"So, why is Ashera's herald here?" the blind old man asked. When he spoke the others were silent, and even Ancestor Pier who valued his face looked withdrawn with the old man around. He was holding on to both Lam and Lily as though he was trying to prevent them from doing or saying anything silly. This blind old man was surely not as kind as he looked.
"Ancestor Origin, it is an honour to meet you – and the others," Mane nodded slightly at the Ancestors who commanded the respect of the masses as he spoke. His actions caused a few of them to frown, yet when they looked into his multi-pixelated eyes their powers trembled, and they felt their energies being drawn towards the young man standing before them. The boy was like a vacuum. A mere look was all it took to weaken them. They hastily turned away in shock.
"Sun, can I have it please?" Mane turned to Sunflower and said.
"Oh yeah. Here." Sunflower quickly passed over a black blindfold to Mane. This was what she had left to procure. Although Mane could resist Ashera now, he had recently achieved a breakthrough in True Eyes and was having some challenges controlling his power. Since True Eyes had been strengthened by Devour, Mane could actually use it to activate Devour now. However, his recent breakthrough meant that he was involuntarily taking up the energy of others. Even worse was that True Eyes could appear on its own without being summoned, which was what had just happened. And that was why a blindfold was so vital.
Unfortunately, the blindfold he left the Tower of the Hundred with had been destroyed on their way here in a training accident. And that was why Sunflower left to buy another one. Once Mane wore the blindfold the Ancestors felt the weight on their shoulders lifted. As for Ancestor Origin, his 'gray' eyes twinkled with a strange light as his smile widened. He was the only one who was unaffected by Mane's power. And he was intrigued by it.
"What I have been tasked to bring you is by no means something that can be said here, with so many prying eyes and curious ears," Mane's speech was slow yet authoritarian. He didn't sound like a boy who hadn't lived for even 20 years talking to a bunch of old ghosts.
"Where are my manners?" Ancestor Origin struck his forehead as though he had forgotten something highly important.
"Specter," Ancestor Origin turned and called out Ancestor Pier. That was actually Pier's title. The twins knew him by his real name because they were his disciples. And Mane knew him by his real name because Ashera had told him when he inquired about the twins. Added to the fact that Pier was the youngest Ancestor, many Elementals still remembered him by his name before he became a Phenom.
"Yes Ancestor Origin," Ancestor Pier's attitude was vastly different from what it was when he was dealing with Mane. He was very subservient, and one would have thought that he was a servant with the way he was acting.
"Your residence is closest to this place. You wouldn't mind if we entertain this guest there now, would you?" Ancestor Origin asked with a smile.
"Of course not Ancestor. It will be an honour." Ancestor Pier hastily agreed. "Take care of Ivor. Get him to the Healing Center first. Lam, go with her." Ancestor Pier whispered to his disciples before proceeding to take to the skies.
Lam nodded sullenly at the order. He understood that he was not yet worthy to stand with the Ancestors in one room. For him to reach such a stage, he had to become a Phenom. His eyes flashed with a complicated gleam when he saw Mane who had also taken to the skies. Unlike the Ancestors, Mane didn't use the forces of the world to fly. Rather, he was using Ashera's famous Wind Walk. The wind elements gathered beneath his feet like a wave as he soared into the air, his speed not at all inferior to the speed of the Ancestors!
His arm was around Sunflower's waist in the most delicate and nimble of movements as he carried her with him. He had clearly done this several times. And the gentleness he attached to his actions showed that she meant a lot to him. Lam cast a side eye to his sister. Silver was still in Lily's arms, but the young princess who had long come to understand her feelings towards Mane was biting her lips strongly as he watched him take to the skies with another woman.
"Are you okay?" Lam couldn't help but ask. He wasn't referring to the fat gentleman who lay on the ground unconscious. He was worried for his sister.
"I am fine," Lily hastily forced down the tears that threatened to spill over, yet a few did find their way out. And she quickly wiped them off her delicate face.
"He has really changed," she couldn't help but say. All these years she had only thought of him. She wondered how he was doing; what he would say when they met again; how impressed he would be when he realised how much she had grown; how large his smile would be when he saw that Lam was alive and well. Yet none of those scenarios had played out just how she thought they would. He barely cast her a glance. He even called her by her title now. He felt more distant than ever. And it hurt her.
"He has," Lam agreed. There was a chilliness about Mane now. It was there before, but he always hid it around them so as to not freak them out. But now it was in full swing. He didn't mind letting them feel the distance between them now. Not only in terms of power, but emotions too.
"But I don't think he was acting right just now," Lam stated. He couldn't help but feel that something was off.
"What do you mean?" Lily asked as she kept feeding her energy into Ivor, causing the man's pale complexion to become rosy again.
"He was being too distant. He was deliberately pushing us away with his aura, as though he didn't want to be associated with us. Not that actually, rather it was as though he didn't want anyone to think he was associated with us." Lam furrowed his brows and said.
"And why did he leave this fella here with you? Isn't that his beast companion? If he couldn't be bothered about us, why would he leave his monkey with you? Would he not have to come back for it?" Lam analysed and his words caused Lily's eyes to flash brightly in realization.
"Silver is a he, not an it. The only reason why he would leave Silver here was if he needed Silver to tell me something!"
Lily understood the language of Crystal Monkeys as well as Mane did. And if Mane remembered this, it would make sense why he had left Sliver here with her. She hastily gripped the ears of the monkey who was jumping around her and pulled him to her side.
"Did he ask you to tell me anything," Lily asked. Silver's eyes flashed craftily before he mumbled some things to her in beast language.
"Yes, I would get you all the treats you want when we go back," Lily's eyelids twitched when she heard Silver's request. The greedy pig was asking for three Spirit fruits and any other thing that was about that level. Her answer seemed satisfactory to Silver, for he nodded his head and began to speak to Lily in beast language. As they spoke, Lily's expression got brighter and brighter. And Lam noticed this, making him feel that his guess was spot on.
"What did he say?" Lam asked.
"He said Mane left a special message for us. He doesn't trust the Ancestors, and that was why he didn't say anything to us." Lily explained through telepathy. "So we need to go to a secluded area" Lily added.
Lam nodded his head and tossed the large Ivor over his shoulder. They had spent two years in this city, and they knew it like the back of their hands. Soon they found themselves in a secluded area only frequented by rats. Lam gently dropped Ivor on the ground before Lily spoke to Silver again. The cautious crystal monkey looked around to make sure that there was really no one around, before retrieving a stone from its mouth.
"A record stone," Lily exclaimed as she hastily snatched the stone from the grumbling Silver. "I'm sorry. I'd give you an additional Spirit Fruit," Lily promised quickly upon realizing that she wasn't acting normally. Then she played the video on the record stone.
"Hello, if you're seeing this then I presume that you didn't let me down and had figured out that something was off. I have missed you two dearly, Lily and Lam."
The two twins smiled widely like clowns when they heard the Mane in the video address them without their titles. It truly was refreshing to hear.
"You might be wondering why I acted so distant and why I acted so coldly towards you. That is because I have to protect you."
Mane's words caused both Lam and Lily to look towards each other. Who could Mane want to protect them from when they were in Amalgamation? Unless the person they needed protecting from was in Amalgamation!
"You are smart, so I am sure you must have guessed by now what I am about to say. Yes, there is a Traitor in Amalgamation. And that is the real reason why I am here. This traitor is an Ancestor!"