Rulers across the plaza began reaching for their scrolls. So signed without hesitation as their ambition or confidence drove them to imdiate action.
Others turned to whisper with advisors or fellow monarchs, debating the wisdom of participation before committing.
A few rulers, after careful consideration, chose not to sign at all, leaving their scrolls empty.
King Oberon, seated at the Valaross continent’s table, didn’t hesitate even for a second. The mont the scroll appeared before him, he grasped the quill and signed it.
The wish from the Holy Grail had been sothing he’d desired ever since, and the opportunity to obtain it was too significant to pass up.
Across the square, similar scenes played out. Rulers made their choices, and the scrolls disappeared the mont they were signed.
Those who refused to participate found their scrolls fading away into motes of light, after several minutes of remaining empty.
Adam watched the process patiently, and when the last scroll had either been signed or dissolved, he nodded with satisfaction.
"More information will be communicated in due ti," he said simply. "For now, let us return to celebration."
The Holy Grail floating above him vanised as the All-Father took his seat once more among his children, signaling that his announcent was complete.
The square slowly returned to its previous atmosphere of festivity, though now conversations were heavily dominated by speculation about the upcoming Battle.
"Well, it seems our ti apart is at an end" Piers said, looking around at the assembled Ravens Grave mbers with excitent.
At the Ravens Grave table, the announcent had sparked intense discussion as well.
Aiden watched the proceedings with a contemplative expression. He knew the Grail Adam had displayed wasn’t the original artifact.
The true Holy Grail containing transcendence fragnts was no more. After the final battle against the demon king and world recreation, that item faded away.
So what Adam had shown was a remake. Sothing Aiden had crafted during the world’s reconstruction. It still carried genuine wish-granting power, but it was a hugely nerfed version of the real thing.
The announcent for the Battle of the Holy Grail had been part of Aiden’s arrangents with Adam from the start.
He wanted their world to continue developing along natural paths, to maintain the traditions and competitions that had defined human civilization .
However, Aside from wanting their world to continue as normally as possible, this was also Aiden’s way of evaluating its strength and understanding where it stood in preparation for what was to co.
The celebrations eventually ca to a slow end, and the gathered crowd began understanding it was ti to depart.
Slowly, rulers and their retinues started making their way toward the gate at Eden’s entrance.
A few stopped to offer final farewells to the Dragon King.
Alaric pulled Aiden into one more crushing embrace. "Ye take care of yer kids and beauties. And if ye ever husband advice, ye know where to find ."
Aiden chuckled and said, "Thank you for coming"
Syra stepped in next. She peered affectionately at the babies Laela and Arianna held.
"You have two lovely children, Aiden," she said. Then, with a playful smile, she added, "And I’m claiming the godmother spot for Tristan. No argunts."
Aiden smiled. "I wouldn’t dare argue with you."
"Smart man." She squeezed his shoulder gently, then turned to follow Alaric and his family toward the exit.
Kira and Mira waved enthusiastically as they left. "Bye, Uncle Aiden!"
He waved back at them. Happy to see they were still growing with so much brightness.
Back at the Ravens Grave table, most of the guild mbers were still gathered, engaged in conversation and lingering over the last of their wine.
Arianna suddenly stood, still cradling little Andrea in her arms. Her movent drew everyone’s attention.
"Laela and I have decided sothing," she announced, with a smile playing at her lips.
Laela stood as well, adjusting Tristan’s blanket. "We want to show everyone our ho. Aiden’s actual ho, not just Eden." She said.
"And this is mostly because Elena won’t let us hear the end of it." Arianna added with an amused grin.
Elena’s cheeks flushed red with embarrassnt, though she looked delighted rather than offended.
Aeris and Rin had been talking about how absolutely dazzling the place was, and Elena couldn’t just help it.
The rest of the guild seed excited at the idea told.
Arianna turned toward Aiden, as though seeking confirmation. He shrugged with a smile and nodded his agreent.
"Wait," Kayden said suddenly, his expression conflicted. "I... unfortunately, Alia and I have to go. Father and the others are waiting for us to depart together."
Katherine waved her hand dismissively. "Nonsense. You can always be sent back afterward. Just go tell them to leave without you for now."
Kayden hesitated a bit. The truth was, he didn’t particularly want to spend another awkward mont around Innis after their earlier encounter.
But he couldn’t exactly say that aloud.
"I..." He searched for an excuse that wouldn’t sound pathetic.
"Go on," Katherine insisted, her tone brooking no argunt. "Your father will understand."
Kayden sighed in defeat. "Fine. Let go tell them."
He stood and made his way across the square toward where King Oberon and the rest of Dragonhold’s royal party were preparing to leave.
The conversation was brief as Oberon ultimately gave permission, and within monts Kayden was walking back toward the Ravens Grave table.
When he returned, everyone appeared ready to go. They’d finished their drinks and gathered their belongings.
"Everyone set?" Aiden asked, glancing around the group.
Nods and affirmative murmurs answered him.
"Alright then."
Aiden snapped his fingers.
——
The transition was instantaneous. One mont they stood in Eden, and the next they were in the empty space of Aiden’s Pocket Domain.
But directly in front of them, perhaps twenty feet away, was a portal. It had a golden rim and was simply just stationed right there.
"Through there," Aiden said simply, gesturing toward it.
Aiden and his family led the way, then the others stepped through.
The mont Elena erged on the other side, she gasped.
"By the gods..."
The scene before them was sothing from pure fantasy, the kind of landscape that existed only in dreams or the most ambitious paintings.
They were on a floating island, and the ground beneath their feet was covered in lush grass and vibrant purple flowers.
The edge of the island was only about thirty feet away, and when Elena cautiously approached it and looked down, she saw nothing but clouds and mist stretching into infinity below.
In the center of their current island stood the massive stone archway they’d just erged from, the portal that connected this place to Aiden’s Pocket Domain.
Well, this place was actually still within his pocket dinsion, but he kept it hidden and only accessible through interconnecting portals.
On one of the larger floating islands in the middle distance stood a magnificent castle. This was their real ho.
But the most insane part of this place were the creatures flying above the skies.
"A-are those Dragons?" Bernard stuttered in amazent.
They were so many and of different colors soaring through the air on massive wings. So circled the castle protectively. Others perched on mountain peaks or cliff edges.
These dragons that populated this place were Aiden’s creations. Although none of them were dragons like in the sense of the Original seven.
They bore no power over authorities, and were simply magic creatures of power.
A part of Aiden did not want to feel like the last dragon, and wanted to have people who were his kin.
Waterfalls poured off the edges of many islands, cascading thousands of feet down into the misty void below.
In the far distance, mountains rose to impossibly high lengths. The mountains weren’t floating, they seed rooted in sothing far below, providing a sense of scale that was almost overwhelming.
The entire group stared in absolute amazent.
Rin walked beside Elena and whispered, "I told you you’d go crazy seeing it."
"This is..." Elena couldn’t even finish the sentence.
"Welco, to my ho." Aiden said from behind them.
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