Four days after the incident, I was here near the tribe of ‘Sun Tigers’, the nearest of the Six Tribes. It was only me and Ghiscra, infiltrating a place where the shaman would do their rituals and yes, there’s tiger here in Eoum albeit different as they have scaled instead of fur.

Both of us were using the standard leather armour but she had some personal modification like a short skirt of purple colour add-on her leather pant and a short cloak also purple colour and the feathers plumage were mostly purple too. We also brought two bags in which there were servant clothes that we had used when we got out from the outpost.

Anyway, Erganisu had sent a runner to inform us that they had subjugated about six of those assailants while letting two of them get away. Of course, one of the two had a dormant tracking Light Orange Spell on it so we can trace it back to where it had gone. It was a Kashra Enchanted Paper I gave to Erganisu, a two part spell that I can activate and the track the person regardless of the distance.

With that solve, Ghiscra and I was doing our part which was to influence the shamans of the Six Tribes with the more potent elixir. After inquiring and taking notes of their schedules and timing, I had formulated this new plan just a few days ago.

Of course, we’re not just going to straight up give them the elixir and said ‘We cool brah?’ I already elaborated a divine ruse in order the change the rumour about us into a more favourable one.

“Okay, Ghiscra are you ready?”

“Yup, I don’t know how I should feel about this but it is exciting to actually see someone being conned through faith.”

As we were hiding on a tree canopy, overlooking a clearing that had a tree stump on the centre of it all, I looked at Ghiscra with an undisguised astonishment. For someone so grounded on logical stance, she’s quite open-minded about what we’re trying to do here.

“O…kay, anyway, you handle the effects and I handle the theatrics. Let’s give the best of our performance. Back in my world, magic was something to entertain so this would be a cinch.”

Ghiscra only nodded a few times but she kept her sight at the entrance of the clearing, looking on with an expectant gaze.

I thought about that incident and the description from Ghiscra on how I was. Just some increase in hormone and I would become a confident and suave chauvinist. When I was under the influence of Aeriasus [Limitless] I became a hyper-active who do things on impulse. It seems that I have many hidden facets if certain factors were to add in.

And I realized the change of relationship between me and Ghiscra. I don’t know when it had started but she’s more casual around me now. Even the flustering that she usually had was toned down as she can interact with me normally. This was confirmed to me as the aftermath of that incident, there was no awkwardness or an air of discomfort around us.

She got over it and I was a little disappointed as a man but that’s about it.

I can see that she’s the type of person who can regulate her emotion and rationalized situations, the same as I am.

“Our target is here.”

Ghiscra gestured at the entrance.

Well, let the show begins.

--

Haluk during his youth had wanted to venture out, away from the tribe. His ambition back then was to enroll into the military of Athryshiayl or at least lived anywhere but Symokiva and starts his own family but alas, he was fated to succeed his father as a shaman. Before he knew it, years had passed by and here he was, initiating the weekly rite taught by his father, succeeding him as the tribe’s shaman.

Still, he harboured a small desire to see Tchekaz, The Seat of the Inheritors, where the Summoned had originated.

It was said that most if not all living beings in Eoum had descended from the summoned nearly eight hundred years ago and some of them were revered like divinities.

But it was not the same for the Tribes in Symokiva. Even though they are the Summoned descendants, they placed greater emphasis on Amak-Zab or what most of the people in Eoum would say ‘the Planet-Spirit of Eoum’ the source of the Wind of Eomancy.

According to legends of the First Summon, all of the tribes were descended from a group of Summoned that had refused to take any sides during a forgotten war and had fled to the Symokiva.

There, they had cultivated and flourished, developing their traditions and cultures. It was also there, they had discovered the Planet-Spirit of Eoum via the sacred flower, Gervash.

Since then, generation of shamans had adhered to the weekly sacred rite of ‘Ghelharan’ or ‘be with the current’ so they can see the portents and wills of the Amak-Zab. The Six Tribes was especially fervent on this part but not so for Haluk. Still, tradition dictates him to… that and the tribe chieftain.

As he made his way to the Sacred Clearing with a vial of Ghelharan Elixir in his left hand, he stopped just short from the usual tree stump where he would offered a litany and placed the Elixir on the stump before drinking it.

The reason he stopped was because on top the tree stump, there was a crystalized sort of bowl filled with violet colour liquid. The same colour like the elixir on his hand except the latter looked more potent and thick.

Just as he was baffled, suddenly a mist started to descent all around him and up above it swirled about.

His back shivered and just when he was about turned his back and ran-

(Haluk of the Sun Tiger, long has it been since we observed you. Before you, your father and before your father, your grandfather and so on, we have watched for many centuries of communes. You, as the herder of your tribe, know who we are.)

It was a voice consisted of many voices from low to high pitch, all speaking in unison.

Haluk gawked in disbelief. Never before had this occurred. He was torn to believe whether this was real or false but the amount of Energy of Amak circulating in the air was thick as every shaman at least knew how to access the Colours of Zab and use them.

The Athryshiayl called them ‘Eomancy’ while the Eastern Cities called them ‘Invocation’.

(The time of reckoning has come, just as it always had been. Since the Ancestors had first lay claim and settled onto this sacred land, we have been watching. Now, desperate times are upon the blessed of this land again as we sensed the winds are in turmoil.)

Haluk kneeled in supplicant on instinct. Although there was still doubt whether this was real or not, he himself had heard of details of Shamans hearing whispers as they meditate but this was a full-blown voice.

(The winds tell us that the blessed of this land wished to stand on its two feet’s, to grasp for their sovereignty.)

“Is it not permittable, Great Amak-Zab?!”

(Nothing is permanent; it is only natural for living, transient beings to strive to take their fate into their own hands. We exist without taking side but you are the blessed of this land. We gave our approval but whether you succeed or not, whether you believe how worthy are the cause, it is all up to you, the descendants of the Ancestors.)

Haluk eyes lit up and he took out a grey tablet. Every shaman kept a recording tablet to use as an indisputable proof that there were whispers sometimes on their rites.

“Great Amak-Zab, can you say that one more time?”

……

And the voice repeated itself.

(And so, what had been gnawing your leader whether it was correct or not is something only the present can decide. Lastly, the wind had also whispered that malicious voices had condemned the Summoned and painted them as upstarts. They are the same as the Blessed, brought forth into this world by Our Will. They are your brothers and sisters, equal in our Eyes. Why do the blessed of the land see them differently and even denigrate them?)

“Great Amak-Zab, I, Haluk don’t see them in that light. It was only a few months ago when such rumours had circulated. The rumours itself began in the tribe of Grey Star, right after the Chieftain had married with that outsider.”

Haluk and some of the shaman were actually baffled when the rumours had surfaced but they were indifferent to it as it was none of their concerns.

(Then rectify the truth and dispel the falsehood. Know your true foes, not needlessly devolve and debased yourself by mere unproven words. Bring our Words to the ones herded who had fallen as such, the Summoned are as much as the victims, corralled by the same forces that chained your independence. To achieve freedom that the blessed longed, do not antagonize those who also shared the blessed fate but to seek and ask for guidance for one another.)

“Yes, at your will, Great Amak-Zab.”

Haluk had been sceptical even thought he was indoctrinated in his belief but this was first-hand experience, something substantial to reinforce his belief.

(Even so, doubts linger in your heart. Words, as true as it may sound, cannot be a solid foundation to faith. Thus, drink deep from this sacred water. It is the same as the vial you carried on your hand but this sacred water is much more potent as it will bring you closer to the realm where we dwell, where the Origin begins. We may not appear again for years to come. You have been chosen to spread the words, share this sacred water amongst your spiritual brothers. Right the wrong. We will always be watching.)

The voices slowly receded as it echoed.

Haluk got up from kneeling slowly and stared again at the bowl on the tree stump. After a few second, He took a deep breath and slowly, step by step, approached the stump.

He stood in front of the stump, staring down on the bowl, afraid that it would disappear. He scrutinized the liquid again and realized aside from how thick and potent it looked, it emanated a presence like a sealed energy of Zab.

It was true that in his heart, he still had doubt about this. He was the most sceptical amongst the six tribe’s shamans. But then again, if he was being conned, then what benefits do the trickster would gained from doing this? Even if there is one, the tradeoff doesn't seems bad in a way. What if it's actually poison?

Haluk was in a crossroad as various thoughts went flitting in his mind but it was not for long as he’d made up his mind. A leap of faith requires no logic to prove but only a great amount of unconditional trust.

And so, it all comes down to this bowl. Standing in the deciding line, he stared for quite some times at the liquid filling the cup.

Finally, he knelt on both knee, put the vial on his left hand on the ground.

He cupped his hands and gathered the liquid in the cupped hands. He then drank from it.

And off he goes to a spiritual journey.