But as she departed, the village's fortunes began to change in unexpected ways. Without Lestari's magic to inadvertently curse the land, the crops began to grow again, and the livestock recovered. The streams cleared, and life returned to normal.
Lestari, heartbroken and defensive, denied the accusations. She claimed that her magic was not for harm but for healing and protection. She offered to help the villagers, using her powers for good, but they refused, fearing her magic and its supposed dark nature.
Years later, an old and frail Tono would sometimes tell stories of Lestari to his grandchildren, of her beauty, her magic, and the great love they shared. He would express his regret over not standing by her, over believing the rumors and letting her go. His grandchildren would listen with wide eyes, learning a valuable lesson about the dangers of misunderstanding and the power of love and forgiveness.
He asked Lestari to leave him, to protect him and the village from her supposed evil magic. Lestari, with a heavy heart, agreed. She left the village, her magic fading as she distanced herself from the only home she had ever known.