Chương 41: Court is in Session

Kesseroth began promptly the next morning. When Andy and company entered the council chamber all of the people he'd met last night, and even more were seated and awaiting them. In the bottom middle seat was Kesseroth.

"Lady Auriana and friends, we are here to discuss the Life Nexus. What we need to do to ensure its safety, along with finding out more about how it was created and why. If it's replicable. If you could please start us out, tell us what happened the day it showed up." Auri recounted the events preceding the ant invasion and the battle followed by the forest trying to eat the party. There were some questions but it seemed mostly to excite the audience. The prospect of magic truly returning seemed within reach.

Kesseroth drew attention back once the story was completed.

"Thank you. Now we will allow those with offers to go. Allow me to introduce the council members or in the case of XinXi council allies who come to you today with offers.

"To my left is Sessaly." The air between Kesseroth and Sessaly was steaming. It seemed to be because Sessaly, was damp. There was a faint sheen on the table in front of her where it too had become moist. Her expression was gentle and apologetic, and suggested that she was aware of her general dampness and had long since abandoned any attempt to control it. She was, Andy noted with his [Truth Sense] genuinely kind. Kindness radiated from her as freely as moisture radiated from her.

"On her left is Anuctani." Anuctani was a sphynx. Andy was fairly sure of this because she looked exactly like he would expect a sphynx to look. Although she was in a bipedal form her body was feline with a lion tail, she possessed a human face with brilliant gold and coal black flawless makeup. She was watching Andy and company with the evaluative intensity of a professor who was waiting for the student to realize the exam had already begun.

"To my right is Georgina, you are acquainted, yes?" Andy startled. With all of the magic in the room, and new faces to take in, he hadn't noticed Georgina. He decided to give himself a little grace since this was the most amount of people he'd been around since he'd died. Even still–"Georgina, how did you get here before us… Didn't you have business?"

"Another time Andrew." Georgina's melodic voice chimed in before yielding the floor to Kesseroth once more. Her silver hair flowed freely around her milky white humanoid face and her crystalline horn cast prismatic reflections across the table in front of her.

"To the right of Georgina we have Xinxi." Andy did a double take when he got to the next sophont. A tiny pixie sat on the chair on top of the table itself. He had short cropped brown hair, olive skin and translucent wings were folded up behind him. The pixie's arms were crossed and he looked rather irritated. Andy sent a polite smile, which seemed to only make the pixie more cross. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Behind us, are others of the council, who may add their voices to the matter if it so moves them. You may also meet with any of the council to answer questions following this meeting. Now, Lady Auriana. You have recently acquired mythic tier have you not?" Auri nodded and looked around before shifting into her human form.

"Yes, council. I hit my 500th year very shortly ago. That has brought me to sixth tier which is also mythic tier in my case."

"I do hope that you will consider joining the council some day when you've settled into your role here. It has been quite some time since we've had the pleasure of a Kitsune in our midst. That being said, the four I have just introduced you to all have offers prepared for the land you currently possess. I am here to ensure the offers remain fair, and so ensure that above all else the geopolitical climate remains neutral."

"Before we begin, do you or your party have any questions?" Auri shook her head.

"No, not at this time."

"Very well," Kesseroth concluded.

"Anuctani. You may begin with your offer." Anuctani narrowed her eyes.

"Very well. Lady Auriana. I would like to offer 50, 000 gold bars, and the answer to any one question you have." Anuctani sat back smugly. Whispers and gasps filled the room.

"Yes, yes. Alright everyone. Thank you Anuctani. Sessaly."

"Hello, the merfolk cannot use the land per se so our offer is for access to it. We are requesting a pilgrimage channel set up, at our expense, in the river next to your land and a large pool installation next to the nexus where our life practitioners can come live and study in the life Nexus' glory. For that privilege we ask for an exclusivity contract. We offer ten chests of jewels and gold and we will also provide guards stationed at the pool and along the river to protect the east most section of your land."

Sessaly smiled sweetly and Andy detected complete sincerity. They didn't want the land but merely wanted access to it.

"Thank you Sessaly. Georgina, what is your offer?"

"Thank you, Kesseroth. The offer on the table is relocation for Lady Auriana and party to a forest in the south west which will be given to Lady Auriana and her party. This land is off the edge of my herd's land. I also offer tutelage: to Andrew the horse in his study of life magic and on his journey toward evolution, to Gustave the Sky Herald I offer tutelage in storm magic, and to Lady Auriana I offer tutelage in illusionary magic.

I have arranged for private tutors in each subject to either come to the land we are offering, or you may come to my home and learn there." Once more whispers shot around the room and Kesseroth held up one hand instantly silencing the room. He cleared his throat and a plume of smoke seemed to escape his lips.

"Thank you Georgina. Our final offer comes from XinXi." The pixie unfolded his arms.

"This offer comes from the land of fae, straight from the queen. We offer ten of our best mounts. Unlimited passage to Fae and–" He looked around lowering his voice, " –we offer a seat on our royal court."

"Mounts?" Andy found himself saying.

"Yes, thoroughbred Pembroke Corgis. The queen will handpick them for temperament and patterning." Andy blinked.

"You ride corgis?" XinXi looked offended, "Yes. Of course."

"Alright," Kesseroth cut in.

"You have heard all four offers. Of course you will need time to discuss the offers and to come up with counter offers. You're welcome to use any of the rooms [SPECIES: HORSE(MAGICAL BEAST)] [XP: 5871/?] [GALLOP EFFICIENCY: 95%] [PARTY MEMBERS: 4] [HERD BOND: BONDED HERD(VULPINE ADEPT)] [HERD BOND: HERD(RAPTOR ADEPT)] [HERD BOND: COMPANION (SESSILE)]