CHAPTER 184: CHAPTER 183: AWAY FROM HOME PART2

[ CARL HAS CLAIMED THE REALM OF TEMPORAL REPRIEVE ]

The moment the announcement appeared on the system, they all felt countless eyes on them, but Carl was focused on another task.

He was notarising a contract of experimental design.

I Carl, decree this realm a world of peace.

Any who enter this realm, automatically agree to this contract.

No sentient creature may do harm to another or order a non-sentient entity to do harm.

Attempting to do so will result in expulsion to the realm they spend a majority of their time.

Attempting to circumvent this contract, will result in the same, with the addition of forgetting.

Carl finalised it with a burst of divinity, one which far exceeded any single expenditure he made before, the process rendering him drained and his breathing became somewhat labored.

He chuckled slightly through the exertion and joked about how tiring it was, but was forced to recompose himself when several portals opened. A total of eight of the crackling holes in space opened, through which stepped an array of figures that were both known and unknown amongst their group.

"So, you are this Carl, the one who Scylla was petitioning on account of?"

"Ugh, fuck off Lycaon, we’re here for business but also pleasure and you make the second bit impossible." Scylla growled, her fur growing out slightly and face deforming making it clear that she wasn’t simply messing around.

Several of the figures laughed at Scylla’s dig, either close enough for him to let it slide, or adversarial enough that he expected them to find amusement at his expense.

"Quiet girl. You may have my favour but childish mewling is unbefitting. I came here to speak to the owner, not the pet." Lycaon soon realised that his words crossed a line when he felt the flaring auras of who were technically his hosts.

"She’s right Lycaon, you aren’t welcome for now. This is a realm of mutual respect, not one for antagonising mongrels looking to posture..." Carl said, catching everyone by surprise, what they didn’t know was that he was actively trying to take the opportunity to test his contract and steal Lycaon’s divinity.

It was a plan that worked exceptionally well and Lycaon’s human form tore apart and twisted into that of a bipedal wolf, his fur pure white with black patterning that seemed to depict somebody being struck down with lightening and cursed.

Standing at about eighteen feet tall, his eyes were mirrors of Scylla’s and each of his claws was nearly the size of Carl’s body.

When in this form, Lycaon was typically completely confident in his abilities, but something about the human grinning in front of him he found unsettling.

"You must be confident in your abilities to smirk like that human."

Carl laughed, then suddenly his human form burst apart and he stood tall, in a form pretty similar to Lycaon’s but a few feet smaller and lacking the patterning.

"Of course I am..." Carl started before a snarl got stuck in his throat, immediately feeling the bestial pull and baser instincts that his half-lycan friends spent their lives learning to control. "...You just gave me all I need to surpass you one day and in a realm where you can’t harm me."

Lycaon’s eyes widened and he looked across to Kyubi, who laughed as she saw through his thoughts.

"Don’t look at me, this is no illusion. I know full well that you require no assistance making enemies or a fool of yourself..." Kyubi said, though she was fixated on Carl, her eyes sparkling to reflect the awe she was feeling. "...Carl, would you mind copying my divinity please? I’d quite like to see you as a fox."

"I don’t think that’s a good idea, I seem to copy a portion of their nature as well. From what you have said to me in the past, male fox-spirits were unpleasant creatures." Carl said, before watching as Lycaon returned to human form and following his lead.

When they were both human again, one of the others stepped forward, a short figure that had some kind of multi-lense glasses that seemed to flick in and out of alignment randomly.

"Fascinating, no wonder that little prodigy who put Goglia in his place follows the. I imagine your physiology is a boundless source of inspiration..."

"Apologies, who are you talking about?"

"...Alysse Nisse, the prodigy I am ashamed to admit escaped my notice. Though I suppose that I at least didn’t lose them in a popularity contest..." The short figure said as he circled Carl with uncomfortable focus, until he sensed it and came to a stop in front of him.

"...Sorry, where are my manners, I am the Gnome progenitor of her lineage, Kelnan Redbedal. Feel free to scan my system if you have the ability, I’m sure you know we lack the sense of modesty that humans do."

"That’s fine, I don’t like to pry. If people can’t be bothered or don’t wish to tell me, I simply wasn’t meant to know..."

"...That’s his way of admitting he rarely even thinks to examine his own and he can’t be bothered." Klaire added to the gnome’s delight.

"Really? Well if you are the type to make time for others, I could be persuaded to talk over dinner some time." Kelnan laughed, then stepped back to his position, essentially giving the stage to the next.

"I am Illerion, one of the elven gods... Illum has mentioned you to us and when I sensed you claiming this world I wished to see you for myself. You seem more... Confident than he mentioned. No sorry, that’s not the right word, forceful."

She was a much more tender looking figure than either Illum or Eldorlora, but somehow she felt even more dangerous than the two of them combined.

Her platinum hair stayed firmly in place and unrelenting, her dress remained perfectly fixed and worn, as though her very being was untouchable to the coastal winds blowing against her.

The sense of danger though left Carl forced to take a running start by returning Kelnan’s greeting late, before addressing her directly.

"Pleasure to meet you Kelnan and I look forward to it. Illerion, I apologise if I have fallen short of expectations, but I won’t listen to my people referred to as pets."

"I never said that, I’m actually glad the future of our species can defend himself. I thought I was going to have to kill the pup."

Lycaon suddenly flicked his head between Carl and Illerion, then finally back to Scylla and trying to remember everything he had ignored her saying when she had come to ask for his assistance.

"I think it’s best we discuss where we a-"

"Dog, stop barking..." Illerion spoke bluntly, not asking, not suggesting, not even ordering, but decreeing with what seemed absolute authority. "...You don’t beg for a seat at the table, after insulting the host of the party."

Lycaon began to quickly feel cornered and Carl was about to offer him an olive branch, but as soon as she saw it in his eyes, Kyubi sent him a private message.

[ PRIVATE MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM KYUBI: CARL, LET HIM RETREAT. ILLERION WON’T RESPECT ANYONE WHO DOESN’T DEMAND IT IN MATTERS LIKE THIS. ]

With Carl’s hand stayed by Kyubi’s message, Lycaon quickly decided that he had outstayed his welcome and turned to leave with what face he could.

"Wait! Apologise and you’re welcome to stay, as I said this place is for peace, not posturing."

"Of course, I’m sorry, Carl..." Kyubi noticed the signs of contempt in Illerion’s eyes and winced, when Carl interrupted him.

"Thank you, now you just have Scylla, Gillian and the other half-lycans you turned your back on when you ignored Scylla’s request."

Kyubi was so unprepared for the whiplash of concern to amusement, she accidentally snorted, the added insult recovering what favour they had lost by allowing Lycaon to stay as well as the respect of Lycaon himself for granting him the opportunity to restore his own image in Illerion’s eyes.

"Of course, but I recognise my shortcomings and I don’t feel like I should step foot on your private territories until I have earned that right, so I will have to Apologise to the two of you first..."

Lycaon apologised and even severed his connection to the half-lycans under Carl’s banner, the move left Carl and his faction a glowing entry in the Elven god’s good-books.

It would be a while before the lycan progenitor could entirely absolve himself in her eyes, but she was known to be as respectful of apologies as she was in her reckonings.

The exchange however had changed the mood of the entire situation, a couple had clearly come with complaints, but were now forced to reassess the way they expressed those.

Sensing that sentiment and feeling similar ones himself, he began constructing somewhere they might talk more comfortably, a display of creation talent that left even the undisputed powerhouse of the gathering impressed.