Lagos 2080

Chapter 4: The Eye of Ifa

Ayo and Ejiro walked in silence, the sounds of the bustling undercity fading as they entered a quieter, darker part of Makoko. Ayo's heart pounded with each step. He'd heard stories of the Ifa priest, an old man with a cybernetic eye who knew things no one else did. Some people claimed he could see the future. Others said he could see through your soul.

Ejiro led the way, her expression as grim as Ayo felt. She hadn't spoken much since Ayo told her about the whispers of the Orishas, and about the strange vision he'd seen when he touched the Sky-Mech. But when he mentioned the priest, she'd only nodded and said, "Then that's who we need to see."

They finally stopped outside a small, weathered building with symbols painted on the walls. They were ancient symbols, the kind Ayo had only seen in his grandmother's old storybooks. His fingers brushed over one of the symbols, feeling the faded paint, wondering what secrets were hidden in those strange marks.

The door creaked open before they even knocked. The priest stood there, watching them with a single, shining red eye, glowing faintly against his weathered, dark face. His other eye was hidden behind a strange, metallic patch that blinked and whirred softly, as if it was alive. He seemed both ancient and futuristic, a man trapped between two worlds.

"Come in," he said, his voice low and raspy. He looked straight at Ayo, his expression unreadable. "I've been expecting you."

The words sent a chill down Ayo's spine. Ejiro glanced at him, eyebrows raised. She clearly hadn't mentioned anything to the priest about them coming.

They followed the priest inside. His small room was filled with strange objects — old books, bits of metal and glass, wires tangled around wooden charms. The air smelled of something sharp and smoky. The priest motioned for them to sit on a low bench, then took a seat across from them, his cybernetic eye fixed on Ayo.

"You've awakened something you don't understand," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Ayo swallowed, unsure of how much to say. "I... I saw something. The Orishas, I think. They were... talking to me. About balance."

The priest nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips. "The Orishas are not just stories. They are here, in every piece of technology, in every machine that hums and whirs. They have been waiting, watching, and you, Ayo... you have the sight to hear them."

Ayo's mind whirled. This was all too much. He glanced at Ejiro, who just shrugged, looking as lost as he felt.

"Why me?" Ayo finally asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Because you are chosen," the priest said simply. "And because of this." He reached out and touched Ayo's arm, his fingers cold and rough. "You have something in you — a connection to the spirits and to the machines. But that Sky-Mech you found... it holds more than technology. It holds a part of the Orishas' power. And that power will come at a cost."

Ayo shivered, remembering the strange, electric feeling he'd felt when he first touched the Mech. "So... what do I do?"

The priest's eyes gleamed, both the human and the cybernetic. "You must see with both eyes. The spirit and the machine. Only then will you understand the true power of what you hold."

Without warning, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, shiny stone. It was a deep, emerald green, and it pulsed faintly in his hand. "This is the Eye of Ifa," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "It will help you connect with the Orishas, but only if you are ready. And once you start, there is no turning back."

Ayo's hand shook as he took the stone. It felt warm, like it was alive, and a strange tingling sensation traveled up his arm. Suddenly, a flood of images burst into his mind. He saw the city of Lagos, but it was different — the buildings pulsed with light, and the machines seemed almost... alive, like they were watching, breathing, connected in ways he couldn't understand.

And then he saw the Orishas. Shango, Oshun, and others, figures cloaked in shadow and light. They whispered to him, their voices blending with the hum of the machines.

"Use it wisely, boy," the priest said, snapping Ayo back to the present. "The Eye will show you things, but it is not always kind. It reveals truth, but truth can be a dangerous thing."

Just as Ayo was about to respond, the door burst open. Three figures stepped in, their faces hidden under dark hoods, and the gleam of metal flashed from their belts. They were Tech-Lords' enforcers — guards from the upper city.

Ejiro leapt up, her cyber-arm sparking as she readied herself to fight. "They must've followed us," she hissed.

The priest raised a hand, his gaze calm, but his voice sharp. "Leave. Now. I will handle them."

"But—" Ayo started, but the priest cut him off.

"Go. The Eye will guide you. Trust in it, and in the Orishas."

Ejiro grabbed Ayo's arm, dragging him towards a back door as the priest turned to face the enforcers. Just as they slipped out, Ayo glanced back, catching one last glimpse of the priest's glowing eye. It burned like a beacon, fierce and defiant.

Once outside, they ran, weaving through the alleys, Ayo's mind spinning with fear and confusion. But he clutched the Eye of Ifa tightly in his hand, feeling its steady pulse against his skin, and for the first time, he felt a flicker of something stronger than fear.