Neberum
The events of recent days, the rapidly changing lifestyle of the head of the Manshur clan, made him think about the precariousness of the situation, which could change at any moment with lightning speed. The appearance of such a person as Zuhair in the clan seemed to give, even if it was a ghostly hope, the family's way out of the disgrace of the supreme deity. He believed that this youngster would help the clan out of the crisis. Misaka's long and prolonged illness has undermined all hopes for the future. It seemed that this was the end of all plans and expectations for the flourishing of the family. Kumus understood that there was no need to rely on his second son, who had long held different views and principles. Unfortunately, he was not on his side. The evil and manipulation that Kismir came under came from above, from the very heart of the supreme divine foundations, namely from the azure palace. There was no chance to resist and go against such power. Kumus was allowed to live out his days, and if those days dragged on, it was Kismir who had to help him leave this world. And all because of Cedar's deed, committed on Arath, many thousands of years ago. It was more of a choice than something that could arouse contempt or admiration. The choice you've been waiting for and living for all your life. It is this choice that determines your life path in the future. And Cedar made his choice. Cedar's act stirred the hearts of many, among those in whose minds doubts about moral norms were already emerging. He and his act served as a catalyst for further events that took place on many planets enslaved by the power of the deity Lanu. Then the old man supported Cedar, contrary to the consciousness and the basics of Neberum. I did not condemn his actions, which was not expected of him. At that moment, for the first time, the holy foundations were shaken, the plot of the rule of the deity Lanu was shaken. A quiet murmur began, ready to escalate into a big snowball. The first doubts arose among the Lanurians about the correctness of the foundations of the doctrine, way of life and methods of government. There was a moral that no one had ever thought about. The two strongest deities, the two descendants of Lanu, went into conflict. It was all Aratus' fault. It was believed that it was Aratus who infected and infused ethical values, the eternal problem of good and evil, into the hearts and souls of aliens. A confrontation arose between the two deities, between the two sons of the deity Lanu. The sons of Cumus also stood against each other, entering the camps of the opposing sides, drawing their blades against each other. The events of those years on Arat revealed all the rot that had accumulated for thousands of years in fundamental principles and centuries-old traditions. A spirit of rebellion began to hover in the air of Neberum. Such a mood and such a spirit of rebellion did not last long. The feud at the very top, and even between the divine brothers, could not pass without attention for Lan. The sword of divine justice of the azure Palace, with its sharp blade, took down all the grumblings at the root. The balance of Yin and Yang has been disrupted. The culprits were also found. And for these very culprits, there was also punishment. A demonstrative punishment, and then extermination. The lesson that the azure palace taught, with its demonstrative cruelty, had an effect on the others. The eldest son of the deity, Apsu Enkinamir, the God of Water and Great Achievements, the Great God of magic and wisdom, having fallen into disgrace, was exiled by his father to the other side of the galaxy. The bloody peace and dead silence reigned again. Therefore, Cumus acted cautiously and cautiously. Kismir's second son had a patron from the higher gods, and Kumus understood and realized who he was. Namely, one of the descendants of the deity, the second half-brother. Hanlil Nunamnir. The great Lord of the Wind. Guardian of the Azure Palace. The second alpha male in the vertical of divine power. Kismir knew that he had to take his father's place, and if necessary, he was even willing to take extreme measures. Cumus was like a pawn on a chessboard that had to be sacrificed in order to win and achieve his specific goals. The fact that he was still the head of the Manshur clan was worrisome, and it was only a matter of time before he was eliminated completely. And Kumus knew this very well. But the appearance of Zuhair confused everyone's cards. Kumus had a chance, and he wasn't going to miss it. Having such a rare soul-shifting skill like this guy possessed could help. Misaka's miraculous recovery has aroused Kismir's suspicions and he will surely act. The upbringing and care of numerous descendants made Kumus think about the mistakes he made in raising Kismir. Kumus thought for a long time about what he had not given his second son, that he had grown up to be such a scoundrel. How could one of the sons become a true humane and just man, while the other had self-interest and parricide cultivated? The head understood that his son Kismir was just waiting for the right moment to stab him in the back. And also this grandson Khufiyaz, "the apple from the apple tree." And this puppy is already showing his teeth. Misaka's recovery from his coma revived not only the enemy camp, but also served as a reason for the appearance of new visitors to the Manshur clan.
One night, an entity appeared, the arrival of which the old man did not expect and was surprised. But there was no fear. Kumus had seen a lot in his life, he had no one to lose and nothing to lose. His son and daughter-in-law are missing, Misak is dying, and Kismir is waiting for his speedy demise. There are fewer sympathizers of the Manshur clan. So, he didn't care about the consequences of such connections. The entity came from the Other Side. The fact is that the universe was divided to the very borders of the great void. The depths of space have become a habitat for various creatures, different shapes and physical states. Many millions of years ago, an Alliance of Independent Systems was created. This alliance was created by three representatives of different races. One of the three representatives of the alliance was the Enmishi. But the Enmishi eventually withdrew from the alliance. They were originally and were considered outcasts, due to the fact that their physical world and habitat were not quite familiar to other representatives of the known galaxy. And joining the alliance has not changed the attitude towards them. The Enmishi lived in a completely different dimension, which among other races was considered the Other Side, namely the side of spirits and ghosts. And there was a legend that the souls of the dead from this world found their shelter on the Other Side. The Enmishi were supposed to be able to control these souls. There was another reason that the Other Side struck fear into the inhabitants of the familiar world. The Enmishi were oracles and seers. For the Enmish, the laws of time and space followed completely different laws. Until now, it was a mystery that a race like them could form an alliance with representatives of other dimensions. Among the recognized personalities of this obscure race, and one of the worthy ones, was known by the name of Enmisharra. The Lord of All Things. He was not an ordinary person and was the only one of his kind who was personally seen by representatives of other races and, thanks to his appearance, had a glimpse of the inhabitants of another dimension. As you know, when the Enmishi left the alliance, they had no conflict with the other two races. It's just that one day, the Other Side's race stopped contacting the outside world and its representatives. There was a legend that the Enmishi had discovered a prophecy about the future, and this future, according to their revelations, was terrible for the entire universe. The Enmishi believed in fate and believed that the path for everyone living in the universe had long been determined. But suddenly, shortly after the chaos on Arath, the oracle changed the prophecy. This change, and the sudden turn in revelation, revealed new aspects in the invisible future. A new character appeared in it, who allegedly could change the tragic course of events, threatening the destruction of all things. It was about a man who could change the chain of action. And for the first time in the new transfigured prophecy, the Manuscript was mentioned. In fact, it was the Enmishi who launched the galactic race for the Manuscript and its Keeper. It was not entirely clear what the Enmishi's goals were in revealing the details of the prophecy to everyone. Maybe the Enmish, with their four-dimensional concepts, were alien to feelings of greed and self-interest. And they might not have known that by this very act they had ignited the torch of war. Anyway, the move was made, and it remained to reap the benefits. Considering the strange turns of speech and sudden changes in the mood of the uninvited guest, Kumus more or less understood the essence of the conversation. The head of the Manshur clan tried to grasp the connection between his person and the representatives of the Other Side. The only thing he understood for sure was that the Enmishi were very interested in the health and safety of his sick grandson. The entity announced that Misak would soon come to life and be reborn from the ashes. And Kumus should not have been surprised by such changes and perceived everything as it is. After coming out of the coma, the grandson will be weak and vulnerable. It is then that the enemies will try to harm or deal a fatal blow. The essence made it clear that Misak and what is inside him are important to the Other Side and not only for her. For the old man, this news turned out to be like a lump of snow on a hot day. The entity did not provide any hint of a prophecy or any clues about Misaka's future. Kumus was in no hurry to believe in the messenger's words. Communication with the Other Side was considered seditious and unacceptable. It could have been a provocation. Before his disappearance, the essence of the amishi said that soon a man would come to the head of the Manshur clan. This man will be called by the name of Bilosh. And this Bilosh will be sent by the Emishi race to protect Misaka. And that Kumus must believe in the sincerity of the Other Party's words and intentions.
That same night, Cumus promptly appeared in his grandson's chambers. When he saw that nothing had changed, he was dejected again. Misak was still in a coma in his pressure chamber, and according to Falla, his condition was deteriorating. Kumus personally scanned the sea of his grandson's mind, and despair filled his heart upon seeing the hopelessness of the boy's current condition. The clan head didn't know what to think. The entity was indeed from the Other Side, there could be no doubt about that. But the Enmishi did not know what the principles of lying and deception were, so Kumus thought about the words of the entity, trying to find at least some clue. He really wanted to believe that Misak would recover, and for the first time, he didn't care what the cost was. Kumus really wanted his grandson back. A shaky hope arose in my soul that everything would turn out as the night guest said.
The coming changes were felt in the atmosphere of the planet. By order of the supreme deity, Neberum was preparing to change the usual orbital course to a new one. The Lanurians were preparing to invade the planet Taras. And on this restless morning, a visitor appeared in the main palace, who easily bypassed the guards and appeared before the head of the Manshur clan. At first glance, Cumus couldn't determine the alien's power level and aura. His clothes were not ordinary. His armor, made of light and unknown metal, provided powerful protection to his body. The guest's face expressed nothing, only the icy eyes indicated that this was an unusual person. And whether he was even human was also questionable. After a brief greeting, the guest introduced himself by the simple and concise name of Bilosh and said that Misak would be visiting his grandfather soon. Bilosh made it clear that everything that was happening had been planned for a long time. Kumus, in whose soul there was a struggle with doubts, tried to organize the chaos of his thoughts as he listened to the representative of the Enmish. He didn't know what to expect from the upcoming events or what to believe. But Bilosh asked for patience and calmness. Another exciting and sleepless night that Kumus spent lost in thought. What made this mess clearer was that the next day, Misak actually appeared on his doorstep. It was surprising that the young man looked healthy and had a strong aura. And his level has become higher than before his illness. After scanning the guy and sensing the presence of several more unknown auras in him, Kumus became confused and, hoping that Misak would clarify everything, ventured to listen to the story of the man who possessed his grandson's body. Zuhair's story surprised the head and gave his thoughts a more correct direction. He did not feel the lie in the words of the new Misaka, he only caught the genuine sincerity. Kumus decided not to jump to conclusions and observe further events. He gave Zuhair an amulet of concealment and surveillance at the same time, and also introduced him to Bilosh, thus fulfilling his obligation to the Other Side. But then events took a rapid turn. Kismir came to the palace in an incomprehensible state and demanded to immediately announce the date of the ritual for Misak and Khufiyaz. Kismir was clearly confident in his son's victory, and in that case, no one would have been able to accuse him or his son of dirty play in the struggle for supremacy in the clan. The news of the recovery of the grandson of the venerable Kumus stirred up not only the palace nobility and small sects in the Manshur clan, but also all representatives of the five clans of the largest maskhab Lachin. The long-lost ties between the clans have been revived. There were streams of messages and mental images congratulating and expressing admiration for Kumus on his grandson's recovery. Kumus did not know whether to believe him in the sincerity and friendliness of the neighboring clans, and by the end of the day, he decided to convene a Council of Five Clans to celebrate his grandson's recovery, discuss the date of the ritual and the future fate of the Manshur clan. Whoever this Zuhair was and what his true intentions were, he showed up in time and will help restore the reputation of the clan and the reputation of the missing Cedar. Kumus was well aware of reality and knew that Misak would not have been able to survive in any scenario if Zuhair had not appeared in his body, and this was truly a gift from heaven. It was necessary to use this gift correctly. Kumus was not going to miss this one chance. He was also not surprised by the sudden appearance of the head of the Betaros clan, the venerable Arsun, on his doorstep. He was informed about the appearance of his famous starship in advance, even before it appeared over the palace grounds. Kumus became worried when he saw Arsun's unusual and agitated state.
"It's providence! Heaven is giving me a chance, venerable Cumus! This is Cedar giving me a sign, and I will do my duty! You know, venerable one, that Cedar was like a brother to me, and I let him down, I just got scared. And I am very happy that Misak has overcome his illness.
— Calm down, my friend Arsun. Heaven has returned Misaka to us, and now I won't let anyone hurt him. We need to prepare him for the ritual, and starting tomorrow, I will guide him on the right path. — said the head of the Manshur clan, trying to calm Arsun down. But Arsun did not calm down. Even before Misaka's illness and loss of sanity, Arsun wanted to link his clan with the Manshur clan by marrying his beautiful daughter Paris to the son of his friend Cedar. But in this case, fate turned out to be against such an alliance, Misak was poisoned. It seemed that someone's hidden hostility was felt, and soon Kismir visited the Betaros clan in the hope that Arsun would favor his son Khufiyaz and marry his daughter to him. But Arsun's desperate anger at such treachery did not have time to show itself, as his daughter quickly answered for herself, expelling her newly-made father-in-law from the clan. Paris "totally" refused to marry Khufiyaz. Arsun's daughter turned out to be the most prescient of all those, the few who did not see the true essence of Kismir's act and his entourage. Misak was specifically neutralized to open the way for Khufiyaz. And now, after a long time, Misak miraculously defeated an incurable disease, and for Arsun it became a sign from above. It also became a command for him to act.
"Venerable Kumus, I have something to convey to Misaka, and I hope for your cooperation. I feel like I don't have much time. Help me. — having said that, Arsun laid out his plan of action in front of Cumus. The head of the Manshur clan was puzzled when he heard about what Arsun was going to do. Sitting on a pedestal, Kumus and Arsun talked about how to save Misak and about the future path of maskhab Lachin, under the itching sounds made by the heavenly shield. Kumus decided to tell Arsun about the night essence that had visited him. After thinking about it, they came to the conclusion that the Other Party's plans and intentions were vague to both of them. The only thing Kumus decided to hide from Arsun was who Misak really was. Namely, about Zuhair. He did not dare to reveal the secret of the wandering soul that saved his grandson from death. Thus, having given the right to choose the disclosure of the secret, it is entirely at the discretion of Zuhair. Kumus didn't mind that Misak would go with Arsun to his ship, but Bilosh was absolutely not needed there. Thus, Bilosh was left out of business.
In the afternoon, in the main palace of the Manshur clan, the noise subsided. New orders have been received from the Azure Palace regarding preparations for Taras' expansion. Kumus held a council of elders, gathering leading geneticists and scientists in his hall. After discussing all the pressing issues, he was going to retire, although in fact, Kumus decided to contact Arsun. He was worried about Zuhair and the case Arsun had planned. But he was prevented. In the meditation room, Bilosh appeared silently and just as calmly said:
— Venerable Cumus, I understand your distrust of me, although, in fact, it does not bother me much. Everything is going according to the planned plan, which was built by fate itself. Our paths are already predetermined. And if you want your dear grandson to stay alive, we'd better hurry up.
— What are you talking about, Bilosh Sahib? I don't understand. Is this a threat? Kumus asked, unease beginning to creep into his heart. Why is Bilosh talking about the threat to Zuhair? What can happen when Arsun is around? Kumus scanned the space and Zuhair's amulet and did not catch anything suspicious, but he felt that he was missing something and asked again:
— Explain yourself, Bilosh. Why are you talking about threatening my grandson? What's happening?
Bilosh's face changed from virtue to a predatory grin, and a different, powerful aura of power surged around his body. Having replaced the calm essence with a cold rage, now a completely different Bilosh said:
— What's happening is that Misaka will be attacked soon and your friend Arsun won't be able to help him. And although there are some pretty strong personalities besides Arsun and Misak, they still won't be enough to protect the guy. So, prepare the ship urgently, it's time for us to rescue Misaka or more precisely Zuhair.… Didn't I say that right?..