Dinner and a Deal

Wyll sat in the carriage with Askalon and wearily looked out at the scenes passing them by. Wyll couldn't help but chuckle as he shook his head. To think that Ali was the son of the current mayor not to mention a noble on top of that. Though it did make sense after that Hans guy blabbered about Ali being a young lord as well as the fact that Guépard seemed a bit fancy for a last name, something most common folk don't have. The topic seemed to sting Wyll a bit unexpectedly as he sighed. A last name was something people put a lot of weight into and with Wyll being a {Champion}, he figured it might be time for him to make one of his own. A bump in the road broke Wyll from his thoughts.

Askalon watched the changing landscape as well as his own thoughts danced about.Wyll was interesting to him, the fact that {Chaos} pulled strings to pull Wyll and himself to each other was something else as well but Wyll's existence was a mystery. Gaemo didn't even know about Wyll's heritage beyond the fact that the kid looked human. Wyll had no extra ears, tail or anything similar but even so, appearing one day outside the camp was… strange. To have such pristine magic circuits that weren't even corrupted or messed up was… strange. Askalon shook his head and sucked his teeth before looking to Wyll.

"Alright, I am sick and tired of losing. I got you a crappy skill, you didn't have to run all the way to the Guépard estate and I don't even know what you are! There isn't but a race that can take on other {Wielders} bare handed and yet here you are! Those savages are so far up the plains' ass that they make prairie dogs look like a joke! Damn Were-people…"

Wyll wasn't sure how to answer that as he looked at Askalon and gave a shrug, not really sure what he meant'

"I mean all I know is that dad said he found me crying one night on the border of the Wildlands while he was stationed over there before making the Purple Dragoons. He said I was throwing a fit as I kicked, screamed and cried on a full moon night. He said he picked me up from the thick grass still covered in after birth and took me in while looking for my mother but never found anyone. Shortly after he left the Coalition's military and decided to walk his own path with me. I've been to many doctors and none of them noticed anything different with me besides human."

Askalon crossed his arms as he glared a bit at Wyll, the answer was truthful it seemed but that didn't give him any satisfaction. With a slow creak the carriage came to a stop as the door opened up for Wyll and Askalon as people were lined up, heads bowed as Wyll saw Ali and what he assumed were Ali's parents. The mother seemed to be the Beastkin whilst his father was a tall, tan man with black hair.

Wyll and Askalon stepped out of the carriage as Wyll saw Ali seem jittery and uncomfortable as he squirmed where he stood. Wyll chuckled as he and Askalon stepped towards the mayor and bowed their heads which was met in kind before smiles broke tensions. Ali quickly pounced on Wyll and clung to him as he babbled about missing Wyll as his mother reached down and gently pulled Ali away before whispering into his ear. Wyll felt his ear twitch a bit as Wyll could catch what she said though it was in a soft whisper.

"Ali, this is a guest. Though he might have saved you and is your friend, we must show respect, kindness and honor. Wyll is a {Champion} now and is a very important person."

Wyll cleared his throat a bit and smiled,

"Ma'am, with all due respect. I don't mean to be a parent or what not but just because I gained a bit of a title doesn't mean I am too good for others. Ali is like a little brother to me, I know our time was brief and our meeting strange but I look after my own. Ali is a child so I am understanding of that. He will only be young once."

Heads turned as all eyes were on Wyll, the Beastkin woman looking a bit perplexed as she stood and met Wyll. She looked over him rather intently as she inspected him before placing her hands on her hips.

"Your ears are sharp and though you make good points, I don't believe I asked for a second opinion. My whispers are a bit of a skill that is hard to pick up on. Just how did you bypass it to hear what I said?"

Wyll was a bit shocked and taken aback some as he tried to find the words to properly explain himself. He watched the woman reach into her pockets, slowly drawing her hands back out as Wyll saw something shine a bit. Almost instinctively he made a quick backstep as he narrowly dodged a slash from a metal set of claws, Wyll's right hand feeling a bit heavy as he saw Askalon in hand.

Askalon was shocked, only knowing that he had responded to something innate in Wyll and taken his {Weapon} form. Eyes were even wider as Wyll took a low centered stance with his feet spread some as he looked at Ali's mother with a bit of shock. Her movements were incredibly fast, if he hadn't moved then he would have taken a wound from chest to neck.

"Oh? You're quick on your feet! However I am unsure how you dodged that slash. I was sure I made it without any indication or murderous intent. I don't believe that the title of {Champion} gives you all of that and some. I don't believe that you're normal. At least in the sense of a normal person, Ali did say that your camp was a little over a mile away from where you found him. You have ears as sharp as a wolf's yet show no signifiers of Beastkin or smell of one. I approve."

She began to take off the claws on her hand, a unique weapon had not seen before as she nodded to her husband who nodded back. Shortly after the mayor takes a knee to Wyll who was a bit shocked.

"I apologize for my wife testing you but we had to make certain that you were the real thing before we took Ali's word to heart. Thank you for saving my son and making the bastards that laid hands on my family pay. For you to be chosen like the rumors say is incredible even if the {Destroyer} has taken you as their {Champion}. Please join my family for lunch so we can discuss business."

He stands, brushing his knee off before dismissing the guards. They all dispersed and Ali went back to clinging to Wyll before getting Wyll to put him on his shoulders. Ali giggled and smiled as they went to the dining hall. A lavish meal with plenty of meat and sweets were served as they talked. Wyll came to know the names of Ali's parents, Noel and Elizabeth Guépard. Noel was a successful merchant as well as political figure. Liz on the other hand used to be an assassin. She wasn't too keen on sharing too many details but stated that her last job was to make sure that Noel would die and for her to be there when he did.

The Guépards' laughed and went to acting rather lovey dovey as Wyll gulped, wanting to ask more questions but thought it might be a bit rude as he stilled his tongue. As the lunch came to a draw, Ali was taken off by one of the maids to go play and wait for Wyll.

"Now then, time for business. Through some scrounging for information and asserting a bit of political dominance, we know that you are required to build an opposing force of sorts against your other competitors. We would like to offer you something for saving Ali from being kidnapped as well as escorting him home out of the goodness of your heart. After careful consideration and talking it over for a month we have decided that the quality of a good leader shines brightly within you. Though our intention was never to have a stake in the competition that you will be going through, we find it advantageous nevertheless."

Noel snaps as Hans comes out from the corner of the room, holding a large map as he clears a spot for it. Quickly the map spreads out as Wyll sees the whole of the world before his eyes, gulping as he feels rather small from just the sight of it. A large circle is made on the southern plains of the mainland as Noel smiles.

"The area circled in red there is unclaimed territory that doesn't exist within any of the nations. Though it is much different from the Wildlands of the east, this place is much more dangerous. Uncharted land, unknown variables and much more, however the same could be said about the resources within it. I have already spoken to the council members and kindly persuaded them that an expedition should be sent to the land to claim it."

Noel leans back in his chair as a smile crosses his face, his demeanor relaxing as he folds his hands.

"Considering the new position you find yourself in, I would like to offer you the chance to head the expedition to explore the area and my thought is that you claim it for yourself."

The room quickly became quiet as Noel still held a smile, seeming rather calm about suggesting Wyll take over the unclaimed land and so easily. Wyll was reserved for a moment as Askalon seemed rather calm, bouncing his knee quietly as he ate some cake. Undermining the Coalition was not something to scoff at as Noel suggested.

"Now mind you Wyll, I bet you are a bit fearful of the ramifications that could befall you if such a thing were to happen but I- we have found loopholes to this. Your new title has caused a lot of old rules to be dug up for such an event considering two citizens of the Coalition are {Champions} and what we found is shocking. Basically a {Champion} can acquire land legally, by force or through diplomatic ways to make somewhere their base. This one is the easiest on paper but harder in practice."

Wyll gulped as he stared at the large area circled in red, struggling to comprehend that he could claim it as his own and become a ruler. The idea was baffling actually!

"One rule to this however is that if you were to claim land not owned, it is treated solely as yours. You will become a nation with little time however no kingdom, alliance or similar can attack you without just cause. You will be a ruler on your own, but not without help. Infact the Guépard company wishes to sign an exclusive deal with Wyll's would be nation when the time comes. That is later but I wish to repay the debts I owe. We want to sponsor you, your expedition and are willing to do whatever it takes to maintain on good terms with you. What would you say to this expedition?"

Wyll gulped, a bit overwhelmed as Askalon smirked and decided to help Wyll.

"Calm yourself kid, these people are being genuine. They truly do wish to help and see a good future. They were moved by what you said about your people and wish to reach the heights to be one of the people you trust and care for. The deal is good"