Eshu and Babalú-Ayé continue searching, sticking to the bushes. Something was bothering Eshu though.

He turns to Babalú-Ayé, “How did you learn to fight like that? It seems like you’re pretty advanced.”

The injured man replied exasperatedly, “I simply fought, relied on instinct through that fight mostly. Still, isn’t great against raw skill. I’m sure I would’ve died if killing were allowed, Ogun held back that whole fight.”

Eshu chuckled, “A win’s, a win. You don’t have to think about the reason why.”

They then see an old man, who’s shrouded in long strips of mariwó (dried palm fronds) that obscured his face and body from view. The figure had sores everywhere, his skin looking somewhat decayed.

He sees them and says, “Leave, you don’t understand what’s happening or what this thing can do.” While he’s talking, they see a frog which ate the ball. They could tell due to its belly glowing.

The old man continues, “I know where you are and trust me, I’m fast enough to attack you before those few arrows you might have can harm me.” Then an arrow is sent flying at him, the man easily dodges them. He started running and Eshu noticed that he seemed to also know the frog held the orb. Now left to the back, he’s forced to just watch since the only available shots are lethal ones. Babalú-Ayé noticed his hesitation, then ran towards the old man. Yet, it was too late. The old man had ate the frog, suddenly darkness starting spewing from his month that engulfed the area around Babalú-Ayé and him. Eshu saw what had happened and slowly walked up to the black dome.

His hand seemed to easily go through it like a knife through butter. He looked around and found it was a house, dark and decrepited. Babalú-Ayé was silent and slowly turned towards the older man.

With a shocked tone, he barely uttered out, “You’re…me?” The old man looked away and walked over to a dog laying down on a few plies of grass. Slowly petting him, his touch almost sentimental and longing.

The young man yelled, “You can hear me! Answer! Who are you!” The older man turned back and his voice groveled with , “Which you are you implying I am? The good parts? The bad? The future? I can be many things.” He sighs, “Who I am isn’t important, but WHAT I’m doing is the true matter at hand. What we’re doing, will bring you peace alongside everyone else.”

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He sees his dog slowly begin to be covered in boils, Babalú-Ayé watches in horror. Meanwhile, Eshu asks the old man, “What are you doing then? Specifically.”

The man speaks in a matter of fact tone, “Resetting the world.”

Eshu responds, almost eagerly, “How? And you’re in a group right? How did you all come to this conclusion? How many of you are there? Are there all time travelers?”

The man scoffs, and his tone shifts to warmth instead of coldness, “I’ll only answer-“ He’s grabbed by the dog, who’s seemed to become closer to a human. Yanking the man into the ground. The two teens just stand shocked and confused at what happened.

Eshu looks over and awkwardly utters, “So, this is your home?”

Babalú-Ayé shrugged, “Yes but, my dog’s been dead for awhile. Why are you asking?”

Eshu responded, “Because it seems like we might have to do trials to get the orb and want to prepare myself for what might happen. Also good to know what my partner might encounter so it doesn’t slow us down. Is your dog the only bit of unresolved trauma you got?”

Babalú-Ayé scowled and responded sharply, “Why don’t you tell me what’s your problems, huh?”

Eshu snickered, “I might not even want these abilities. Also we don’t know if these orbs attack people who aren’t touching it. I need more information before I tell anything else about me…is that convincing enough?” The skinny figure looks at him suspiciously and decides to simply ignore it. The boy walks to the walls of his old home and touches it. Seemingly going through. He sees it’s almost like they’re ghosts, not being able to have effect on anything. He kneels down, and slowly sinks his hand into the ground. The floor slowly taking him in, and soon he vanishes. Eshu looking at the strange event and copies his movements. Soon being transported into a marketplace, Babalú-Ayé stares mortified by the familiar sight.

He sees a young boy, dressed in rags and he knows what will happen next. He wants to stop it, wants to scream at the child. Yet no sound comes out. He saw the begger constantly touching and grabbing for people. Each slowly growing bumps that began to overcome their bodies, every one infected tried confronting Babalú-Ayé. They all die before they can touch him. All chanting, “Accursed Sopona”.

The young man screamed, “Stop. Shut up! That’s not my name anymore!” He lunges at the crowd, senselessly smashing the ground until he sees that it’s no longer the crowd. Who’s he been hitting was the boy, the begger.

The child reaches out shakily, coughing up blood. His hand covered in bumps and scabs, he’s crying.

He weakly gets out, “I only wanted them to understand,” Babalú-Ayé breathes slowly and the blood he was drenched in only pulls him down deeper. Eshu watches as he’s pulled down, following along like a fly on the wall. Simply analyzing. He hears a faint whisper while he’s falling through the ground, “Stop spectating, guide him.” Eshu looks around bewildered but, alas there was nothing but himself.