Africa Leveling

As the maid escorted Kipkemboi, Kit Mi Kai, Jajwok, and Olamsuri down a long, marbled hallway, they tried to take in their lavish surroundings. Their eyes darted from the golden chandeliers hanging above to the grand, intricately carved doors on either side. The opulence felt surreal, and each of them wondered what they had gotten themselves into.

Finally, the maid stopped in front of a massive double door, opening it to reveal a bedroom so large it looked more like a ballroom. There were four oversized beds, each with plush blankets, velvet pillows, and more space than any of them had ever known. The ceiling even had a detailed mural of an endless sky, complete with clouds that looked as if they were moving.

"Each of you has a private room assigned," the maid explained, pointing to adjacent doors. "This is only the receiving chamber."

They exchanged glances, wide-eyed and speechless. Kit Mi Kai scratched his head, "One room? For each of us? Isn't that a bit... extravagant?"

The maid raised an eyebrow. "But… you're heroes. We wanted to make sure you had everything you could possibly need."

"No, no," Kipkemboi said quickly, waving his hands, "We're fine sharing this one. We've been through enough together, and we'd like to stick close."

After a moment of hesitation, the maid nodded, somewhat bemused by their decision. The four immediately began dragging the massive beds closer together, forming a cluster around Kipkemboi's bed in the center. They plopped onto the beds with sighs of relief, still absorbing the sheer luxury around them.

Jajwok broke the silence. "Kipkemboi, do you have any idea what's going on? I mean… we're in another world. This isn't just some messed-up dream, right?"

Kipkemboi nodded, leaning in as the others waited expectantly. "It's the goddess Liana," he explained. "She has given us this chance to grow stronger, to tackle what's coming in our world. She said we need to be prepared if we want to face it and win."

They sat in silence, each lost in thought, letting Kipkemboi's words sink in. The weight of their journey hit them once more, but tonight, in this room of silk and gold, they felt the beginnings of hope.

After a few moments, they settled down, each of them pulling the blankets over their heads. The silence lasted all of two minutes before Olamsuri's giggles broke it. Kit Mi Kai opened one eye, peeking over his blanket to see Jajwok and Olamsuri tickling each other's feet with playful smirks.

"Oi! Will you two just go to sleep already?" he grumbled, trying to keep a straight face.

"Shhh! Don't ruin our moment, Kit Mi Kai!" Olamsuri laughed, poking Jajwok's foot, making him laugh even louder.

Kipkemboi chuckled as the bickering finally settled, and they all drifted off into a peaceful sleep, knowing the world had brought them to a strange place but at least given them a place to rest and laugh.

The next morning, bright and early, a small group of maids and battlers appeared at their door, their knocks light but insistent. "Heroes, it's time to prepare! The entire palace is waiting for you!"

They blinked awake, groggy but excited, the memory of their strange surroundings flooding back in. They barely had time to process before they were whisked away—Kipkemboi, Jajwok, and Kit Mi Kai with the battlers, while Olamsuri was ushered into a separate chamber by the maids.

The battlers sized up the boys with calculating looks, clapping their hands to summon various fabrics and accessories. "Today, you will dress as heroes," one of them announced with a slight bow. "Your old clothes, well… let's just say they don't exactly meet the palace's standards."

The boys exchanged glances, slightly offended, but they let the battlers guide them to large mirrors, where a selection of clothes was laid out. Kipkemboi ended up with a deep blue, high-collared jacket adorned with silver threads. They even styled his hair back, making him look almost princely.

Kit Mi Kai wore dark robes lined with green and gold, a sleek belt holding the robes in place. He kept glancing in the mirror, half-impressed, half-disoriented by how put-together he looked.

Jajwok, however, crossed his arms defiantly when they offered him a flashy outfit. He preferred simplicity, but at last, he agreed to wear a modest tunic—no amount of persuasion could make him cover his bald head, though.

Meanwhile, Olamsuri was having a similar transformation. The maids carefully removed her worn-out clothing and replaced it with a flowing, red gown embroidered with golden threads. They styled her hair with intricate braids, and when she looked in the mirror, she could hardly recognize herself.

After a whirlwind of preparations, they were led to the grand hall, where a banquet was already in full swing. The room was a dazzling display of color, with silks draped over tables, chandeliers casting sparkling light, and guests in every type of regalia. Nobles and emissaries turned to gawk at them as they entered, whispering and murmuring in awe.

Olamsuri noticed a second prince, finely dressed and charming, approaching her with a glint in his eye. He reached for her hand, bowing dramatically as he brought it to his lips. "Welcome, fair hero. You truly grace this palace with your beauty."

Jajwok, watching from a few steps away, felt his cheeks burn with a jealous streak he'd never known before. He marched right up to Olamsuri, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pressed a possessive kiss to her neck. "Just so everyone knows, she's taken."

The second prince blinked in surprise, his suave expression faltering as he registered Jajwok's possessive gesture. But instead of reacting with anger, he only laughed, bowing once more to both of them. "Ah, I see. My apologies, then."

Olamsuri's face flushed, torn between embarrassment and a strange satisfaction. She nudged Jajwok, who only smirked, seeming rather pleased with himself. Kit Mi Kai and Kipkemboi, watching from the side, tried to stifle their laughter.

As the evening wore on, they mingled with the nobility, though it was clear the palace guests weren't entirely sure what to make of them. One nobleman asked Kipkemboi if he could "lift mountains" and proceeded to flex his arms in an awkward attempt to impress him. Another lady tried to touch Jajwok's bald head, convinced it was a mystical "source of power."

Kipkemboi and Kit Mi Kai both stifled their laughter, watching as Jajwok dodged the lady's curious fingers. Olamsuri gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder, though she was just as amused by their antics.

The night ended with music and dancing, and though the heroes were far from home, they found themselves laughing and celebrating with a lightness they hadn't felt in a long time. The palace had given them a taste of the strange and extravagant life of heroes in a foreign world, and for a brief moment, they allowed themselves to enjoy it, the weight of their journey ahead momentarily lifted.

The night had settled into silence, with each of the heroes lying comfortably in their shared room, beds pulled close together, a sense of calm finally seeping into the air. Jajwok was mumbling something about needing more food at tomorrow's feast when Kit Mi Kai shushed him, urging everyone to get some sleep.

Kipkemboi chuckled softly, watching his friends drifting off, each in their own relaxed state, finally at ease after everything they had been through.

But that peace didn't last.

A faint noise—almost like a whisper—filtered through the open window. Kipkemboi's eyes snapped open, senses on high alert as he spotted a shadow darting past the curtains. He reached for his katana and was just about to wake the others when a shuriken flew through the air, lodging itself into the headboard, inches from his face.

They were under attack.

"Get up!" Kipkemboi shouted, rolling off his bed just as a second shuriken sliced through the air. In an instant, his friends sprang to life, instincts taking over. Olamsuri grabbed her rungu, immediately scanning the room for the assailants.

The attackers slipped through the shadows, skilled in stealth, but nothing could fully hide them from Kit Mi Kai's keen earth manipulation. He clenched his fist, feeling the stones beneath the palace's floor, and with a wave of his hand, lifted chunks of it, launching them like deadly projectiles at the shadowy figures.

Two assassins dodged the rocks, but another wasn't as lucky, crushed against the wall as the stones slammed into him.

Olamsuri teleported beside an assassin who had slipped into their room, rungu raised high. With a swift, calculated blow, she knocked him off his feet, her speed catching him entirely off guard. Jajwok, standing by the doorway, had his hands touching the floor, his lightning pulsing through it.

Sparks jumped to life, casting a bluish glow that illuminated the room, briefly stunning the intruders as they tried to regain their composure.

"Just like a rat in the kitchen," Jajwok sneered, sending a surge of lightning along the floor toward the nearest assassin. The bolt hit him with a crackling force, throwing him back with enough energy to scorch his clothes. The assassin stumbled, clutching his burned side, eyes wide with fear as he faced the unrelenting fury of the heroes.

Kipkemboi, his katana gleaming in the dim light, took advantage of the chaos. He moved with swift, deliberate strides, slicing through the air with a deadly precision honed by years of training. He disarmed one assassin effortlessly, his blade cutting through his opponent's defenses with chilling ease. In a matter of seconds, the would-be attacker was on his knees, Kipkemboi's katana at his throat.

"Who sent you?" Kipkemboi demanded, voice cold and unyielding.

The assassin remained silent, defiant until the end. But before Kipkemboi could press further, a flash of movement caught his eye—another intruder lunging toward Jajwok, daggers drawn.

Jajwok was ready. He focused his energy, sending a surge of lightning through his own body, making his skin glow and his hair rise. Just as the assassin closed in, Jajwok unleashed a powerful shockwave, sending the man sprawling backward, smoke rising from his scorched clothes.

Kit Mi Kai raised his hand, calling upon the rocks from the floor once more. They moved under his control, wrapping around the feet of the remaining attackers, binding them in place. The assassins struggled, their faces twisted in panic as they realized the full extent of the heroes' powers.

"They thought they could just sneak in and catch us off guard," Olamsuri said, smirking as she crossed her arms. "Guess they didn't get the memo."

With one last look at their attackers, the squad watched as the defeated assassins finally surrendered, slumping in exhaustion and defeat. Kipkemboi lowered his katana, though his stance remained tense. They'd proven their strength, but this attempted assassination only served as a reminder: there were forces lurking in the shadows, powerful enough to reach them even here.

After securing the assassins, the squad exchanged determined looks, each one feeling the weight of the night's attack. They knew they couldn't let their guard down again.