and then continued his conversation with the person on the other end.


    "Nice to meet you," Amika added as she extended her hand for a handshake. Renny hesitated a bit to shake her hand but then complied; although she didn''t know the other very well, it didn''t seem like she was a bad person.


    "Nice to meet you too," Renny softly replied.


    "It seems we will have to go without Mom and Dad," Danty suddenly said after ending his call.


    "What! Why?" Amika exclaimed and questioned.


    "They met with some acquaintances who were also going to Elimina and went with them. They told us to go; we will find them ahead," Danty said.


    "So we were basically ditched for their acquaintances?" Amika laughed in bewilderment.


    "Let''s go; it''s good to keep time," Danty said. They then headed towards the van.


    "Alright, you have my phone. If any disturbance happens, call me," Greg said to the three girls and boy.


    "Alright, thank you, Mr. Greg, for being helpful," Danty said as he entered the van after Renny and Amika.


    "Mr. Jacob, please travel safely," Greg said to the driver.


    "No problem, Mr. Greg. You know I take my work seriously; rest assured," Jacob replied.


    "Alright," Greg said as he distanced himself from the van.


    Renny silently saw his figure through the side mirror of the van in the distance as they moved forward. She held her bag tightly in her arms and braced for the journey.

 Chapter 8: Elimina Castle.

    "This will be a long journey. I hope you have handled all the arrangements very well, Danty," Amika said as she picked up her bag and placed it on her lap, checking for something.


    "Everything is alright; you worry too much," Danty replied.


    "Well, I have to be worried. What if someone asks for our papers, or the police stops us, etc.? By the way, Renny, you have been in Ghana for more than a month, right? What are some dos and don''ts we should be aware of? Greg filled us in, but I would like to hear from you," Amika asked as she picked her phone from her bag and put the bag beside her.


    "Nothing much, just reply when people greet you. People here show elders respect, so don''t be rude to them," Renny said.


    "Ah... I am not saying that you are rude per se; it''s just a reminder," Renny hurriedly explained.


    "I understand. Thanks for the heads up," Amika smiled as she said.


    "Where do you stay, Renny? I mean in the US? We are from Detroit," Danty asked.


    "Michigan," Renny replied.


    "Oh," Danty said. The conversation seemed to have come to a stop.


    "Mr. Joshua, how long will the journey take?" Amika asked the driver.


    "Around 2 hours at most, madam," Joshua said as he focused on driving.


    "Alright, let me call Mum first. I wonder if they are halfway to the destination," Amika said as she dialed the phone number of her mother.


    "Hm? She isn''t picking up. What could be the problem?" Amika rhetorically thought out loud.


    "I already talked to Mum and Dad; they might be busy catching up with friends. She might not answer your call," Danty commented.


    "Hmph," Renny humphed in annoyance and disconnected her call, throwing her phone back in the bag. She then picked up an eye mask before attempting to put it on.


    "Oh, Renny, please forgive me. I didn''t get enough rest yesterday, so I am sleepy. I will catch up on some sleep during the journey," Amika politely explained.


    "No problem, go ahead," Renny encouraged. She wasn''t much of a talker and couldn''t easily communicate with new people. This would save her from being seen as rude if she replied with short sentences.


    "Thank you for understanding! Danty, wake me up when we arrive," Amika said, putting on her eye mask and leaning on the headrest.


    Renny turned and faced her left, getting a clear view of the setting sun outside the car. The morning dew on the tree leaves was slowly fading, and the mist was dispersing, a clear indication of a brand new day.


    "It''s very clear," Danty suddenly commented with a sigh.Renny turned to look at him and found him also viewing the scene outside, lost in thought


    She silently turned her face away, glanced outside one more time before resting her head on the headrest with closed eyes. She knew that she wouldn''t sleep, but she didn''t know how to communicate with her siblings; it was better to pretend to be asleep.


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    Hours later, the car reached its destination. Renny had unexpectedly dozed off a little, so Danty woke her up.


    "Let''s go and register," Amika said to Renny as she picked up her bag and moved out of the car. Renny then followed behind her.


    Outside the car, a huge white castle stood; one could see that it had withstood the passage of time. It held very deep secrets and history that could make one experience different feelings. Renny, Amika, and Danty silently looked at the castle and then walked towards the reception


    They followed other people whom Renny assumed were tourists. After finishing everything, a young man in his late twenties or early thirties walked towards the crowd.


    "Good morning, everybody. My name is Onema Guwe. We know that you are from different places around the world¡ªthose from the Caribbean, Liberia, the United States, Brazil, and Jamaica, to mention but a few. Welcome back! Before you is the Elimina Castle. Please ensure that you show respect as I lead the way. Don''t scratch, paint, etc.," the young man said, his voice smooth and kind. He proceeded to move forward. Other people present followed; those with pro cameras picked them up.


    Renny felt her heart beat increase and felt a shiver run through her body; she suddenly remained rooted in place.


    "Renny? Let''s go. I have been calling you, but your mind isn''t here. I know how you feel, but brace yourself. I just spotted my parents over there. Let''s go," Amika worriedly said.


    "I want to use the toilet. I will be back shortly," Renny said.


    "Okay, be quick. Let me go and notify the guide. Keep your tour pass close; don''t lose it," Amika commented before walking off towards her parents. Renny spotted them from afar and then turned left towards the restrooms.


    She hurriedly pushed the door, placed her bag gently on the sink, and held her chest in agony, heavily heaving. She released her chest, opened the tap, and poured water on her face but still couldn''t calm down. She checked in her down jacket and found her antidepressants, then quickly swallowed them with shaking hands.


    She didn''t know what suddenly happened to her, but she felt a burst of very dark, sinister energy when she attempted to follow the rest towards the castle.


    After some minutes, her breathing slowed down, and her gaze became focused, the sudden feeling as though she hadn''t experienced.


    She became puzzled and silently looked down at her antidepressant bottle. She didn''t remember them working this fast, Renny thought.


    She picked up her bag, placed the medicine bottle back in her jacket, and moved out. She didn''t want to be a burden to others if they had to wait for so long.


    "Renny Smith?" A lively woman''s voice called when she approached Amika, Danty, a middle-aged man and woman who still looked youthful. Renny assumed they were the siblings'' parents; she could connect the resemblance.


    "Yes, nice to meet you, Mrs. Johnson," Renny greeted.


    "Nice to meet you too. You are so beautiful; your necklace is so pretty too," Mrs. Johnson commented.


    Renny awkwardly stood in place; the sudden compliments stunned her speechless.


    "My mother is addicted to beautiful faces. Let''s go; your guide gave us a few minutes to meet with the rest," Danty chuckled as he said, smirking at Renny.


    Renny quickly lowered her head as she blushed, following behind the family of four.


    When they met up with the rest of the crowd, the tour guide began taking them around, showing them which quarters were used for what, the living conditions of the subjugated people, and they finally arrived at the rooftop. Cannons came into view, and the guide proceeded to explain their importance.


    "I will give each one of you some time to express your feelings. If anyone has questions, feel free to ask me; I will be in the corner," Onema said after finishing his explanation and headed to the eastern corner of the castle, sitting down and silently facing the sea.


    Suddenly, Renny had someone crying beside her. When she turned to her right, she saw that it was Amika.


    "My ancestors really had it rough. I feel pain and heartache for them. Why?" Amika commented, with red eyes and tears flowing, making the other people around sigh in heartache and pain. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson silently hugged her shoulders tightly in comfort.


    Renny didn''t know how to console people; heck, she didn''t know how to console her own grieving heart. She silently looked at the sea in the distance that bordered the castle.


    "You being here is all that matters. You didn''t let them down," Renny absentmindedly said in thought. No one could gauge what she was thinking.


    Amika''s crying stopped, and the family of four turned towards her and suddenly smiled. Yes, them being here was enough proof of perseverance; that''s all that mattered.

 Chapter 9: Pitch Black water.

    Time went by, and the time stipulated by Onema was almost up. Renny''s mind returned from her thoughts; Amika''s mood had returned to normal, and she was now engaging in a conversation with another tourist.


    Renny excused herself and walked towards Onema, who had finished giving an explanation to some people who had come to make inquiries.


    "Hello, do you have any questions about the Elmina Castle?" Onema asked.


    "No, I just have a request. I don''t know if it can be granted," Renny replied.


    "What is it? Tell me; if it''s within my means, I will fulfill it," Onema inquired.


    "Well, I would like to send off my mother by the sea,she was cremated. I don''t know if you can help me with that; it is what she wanted," Renny said.


    Onema hesitated and then silently looked at Renny. "I understand. Let me ask my supervisor. Please wait for some time until I finish sending off everybody," he said.


    "No problem, thank you. If it''s not possible, it''s alright too," Renny said.


    After sending off the tourists, Onema exchanged numbers with Renny and informed her to stay close by. After he talked to his supervisor, he would return and inform her about the outcome.


    Renny informed the Johnsons that she would be staying behind for something. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson insisted that they must return to Accra with her, so whatever time she spent in the town, they too would stay.


    Renny couldn''t convince them to go, so she just let it be. They went to a nearby restaurant that was near the castle.


    After making themselves comfortable, they ordered some snacks and juice.


    "We haven''t exchanged numbers, Renny. Here, add me to your contacts," Amika enthusiastically said as she passed Renny her phone.


    Renny had no reason to refuse, so she added Amika and the rest of the Johnsons to her contacts.


    "It''s just midday now, but it''s already so hot. Good thing there is an air conditioner in here," Amika complained ad she sipped her cold mangoe juice that had been delivered.


    "It''s not very hot, though; I think it''s just right," Mrs. Johnson said.


    "Mom, where are your friends whom you were with? I thought you would come with them," Danty inquired.


    "Well, they are acquiring their citizenship, so they couldn''t come with us. We had to separate halfway; also, they had already visited. I will introduce you guys to them later," Mrs. Johnson answered. Danty nodded his head in understanding.


    After some minutes, Renny''s phone rang; it was Onema. She quickly picked up the call.


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    "Hello, Madam Renny! You are really lucky! My supervisor had refused to budge, but a certain person said a word for you. You can send off your mother with peace of mind!" Onema said.


    "Oh, thank you, Onema. I will have to pay some money for certain arrangements; please help me arrange the payment method," Renny said.


    "Alright, please meet me at the castle entrance; I will escort you on your journey," Onema said.


    "Thank you, I will be there in a minute," Renny replied then disconnected the call.


    When she turned back towards the table to complete her drink, she was startled by the family of four; all their focus was on her.


    "We heard everything. The volume was loud. We would like to escort you, if you don''t mind," Mrs. Johnson requested. Renny couldn''t refuse; two people were better than one.


    They met up with Onema, who led them towards the southeast direction. After walking for some time, a beach came into view.


    "There is a boat over there. Let''s go," Onema said, pointing in the western corner. He led them there, and the rest followed behind him. In the distance, an expensive and new boat could be seen.


    "Whose boat? Tourists?" Mrs. Johnson inquired, pointing at it.


    "Ah! Oh! It''s not for tourists," Onema vaguely answered; it was clear that he didn''t want to reveal anything about the owner of the boat.


    The group didn''t push it further; they boarded the boat and sailed off. After about one kilometer, the boat came to a stop.


    "I think this will do?" Onema stated.


    "Yes, thank you, Onema," Renny replied.


    "No problem, please go on," Onema said before going in another direction.


    Renny picked out the urn from her bag and gently held it in her hands. She silently looked towards the sea and gently stroked the urn.


    The Johnsons were standing not far away; they didn''t dare speak. Renny opened the urn and slowly poured out the ash; she hadn''t registered that her eyes had begun to tear up at this moment.


    After finishing the entire process, she turned to put the urn back in her bag but found that her shoulders were gently held by Amika and Mrs. Johnson in comfort.


    "I am alright; it''s been a year," Renny said, but her voice trembled and came out hoarse.


    Dante silently offered her a clean handkerchief. Renny then registered the tears on her cheeks at this time, so she thanked Dante and quickly wiped away her tears.


    She tried to smile at the five people watching her, but it didn''t reach her eyes.


    "Let''s go back, Onema. I don''t want you to get in trouble because of me," Renny said.


    "No problem. You can spend more time here if you want; permission extends for about two hours," Onema explained.


    Renny nodded in understanding and lay down on the boat, looking up at the sky as she tried to stop tears from clouding her eyes.


    "Oh, it''s that boat you saw, Mom. Look," Amika suddenly pointed out.


    Renny turned to her left and saw the boat too; however, what caught her attention was that the water beneath the boat was totally pitch black. She was suddenly startled and sat up straight, looking down at the water under their boat, but she found that it was normal.


    She wiped her eyes with the handkerchief and once again turned in the direction of the boat, but this time, the water was clear.


    She was puzzled but relieved; she assumed that crying and grief had made her have some illusions, it was better to have some proper rest.


    "Let''s leave the sea; it''s better if we go back early. It''s not good to travel at night," Renny warned.


    "Renny is right, but while we are at it, let''s take pictures together for memories," Amika suddenly said and immediately got her camera from her bag.


    They posed for some pictures and also faced the boat in the distance. Amika said it was to make it not seem that they were alone at sea. Renny''s mood suddenly improved a little due to the lively atmosphere as the boat sailed back to land.


    The journey to Elimina Castle had finally come to an end. The journey back was, however, different. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson insisted on buying local goods for keepsakes; they inquired from Renny what to buy, and she could give them suggestions here and there.


    When they reached their hotel, Amika hugged Renny and saw her off. She promised to send her the pictures taken, then told Joshua to drop her off at her apartment.


    Renny had no complaints; she bid the family of four goodbye, and the car set off.

 Chapter 10: The Trip.

    After Renny''s visit to Elimina Castle, her mood was stable, and she seemed to be more refreshed and at peace than she usually was.


    School continued to go on as usual. Unknowingly, a month had passed by.


    Today, the four friends were seated in their spot under the tree shade, cooling off with some cold drinks.


    "Ewe, are you going for the trip too?" Nandi suddenly asked.


    "What trip?" Ewe asked in confusion. Renny and Edi also turned to look at her in the same state.


    "You remember Chedi? He added me to the school history forum. There was an expedition that was offered to our university to explore the Sahara Desert. Spots are open to any history major who is interested," Nandi explained before sipping her cola.


    "Of course I know Chedi; I put him on the blacklist," Ewe grumbled as she picked up her phone, removing Chedi from the blacklist.


    Nandi snorted at her response and turned to face Renny and Edi.


    "So what do you say? We are not archaeologists, but as historians, we might find something like the Great Wall of Benin that was discovered; it can add to more African historical data," Nandi expressed.


    "When is the trip?" Edi inquired.


    "Next week," Nandi replied.


    "Next week! And you are just telling us now?" Ewe exclaimed.


    "So, are you guys interested?" Nandi inquired.


    "I am in!" Ewe said through gritted teeth. She was short of funds, but trips were better than staying on campus; she couldn''t afford not to go.


    "Me too," Edi answered.


    "I will also tag along," Renny said.


    "Alright, let me send Chedi our details," Nandi said as she started texting away on her phone.


    The matter passed just like that. After their details had been confirmed, the list of names of those who were going was sent on the official school forum on Thursday morning.


    Nandi, Renny, and Ewe made a hair appointment to get braids to be ready for the journey; it was bound to be dusty so afro hair was a no-go in those conditions.


    The group of four then went to shop for turbans and clothes that could withstand harsh desert conditions.


    When the following week arrived, they were all set and ready for the trip. A meeting was held to brief students who were going to travel in the school auditorium, so they followed other students there and took their seats.


    Other students were also seated with their friends and discussing the upcoming trip with excitement. Murmurs and whispers could be heard all around.


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    A middle-aged professor in a plain white shirt and suit pants walked in holding a small file. Suddenly, all murmurs quieted down in an instant.


    Nandi sucked in her breath, making Renny turn in her direction with an inquiring look.


    Nandi immediately picked up her phone and typed away. Renny received her message and understood her reaction.


    That was the vice chairman of Moon University, a top researcher in Ghana, Professor Obeda Tundi!


    The silence was almost deafening. Suddenly, another person walked through the door: a tall, muscular, extremely handsome young man.


    He was wearing a white woolen sweater and simple black pants, but due to his physique, he looked like a real-life sand sculpture, delicately modeled to perfection. He headed directly to the front row and sat down, not before greeting the excited students beside him.


    Suddenly, murmurs and whispers couldn''t be silenced. That''s because that was Alu Asantehene III!


    "I can tell you are super excited; we old people can''t compare to the young," Mr.Tundi jockingly said in self-pity, igniting laughter from the students.


    "Alright, let the briefing begin. So from Ghana to the Sahara, over 22 km are covered by buses. We shall take the...." Professor Tundi started laying out the structure of the trip.


    "Alright, let''s welcome Oheneba to say a word; he helped with some, if not most, of the funds for this trip," Mr. Tindi said after finishing his speech.


    Alu stood up and headed to the podium. He stretched out his right hand and shook Professor Tundi''s hand, then bowed with respect, which startled the middle-aged man. He quickly attempted to straighten Alu, but Alu had already stood tall and turned to address the crowd.


    "Professor Tundi is one of the finest products of Ghana; his words and input can''t be compared to those of the youth," Alu spoke, his voice strong but not rough.


    "Professor, please have a seat," Alu said, making Mr. Tundi smile helplessly like an elder facing a well-behaved child, and he sat down in the seat opposite him.


    "I don''t have much to add; my elder has said everything. All I request is that we all be on our best behavior and don''t wander far away from the rest when we arrive. I wish for us to get along well," Alu said.


    A loud applause echoed throughout the auditorium at his words. Some girls let it slip that he was handsome amid the claps, making Alu shake his head helplessly.


    He headed back to his seat, and the briefing came to an end. Professor Tundi immediately headed in his direction and began talking to him politely; they then headed out.


    No one could dare move out before them! Who had the guts to offend the two?


    "Prince Alu is so handsome! I wonder who will be his future wife. Even if I become the third wife, I don''t mind!" Some girl screamed as she passed by Renny and her friends.


    "Girl, wake up! That is the prince," the girl''s friend remarked as they exited the room.


    "Well, what can I say? I don''t mind if I become the fourth wife," Ewe dreamily said.


    "Really?" Nandi jokingly teased.


    "Really!" Ewe emphasized.


    "I will get going; I really want to have enough rest before the journey since I can''t sleep on the bus," Edi said as he stood up.


    The girls followed behind him and went to their different places of residence.


    In Professor Tundi''s office, Alu held a cup of coffee and slowly sipped it.


    "Oheneba, thank you for the opportunity. If it wasn''t for you, our university wouldn''t have gotten a spot," Mr. Tundi enthusiastically said.


    "It''s not a big deal; I just thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Why not seize it?" Alu politely replied.


    "You''re right. Please let me know if you need anything," Mr. Tundi said.


    "No need to burden yourself. I already made some arrangements."


    "I will tell my father about the idea you told me earlier," Alu said, making Professor Tundi smile brightly in gratitude.


    "Thank you, Oheneba; this old man is really thankful," Professor Tundi said.


    "No need for polite words between us, Uncle. By the way, what is the progress on what I asked you?" Alu asked as he placed his cup of coffee down.


    "Well, there is really nothing strange around this university. Are you sure your speculations are true?" Tundi answered.


    "They are not my speculations; it''s the seer. I have to put Father''s heart to rest," Alu said with a sigh.


    "I understand. Anything to help the king. I will dedicate myself to your assignment, Oheneba," Tundi replied.


    "Don''t stress yourself too much; the kingdom still needs you, and so does Ghana," Alu said as he picked up his cup of coffee again and took a sip in thought.

 Chapter 11: Dont feel burdened.

    On the day of the journey, a group of students, professors, and staff gathered at the university entrance. Five large buses were patiently stationed in front of them.


    A certain boy outside the history department was acting as a moderator as he called out the names of people who would be traveling. If your name was mentioned, then you would head to a designated bus.


    "It''s a pity that Prince Alu won''t be touring with us by bus; I heard he is taking a private jet," Ewe commented to Nandi, Edi, and Renny as they waited for their names to be called.


    "Well, he has to be surrounded by security wherever he goes; it wouldn''t make sense for him to go with us," Edi noted.


    "You are right, but still," Ewe replied with some regret.


    "I wonder how the prince will react knowing he has such fun people like you," Nandi laughed as she commented.


    Their conversation was suddenly interrupted when their names were called out by the moderator.


    "The four of you can head to bus number five," the boy acting as the moderator said.


    "Yay! It''s great we won''t be separated," Ewe jubilantly celebrated as the friend group headed to the designated bus.


    After taking their seats, they waited for about 20 minutes for the staff outside to finish their respective roles of cross-checking the functionality of the buses, whether all that needed to be taken on the trip was put in the buses, etc., before the buses started moving forward.


    "We shall spend days on this journey. It seems there are also security guards following behind us; this can put my heart to rest. I did some research, and some parts we will be passing through are not safe," Nandi said as she unscrewed her water bottle.


    Edi was about to comment when a tall, handsome boy headed their way.


    "Chedi?" Nandi suddenly stopped her actions of drinking water and called out in surprise.


    "Hello, can I take this seat in front of you guys?" Chedi requested. The four friends were seated opposite each other on two-seater seats; Renny and Ewe on the right and Nandi and Edi on the left. The front seats were empty.


    "No problem," Edi said. It''s not like they owned the bus; people were allowed to sit wherever they pleased, Edi thought. Chedi politely smiled and sat down.


    After making himself comfortable, Chedi turned around to face the group.


    "It''s great that you agreed to come. History students like us should have a spirit of inquiry about the past of the continent," Chedi said to them.


    "You are right, thank you for telling us about the trip," Nandi politely replied.


    "No problem. I was always intrigued by the Sahara. Through my research, I discovered that it has changed through different stages. Some say it was once underwater, while others say it was once a vibrant land with lush vegetation. This leads me to think that some people lived there," Chedi commented.


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    The group silently reflected on his words.


    "Or it''s just a desert; rumors aren''t always true," Chedi laughed as he added when he saw their faces lost in thought.


    Ewe had forgotten about the past inconveniences Chedi caused her. She discovered that he was always thirsty for knowledge, researched hard, and always wanted to get to the cause and effect of events, especially those of the past.


    Chedi continued to give them a decent background of the countries they would pass through to reach the Sahara. Four hours eventually passed in that atmosphere.


    "Hm? It seems we will have to stop here and refresh," Chedi noted. The rest looked outside the bus window and saw other students moving out of the buses one by one and heading to a certain restaurant.


    In front of the bus, just beside the driver, a muscular man wearing a cap stood up and commanded, "Alright, everybody, this will be our first stop. Those who want to use the toilet, buy some snacks, and take a breath of fresh air can go. Please note that the next stop will be after another four hours."


    Students who didn''t want to go out eventually conceded. No one would love to sit for eight hours straight without stretching and moving around.


    The group of four, plus Chedi, also stood up and followed the rest outside.


    "The air outside is refreshing," Ewe said with closed eyes and a sigh of contentment once they were outside the bus.


    "What would you guys like to eat?" Chedi inquired as he looked at the four.


    "No need; I came with snacks," Edi said.


    "Me too, thank you for asking," Nandi added.


    "I also have my own," Renny replied.


    "Chips and ice cream," Ewe absentmindedly said with closed eyes, then immediately registered the implication of Chedi''s words. She didn''t want him to buy snacks for her; that was just her inner thoughts that came out loud.


    She immediately opened her eyes at the speed of light to express her thoughts to Chedi, but Chedi was faster; he had already disappeared into a nearby restaurant.


    "Wait, I..." Ewe''s words came to an abrupt end as she was unable to catch up with Chedi.


    Nandi laughed at her misery. "You love eating so much," she commented.


    "Those were just my inner thoughts; I didn''t mean for Chedi to buy me things," Ewe helplessly said.


    Ewe, Nandi, and Renny headed to the women''s restrooms, while Edi headed towards the men''s restrooms.


    When the girls were done with their business, they headed towards the bus and entered. Some students had also returned and were seated in their respective seats.


    Edi and Chedi had long arrived. Chedi was holding a big, bulging takeaway bag.


    When they took their seats, Chedi called out to Ewe. "I brought chocolate and berry ice cream; pick the one to your taste. Also, these chips have different brands; see the one you like," he said as he handed the bag to Ewe, who received it in embarrassment.


    "Thank you. How much was everything? I will pay you," Ewe quietly inquired.


    "No need for payment; we are all classmates. You can just help me with advice at school when I want it concerning my research," Chedi said.


    Ewe remembered how Chedi would ask millions of questions and felt a headache.


    After calculating the pros and cons of helping out Chedi at school, Ewe decided that paying him was a better option.


    "Haaa, thank you, but I think paying you is the right thing to do," Ewe laughed and said with pleading eyes towards Chedi, who just smiled. His teeth were white and contrasted well against his skin; he was handsome.


    "No need. Don''t feel burdened. What is money among common students like us?" Chedi replied.


    "Haaa," Ewe laughed in frustration. ''But I am burdened! It''s better to pay you! I can''t stand your questions!''Ewe internally thought as she turned to her right to ask for Nandi and Edi''s help. The two immediately pretended to be dead and started playing with their phones.


    ''Don''t think I didn''t see you earlier looking in my direction! Hmph!'' Ewe internally thought. She then turned towards Renny, who was always rational and well-balanced; she would surely understand her frustration and chime in!


    "It seems there are four bags of chips. If you can''t finish them, I will help you," Renny suddenly said with a straight face as she looked at Ewe''s expectant eyes. Besides her, Nandi and Edi erupted in chuckles.


    Ewe''s eyes immediately dimmed in disappointment. What kind of friends had she made? Was anyone among them normal?

 Chapter 12: Joanna?

    Days went by, and this time, the travelers had reached Chad, and the students were now resting in a hotel. The staff had already been informed, and preparations were made for them in advance.


    Some students were sitting around the hotel restaurant, having some evening snacks.


    "We are soon reaching the Sahara; the weather is also slightly harsher in Chad," Chedi said as he sipped on hot tea. He was among the few students scattered around the restaurant.


    He was seated beside Edi, Renny, Ewe, Nandi, and the now-temporary roommate of Ewe, Joanna, a shy, quiet girl with big eyes who was seated parallel to them.


    "But you are suffocating yourself with hot tea in this hot weather," Edi commented.


    "You are supposed to take hot drinks when it''s hot; your body cools down on its own that way. My mother is a biologist; she gave me a lecture before traveling," Chedi smiled as he said, continuing to sip his tea.


    "If I am not wrong, we will arrive tomorrow," Nandi commented as she looked down at her phone.


    When they finished drinking and eating, they all went to their respective rooms, took a bath, and prepared themselves to rest.


    "It seems Ewe and her roommate are getting along well," Nandi commented. She had just finished taking a shower and was now applying lotion. Renny had already showered, put on her pajamas, and was now sitting on the bed quietly looking outside the window.


    The two were roommates, and Ewe was assigned to room with Joana. "Hm, she seems nice," Renny commented.


    "That''s good. Ewe is always bright and bubbly. I hope she stays that way, although her home situation..." Nandi trailed off and sighed as she put on her nightgown and headed to her bed.


    Renny didn''t like poking her nose into other people''s business, so she refrained from inquiring. She had also not involved them in her situation.


    "Goodnight," Renny said to her.


    "Goodnight," Nandi replied as they both went to bed. Renny lay flat on the bed and looked up at the ceiling; she knew she wouldn''t sleep as usual. Although her depression had reduced a lot, she still took her antidepressants, but her insomnia stayed the same.


    Contrary to her thoughts, she fell asleep around midnight.


    There was a persistent knock at the door. Renny turned her head and saw that the door handle was being forcefully turned from outside. Her eyes were drawn to the floor where water was entering from outside.


    "Renny? Can you hear me? It''s me, Joana," the person from the other side of the door said. Renny turned to her left and saw that Nandi was still asleep, so she sat up and moved out of bed slowly in order not to wake her up.


    She knew Joanna; they had evening snacks together,she was also Ewe''s current roommate, and if she was here, maybe something had happened? She was also confused about the water coming from the outside; it didn''t seem to have rained today.


    She headed to the door and turned the handle. A drenched Joanna came into view.


    "Thank you," Joanna said as she entered the room, her teeth chattering from the cold.


    Renny politely nodded as she looked down at the pool of water that Joanna had left behind. She peeped to her left and right, but the corridors were completely empty. She wondered where Joanna had gotten herself wet from; it didn''t rain, that was for sure.


    She then went to the wardrobe and picked out a towel to give her. When she came back, she saw Joanna had opened the window and was now sitting on the window sill.


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    The restaurant was slightly upscale; although it was not  high-class, it was still a flat. Falling from the window on the 6th floor could lead to death or serious injuries.


    "What are you doing? Come down from the window it''s dangerous," Renny said in a flat tone, but her heart had already skipped a beat, and she was alarmed.


    Joanna giggled, then turned to face Renny. Renny''s face paled because the Joanna from before couldn''t be the one she was seeing right now.


    Joanna had very big eyes; now, they were completely pitch black, both the pupils and irises. Looking at her hands, they had shrunk and were almost skeletal. Renny sensed that something was wrong, so she went to wake up Nandi.


    She shook her, but Nandi was oblivious to every action outside her sleep.


    "Stop, it''s not possible for her to wake up; after all, this is not the physical world," Joanna said as she started humming a song that Renny had never heard of.


    Renny stopped and looked at Joanna in confusion, but then she ignored her once again and headed to the bedside table, picking up her phone to notify Edi, Ewe, and Chedi.


    "You are really too stubborn," Joanna sighed as she spoke.


    "What would you do if you got to know your mother''s killer?" Joanna inquired.


    Renny suddenly stopped what she was doing and became alert. "Who told you about my mother? Did you investigate me? Forget about it; I don''t care about how you got to know. I will ignore all that; just get out of here and take the towel with you," Renny said with suppressed anger.


    "You really loved her; after all, your father died early," Joanna said as she continued to hum the unknown tune.


    Renny was shocked, as she had very limited information about her father. All she knew was that he was a government agent.


    "Who are you exactly? What do you want?" Renny angrily inquired as she held her phone tightly in her left hand.


    Suddenly, Joanna stood up from the window and grinned at Renny.


    "What do I want?" Joanna quietly mumbled, echoing Renny''s question.


    "I want confirmation. I now have it. You will not win; you have a thorn in your heart. What are those two thinking? Things like you can''t stop me! Haaaaaa," Joanna shouted in a hoarse voice before dropping from the window.


    Renny''s heart immediately stopped as she ran towards the window and looked down. Joanna had fallen to her death; her head burst open, and blood splattered on the floor, her legs twisted at an uncomfortable angle.


    She immediately covered her mouth in nausea as she sat down on the floor, quickly trying to call Edi in fear. Nandi was obviously still in deep sleep.


    "Renny! Renny! Wake up! What''s wrong with her? Should we call the professor?" a voice suddenly said.


    Renny immediately opened her eyes. Her entire pajamas were covered in sweat, and her eyes were blood red. When she turned around, she saw Edi, Chedi, and Ewe surrounding her bed. Her still-beating heart went to rest, but the deep fear was still within.


    "Call the police! Where is my phone?" Renny said and inquired, quickly standing up from the bed and searching the bedside table, picking up her phone to make a call.


    "Wait, Renny, first tell us what''s wrong? Why call the police?" Edi inquired as he walked towards Renny.


    "You were sleeping so soundly, Nandi. I tried waking you up, all in vain. It''s..." Suddenly, Renny''s words came to an abrupt stop as she saw someone come from the bathroom with a small basin and towels soaked in it.


    "I bought the towels," Joanna softly said as she walked towards the group. Renny was stunned, as though she had seen a ghost.


    "Joanna?" Renny exclaimed in surprise.


    Joanna sweated in embarrassment and shyly nodded her head. "When Ewe was called, I thought it was something serious, so I decided to tag along," she shyly explained.


    "What''s wrong, Renny? What were you trying to say before? I am the one who tried waking you up when you were shaking before. How could you wake me up?" Nandi inquired.


    Renny walked back to her bed and quietly sat down, gathering her thoughts.


    The rest gave her time to think as they looked among themselves in confusion. Joanna excused herself and left.


    "It''s fine since you are okay. You may have had a nightmare. We are going to travel early in the morning, so rest well. We shall talk tomorrow," Edi wisely suggested. He saw that Renny was so out of it; he had noticed how she twitched on the bed earlier when they arrived. It was better to let her cool off and not stress her with questions.


    "Edi is right," Chedi yawned as he spoke, attracting a glare from Ewe.


    "Take care of her, Nandi. Ewe, you too, go to sleep," Edi said as he patted Nandi''s arm in comfort.


    "I will stay too," Ewe resolutely said.


    "No need. Go and rest. I am fine, really. As Edi said, I just had a nightmare," Renny said as she forced a smile towards Ewe.


    "Alright," Ewe said as she followed Edi and Chedi outside.


    Renny ended up lying on the bed but couldn''t sleep. She thought about  the Joanna in her dreams, she  knew too much and said some things she couldn''t understand and others she didn''t know herself. She was an atheist, however this strange encounter had left her doubting her views. Nandi also lay down on the bed opposite hers, but she fell asleep shortly afterward.

 Chapter 13: Funeral song.

    Early the next morning, students and staff had breakfast and then resumed their journey.


    "Renny, are you fine now?" Ewe worriedly inquired as she sat opposite Renny in the two-seater chair.


    "I am alright," Renny replied.


    "That''s good. By the way, I wanted to ask you how you got to know the song you hummed last night in your sleep," Ewe asked.


    "What song?" Renny inquired with a confused, blank face.


    Ewe immediately started humming the lyrics of the song. Renny''s mind went back to the nightmare where Joanna was humming the same tune, and her heart chilled.


    She was born and raised in America all her life. She didn''t understand the Ghanaian languages and had never met any Ghanaians before coming to Ghana. There is no way she could have known such a song!


    "I guess I heard it somewhere," Renny immediately deflected in an attempt to change the subject.


    "It''s alright; it''s just that it''s been a long time since I heard this song. It was last sung at an unfortunate event in my life. It''s not good to sing this song in public in the future; it''s depressing since it''s a traditional funeral song," Ewe reminded as she said, smiling at Renny as her dimples deepened, adding to her glowing face.


    Ewe didn''t notice that her words had further shocked Renny. Her worldview had collapsed. She couldn''t lie to herself anymore; she had encountered something strange.


    The journey went on. Nandi and Ewe had dozed off after two hours. In the front seat of Renny, Chedi was on his laptop reading some ancient scripts that Renny didn''t understand.


    The buses reached the Sahara Desert in the late evening. Students who were sleeping were woken up by their peers as they orderly moved out.


    "Wow, they set up tents for us already! That''s so nice of them," Ewe commented when they stepped foot on the sand. In the distance, tents were neatly set up as light bulbs shone.


    Edi nodded in appreciation. "It''s cold; put on your sweater," Edi said to Nandi, who nodded and covered up. Others also followed suit.


    "Yes, it is always super cold at night and hot during the day in the Sahara. Let''s go; others have gathered over there," Chedi commented as he pointed in the distance where a group of students were now standing.


    When they reached, a professor was reminding them of the rules to follow and what to do, i.e., no moving around at night, no wandering around alone, etc.


    After his speech, he called upon the student moderator, who read out their names the first time they boarded the buses.


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    "I will be assigning each of you tents. As you can see, the tents are large enough to accommodate four people. I will give each of you time to choose the roommates you are comfortable with; the remaining people will be assigned tents by me," the moderator said loudly.


    Whispers of excitement sprang up as different students pulled at their friends.


    "Can I stay in the same room as my girlfriend?" Suddenly, a tall boy with lean muscles asked the moderator, causing laughter to echo among the students.


    A short medium brown girl with radiant skin and chubby cheeks beside the boy pulled at his jacket, lowering her head in embarrassment.


    The moderator chuckled at the scene. "No, boys and girls will be assigned to different tents," he said with a lifted eyebrow.


    Ewe, Nandi, and Renny immediately teamed up. When Ewe turned to her left, she spotted her former shy roommate, Joanna.


    "How about we add Joanna? She was my roommate before, and I had no problems with her," Ewe suggested.


    Nandi had no objections, while Renny was a little bit uncomfortable. She had just had a strange experience involving Joanna that she had yet to figure out; she wasn''t ready to face her yet.


    However, seeing Ewe and Nandi''s faces of contentment, she masked her gloomy mood and acquiesced with them.


    "Great!" Ewe ran towards Joanna and pulled her towards Nandi and Ewe.


    Meanwhile, Chedi and Edi were talking to a certain boy in glasses and the moderator as they happily smiled. Edi then walked towards the four girls.


    "All other male students have already paired up. Olami and James are fine; Chedi and I will room with them," Edi said after standing in front of the four.


    The girls looked at him with confused eyes at the mention of the two unknown names.  Edi saw Nandi''s pure white eyes with pitch-black irises looking at him. He thought she was so cute; his hands itched to pinch her cheeks, but he controlled himself.


    "Olami is the boy with glasses, while James is the moderator from before," Edi chuckled as he explained.


    "Oh!" the girls said in unison understanding.


    "Hi, Edi! Quickly come here; James wants to show us our tent! Ewe! Do you guys want to see our place?" Chedi loudly said as he inquired.


    Ewe saw his foolish smile and internally sneered. Who wanted to visit your place?


    "The moderator said boys and girls should stay in separate tents. No need; we will get going," Ewe said as she pulled Joanna along. Nandi gave Chedi an awkward smile before following behind Ewe. Renny also waved goodbye to Edi and followed.


    Edi walked back towards the three and helplessly shook his head at Chedi.


    "What do you mean by calling the girls over to our tent? What will people think if they see four female and male students heading inside the tent?" Edi rhetorically asked.


    "Hi! I didn''t mean it that way! What are you guys always thinking about day and night?" Chedi defended himself.


    "The girl who replied was really pretty, a true daughter of the soil," Olami gently pushed his glasses up and commented.


    Chedi''s heart immediately became alert. "What do you mean? Ewe is only concerned about her studies; she doesn''t have time to date!" Chedi shouted, making the three boys look at him in bewilderment.


    Chedi noticed that his tone was slightly high and awkwardly scratched his nose.


    "I was just giving a compliment, nothing else," Olami emphasized as he followed behind James, who was heading in the direction of their tent.


    Edi looked at him with calm, teasing, and knowing eyes before following behind the two boys.


    "Hi! What''s with that look, Edi? Wait, tell me..." Chedi continued questioning Edi as he followed behind him.


    In the girls'' tent, four makeshift mattresses were neatly laid down on a woolen carpet.


    "Say, what''s wrong with that airhead Chedi inviting us to go to their tent?" Ewe questioned in annoyance.


    "I don''t think he meant it in a bad way though," Nandi commented.


    Ewe blankly looked at her, causing Nandi to awkwardly turn her head and organize her belongings. Renny found Chedi and Ewe''s interactions interesting and funny; she hid her smile by lowering her head and pretended to use her phone.

 Chapter 14: Morning In the Sahara.

    "Nandi, wake up! Prince Alu is outside!" Ewe''s sharp voice cut through the air, jolting the other girls from their slumber.


    "What?" Nandi grumbled, still clouded with sleep.


    "It''s already bright outside. Everyone¡¯s gathered for breakfast, including Prince Alu. Apparently, he arrived last night while we were asleep!" Ewe explained, her tone urgent.


    Renny rummaged through her toiletry bag for her toothbrush, a hair bonnet snug on her head. Surprisingly, she had slept well¡ªno nightmares, no disturbances. It was a strange but welcome feeling.


    "What time is it?" Renny asked.


    "7:30 a.m., but the sun is already high in the sky. The Sahara is really something else," Ewe replied.


    "Let¡¯s freshen up and join the others. Where¡¯s Joanna?" Nandi asked, glancing around. It was only then that Renny noticed Joanna¡¯s absence and turned to Ewe for an explanation.


    "Joanna and I woke up early. She¡¯s already outside with the other students," Ewe said.


    "Alright, where are the washrooms?" Nandi asked, adjusting her bonnet.


    "Follow me," Ewe said, standing up. Nandi and Renny grabbed their essentials¡ªsoap, towels, and toothbrushes¡ªand followed her.


    A three-minute walk to the left of the girls¡¯ tent brought them to a wooden structure. Ewe pushed the door open, and the girls stepped inside, their eyes curious. Delicate stone slabs paved the floor, and several cubicles lined the walls.


    Ewe turned to her right and opened another door. Inside, several large water tanks were neatly arranged.


    "When we came here earlier, a woman overseeing the place explained that these tanks are filled weekly. Water is scarce here, so it¡¯s expensive to transport. She said the washrooms are only open in the morning and evening. If you miss your chance, you¡¯ll have to wait until the next day. Here, use these small jerrycans to fetch water," Ewe explained, handing them two containers with wide openings.


    "That¡¯s great," Nandi said, heading to the tank to fill her jerrycan. Renny followed suit. After fetching water, they stepped out and headed to the sinks on the opposite side.


    "Alright, when you¡¯re done, come find me with the others. Be quick¡ªyou don¡¯t want to miss today¡¯s instructions and activities," Ewe said before leaving.


    "I can¡¯t believe I overslept," Nandi muttered as she squeezed toothpaste onto her brush.


    "After such a long journey, it¡¯s no surprise," Renny replied. She hadn¡¯t taken her antidepressants, but the peaceful night¡¯s sleep had left her feeling oddly refreshed.


    "You¡¯re right," Nandi said, brushing her teeth. Renny followed suit.


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    The two then entered separate cubicles to bathe. Once done, they returned to their tent, sprayed their braids with a moisturizing solution, and dressed in light pants, T-shirts, and turbans before heading out to join the group.


    In the distance, about twenty people sat under a large open tent that shielded them from the blazing sun, though the heat was still palpable.


    "Look, Edi and James are sitting with Alu," Nandi noted. Renny spotted them too. The two girls made their way toward the group.


    "Renny! Over here!" Ewe whispered, motioning for them to join her. Nandi and Renny quickly took their seats beside her.


    A large carpet had been laid out on the sand, and the group sat around it, sipping tea from kettles and nibbling on bread and apples.


    "Have some tea. There¡¯s bread and apples too," Ewe whispered, opening a basket beside the kettle. Nandi and Renny, who had only eaten lightly the day before, gratefully served themselves.


    Nearby, Edi and James seemed to have just finished speaking with Prince Alu, who sat on a cushioned platform slightly apart from the group. Edi joined the girls.


    "So, what were you talking about with Prince Alu?" Ewe asked eagerly.


    Edi chuckled. "James was assigned to coordinate the students, and he suggested I assist him. Prince Alu was just briefing us on today¡¯s schedule."


    "Will he be joining us for the activities?" Ewe asked, her eyes hopeful.


    "Of course. I was surprised¡ªhe¡¯s very down-to-earth. He spoke to us like we were equals," Edi said, pouring himself a cup of tea.


    "What do you mean by that? Prince Alu¡¯s reputation speaks for itself. If he weren¡¯t as kind as he seems, it would mean I¡¯m a terrible judge of character¡ªand my instincts are never wrong," Ewe retorted, her sharp gaze fixed on Edi.


    "I didn¡¯t mean it in a bad way. He¡¯s just different from most high-class people, that¡¯s all," Edi replied, amused.


    "Chedi seems to be getting along well with your other roommate¡ªOlami, was it?" Nandi observed, glancing to her left. The others followed her gaze. A few seats away, Chedi was deep in conversation with the bespectacled boy, their discussion seemingly intense.


    "They discovered last night that they share similar interests," Edi explained with a small smile.


    "Which are?" Ewe asked.


    "Discovering ancient things," Edi replied.


    "Good. Maybe he¡¯ll stop bothering me with his endless questions," Ewe said, casting a pitying glance at Olami. At that moment, Olami looked up, catching Ewe¡¯s gaze. His face twisted in confusion.


    "Good morning, everyone!" a loud voice called out, silencing the chatter. The group turned to see a tall, strikingly dark-skinned man standing beside Prince Alu¡¯s platform. His skin had an almost blue-black hue under the sun, and his sharp features¡ªchiseled jawline, sunken eyes, and piercing white gaze¡ªmade him undeniably handsome.


    "My name is Aden. I¡¯ll be your guide in the Sahara. Many activities are happening here, like the Green Wall project to combat desertification and archaeological studies on ancient shark remains. Tourists are scattered throughout the area, so stay close. We don¡¯t want to lose anyone¡ªfew survive if they wander off," Aden warned.


    "Thank you, Aden. He traces his roots to the Kingdom of Kush, in present-day Sudan, and has spent half his life guiding tours in the Sahara. Trust his judgment," Prince Alu added, standing beside Aden. Though Aden was taller, Alu¡¯s regal bearing and commanding presence held their own.


    The group applauded, and Aden and Alu stepped aside. Moments later, they returned with two others carrying boxes.


    "These contain water, sunscreen, and sunglasses. If you¡¯re missing any of these, come forward and take what you need. The tour begins in ten minutes," Alu announced.


    The students and staff quickly formed an orderly line, grateful for the supplies.


    "What can I do? Someone might take advantage of my prince if he keeps being this generous," Ewe lamented, prompting laughter from Nandi and the others as they joined the line.


    Alu¡¯s generosity was undeniable, but Renny couldn¡¯t help but wonder if that was his true character. Even the devil was once an angel of light, she thought, glancing at Alu as he sat beside Aden, deep in conversation. She quickly looked away.

 Chapter 15: Desert Trekking and Hiking.

    The first activity for the students was Desert Trekking and Hiking, and Aden led the group through the undulating waves of sand. As they traversed the vastness of the desert, the students were awestruck by the expansive landscape, yet already fatigued after only a mile.


    ¡°Stick close, everyone¡ªdunes can look similar, and it¡¯s easy to lose sight of the group,¡± Aden cautioned, his voice steady. ¡°Drink water regularly, even if you¡¯re not thirsty. We¡¯ll take shaded breaks, but sunglasses are your best friends out here. Those turbans are really helpful in this heat,¡± he added, nodding at the students who were bundled up from head to toe in protective cloth.


    ¡°For centuries, the Tuareg people navigated these sands using stars and wisdom. They call the Sahara ¡®T¨¦n¨¦re¡¯¡ª¡®land of nothing,¡¯ yet it¡¯s full of stories, some heartwarming and some sad,¡± Aden continued, his gaze fixed ahead, the fabric of his turban casting shadows over his deep-set eyes. Renny had seen Black people back in America, but Aden had a different presence; she struggled to find the right words, settling instead on ¡°exotic.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me, sir, could you explain some of those stories?¡± Chedi¡¯s voice cut through the air as he maneuvered through the group to approach Aden. Aden turned slowly, taking a moment to observe Chedi.


    ¡°Has anyone here ever heard of the <i>Lost City of Zerzura</i>?¡± Aden asked.


    ¡°I have! Before coming here, I did extensive research. The Lost City of Zerzura is a legendary ¡®oasis of treasures,¡¯ said to lie hidden in the Sahara, guarded by giants or spirits. Medieval Arab travelers and European explorers like L¨¢szl¨® Alm¨¢sy, the real ¡®English Patient,¡¯ searched for it,¡± Chedi replied, enthusiasm lighting up his face.


    ¡°You really know a lot,¡± Aden said with an approving nod. ¡°As this young gentleman mentioned, stories of lost cities have always circulated, but what is truly worth believing is what we can see with our own eyes. While such tales can be captivating, it¡¯s not advisable to place too much faith in them.¡±


    ¡°Aden is right; only children believe in treasure-hunting myths. We should strive to work hard and trust in science. Only through our own efforts can we prosper,¡± a magnetic voice chimed in¡ªit was Prince Alu.


    Several students clapped in agreement, their approval of the prince¡¯s words resonating through the group.


    ¡°I look forward to seeing what Africa will be like for future generations. The young generation shows a desire to work hard, and with that spirit, nothing can go wrong¡ªif only that desire were shared by more than just a few,¡± Aden remarked as he led the group to a shaded area beneath a makeshift canopy formed by palm fronds and thin branches, providing a respite from the relentless sun. The shade was cool and dappled, flickering patterns of light and shadow dancing on the sand beneath them.


    ¡°On our sightseeing adventure, it¡¯s best to have a clear mind. I like the desert because, apart from its beauty, it teaches one to stay focused. Some people begin to see illusions here due to sand coupled with heat, like oases or water, but that¡¯s just the sun playing tricks. With a focused mind, one can distinguish reality from illusion,¡± Aden explained.


    Renny looked around after sitting beside Nandi and spotted Joanna in the distance. With a shy smile, Joanna was chatting with a group of students, yet Renny felt an unsettling discomfort at the sight. Remembering her dream, she braced herself for the next few days, knowing they would be roommates until the trip ended.


    ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you sandboarding. This activity, while fun, requires you to be physically fit and stable. We¡¯ll also encounter some plants and animals that can be hidden in the sands. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll all be provided with gear,¡± Aden announced.


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    Excited whispers rippled through the students. Nandi, Ewe, Edi, and Renny shared in the thrill of being away from their tight, suffocating school schedules.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we go today?¡± a boy grumbled, his impatience palpable.


    ¡°The journey is still long, and there are many days ahead according to our schedule. Or don¡¯t you want to ride camels?¡± Aden teased.


    ¡°Want!¡± the boy screamed, breaking the tension and lightening the atmosphere.


    Suddenly, Aden stood up, shielding his eyes with his hand and scanning the horizon. All the students and staff followed his gaze, spotting a caravan of camels approaching, their long legs moving in a slow, graceful rhythm.


    ¡°Camels! I¡¯ve never seen one up close!¡± Ewe exclaimed, rising excitedly but remaining in the shade.


    ¡°Camels were introduced to Africa around 200 CE, revolutionizing Saharan travel. Their ability to survive without water for days made them indispensable for trade and survival,¡± Chedi interjected, his voice carrying informative enthusiasm.


    Ewe turned to him, no longer surprised. Chedi seemed to have a wealth of knowledge and a constant thirst for more.


    ¡°You¡¯re really good at history,¡± Nandi commented with a sigh.


    ¡°Thank you, I¡¯m still learning,¡± Chedi replied, flashing a polite smile. Ewe then settled back down as the camels drew closer.


    Aden conversed with the men who brought the camels, their familiarity evident in the way they laughed together. When Aden smiled, his bright white teeth stood out against his dark skin, creating a striking contrast. He turned back to the shade and whispered something to Prince Alu, who nodded in response, a simple smile gracing his lips.


    ¡°Alright, prepare yourselves. Those who are worn out will be the first to ride the camels. Each camel can carry up to two people,¡± Aden instructed.


    Immediately, several students ran out, forming a polite line. Ewe, Nandi, Edi, and Renny joined them, eager to mount the camels that were kneeling patiently in the sand, their mannerisms calm and collected.


    Nandi glanced over and noticed Ewe staring at something in the distance. Following Ewe''s gaze, she spotted Prince Alu sitting on the ground beside a camel. His posture was straight, and as he bent slightly, the fabric of his turban fluttered in the breeze, revealing his sharp jawline and high cheekbones. He patted the camel¡¯s back gently, and the creature remained still, a testament to the prince¡¯s comfort with animals.


    Renny also observed the sight; while she had seen more conventionally handsome men, there was an undeniable nobility in Prince Alu''s demeanor. She couldn''t quite place it, but she sensed he had been trained in the ways of royalty.


    ¡°Alright, please follow instructions and don¡¯t touch the camels haphazardly. Oh! Prince Alu is quite adept with animals; I believe it reflects his kind heart. But please, don¡¯t take my words too literally¡ªthey were meant for the students,¡± Aden said, quickly redirecting his tone after noticing Alu interacting with the camel.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Aden. Have you forgotten that I am also a student?¡± Alu replied with a chuckle, standing up to dust off his brown pants and hands, then re-adjusting the cloth over his face, obscuring his charming smile. Some students felt a twinge of disappointment at this action, wishing to see more of his expression.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s just that Prince Alu already knows the ins and outs of riding camels and their behavior. So his proximity to the camel is no issue. I guess the camels are now all occupied. After a short distance, these students will disembark, and you shall take their places,¡± Aden continued, explaining to the remaining students on the ground as the camels were led forward, students happily perched atop them.


    ¡°We understand,¡± James, the student moderator, said, choosing to wait for the next shift.


    The students resumed their journey across the Sahara, and when the next shift arrived, they eagerly mounted the camels. Nandi sat with Ewe, while others paired up quickly. However, Renny remained on the ground, unsure of who to partner with for the ride.


    Noticing Renny sitting alone, Aden hesitated to make any suggestions but felt the tension in the air.


    ¡°Hm? I¡¯m the only one on this camel. How about coming up?¡± Alu offered to Renny, surprising her with his gesture. Wasn¡¯t he a prince, entitled to at least ride alone? She had observed that Alu usually was distant, although he mixed in with the students, his status was usually considered by everyone around.

 Chapter 16: A Glimpse in the Firelight

    ¡°My name is Alu. How should I address you?¡± Alu asked, adjusting the camel¡¯s reins with practiced ease as Renny settled on the Camel. The guide trailed behind, unnecessary¡ªAlu navigated the dunes effortlessly, his posture relaxed as they drifted ahead of the group.


    Renny caught a soothing scent¡ªsmoky and resinous, like aged cedar and burnt amber¡ªdrifting from Alu. "My name is Renny Smith. What perfume are you wearing?" she asked.


    Alu''s hand froze on the rope for a brief moment before he resumed his actions. "It''s not a perfume. It''s an incense called Egungun. Most people in my family use it,"


    "Oh," Renny nodded in understanding although that was her very first time learning of such an incense.


    "Renny Smith. That doesn¡¯t sound like a Ghanaian name. Your accent is also different," Alu observed.


    "It''s not. I¡¯m American. Your accent also differs," Renny replied.


    "Hm. You¡¯re right," Alu said with a chuckle of amusement. As he pulled the rope, Renny felt his broad shoulders close to her and caught another whiff of his scent again, she would have to make research about it later.


    "I noticed you already have friends. That¡¯s good. I hope they¡¯re treating you well," Alu remarked.


    "They¡¯re very nice," Renny replied.


    "That¡¯s good." The conversation naturally faded into silence. Renny had always struggled with small talk, and Alu seemed to be a man of few words. They remained quiet, letting Aden¡¯s voice occasionally break through as he explained their location, warning them about areas not to cross.


    However, Renny couldn''t help but notice the covert glances from the students on the ground and those riding camels. Ewe¡¯s gaze was particularly obvious.


    "Your friends are...interesting," Alu suddenly noted with a small smile.


    "How so?" Renny asked, intrigued. When it came to the three people who had made her life worthwhile, she cared about their well-being.


    "Nothing much. From their expressions, they seem innocent and genuinely care about you," Alu said.


    "How can you tell?" Renny inquired.


    Alu smirked. "I¡¯m a prince. I have the power to read minds."


    Renny had heard stories of supernatural abilities used by certain royal families in Ghana and other African regions. Hearing Alu say this startled her slightly, but she was also intrigued.


    "Really?" she asked.


    Alu chuckled. The deep vibration of his laughter resonated through Renny¡¯s back. "You¡¯re really easy to deceive. A sharp eye notices details¡ªnothing more."


    Renny immediately realized she had been teased and stopped talking to him altogether.


    "Are you annoyed? I didn¡¯t mean to lie," Alu said, his voice light. "I just like joking with easygoing people, and you are easy to talk to."


    Renny had never been described that way before. Back home, people called her ¡®stuck-up,¡¯ ¡®entitled,¡¯ and worse. She? Easy going?


    "You find me easy to talk to?" she asked.


    "Yes." Alu replied


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    Renny nodded, looking ahead. As the group reached the other side, they were surprised to see their camp in the distance.


    "Wow, this wasn¡¯t the way we took earlier!" Ewe exclaimed.


    "You¡¯re right. I know different routes in and out of this place, so it¡¯s easy to return from any direction," Aden replied.


    "Impressive!" Chedi said as the camels slowly approached the station. The students dismounted with the help of the tour guides.


    Alu helped Renny off the camel, and she politely thanked him.


    "It¡¯s alright. I had a great time on this journey," he said.


    Renny smiled politely and walked toward Ewe and Nandi, who had also dismounted.


    "What were you talking about with Prince Alu? He hugged you!" Ewe immediately grabbed her hand, eyes gleaming with curiosity.


    Renny could only smile helplessly. She knew Ewe would interrogate her.


    "He said you were good people," Renny replied.


    Ewe narrowed her eyes, studying her. "Really? How could he say that when he doesn¡¯t know us?"


    "Really. He asked if we were friends, and I said yes. Then he said you treat me well and that you¡¯re good people."


    "So he noticed us! Do you know what that means?" Ewe whispered excitedly.


    "What does it mean?" Nandi asked, puzzled.


    "We are special. We carry a certain energy that attracts important people. From the looks of it, we could even become important ourselves in the future!" Ewe declared.


    "Oh," Renny replied.


    "¡®Oh¡¯? Do you think catching a prince¡¯s eye is easy?" Ewe shook Renny¡¯s hand, exasperated.


    "You¡¯re right. We¡¯re going to be important in the future. But what if he just noticed everyone individually? After all, he¡¯s one of the sponsors of this trip. It¡¯s his duty to know the people he¡¯s sponsoring," Nandi reasoned, causing Ewe to wilt.


    "Let¡¯s go freshen up and rest. There¡¯s a campfire tonight. Better to warm up for it," a voice called. It was Edi, followed by Chedi and Olami.


    "A campfire? Great!" Ewe perked up immediately.


    "I know, right? The Sahara gets cold at night. It¡¯ll be a great evening," Chedi added. The group walked toward the camp, discussing the day''s events and speculating about Aden¡¯s identity.


    As evening approached, an announcement about the campfire sparked excitement. The students and staff gathered, joined by archaeologists from another team, making the event livelier.


    "Hello, everyone. Welcome to this evening¡¯s gathering. I suggest we keep this tradition until we leave the Sahara. Let¡¯s share our experiences under the stars," Prince Alu addressed the group, earning enthusiastic applause before taking a seat.


    The stars glittered above, and the students bundled up in sweaters and jackets against the cold. Drinks were passed around¡ªalcohol limited to two servings per person. To Renny¡¯s surprise, she found herself sipping a simple mango smoothie. She had given up drinking after a past incident that had landed her in the hospital. Nandi and Ewe opted for juice, while Edi had a beer.


    "Let¡¯s introduce ourselves," Alu suggested. "Let¡¯s start with the new group."


    Myiline, the lead archaeologist, introduced her team of five people. ¡°We¡¯ve studied Sahara whale fossils for two months. This desert was once an ocean¡ªstorms exposed 20-million-year-old teeth and bones. When the royal Prince extended an invite to make today''s campfire merrier, We were happy to join everyone today," she said. A wow and claps ehoed from the students at this excellent and high rate team.


    The students then also proceeded to also introduce themselves.


    Chedi pushed forward. ¡°How¡¯d whales end up here?¡±


    ¡°The Sahara was the Tethys Sea 150 million years ago,¡± Myiline explained. ¡°When continents shifted, the water vanished. Fossils surfaced in 2025 due to sandstorms eroding dunes. Our job is to document them before they¡¯re lost again.¡±


    ¡°But why now?¡± Chedi pressed.


    ¡°Climate change? Luck?¡± Myiline shrugged as she sipped on her beer.


    Renny¡¯s gaze drifted beyond the fire¡¯s glow. The darkness yawned¡ªa vast void where the desert swallowed the light.


    Something moved.


    A small figure, childlike, stood at the edge of the firelight. Its silhouette wavered, as though woven from smoke. Renny squinted. Am I hallucinating? She had skipped her meds.


    The figure raised a hand, pointing at her¡ªthen dissolved into the night.


    Renny¡¯s pulse raced. She glanced at her drink¡ªhalf-full, harmless and shook her head to shake off any kind of illusions she might be having.


    The fire dwindled to embers, and laughter softened to murmurs. Students stretched and yawned, drifting toward their tents in pairs. Ewe linked arms with Nandi, recounting the day¡¯s highlights.


    Renny lingered, watching the archaeologists pack their fossils. Myiline caught her eye and nodded¡ªa silent acknowledgment¡ªbefore turning away.


    ¡°Coming?¡± Nandi called.


    Renny stood, brushing sand from her pants. The desert stretched endlessly under the stars, silent and still. She cast one last glance at the fire¡¯s ashes, now cold, and followed the others.


    In her tent, she fumbled for her pills and quickly swallowed them. She sighed, sliding into her sleeping bag. Outside, the wind whispered across the dunes, a lullaby for the weary.


    Tomorrow awaited¡ªnew dunes, new mysteries. But for now, the Sahara slept.