Chapter 55: A Spiritual Connection
1335words
Yet, beneath her arrogance, a small worry secretly bothered her. What took place in the server room remained in her thoughts like an unwelcome memory. Yemi's statements, the stranger she barely knows, and the uneasy belief that her coworkers might be spies – all these issues prevent real joy from coming into the accomplishments she has put so much effort into reaching.
_Did the story have a continuation?_ Eki wondered while she gazed at the mural's incomplete painting showing an energetic, rotating universe. _Was Yemi just part of something greater?_
When she smelled sandalwood incense, a cold shiver ran down her spine. She always understood spirit was near when this occurred. Eki turned very quickly, her heart beating fast in her chest. The afternoon sun made long shadows on unfinished walls, but the feeling was no more there.
She was feeling both disappointed and somewhat relieved. Maybe her mind did not fully grasp everything that recently occurred. When she was preparing to leave, a soft voice that felt both kind and clear resonated through the large hall.
"Eki," it is called, the voice seemingly emanating from everywhere and nowhere at once.
Eki turned quickly, her breath catching in her throat. There, with golden sunlight entering through a tall window and covering it beautifully, was a spirit standing. This time it looked more tallish, its shape bright and clear-like with eyes like magic light.
"You do good, child," says the spirit. Spirit's voice is like a soft song that makes the storm inside Eki quiet and calm. "You stop repeating mistakes, you surprise everyone and you find your real mission."
Eki's throat tightened, forming a lump. "But what happened to Yemi? And that man... who was he?"
The ghost's shape moved slightly. "This is not something you need to worry about." The powers of karma are working, and justice will win."
Eki very much wished to argue and search for answers, but she stayed quiet. The spirit's words touched something deep inside her - she understood that she couldn't control what other people did, only how she acted herself.
"Instead," the spirit continued, its voice a gentle caress, "I offer you a gift."
Eki's heart quickened with anticipation. "A gift?"
The spirit put out a hand and seemed to shine but not very clearly. Eki moved her hand slowly toward the spirit one with some unsure thoughts about what could happen next. When she places her hand on the spirit's, warm energy flows from it into her. This gives her a feeling of calm and clear mind. When she closed her eyes, inside appeared moving images - colours spinning all around, vivid patterns, and a strong realization of how everything is linked together.
With the warmth gone, Eki's eyes opened. On her eyelashes, there were shiny tears. Everywhere around seemed brighter and more colourful than before. The noises from the construction site made a special kind of music, while the half-finished mural appeared to have its own life inside it.
"This is..." she stammered, her voice thick with emotion.
"Stronger bond with the creative power of Orisha," the spirit told with a sure voice. "Use it wisely, Eki." Use it to direct your art, motivate others and illuminate the path ahead.
Eki nods, I thank you very much. The spirit smiles, and light shines from its ghost form. Then it disappears fast like how it came, leaving a warm feeling and a memory of a soft voice.
Eki stayed there for a long time, feeling joy after meeting the spirit. The words of the spirit kept echoing in her mind, and she discovered new meanings from them. She artist, a pathway for Orisha's creative force; her art had enough strength to change the world.
Eki's way of painting became more focused. It looked like her brush was moving with the help of some invisible force that helped her out. The colours on the canvas looked rich and lively as if they had a life of their own. While painting, she felt linked to something bigger than just herself. It felt strange to her like she was becoming a piece of something huge and mysterious.
Suddenly, a loud voice appeared from nowhere and shattered the quietness. "Eki! What are you doing?"
Eki turned her head back and saw a man with a big stomach and a thick moustache. His face looked very angry as he walked fast in her direction. He wore a clean suit that did not fit this dirty construction place at all.
"Who are you?" Eki demanded, her initial surprise morphing into annoyance.
"I am Mr. Ajayi," he shouted, "this is a private place! You are not allowed here to break walls!"
Eki's reaction was similar to a brush bristle. Vandalism? The wall painting had bright colours and swirling designs, it seemed like a picture that was alive and moving, not just normal street graffiti. But when she wanted to talk about it, an unexpected cold feeling of realization came over her.
"Mr. Ajayi?" she asked, her voice shaking a bit. "Is it the same owner who was managing the old building here before this one?"
The man pushed his chest out. "Of course, and I do not want any... road artists messing up my work!"
Eki felt deep fear that went straight to his heart. The cultural centre was now exactly where Mr Ajayi's old warehouse used to be, the same place he did not want to sell when the city council needed it for their new plans. He argued with the city. They fought in court for many months, then they found a solution together.
But Eki believed that the council-owned everything completely. Is it not so? Panic began to eat up the borders of her certainty.
She spoke with a voice that trembled, showing her worry about what she was going to say: "There must be some mistake. I thought about the city council..."
Mr. Ajayi snorted. "Council? Don't make me laugh. They did a 'settlement,' truly. An agreement giving me control of many areas, and this wall is one.
Eki became very sad. The problem was no longer just for one worried businessman; it changed into a big issue - something that could stop the project forever and leave it not finished. The present from the spirit, her new connection with creative energy - is it enough to face this unexpected problem?
When Mr. Ajayi is shouting, strong emotions start to grow inside Eki. She realizes that it is not over yet. Orisha did not bring her this far just to abandon her now. She will find a way. She had to.
Eki takes a deep breath, straightens her shoulders, and looks at Mr. Ajayi without blinking. "Alright," she says in a voice stronger than she thought it would be. "Possibly we can negotiate about this, Mr. Ajayi."
Mr. Ajayi's face looked surprised for a moment, but soon he went back to serious expression. "What topic do you want to discuss?" he asked. He asked. He growled.
Eki's eyes met his, and on her face appeared a new resolve. "Regarding the power of art," she said with a slight smile forming on her lips. "How it can link up spaces, stimulate alterations and maybe... change an area."
The afternoon sun went down below the horizon, making long shadows appear from the hall that was still not fully built. Eki watched Mr. Ajayi, feeling like there were many things they wanted to say but didn't - a feeling of conflict between them. The future for the cultural centre, and perhaps Eki's journey as an artist too, is uncertain and can go in any direction.
