21. A Whisper

I stood vigil at the summit for six hours, but eventually I got the sense that whatever was happening in the north, whatever was in flux, had firmly cemented itself. Whatever decision had been lacking, whatever outcome the future hinged upon, the battle was over.

I wished that I knew whether it was for the better or the worse, but although I sometimes see things beyond the ken of mortals, I am not omniscient. I took my time climbing down the mountain, reflecting that it was the first time in this life that I’d actually climbed one and wishing that I’d taken the time to enjoy the journey up.

After all, a man can only climb so many mountains during his lifetime, and he ought to savor every one.

But still, I had eggs to tend, so I did not doddle too much. I spoke nothing of my visions either before I left or after I returned, but nobody questioned me on my absence. When I returned to my chamber, I heard the little cheep cheep cheeps of new life.

~~~~~~~

Di Ram held court in the fields between villages. Although he counted Pi Phon among his loyalists, the young earth cultivator couldn’t remember for certain which village Little Bug had come from, so Di Ram had sent out disciples to every one in the general region that the merchant had first described when the prodigy had come to the attention of the sect. One by one they returned, only to describe devastation.

For one hundred miles, the only peasants left alive were those who had been shielded by Di Ram’s disciples, or those who had managed to flee until the resounding of the final bell. Now, in the aftermath, they came out and were counted.

Two thousand.

Di Ram did not want to know how many there had been before.

After some consideration, he ordered that the bodies which could be recovered easily be burned, but the primary effort was to be in gathering whatever the commoners needed to make a journey to the south. He split his forces in two, with one guarding the victims of the attack southward, and the other spreading out further to collect those in the surrounding area.

While the undead attack had been localized, these things had a way of spreading like locusts.

Or the plague.

~~~~~~

Ko Ren screamed once more as the healing energies rattled through his wounds. Part of him rejected their energies, which was what caused him pain, but enough of the healer’s influence and skill was able to do its job to undo the worst of the damage that the battle with the old man had done to him.

He grinned, the half of his face which had been blasted away making the grin even more terrible than normal. For some reason the healer was rather concerned with that.

Still, the old man had been worse off. Even as he had escaped into … somewhere that Ko Ren could not follow, the man had been a beaten and broken thing. It was entirely possible that he had expired on the journey, Ko Ren told himself. It wasn’t likely that he’d ever see Di Phon again. And he had already sent out assassins after the Di clan, so it wouldn’t be too long until that entire family was nothing more than a bad memory.

“I’m sorry, Patriarch, but it’s time once more,” the healer said, having gathered sufficient energy to use his abilities once more.

“Just get it over with.”

The healer unleashed his healing energy on Ko Ren’s body, and once more the patriarch of the Six Mountain Sect screamed in agony.

He grinned as the pain faded away. The healer looked at him apologetically.

“I’m sorry, Patriarch. But I have exhausted myself. I cannot continue your healing any further today,” the healer said.

“Go rest,” Ko Ren said magnanimously. “I will not have you work on my body while you are not at your best. Take all the time you need to recover to your peak state and we shall try again. I did not expect you to undo the corruption that the evil old monster did to me in one session, it will take time for the festering wounds he inflicted to heal. I am simply happy that I shielded as much of the sect from his corruption as I managed to.”

“Of course, Patriarch,” the healer said, bowing and retreating from the room.

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“They’ll see through you eventually,” Ko Si said, stepping out of the shadow.

Ko Ren turned to his sister’s ghost. He’d had no choice but to silence her forever when she had been recognized by one of her maids. But that had not stopped her from second guessing him and driving doubt into his mind.

“They’ll see what I let them see. They’ll believe what I tell them to believe. I rule the Six Mountain – No, that was the old name. I rule the Sovereign Summit Sect,” Ko Ren stated.

“Even now, those loyal to the old ways flee. They will rally behind banners other than yours, and they will gather against you. You do not inspire loyalty, brother. You never have. That is why you used me the way you used me, even against children. That is why you—”

“Enough!” Ko Ren shouted, and he sent a burst of energy at the apparition. It did nothing, for she was not really there.

She was burried in the cellar of his old mansion.

Still, a servant foolishly stuck his head into the room to investigate the noise, and the apparition vanished.

“Is there something wrong, Patriarch?” the young woman asked.

“Yes. No. I’m sorry, my wounds. I am still fighting the battle of the summit,” Ko Ren said.

“I apologize,” she said. “I shall leave you.”

The moment she turned to leave, Ko Si returned.

“Wait,” Ko Ren said.

The servant turned. “Patriarch?”

“I would have your company.”

The young woman paled. But she stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.

That would prove to be one mistake too far.

~~~~~~

The bells at the palace of new arrivals toned, and the mortal servants began to hustle and bustle to make way for the Lord of the Realm’s new vassal. Few upon the worlds of the ascendants were ascendants themselves. Outside the cities and high-palaces of the immortals peasants and commoners lived common lives, the same as everywhere else throughout the realm.

Even then, there were a multitude of races. The indigenous race, the Welpak, and those who were descended from the ascended. The Descendants. While the former outnumbered the latter many times over, the power rested in the Descendants.

While it was possible for the Welpak to ascend themselves, that was far more common in the Descedants. Still, the majority of the world walked at least the bronze path, for with the richness of spiritual energy that flowed through the air itself it was easy to cultivate.

As he coalesced from the ether, Di Phon immediately felt the difference. He emerged in the center of a large formation. He studied the visible parts of it for a moment, then shrugged. He knew it’s purpose already.

It was to serve as a beacon for new arrivals like him. Those who did not have other beacons attached to them to send them elsewhere.

He was nude, but that was solved quickly as three mortals appeared with lavish robes and dressed him. His injuries from battle were healed by his ascension, and he appeared fifty years younger than he had before. A man in his thirties instead of his eighties.

More than that, he felt centuries younger. Ascension sat well with him.

He did not understand the words of the servants as they spoke with him, but the gestures of ‘follow me’ and ‘this way’ were easy enough to understand. So he was shown to a hall with a lavish banquet, where he was urged to sit at the head of the table and served a bite from every dish. He allowed himself to enjoy the attention until he’d supped his full and indicated as much to the servants.

When they were carrying the dishes away, a young Descendant appeared and bowed. “Great Ascended One. I am Johnavon. I have the great honor of being twice descended from the Lord of the Realm. I believe we speak the same language?”

“Yes, I understand you,” Di Phon said.

“We were very surprised to have you ascend at this time. Might I ask your name?”

“I am Di Phon. Of the Six Mountains Sect of the world of Atla.”

Johnavon grinned. “I have won a bet. I thought it might be you. Might I inquire what finally triggered your ascension?”

“A whisper on the wind,” Di Phon said. “When do I meet the Lord?”

“In two years. You must understand, his time is very valuable and every word he speaks and promise he makes is even more valuable. We must take your measure before then,” Johnavon explained. “In the mean time, you shall cultivate and see how much farther along your path you can walk in the time between now and then.”

Di Phon closed his eyes. “A night that shall last two years. I hope that the stars do not burn out while my face is turned away.”

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