Mane was stunned by what he was hearing. He had been brought to this world by the hands of fate, seeking to see the Supreme of the True Universe put his budding skills to the test. And so far he had been doing a splendid job. But who would have thought that he would meet his father's family here. And even more unbelievable was that they were here to restore their planet. They didn't need to say it for Mane to understand this. Why else would they be going around collecting fragments of Kerith?
Komfo Anokye didn't tell Mane everything. And that was because he didn't need to. The weapon Kerith was destroyed when the world Kerith was destroyed. That same weapon was able to affect an entire planet. The fact that the world and the weapon shared the same name meant that the weapon Kerith was fused to the world Kerith. They were one. And when the world was destroyed, it too faced destruction. Hypothetically, if the weapon could be put back together and fused with another world, Kerith could be reborn!
"Did the gods know the price you would have to pay to give up Kerith?" Mane asked his grandmother. Her people had chosen to fight. Obviously they couldn't leave their home and move to another planet just because the gods said so. Kerith was their home after all.
"They did," Keira sighed mournfully. This was the tyranny of the gods. They did what they wanted, when they wanted; and few could stand in their way. Kerith's destruction was just another example of their greed. Since they couldn't have the weapon they craved, they chose to destroy the world instead.
"It has been hard on you," Mane felt sorry for his grandmother.
She had left her son behind to restore her home. She had abandoned one love for another. And that couldn't have been easy. However Mane knew that if given the chance his grandmother would make the same decision. And that was simply because he could feel a great sense of responsibility from her. Someone like Keira wouldn't want others to share in her burdens. She certainly wouldn't want Ray knowing about this. Mane knew how brash his father was. The man wasn't called a brute for nothing. Ray would have gone on a rampage if he discovered the works of the gods. And god knows what he would have done and what would have become of him.
"It had to be done," Keira smiled gently and tousled Mane's affectionately. It was definitely difficult to leave her family behind. But she did leave Ray in the right hands and had kept an eye on him constantly. Her son had grown up to become a great man and though he was a god, he didn't share their selfish tendencies and pride.
"You didn't tell me how Kerith's destruction was related to the Reaper," Mane frowned and turned to face Komfo Anokye with a questioning gaze. This entire story had been told because Komfo Anokye stated that he knew the power of the Reaper better than any man who existed. The man didn't come off as a liar. He was scheming and sly, but his words were told without that goal. And Mane knew that there was something more to be told.
"Oh? Did I say such a thing?" Komfo Anokye subbed his chin in confusion, much to Mane's annoyance. If the young man had the ability to pummel Komfo Anokye into the ground, he would have.
"Yes you did," Mane's eyelids twitched in annoyance. He had only k=just et the man, but his granduncle was a very annoying man.
Keira gave Komfo Anokye a stern look, and his sly countenance was swiftly replaced with a helpless one. His sister did everything for him. She was always there for him and hadn't hesitated to leave her son when he called on her for help. She seldom asked for anything, but whenever she did, he found it impossible to ignore her. It was because of her that he was telling Mane so much. Usually he would have avoided answering as many questions as he could. But if he didn't say anything, she would be cross with him. Besides, the boy would find out anyway. As long as he asked anything of Keira, Komfo Anokye doubted that he would be rejected.
"Well, Keira's destruction was meant to wipe out every Weapon Master alive. The gods judged us as threats. They didn't just want Kerith, they wanted us dead." When he said this, Mane could see a great rage building up in Komfo Anokye's eyes. The man was probably reliving the moment. He was seeing it all over again; the destruction of his race.
"Yet we made it out alive. A few of us survived. But Keira and I were the only ones who survived without any great injuries. Over time we recovered, but the others weren't so lucky. They died from their wounds and left us all alone."
Mane felt a bit bad that he had asked his question. But he didn't say a word. He asked about the Reaper, and he was going to get his reply.
"So what does the Reaper have to do with all this?" the young Supreme asked.
"Man, you are heartless," Hildegarde shook her head and flew on to Mane's shoulder. Mane felt bad, but he didn't show it.
"You really aren't one to be dissuaded," Komfo Anokye smiled bitterly and said. Mane smiled slightly when he heard his words. Komfo Anokye's comments showed that he was being insincere. He wasn't broken hearted. He had spent many centuries getting over his pain. He just didn't want to talk about the Reaper.
"Alright then. You see, we only survived because the Reaper intervened." Komfo Anokye finally revealed.
"He intervened?" Mane was surprised by his granduncle's words. The Reaper was like the Watchers. It wasn't like him to involve himself in the affairs of men, even if that affair was related to the eradication of an entire race. After all, many races were wiped out every few years. It contributed to the balance of the world. Why then did he interfere with the complete destruction of the Weapon Masters?
"Yes, he intervened. I know it sounds unbelievable. But he really did step in. He said he had drunk his fill from our blood and was repaying us for our generous donation. But that made no sense. If he had stepped back, he would have gotten much more when the entire race was gone."
Mane nodded his head at Komfo Anokye's words. Indeed, the words of the Reaper made no sense.
"Initially, we also tried our hardest to understand why we were saved. And why he didn't step in earlier to protect our race. Even worse, those of us who were badly hurt were left to our fates. The Reaper didn't care for our thoughts. He marked us as his and walked away. It was because of his mark that we weren't hunted so thoroughly after our escape."
"He marked you?" Mane was receiving more and more surprises with every word Komfo Anokye spoke. Marking was a term that referred to a higher power accepting another under his or her banner. The Reaper was a single entity with no subordinates. Why then would he see it fit to mark Weapon Masters?
"Yes, he did. Our confusion was great at the time. My sister and I were vastly talented, but we weren't the most talented individuals in the universe. We weren't even the most talented in our Heaven. Why then were we picked?"
Mane was wondering the same thing. Why did the Reaper do something so outside his usual actions? Why did he act so strangely towards the Weapon Masters?
"Everything he did, he did because of one person."
"One person?" Mane queried.
"Yes, just one person. You see, he knew about a few prophecies and was smart enough to tract the origins of the prophecy to a race. And when he saw that the prophecy would fail if that race was destroyed, he saved the last few remnants. And he only saved the one the prophecy concerned. As for the other who was saved as well, his salvation was given only because he was related to the prophecy holder."
"He saved you because of grandmother?" Mane interjected. It wasn't difficult to generate such a conclusion, given the way Komfo Anokye described the events of the past. What Mane wanted to know was the prophecy that had led the Reaper out of his nest and into the world.
"He did. The prophecy was hers." Komfo Anokye nodded his head in assent.
"What prophecy was that?" Mane wondered. Komfo Anokye smiled wryly and opened his mouth to answer. With a voice that was laced with guile he announced the answer Mane had sought, but could have never been prepared to hear.
"It was a prophecy of her lineage. It was a prophecy about a Supreme."
"It was your prophecy!"