Great man of Valor

Before the flames devoured the cities, before the tribes raised blades against their own, the kingdom of Mbaano lived in harmony beneath the four sacred banners. Fire. Earth. Air. Water. Each tribe guarded their elemental gift with pride and reverence. In the mountain village of Ekúra, among the Earth Tribe, a child was born beneath a moonless sky. His name was Gbemiri. But the gods knew him by another. He was the son of Rohma, a stonemason from the Earth tribe and Ayélàdé, a healer from the water tribe. No one could explain how the fire danced in his breath, why winds hushed when he slept, or how water clung to his skin. "I guess that's because he's foreparents were from the Fire tribe and the Air tribe", said the chief midwife. “He’s blessed,” said the midwives. “Or cursed,” muttered the priestess, eyeing the four glowing sigils on his back. The child’s birth was quiet. But the sky trembled. --- (Chapter One Continued): The Child of Four Gbemirin grew quickly—stronger than most, quieter than most. By age five, he lifted stones twice his size. At seven, animals calmed beneath his touch. The Earth Tribe called it a blessing. But his mother knew better. One night during the Festival of First Rains, Gbemirin. stood watching the fire dancers. A boy from the Fire Tribe mocked him. “You don’t belong here.” Gbemirin didn’t respond. The boy shoved him. “Say something.” The fire leapt—twisting into a serpent and shooting into the sky. The crowd froze. The drummers stopped. Elder Ojin watched silently from the shadows. Later, Gbemirin asked his mother why the fire obeyed him. She held him close. “Because you are not just ours,” she whispered. “You are all of us.” Gbemirin looked deep into his mother's eyes in fascination of what she said.