War Witch

In the midst of a brutal civil war in sub-Saharan Africa, 12-year-old Komona (character name) is forcibly taken by ruthless rebel forces and molded into a child soldier under the merciless command of the Great Tiger. The rebels cruelly compel Komona to commit an unspeakable act: the murder of her own parents. Subsequently, she is transported to a desolate island where numerous other children are similarly coerced into becoming miniature warriors, armed with formidable weapons and forced to fight alongside their oppressors. As Komona's psyche begins to fracture under the relentless trauma, she turns to tree sap as a means of escape, only to find herself trapped in a world of vivid hallucinations. It is these surreal visions that ultimately prove instrumental in her survival during an intense rebel attack, leading the Great Tiger to perceive her as a child witch and a valuable asset, not unlike a prized possession.

As Komona's grip on reality begins to slip further, she finds solace in her budding romance with Magician (character name), a young boy afflicted with albinism. Together, they concoct a daring plan to escape the clutches of their captors, ultimately finding themselves in a small town where Magician hopes to secure Komona's hand in marriage by capturing a mystical white rooster - a symbol of good fortune and a crucial component in securing her consent. However, their fragile happiness is shattered when Komona is kidnapped once more by one of the Great Tiger's loyal commanders, and Magician meets a tragic end at his hands.

Shattered and broken, Komona falls prey to the commander's cruel advances, only to exact a brutal revenge upon him moments later. As she flees her tormentor, Komona finds herself back in her deserted hometown, where she narrates the events of her tumultuous life story to her unborn child. It is here that she gives birth to a baby boy, whom she names after the Magician who had once brought light and hope into her dark world.