Chapter 2: Interview for a Legend

I raised my eyelids and flash one wide, full Naija smile—teeth shining, no be play. The two officers shake immediately. Musa, wey dey hide for back, nearly jump out skin, dey drag door handle like say e fit open am by force. But that door na iron, e no dey hear plea or threat—just dey stubborn like goat wey see yam farm. Sweat dey roll for Musa face like say he just run Lekki marathon for afternoon.

I just balance for chair, dey tap leg like person wey dey wait for suya, dey shine my eye for them. For this kain cell, na only person wey craze go try form boss. My own na just dey observe, dey play small.

I laugh, “No worry, you two. If I wan do anything, this place no fit hold me. Abeg, introduce una self.”

My voice get small play, but still sharp. I dey watch how dem dey look each other, leg dey shake. Finally, one talk: “My name na Ifeanyi.”

Voice dey tremble like gen wey dey near last fuel drop. But courage still dey inside. Musa, after seeing am, follow: “I’m Musa.” He talk am like say, if that door open, na him go first disappear.

I nod, no talk again. I allow silence cover the room, make dem sweat small. Sometimes, na silence dey press person pass words. As dem siddon, Ifeanyi force voice out: “We come here today to interview you.”

I nod, sit down well for my comfortable wooden chair—old people veranda style. I cross leg, dey look dem like Baba for village meeting. I wave hand, make dem sit. “So, wetin exactly una wan know?”

I look dem sharp, as if I dey weigh their mind for scale. Dem siddon, leg still dey shake like pikin wey teacher catch. After short pause, Ifeanyi talk: “Dem say you be the strongest ability user—the Demon King wey almost destroy the world?”

I smile, shake head. “Strongest? Maybe now. But dem get one thing wrong: I no ‘almost’ destroy the world.”

The laugh wey come out my mouth cold like rainy night breeze. My eye dey shine, secret dey hide inside. I continue, “I actually destroyed the world. Once.”

Silence heavy for the cell, tight like burial ground. Ifeanyi and Musa freeze, eyes wide like torchlight for blackout. I ask, “You dey wonder—if I destroy world, how una take dey here?”

My voice soft, but get that kind wahala—like story for night when NEPA don take light. No one blink. “Simple. After I destroy am, I restore am. Na why we fit sit here dey gist.”

I rub palm together, dey check their face. The cold for cell no reach my voice. Ifeanyi swallow hard. “I… I no really understand.” E dey look me like masquerade.

I glance him way. “No wahala. Make I start from beginning.”

I clear throat, adjust chair, ready to yarn. “Twenty years ago, one mysterious meteorite land for our side. One week later, people everywhere dey awaken different abilities. At first, everybody dey doubt. But soon, dem discover say if you reach eighteen, you get small chance to awaken power. Some even get am on their birthday.”

Confusion start. People dey fear, others dey pray, pastors dey hold special deliverance. Me, I dey blend in like garri for water—no be me dem dey look. All my guys dey flex power, join club. I just dey manage.

“The year after meteorite, I turn eighteen. On my birthday, I feel something dey move for my mind, but by night, nothing show. Even after I start university, still nothing. My mama say make I pray—maybe my own go change our family. But nothing gree show. I begin wonder if I dey mistake for this new world.”

“So, I just accept say I be ordinary, start to live normal—go school, dey hustle, plan for job, just dey. For uni, I get girlfriend. She dey always buy puff-puff for me after class, dey treat me like king. Her name na Folake.”

Folake get that smile wey fit melt okada man heart. Her laugh sweet like agbalumo for dry season. Na my world she be.

‘What? Lady Folake?’ Musa burst out, surprise almost make him voice break. Everybody know Lady Folake—her name dey ring bell for our work.

I nod. “Correct. The ace for Seventh Bureau, Goddess of Vengeance—Folake. That one na ten years ago. If she still dey, I no know.”

As I talk am, I see respect for Musa eye—fear and memory mix. I continue, “We plan life together, even talk marriage. But the day I graduate, my ability finally wake. That moment, I see through Folake’s own—she dey hide am. She too get power.”

E shock me. Trust fall for ground. “So, wetin be your ability?” Ifeanyi ask, voice careful but hand dey shake.

I grin. “You get mind o. Even your director, Olatunde, that old fox, try all trick—no fit catch my power. You think say you fit just ask?”

I shake head, laugh. Olatunde sharp, but my power na wahala.

Musa quickly add, “No vex, bros, I no dey drag you.”

I wave am away. “No wahala. I don dey bored for here, so I fit yarn. On graduation day, I understand: I fit see the description of any ability, and change one letter for that description.”

I pause, make sure dem dey hear well. “You no too get am? Make I use you two as example.” I smile, lean forward like uncle wey dey teach ayo.