Chapter 58: Exploring Inspiration
1202words
"Can you believe we're here?" Dapo asked, his voice filled with wonder.
Eki agreed by nodding her head, while her eyes moved around the large ruins. The place felt full of mystery and power. It felt like ghostly spirits of old kings and queens still hiding in every dark corner of those broken walls.
Each time they explore the ancient ruins, their minds fill with wild ideas and images. Dapo always brings his camera, taking many pictures of the lovely broken structures while Eki quickly captures the true feeling of this place in her drawings.
When the sun starts going down and makes long shadows appear on old ruins, they look for a quiet place to relax. Sitting next to each other in silence feels nice as they think about everything found today.
"I can feel the energy like this place has life," Eki said with wonder.
Dapo nodded. "It's like stepping back in time."
The conversation turned to plans, and they talked about wanting to blend old items with new ones. They hope to make places that look modern but still keep the traditional feel.
"I have a dream," Eki said, her eyes shining brightly. "I want to create something that shows our culture—something very touching, which hits the heart and makes strong emotions."
Dapo nodded in agreement. "I also have very much love for storytelling in my art." Stories that help people reconnect with their origins."
When evening came, they went back to the hotel to rest. They were very tired but also full of joy. Their bodies are aching from all the walking and exploring during the day. They lie in bed, feeling both pain and joy from everything they experienced today.
Later, it becomes time to return to places we are familiar with and explore new ones. We travel to Ile-Ife; many people believe this is where Yoruba civilization began. Also, we go to Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, which UNESCO says is a World Heritage site. Every place we see there feels like discovering something new and deep in Yoruba culture.
One afternoon, while they prepared to go to a village far away from their home, something unexpected happened. A storm came quickly. They walked the dry road, but soon rain began to pour heavily, turning roads into streams of mud. For a place to stay, we found a hut owned by an old bàbá. The firewood in the hearth is making a joyful noise.
The elder, whose face showed many years of life, greeted them in a very warm manner. He spoke about old traditions and wisdom handed down by ancestors through many generations. Eki and Dapo listened to his talk, but many thoughts also quickly ran through their minds.
During the storm, they talk and laugh. The advice from the old man makes their tired hearts feel better. They walked out of the hut after the rain stopped to see everything covered with lightness.
The way was not easy. Sometimes they felt irritated and puzzled, like everything was too hard for them to handle. But, each problem they faced - from minor arguments to larger obstacles - made their bond grow stronger over time.
In the evening, while they were sitting on the hotel's porch and watching the sun go down, Eki talked with Dapo. "I never think I can find something like this," she said in a thankful voice.
Dapo took her hand. "Me neither. This journey has been a gift."
The last sunlight was gone, and they felt peaceful. It seemed like everything had found the right place, with calm thoughts and hopeful hearts.
But, as they looked at the sky that was getting darker, something strange showed up on the horizon. It seemed like a bright light that blinked oddly. They felt both intrigued and worried at this sight. What could it be?
The light became more bright and a strange shine went everywhere. It was a moment for a new adventure, the type that tests courage and love.
The light was very bright. It seems to pulse like a heart and draws them in just like moths to a flame - there is an attraction they can no longer resist. When they get closer to the place where light comes from, all things around them start looking strange. The normal ground goes away, and a weird and creative scene appears instead. This place shines so bright that it looks like it's not from this world.
They felt both fear and excitement together. This was something new for them; they had not faced such a situation before. They looked at each other, eyes filled with fear, holding hands tightly.
"We have to be careful," Dapo whispered, his voice trembling slightly.
Eki nodded to show she agreed, feeling her heart beating very quickly. They walked further into the bright area, where the ground beneath was soft and gave way easily under their feet. Strange airy things were flying about them, changing their shapes.
Next, a noise happened. It passed through the air making a sound like distant thunder, a kind of deep rumble. The words, they were strange but one thing was clear: those did not belong there.
The ghost creatures get angry and turn very scary, changing their shapes. Eki and Dapo move closer; fear turns into strong determination not to be frightened.
When the beings went forward, Eki started feeling a strong energy growing inside her. The knowledge she gathered from old places and her connection with the Yoruba spirit changed into true power. She lifted her palms and light came out from them.
The creatures were coming back, their shapes flickering and getting smaller. Dapo arrived next to Eki, his strength also helping to increase the power. Together, they made the darkness disappear and the light they created became stronger and more vibrant.
They felt weary, yet content. They selected an area in this pleasant space. The creatures left, and calmness spread all around. The glowing scene began to disappear, revealing the normal night sky.
As they come out from a strange place, their eyes show a mix of surprise and worry. They meet new things, face fears, and grow stronger within themselves.
They leave the city with much noise, go through places with very old history, and now reach an area not well known to them. They find many things about their culture and realize that the love and courage they have are very strong.
They go back to the hotel, and the sky is getting lighter because morning time is coming soon. A new day begins with a fresh start, giving them many opportunities. They met many things they did not understand and still managed to overcome them. Together, they will handle any issues that come in the future.
