CHAPTER 185: CHAPTER 184: AWAY FROM HOME PART 3

The building Carl produced was large and open on one side, single storied that was essentially designed as a sheltered lunch area. Which the surprisingly warm magenta sun practically made a necessity.

"I’m not trying to create a restaurant or anything, but if anyone has some design ideas, I’d be happy to include them as a point of comfort while we talk."

"I’ll just be thankful to be out of the time-burning sun..." One of the others grumbled before thanking Carl for his hospitality and heading for the shelter.

"What exactly is a "time-burning sun"? I mean I can guess, but I mean what is it comprised of?"

"We should discuss it out of its light, you aren’t old enough to have the maturity to lose." Illerion stated, before gesturing them onward in the sameway Leanna used to when Carl stopped to look at something in a shop without any warning.

The comparison made Carl give a nostalgic smile, then they all heeded her advice when the weight of her words hit.

When they were all out the direct light of the sun, they gave a collective sigh of relief as they felt a greater relief than they expected. Not just Carl’s group either, but several of the guest immortals.

"First, to answer the question I’m surprised Kyubi hadn’t warned of in advance. The sun here has an anti-aging effect, Mobius once brought his mortal companions here, though he refused to give anyone more than a hundred extra years relative to a human’s lifespan."

"I see, sorry Carl, I didn’t know that because Tsukuyomi only brought me here in passing once. I remembered thinking the place had a beautiful uniqueness to it, but I didn’t know it had such an effect.

"Of course you didn’t, in the few millennia since you came into being a nine-tailed fox, then kitsune, then celestial fox. This realm has always been abandoned, even if its owner only officially renounced it later. Tsukuyomi likely brought you here because it was the only way for him to get Mobius’ attention." Illerion explained, relaxing on a table to herself.

"Well, we appreciate that lesson, Illerion. It seems a shame to ruin it, but letting people abuse it would annoy Equinox."

First amendment to the realm agreement of Temporal Reprieve.

No mortal may spend a total of more than an century, relative to human lifespan, in the realm.

The instant they have reached that limit they will be rejected and permanently barred.

Anyone barred who achieves immortality will be permitted to return.

Once again Carl gave it a burst of divinity to finalise it and Carl was visibly drained.

"Exactly how much divinity did that take?" Illerion asked, sitting up and looking at the other guests as though daring them to try exploiting his weakened state.

"Contracting the realm itself took about eight-hundred thousand and the ammendment took a further one-hundred thousand..." Carl was breathing with true effort, then began sacrificing mana to restore it. "...Well, I hope I don’t need to use magic, because I’m out, but divinity is topped out, so I guess that’s better."

Illerion laughed, a strangely childish expression coming from the Elven god who seemed to have the others on their back feet. "Did you really just use Sacrificial empowerment in an instant? Hahahahaha!..." The laughing fit was genuine, but dragged on so long that it seemed exaggerated.

"Is it really that special?" Carl asked, but received only renewed laughter in response from Illerion and in the end it was Kyubi who explained it.

"Carl, when Lillim told you to learn how to do it, she was messing with you. In reality, only a scant few Elder Gods could do it and for them it took the equivalent of a day to complete the sacrifice. When you actually pulled it off, she told us all to act like it was normal as one of the favours we owe her." Kyubi admitted, a little bit guilty because she had forgotten and snuggled into him.

"Hold on! Kyubi, are you and this human an item!? I thought you hated them, how much have I missed in the three-hundred years? Since when do things change so much in a measly few centuries?"

Kyubi glared at her with exasperation the others weren’t brave enough to acknowledge. "No, we three are. I did, but I realised they aren’t all so barbaric. A lot. Since Change found a more active representative I guess."

"Come now, don’t be snippy, we were friends once and I simply wish to rekindle that friendship. To think you were involved with the humans brought to my attention and they are more open-minded than the humans I remember. How would you feel if I joined your item?"

"Absolutely not. We are each other’s and no one else’s." Kyubi growled wrapping her tails around Carl and Klaire.

"Just like at bloody school..." Gillian grumbled as he shook his head.

"Yeah, this feels a bit familiar, how long until Klaire shoots someone?..." Blanc added, a little bit tense at the possibility of a live-action reenactment.

"What are you two talking about?" Scylla grumbled, a little annoyed at Gillian’s annoyance with Carl getting attention.

"How girls used to drool over Carl all the time and Klaire used to be really protective." Sophie explained.

"Is it really so surprising?..." Grenda asked, surprising everyone. "...What, I’m not in love with him or even have any desire to make a move, but he is objectively an attractive candidate for a relationship."

"In what way though? I just don’t see it?" Gillian asked getting looks from everyone.

"You do realise that it isn’t a matter of attractiveness or emotion, right? She’s saying he has power, influence, territory, a good heart and determination. All are valuable traits in a partner, remember that in the end, all marriages are political to some degree."

"Right, so you’re saying people want what he can offer and not him... I suppose I get that."

"Can you guys shut up!? I think these two are gonna kill me here if they keep listening to that idiot!" Carl shouted from where he was being crushed by Klaire in the fluffy cocoon of Kyubi’s tails.

Illerion bursting into renewed laughter dispelled the tension. "Fine! I promise to make no romantic or sexual advances on the human, sorry, Carl and will only ever act as an ally to his faction. Can we make that official at least? I’d rather be in my bounds in case I have to kill any of them."

Carl fought his way out of his prison and agreed, but he wasn’t given permission or opportunity to sign until they had both examined it carefully for wording and phrasing that could slip through Carl’s notice in his haste to put the situation to bed.

When he was finally permitted to sign he double checked it himself to avoid a lecture and then signed.

"Perfect! Now we’re allies I can kill on your behalf without reprisal."

"Sure..." Carl sighed. "...One small thing though, please don’t "kill on my behalf", without me asking you to."

"Ugh, fine, you are a big softie with a kind heart. Woe is me, doomed to be lonely..."

"Hear that everyone? Now you can speak without..."

"...Hey! I was talking."

"...worrying about her doing something drastic on impulse. So who wants to go next?"

After that, the impromptu and unprecedented summit began in earnest, with the figures present starting by introducing themselves.

The first to speak was a male figure that carried himself with the demeanour of an intellectual. tall, elderly and bones practically visible through his almost completely transparent skin.

Dressed in black robes, trimmed with a regal purple colour, he was comparable to an almost universal preconception of how a magician should look and exactly how the magicians that Carl knew hated being expected to emulate.

"Oh!? Sorry Obelix I didn’t notice you in the mix." Illerion exclaimed upon recognising him as he shook his head and his eyes seemed to grow tired and sunken in an instant.

"Illerion, when I was your teacher, you promised to work on your focus..." He scrutinised her intensely for a moment and she clammed up. "...I never thought of you as a liar, I’m disappointed."

"Sorry Obelix, I just got a little excited with a human that can make sure I’m not one of the last elves to be born. Not to mention being reunited with my old friend."

"I can tell, that doesn’t excuse the threatening of several immortals several times, does it?"

"Ugh, no. In my defence though, the first bit is pretty good."

"Good, but not enough. As for that irritating de-aging enchantment Kyubi placed on you back then, I thought you neutralised it?"

The lecture went on for quite a while and resulted in Obelix threatening to inform the other Elven gods about her conduct, and judging by the resulting demeanor, that was a very unwelcome result.

"A word of warning if you are allied with elves young Carl, they are rigid and unshakable, they will not pay respect to anyone who lacks those traits. Regardless of the power gap, showing hesitation or weakness to an elf is how you make them an enemy. The only exception is Illum, but unfortunately he isn’t nearly strong enough to stand against one as young as Illerion."

"Thank you for the advice, I’ll just introduce her to my daughter sometime, she’s nothing compared to Kitsunoko."