In Love With The Hero

Babida paused from his labor of chopping wood, his strong arms holding an axe that shone in the dappled sunlight. His eyes were caught by a stunning sight: a mermaid-like figure emerging from the dense forest. Her skin was dark and smooth, her hair wild and curly, and she held a basket of mushrooms in one hand. Her name was Suzie, and she had been sent to gather these mushrooms for her grandmother's soup. Suzie didn't notice Babida at first, fully engrossed in her task of searching for the perfect white Button species among the various fungi. She bent gracefully, her pink silk mini-dress riding up to reveal her smooth legs. The dress was cinched at the waist with a delicate butterfly knot, adding a touch of femininity to her otherwise practical attire. Babida couldn't tear his gaze away from her as he stood there, transfixed. He forgot about his job and dropped his axe, his mind consumed with thoughts of this mysterious maiden. Finally breaking out of his trance, Babida called out to Suzie, causing her to startle and turn to face him. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she took in the sight of this towering man before her - shirtless, sweaty, and muscular beyond belief. "Who are you?" Suzie asked in a panic. "What are you doing here?" She added, taking a few steps back. "I apologize if I frightened you, miss," Babida replied with a smile. "I didn't mean any harm." Unsure how to respond to this giant stranger's sudden appearance, Suzie turned to leave. "Wait! Please tell me your name," Babida pleaded, extending his arm towards her. "What for? I already said I'm leaving," Suzie retorted before quickly walking away with her basket of mushrooms. Disappointed by her quick departure, Babida clenched his fists and let out a frustrated cry. Meanwhile, Suzie arrived back at her home in Ekule, a vibrant village in the Batang empire of Africa. She greeted her grandmother, affectionately referred to as "big momma," and headed straight for the kitchen to prepare the mushroom soup using her freshly gathered ingredients. "Where have you been, you little rascal?" Big momma scolded Suzie. "I'm sorry, big momma," Suzie replied with a hug, trying to appease her. "There were so many mushrooms in the forest today, I wanted to bring back as many as possible for your special soup." Big momma's demeanor softened as she watched Suzie carefully sort through the mushrooms and begin to cook them in a pot. The sound of running water filled the room as Suzie rinsed off each mushroom before adding it to the pot, ensuring they were all clean and healthy for her grandmother's meal. And then...the memory of what had happened in the woods burst into Suzie's mind, like a vivid flashback from a movie. She felt her stomach twist with unease as she recalled the encounter. "Big momma, let me tell you about the strange thing that happened to me in Ekule's forest!" Suzie exclaimed, eager to share her experience with her grandmother. The older woman sat in the parlor, fanning herself with a delicate floral hand fan. Her grandmother glanced over at her with a mix of amusement and annoyance. "What is it this time, little tattletale? More gossip about the village?" she asked. Suzie shook her head. "No big momma, it's not about anyone else. It's about something that happened to me." She clarified. "I was walking through the forest when I noticed someone following me. He looked like a lumberjack, but I didn't get a chance to check." She explained. "What? Who dares to harm my precious angel?" Grandma exclaimed, her face turning serious. Suzie quickly reassured her. "Don't worry big momma, I wasn't hurt. But it was still unsettling to see someone out there in the woods when I thought I was alone." Grandma huffed in disapproval. "This must not happen again." She declared firmly, brushing aside Suzie's attempt to downplay the incident. Unfazed by her grandmother's stern reaction, Suzie went back to cooking the mushrooms for their dinner. She dumped the dirty water from the pot into the sink and filled it with fresh water from the tap. After seasoning the white Buttons with salt, she added chopped parsley, minced onions, and ground garlic. As she stirred them together in the pot over the gentle firewood flames, she couldn't help but enjoy the comforting smells wafting up. Half an hour later, the aroma of the finished mushroom soup filled the chalet, making Grandma's mouth water in anticipation. "Hmmm, Suzie, my dear, you always make me hungry with your delicious cooking. How much longer until it's ready?" She asked impatiently. "Just ten more minutes to let it simmer a bit and then it will be perfect." Suzie answered with a smile. "Alright, but hurry up! I can't wait any longer." Grandma replied, eagerly rubbing her hands together in anticipation. As promised, ten minutes later the soup was ready. Suzie ladled out a generous portion into Grandma's designated bowl and brought it to the dining room. "Dinner is served!" She announced as she set the bowl down in front of her grandmother. The older woman practically jumped out of her chair and hurried over to the table, pulling out her Windsor seat and settling down. "Mmm, this is heavenly. You have truly outdone yourself once again, my dear." Grandma praised between bites. Suzie smiled at her grandmother's compliments before excusing herself for some much-needed rest after a long day. As she climbed the stairs to her bedroom, she couldn't help but feel grateful for her grandmother's praise and support. As night fell, Babida lay on his ebony-made bed, the cool silk sheets against his bare chest. He couldn't shake the memory of the mysterious encounter he had earlier that day. The image of the young woman with dark skin and wild hair, dressed in a pink silk robe with a butterfly knot, replayed in his mind over and over again. Suddenly, a wave of intense emotion swept over him, leaving him feeling disoriented and out of control. It was as if he had been struck by lightning. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so weak. The fascination he felt for this unknown maiden was consuming him. "I wonder where she lives," Babida whispered to himself. "She must be from the neighboring village of Okala. I've never seen her around here," he convinced himself. "Tomorrow morning, before I go to Ekule's forest, I will make a stop in Okala to find her," he resolved as he drifted off to sleep. Before dawn, Babida woke up determined to find the girl from his thoughts. He got dressed, but this time it was different. He took extra care in grooming himself - shaving his bushy beard and neatly trimming his mustache. After a thorough bath, he used lemon juice to exfoliate his skin and get rid of any stubborn pimples. He then applied a generous amount of rose-scented fragrance on his body, paying special attention to his armpits, neck, and chest. Finally, he donned a long white boubou and a brown kufi hat and slipped on some brown leather sandals. Ready to begin his search, Babida made his way to Okala and arrived at the main street of the village. It was bustling with activity - merchants selling charcoal, butchers displaying their meat, fishmongers shouting out their catches, tailors showcasing their latest designs, jewelers attending to customers, and children running around playing. Babida began his inquiry, asking anyone he came across if they knew of a young woman with curly hair and dark skin, aged eighteen or above, who could wear a silk robe with grace - particularly a pink one with a butterfly knot. But no one seemed to know who she was. Feeling desperate, Babida took a moment to gather his thoughts. He stood in a corner, contemplating his next move. That's when three young boys, no older than twelve, approached him. One of them spoke up in an imperious tone: "Hey! I know someone who can help you find whoever you're looking for." Babida was taken aback by the child's boldness, but he was willing to do whatever it takes to find this mysterious girl. "Really? Tell me more," he urged the boy. "See that street over there? The Witch's street. Go there and all your questions will be answered," the boy commanded, pointing in a specific direction with his index finger.​

With a sense of urgency, Babida hastened towards the designated location. As he drew closer, the path became shrouded in darkness, and a sudden thunderstorm boomed overhead. The muscular Babida felt a surge of fear welling up inside him, but he did his best to conceal it. He continued onward until a ball of light appeared before him. From its glowing center emerged a levitating Witch, dressed in a long black hooded gown. She lowered her head and gazed at the ground with piercing intensity, her long brown nails moving as if playing an invisible piano. "You, Babida the lumberjack. What has brought you to disturb my peace?" The Witch interrogated her unexpected visitor. "Pardon me, your Oracle. I had wished to announce my visit ahead of time, but unforeseen circumstances prevented me from doing so," Babida defended himself as he bowed respectfully before the Witch. "You will pay the price for your impertinence. Won't you?" The Sorceress demanded of the lumberjack. "And what is that, yo