The next two months were hectic, the Faction members lived at their Lugarian HQ, only returning to the SAT-Station for exams, though Leanna, Danielle, Alisha, as well as Gillian and Alysse's parents came twice a week for family meals at Lillim and Kyubi's assistance.
"Missing you lot is disrupting their training and studies, make time or we remove the restraints." Having the two Ominas say that made it less of a threat and more a promise.
Strangely enough, it made the parents happy though, when they all arrived the first time they all spoke about how happy they were that Lillim and Kyubi were taking the groups education and training seriously.
On days where they had family meals they also had a rest day, so the sons and daughters were thrilled too... Except from when Carl had to explain why what appeared to be a half-fox was calling him "Papa" and not addressing Klaire as one of her tricks.
Aside from that though the two months, which were essentially four, were quite enjoyable...
Everyone made a supernatural level of progress and Kitsunoko even bonded with Carl a little through pulling pranks on Gillian.
Everyone was also focused on the pets that Carl would make, but there was one massive problem stopping him from making anything and it wasn't his DIV being mostly drained since that was restored with his level-ups.
[ SYSTEM NOTICE : SOLO MISSION "CREATE FIRST CHIMERA" COMPLETED ]
[ SYSTEM NOTICE : SEVERAL FACTORS INTERFERING...}
[ CALCULATING REWARDS... ]
The system wouldn't let him whilst it was calculating, The only skills he could use were his spear skills, his governance skills and neo pet skills. It was painfully frustrated being cut off from the power he was just getting used to, not to mention the question of what exactly was interfering with the system.
Finally, the day came for the closing assembly, lots of people were crying at their friends and seniors graduating, not to mention the graduating year itself who now had to make their own way.
With the massive increase in membership capacity Lillim let us leave a few standing invitations with people as long as we made sure to emphasise there was a good chance of painful death in other realms, but most people were still going there separate ways.
"To all those graduating today... I wish you well, I hope you see the dreams you have struggled so much for fulfilled. With that, you have all voted for the who to use as an example for those that come after... Usually I would say that person... However, thanks in no small part to my mother, the votes were split evenly across five. So, Carl and Klaire Bashe-Reaga, Gillian Remus, Alysse Nisse and Blanc Reaga, could you all come and take your turns on the chair please."
Leanna's announcement was hardly surprising, everyone had already told them they were up, with most of them putting all five on their ballot. They were excited themselves, Lillim had banned them from checking their own progress apart from cancelling notifications to stop them getting big-headed during their training.
First up was Blanc, since they had decided if this happened they would go from most recent initiate to Carl. The moment he sat down and his stats were displayed, the shock was palpable.
[ SYS BUILD = NEO FACTION INITIALISER V 2.4.6 ]
[ NAME = BLANC REAGA ] [RACE = HUMAN/BLUECAP HYBRID + ] [LEVEL = 151 ]
[ VIT/HP = 10001 ] [ DEF = 1000 ] [ INT/MP = 11111 ]
[ STR = 1000 ] [ DEX = 10000 ] [ CHA = 1000 ]
[ EXP TO NEXT = 480,725 ]
[ SKILLS = GROUND CONTROL, ENHANCED PROCESSING, MENTAL ATTACK IMMUNITY, COMPARTMENTALISED, ABSOLUTE INTERFACE, SPIRITUAL CONTROL, GHOSTLY FLAME TRANSFORMATION, INTROVERTED FOCUS, EXTROVERTED BOOST ]
[ SKILL RANKS = F = 0, E = 0, D = 0, C = 0, B = 0, A = 2, S = 2, SS = 3, SSS = 2 ]
[ FACTION SKILLS = NEO GOVERNOR, NEO PET TELEPATHY ]
[ ADDITIONAL...]
[ NEO PET SLOTS = 1 ]
[ TITLE = CHIEF OF FACTION REALM-GATE AFFAIRS ]
Their were no cheers or even murmurs, everyone, even Blanc himself, was speechless.
"Err, um, thank you Mr. Reaga... Next, err..." Leanna barely managed to move the situation, what she didn't know was that back at their Lugarian HQ, Lillim and Kyubi were in hysterics and all of them on the stage had just received a message from the former.
"Aren't you glad the stipulated punishment halved your stats the moment you sat down?" A message that nearly made Blanc fall off the chair getting up.
Next up was Alysse, who sat down almost fearfully, even wincing as she rested back.
[ SYS BUILD = NEO FACTION ENGINEER V 3.0.7 ]
[ NAME = ALYSSE NISSE ] [RACE = HUMAN/GNOME HYBRID ++ ] [LEVEL = 216 ]
[ VIT/HP = 31415 ] [ DEF = 18000 ] [ INT/MP = 24752 ]
[ STR = 49565 ] [ DEX = 53154 ] [ CHA = 19252 ]
[ EXP TO NEXT = 1,480,725 ]
[ SKILLS = GNOMISH ARTIFICE, HASTY CONSTRUCTION, PERFECTIONIST, PERCISION DISMANTALING, PERCISION ASSEMBLY, ELEMENTAL FORGING, MANA-INFUSED FORGING, PRODUCTIVE DREAMING, VIVID IMAGINATION, HAMMER-FIGHTING TECHNUIQUE = MAX, PRODUCTIVE STRESS, GRAVITY HAMMER, HEPHAESTUS' BLESSING ]
[ SKILL RANKS = F = 0, E = 0, D = 0, C = 0, B = 0, A = 2, S = 4, SS = 4, SSS = 3 ]
[ FACTION SKILLS = NEO GOVERNOR, NEO PET TELEPATHY ]
[ ADDITIONAL...]
[ NEO PET SLOTS = 1 ]
[ TITLE = CHIEF OF FACTION ENGINEERING AFFAIRS ]
"Madam Director... Can I leave now, I need to go throw up..."
"Can you go do it on my mother please, this is her fault dear. Mr. Remus I assume you're next, quickly please." Leanna was quietly furious knowing it wasn't entirely their fault and that she wasn't entirely free of blame herself.
As Gillian edged toward the chair, the contrast between his usual swagger and this newfound coyness was enough to make a few people chuckle.
[ SYS BUILD = NEO FACTION APEX SUMMONER V 9.2.3 ]
[ NAME = GILLIAN REMUS ] [RACE = HUMAN/LYCAN HYBRID ++ ] [LEVEL = 242 ]
[ VIT/HP = 61001 ] [ DEF = 24091 ] [ INT/MP = 20412 ]
[ STR = 80421 ] [ DEX = 80492 ] [ CHA = 15222 ]
[ EXP TO NEXT = 0 ]
[ CULTIVATION POSSIBLE : REQ LESSER INUKAMI FUR OR GREATER ]
[ SKILLS = LYCAN TRANSFORMATION, BEAST SUMMON, PRIMORDIA SUMMON, FELINE SUMMON AFFINITY = MAX, CANINE SUMMON AFFINTY = MAX, REPTILLIAN SUMMON AFFINITY = MAX, PRIMORDIA SUMMON AFFINITY = 1. HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING = MAX, WOLF-KING LYCAON'S BLESSING ]
[ SKILL RANKS = F = 0, E = 0, D = 0, C = 0, B = 0, A = 0, S = 0, SS = 0, SSS = 8 ]
[ FACTION SKILLS = NEO GOVERNOR, NEO PET TELEPATHY ]
[ ADDITIONAL...]
[ NEO PET SLOTS = 1 ]
[ TITLE = CHIEF OF FACTION DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS ]
"NEXT!" Leanna's wrath had grown beyond restraint and the group knew better than to push it, even Gillian, who followed Blanc and Alysse out of the hall.
Wanting to bring an end to this, Klaire just ran over to the seat to get it over and done with, though she quickly regretted that.
[ SYS BUILD = NEO STARLIGHT V +1.2.3 ]
[ NAME = kLAIRE BASH-REAGA ] [RACE = HUMAN/BANSHEE HYBRID +++ ] [LEVEL = 100 ]
[ VIT = 70000 ] [ DEF = 50000 ] [ INT = 30000 ]
[ STR = 80000 ] [ DEX = 80000 ] [ CHA = 20000 ]
[ HP = VIT + DEF ] [MP = INT + CHA ] [ DIV = LEVEL /3 *1000 ]
[ SKILLS = NEO GOVERNOR, NEO GROWTH, NEO DEUS, NEO MAGICKA, NEO COSMA, NEO LAW, STELLAR INSTINCTS, STELLAR NAVIGATION, BANSHEE HOWL, NEO PET TELEPATHY, NEO MENAGERIE, NEO ARMOUR, NEO SIDEARM, NEO ARM-BLADE, NEO MARKSMAN, NEO HEAVY-GUNNER, NEO SHOOTING PROFICIENCY = MAX, NEO MELEE PROFICIENCY = 3. COMET, SOLAR FLARE ]
[ SKILL RANKS = F = 1, E = 0, D = 0, C = 0, B = 0, A = 0, S = 0, SS = 0, SSS = 18 ]
[ FACTION SKILLS = MATRIARCH'S AUTHORITY ]
[ ADDITIONAL...]
[ NEO PET SLOTS = 1 ]
[ TITLE = FACTION MATRIARCH, LOVING WIFE, LOVING MOTHER, SHORT-TEMPERED ]
[ TALENTS = HOUSEKEEPING =1
No one was brave enough to even look at Klaire, as her face flushed with unmatched embarrassment. Her only consolation was knowing that Carl had some just as embarrassing and so she made way for him to take a seat and stormed off.
She only stopped long enough to say one thing. "It's because the pets call me "Mum" understand?" She continued after those few words, black armour spreading across her entire body, including the mask she usually left off.
Carl was waiting, knowing that if he sat down while people were distracted he wouldn't see the next morning and when he finally did sit down, he wished he chose death.
[ SYS BUILD = NEO PRIMORDIA V -1.3.0 ]
[ NAME = CARL BASHE-REAGA ] [RACE = HUMAN +++ ] [LEVEL = 56 ]
[ VIT = 75717 + 2750 ] [ DEF = 6926 + 2750 ] [ INT = 111522 ]
[ PWR = VIT +DEX ] [ DEX = 67617 + 2750 ] [ CHA = 5282 + 2750 ]
[ MP = INT +CHA ] [ HP = VIT + PET VIT ] [ DIV = LVL / 3 X 1000 ]
[ SKILLS = NEO GOVERNOR, NEO GROWTH, NEO PET, NEO PRIMORDIA, NEO CHIMERISM, NEO SANCTA, NEO GENISIS, NEO MAGICKA, NEO DEUS, NEO PROGENY, NEO MATERIUM, NEO SYNTHESIS, NEO PET TELEPATHY, NEO PET MENAGERIE, NEO SPEAR THRUST, WYVERN SLAYING SPEAR THRUST, NEO SPEAR TECHNIQUE = MAX, NEO AUTHORITY ]
[ DUE TO SYSTEM INTERFERENCE SKILLS BUILD SKILLS ARE LOCKED ]
[ SKILL RANKS = F = 0, E = 0, D = 0, C = 0, B = 0, A = 1, S = 2, SS = 1, SSS = 12 ]
[ ABILITIES = ANALYSE ]
[ ADDITIONAL...]
[ NEO PET SLOTS = 18 ]
[ TITLE = MINUS ONE SUCCESSOR, THE KING OF ENDEAVOUR, HOUSE-HUSBAND, LOVING HUSBAND, MEWLING VIRGIN, SYMBOL OF UNITY, LOVING FATHER]
[ JOBS SLOTTED : CRYPTO-ZOOLOGIST, ZOOLOGIST, ARCANE-ZOOLOGIST, XENO-XOOLOGOST, DEMON ZOOLOGIST, CELESTIAL ZOOLOGIST ]
[ JOB OPTIONS = ICHTHYOLOGIST, HERPETOLOGIST, ENTOMOLOGIST, ORNITHOLOGIST, ARACHNOLOGIST, PALEOZOOLOGIST, NECRO-ZOOLOGIST, SHADOW-KIN ZOOLOGIST ]
[ TALENTS = WELL-LOVED, MASTER HOUSEKEEPER ]
[ SOLO-MISSIONS = CREATE FIRST CHIMERA = COMPLETE, REWARD CALCULATING ]
[ MULTIPLE PARTICIPANT MISSIONS = FILL FACTION, MIN POP 10 - 11/50 ]
"Carl, thank god it's not completely ridiculous..." Leanna whispered, still unaware their stats had been halved. "Also, as a mother, I'm both glad and concerned about one of those titles..."
"I think Kyubi gave it to me when we met, I don't know if she can remove it. I'm gonna go catch up with the others, see you at dinner tonight Mum."
Carl made a quick exit after that, barely containing his own embarrassment when Kyubi and Kitsunoko appeared. "PAPA! I came to see you!"
That was when Carl dashed and grabbed the mischievous little fox, Kyubi was trying to restrain herself. A small part of Carl was relieved though, knowing it would neutralise Klaire's temper.
When they got out of the hall, they returned to HQ, the optional program had officially begun and they had to make the most of that night in particular. It was after all the last evening with Klaire, she would be leaving with her mother to undergo the Howling.
Everyone knew, there was no set time for it, it usually last a week but it varied from a few days to a month. It would be the longest they'd spent apart from each other for certain though.
Kitsunoko was also not happy she was going, but trying to be brave for her.
In the end the time seemed to pass all too quickly, a blur of superficial joy before she left to undertake something horrific and life-changing alone except for Levi.
"I'll see you soon Carl, promise. I love you."
"Yeah, see you soon... I'll try to keep Kitsunoko happy and we'll work hard so we can show you everything we got done while you were away. I love you to Klaire."
"Kyubi... Stay away from him while I'm gone, I want that title of his intact."
"Don't worry, one little one is plenty, I had forgotten how energetic the Kitsune are." Kyubi chuckled.
"Grandma, thank you for preparing me so well."
"Of course dear, it was a pleasure, tell Faylorna I said "dia dhuit" and that she needs to learn the modern language, remembering the old ones is tiresome. See you soon."
With one final hug and kiss, she left Carl's side and her mother pulled her away gently, as Leanna held Carl in place. They both knew it needed to happen, they considered calling off the rushed undertaking with how much stronger they were becoming, but the separation anxiety they still suffered in the wake of their encounter with Margo needed to be uprooted.
As soon as he felt Carl's distress, Equinox appeared and done for him what Levi was having to do for Klaire as she and her mother made their way to the gate-room.
"Come on bud, got to be strong for your little girl right?" Gillian said with surprising sensitivity.
"Yeah, you're right, thanks everyone. We have a lot of work to do, let's get some plans drawn up before bed."