Morning came quietly.
Birds chirp.
Stream running.
light filtering through the leaves.
Shango opened his eyes slowly.
For a moment
He didn't move.
He just lay there, staring up at the branches above him.
Still.
Calm.
That alone felt… strange.
No pressure in his chest.
No sudden surge.
No feeling like something was about to break out of him.
Just
Normal.
For the first time, he felt in control.
"…So this is what it feels like," he muttered.
From a short distance away—
"…It won't last if you get train it," Onye nkuzi said.
Shango exhaled.
"…You are a grumpy old man."
"…What's for breakfast?" Shango asked.
Shango sat up slowly.
His body still felt sore, but not as bad as before.
Manageable.
He stretched slightly, then looked around.
The old man was sitting in a lotus position.
Meditating.
Eyes closed.
Completely still.
"…How long have you been up?" Shango asked.
"…Never slept."
"…You stayed up the whole night?"
"…Kid, I haven't slept in years."
"...Now, get up."
Shango sighed.
Of course.
He stood up, dusting himself lightly.
"…So… we start today?"
Onye nkuzi opened his eyes.
"…We already commenced yesterday."
"…I meant for real."
"…Then now, we begin your training."
"...What about breakfast?" Shango asked.
"...Eat when we're done." the old man replied.
"…Sit in a lotus position."
Shango didn't argue this time.
He walked over and sat across from him.
Cross-legged.
Same as before.
The air felt cool.
Fresh.
Quiet enough that even the smallest movement felt noticeable.
"…Close your eyes," Onye nkuzi said.
Shango did.
No hesitation this time.
"…Feel the energy within you."
"…Yesterday, you learnt how to embrace it."
"…Today, you learn how to manifest it."
Shango exhaled slowly.
Then—
He focused.
At first—
Nothing.
Just darkness.
Then slowly—
That familiar feeling returned.
Deep inside.
Like something waiting.
"…I feel it," he said.
"…What does it feel like now?"
"…Still powerful and violent but somehow, it feels familiar."
"…This means you have accepted it as yours"
"…Now, channel it."
"...Allow it course through your body."
Shango follows every instruction to the point it seemed instinctively.
"…Allowing it course through your body naturally, opens up a new world of possibilities for you."
"...Things you never thought possible for your body."
Lightning courses through Shango's body.
Glowing white eyes.
Floating hair.
At this point, Onye Nzuki had stopped guiding Shango.
Shango's energy kept expanding as the seal on his powers loosen a bit.
He could feel more of his original powers.
Powers he didn't know he possesses.
Still doesn't.
Not entirely.
Shango opens his eyes.
slowly.
with a newfound confidence.
"…That's new."
"…That's control," Onye nkuzi said.
The glow flickered slightly.
Stable.
Not breaking.
Not exploding.
Like a tamed storm.
"…Don't get excited, this is just the beginning" the old man added.
Shango stared at his hands.
Then let clenched his fists.
"…That was… different."
"…Yes."
"…I didn't feel like I was about to destroy something or explode."
"…Because you didn't want to, nor were you afraid of your powers anymore."
Shango nodded slowly.
In clarity.
"…So, I just keep doing this?"
"…Yes."
Shango then instinctively guided the lightning across his fingertips.
He had gained so much control in such a short time.
Onye Nzuki was impressed but didn't show it.
Shango then falls back on the ground.
Smiling.
Because for the first time—
It didn't feel like he was losing control.
It felt like—
He could actually control it.
And maybe…
That was enough.
For now.