The vibrant energy that had pulsed through the village in anticipation of the yam festival was abruptly extinguished, replaced by a heavy blanket of mourning and fear. Iya Agba's sudden and violent death, coupled with the sacrilegious theft of the sacred amulet, cast a dark pall over Ile-Ifẹ. The joyous celebrations were canceled, the rhythmic drumming silenced, and the air, once filled with laughter and song, now echoed with fearful whispers and hushed lamentations. Adewunmi, still haunted by the horrific images of the blood moon night, found herself adrift in a sea of grief and confusion. Sleep offered no respite, her nights filled with vivid, dreamlike visions. She saw shimmering waters flowing gently over smooth stones, heard the soft, melodious murmur of unseen currents, and smelled the intoxicatingly sweet scent of wild honey – sensations that resonated deep within her, stirring a primal recognition, an instinctive association with the benevolent Orisha Oshun.
Days bled into a week, each one heavier than the last. The strange warmth that had bloomed within Adewunmi on the night of the blood moon intensified, becoming a constant, subtle hum beneath her skin. One sun-drenched morning, as she went to the winding stream at the edge of the village to draw water for her household, an inexplicable phenomenon occurred. As she knelt by the bank, the water before her, usually clear and still, began to shimmer and swirl with an inner light. Intricate patterns, like liquid gold, formed and dissolved at her unspoken command, responding to the nascent power that now resided within her. Fear, cold and sharp, warred with a burgeoning sense of wonder, a hesitant curiosity about the source of this newfound ability. Could this be connected to the terrifying events of the blood moon night? Was this the "price" her mother had vaguely alluded to?
Her secret, however extraordinary, would not remain concealed for long in the close-knit community of Ile-Ifẹ. One peaceful evening, as she diligently helped her mother tend their small but vibrant garden, a venomous snake, its scales gleaming menacingly in the twilight, slithered out from the dense undergrowth, its fangs bared, poised to strike at her mother's unsuspecting leg. In that split second, a surge of protective instinct, raw and powerful, coursed through Adewunmi. Without conscious thought, she raised her hand towards the deadly creature, and a brilliant, shimmering golden light erupted from her palm, not with destructive force, but with a gentle yet compelling energy. The snake, momentarily stunned and seemingly repelled by the radiant light, recoiled and swiftly retreated back into the shadows from whence it came. Her mother, who had been oblivious to the imminent danger, turned at Adewunmi's gasp, her eyes widening in disbelief as she witnessed the lingering golden glow around her daughter's outstretched hand. A profound silence descended between them, broken only by the chirping of crickets.
The truth, hesitant and fragmented at first, eventually spilled out in a rush of words. Adewunmi recounted the horrifying events of the blood moon night, the shadowy figure, the stolen amulet, and the strange, inexplicable occurrences that had plagued her since. Her mother, a woman deeply rooted in the ancient traditions and spiritual beliefs of their people, listened intently, her initial fear slowly giving way to a solemn understanding. She recognized the signs, the subtle shifts in energy, the impossible feats her daughter described. Adewunmi had indeed been touched by an Orisha, a divine blessing, or perhaps a divine burden, bestowed upon her in the wake of unimaginable tragedy. But such a profound gift, her mother warned, her voice heavy with concern, invariably came with a heavy price, a delicate balance that could easily be disrupted. The intricate web of power among the deities was ancient and often volatile, and a new, untrained mortal vessel of divine power could attract unwanted attention, stirring the interest of not only benevolent spirits but also dangerous, malevolent entities. The path ahead, her mother cautioned, would be fraught with peril and uncertainty.