Chapter Seventy-Six – Proceedings – Part Two

I hate paperwork.

- UWO Sergeant Gilroy -

The argument continues, though I'm not sure it should be called that, only Kodah seems pissed. Haethur doesn't seem bothered by the abusive language, I'd wager he's used to it. Sage seems to be enjoying himself with the occasional jab here and there. I haven't joined in, I'm still worried about everyone else. Sage didn't say exactly how time flowed differently here.

In between the respite of speaking I ask Sage, "So if Azeroc is dead, the quest died with him right?"

Sage doesn't answer, he's too busy quipping the shit out of Kodah and running laps around him. I grab his arm and pull him closer to me, he looks irritated that I'm interrupting but he waits for me to speak again.

"Sage… I need to know, do one of those petition things or something."

He sighs, "Is that a formal request?"

I nod.

He sighs louder, "Haethur, we have a petition as well."

Kodah pauses his rant to look over at us.

"Speak it," Haethur says still looking at the scroll intently.

"The Anomaly is requesting information regarding the quest which they allegedly left without an administrator's permission."

"Allegedly? Are you mad? They very clearly broke the rules and left the quest zone," Kodah says, looking at Haethur, "Which by the rules, as a mortal he should be disincorporated immediately."

Haethur makes the first expression I've seen him make, a squint of sorts as he peers at Kodah, "Name the rule that circumvents the review and proceedings process and calls for the immediate termination of a participant in the Sarlenac Quadrant Games."

Kodah looks up at the Red group, none of them say anything, shit, did he just make that shit up? In front of a system entity, the same people or things that are bound by the rules. Dumbass.

"I'll answer for you, there is no such rule that circumvents the clear directives of the Grand One," Sage says with dagger eyes, "To imply that we should end this mortal's existence when the Grand One's rules protect them…" his eyes blossom with light, "Such words are outrageous and beyond your pathetic abilities."

Haethur looks back down at the scroll, "As the nameless said, there is no such rule that exists."

"Nameless? You let a fucking nameless entity converse in my presence? Surely that is against some kind of rule?"

"It is not for me to judge the designs of the Grand One, nor is it for you," Haethur says, almost defensively.

Are they talking about Sage? I look at him, he's not angry, his eyes fall low as though caught in memory. Is he nameless? I thought they all had names. The ones I've met so far did at least.

"In regards to your petition, it will be discussed during the proceedings."

"I just want to know if it was cancelled," I say, standing from my seat.

Haethur looks up and blinks at me, tilting his head slowly to the side as he peers seemingly through me.

"Apologies, the Anomaly has not been made aware of the customs for proceedings," Sage says, placing a hand on my shoulder and pressing me down slowly back into my seat.

"Then you should inform them of it, as is your role, nameless one," Haethur says, turning back to the scroll, he pauses for a moment before turning up toward Ulana, her golden eyes flash a little brighter. Haethur swallows, looking at Sage, "To answer the petition, the quest was terminated."

Relief washes over me like the first rain in a desert. If the quest was cancelled, they all should have been sent back to Earth before quarantine protocol got activated. Once the relief passes, I realize something, I think Ulana just warned him. Sage gives a wary look toward her as well, his gaze falls rather quickly though. Can she do that? Or was her stare enough to convince Haethur?

Kodah is looking pissed still, looking at Sage like he's not even worthy to be in the same room.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"You know, I'm surprised that you were sent," Sage says, tilting his head at the very angry demigod Kodah, "I know your group is very meager and bottom feeding by nature, but surely they have someone more acceptable to send?"

"You dare to insult my gods, nameless cur?" Kodah fumes.

"Insult? I was just accurately describing them," Sage sighs, looking at me, "Apologies, it appears they're wasting our time with amateurs."

"I formally petition to have this unruly nameless code extinguished, as it probably should have been before," Kodah breathes, eyes ablaze as he stares a hole through Sage's forehead.

"Denied," Haethur replies, eyes still scanning the very large scroll that's now rolled out onto the floor.

"On what grounds?"

"Only the Anomaly can petition to relieve or disincorporate their arbiter."

I can petition to kill Sage? Anomaly? Do I not have a name now too? Or is this part of that identity obscurement that Sage mentioned? Do they not all know who I am? It's probably better that way to be fair. Though how would they not? They've been fucking with me for months. I'm so confused.

Kodah looks at me now, "Petition it, mortal, lest you will incur my ire."

Sage turns and gives me a measuring eyebrow raise, is he afraid I might? I lean in toward Sage, "Our relationship, this situation where you don't explain things as much as you probably should, you're going to work on that right?"

He blinks, a sly grin on his face as he whispers back, "Meatsack, are you threatening me again?"

"More like bartering."

"Mmm, I will work on it."

"Good enough," I lean back to look at the demigod, "What are you offering?"

His face twitches, "Offering?"

Sage looks at me sharply, he shifts uncomfortably and whispers, "Meatsack… I said I will work on it."

"You ask for something, you need to give something in exchange."

Kodah looks at Haethur, "Will this entire proceeding be this irregular? Now mortals are demanding things of gods? When will the insults end?"

"Demigod," Sage reminds him.

Kodah looks over at the Red group then closes his eyes, clenching his hands before letting out a breath, looks like he calmed down a little. He doesn't engage Sage again, I think he might have been reprimanded.

"Sage, why do they keep calling you nameless?"

"It's a long story, meatsack."

I look over at the scroll, "I think we have some time."

He looks down at his hands, before closing them slowly, "I lost my name."

"What do you mean?"

"It was taken, because I failed the Grand One."

"I don't understand, I thought you said the Grand One purges failure without exception."

Sage sighs, "There are always exceptions. They are to be expected."

"For someone who worships rules like you do, that's surprising to hear."

He gives me a jaded glance before leaning back in his chair, "Nameless ones are those that have failed, but not so miserably that it warrants destroying them."

"What was your name before?"

He looks down at his hands again, "It is forbidden to speak a name that has been taken."

"Alright, how did you fail then? Or is that forbidden to speak about as well?"

He nods solemnly, eyes dancing with memory again. Sage loves the rules, I can't imagine him failing. Everyone has a story though, even the Lich Adaraic did. His memories play across my thoughts now. He became what he was on a promise that Azeroc would bring back his loved ones. A hundred worlds was the price, but why? Just to watch it burn? There has to be more of a reason, a motivation to motivate others to destroy on your behalf. What could it be though…

"Sage, why do the gods want to conquer all these worlds?

He looks at me for a moment with an eyebrow raise, "Why does anyone do anything?"

I squint at him.

"Greed."

"What do they gain from it?"

He purses his lips, looking up at the ceiling, "I'm not supposed to say."

"Is there anything you can say to give me a hint?"

One of his glacial blue eyes slants at me for a moment, "Perhaps, but it will cost you."

"Are you bartering with me?"

"I am."

"For?"

He leans in, whispering, "I want you to formally request that Terra be removed as my supervisor."

"I can do that?"

"Normally, no."

"Speak plainly, Sage."

He sighs, scooting his seat closer and whispering in my ear with a hand over his mouth, "Meatsack, before you died, you reached level 3,957."

"Wh-what?" I stammer back, eyebrow pulsing as my eyes blink quickly.

So I was right, you can go over level one hundred… but 3,957… what the actual fuck… wait…

"Because I slayed a god?"

"Well not just because of that, you also destroyed a planet, all of the creatures and people that inhabited it, as well as the only star in the Oranak system, which subsequently caused the destruction of even more planets. The sheer amount of experience gained broke the level cap, quite thoroughly," he pauses, a satisfied look on his face, "In truth, I think it's a record, though unfortunately it hasn't been made official."

"What do you mean?"

"They won't let you keep the levels for obvious reasons, however, they will have to give you some form of compensation for the loss of levels. You could potentially negotiate a change in my leadership as part of that compensation."

After taking a few moments to measure his motivations for such a request, I nod.

"Is all the compensation negotiable? Can I ask to keep Witherbrand?" There's something I want more than Witherbrand, but I don't want them to know that, I'm still not sure if someone or something is listening to us.

Sage pauses, as though debating whether to share something, "Meatsack, the Witherbrand class has been… removed."

"Removed?"

"What did you think would happen? You used it to help you slay a god."

"If Witherbrand is gone… then I won't get to roll for any of those skills."

Sage pats me on the shoulder, "Let's worry about resurrecting you before we get all depressed about what you've lost." He straightens his vest, "You're lucky you know."

"Why?"

"Because, in my hey day, I was the greatest arbiter in the history of the games."

A grin slides across his face again as Haethur finally stands, looking out across the courtroom.

"If there are no more pre proceeding petitions, we are ready to begin."

"None that have not been submitted already," Sage replies, sliding the golden monocle back over his eye, "We are ready."

The way he said that, did he submit other petitions?

"Let the record reflect that my previous petition stands," Kodah says, straightening his flame red suit jacket as he stands, "We demand that Azeroc be resurrected, even if it means reversing the divine timeline."

"Your request has been noted and I have submitted it for higher evaluation," Haethur replies, then sitting down slowly in his seat, "The proceeding begins."

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