I drifted into a deep dream beneath the baobabs and found myself standing in a boundless realm of stars. An immense luminous tree rose before me, its branches stretching into the heavens as whispered voices surrounded me.
A familiar voice called my name: "Obasi." My breath caught. "Grandmother?" I whispered into the glow.
From behind the glowing tree, my grandmother stepped forward, her form wreathed in soft starlight. I fell to my knees, tears in my eyes at the sight of her beloved face.
"My child," she greeted me, her voice echoing inside my very soul. Though she stood a short distance away, I felt the warmth of her hand as if it rested on my cheek.
"Grandmother, I'm afraid," I confessed, my voice shaking. "Nyos is so powerful—what if I fail? What if I lose Amina or Jabari?"
Her head inclined in understanding. "Even the bravest feel fear," she soothed. "But do not let fear or anger rule you. The light of the cosmos flows through you to restore balance, not just to destroy."
Grandmother waved her hand and a vision unfolded around us: the sky was split in two—one half endless day, the other endless night. The world below lay in turmoil, people crying out in confusion under a sky of eternal twilight.
My stomach clenched at the sight. "This is Nyos's goal," Grandmother said gravely. "To shatter the balance of day and night, to trap the world in endless chaos."
A chill rippled through me. Now I fully grasped what was at stake: the natural order of our world. "How can we possibly prevent that?" I whispered.
"By restoring balance," she replied. "Nyos feeds on fear and hatred—the more chaos in human hearts, the stronger he becomes. Unite what is divided and mend what is broken. That is how you oppose him."
She placed a comforting hand in the air before me. "You are not alone, Obasi. Trust in your companions as they trust in you. And seek further guidance. Travel east to the Temple of Anuli, in the eastern mountains. There you will find wisdom from the First Dawn to help you."
"Temple of Anuli," I repeated, feeling the name etch itself into my memory. Though I had never heard of it, the words hummed with ancient power.
Grandmother's form began to fade, growing hazy against the starry glow. I reached out in panic. "Don't leave!"
Her voice lingered as her image dissolved. "I never truly leave you, child. The ancestors are always with you. Have faith in the path before you."
Then she was gone, and the starry expanse vanished in a wash of white light.
I awoke with a gasp. The sky was still dark, dawn only a promise on the horizon. My cheeks were damp with tears. I sat up, pressing a hand to the cool earth to steady myself.
Amina knelt beside me, eyes full of concern. "Obasi? What happened?" she whispered.
I drew a shaky breath. "I… saw my grandmother," I said slowly. "She spoke to me in a vision."
Without hesitation, Amina nodded for me to continue. In a quiet rush, I told her about Grandmother's warning and the command to seek the Temple of Anuli in the east. She listened intently, never doubting. By the time I finished, the first pale light of dawn was peeking through the leaves.
"The ancestors have given us a path," Amina said softly. "We will follow it."
Relief flooded me. I hadn't realized until then how much I needed her affirmation. I managed a small smile. "Thank you for believing me."
She touched my shoulder gently. "Why would I doubt? The veil between worlds is thin in places like this. Of course your grandmother would find you."
Amina glanced at Jabari, still fast asleep under the nearby tree. "Let him rest a little longer," she said. "When he wakes, we'll tell him and head east."
I agreed. Quietly, we began to pack our few belongings. Over the next hour the sky shifted from deep blue to pale gray, and the first birds of morning trilled overhead.
Amina came to stand beside me as the first sliver of sun broke the horizon. She laid a hand on my shoulder, and I placed my hand over hers.
"The new day arrives," she murmured, watching the light spread through the grove.
"And with it, hope," I replied quietly.
Soon we roused Jabari and explained the vision to him. As the sun climbed, the three of us set off eastward. None of us knew what awaited at the Temple of Anuli, but I felt the ancestors' presence strong at our backs. Our path was clear, and we would walk it together into whatever destiny lay ahead.