Réné Goscinny and Albert Uderzo…created the universe I borrow for this fanfic.
The next morning, the rooster woke everyone up way too early and for once, Asterix was almost as drowsy as Obelix usually was. But this very morning, Obelix was up unusually early. He had started his "morning toilet" with much enthusiasm, and was now busy preparing breakfast. It pained Asterix to watch him. Bonny seemed to genuinely like Obelix, sure. But she was obviously one of Manilla's most trusted pupils. Sooner or later she would leave; it seemed already inevitable that Obelix was going to end up with a broken heart at the end of this adventure. And it might be worse this time. The most recent visit from their mothers had shaken them up a little. Both of them did not see the necessity of marrying. But when their intruding mothers were well out of sight, they both agreed that it might be nice, provided that the right girl ever came along. Of course they had met Bonny only yesterday, but she obviously qualified as a possibly right girl in Obelix' book.
"Are you coming, Asterix? I already set the table, breakfast is ready. The eggs will go cold!"
Asterix grinned: "Yes mum, I'm coming."
"Watch it, Rixiekins."
Obelix did not hurry in vain, because Manilla and Bonny were already at the door when Asterix climbed down the stairs.
During a glorious breakfast (after all, Obelix, was the one who prepared it) Manilla told them much more about life at her teaching institute, which they called the Forest House. They instructed anyone who seemed to have more than regular healing abilities. Almost all of her pupils were girls, but this was not a rule. Since they could not become druids, they were just more likely to seek the guidance the Forest house tried to offer. Some healers went back to their usual lives once they could use their powers to an extent that seemed comfortable to them. Some stayed, some travelled to a place where they could be of assistance. It was all very interesting, but Asterix felt it was high time to inform Manilla about his unusual encounter from the day before. Once he started on the subject, he felt the atmosphere thicken considerably. Bonny stared at Manilla, looking stricken. Manilla herself did not look surprised. Obviously, Getafix had already informed her.
"I did not want to worry you even before today my dear," she said to Bonny, "But I told you Mesmeron would turn his interest on this village sooner or later."
"Who is Mesmeron?" Asterix inquired.
"I will tell you in a moment. But could you first tell us how you encountered him? Getafix told me that you could tell he meant trouble, and I really want to know how. Normally, Mesmeron is quite an expert at hiding is true intentions, and I doubt he meant for you to sense them."
So Asterix briefly recalled the meeting, and how he had felt unable to move once the stranger's (Mesmeron's) gaze fell upon him.
"I can't explain it very well, but he seemed to have an effect on the atmosphere. A little like Bonny, but while she has a sort of soothing effect on her surroundings, this stranger seemed to just freeze everything. It was … unpleasant, threatening maybe."
Obelix looked from Asterix to Bonny and back in astonishment, and their chief, who had just joined them, looking puzzled. It was clear they did not notice that Bonny had a special effect on her surroundings at all (apart from creating butterflies in Obelix' stomach).
"Maybe I'm just imagining all this," Asterix started to think.
But Manilla guessed, or sensed this idea forming in his head, because intervened: "You are not imagining things. Bonny's power radiates from her, just like Mesmeron's does. And in a way, they both have an effect on your mind. It is just very unusual that someone can actually identify that that effect."
"But it might not be that hard to explain." Getafix said. "Asterix is especially strong-minded. Whether positive or negative, he probably opposes his thoughts being steered in a particular direction."
Bonny looked apologetic at Getafix' words. "I'm not even aware I'm doing that, I'm sorry," she said, rather softly. Asterix merely shook his head, half to dismiss her apology, half to clear his head.
"What is this stranger then. Some sort of ill-tempered healer?" he asked.
"He would wish," Manilla sneered. Her bright blue eyes were suddenly quite cold. "Mesmeron is not one of us. His 'Power' is everything we try to rid ourselves of when we are striving to become effective healers. Manipulation, hypnosis, altering you emotions, those are the things he excels at. And he uses it for no other means than his own benefit. Someone who thinks and acts his way could never become an effective healer. He uses his powers in a completely negative way, and someone who does that can only attract more negative power."
"Well, willing someone to heal faster is also a form of manipulation," Asterix said. He could not help but stress the similarities he saw. It created a connection between Mesmeron and the two women, who were clearly a little offended. But Asterix cared little about it. He wanted to understand, to know the possible threat to his village and how to battle it.
Manilla shook her head: "The difference between the two powers is like good and evil. You choose either one way or the other. They don't mix." Asterix wanted to say something again, but he stopped himself when he saw Getafix raise his hand. So Manilla continued:
"Mesmeron's power is essentially to 'bend'' minds. Maybe a healer does this too, helping a patient to find strength within him or herself. Helping him to let go of fear and anger, of regret and tension, and to focus on the positive powers in our world. Powers that enhance the healing power of time. However, Mesmeron does not want others to get better; he only alters minds for his own benefits. He's been striving for power ever since he was young. He uses his own powers to acquire that of others. Maybe he lived around healers when he was younger. Or in a family of powerful druids, they exist. I don't know his exact origins, but I know that Mesmeron developed a special interest for people with unusual powers and that he has been using his powers to force others to give him theirs. For decades. Illusions, physically enhancing potions, clear-sightedness."
Asterix could not help but snort at this last power mentioned by Manilla, and was pointedly ignored by everyone else. Manilla continued without pause:
"Whenever he encountered a power he could not master, he controlled others who had it and forced them to use it in his benefit. This was why I already contacted Getafix the first time Mesmeron began to become a threat to us. I feared Mesmeron would take interest in the magic potion. A simple way of creating an invincible army. In the end, he almost reached that goal without even needing it."
Asterix looked at Getafix in disbelief. "You never told me any of this," Asterix commented, quite softly. He had always prided himself in being someone for Getafix to confide in. He knew Getafix did. But there seemed to be a world of untold stories between them still.
"Or me," Vitalstatistix added, sounding quite offended. "If I had known, I would have addressed this MesMem-thing long ago."
"Exactly," Getafix replied drily. Then he turned to Asterix. "I know you would have rushed to the Forest House to help. It was them, not our village, Mesmeron was interested in. I know you would have wanted to help them. But sending you there with the magic potion to help you would have been like waving a giant flag in the direction of our village. Moreover, it could not help you. Back then, I believed to tell you any of this would equal sending you straight into your last adventure. I saw no way of arming you against Mesmeron."
Getafix smiled a little. "I underestimated you, of course, you seem to have an advantage that I could not foresee. We don't know if it will be enough though. I was not willing then to risk your life simply for the sake of doing something, and neither was Manilla.
"As your chief"…Vitalstatistix started, but Getafix cut him short:
"As my chief you are not entitled to hearing what is discussed during the annual druid meetings, which is the place and time where Mesmeron was discussed. This left me perfectly in my right not to confide in you. I'm sorry." Getafix finished his explanation, not sounding sorry at all.
Vitalstatistix moped a little under his breath, but he did not press matters further.
"Why did Mémé…Mèmè…"
"Mesmeron," Manilla corrected Obelix' stuttering.
"Yes him," Obelix said, "Why did he try to attack the Forest House?"
Manilla took her time to answer: "Well, for all the powers he ever controlled, one way or another, healing was never one of them. At first he just wanted to have some healers at hand. But although he could control their actions, he could not force them to heal. Fill a healer with sorrow and fear, and they will lose their abilities. So Mesmeron tried to learn it himself. From me. But just like a body can defend itself from an illness, some healers have the power of defence. I was able to stop him from entering the Forest House quite easily the first time he tried. The second time…" Manilla paused for a moment, glancing at Bonny.
"He almost succeeded," Bonny said, her voice not much more than a whisper. Her eyes were filled with a sorrow that made Asterix wonder just how much of this adventure had already passed before they were thrown into it. Obelix looked quite uncomfortable too, sensing that there was more unpleasant background to come.
"Almost is not complete," Vitalstatistix said briskly. "And this time he will not succeed either. Tell us how to fight this villain, and we will win!"
Manilla sighed, and slumped slightly in her seat. She averted her eyes, and now they no longer accompanied her speech, she sounded less powerful. Older too.
"I will tell you. I must. Mesmeron created an army that failed him once. The magic potion seems the ideal addition to his powers to make sure it won't fail him twice. I had no choice but to involve your village this time, Getafix. Last time I had to defend the Forest House, I was almost ten years younger. And I had one of my best students by my side, more skilled at defensive shields than I ever was, despite her young age. But I made mistakes, I overlooked things, and she will not stand by my side again."
This surprised Asterix. He had assumed that Manilla was talking about Bonny. Who was rubbing her eyes furiously by now. Obelix had one large hand on her back, trying to comfort her. It was clear that this story hit right through the aura of peace Asterix so clearly felt around Bonny. She was in turmoil over this. Obelix found Asterix staring at them, and the two friends exchanged a worried look. It was obvious that something went terribly wrong in the past.
Manilla was watching both of them. "Before I continue, I want your promise Asterix. And yours, Obelix. I know that you are talented warriors. But I want you to promise not to seek Mesmeron out. Nor anyone who might be under his influence. It is a god's gift that you can feel the presence of anyone who tries to influence your mind, Asterix, but it will not be enough to defeat Mesmeron. Until we know for certain how we can avoid him from taking the magic potion, I want you promise that you won't go after him."
"Until we find a way to defeat him," Asterix said. "We cannot just avoid him from taking the potion this time, it's already obvious from your story that he will try again sooner or later. So we have make sure he cannot use those powers anymore."
Bonny let out a loud sob, making everyone in the room jump a little. She stared at her hands, clearly embarrassed. "Sorry," she said. "It just that…." They all waited, but Bonny did not continue.
Manilla sighed: "It is just that you repeated, almost literally, what Bonny's best friend, one of my most trusted pupils said to us once. Bonny had to lose her best friend to Mesmeron. I'm partly to blame. I don't want to be responsible for breaking up another friendship. Promise me not to act rashly, and I promise I will do everything in my might to prevent Mesmeron from ever harming your village."
It was not good enough. Not if it meant Mesmeron could always try again. But if it was the best Manilla thought there was to offer, it would be up to them to convince her otherwise. So they promised, and let her continue her story.