It took less than a minute for the ancestors and Mane to get to Ancestor Pier's home. Soon they were all seated in one of the halls, with high quality alcohol and tea options placed before each one of them.
"Okay Ashera's Herald. Now that we are all nice and comfortable, can you tell us what it is that you are doing here?" Ancestor Origin asked. He didn't suggest that Sunflower, whom Mane had seated next to him without seeking anyone's consent, be removed from this meeting. If Mane was willing to do that, he wouldn't have come here with her.
"My purpose here is simple: To help fortify Amalgamation and prepare her for Pazuzu's return," Mane stated as coolly as one in deep comfort would have spoken. His words caused the expressions of every Ancestor to grow stern. They had their suspicions when they were informed that Mane would be coming. But to hear that it was indeed related to Pazuzu still chilled their hearts.
"What does Ashera have for us?" Ancestor Origin asked. It was almost as though he was the only one allowed to speak. For the others, although laden with questions they sought to answer through Mane, kept their silence.
"According to the words of the watchman who guards the city and sees the happenings of the gods, the signs are telling."
Ancestor Pier's face twitched when he heard his grandson being referred to as a watchman. It wasn't like he could do anything about it though, for Old Fan's task was indeed that of a watchman. An extremely powerful watchman with a noble bloodline, yes. But still a watchman. The other ancestors seemed to be taking joy in his misfortune, as many of them smiled. Ancestor Ice went as far as to stick her tongue out at Ancestor Pier, which made Mane realise that these Phenoms were very much children inside and not the old freaks he was hoping to meet.
"Over the past few months the atmosphere around the forest has changed, and this prompted him to seek to clear the doubts in his mind. Upon exploring the forest, he noticed that the gate of the gods had appeared once again, and the cracks on it served as the evidence he needed to come to this conclusion. However, he couldn't be completely certain."
The gate of the gods was a barrier that hid the two gods from the world, and almost isolated them in a different dimension. For they were still warring in the forest, but their power didn't affect anything around them because of the barrier. It was a barrier that had been erected long ago, during the time of the gods, when they lived with humans yet away from them. The barrier was capable of healing itself. However, it wasn't invincible. If the energy it had to hold back became too much to bear, cracks would appear on it, and the barrier which should have been hidden will appear. It was at such a moment that Pazuzu usually sent out a clone by using the gaps in the gate to get away.
"And that's why he sought out the Mistress of the Tower?" Ancestor Origin asked.
"No. He didn't seek us out. You of all people know that no one can just come and see Ashera. Besides, he is your watchman, not Mistress Ashera's. He doesn't report to her." Mane shook his head as he spoke.
"That means you people sought him out?" Ancestor Origin tried again, and this time he was right.
"Yes. Another of Mistress Ashera's servants, Rose, was the one dispatched to find him. When she did find him she was led to the site of the gate. And she confirmed with her own eyes that it was indeed true. The gate had reappeared, and its cracks were larger than they were the last time it appeared. Pazuzu is getting stronger."
Mane's words set the atmosphere in the hall to a grim one, as all the Ancestors felt the gravity of the situation.
"The watchman was asked to hold off on making a formal report to you. It was an executive order from Mistress Ashera, who is technically an Elemental Ancestor herself, so he couldn't reject it. However, he was promised that the information would be sent to you."
"And that is why you are here," Ancestor Origin nodded his head in understanding.
"Did you go to the forest first?" Ancestor Origin suddenly asked, prompting every Ancestors gaze to turn to Mane.
"Yes," Mane nodded simply.
"And?" Ancestor Origin was a smart man. For Mane to have been sent even after Rose had confirmed the news was unusual. This was because Rose had been serving Ashera long before Mane's arrival. There was no reason for Ashera to doubt her. And that meant that if Mane went there, it was for another purpose. And that purpose was likely mending the gate. It sounded impossible, but Ashera was capable of that. In fact, she had delayed the coming of Pazuzu by her lonesome so many times. But it was difficult to accept that a man as young as Mane was capable of doing what Ashera, who had trained for thousands of years, was capable of.
"I have mended the cracks. But it wouldn't hold for long." Mane answered.
"That's impossible!" Ancestor Pier suddenly interjected. The other Ancestors didn't stop him. Each of them had doubts in their eyes and they didn't hide it. When Mane said he was here to fortify Amalgamation they assumed it was going to be done with his strength. But from the way he was speaking he was coming to do what Ashera was able to do – fortify the barrier above the city.
Ancestor Origin merely smiled at Ancestor Pier's interruption and didn't stop him. He sat back in his chair, sinking deeper into the comfortable softness that engulfed him.
"Only Ashera has such power. How can you, a boy who is merely a few decades old, know this? Even if you trained under her, you wouldn't be at her level in just 2 years!"
All of the Ancestors nodded their heads in agreement. To them Ashera was a freak who had learned some strange arts. But she was useful, and it was because of her that the ancient barrier of Amalgamation still stood. But to say that a young man was her equal was something they were unwilling to accept. Especially since this young man wasn't an Elemental.
"I am not at Mistress Ashera's level. I am still much weaker. But my strength is enough to mend the cracks." In the past two years Mane had grown a lot, and now he was a peak High Level Scholar. Mending the cracks on the barrier was actually not as difficult as it sounded. It required one to be learned in the way of Scholars or Spiritualists. But for one to have the power to mend the cracks, one had to be at the High Level of either disciplines. Mending the barrier was like tying torn strings to each other. It wasn't that hard. It was creating the barrier that was extremely difficult. And it was beyond Mane and even the current Ashera. However, these people who had no understanding of the way of Scholars couldn't possibly know that it wasn't as complicated as it looked.
"Isn't that a bit too arrogant?" Ancestor Bold was the speaker this time. Seeing that Ancestor Origin had allowed Ancestor Pier to speak, he had found the courage of his name to be expressive.
"No," Mane replied. "If I had no such ability it would be deemed so. But what I display now is confidence, and the repaired barrier serves as my evidence." Mane stated, and then he activated Lock-On and linked himself to each and every person here.
"Wouldn't you agree, Ancestors?"
Hearing the boy's voice in their heads was all the proof they needed. They were slightly surprised that he could do what Ashera was famed for doing, but it was enough to set their minds at ease and convince them that he was indeed capable.
"When do you plan to fortify the city's barrier?" Ancestor Origin asked. Since they had gotten their doubts out of the way, they could discuss the more pressing issue. The barrier had been repaired temporarily, but it wouldn't last long. The patches will eventually be destroyed by Pazuzu. They had to prepare for his coming.
"I exhausted most of the repair materials when I visited the Forest of the Gods. So we need to restock first." Mane answered.
"How will you do that when you have just crippled the only Merchant we have in Amalgamation? And you destroyed his shop as well so there is no way we can skulk around for supplies." Ancestor Origin asked, with his brows twitching in frustration for the first time.
"He was your only merchant?" Mane asked in feigned surprise, which caused Ancestor Pier to grind his teeth sharply in anger. The boy clearly knew this, yet was fooling around.
"Now that just seems like bad planning," Mane added, and the faces of the Ancestors turned green. Even Ancestor Origin who was most composed almost blew his top.
"Behave," Sunflower pinched Mane gently in the side, and the young Supreme halted his antics.
"I was thinking of asking for some help from one dear to me," Mane said seriously. "And with his help the materials will be here by tomorrow at the very least."
"Who?" Ancestor Origin asked.
"A man you wouldn't be happy to see."