Tcenex extracted this information directly from the man's mind, reading his thoughts like an open book. Ekwensu was no ordinary Arcon—but among these primitive people, they regarded him as a god. In their understanding and interpretation, he was the God of Bargains and War, who possessed the cunning nature of a cosmic trickster.
Those who dared negotiate with him entered treacherous territory. The man had struck such a bargain, amassing extraordinary wealth as a result, but failed to honor the grim requirement: periodic human sacrifices to maintain his newfound affluence.
When he couldn't fulfill his obligations, Ekwensu's retribution was swift and merciless. Madness descended upon him like a shroud, clouding his thoughts and fracturing his reality.
Yet this punishment proved merely the beginning—his body became a pocket-village vessel for malevolent entities and demons who claimed it as their dwelling place, turning his existence into unending torment.
"Do not think you can help him," a harsh, grating voice suddenly interrupted Tcenex's chain of thoughts. The words resonated within his skull, unmistakably belonging to Ekwensu. A chill ran down his spine as his intuition confirmed the identity of the speaker. Then, materializing before him—visible only to Tcenex's eyes—stood the entity himself.
"It's not everybody that you can save—trust me!" Ekwensu added, his lips curling into a menacing smile. The deity towered before him, massive and intimidating. His dark, hair-covered skin gleamed with an unnatural luster, evoking images of ancient barbarian warriors.
Most disturbing were his eyes—pupils blazing crimson like pools of fresh blood, reflecting centuries of violence and deceit. The entity's wicked grin revealed rows of sharp teeth as he fixed his burning gaze on Tcenex before vanishing as abruptly as he had appeared, leaving only a lingering sense of dread in the air.
As the madman approached amid the scattered crowd, Tcenex observed the shackles fastened around the man's ankles, allowing short steps but preventing any chance of escape.
A knot formed in Tcenex's stomach—part pity, part unease. The sunlight glinted off the metal restraints, drawing his attention to the raw skin beneath them. He had no clear path forward. Involving himself in Ekwensu's affairs seemed unwise, not from fear of the God of Bargain and War, but from practical wisdom. The trickster deity had centuries of manipulation at his disposal, and Tcenex knew better than to become another pawn in his schemes.
"Meddling in another entity's business invites consequences I'm not prepared to face," he wisely mused, even as compassion tugged at his conscience. The madman's desperate eyes met his across the crowded space, haunted and pleading, and Tcenex felt the weight of his impending decision pressing down upon him like a physical burden.
Tcenex had not yet determined how to handle this poor soul stumbling toward him. The man's tattered clothing hung from his thin frame, telling stories of neglect and suffering. Clearly, something in Tcenex had called to him—perhaps an aura of power or mercy that shone like a beacon to the desperate.
The madman's lips moved in silent supplication, forming words only he could understand. Despite the chaos swirling around them both, Tcenex drew a deep breath, steadying his racing thoughts. Whatever might transpire, he resolved to maintain his composure and, if possible, avoid entanglement in matters beyond his control. Yet the conflict within him deepened with each shuffling step the prisoner took in his direction.
"Mazi Tcenex!" a voice called from across the compound, cutting through the tense atmosphere.
"That's me," he responded, shoulders sagging with relief. Perfect timing! he mused, silently thanking Chi for Its seemingly divine intervention when he needed it most.
"The Oracle would like to see you and Adamma, please," announced the caller, a young acolyte whose formal tone conveyed the importance of the summons.
Before the wild-eyed madman could reach him, Tcenex pivoted gracefully, weaving between clusters of people with practiced ease. His heart still throbbed against his ribs, but outwardly he maintained a composed demeanor.
Adamma followed closely behind, her expression serene, completely unaware of the silent panic that had gripped him moments before. The soft rustle of her garments reminded him of her presence, a comforting counterpoint to the chaos he'd nearly encountered. As they made their way toward the caller, Tcenex wondered what message the Oracle might have for them, grateful for whatever circumstance had spared him from the madman's ravings.
The man that called him was a servant in the ashram. As Tcenex and Adamma followed him through the corridor, it suddenly occurred to Tcenex that he had never told anybody in this planet his name – except Adamma. "How did you know my name?" he asked the servant casually.
"The Oracle told me, sir," the servant replied modestly. Tcenex and Adamma exchanged glances. If the Oracle had already known his name when nobody had told him... Adamma gave him a knowing smile. Then the servant pointed at the door he and Adamma should enter through. "That door, please."
They opened the door and went in. the Oracle was standing and facing the wall when they entered. "You've just arrived here and you have a fan already," said the Oracle without looking at them as he was still facing the wall. The wall was made of bricks and mud, decorated with native paintings that gave it an artistic ambience.
Fan, Tcenex thought. What fan?
"The madman, of course," replied the Oracle, wheeling enigmatically around, his wise gaze resting on Tcenex as though probing him. "He has a lot of demons to deal with, as you could see. But that is not your area of jurisdiction, young god, as Ekwensu had already warned you not to meddle into the matter. Judgement had already been passed on him for refusing to uphold his end of the deal he struck with the God of Bargain. The best I can do is try to appease Ekwensu to go easy on him while the poor man looks for ways to settle his karma.
"Karma..." Tcenex's word trailed off at the thought of that enigmatic, elusive word. That university Law of Actions and Consequences, he reflected.
"Of course, I could perform the karma-dissolving ritual to release the man from his bondage," the Oracle continued, cutting through his thought. "But to do so would be of no use if he would not learn any lesson from it. Plus, I would then get involved in his karma. Not that I cannot walk out of it. Just that some karmas are best avoided than to get involved and entangled in. But that's by the way," the Oracle declared, bringing the karma topic to an end. "Let's address why you are here."