Sade stepped out of the door, breath shaking.
The spirit realm glowed brighter—
as if celebrating her victory.
But Tunde's face changed.
He stared behind her…
eyes wide.
Tunde (whispering):
"Sade… someone followed you out of the door."
A faint shadow slipped from behind her, drifting into the glowing forest.
Sade froze.
Sade:
"I thought the door only shows my memory…"
Tunde shook his head slowly.
Tunde:
"Not everything behind us stays behind."
The wind howled.
A dark presence watched them through the trees.
To return to her body, Sade had one final step—
crossing the Shrine of Echoes.
A glowing temple made of floating stones.
Tunde hesitated.
Sade:
"Why are you scared?"
Tunde:
"Because the shrine shows the deepest truth… even truths that can break a soul."
Inside, the walls shimmered with living memories.
Sade reached toward one—
but screamed.
She saw herself, years ago, crying alone in a dark room.
Sade:
"Why am I seeing this?"
A voice echoed:
Shrine:
"To return to life, you must forgive… yourself."
Tunde stepped forward.
But the shrine suddenly projected his memory.
A memory he never wanted Sade to see.
Tunde's aura flickered—
as if breaking.
The image showed a battlefield of spirits—
clashing, screaming, burning with power.
In the middle…
Tunde stood glowing bright white, surrounded by fallen spirits.
Sade gasped.
Sade:
"You were in a war?"
Tunde's face tensed.
Tunde:
"I wasn't just a guide… I was a guardian. A protector of souls."
The shrine revealed more.
Tunde disobeyed an ancient order…
to save a human girl.
Sade's eyes widened.
Sade:
"…Me?"
Tunde didn't answer.
His silence was enough.
They exited the shrine, shaken.
But the shadow that followed Sade was no longer hiding.
It stepped out—
tall, dark, with glowing red eyes.
The air turned cold.
Shadow:
"Sade… you cannot return. You belong to me."
Tunde stepped forward, aura blazing.
Tunde:
"You're not welcome here, Ayika."
Sade trembled.
Sade:
"You know him?"
Tunde:
"Ayika… the spirit of regret. He attaches himself to souls who feel unworthy."
Ayika smiled.
Ayika:
"And Sade… has so much regret."
The ground cracked beneath them.
Ayika moved closer, whispering like a serpent.
Ayika:
"Your family is suffering… your mother blames herself… your brother cries every night…"
Sade covered her ears, shaking.
Tunde shouted:
Tunde:
"Don't listen! He feeds on pain!"
But Ayika continued—
Images flashed:
Her mother praying.
Doctors shaking their heads.
Her brother sleeping beside her hospital bed.
Sade's tears glowed.
Ayika leaned in.
Ayika:
"Stay with me… and the pain will end."
For a moment—
Sade believed him.
Her glow dimmed.
Tunde grabbed Sade's hand, pulling her away from Ayika's whispers.
He held her face gently.
Tunde:
"Look at me."
Her trembling slowed.
Tunde:
"You deserve to live. You deserve to love. You deserve to be forgiven."
Sade whispered:
Sade:
"How do you know?"
Tunde hesitated.
Then finally said it—
Tunde:
"Because… I've watched you for years. I've protected you. And somewhere along the way…"
He swallowed.
Tunde:
"I began to care for you… more than a guardian should."
Sade's breath caught.
Her glow returned—
brighter than ever.
Ayika hissed and vanished into smoke.
The spirit river appeared ahead, glowing gold.
The Spirit Guide emerged.
Spirit Guide:
"Sade, the final path awaits. Once you take it… your fate will be sealed."
Sade looked at Tunde.
Sade:
"If I return… what happens to you?"
Tunde smiled sadly.
Tunde:
"I will return to my realm. I won't be allowed to watch over you again."
Sade's heart twisted.
She reached for his hand.
Sade:
"I don't want to lose you."
Tunde whispered:
Tunde:
"And I don't want to lose you. But life is calling you home."
Soft glowing petals fell from the sky—
the realm's way of blessing her return.
The Spirit Guide raised its hand.
The portal back to the living world opened—
showing her body lying in the hospital bed.
Her mother still holding her hand.
Her brother sleeping beside her.
Sade's tears spilled.
She turned to Tunde.
Sade:
"Will I ever see you again?"
Tunde stepped close.
His forehead touched hers.
Tunde:
"If fate allows… our souls will find each other again."
Sade stepped toward the light—
glowing, trembling…
She whispered one last time:
Sade:
"Thank you… for loving me."
Then she vanished.
And Tunde…
stood alone.
The realm grew silent.