Mane listened intently as Ananse lectured him on God Academies, all the while wondering why his parents, and even his masters had never told him any of this before.
"But God Academies aren't just institutions" Ananse smiled mysteriously as she took a sip of the beverage that was on the table before them. Mane ignored the table. It was likely a product of Indra's imagination, and would disappear once Ananse didn't need it. He also ignored the fact that Ananse was drinking when they really didn't feel any hunger in this strange space. Besides, she was a god. She didn't need to eat. So if she wanted to fake taking a drink, then that was her own issue.
"To remain as neutral as possible, God Academies aren't located on any major or minor worlds. They are their own worlds."
Mane's expression was a sight to behold. His eyes were wide open and his mouth was no different- you could fight an egg in it. "They are that large?" he stuttered
"Not really. The academies are worlds, that much is true. But they are way smaller than true worlds. Even Zandor is far larger than any of these worlds." Ananse clarified.
"True worlds?" Mane picked out the part of the explanation that stood out, and was eager to know more.
"Yes, true worlds. These worlds are those that have always been around, and weren't created by creator gods. False worlds on the other hand are not as large as true worlds, mainly because they were made by creator gods." Ananse explained
False worlds were worlds that were made by gods who specialized in creation. They weren't large because it was impossible for most creator gods to sustain a large world. They were small, about the size of a kingdom.
"Oh, I see" Mane's eyes lit up upon finally understanding the difference between the two types of worlds. He was fascinated by the prospect of creating a world though. And he seemed to understand a bit about Indra's power now. The green-eyed god was capable of creating a separate space, one detached from the universe. Although Indra wasn't a God of Creation, he seemed to have ties to one. This made it possible for him to achieve such a feat. Mane couldn't help but wonder if his parents had any such skills. If they did, that would be very cool. And even better, he may be able to inherit that skill
"So you're telling me all this because you want me to enroll into one of these academies" Mane pondered?
Ananse didn't give a straight answer. Rather she proceeded to speak about Mane's parents. "Your parents, just like you, were students of the Wielders Academy in their youth. Your father moved to this planet after his mother died, and your mother moved here under the constant badgering of your grandfather."
This was the first time Mane was hearing such a story. He knew that his parents met in the academy in their youthful days, but he wasn't sure why they did. His father wasn't Zandorian. He wasn't even born here. His mother was the same. He had no idea why they came to Zandor, and he didn't bother to ask why. It was his first time hearing that his mother was brought to this planet forcefully. Her father, Mane's grandfather, was the culprit behind her move to this small planet. Mane couldn't help but wonder who his grandfather was. After all, he was a being capable of transferring his mother to another planet just because he wanted to.
"Your father moved here because his guardian decided it would be best for him to receive the heritage of a powerful god that was hidden in the premises of the Wielders Academy. Your grandfather urged your mother here for the same purpose. That was how they met. They eventually accomplished their goals, receiving the blessing of the deceased god after searching the school premises discretely for several years. Once they did, they felt that there was nothing more to glean from the lean camel that was the Wielders Association."
Mane listened intently to the story. It was fascinating to hear about his parents' past. Even better was that he wasn't hearing it from them. Mane didn't question his parents on the issue of their backstory simply because he didn't want to hear it from them. He remembered the first time he made the mistake of asking them to fill him in on their story. What started as a history lesson, quickly turned into a love story that made him cringe. He vowed on that day to never make such a mistake again. But what surprised him was the fact that his father had a guardian. His father never mentioned that to him. Mane couldn't help but wonder who this person was.
"My father's guardian, who was he" Mane interjected, interrupting Ananse's story? "You mean, 'who is he'" Ananse smirked playfully in reply?
Mane watched her with a stunned expression on his face. "Don't ask me anymore. I'm not the best person to reveal that to you." Ananse stopped him from asking anymore questions. Mane respected her decision, so he didn't follow up with another question. But he couldn't help but wonder who his father's guardian was. Was it Uncle Jake? Or was there someone else?
Ananse payed no heed to what was going through Mane's head. She decided to continue with her story. "What do you think they did once they felt that they couldn't possibly get anything more from the Wielders Academy" she questioned?
"They attended a Gods Academy" Mane answered with certainty. There was no way that wouldn't be the answer.
"Yes. They attended one of the top God Academies at the time. And they excelled. They are actually regarded as legends in that place." Ananse announced, and Mane looked at her strangely.
"What's wrong" she asked, baffled by Mane's expression?
"Well, nothing really. I'm just not buying that" Mane stated.
"You don't believe in God Academies? You don't think your parents are products of such institutions?" She pondered aloud
"Oh no I get all that, and I believe you" Mane clarified.
"So what is the issue" Ananse pressed?
"Well I can believe it if you say my mother is a legend. But if you include my father, then I'm highly doubtful that is true" Mane stated with an innocent expression.
Indra laughed boisterously at his reply. Ananse smiled wryly after hearing the reasoning of the boy. Mane hadn't been with his parents long. But his father was too silly a man to be recognized as a legend anywhere. He was still struggling to process the fact that his father was worshipped somewhere in the universe. Add that to him being a legend, and Mane was just not sipping from that tall glass of water.
"Believe it or not kid, your father is highly respected in several parts of the universe. His tales are legendary." Indra said after he finally got himself to stop laughing. Mane was living with Ray, so he got to see the side of the Brute King that many did not have the privilege to witness. It wasn't strange that Mane found it hard to believe that the silly father he was living with was a respected somebody in the universe.
"Indra is right. Your father is highly respected in the myriad of realms." Ananse affirmed. "Now let's talk about how these academies accept students. Due to the fact that they are their own worlds, they are pretty match detached from most of the universe. But they have liaisons in several major worlds. These worlds hold tests and entrance examinations for those younger than nineteen years of age. Once you pass these tests, you gain admission into the academy. They have teleportation portals to send their new students to the academy. But that is the regular way to get into the academy"
Although Ananse made it sound simple, Mane was certain that these so called 'tests' were nothing short of difficult. After all, there was no way entering a prestigious academy would be easy. But he didn't say anything, choosing to listen patiently for her to mention the other method.
"The second way to get into the academy is relatively simple. You only need a letter of recommendation from a god, and you would gain admission."