Echoes of Èsù: The Search for the Orisha

Chapter 16

Echoes of Èsù: The Search for the Orisha

Bayo gave a bitter smile, admitting his ignorance. That was the whole problem. Maybe things would have been easier if he had known.

Amina arched a brow, realizing how challenging his task was. But even if Bayo didn't know the name of the orisha he was looking for, he must have some clue. Her eyes shifted from Bayo to the three books on the table, hoping for more details.

Bayo shifted uneasily in his seat, his discomfort evident as he glanced around the room. His brows furrowed, and he shifted his weight, a pang of unease settling in his chest. He knew he had to share what he knew, but the uncertainty weighed heavily on him.

Farid glanced at Bayo and Amina, feeling torn. His previous actions weighed him a lot, and Bayo…, he breathed out, trying not to think about him.

While Farid dealt with his inner conflict, Amina faced something worse. She tensed up on her chair, and her hands stopped turning the pages. Bayo's clue was vague. Amina hesitated but asked, "Do you mean an orisha that wears a crown with horns?" She looked at Bayo, hoping for some clarification.

"I…" Bayo hesitated, unsure how to articulate his thoughts, but he summoned his courage nonetheless. "I don't think so, " he said, trusting his intuition. But seeing Amina's puzzled expression, he worried she would abandon him, so he suggested, "Why don't we start with the one you mentioned first?"

Amina's hand resumed flipping the pages, her heart feeling too heavy for a one-time meeting with this guy. She wished this ordeal would end soon. "Almost all orishas…" Amina's eyes showed some caution as if wary of something. She didn't dwell on it as she quickly added, "Wear crowns with horns…" She trailed off, implying that Bayo should know why.

Bayo nodded, his mind drifting to the orishas he was familiar with despite never having encountered them personally. Thoughts of the cunning Èsù, known to don crowns depending on his whims and intentions, crossed his mind. A subtle ache tugged at Bayo's heart, prompting his chest to tighten. This lingering uncertainty had set him apart, leaving him with a sense of unease.

"Which ones are…" he trailed off, showing his doubt, "are the common ones." He wanted to rely on something else. So he clenched his fist discreetly. He would get the best outcome if his hunch proved correct. Bayo scanned the surroundings, aware of the time passing by.

Amina hummed and nodded; she turned the textbook's pages and soon stopped at a specific page. "Hmm," she started, her face serious as if delivering a verdict, "The most prominent one here is Shango," her eyes briefly met Bayo's, and she frowned.

Bayo closed his eyes, trying to focus on the faint orisha power he had left to see if he could feel a reaction or a spark. But as his eyes closed, his brows furrowed in anxiety. 'Why was it so hard…' Bayo tried again, rubbing his chest where his devil's mark was. He was putting all his effort into it. After failing, Bayo opened his eyes, showing his disappointment.

"Can you," he hesitated again, "look for another one." Bayo felt that his patience and confidence were running low. 'What a day,' he thought.

Amina released a tired air from her mouth, lifted her hand, but stopped, "Is it an orisha with a horn on their head?" She asked, her eyes seeking clarification.

"Um," Bayo nodded, "that's what I think," He felt embarrassed — even though he didn't care before — that he didn't even know if such an orisha existed. It reminded him of Èsù's dark joke of "... a Yoruba that turns his back on his deity and Egungun." Bayo tightened his fist slightly, hardening his expression; he didn't regret rejecting them because this world was "scratch my back, I scratch yours," they only helped each other. The orisha ignored him, and he did the same to them.

Amina scanned the pages, searching for a clue that seemed to be nonexistent, while Bayo felt the time slipping away. He felt like each second was taking away a part of his life. His eyelids trembled; it was a tormenting experience that he wished he never had to go through. 'Can we ever find this thing today?' Bayo wondered.

Bayo saw Amina yawn, his eyes filled with sympathy for her. He was grateful for her help but didn't know how to express it. Bayo had his struggles with food but felt guilty that Amina was wasting her time on him. He squeezed his fist, resolve burning in his eyes as he prepared to take action.

When Bayo conflicted with unknown details in his heart, Farid mulled over ideas to mend his relationship with Amina. His thoughts made tension coiled in his muscles. His heart fluttered with the possibility of impressing her. However, doubt crept in as he glanced at Bayo, realizing the potential obstacles in his plan.

While Farid mused over his thoughts, Amina's weary voice whispered, "I found something." Her eyes moved between Bayo and the book. She saw Bayo's mix of hesitation and anticipation and gave him a reassuring smile. She continued, "According to the context, these horns are not literal; they are symbolic." Amina looked at Bayo to see his surprised expression. She wondered if he was looking for something else, such a notion making her feel a pang of fear. She couldn't articulate what about the idea made her afraid.

'Why is Èsù so tricky?' Bayo thought Èsù spoke in riddles that even the wisest people in the world couldn't solve in a lifetime. He didn't understand what he enjoyed from doing that. He showed a resigned expression and asked, "So what did you find?" His voice was tired. He was ready to do anything but hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Amina looked at Bayo briefly before nodding, "The first one is Babalu-Aye…" Bayo instantly shook his head, interrupting her. She wondered how he could tell so quickly, but she didn't question him. She nodded and moved on, biting her lip, "Aroni," she said, sounding frustrated. She felt like they were running out of time and options.

But as she thought about how complex this challenge was, she heard a faint tap on the desk. This tap drew the attention of the people in the library, who turned their angry eyes on Bayo and the others. They muttered harsh and annoyed words, creating a hostile atmosphere. But Amina noticed that Bayo — responsible for the noise — had barely controlled his excitement.

When Bayo looked around and saw the annoyed faces, he lowered his head in embarrassment. He didn't mean to cause a scene. But he couldn't apologize in this situation; it would only make things more awkward.

Bayo's eyes stayed on Amina for a second as if absorbed in a dream. He shook himself out of it, lowered his voice, "Does the..." Bayo looked at the book and continued, "...book tells where to find him?" He folded his hands, dreading the next thing that Amina would say.

Amina nodded and turned her attention to the book, but her brow wrinkled as she searched the pages.

Bayo felt anxious as he watched her, his fist clenched. 'Will I be let down again?' He thought. He felt like every time he was close to finding the answer, it would slip away. "Uh…" he stuttered, unsure how to address Amina, "Ameer…" It sounded awkward, but he continued, "What do you see?" He looked at her intently.

Amina exhaled softly, dispersing the silence that hung in the air. Just then, Farid shifted his leg, causing a sound resembling a fart, which immediately captured the attention of both Bayo and Amina.

Farid saw their questioning looks and raised his hand in denial. His mouth quivered as he tried to say something, "I…" but Amina ignored him and resumed her talk. "I found many…" Amina stopped, unsure how to explain it; she sighed and continued, "You can find him in many places." She met Bayo's curious gaze and added, "For example, the forest…" her voice faded, implying how hard it would be even if they had more time.

After Bayo leaned back in his chair, exhaustion evident in his posture, Amina's sympathy grew. Sensing his weariness, she hesitated before offering a glimmer of hope. "But…" she began, her voice trailing off. "You can also look for someone who knows how to use the Ifa oracle."

Bayo's eyes brightened before they dimmed again; he sighed, feeling hopeless about the suggestion. He clenched his fist and cursed, 'Èsù is behind all this…' He felt angry that he would tease him with an orisha power and take it away more decisively. Bayo still believed Èsù had caused his trouble with his curse. He didn't realize Èsù marked him the instant he absorbed the orisha's power.

After his internal outburst, Bayo's gaze swept across the room; he could sense the place getting darker. He had left the Computing Laboratory around 1 pm and had wasted more than two hours since then. He sighed again and decided to get up and go home to rethink his strategy when Amina said, "I…" she paused, her eyes scanning the place, before she went on, "know someone who can help you with that."

Bayo sighed; he wished the world would stop for a minute so he could rest, to take a break from all this. He gave Amina a doubtful look, wanting to tell her to forfeit the solution. But she had already stood up, stretching her body, her shadow showing her fatigue. Bayo's eyes filled with more guilt.