Parthava cities Part 3

The next morning, Amala woke up on a soft bed. It had been a while since she had slept so peacefully. She had either slept in a cold yurt, covered in animal fur, or on hard ground. Erebar was such a peaceful place, with divine winds frequently blowing through, that even Rufus felt them.

"Ahhhhhh," Suomi said as she woke up much later.

"Finally, you woke up?" Amala asked.

"Well, I am sorry, as I am not as hardened a warrior as you are. I have been sleep-deprived for weeks now," Suomi replied.

"Where is Rufus?" Amala inquired.

"He is talking with Margu."

"About what?"

"...Haley."

~~

Margu and Rufus were walking across the street. Rufus had been asking Margu for aid and had told him about the reason for his journey: his epos.

"Do you have any clue what has happened? Anything that can be done?" Rufus asked Margu.

"I am terribly sorry about your sister's situation. I have never heard of anything like it," Margu said. "And also, the powers of your sister. She gained the powers of a god all at once. No one, and I mean no one, simply ascends to godhood in an instant. Not even children of a great god."

Rufus felt hopeless.

"You are working for the old man of the mountain, right?" Margu asked.

"Yes. He has something I believe could be of use," Rufus replied, recalling that he had disclosed that information earlier.

"That old man. You should not trust him."

"I do not," Rufus answered.

Margu nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. "Wise. The old man of the mountain has been around for ages, and their motivations have often been... complex. But, if the current one is involved in your quest, it means there's more at play than meets the eye. However, I do not think there is anyone in this heaven whom you can trust, from a mortal to a god."

"So, you think there is any way those scriptures can have some knowledge on how to save Haley?"

"Maybe, but so far, reading and studying them has been... made hard," Margu explained.

"How come?"

"By their orders," Margu said, pointing to the building they were about to reach.

Rufus and Margu arrived at the council of sorcerers. Inside, the sorcerers of the city, five in total, were adjourned. They ruled the city as its lords, and Margu was one of them.

"Ah, Margu, accompanied by a human. How... normal," an elderly-looking sorcerer named Sassan remarked snarkily.

He was known as Halot, the Sorcerer of Metal, one of the sorcerers given the authority to rule the city.

"Halot, you senile old fool, how have you been?" Margu retorted loudly.

Halot, unamused, pressed for an explanation. "Why are you with a human, and why are you bringing him here?"

"Just wanted to show him around, I guess. Is it not allowed?" Margu replied, grinning.

Halot fixed a stern gaze on Margu and then on Rufus, his expression softening slightly. "Margu, you always were one for whimsy, but bringing a human here, especially in these times, is no small matter. Eventually, we will have to take a side, and one side greatly despises humans."

"But until then, he is free to be here," Margu asserted.

Halot fell quiet, but not due to the reasoning; instead, the other sorcerers entered the hall.

"Margu, you imbecile, always creating trouble for the rest of us," the youngest of the sorcerers chided.

He was Diod, the Sorcerer of Stone, the one with the most influence. The others usually followed his example.

Margu, unfazed by Diod's comment, responded with a chuckle. "Diod, my young friend, trouble is the mother of invention. If we don't push boundaries, how will we ever grow?"

"The world order doesn't like to be pushed," Diod said sternly. "Yet again, Margu, you push us."

"What's going on?" Rufus whispered, asking Margu.

Margu leaned in to whisper back, "No worries, all is good."

"Be careful, human. He is too nosy for his own good, and he's being too nosy for your good as well," Diod explained. "The council is wary of changes and disruptions. We fear the consequences of meddling with divine powers or getting involved in affairs that could draw unwanted attention, especially from the gods. His bringing you here, a human, at this time, means he has once more asked for our permission to access the rest of the underground tunnels."

"But we were there just yesterday?" Rufus said.

"Yes, but we only saw a small part of the tunnels and divine texts. Most of it is cut off and guarded. They are off-limits to all unless the sorcerers of this council unanimously agree. Unfortunately, the members of this council are too short-sighted and do not understand the possibilities we could achieve if we studied the texts," Margu explained.

"And this is why you brought this human?" Diod asked.

"He is here just as a guest, nothing more," Margu explained, smiling.

"Then why did you summon us, sending a messenger so late last night?" Diod pressed.

"Just wanted to see if you would change your mind. Have a nice day," Margu said and left with Rufus.