The sage stared at him with two completely white eyes. Soverick did not wither under the stare. Instead, he focused on the fact that the eyes are not white. They just look white just like light looks white. Those eyes are made up of millions of pupils too small to see individually all possessing different colors but arranged in such a way that they blend together and look white. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt
In fact, the entire white fur of the monkey is made in such a way. It is a mixture of tiny vibrating strings weaved in a mesh of delicate intricacy and balance. It reminds him of the white world and the multicolored fabrics of layered law that makes it up. It is not a surprise that it is so. The supreme law of the first sage is the first sage after all.
The sage spoke. "Hmm. Why did you come? You are either an ignorant fool, a brave fool, or a confident fool. Which is it?"
"I am neither. I am simply ready to sacrifice myself. I am no fool. I know how precarious my current situation is and I have no delusions about what could go wrong. As for you, you either give me what I want or you will regret it." He stated confidently.
If there is one thing that he is confident about right now, it is that he knows he is in big trouble. He is no fool who believes that the sage won't harm him. He is not ignorant of his situation, or have false confidence, or is stupidly brave. He is just a clone of a greater entity and he is willing to sacrifice himself for the good of that entity.
The first sage didn't laugh. He didn't even chuckle. He took what Soverick said seriously.
"Is that so? You are sure that I will regret it if I don't give you your reward?" The sage asked.
The question seemed harmless. The tone itself that the sage used to ask it was casual. It was as if the sage was mocking Soverick. But Soverick felt the hostility in the question. He didn't get it directly from the sage. The world sensed the hostility in the sage and he sensed it from the world. So he got the underlying message. The sage is ready to crush him like a bug if he says one wrong word or lies.
He threatened the sage and the sage threatened him. It is tit for tat. That didn't stop him from speaking his mind. He said, "I am not alone. I have people who will avenge me."
The sage said nothing. The world became quiet. The rolling waves of void energy stilled. But the pressure intensified. This is not the calm before the storm. This is a silent storm ready to explode on to him. The sage is not currently doing anything to him but Soverick doesn't feel peace. He feels as if a guillotine is hanging over his head. The sage is judging him. He will die if he is found wanting.
Suddenly the sage spoke and the pressure disappeared. "I always thought you were a loner. You behaved as such and kept to yourself. I didn't think you had people who will avenge you. I would have taken you for a liar but I know that you're telling me the truth. You believe so and the river of fate believes it too. I will really regret it if I were to kidnap you and keep you in stasis forever. I wonder how that will happen."
Soverick kept quiet. He has said his piece. He didn't come here with confidence. He knows he is weak and powerless but he is not without help. He has made his situation clear. It grates on him but it is up to the sage to make the decision. He is the weak, passive party in this encounter.
The sage broke the silence. "There are several reasons why I should apprehend you. I want to know that entity within you. I want to know if you're that entity or if it is different. I want to know how you resurrect. I want to know if you're a clone of someone and I want to know whose clone you are. I want to know why you are here and in many places at once. I want to know what you have to do with a world beast. I want to know why you have access to cosmic energy. I want to know why I can't see your entire life. That is a lot more whys than I am comfortable with. I also don't want to give you your reward. So tell me. Should I apprehend you?"
Soverick remained silent. The first sage's three tails swung around in agitation. Then they vibrated and became four. The four shook again and became five tails. Soverick doesn't know what is happening. But whatever it is, it is not good for the law matrix. What seemed like harmless swinging of the tails is actually causing the law matrix to shred.
"There is only one reason why I shouldn't. I can apprehend you but I will regret it. Regret is a big deal to a world god. It is making me further curious. I want to know how apprehending a king of law will make me regretful. So what do I do then?" The sage asked.
Soverick still didn't say anything. Anything he says can and will be used against him so he kept quiet.
"I will tell you something. I admire you. You know how to sort out your priorities. I think you have the potential to become powerful. But power is not everything in the world. In this world are the players and the pawns. Anyone can be played both willingly or unwillingly, even world gods. The realm lord is using world gods to protect himself but we allow it to happen because we want something from him. That can change when he finally succeeds. All the world gods that he has used can come back to bite him."