"I do not know you, Sir Indra. I have no information to even understand who you are. I doubt that we have any mutual friends." Mane's words were laced with doubt. He had only met Indra today. He didn't know who this god was, or what he stood for. He didn't even know whether he was truly a god, or only an ascender. He just assumed Indra was a god because of the fact that his aura was similar to his father's. Gods and Ascenders weren't the same. Gods were ascenders, but ascenders weren't gods. Godhood was the peak of ascension. It was a realm within the ascension realm that separated the truly talented from the moderately talented ones. It wasn't an easy level to get to. It didn't only require the highest degree of talent, but it was highly dependent on if fate was on your side. And from what Mane knew, godhood wasn't the limit. Within the realm of godhood there were levels- a hierarchy. But that was out of his reach currently.
"Don't be too hasty to say we do not know each other. We never met personally. But we are truly acquainted." Indra smiled mysteriously as he denied Mane's words. Mane was totally confused now. He had impeccable memory. There was no way he would forget a person he had an interaction with, much less someone with an overwhelming aura like Indra's. Yet the expert before him was insinuating that they had met before. Although from his words he was proclaiming that it was an indirect interaction, Mane still found it hard to believe. After all, Indra wasn't Zandorian. He wasn't from Zandor. Mane didn't know how long he had been on this planet, but it was hard to believe that a god had interacted with him and he couldn't remember it.
"Pardon my asking but, what do you mean? I am confused" Mane conveyed his confusion to the source of his muddled thoughts. Indra smiled and replied, "I have been observing you for some years now. I have to say, when she told me that there was a Supreme on this small world, I didn't quite believe her. But after observing you for some time, I was convinced."
Indra's words descended like a bombshell, causing Mane's mind to go blank and sending his thoughts into total disarray. 'He knows!' Mane screamed to himself. He didn't know who he was. His understanding of the Supreme's tasks was just as shallow as any Zandorian mortal. But he trusted his masters. They told him to protect his identity. No one was to know who he was. If they did, it would spell danger for not just himself, but for everyone he loved: his mother, father, and his friends; none of them would be safe once his identity was disclosed to the world. So even though Mane didn't know what exactly it was that made him special, he heeded their words. Of course it would be great if they actually told him who he was and what his purpose was. It was the only way he would understand why some gods wanted him dead. But since they hadn't explained anything to him, there was nothing he could do. After all, it wasn't like he could go to the Wielder Academy and read about it. They didn't have such information in their shallow archives. But right now what his masters warned him of had come to pass. Someone knew who he was. And from his words, he had known for a long time. Not only did he know, someone else was aware of this sensitive information. And it was this person who had informed Indra. Who knows if the informant had told others? Even Indra who stood before him wasn't to be trusted. Mane didn't know whether his father's new friend was trustworthy. After all, from his father's words, they had only just met.
'Calm down…Calm down Mane…It isn't all bad…Right…It isn't all bad' Mane took deep breaths to calm himself as he critically analysed the situation. Now that he was level headed, his brilliant brain took the reins and churned at high speed, seeking to deliver some good news. In less than five seconds, Mane had the answers he wanted.
'He knew, yet he didn't come after me, only choosing to watch from afar. Which means he had no ill intent. It is almost as if he wanted to validate the information. From what my masters have told me, those who want me dead would do anything to see to it that their goal is achieved. If he was one of those people, he would have killed me based on his suspicion. He wouldn't want to take any risks, and would finish me off right away. For it would be better to be wrong and kill an innocent person, than to be right and let the threat go scot free. Since he didn't approach me before today, it means that he was never going to. After all, at the time, my parents weren't around, and I was in school. It would be easy for an Ascender to appear before me without drawing any attention. And it would have been the prudent thing to do. But it looks like he didn't know who my parents are. The informant didn't present him such information, meaning that his duty was only to observe'
Mane went through a lot of information at terrific speed. His brain analysed everything he knew, and broke down the results to truly understand the situation. He was wrong about one thing though. Even if Indra wanted to kill him, it wouldn't have been easy. His parents weren't around, and the mysterious Uncle Jake had left, but he wasn't alone. Butler Fin was present. The low-key god protected the young boy from the shadows, and if Indra were to attempt to make a move, it may have been his last.
Indra watched silently as Mane carefully considered his options. There was a smile of acknowledgement on his face as he watched the formerly anxious boy gather himself and slip into his thoughts. Mane was right about one thing: Indra's task was only to observe the boy. When he was directed to this world, the one who had given him all the help he had received so far asked for a favour. From what Indra was told, he wasn't getting the information for free. Indra hunted down rebels and rogue gods not for the reason that had been publicized in the seven realms- he did it for something else. Indra was kind and just. Yet there were several other gods like himself in the universe. However, he was unique because he travelled the realms seeking to protect the people and destroy universe level threats. He did this because of his godhead. His godhead was special. It was built on the heads of all his enemies- all who were a danger to this universe. The more rogue and evil gods he killed, the stronger his godhead got. So his quest for Seth wasn't because of justice per se, it was also to strengthen himself. It was a secret that belonged to his godhood- the secret of his godhead. And it was shared with no one. But for some reason, the stranger who had sent him here knew this. What no one knew, she did. And Indra couldn't silence her, for it would cause a crack in his godhead. In time this crack would grow and his strength would be reduced- permanently. Even if he didn't have such a restriction, it would go against his nature to silence an innocent person. Besides, Indra got the feeling that he wouldn't be able to best the mystery goddess in a fight. So he accepted the offer she put before him. He could still remember her words, in her clear and melodious voice,
"This is where you would find the Dark God. The world he has descended upon is a sealed one. You must follow my instructions to the letter if you are to locate it."
"How can I trust you?" Indra had asked at the time. Her answer was splendid. "You can't. You must trust in yourself. Go now, and take this with you. It has the information you need- and a lot more that you will require." That was when she handed him an artefact. It was an artefact that allowed him to communicate with Zandor's world will, and tap into her ability to apply leases that dull the senses and trick the soul- skill he had no talent with. But Indra knew that nothing was free in this world.
"What do you want in return?" he wondered. "I want you observe someone for me. He is an important piece to the universe. Right now, he is nothing but a chess piece on another's chessboard. Soon, he would hold the fate of all in his hands." Indra was shocked when he heard her. He was a god, so he knew the prophecies that concerned his rank of warriors. There was one particular one that caused fear and panic; a prophecy that appeared a decade ago, and cast the seven realms into a period of fear and trepidation. It had been only a decade since then, and gods had a long and tenacious life span. Ten years weren't much to them. So he still remembered the prophecy. It was the prophecy that spoke of the Supreme. A Supreme that was brought into the world to enact judgement on the gods- even the gods of judgement would not be spared his iron scepter. The Supreme was the ultimate of his species. The prophecy called him the Ultimate Supreme, and true ruler of the universe. The blood of his predecessors filled the pools of the gods. He was going to avenge them. Like verdigris was to copper, so was he the bane of their rule.