Chapter 73: The Final Trial
As Adeola's footsteps faded down the creaky stairs, Bayo sank to the floor of his apartment, the musty scent of old newspapers filling his nostrils. He leaned against a battered chair, its fabric worn thin from years of use. The fading light cast long shadows across the room, highlighting the cracks in the plaster and the chipped paint on the window frames.
"Ọlọrun, jọwọ fun mi ni agbara," (God, please give me strength) Bayo whispered, seeking fortitude for what lay ahead. He closed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously tracing the black bead wristband on his arm. The familiar tingle of supernatural energy crept up his spine, and the sounds of Cambridge faded away, replaced by the ethereal whispers of Eternaforest.