Immanent Ascension

Chapter 27: Restructuring (2)

Xerxes ran his hand through his hair. Right, Seers. Well there are quite a few on Mannemid. But not many are students. Are you specifically looking for students?

Yeah. Sin-Amuhhu doesnt want fogies whove fooled around for decades not making any progress.

Okay. Well, theres my friend Gandash. He was fighting the Abhorrent too, before I got knocked out.

Gandash? I met him. Your father, too, right before I came down for you. So this Gandash is your friend?

Gandy? Yeah, my best friend. We basically grew up together. Hes a lot smarter than me, to be honest. Realizing that he wasnt exactly talking himself up, he quickly continued, But hes not much of a fighter, if you know what I mean. Hes well, how should I put it?

Purattu chuckled. Yeah, I get it. Hes scrawny. A bookworm, I bet.

Yeah. Like that.

But hes a Buhhu mage, which is rare. So thats a big plus.

Yeah, Buhhu. Id definitely recommend him. Besides Gandy, some of the other young Seers are Visimar, whos Balatu like you. Nidintu and Panya, who are both Asgagu mages like me. Gad, whos Nasaru. There are plenty more. Except none of them are here in the capital. Just about all the students at the Academy were given missions, so theyre out in the countryside. Or maybe even in Fal or Od.

Fal and Od, the other nations on this planet.

You know about them? Xerxes was surprised that a mage from such a distant and famous starisle would know so much about a place like Mannemid.

I did my research, Purattu answered.

By this point, they were closing in on one of the keeps side gates. The soldiers there looked nervous, and had their weapons out and shields up.

Purattu stopped about fifty cubits from the gate. Do you know your way around the palace?

I know the general layout. Thats about it.

Good enough. Im going to rely on you to do most of the talking at first. Can you handle the guards?

Sure. Xerxes stood a bit straighter. He, a mere Seer, was suddenly being promoted to a spokesperson for a mage from lofty Ku-Aya? The thought filled him with pride.

Good, Purattu said. Having someone talk for me will help maintain an aura of authority. Plus I wont have to ask for directions constantly. Take me to the main audience chamber, then arrange for all the mages in the city to come for a meeting. Can you handle that?

Absolutely.

As the mages filtered back to the keep, the glory Xerxes had envisioned came just as hed imagined.

Seer Nohem, he said to the man who was now the only other Buhhu mage on the planet besides Gandash. This is High Mystic Purattu of Ku-Aya, sent with the authority of Sin-Amuhhu backing him.

Greetings, High Mystic Purattu, Nohem said, bowing deeply.

Purattu gave a slight nod of acknowledgment but didnt say anything. He just stood there with his arms folded, looking at the view beyond the balcony.

Straightening up, Nohem looked at Xerxes with a slightly bowed head. Er, Seer Xerxes sir, is it true that Aban Saddi is no longer with us?

High Mystic Purattu will explain everything shortly.

Of course. Nohem ducked his head and backed away slightly.

High Seer Shehem was sufficiently cowed by Purattus lofty rank. But he clearly didnt like the idea of Xerxes being a spokesperson.

After the introductions were made, he glared and said, Seer Xerxes, I was told by soldiers that you were knocked unconscious in combat, is that true?

Xerxes, feeling more confident than ever with Purattus favor, said, Yes, thats true, but

Shemesh interrupted with a harrumph. Perhaps you arent aware that the measure of success in a combat scenario is

What the fuck did you do? Purattu interrupted with a shout.

The entire room went silent, and Shemeshs face fell.

H-High Mystic Purattu, Shemesh stammered, I I um

Youre what, a Hasasu mage? Did you read the things mind? Did you look at the stars and figure out how to beat it? Or did you hide here in the castle like a bitch, waiting for everyone else to do the fighting for you? Huh? Well?

Shemesh was literally dumbstruck, and barely managed to stutter a few syllables of nonsensical gibberish before Purattu cut him off.

Kindly shut the fuck up, Purattu continued. And going forward, I dont want to hear anything from you, you useless idiot.

Xerxes looked over at Gandash, his eyes wide. His friend had a similar expression on his face.

Turning his attention away from Shemesh, Purattu said, Seer Xerxes, would you kindly arrange for the King of this nation to come? I dont want to discuss matters relating to his kingdom without him being personally present.

Xerxes hurried away, returning about ten minutes later with the elderly King.

King Nabuhisnuisin, Purattu said, it is a true honor to be in your presence. Even in my home on Ku-Aya, I have heard of your wisdom and foresight.

The King chuckled. You flatter me, High Mystic.

Its no flattery. Ive heard of the tripartite peace agreement you brokered with Fal and Od, as well as your efforts to quell piracy on your southern coast.

The King looked surprised. I had no idea Mannemid politics were a subject of interest in higher starisles.

Trust me, Your Majesty, your style of rule is a breath of fresh air, especially compared to some idiot monarchs like the one in charge of, say, Ira. In any case, we have a lot of work to do. We should start with the corpse of the Abhorrent out there.

The gigantic Abhorrent had indeed shriveled into a desiccated corpse within minutes of Purattu hitting it with Instant Death, but they still needed to deal with the remains. And there were many other monstrous beasts left in the city, not to mention cultists. Purattu hadnt been exaggerating. There was a lot of work to do.