Chapter 79: A Test of Courage
886words
He felt fear growing inside him, cold dread going deep into his bones. The name Olumide meant strength, wealth and power. But hidden beneath this shiny surface was one secret - it inherited abuse and self-centeredness.
The trial was set to take place in a room, which was made as a digital replica to recreate the old-times ambience. In this setting, Dapo would face ghostly figures symbolizing many generations of Olumides who continued the cycle of abusive behaviour.
When he walked into the chamber, everything became different. The village he was familiar with disappeared and changed to an unfamiliar place. It turned into a harsh place with only emptiness all around him. Far away, he saw a big building that seemed like a black stone going very high up in the sky.
The first figure that came out from the dark was his granddad, a man everybody knew for being very strict and demanding. His eyes, cold like ice and smart like strategy, looked at Dapo with silent blame.
"You are the person who carries our wrongdoings," said a ghostly shape with a voice that echoed throughout the whole place. "You represent the last page of our story."
Dapo felt strong anger. He did not want to believe that his family's past could stop him, because he is one person with his special path.
"I am not the same as my ancestors," he said with a strong voice. "I will not let their mistakes stop me."
The person hiding in the shadows laughed softly and without feeling, "We will see," it said before starting to fight.
The battlefield was a mix of dark and light, with many ghost-like figures coming from different places. These had twisted and scary shapes that attacked us in a way which felt both frightening but also exciting at the same time.
Dapo kept going forward, his mind very clear and body moving like on its own. He would stop, avoid hits, and counterattack without thinking too much. Every time he makes a hit, it feels like freedom - breaking away from old limits.
But this was not only a battle; it was also the struggle of strong spirits - seeing who can show their true self. Those ghostly forms that no one could see were laughing at him, reminding him about his family's dark past. They tried to break his spirit, to make him doubt himself.
Dapo's old memories from his past life, which he kept hidden deep inside for many years, started to come back. All the guilt and shame he carried with him from those days are coming out now like a heavy weight on his mind. He saw all the pain and misfortune caused by his family's actions; it was too much for him to handle.
Still, he did not give up. He kept thinking about the words Eki had told him - how she believed strongly in what he could do. He thought about those people who were hurt by the secret group: all those artists whose lives got destroyed because of their actions.
He discovered strength within himself and faced those who hurt him. He did it not only for his benefit but also for the many other lost souls.
As time passed, the ghostly figures began to weaken. They turned more transparent, and their attacks grew less powerful. I felt a strong energy inside me, a sensation that nobody could beat me.
Finally, he gave the last crucial hit that defeated this ultimate ghostly figure. The room became silent, with only his breathing noise coming back to him.
He had made it, conquering the battles within himself. But the real test was still to come.
And when he stopped, his eyes moved around the room. There was nothing to look at now, so it got quiet in a very odd manner. But from the middle of the room came a new person: It was a woman, covered in shadow, face not seen. She moves quietly and slowly, like she floats in the air. Everyone stops to look at her with curious eyes, wondering who she might be.
She went forward, her face showing up many times in the room. "You have shown courage, but your journey is not over," she said.
Dapo's fear grew quickly. Who is this woman and what does she want?
She extended her hand, and the room transformed. The walls shifted back, showing a new scene that appeared full of promise.
"This is the next trial," she said. "A test of creation."
Dapo was confused. He had already battled his demons and conquered his fears. What more could they want from him?
The lady's eyes showed she understood. She says, "You conquer the past; now is the time to build the future."
After she said that, she was gone; and Dapo saw he was alone in the different room. He felt shocked but also a little scared - now, the next test would begin soon.
