powerful spirits in check. The book also mentioned a forbidden practice—one that involved disturbing the spirits to gain their favor.
In their search, they found an entry about a betrayal in the village's past. One of the early villagers had tried to use the grove's power for personal gain, resulting in a curse that was said to have bound a powerful spirit to the grove. This spirit was known to seek revenge on those who violated the sacred space.
Rolake shared the findings with Desola and Ogunshola upon their return. The revelation was chilling. The curse and the spirit's wrath were not just myths but real threats tied to the grove's disturbances. Understanding this was crucial to resolving their current crisis.
Meanwhile, in the grove, Ogunshola and the search party began to investigate the symbols around the ancient tree. Desola, using her knowledge of ancient rituals, started to decipher their meaning. She realized that the symbols were protective wards meant to keep malevolent forces at bay.
As they worked, a sudden, bone-chilling wind swept through the grove, carrying with it whispers of despair. The group struggled to maintain their focus, but it became clear that the spirit they were dealing with was growing increasingly agitated.
Desola's eyes widened as she understood the full extent of their predicament. "The spirit is bound here, but its influence can extend beyond this place. It was wronged long ago, and now it seeks retribution."
Ogunshola felt a pang of guilt. Could this spirit have been disturbed by something or someone in their own village? He began to suspect that the answer might lie closer to home.
Back in Aro, tensions ran high. The villagers grew restless, and accusations began to fly. Kolade, who had always been seen as a pillar of the community, found himself at the center of suspicion. Some villagers believed that his recent dealings with outsiders might have led to the disturbance in the grove.
Kolade, deeply hurt by the accusations, attempted to defend himself. "I have only tried to help the village. I would never harm it!"
The tension escalated until Desola and Ogunshola returned, bringing with them an unsettling truth. Desola had discovered an old shrine in the grove dedicated to the vengeful spirit. The shrine was filled with offerings and symbols of betrayal—items that suggested someone had made a pact with the spirit.
The village's elders, including Akinlaja and Ajagbe, were summoned to discuss the findings. The realization dawned that the spirit had been disturbed by more than just physical intrusion—it had been actively summoned or invoked.
The search party returned to the grove to investigate further. Desola performed a ritual to communicate with the spirit, hoping to understand its grievances. Through the ritual, the spirit's voice echoed with anger and sorrow, revealing that it had been betrayed by a village elder long ago.
Ogunshola's heart sank as he connected the dots. His own ancestor, Alani, had been one of the village founders who had been accused of using the grove's power for personal gain. Alani's actions had led to the curse that now troubled the village.
Desola warned Ogunshola that they needed to find a way to make amends. The spirit's rage was linked to the unresolved betrayal and the broken covenant with the grove.