Midnight tales🌜🌘☠

The great priest

In the heart of Agbede village lived Ifagbemi, a man known far and wide for his wisdom, kindness, and spiritual prowess. Ifagbemi was no ordinary herbalist; he was a priest and healer who could soothe the sick, dispel spiritual attacks, and solve all manner of problems that plagued the villagers. But what set him apart the most was his generosity—he never collected a dime for his services. Because of this, Ifagbemi was loved by the people, respected even more than the king himself. His honesty and dedication to peace often brought resolution to conflicts with neighboring villages without the need for bloodshed, for Ifagbemi always preached the way of peace.

Despite his fame and selflessness, Ifagbemi had his share of enemies. Other herbalists in the village, envious of his accomplishments and the love he received, sought to bring him down. They tried every spiritual attack they knew, but nothing ever worked. Sometimes, their dark magic backfired, harming them instead. Ifagbemi, wise as ever, knew what they were trying to do. Yet, in his heart, he chose not to retaliate. He extended the hand of friendship to them, despite knowing their intentions.

However, there was one thing that weighed on Ifagbemi’s heart: he had no child of his own. His compound was always filled with children, the laughter of young ones bringing life to his home. But at night, in the quiet moments, he would feel the sting of his solitude. Sometimes he felt sadness, but he would remind himself, “I am not God. He alone gives life.”

One fateful day, the king’s daughter, who was married to the neighboring village, was brought back to Agbede in labor. Her condition was dire, and despite the efforts of all the herbalists and healers in her husband’s village, none could help her. In desperation, they brought her to Ifagbemi. The entire village waited anxiously as Ifagbemi worked tirelessly to save both mother and child. But something was wrong. The spirits whispered of interference, and Ifagbemi suspected his rivals were at work. He consulted the gods and did everything within his power, and though he saved the king’s daughter, the baby did not survive.

The village mourned, but none more than Ifagbemi. Never before had he faced such a tragedy. But as he grieved, whispers began to spread. The other herbalists, seizing the moment, went to the palace and told the king that Ifagbemi had used the baby in a ritual to renew his own life. They pointed out how Ifagbemi, despite his years, never seemed to age. At first, the king refused to believe such a thing. But slowly, doubt crept into his heart, and he ordered his soldiers to arrest Ifagbemi.

The entire village gathered at the palace, watching as the once-revered herbalist stood accused. Ifagbemi swore with all he had that he was innocent, but the other priests attacked him, pressing him with questions. “Why do you not age, Ifagbemi? What is the secret of your youth?”

Ifagbemi explained it was a concoction made from palm wine and various fruits—a simple remedy passed down to him. There was no blood in it, only the gifts of the earth. But his words fell on deaf ears. After much debate, the king, swayed by the priests, banished Ifagbemi from the village. His shrine was destroyed, his house burnt to the ground, and the village turned its back on him. As Ifagbemi left, his heart was heavy with sorrow, but he refused to curse the land he had loved and served for so long.

Two years passed, and Agbede village suffered greatly. Children became ill, some dying mysteriously. Crops failed, and no healer or priest could offer a solution. To make matters worse, a neighboring kingdom waged war against Agbede, leaving the village in ruins. Only a few survived. One by one, the priests who had conspired against Ifagbemi fell sick, and at the brink of death, they confessed their sins. It was they who had used the king’s grandchild in a dark ritual, not Ifagbemi.

The king, filled with rage and regret, immediately set out to find Ifagbemi and beg for his forgiveness. After months of searching, they came across a young boy who told them that Ifagbemi had passed away, his heart broken by the betrayal. However, the boy shared a message: “If you make a sacrifice for twenty-one days, Ifagbemi will forgive you, and the village will heal.”

Desperate, the king and the remaining villagers followed the boy’s instructions. They made the sacrifices, and slowly, the village began to recover. The sickness lifted, and peace returned. In honor of Ifagbemi, they built a great hut, where the villagers would come to remember the man who had saved them countless times, even in death.

But the guilt remained. The king and the priests regretted their actions until their dying days. Many of them did not live to see the full restoration of the village. In the end, Ifagbemi’s spirit was honored, and the people learned a bitter lesson about envy, betrayal, and the cost of losing a good man.