Finding Contentus

Chapter 127: Gains and Losses

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It was the profound sound of overwhelming sadness that alerted Mpho's senses from her flung journey on her father's staff, away from home. It was back then. When her whole world ended.

Again.

It wasn't the first time. From the day she was born, Mpho's global world spun on a loop of endings, those endings, being the people she loved, dying, getting captured. Over, and over, and over again.

Guilt was something her parents snuffed out each time it resurfaced to contaminate her spirit. Was it truly her fault? No, of course it wasn't, but logic played no factor in the feeling, the blame, the self ridicule.

Mpho had sworn to achieve complete control with her abilities, not only for the sake of her people that she endangered, but for the sake of herself. Yes. She was her own danger, and a danger to the world.

An awful admission must be allowed its time for confession. When Genesia and Neosa experienced their late impulse dream, Mpho felt... not happy, God and gods no. But she did feel less unhappy, less alone, in ways that could only be conveyed through the physical synergy she and her cousins shared.

As coordinating catastrophes. The conducting calamities. The catalysts of tribulation. That's what the three of them were. That's what their gods decided for them to be. At least, that's how Mpho viewed things, discounting the words her family used to dissuade her into the path of cheeriness.

"Give her space. Give her space!"

Mpho recognized that airy accent. She recognized that breezy voice. It didn't sound grumpy. It sounded hoarse, like crushed pebbles, like it had awoken from fainting. Woe laced every syllable and covered every vowel.

Her surroundings were saturated in silver, clouded, cloudy. Sankofa. It was the first thing Mpho thought. The Adinkra symbol flew into her mind's eye. It was what Bantii mumbled to Amoar and Rassy before...

Before...

Mpho's eyes made contact with the woman she hadn't seen in ten years. "M-Mamane Babaki?"

Babaki had tears rolling down her face. Her eyes were puffy. She looked disoriented. She was crying? Mpho didn't even think Babaki could cry.

"Oh... Mpho... Mpho... Mpho..." She couldn't say anything else as she caressed Mpho's face.

They were surrounded by the masses, by the millions in Akanto. The aluminium styled architecture of the capital seemed to shrink before Mpho's gaze as she glossed over the colours of brilliance. The metallic sheen looked like it was corroding from the irresistible despondency that replaced all considerations and sights, as though the shimmering surfaces over the high buildings were wavering in the name of man-made dolour.

Images flashed before her eyes. The enchantment barrier ritual. They were seconds away, mere seconds. Mpho was on the cusp of atonement for being the reason why her people had to migrate to Mootlakeng in the first place. She was about to redeem herself. She was on the verge of making the defining difference. Renero's sacrifice was not going to be in vain.

Only — it was in vain, when that spear pierced through her mother's chest, stopping her heart. What was that... thing? That being. That entity. That Amandla was... not of this world. It was depressing.

It paled to the tidal waves of depression that rose and fell on top of Mpho, on top of her race. Then the twins. Genesia and Neosa were blown away, just as Mpho was...

"Do not despair. Only soar, for we will always fly with you," Mpho whispered the words she heard from Bantii. She looked at Babaki. "Sankofa."

Babaki cried, pulling Mpho to her chest like she was still the little child she knew and not the young woman she had become.