Yo Muse, divine bringer of inspiration, I call upon you for your guiding revelations. So grant me your gifts, melodious and true, As I embark on a quest of valor anew. From Ghana's shores, where tales resound, Jericho Sorkpor, is destiny bound, Descendant of Anansi, spinner of lore, Ancestral threads, your spirit implores. With Anansi's wisdom, a cunning art, Weave your words, a poet's gentle start, Your voice a beacon, in the heroes quest, An eighth half-blood, a fabled guest. The call of the sea, an ancient song, Echoes through her veins, both fierce and strong. With Neptune's blood, her heritage grand, She steps forth, destined to take a stand. As waves crash upon the shore's embrace, Jericho's journey takes shape, a new chase. Amidst the tides of destiny's flow, An unexpected encounter begins to grow.

As the Sun reaches the shoreline an enthusiastic girl barges into her Auntie's room.

Jericho Sorkpor quickly emerges from her sleep in a cold sweat, stirred by the soft golden light filtering through the curtains and unsettling dreams. As her eyes adjusted to the morning glow, a smile formed on her lips as she recognized the energetic voice that filled the room.

"Auntie! Auntie! It's time to wake up."

Rolling out of bed Jericho is suddenly flooded with memories. Chores and oyster diving with Kofi and Papa, Visits from Aunt Ama, the old women from the neighboring compound exchanging stories and sharing food, the joy of the grandkids returning from Kumasi and Accra, transforming into guides for the adventurous summer days. The visiting gang of fishermen, seeking Papa's wisdom and guidance, connects the community in their pursuit of the abundant fish. She longed for the tranquility of that life, the simplicity of the daily routines, and the tight-knit bonds that wove their way through the fabric of their community. Yet she had left one faithful day the day she turned 12 she and Kofi were by themselves on the boat for the first time.

She always had an innate gift for boating and navigating she didn't know why back then just chalked it up to luck. When the duo reached their usual spot Kofi went down first while She anchored the ship and kept watch. Kofi always tried to beat her when it came to diving and always lost this time he claimed it would have been different cause Papa taught him a trick. While waiting for Kofi Jericho got lost in thought she had been thrown out of the classroom again. She could never sit still or finished her homework so the Teacher didn't like her and always hit or throw her out and after a while she stopped caring. It was more fun to go out with Papa while Kofi was stuck in the classroom that's what he gets for being good at school, suddenly she's jostled back into reality by Kofi throwing a snorkeling mask at her.

"What are you daydreaming about Jerri? Can't even focus out of school too."

"Ah! Now why would you bring that up? Here I was looking out for my dear brother and friend and he comes and accosted me about my habits."

"Maybe I wouldn't have to accost you if just paid attention a little more, What am I supposed to tell Papa when I leave for secondary school and you don't."

"You worry too much. Give me that!"

Jericho takes the mask, bag, and knife from Kofi and takes out the oysters he caught around 12 so that means she'll just have to blow him out of the water and get more. Putting on the mask and holding the bag and knife in one hand she takes a great jump from the bow of their little boat and dives right in. Her body slicing through the water she swam with purpose and grace searching for oyster clusters, but it seems like Kofi took all the obvious ones. So she swam deeper and farther out until she saw a giant cluster just sitting there. Happily collecting her spoils she suddenly realized that the bag was too small to collect all of the oysters so feeling a bit discouraged she returned to the boat.

Kofi was a good swimmer and diver he had an amazing lung capacity and was one of the best fishermen in comparison to the career ones. Yet Jerri always outshined him in that aspect while he was great she was exceptional and he was proud of her for that, Plus he was better than her in other things like school and cooking. While Kofi sat there thinking about lunch and boats he failed to notice Jericho sneaking up behind him.

"Boo!"

Surprised Kofi swung but Jericho dodged while laughing.

"Jerri, really every time."

"Yes, Every. Time."

Rolling his eyes, Kofi brings up the anchor which is just a rope with a giant rock at the end. "Well I got 12, but I'm sure you found a way to beat me again."

"Always so sure of yourself huh? Kofi"

"Just get on with it."

"Here you count and I'll man the boat."

As Kofi spent his time counting and organizing the oysters Jericho steered the ship and the duo fell into a comfortable silence until they reached the shoreline.

"You caught 34 oysters, Jericho."

"Y'know there was more but the bag couldn't fit them all."

"Well, maybe it'll be there the next time we go out."

While the two were docking and unloading Papa came out and called them.

"Kofi! Jerri! Come inside quickly we have guests."

Curious Jericho and Kofi hurry up and head towards the house. When the two arrive they were met with two people one looked like their countryman with a bald head and pair of sunglasses the other looked like a white tourist. The tourist was holding a wooden box and seemed sort of melancholy. Papa hurriedly told them to bring out drinks for the two and join them in the living room.

"Jerri, Kofi, This is your Uncle Kwaku greet him properly."

In synch, the two tweens wave and say "Hello, Uncle"

Papa gestures to Kofi and says "Go bring in the oysters." before Jericho could turn around and join him Papa sternly says "Just Kofi. Jerri you stay."

The bald man or Uncle Kwaku lets out a snort and says "Papa give them a little break hmm."

Papa looking almost a bit uneasy says "Fine, Kofi go to your room I need to speak to Jerri."

"Yes, Papa"

"Jerri have a seat."

Jericho goes and sits next to Papa as she doesn't want to sit next to the newcomers. Papa turns to her and says that since she's 12 now she must make an important decision.

"Jericho, I'm sure you've noticed that you're different than the other kids. A lot different"

"Huh?"

"Jerri, you can't sit still, you can barely read, and you're impatient and unfocused in most situations. Yet you always have the patience to wait for fish and look for oysters. You can stay underwater for long periods and suffer no damage. Even your eyes Jerri no one around here has such green eyes. "

Jericho didn't think she was so different maybe a little strange but it's not like she was the worst student in school just the one who got kicked out of class the most. Kofi also could stay underwater for a long time sure not as long as her but still longer than everybody else and his eyes weren't brown either so what's the big deal? His were hazel or something that's basically green. Yet Kofi wasn't the one sitting in a room with two strangers and Papa having some talk.

"Don't you want to know about your parents?"

Out of nowhere, the tourist man just asked this question. Jericho a little taken aback finally turns and really looks at this man. He had brown hair and green eyes he was wearing a tropical shirt and shorts, but now looking at him he didn't look like a tourist he looked like a fisherman. His hands were big and still holding that box.

"Uhm Papa, why don't I get Kofi."

Uncle Kwaku spoke and that snapped Jericho back into reality she hadn't noticed she was staring at the man so intensely.

"Kwaku, His room is Ama's old room."

"Of course."

"Jerri, this man is um Mr. Nathanial and he has something for you."

As the staring contest between the two came to a stop the man handed the box to Jericho which she took cautiously with both hands, The box was light for its size and looked really nice.

Jericho must have been inspecting the box for too long, cause the man or Mr. Nathanial said "Don't just stare at it open it."

Without a word, she took off the lid and was met with a silver wristwatch one of those chunky men's ones, a fat silver ring, and a picture. The wristwatch was the first thing she picked up it was heavy and analog not digital which sorta sucked since she can't tell time all that well in the inner band it had the inscription "Ennosigaeus" which means earthshaker. She didn't know how she knew what it meant maybe she was a secret Latin prodigy and the two strange men came to test her for some big competition like she sees in all those movies. Putting on the watch and mumbling a thank you she moves on to the ring; It was big, shiny, and had some carvings of a horse with wings on the side. On the inner side "Thadal" was engraved. Another Latin word meaning tidal. Earthshaker and Tidal for some reason Jericho suspected that these two words should mean something to her, but she couldn't quite put why they would be important.

"The ring might be too big for you"

"Yeah, it might, Thank you, Mr. Nathanial."

"Your welcome, Jericho, and happy birthday."

Reaching out Mr. Nathanial pulls out the picture from the box Jericho in all her curiosity didn't take a proper look at it and ended up standing over Mr. Nathanial to look at the picture. The picture was a bit old but she could make out four people; two women and two men. Uncle Kwaku, Aunt Ama, Mr. Nathanial, and Her Mother. They were all holding swords except. In her mother's other hand a silver pistol. Jerri has never met her mother just seen pictures Papa had, but never did she think that her mother could shoot a gun not from the stories Papa and Aunt Ama told her about her mother being a gentle and soft girl.

"Did you know her?" she asked holding in tears not wanting to cry in front of Papa.

"Your Mother? You could say that."

Papa interjects with his voice trailing off "Jerri, This man is..."

Sea-green eyes meet another pair eerily similar and once again the two are locked in a tense staring competition. Jerri might not be good at school, but she could draw lines and make conclusions. This man is her Father.

"Jericho, I am Neptune Roman god of the Seas and Your father."

It seems her Father has a serious case of insanity.

"I'm not crazy."

"Of course, you're not crazy"

Coming in at an awkward moment Kofi and Uncle Kwaku interrupt what could possibly be the ramblings of a complete lunatic. Kofi holding a small drum and a book bouncing with excitement and wondering.

"Hey! Jerri did you know we're magic?"

Well, that decided what Kofi thought about the matter though she had hoped he had been more skeptical.

Reminiscing about the day her life and understanding of the world was flipped upside down caused Jericho to become a bit peckish. Quickly getting ready she tossed on a pair of shorts and a tank top. Adjusting her watch and ring she makes her way to the dining room and was met with Zion and Papa sitting down.

"How was your sleep, Auntie."

"It was good. How was yours?"

Her sleep was in fact not good she usually always had troubling dreams, but recently they've gotten worse. Her dreams as of late were always about a young boy maybe 15? 16? he has dark hair and green eyes sometimes he's wearing a purple shirt sometimes an orange, but he's always armed with a brilliant bronze sword. The boy was running from something she didn't know what just knew he needed help, but her sword and gun are nowhere near in fact she only wearing a white nightgown. He yells her name and that's where she wakes up.

"You had a dream." Papa spoke with a stern tone.

"Your foresight never fails you, Papa."

Zion a bit confused excitedly goes on about her dream while the two adults listen in silence only interrupted by Kofi coming in with breakfast prepared for all of them.

"Good morning Jerri."

"Morning Kofi."

As Jericho and Zion set the table and Kofi dishes everyone some eggs and bacon, Papa goes over their daily schedule while they eat.

"Jerri and Kofi go out early with the big boat and cast some nets for shrimp tomorrow we go and sell what you catch. Zion, you study your schoolwork and read a chapter of your book when you're done we go and prepare lunch and help unload their boat. After lunch, you are free to do whatever you want. Understand!"

"Understand!"

"Understand!"

"Aye! Aye! Captain."

Sharing a look the family of 4 finishes their breakfast and Papa does the dishes while Jericho and Kofi head out before they could even set their boat at sea. They're met with a chilling scene.

A young Boy floating belly up on shore.

His Orange shirt ripped.

His tan skin bloodied.

He only seemed but sixteen.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed my first chapter, maybe leave a review or follow for more? Anyways have a nice day. :)