It was the year 1841 after Amri. Somewhere in the village of Kanyu, Armad sat with his family for dinner. His grandfather Zaikid Wilberforce and his mother Fatima Wilberforce sat on the right side whereas his sister Hidaya Wilberforce and himself sat on the left. Zaikid was a man with abundant white hair on his face and a muscular build which always reminded people that the man could still fight despite his age. Hidaya looked a lot like Armad except she was fair like their mother.

Hidaya looked through the window directly opposite her and then she turned around to Armad. “It's getting late, you should hurry up and finish your meal so you can sleep. Our plates are empty.”

Armad had been playing with his food and didn’t take a single bite up to now. When Hidaya talked to him about it he didn’t respond at all and just went on with what he was doing. Zaikid looked at Hidaya and she raised her brows at him and hurriedly said, “stop giving me that look, old man, I didn’t prepare the food. Although, I... do believe it’s a bit sour and that’s why my little brother ain't taking it.”

“Haha..” Zaikid laughed, looking at his side through the corner of his eyes. “My daughter Fatima, you heard what your children are saying. That your food tastes bad.”

Fatima was tall and fair like the women of the south. Zaikid used to say she took after him in both built and complexion since her mother was short and dark like Armad - frail and petite as he often called it when he wanted to tease her. Fatima had big eyes that were full of motherly love for her children.

As Zaikid laughed, Fatima frowned. “I spent good two hours cooking and you dare say it’s not good? My son Armad, tell me why you are not eating.”

Armad remained silent and didn’t respond. He continued playing with his spoon and looking at his plate. Hidaya pulled her chair toward him. She took a big bite of meat from his plate with her spoon, opened his mouth, and spoonfed him.

“Swallow it, eh?” She tenderly ran her fingers through the mark on his forehead. “If you eat well then tomorrow before I leave for work I’ll fly you on my back.”

“It’s… nosh flying thash I wansh...” Armad said with his mouth full.

“So what do you want?”

Armad took some time to swallow the food in his mouth and then he said, “where’s Father?”

It was a simple question but the room fell silent. Armad didn’t know why his mother and grandfather didn’t want to talk about his father. The two of them cleared their throats and left the room, leaving him with his elder sister Hidaya.

“If you eat well today then I promise to tell you a thing or two about our father. But you have to promise me you won’t talk about him in front of our mother ever again.”

As soon as she said that, Armad jumped, smiling from ear to ear, and accepted her condition. In less than a minute he finished his plate. Hidaya led him outside through the back. They sat near two trees and faced the moonlight while their backs rested on the trees.

Hidaya inhaled deeply and turned to Armad who was staring at her expectantly. “You would have been Eyriyon,” she said. “Eyriyon Wilberforce. I can remember when father said he would name you that and our mother refused to, offering Armad instead.”

“Eyriyon?” Armad tilted his head to one side. He had never heard the name anywhere. It sounded more like the name of an old grandpa.

Hidaya nodded. “Yes, Eyriyon. What I want, Armad is for you to know our Father loves us more than anything in the world. He loves you more than he loves me. He is still alive and you’ll see him as long as we are alive. Armad…” Hidaya sighed softly as if hesitating to say what was in her mind. In the end she gave in, “do you know what’s a choice?”

Armad nodded hesitantly. “Er... the act of choosing or selecting something?" Armad didn’t sound confident and his tone was more a question than an answer. But he was lucky and Hidaya nodded.

“Our father would love to see you give everyone a choice. You shouldn't force people to do your bidding or to do something they don't have to if you become someone in a position of power or a leader. He would love to see you allow everyone to choose. Do you understand me?”

Armad fell silent. His eyes were doubtful. He understood the words but he didn’t understand the meaning.

Hidaya smiled. “You don’t have to understand now. Just remember my words in the future even if I am dead at the time. Eh, little brother?”

Armad nodded and at the same time, his face changed into a frown. He didn’t want to hear his sister talking about her death and it was something she was used to.

***

The year 1854 A.A

Babara inhaled deeply and clapped his hands which caused the surrounding air to boom. He turned to Armad who was walking by his side. “From today onwards, you shall call me magician, Babara the magician."

Armad knitted his brows in confusion. “The magician?”

Babara nodded. “Magician is the name given to any who achieved the highest hierarchy in fortune-telling.

“Oh...?”

“Your grandpa Zaikid came to me months after you left. I’m surprised you didn’t ask for him.”

Armad stopped walking mid-step. “I know.”

He didn’t forget about Zaikid but he just didn’t expect to see him when he returned home. After talking to his grandfather through the ayrid comm, he knew Babara wouldn’t dare harm his mother but he didn't expect the man to come looking for him to even wait for him at home. He wouldn't be surprised if Babara was acting on his command when he sent him out to get Triple Factor.

Armad walked in silence for some time before he suddenly turned to Babara as if he remembered something. “Why didn't the old man just heal her, anyway? He’s a Wilberforce. If I or Hidaya can do it then he should be able to do it as well.”

Babara sighed. “Who do you think taught me how you can control your eyes? I don’t know why he didn’t treat her. Maybe you should ask him when you meet. He did leave you a message though. He told me to ask you what is it you want to achieve in your life after saving your mom?”

Armad chuckled. “I know he would do something like this.”

“Really?” Babara asked, not sure what Armad meant.

Armad waved it off. “The first thing I want to do after saving my mother is to abolish the slave trade. And by the creator of the seven worlds, I’ll abolish it before I stop breathing.”

“Hmm.” Babara sighed. “Blood will always tell. You wouldn’t be a Wilberforce if you didn’t stand against slavery. Let me ask you a question, did you ever ask yourself why your mother forbade you from using your Wilberforce name?”

Armad shook his head. “I have thought about it many times but I still don’t know why.”

Babara smiled. “It appears your family doesn’t want to trust you with your history. But you should worry no more, I’ll tell you all about it on our way.”