"If a person's comprehensions do not match the speed of their promotion, and they end up ascending before filling the Token of Authority, they ascend as Ascenders. If they fill the Token of Authority before their ascension, they ascend as gods. As for False Ascenders, they are those that barely filled a third of their token before ascending. And unlike True Ascenders who can keep on filling their Tokens to attempt entering the realm of godhood, False Ascenders have no such privilege. Once they ascend in their false states, their progress is barred."
Mane couldn't help but wonder why someone would choose to ascend as a False Ascender. But everyone had their reasons. He wasn't one to judge, especially since he wasn't even at that stage yet. Maybe when he was also ready to ascend, he would find out.
"When one becomes a god, the power of their token is transformed into a godspark. So their tokens become nothing but empty shells of their previous power. However, they still contain a sliver of the god's power. And through this power, the god can manifest themselves for a short period of time. That is why gods are able to part with their tokens and include them in the letters of recommendations. Once the token is triggered, the god would appear- in an illusionary state of course- and confirm that the one holding on to the letter was indeed picked by them. But Ascenders don't have a godspark, hence they still use their tokens. It would be impossible for them to part with their tokens. After all, it is a part of them."
With Indra's explanation, Mane finally understood why the token of authority was so important. Unlike the society of gods that didn't need the Token of Authority anymore, Ascenders still required the token to harness their power. In fact, their tokens were bound to them, their very souls connected to the Tokens of Authority. Hence, it would be impossible for them to retrieve the tokens from within themselves. Even if they wanted to part with the tokens, it would be impossible because the tokens couldn't be retrieved, whether they willed it or not. It wasn't something that could be changed just because they wanted to. They wouldn't be able to part with their tokens unless they could shed their shells and become fully fledged gods.
"Pardon my asking, but are you also a product of a God Academy?" Mane asked Indra. Indra was now considered his father's friend. If Ray was a product of a God Academy, wouldn't that mean that Indra was an alumnus of a God Academy as well? After all, they looked to be of the same age.
"No, I'm not" Indra shook his head with a smile as he responded in the negative. Seeing the look of surprise on Mane's face he explained thusly, "Although I look this young I'm actually older than your father by several millions of years. I am considered as a member of the younger generation in the god society, but that doesn't mean that I am young. In human terms, I am old enough to be an ancestor."
"I am confused. If you are part of the younger generation, then what generation does my father belong to?" Mane wondered. Indra claimed that he was older than his father by at least a million years. If he was considered young, then how did they regard his parents?
"Your father and your mother are all like I am; members of the younger generation" Indra replied
Mane's lips twitched in annoyance upon hearing his answer. How a million year old monster could be lumped together with gods who weren't that old was beyond his reasoning. Mane didn't know how old his parents were. But if Indra was older than them by millions of years, then that meant that they weren't that old. Mane didn't think they were older than a millennium. Since Indra seemed to know their age, Mane could just ask the battle god. But he felt that it would be wrong to do so.
'Whatever…I'd have to ask them when I leave this place. I wonder if they would tell me.' Mane thought to himself. He would ask his father when he was free of this strange space. As for his mother, he would be a fool to ask her for her age. Although she was his mother, she was still a woman. And no woman, goddess or mortal, was a fan of revealing her true age.
"So you see why the tokens are so important?" Ananse spoke up once Indra and Mane were done with the conversation.
Mane nodded in reply and asked the question that had been on his mind since the issue of the God Academies came up, "I know you have an academy in mind for me". "So, which academy do you have in mind" Mane asked?
So far Ananse had proven herself to be worthy of her title. Not only was she knowledgeable in many areas, she was calculative and had great understanding to match her large library of wisdom. Since she had brought up the topic of God Academies, it meant that she already had an academy in mind. In fact, Mane actually had a guess as to the kind of academy she would want him to attend. There were three choices here.
One of the choices was the academy that his parents attended. After all, it would make sense for him to go to the academy that shaped his parents into what they were right now.
The other option was to attend the academy that Ananse was affiliated to. Mane didn't know how old Ananse was, but he could guess from Indra's demeanor change after he heard her mention her name that she was a goddess who commanded a lot of respect. It was highly likely that she was far older than Indra. From her explanation he realised that the god society was affiliated to the God Academies. It may have even been their idea that institutions such as these be established. So it was highly likely that Ananse had her own affiliations. Plus, since she was older than Indra, a god who was already around and mature before the system of God Academies gained true repute among the gods, it was impossible to conclude that she was an alumna of a God Academy.
The third option was to try a whole new academy. This option was the most unlikely of the three. After all, it wouldn't be a good idea to send Mane to an unknown location.
"Yes, I already have an academy in mind. I want you to attend the King's Crown Academy." Ananse announced. Indra looked surprised by her response. "Are you certain", the battle god asked the goddess of wisdom and trickery. "I am", came her reply. Mane realised that the atmosphere was a little strange. He couldn't help but wonder which option Ananse had picked.
"What academy is that" he enquired?
"It's the academy Indra is affiliated to" Ananse answered his question, caring very little how Mane would deal with the option he hadn't considered.
"Why?" he asked. Indra claimed that he was part of the younger generation of gods. As a god belonging to the younger generation being affiliated to a God Academy was an impressive feat. But it also told of the strength of this academy. If this academy was one with a long history and vast resources, they wouldn't ask a young god to be their face. This could only mean that the academy was quite young- at least in god years.
"The King's Crown Academy is a young academy; that much is undisputable. But it isn't without potential. Their teachers are the cream of the crop, and their methods are unbiased. Unlike the relics in the older God Academies, they aren't bound by customs and unnecessary beliefs, hence it is the best place to train someone who hopes to be molded into an unfettered powerhouse. Plus in such an institution, the eyes of the gods will not be centered on you." Ananse explained. Her reasoning was sound, and Mane agreed with her. From her words, if he attended any of the older God Academies he was bound to have a difficult time.
"And there is one other reason why you should attend King's Crown" Ananse continued
"Which is?" Mane asked after she kept mute for almost a minute.
Ananse smiled broadly and replied in her sweet and mesmerizing voice, "Simple- your parents are affiliated to this Academy too".