In Ogalé's backyard,there was a small garden. Ogalé sat there most of the time. He would either be making potions,tending to the plants and flowers,or just enjoying a drink. Today he was trimming the flowers,subconsciously glancing at the murky swamp from time to time.
Eighteen years. Eighteen years had passed in the real world yet Dioha was still stuck in the Nether Realm. Countless times Ogalé had thought of bringing him out. Especially since the Seer reincarnated. Keeping the identity of the Seer hidden was very tasking. Every six months her powers had to be repressed,contained from giving off signals that would attract attention. At first it was once a year but as she grew older her powers grew stronger. Her being born to human parents made it more challenging. To keep her hidden from birth,a mark had been placed on her.
A raven had flown into the nursery at the hospital,few hours after she was born, and clawed at her left wrist. A nurse,alerted to her cries,had run in to check on her. The raven was gone by the time the nurse arrived but the mark had been successfully placed. The nurse,baffled and confused, tended to the mystery wound on the baby's wrist. The mother was mad at the nurse when she saw the blemish on her otherwise perfect baby. Few days later, she'd coerced the hospital and her husband into discharging her and taking her home. A Scaven had been planted as their neighbor to watch over the baby. And for four years, that arrangement had worked.
Four years down the line and baby Editi, as her parents had named her, was abandoned on the street by same parents. Editi was cursed, they believed. She was not a normal child. She avoided other kids, always preferring to be alone at school. She was not good at any sports in school as she showed no interest. Most times she behaved way older for someone her age. And most importantly, she had a knack for avoiding disasters and mishaps. Like one of her teacher once complained, Editi never once got stuck in an embarrassing or uncomfortable situation. She didn't talk much, couldn't explain herself properly, but always seem to know things and be at the right place at the right time.
Eventually,things came to a climax when Editi was in her room one rainy evening. She had opened the window and climbed atop the ledge of the one storey building they lived in. Her mum was downstairs fixing dinner while her dad was out. Editi was looking down at the street below from the ledge of her window. The height wasn't troubling,but for a four year old it was life threatening to say the least. The ledge was wet and slippery under the torrential downpour. The rain was so heavy that there was practically no one walking the streets.
Editi stood there for a minute, then spread her arms wide like she was parting curtains. The rain literally parted around her. She stood there on the ledge for several minutes,letting the rain pour into the room through the open window behind her. A raven flew out of nowhere towards her,ignoring the rainfall. It got to within inches of her face and extended its talons in an attempt to scratch her face. Editi waved the bird away but it refused to leave. She raised her left hand to swat the bird away but the raven immediately attacked her left wrist. She screamed and tumbled back inside the room.
The wind howled dangerously for a second and the opened windows abruptly shut themselves. The force with which the window shut themselves caused other windows in the whole building to crack loudly. At the door of Editi's room stood Editi's mum, mouth agape as she witnessed firsthand what her queer daughter just did. Worse of all, Editi was not wet from standing in the rain.
And that is how Editi was taken to another town that evening by her father and abandoned there purposely so she couldn't find her way back home.
Ogalé pulled himself out of his thoughts for a moment. A nagging feeling kept threatening to rupture his peace of mind. He glanced at the swamp wondering if his discomfort could be emanating from the Nether Realm. He noticed suddenly that his Mimosas were rapidly reacting from one end to the other. Now he was certain a turbulence was going on the Nether Realm. He had to go check it out. Just as he was about to walk into the swamp,Dioha emerged. His features were unsightly. He glared at Ogalé. He had a murderous glint in his eyes. Ogalé took a step back. If Dioha made a move towards him now he would be unable to evade. Without saying a word, Dioha grabbed Ogalé by the neck and lifted him off the ground.
"Dioha wait!" Ogalé began. Dioha flung him against the back door of his bamboo house. Just before Ogalé crashed into the house, he turned into a dove and flew up to the roof. Dioha was incensed that Ogalé didn't hit the house and sustain some small injuries. Dioha yelled angrily, lightning sparks blazing in his eyes. Lightning condensed in his fists, and seconds later a crack of thunder boomed as lightning shot upwards from the ground beneath the spot Ogalé was perched on. Ogalé tried to fly off but he wasn't quick enough. The bolt struck the bird 's wing sending it crashing to the ground. Dioha walked slowly towards the fallen bird that was reshaping itself into an old man. Dioha knelt down and pulled Ogalé close to his face.
"How dare you make me suffer in there? I told you you'd get what's coming to you, didn't I?"
"I see your power has returned, though not fully" Ogalé said, smiling ruefully. Strangely, this didn't offend Dioha rather it made him loosen his grip and get up. Ogalé struggled up to his feet. He was hurt but it wasn't fatal or serious as Dioha had only summoned a normal lightning bolt. If Dioha had really meant to kill him, he'd have struck him with something more powerful. His left arm was dislocated and slightly burnt.
"Start talking" Dioha demanded gruffly. Ogalé understood instantly what Dioha wanted to hear and duly complied. After listening to all Ogalé had to say, Dioha walked into the house to look for something to wear. He returned a few minutes later with a T-shirt that was too old and a trouser that was too big. The sight was funny but Ogalé did his best not to laugh. Dioha was in no mood for jokes and Ogalé did not want more bones to be broken. Yes he will heal but he would experience the pain just like a normal person would.
"Give me an Alter potion" Dioha demanded as he rejoined Ogalé. Ogalé twirled his index finger in the air for a bit and a small pouch materialised in his hand. He handed the pouch to Dioha.
"There it is. But I must warn you. The potion will greatly reduce your abilities by almost half."
Dioha glanced at the tiny bottle inside the pouch. Such a small liquid had the power to reduce his abilities. Abilities he had only just unlocked, now half was to go again just like that. He had to get on the Watchers Council. It was the only way he'd be able to monitor and protect the girl. Dioha kept the pouch safely hidden. He moved closer to Ogalé. Ogalé stood there watching him.
"For how long was I in your Nether realm?" Dioha asked. Ogalé instantly regretted not taking some few steps back when Dioha moved towards him. He knew what would happen once he gave Dioha an answer. "Eighteen years" Ogalé replied. Thunder rumbled up in the clouds. Dioha picked him up and threw him against the house again. This time Ogalé didn't transform. He hit the house with such force that a loud cracking sound emanated on contact. As Dioha moved away, Ogalé painfully lifted his head a little to look at Dioha's retreating figure.
"Time waits for no god after all" Ogalé said out loud so Dioha could hear him.