AWAKENING PART THREE.
"He screamed, refusing to let them perish, pounding his head on the ground. Tears streamed down his face as he vehemently declared, 'I won't let you die!'
Another version of himself, radiant and glowing, approached Ohi with determination. A voice softly whispered in his ear, 'You must not die. You can't!' The chant echoed. Meanwhile, the queen, engrossed in her ritual, was alerted by murmurs and gasps from her people. She turned to witness Ohi standing, head bowed.
'Brave little boy, aren't you?' she giggled, masking her surprise. Ohi, in a trance, repeated to himself, 'I cannot die.' The glow intensified around him, baffling the proud mermaids.
Persistently chanting, 'I can't die,' he suddenly opened his eyes, emitting a powerful force that flung everyone away. Chaos ensued as the queen was propelled into a nearby vault. Belle, thrown to the ground, clutched her head in agony. Meanwhile, the sky lit up as Ohi's unconscious body levitated. A fierce wind hurled an object at Belle's head—a red sneaker.
Panicked mermaids attempted to flee to shore but were ensnared by a rope-like light. A vortex emerged in the sea, swallowing them whole. Still suspended in the air, Ohi's presence caused mayhem. Belle, grasping a metal cage bar, hesitated to abandon the queen. Nevertheless, she was pulled into the vortex, crying out in desperation.
'Queen, nooooooo!' The vortex closed, having captured the mermaids."
"Ohi heard the reassuring voice as he fell from the sky, only to be caught mid-air by a figure darting through the forest. They landed on the opposite side of the sea, joined shortly by another figure.
"So, he's the new guardian," remarked a woman in a light blue, shimmering gown adorned with sea shells, her appearance mirroring the ocean with blue hair and eyes. Ewatomi, exhausted, knelt beside Oya and her grandson.
"Yewa, why did you leave her behind?" scolded Oya. "I'm not the one who asked her to relinquish her powers," retorted Yewa. Oya shook her head, focusing on the unconscious Ohi. "Did he truly cause all this?" Yewa marveled. "Yes, it's surprising even to me," replied Oya, puzzled. "Humanity is safe with a new guardian now," Ewatomi's voice strained from exhaustion.
"But I thought guardians awakened at age nine," inquired Yewa, receiving a cold response from Ewatomi and Oya.
"Humanity is surely doomed," Yewa mocked. "Instead of talking, find the parchment assigned to you," retorted Oya. "Fine!" Yewa summoned five minions and, unbeknownst to them, Atika sneaked into the sea to retrieve her sister's parchment from the vault.
The minions, three mermaids and three mermen in hooded blue robes were instructed to retrieve the parchment and transform their legs into beautiful fishtails to dive underwater. Atika found the parchment and rescued her sister, hiding from passing mermaids.
As they swam to escape, Atika encountered a merman but was saved by a distraction from a female voice. With relief, she surfaced to meet Idoga and Obi. Concerned for her sister, Atika pleaded for help.
Obi, uncertain about the guardian, agreed to assist. They vanished from the forest, while Oya took Ewatomi and Ohi home. The boy's injuries healed on their own, and Oya stood beside Yewa, awaiting her minions.
"No luck?" inquired Oya. "None," Yewa replied, visibly agitated. Her minions returned, tails turning to legs, expressing shame for failing to find the parchment. Yewa was frustrated, while Oya teased, warning them to find it before Oduduwa knew.
"Shut up!" Yewa snapped at Oya in frustration, commanding her minions to deal with scavengers. Oya's taunts about trust and responsibility further angered Yewa, who retaliated by jabbing at Oya's personal life."
"Yes, indeed, I have a HUSBAND waiting for me," Oya emphasized the word to agitate Yewa, knowing that Yewa was unmarried. Oya burst into laughter and vanished, leaving Yewa seething with clenched fists and grinding teeth, screaming in frustration. Her minions, anticipating her wrath, looked dismayed and fearful. Meanwhile, Bayo seemed to have been forgotten by everyone.