My dearest Anaya,

  I know you do not understand why I had to go, but my eyes have been opened to a world inside of our own. The shamans and witch doctors tell of the Veil between our world and the spirits of the dead, but there is so much more. All the tales we tell the children of the village, the ones Grandfather used to tell around the fire, I have found that these are true. The monsters and things that go bump in the night. They exist and they haunt not only our people, but the people of the world.

  But so to, the heroes from these tales exist. The slayers of monsters. I grew up admiring these heroes of the tales and striving to be just like them. When I became chieftain of the tribe, I was happy as a boar in mud. But I could not remain. My eyes see things that others do not. I see these monsters. Even the ones that hide amongst us. This is why I must go.

  I was approached by Anansi in a dream. He came to me as he would anyone, as a spider. He crawled into my ear, and he told me, Gideon, there is greatness in you. The world needs your greatness. I awoke with a start, but I knew the God of Spiders had spoken to me. When he finally appeared to me in person, he was in the form of a spider and led me to the jungle where I found my sword, Mmaagha Kamalu. Anansi told me, the sword will glow red when evil is near. I must defeat this evil.

  So he led me to the cities, away from you, away from my home. I followed Anansi all the way to the United States of America. It was here that I found evils hidden all over. Great creatures mixed in with greater structures. So many places to hide. Anansi guided me for quite some time and I fought these creatures.

  Eventually, I could find these creatures on my own, and Anansi left me. He said, Gideon, you are stronger than most men. You will thrive here. Kill the beasts and recover the treasures they hide. And so I did.

  I was an outcast here. Never able to stay in one place long. The white men were suspicious of me. The called me names and tried to fight me. But still, I protected them from these creatures.

  When Anansi came back, he told me of the Order of Vigilance. That he, among other Progenitors had formed a group that stretched the whole wide world, dedicated to protecting people and collecting powerful relics of the past. Anansi offered to make me a Master of this Order. So he and the Progenitors led me to Canada. It was here they gave me an old church, with a secret basement. Inside, were wonders I couldn’t begin to imagine.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  They told me to teach students. Find gifted children, and teach them the ways of the Order. Give them Artifacts to defend themselves and others, like Anansi had given me Mmaagha Kamalu.

  Another man was sent and he offered to help me. He was kind and without hatred in his heart. He helped me find the gifted ones, these Chosen. He helped me make a space for them here, because like me, the world had no place for them. His name was Rook. He too had been Chosen and given an Artifact. But he had much more knowledge than I.

  It has been a long hard journey from Africa, to Canada, but my dear Anaya, I want you to know, I haven’t forgotten about you. You are still the love of my life, just like when we met, many years ago. I hope this letter finds you well, and that you believe me, with your heart.

  Rook and I, we are doing good things for the world, and for these Chosen children. They are a pain in my backside sometimes, but I love each of them like they were my own.

  Anders, ever brave and stubborn. My protégé. He is powerful, and the true blooded descendant of the King Arthur from legends. I watch him grow stronger each day, and could not be more proud, then if he were my own son.

  Serena, a kind hearted Greek girl, finishing nursing school. She has a huge heart, just like you, and cares for her teammates. She is a tiny thing, but when she is angry, she intimidates even the biggest of the boys.

  Hector, who was a firefighter. He has the urge to protect and save lives. A sturdy man, but much more intelligent than he lets on. He would much rather have his nose in a book, then training, but you’d never catch him admitting it.

  Anippe, or Andrea as she likes to be called. Her father is part of the Order in Egypt, but she has been sent here. She is feisty and is always challenging me. She runs her mouth, but she is quite the fighter. I enjoy her energy.

  Magnus, the biggest of them all. He is a brute of a man, of Nordic descent. His family has also been part of the Order for some time. He pushes the others around sometimes. A true warrior of his culture.

  And Griffin, the complete opposite of his peers. A ghost of a boy, tall and scrawny. With long blonde hair and vacant eyes. He keeps to himself mostly, but trains hard and often. Some times by himself. He is inquisitive and studies to train his mind when he is not training physically.

  I refer to them all as kids, but in truth they are grown, starting their lives in their twenties. Such a beautiful time, when the world is open to them. My special students.

  I know I will be here for quite some time, and hope that one day, when I come home to you, my love, that you understand why I am here, and what it is I have done for the world.

  Love Always,

  Gideon Solarin