Chapter 45: Seeking Guidance and an Ancestral Connection
1372words
Sleep wouldn't come. Her mind was a whirlwind of questions. Who was the man? What did he want? And especially, how could they break the Moonlight Lease without losing their artistic passion?
Kunle's words, even with his secret motives, stayed in her mind. He talked about the Orisha, which are strong spirits from Yoruba stories. Maybe, Eki thoughted, this was the answer. Maybe in their world there could be a solution, a way to use creativity without entering darkness.
With a new purpose, Eki takes out her laptop. The screen comes on with a flicker, making pale light shine on her face of strong will and determination. She spent the whole night learning about Yoruba mythology, feeling her heart beat faster with each discovery.
She discovered that the Orisha are not simply gods, but beings with many different sides representing various aspects of nature and human life. There is Oshun, who is the goddess of love and beauty; Ogun, a strong warrior; and Obatala, recognized as the creator. Each Orisha had a specific domain and a powerful force associated with them.
Eki is experiencing an unusual attraction towards Oya, who is the Orisha of wind, storms, and change. The energy from Oya appears to resonate strongly with Eki's own stormy emotions. The storm inside her, the struggle between feeling scared and being brave, was very much like Oya's free nature. Maybe Oya has the answer?
Days became weeks while Eki explored further. She read many ancient books, watched old and unclear documentaries, and met a local Ifa priestess who had much knowledge about Yoruba traditions. The priestess, a woman with a gentle face called Mama Idowu, listened to Eki's story very patiently and advised mysteriously.
"The Orisha do not give easy answers, child," Mama Idowu said with her voice old and rough. "They want loyalty and sacrifice, and you must be ready to face things you do not know."
Eki feels fear shaking inside her, but she keeps going. She notices a stronger bond with Oya like Orisha paying attention to her journey and watching closely over her steps. This makes Eki feel comfort even in scary times because she knows not alone. Dreams turning into scenes of a fight, so clear and scary. Eki stood at a crossroads, hearing Oya's voice softly in her ear, offering huge power but at a high price.
But Eki did not want to lose her artistic honesty. She wishes for Oya's strength and changing power, but also she does not like to give up her creativity at the same time. She dreams about using a paintbrush, not like something to create ideas forcefully, but as a part of her soul. It is powered by Oya's wild energy.
One night, a new dream began. This time, there were no empty crossroads; Eki was in a green and lively forest. The air was full of unusual energy, and the smell of fresh flowers came to her nose. Then she saw her. Oya was standing in front of her, looking very impressive. She wore clothes made from blue fabric that flowed around her, and her eyes seemed like strong storms.
But Oya's face did not show anger; instead, it showed respect. "You fight a worthy battle, child," Oya said in a voice like a strong wind. "You seek strength without succumbing to the darkness. Such resistance pleases me."
Eki felt tears come into her eyes. This was not the scary Orisha she saw in her dreams, but a strong one who understood her troubles. "How can I… how can I escape?" Eki spoke nervously, her voice very soft.
Oya made me smile, and Eki felt a cold shiver go down the spine. "The answer is inside you, child," she says to him. "Hold the storm inside yourself, this confusion makes your creativity increase. Use it carefully and respect the power you have."
Eki woke up suddenly, the dream still feeling very real to her. She didn't know everything yet, but she felt a small hope growing inside her. Oya's words echoed in her mind – embrace the storm within.
Suddenly, a loud banging noise on her door made her snap out of her thoughts. She jumped up quickly, feeling her heart beating very fast in her chest. Who could it be at this hour?
With a shaking hand, Eki opened the door. A sudden gust of wind closed the door hard behind the person, making Eki feel a shiver up the spine. The air felt strange and full of energy, almost like it was alive. For a moment, Eki thought she could hear the faint sound of wings that were not there. In front of her stood Kunle, his face showing both urgency and something that resembled fear very much.
"Eki," he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. "We need to talk. Something… something terrible is happening."
Eki's mind raced. Kunle, of all people, seeking her help? But before she could question him, Kunle continued, his voice laced with desperation.
"The entity… it's out. It escaped the collapsing chamber and its feeding. Draining artists all over the city. Their dreams… their inspiration… it's being devoured."
Eki felt his stomach twist. Those gentle voices from the dream and the feeling of being watched – now everything became frighteningly clear. The entity was no longer contained, and it was wreaking havoc in the city.
"What do we do now?" she asked, her voice trembling even as a fresh determination burned within her chest.
Kunle stared into her eyes, the sadness in his own eyes slowly turning to something like admiration. "You... you could be our only hope, Eki." With the paintbrush... Maybe, just maybe, you find Oya's power. You battle an entity by using its storm."
Eki's hand moved automatically, reaching for the paintbrush. The polished wood felt cool against her skin. She felt scared but also had a new sense of purpose at the same time. She is not sure if she can use Oya's power, or if she can fight the creature that gets strength from stolen creativity. But one thing was clear – she could not simply stand by as the city's artistic spirit disappeared.
Taking a deep breath, Eki looked at Kunle with eyes full of determination. "Then we go find this storm," she said in a strong voice. "Let's fight fire with fire."
When they walked at night, the city lights became blurry and lines moved fast. There was a sense that something bad might happen soon in the air. But for the first time since they found Moonlight Lease, Eki feels a small sign of hope. She is not only an artist but also a fighter, with a brush in hand and a strong connection to powerful Orisha. The struggle for Lagos' soul began already, and Eki felt Oya's fierce spirit inside her. She got ready to lead in this fight.
But as they disappeared into the winding streets of Lagos, a mysterious figure emerged from an alley nearby. The shape appeared to glow with dark power. It held very tight to a small, fancy box—the same one Eki used to own—and an evil smile appeared on its twisted face.
"Foolish girl," it said with a rough voice like many whispers talking at once. "You think you can control the storm?" You will only fuel its fury."
With a cold laugh echoing on the quiet street, the figure gripped the box even tighter. A wave of dark energy spread across the city, twisting dreams into odd forms and creating chaos in every artist's mind. The battle may have just begun, but now it is getting more serious. The true power of the Moonlight Lease, hidden for many centuries, will almost be uncovered. Only Eki, with a paintbrush in hand and a newfound strong connection to the Orisha spirits, had any chance of stopping it from happening.
