Chapter 100: A Dream Revisited
1327words
One night, Eki finds it hard to sleep. She feels a strong need to go to the old room in the attic that everyone forgets about. This place is dark and full of memories; before, she liked to go there when she needed comfort. When she stepped into the room, a strange feeling of knowing it came over her. It felt like she had seen it before, maybe in a different era or another life.
She dropped to the ground, and her back hit against a cold stone wall. After a few moments passed, her eyes started getting used to the dark. She could see things slowly changing from unclear shapes into more clear forms. They were familiar yet ghostly, like in a dream.
Then a voice, both gentle and strong at the same time, started to fill up the room. "Eki," it said clearly and loudly.
Eki's heart begins to beat fast when she hears that voice. It was the same voice from her dream—the voice of Olorun.
A shape appeared, glowing softly with a mysterious light. The person was Olorun. But this time, the god seemed different: he had a gentle and kind presence that Eki never felt from him before.
"You have many difficulties faced, Eki," Olorun said with understanding. "But your spirit stayed true."
Eki felt so many emotions at the same time. She had experienced a lot in her life, and it was art that rescued her. It made her feel connected to something bigger than herself.
"Your daring has inspired many to be courageous," Olorun continued. "You bring out a strong spirit in people with your dedication to art."
Eki's eyes fill with tears. She feels calm and understands things that are new to her.
"Eki, you have a gift," Olorun said. "You can fix, motivate and alter. Use this talent well."
As the shape slowly went away, Eki put out her hand and moved it through. All of a sudden, powerful energy rushed into her body, linking with something very deep within herself.
When she woke up, a sunlight beam from the window hit her face. She feels a clear purpose in life that was lost for a long time coming back to her. The dream served as a signal, showing her the path she needed to follow.
She walked down to the ground floor and saw Dapo in the kitchen, preparing coffee. He appeared very exhausted but focused.
"I had the strangest dream," Eki said, her voice filled with wonder.
Dapo looked up, concerned. "Were you okay?"
Eki smiled. "I'm fine. It was a good dream."
She did not tell him about the Olorun part. She thinks he would not understand it, and she also believes this message was only meant for her.
They were sitting, drinking coffee and talking about what will be in the future. They went through many tough times but became stronger because of these experiences. The love they had for each other, their shared passion for art, and their strong hope for humanity's future helped them get through everything.
They decided to start new lives, aiming for a different kind of normal. They wanted to keep working but also find time for themselves – improving and gaining back energy.
While they talk about what to do next, suddenly a news alert shows up on the TV. The headline that grabs their eyes says: "Mysterious Benefactor Donates Millions for Arts Education."
Eki and Dapo stared at the television screen with great focus, their minds wandering. In their heads, many questions quietly emerged. Who can be this helper? Why do they give so much money for arts education? What was the significance to them?
"What? This is amazing," Dapo said in disbelief. "Somebody believes what we are doing is good."
Eki nodded, expressing her gratitude but also caution. "Thank you, but why no name?" she asked in her voice.
They spent the whole day working on the mystery. They send messages to their friends, hoping to find some hint or solution. But no one replied. The benefactor's identity remained a mystery.
Days passed, and then weeks followed, but the person who shared secrets did not appear. Eki and Dapo started to question if they would ever discover who was behind this kind of act.
Then, in front of the door, a package showed up. It was a big wooden box and had no information about who sent it. They felt both excitement and a little bit of fear when they decided to open what was inside.
Inside the crate, there was a single item, a statue. It shows Olorun in a manner nobody had ever seen before. This version of Olorun was not far away and all-powerful; instead, it showed him as a kind being much like humans. In the palm of Olorun's hand lay a small golden key.
A piece of paper was beside the statue. It says, "The key opens the door to your future."
Eki and Dapo shared puzzled looks. What did this indicate? Which door was this key for?
When specialists examined the sculpture, they observed something unusual. On the rear side of Olorun's figure, there appeared to be a concealed segment that no one had discovered earlier. Dapo, with hands shaking, tried to open it.
Inside, they find a very small book with a leather cover. When they open the book, their breath halts from surprise. The reason for this is because the pages have many complex drawings and symbols: it is a map; a map that shows the way to a place no one knows.
They felt a type of excitement, like starting an amazing journey. It was not just a puzzle; it also had the qualities of an adventure. A journey to find out the secret truths from their past, to learn what this trip shows about them.
They put all their things in bags, getting ready to start fresh. What they might discover out there was difficult for them to imagine, but it didn't bother them too much because they felt prepared for anything—having faced hard times before had made this possible.
Eki and Dapo, they are at the airport now with bags ready. They feel happy and scared at the same time; in their hands is a map for new adventures to find hidden secrets and know stories of these places.
On an airplane, they looked at each other in a way that words were not needed. They start trips to places they do not know. This adventure would challenge them both as friends and fighters together.
The plane went up into the sky, flying very high. They looked down and saw how the world was growing below them like one big picture filled with many chances and hopes. The eyes of Eki and Dapo met each other with aspiration and determination.
They were ready, having faced difficulties before and becoming stronger with each encounter.
Eki, when the airplane was lifted into the sky, looked outside through a window and stared at a faraway spot. She felt a peaceful understanding like she found meaning in her life. No matter what comes next, Eki feels ready to handle it with Dapo by her side.
Just when she wants to find peace, something very scary happens on the airplane. The plane starts to go down fast and all passengers scream. Eki and Dapo held each other tightly, sensing their hearts beating in their chests.
A voice crackled over the intercom, "Brace yourselves!"
That time, when the airplane began to descend, Eki and Dapo exchanged worried looks. The adventure turned into a risky situation now.
