The Harmattan winds brushed through the rusty windows of the Obafemi Awolowo Library in Ibadan, stirring dust motes like ancient spirits returning to listen. Rows of forgotten books lined the old shelves—some brittle with age, others bloated from neglect. It wasn't the kind of place most students ventured into willingly. But Amara Obinna was not most students.
A postgraduate researcher in History and Religious Studies, Amara had a mind wired for mysteries. She preferred the company of dusty scrolls to people, and had a stubborn habit of asking dangerous questions—especially ones her lecturers preferred she left alone.
On that particular Thursday, the power had flickered out for the third time. Still, she pressed on, guided by the dim glow of her rechargeable lamp. The manuscript she stumbled upon had no index record. Its title was written in an old Ethiopian script—Ge'ez, if she remembered correctly.
Wrapped in worn, reddish hide, it exuded the kind of presence you didn't ignore. She felt it before she even opened it.
"Strange… this isn't catalogued," she muttered to herself.
As her fingers traced the first line, she paused. The ink, though faded, shimmered under her lamp. She spoke the words aloud, half in awe, half in disbelief.
"To the keepers of time, and the watchers of men: The thrones that were shall be again. He who has wisdom, let him discern the pattern of kings…"
Suddenly, the lamp flickered violently. A cold wind whispered through the cracks of the building and blew out the flame. Amara jolted upright.
"What is this?"
She stared into the darkness, her breath shallow. The atmosphere had shifted. The silence felt heavy, like the moment before a storm.
Relighting the lamp with trembling hands, she stared at the scroll again. Her academic curiosity warred with the sudden unease crawling up her spine.
A Journey Begins
That night, she couldn't sleep. The words haunted her—"the pattern of kings."
She poured over the manuscript, page after page. It wasn't a history book. It was part chronicle, part prophecy. It told of ancient kings—Nimrod, Pharaoh, David, Solomon, and Cyrus—but not as dry biographies. Each chapter unveiled their choices, their spirits, their shadows. Their rise, their rule, their ruin. And each bore a mirror to this present world.
"This isn't just history," she whispered. "It's a map. A warning."
She highlighted a passage in the margin:
"The kings of old still rule—not in name, but in pattern. The spirit of Nimrod governs the digital empires. The pride of Pharaoh lords over pulpits and parliaments. The fall of Solomon reflects in tech giants. The heart of David is rare—but needed now more than ever."
Her hand hovered over the manuscript. A strange warmth pulsed through her chest.
Amara (thinking):"Is this why I was drawn to this field? To write a thesis—or to deliver a message?"
A Call to Destiny
The next day, she met her advisor, Dr. Emmanuel Falana- a respected professor known for his calm cynicism.
Amara:
"Sir, have you ever heard of a scroll that links ancient kings to modern leadership trends—through spiritual patterns?"
Dr. Falana (raising an eyebrow):
"Are you asking me academically—or have you joined the charismatics now?"
Amara:
"I'm serious. This scroll… it speaks of kings who are not just men but archetypes. Patterns repeating in today's leaders."
Dr. Falana (sighs):
"Miss Obinna, you're brilliant. But be careful. Scholars who stare too long into old texts start seeing things."
(pause)
"Still... bring it to my office. I'd like to see this 'spirit of kings' for myself."
Amara knew then—this wasn't going to be a normal thesis.
A Seed Planted
Character Growth
Amara moves from skeptical scholar to a woman disturbed by destiny. Her identity begins to shift—she's no longer just uncovering knowledge, she's being summoned by it.
Final Line
"The throne that once ruled the world may yet rise again. But it will not come with crowns or armies—it will come with influence, systems, and a name the world forgets to fear."