"Your task here is done," Ancestor Origin approached the house several meters away from the dome and spoke. His eyes were glued to the building, like a hawk watching a small rat. Yet this was no rat, for within Ancestor Origin's eyes was a light of cautiousness that a predator wouldn't have towards a weak prey.
"I didn't come here because of you," a calm voice came from within the building, and a tall, dark man with handsome features walked out. Held between his lips was thin stick of wood. He wore a long, black robe that hid his entire frame and any weapons with it. And as he walked towards Ancestor Origin, he didn't display any anxiety or nervousness that should have been born from being in the stronghold of a rival race. This man was an Ancient, and he was someone close to Mane. He was Dan!
"I am giving you the chance to leave. Do not bring ruin upon yourself by staying longer than you should." Ancestor Origin furrowed his brows as he delivered this warning. Behind him the other Ancestors slowly assembled, with each staring at Dan with animosity. They had allowed him to enter Amalgamation because they needed his goods. But that was as far as their hospitality would go. They weren't going to allow an Ancient, a member of a race famed for their abilities to scheme and double cross another, stay here with them for more than a few hours.
"I am not going anywhere until I see Mane," Dan answered simply. He was unfazed by Ancestor Origin's threats. And though he found the man's aura threatening, it wasn't enough to hold him back from doing what he came here to do.
"Do not push your luck boy!" Ancestor Bold roared in fury as his aura rumbled and churned and summoned a great darkness over the skies of Amalgamation. The one who controlled the storms decided to make his presence heard, and boy did he put on a show. Powerful winds that could flatten a city mowed the skies above, and lightning bolts as thick as a person's arm flooded the skies. Ancestor Bold's eyes were as dark as the darkness he had brought upon the city by clouding the sun, yet Ancestor Origin didn't stop him. He merely watched; he didn't act. He didn't think that the Prince of Ancients was a fool. Declaring that he was going nowhere until he saw Mane was only foolish if he had no way to protect himself from them.
Dan merely watched the turbulent sky with a hint of interest. There was no fear in those beautiful black eyes of his. And when he felt that he had seen enough, he slowly slipped into a monologue.
"In the past there was a human with the potential to exceed the confines of the limiter put upon him by the gods. He was but a single human, but the three great races saw a pioneer. His presence was a threat to the three great races. And each came up with a plan to curb this threat. Of the three Great Races, we the Ancients were more direct. We let him know of our distaste for humans by attacking his mind and driving him mad. The Barbarians sought to conquer him in battle. Yet their pride would not let them send those of the older generation, only the new. The Elementals, chose a different approach however. They tried to mingle with the humans. And one must say they did it to great effect."
"Stop boring us with tales everyone already knows of kid. The fact that you are only recently finding the truth of your heritage doesn't mean that the rest of us have been under the blinds our entire life as well." Ancestor Ice coldly interrupted. Of all the ancestors here, there was none who hadn't lost a loved one to the Ancients when they weren't Phenoms yet. Compared to Barbarians, Elementals detested Ancients the more. All she wanted was a word of approval from Ancestor Origin, so that she could tear this arrogant prince before them from limb to limb. Alas, such a signal would never come.
Not only was Pazuzu showing signs of a return, the person before them was a highly regarded existence. He was the son of the Matriarch! His status was far above their own Prince and Princess in terms of origin alone. Killing him would be inviting the Matriarch's wrath. And Ancestor Origin wasn't a fool to think that he could handle the Matriarch. Barbarians and Elementals had survived being swallowed by Ancients because they united when things got rough. Even then, if all the Ancient Legends got together, they wouldn't stand a chance. In a sense, they had Pazuzu to thank. The very same Pazuzu whose looming shadow meant that neither race could afford to strike at each other now.
"Indeed, these are but needless details to you," Dan nodded his head understandably, not bothered by the insulting words of the woman before him. Although Ancestor Ice was beautiful, Dan knew that she was very old. So he saw her as a very old woman. He was still calm because of what he was about to say.
"But few know that it was the Elementals who helped the Black Dragon to build his walls. Few understand that it was the Elementals who, summoning the wisdom of the old, helped The Citadel create a barrier that has kept them alive all these years by keeping the deadly Komfo Anokye at bay."
Dan's words finally caused a change in Ancestor Origin's expression. And a bit of paleness grasped the cheeks of the man who was famed for his never changing countenance.
"Impudent fool!" Ancestor Bold roared, his eyes red with fury. In blind rage he lifted his hand above him and summoned a typhoon so strong that several buildings developed cracks and a few smaller ones were razed to the ground by the sheer force of the one who wielded the storms. Yet this momentum came crushing down all at once when their leader spat out two simple words.
"Be quiet"
Like a deflated balloon, Ancestor Bold's aura was forcefully dispersed, and the domain he had conjured above the city disappeared with it. He meekly took a step behind to give more room to Ancestor Origin, his eyes filled with confusion. As were the eyes of the others. They rubbished Dan's words because they didn't believe them to be true. How could they be? But seeing Ancestor Origin's balled up fists and ugly smile, they were hit with a sudden realization that this may be the truth. And they who knew the legends of Basileus and the trove of undead sacred beasts he commanded suddenly feared for the lives of the Elementals.
"If there is nothing else, I'd be upstairs," Dan stated smoothly before returning to the building from which he came. His steps were as steady and calm as they were when he was arriving the first time. And though he had his back to a very volatile enemy, he had no fear. Soon he was out of their sights. Yet no Ancestor dared to speak up. For Ancestor Origin was still quiet.
"Get back to your positions," Ancestor Origin ordered, and the others scrambled to their pillars. No one wanted him to take out his anger on them.
"Hmm," Ancestor Origin furrowed his brows and flicked his finger in the direction of one of the buildings. A faint light escaped his fingers and crashed into the figure hidden behind a few solid stands of blocks and vaporized the curious listener immediately. This poor Elemental died from seeking more than his life was worth!
"How did he know all that?" Ancestor Origin wondered as his mind cooled down drastically. Slowly he walked to his own pillar and began to contemplate the repercussions of such a revelation. His unfocused eyes stared into the huge dome above, as though he could see the happenings within.
***************************
"Was it wise to give Dan that kind of information?" Hildegarde asked Mane as the young Supreme briefly cast his gaze on the large gate before him before getting back to work.
"About the Elementals aiding The Citadel? Not really. That was just to ruffle up some feathers." Mane shrugged nonchalantly, causing Hildegarde to bury her head in her arms. This boy was becoming more and more unruly.
"That couldn't possibly be the reason," Hildegarde frowned and said.
"Ugh fine. I need them to be shaken so that when we return, considering Lam and Lily perform their functions correctly, it will be easier to widen the cracks." Mane answered sincerely.
"Always the sly one," Hildegarde chuckled. "Are you almost finished?" Hildegarde asked.
"Just a few more seconds," Mane answered as he placed the elemental stones into a small pocket in the dome. The maintenance work was a simple one. Because of the many flaws, Mane didn't need even five minutes to complete the process. And now he was almost through.
He told the Ancestors that he needed 8 hours because it was only by doing so that they would take him seriously. After all, if he said he could finish it in 5 minutes, they would have no faith in him. Besides, he needed the extra hours for the other thing he wanted to do.
"Done," Mane stated and closed the pocket with a loud boom. "Now to the main event," he mumbled as he approached the large gate. Once Mane reached the gate only its lock stood before him. Luckily, he knew the key.
"I come to see the Watchers," Mane mumbled, and the keyhole of the large gate shone brightly as though it had been filled with a rainbow. Several lights flashed as the large gate hummed awake and slowly parted, creating a passageway in the middle.
"You had better be worth all the hype," Mane mumbled and walked through the gates to see those who had a status so lofty that even he, a Supreme, had to be wary around them.