WHAT HAPPENS AT TEN O'clock.

Ohinoyi and his father successfully completed his registration, marking the beginning of Ohi's journey as a student at Excellence Boarding School in Ilorin.

Deciding to take a stroll, Ohi and his father wandered through the school grounds, eventually finding themselves at the football field. Here, Ohi observed a diminutive boy effortlessly outplaying a much larger opponent. While Ozovehe was engrossed in the match, Ohi's heart belonged to basketball.

Standing tall and having excelled as the top player in his junior secondary school, Ohinoyi made a firm decision to join the school's basketball team. Seeking guidance, they approached a senior who directed them to a large court designated for registrations.

The court was expansive, filled with seniors displaying their basketball prowess. Ohi observed as the players skillfully aimed for the hoop, the crowd erupting with every successful shot. A guy dressed in blue emerged victorious, drawing the attention of the onlookers.

"Welcome," greeted the young boy seated at the registration table, drawing Ohi's focus towards him. The boy was remarkably tall, with a slender frame, a pointed nose, and distinctively sharp facial features.

"My son wishes to join the basketball team," informed Ozovehe to the young boy.

Standing up, the tall boy appraised Ohi. "Good, you've got height," he remarked, giving Ohi's chest a firm pat.

"Your legs seem sturdy and strong. What matters most to me is seeing your performance on the court," the boy remarked, stepping back from Ohi. Scanning the area, his gaze settled on his intended target.

"Captain!" he called out. Ozovehe and Ohi turned in the direction of his stare. A tall, muscular guy in a vest and shorts sprinted toward the slender boy. Surprisingly, the slim boy edged him by at least an inch in height.

"Sorry, I forgot to ask for your name," the slender boy admitted, scratching his head.

"Aminu, seriously? How could you forget to ask his name?" The boy chuckled awkwardly, then turned to Ohi, awaiting his introduction.

Ohi promptly straightened up. "My name is Ohinoyi M. Ozovehe."

"Nice name. I'm Aminu Maitama, the assistant captain. And this is Abulus Justice, the captain of the basketball team," Aminu introduced.

Ohinoyi mentally noted their names, acknowledging that they held crucial roles in his potential future team.

"Ohi, you'll be up against Uche," Abulus pointed to a fair-skinned, muscular guy who stood as tall as Aminu.

Nodding, Ohi headed toward the court. Aminu gestured for Ozovehe to take a seat as they all focused their attention on the impending one-on-one match between Ohi and Uche.

As Abulus tossed the ball into the air for the tip-off, Uche's height advantage helped him secure possession swiftly. However, owing to the specialized training from Eshu, Ohi possessed extraordinary strength, speed, and agility, surpassing any human capabilities. His lightning-quick reflexes enabled him to dart around Uche, effortlessly snatching the ball and sprinting down the court with incredible speed.

Uche's imposing size posed a challenge for Ohi to drive directly to the basket. Nonetheless, Ohi capitalized on his agility to evade Uche's attempts to block his shots. With lightning-fast passes and sudden changes in direction, Ohi confounded Uche's defense, astonishing the audience and Ozovehe with his finesse and rapid movements.

Despite Uche's reliance on height and strength, Ohi's nimbleness allowed him to maneuver past Uche's defense, executing dazzling moves that left the towering opponent off balance.

Displaying remarkable ball-handling skills and swift maneuvers, Ohi constantly outpaced Uche, leaving him struggling to keep up. Ohi's speed and agility not only helped him avoid Uche's blocks but also facilitated stealing the ball whenever Uche attempted to dominate inside the paint.

In an exhilarating climax, Ohi's agility allowed him to evade Uche's last-ditch efforts to block a crucial shot, sinking a buzzer-beater basket that secured his victory. Despite Uche's physical advantage, Ohi's exceptional speed, agility, and strategic gameplay led him to triumph.

Amidst cheers and applause from onlookers, Uche stood to the side, visibly seething with clenched fists. Ozovehe approached his son in disbelief.

"Wow, Ohi! I had no idea you were that skilled in basketball," exclaimed his father, radiating pride.

Ohi scratched his head and chuckled modestly. "Thanks, Dad."

"Ohi, you're officially appointed as a forward player in our team, while Uche will join as one of the center players," Ozovehe announced, solidifying Ohi's role after his impressive performance.

Uche seethed with anger, watching as Ohi secured the position he desired.

Filled with excitement about his new role, Ohi vowed in his heart to consistently lead the team to victory and reflected on the person who made it all possible – Eshu.

Meanwhile, Eshu explored the bush surrounding Ohi's new school. After Ohi informed him about his enrollment, Eshu meticulously scouted the area and arranged essentials for their continued training.

Excellence Academy, a vast boarding school situated outside town, was enveloped by a dense bush. Despite the school authorities' efforts to fumigate and clear out wild animals, students were strictly prohibited from entering the bush, especially at night.

Squatting in the bush, Eshu was startled by a burgundy light that materialized before him.

"Orisha Oya, quite the free time you possess," Eshu muttered, appearing displeased.

"Isn't the spy you planted to follow me enough?" A pale man in a torn black robe, holding a scythe, emerged from the darkness.

"So, you knew," Oya stated with a blank expression.

"Yes, I knew," replied Eshu.

Oya smiled and met Eshu's gaze, almost piercing his soul. "How is his training progressing?" she inquired.

"Why ask me? Didn't your informant update you?" Eshu scoffed, turning away.

"He did, mentioning the training's sluggish pace," said Oya, drawing a glare from Eshu, causing the creature to retreat into the darkness, sensing his hostility.

"The boy's training is advancing well; he's a quick learner. Did you forget to mention that too?!" Eshu bellowed toward where the creature had stood earlier.

Back at school, Ohi and Ozovehe headed to his new hostel room. Beni had messaged him about his three roommates since it was their first day, and parents were permitted to help with arrangements.

Arriving, they found the mothers chatting and laughing. Ohi's mum directed him to greet the mothers of his new roommates.

"Ohi, come meet the mothers of your new roommates!" she called out.

Ohi joined with a smile, and the other mothers gestured for their sons to do the same. They introduced themselves:

Philip Kwato, with his dark, glistening skin and an air of quiet confidence, stood at an average height. His thoughtful eyes hinted at a depth of intellect, and his calm demeanor exuded a sense of reliability.

Musa Dan Kaka, another roommate, shared Philip's average stature but possessed a certain robustness. His dark skin complemented a handsome face, radiating warmth and amiability. Despite his plump appearance, Musa's affable nature was evident from the friendly glint in his eyes.

Prince David stood apart, a bit smaller in stature but with an intriguing presence. His fair complexion contrasted with the usual size of someone his age, yet his gentle demeanor and slightly reserved nature made him instantly approachable. His soft-spoken voice hinted at a depth of sensitivity beneath his reserved exterior.

As they all exchanged introductions, each boy revealed unique traits that hinted at their individual personalities—Philip's quiet strength, Musa's amiable nature, and Prince's subtle charm. Together, they formed an intriguing quartet, promising an interesting dynamic within their new shared living space.

After an hour, an announcement requested parents to leave. The children escorted them out, and as Ohi bid farewell to his family, emotions welled up within him, feeling the pang of separation for the first time.

Prince, a bit shy, waved at Ohi. Observing his new roommates, Ohi joined them as they chatted, making their way to their new home.

The Proprietor divided the incoming students into groups and assigned a senior to guide each group through the premises.

Ohi and his newfound companions silently trailed behind the designated group until they were at a distance from the Proprietor's sight. Unexpectedly, the senior leading them abruptly stopped and turned around.

"I need your attention! I'm neither your servant nor your guardian. Why should I be showing you around?" The senior had a tough demeanor, reminiscent of a gangster.

Ohi gazed at the senior in disbelief while enduring a string of insults and nonsensical remarks. Growing increasingly irritated, Ohi decided to speak up.

"We didn't request your guidance in the first place." Some were taken aback by Ohi's remark, while others sided with him.

The senior approached Ohi, attempting to appear intimidating, but Ohi stood taller.

"What did you say?" The senior spoke in a menacingly low tone. Prince felt anxious for Ohi.

"I said we never asked for your help to navigate the school."

"He's right," Philip chimed in, joining Ohi's side, followed by Musa.

"You're free to leave if you want; we don't need your assistance," Ohi added. The senior's lips curled into a dangerous smile.

"You think you are a street guy abi, you think you be James Bond, I go show you pepper later."

The guy left them there.

The new students congregated in the dining hall, queuing up to collect their dinners. As it was a co-ed boarding school, separate lines and tables were designated for boys and girls.

Behind Ohi stood a young chatterbox whose incessant talking made Ohi wish he could pull his own ears off. The boy tagged along with them to their tables.

"Guys, we need to sneak out before ten," the boy whispered to them, "He's right," another guy chimed in, startling Ohi and his new friends as they hadn't noticed his presence.

"What happens at ten o'clock?" Ohi inquired.

The boys gasped in surprise. "You don't know." "They don't know," they muttered among themselves. Ohi noticed some students discreetly leaving the dining room.

"What happens at ten?" Ohi asked again.

"My older brother, who graduated, told me that the seniors punish all new students with forty lashes on each side of their backsides," the boy explained.

The thought alone made Ohi shudder. "If that's true, we should leave now." But their attempt was futile.

Seniors blocked all the exits, capturing the students who tried to sneak out. "All the girls should leave!" one senior bellowed, and the girls dispersed. Ohi's eyes met with the gangster-like student he had clashed with earlier, who smiled menacingly and brandished a cane.

Ohi trembled in fear. At the stroke of ten, the seniors advanced towards them, but suddenly, everything halted. The screams, chair movements, and sobbing ceased.

The atmosphere turned from warm to chilling, causing everyone to shiver. Ohi staggered backward, falling to the ground, his eyes vacant as he stared out the window. Prince was the first to notice Ohi's distress.

"This can't be real, this can't be real," Ohi muttered, his body drenched in sweat despite the icy weather.