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Mozambique, Africa

"Oh, how lucky I am!" Asha clasped her hands, a wide smile on her face. "My son, called by the League!"

Heat blazed in the vehicle, though that did not affect Asha's mood. From the window was only cream-colored sand and the endless drapes of the sea. When Kwame peered and squinted his eyes, in a long distance was the town, with tall buildings and honking cars. He was used to city life, though he wouldn't mind the adventure. His uncle turned the steering wheel, wiping sweat from his brow, a wide smile at the affection Asha showed.
He looked exactly like Daddy.

Kwame gave a smile, almost too forced and shaky.
"The diamonds said Lemuria, mommy," he looked down, fumbling with the ends of his nice blue shirt. "Not the League. Maybe it's just a c-coincidence."

The constant rumble of the jeep they rode in worsened his stutter, though he didn't usually get nervous with his mommy. The scenery changes to that of a jungle, green mosses and ferns climbing on trees. Chirrups and clicks echoed in his ears, a mosquito buzzing in the open window before he swatted it away.

He survived well enough after the symbol glowed the other day, ignoring Taj and his constant jabs. He didn't feel like giving in to his cousin, not even now, after his collection of courage to drown Kongamoto.

He had feelings, too.

Maybe it was a mere thing for Taj, but for Kwame, it was very much a big deal. And even if he was a coward, he didn't appreciate being treated like his small attempt at bravery meant nothing.

He wasn't much for arguments, either. If he was another person, he would've rubbed it in about how his original plan would've worked really well.
It was cold and awkward.
But knowing how unusual it is to be called before 18 made him bite his lip.

"Coincidence?" she laughed. "No. Impossible. Lemuria has no need of any , it had its own guards. Being summoned there-" she kissed his cheek. "Oh, I'm so proud of you! Your daddy would've been so happy!"

The thought of it blossomed an odd warmth in his heart. Taj and the gem was pushed away from his mind when his daddy came in the view.

Daddy was always his top priority. Along with mommy, of course.

"I-Is he alright?" his voice was mousy and quiet. "Daddy, I mean."

"Daddy is fine," she offered an equally quiet answer, and squeezed his shoulder. "He's stable. It is not in your responsibility to worry about him."

"I'm just-"
"I want you to focus on what is ahead of you, Kwame," she assured. "He is fine, and I am too."

"Oh," he nodded, though the answer did not put him at ease. His hands felt cold and stiff. "Do you have... enough to pay for daddy's treatment?"

"We are not rich," her eyes glinted. The kind of look she'd always give him every time something was obviously wrong, but was told to be alright. "But the pay as a waitress is enough to provide money. For daddy, and for us."

The look made him felt helpless, that he could do nothing to ease her burden.
That he could do nothing to take her pain.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He lifted his gaze to his mother, with her heart-shaped face, thin eyebrows and dark Afro hair tied into a bun. He stretched his lips and forced his mouth to a smile. "I guess so, mommy."

"Good boy," she reached over to the backpack behind him. "Do you want to skim through about Lemuria, one last time?"

He had read the tale of Lemuria so much over and over again for the last two weeks, that he was sure he could utter back the exact words, one by one. Though, a moment with his mommy was rare, given her constant search for jobs and money.

"I'd like that."
She squeezed his hand, the other placing the book on her lap.
The least he could do was make her happy.

"Are you sure this is Lemuria?"

"Yes, of course."

"Hmm," Asha tapped her chin with a finger, Kwame just about to leap off from the mossy green jeep. "I'm sure there were... people the last time."

He ducked under zephyrs and stepped over large tree roots slithering above the ground. He could see a frog from the tree, doing nothing but croak and stare. When he looked up, all that greeted his eyes were small piece of land where they stood, then the never-ending folds of the sea.

"Of course," Uncle Denzel gave a casual shrug, crossing his arms and looking over his shoulder. Kwame could feel their eyes on him, so he clutched his bag, straightening as he walked. His palms chilled, a flutter in his guts. "But this is a big surprise for Kwame."

"Good," she smiled, and lent out a hand to her son. "Come on, Kwame."

He clasped her hand with a chuckle, her palm just as comforting but dry, as it was years ago. Mother had always been holding his left hand, and Daddy would've hold the right. A shiver ran in his right palm, as if expecting the bigger, stronger hand from the man he loved to clasp it.

Uncle's gaze twisted his heart into knots, wishing so badly it was his Daddy instead of Daddy's brother, taking time before leading him to their family secret. They had the exact shade of sharp dark brown eyes, and the pointy chins.

"Where are we?" He questioned.

"Lemuria, of course," Uncle spread his arms, as if grandly presenting a portrait in an art exhibit, a wooden staff hanging by his elbows. "The Lost Continent."

Kwame was a coward.
But he'd never seen himself as stupid. He frowned.

"That's the sea."

"Or so it seems."

He remembered the tales about primate beasts, people of Lemuria with magic and knowledge--aging far to the Golden Age.
But the scientists proved its inexistence, and what he saw did not dissapoint the statement.
His grip on his bag tightened.

Being an meant defying logic most of the time, but this was too much for his logical brain.

"Lemuria exists to this very day, Kwame," Asha mumbled, rubbing his knuckles, as if she noticed the flabbergasted look on his face. "But there's a reason why they call it a Lost Continent."

"Only very special people can see it," Uncle nodded, stepping forward. "Those who have the gifted blood in our veins."

"Oë," he guessed.

"Yes," Denzel tapped his staff on the ground with a howling call. The tip of it brightened in white, forming what Kwame heard was the League symbol, like patterns rising from the soil to the staff in gold. He grinned at them as the staff flickered off like leaves in the wind. "Welcome to Lemuria."

The land slowly spread, sand and soil unfolding to reveal miles and miles of land. Trees and creätures emerged from thin air, each landing their eyes on him before settling in place.

A call echoed all around him, the bushes and trees shuffling and shifting. Kwame's eyes widened when he saw people--walking on four, with fur on their body and a long, long tail--scattering in a circle from throughout the jungle. They clicked their tongues and kept their flickering yellow gaze on him, some in black, others in grey and brown. He estimated they were at least his height.

"They're...real."
Asha and Denzel laughed at his reaction.

The biggest one of all--red in colour, with black marks around the eyes--leapt in from the tree tops, the tail in curls and claws on the hands. The most crucial telling that he was the leader was the headband on its head, decorated with yellow and grey feathers.

It spoke in a language Kwame never heard of, and bowed on its knees before casting its gaze on them.

"Welcome to Lemuria," it spoke African with a heavy unknown accent. "The Lost Continent."

"You remember me?" Denzel rubbed his wrists, then nodded to Asha. "And her?"

"I am a thousand millions-years old, and there are many visitors of Lemuria," it closed its eyes. "I am old and forgetful, but I will remember who you are in a few more time spent."

"This is Kwame," Mommy rubbed his shoulder. "He is called by the League."

"He is?"

"I...saw the symbol," he swallowed. "It floated around from my gem."

"How peculiar," it squinted. "Come closer, child."

Kwame looked up at his mother, who nodded with an encouraging nudge. He released their link, taking one step at a time until he was only about half a feet from it. His hands were wet and cold, the hairs on his neck upright.

"How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"Underage," it licked its lips. "But you are not lying."

He nodded, a bile in his throat. Denzel gave him a small smirk. The Lemurians chief stomped its feet thrice.

"We will take you to where you are summoned," it said, its thick lips stretching, curving, to a strange smile. "Come with us."

Before he could do anything, his Mommy pulled him by the arm. "Kwame, working with the League is a big responsibility, facing a big number of risks," she whispered. "But I trust you. I trust you can provide whatever they needed of you. If you don't wish to, however, we can always turn back."

He looked down on his watch, his bag, his Uncle, the Lemurians-
His Mommy.

"I will make you proud."
Asha kissed his head. "I've always been proud of you."

"Well, then," Denzel gave a signal to the chief. "Let's take off."

It moved on two with a call, the others following suit to one direction, some on the ground while others in trees. Denzel smiled, walking right behind them.
"That's..." Kwame blinked, hugging his bag to his chest. "The Lemurians. They're real."

"I know," she walked by his side. "Good luck, my dear."

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