Chapter 5: The Hidden City of the Ancestors
As I followed my mother through the winding streets of Lagos, I could feel the weight of our ancestors' eyes upon me. The air was thick with the scent of frankincense and myrrh, and the sounds of the city seemed to fade into the background as we walked.
We turned down a narrow alleyway, and the walls seemed to close in around us. The air grew heavier, more charged with an otherworldly energy. I could feel the pulse of the earth beneath my feet, and the beat of the drums in my heart.
And then, we emerged into a hidden courtyard, surrounded by towering walls that seemed to stretch up to the heavens. The air was alive with the whispers of the ancestors, and the trees seemed to lean in, as if to listen to our conversation.
My mother stopped in front of an enormous tree, its trunk twisted and gnarled with age. The tree seemed to be... watching me, its branches reaching out like withered fingers.
"This is the Tree of Life," my mother said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The ancestors planted this tree here, in the heart of the Hidden City, to serve as a gateway to the spiritual realm."
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I reached out to touch the tree's trunk. The moment my skin made contact with the bark, I was flooded with visions and images, like a tidal wave crashing over me.
I saw the ancestors, gathered around the tree, their faces aglow with a fierce and otherworldly light. I saw the gods, descending from the heavens to walk among mortals. And I saw the threads of fate, weaving together to form the tapestry of destiny.
The visions faded, and I stumbled backward, gasping for breath. My mother caught me by the arm, her eyes shining with a fierce and proud light.
"You have been chosen, Ade," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "You have been chosen to fulfill an important destiny, one that will determine the course of human history."
I felt a surge of fear and uncertainty, but my mother's grip on my arm was like a lifeline, holding me steady.
"What do I need to do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
My mother smiled, her eyes glinting with a fierce and otherworldly light. "You need to follow the path of the ancestors," she said. "You need to listen to the whispers of the trees, and the beat of the drums in your heart. You need to remember who you are, and what you are capable of."
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the ancestors' eyes upon me. I knew that I had a long and difficult journey ahead of me, but I also knew that I was not alone.
The ancestors were with me, guiding me, and the spirits of the land were watching over me. I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, armed with the knowledge and power of my ancestors.