Later that night, mbers of Dragonhold were gathered around a long table, and on that table was a large spread of food, fruits and wine fit for royalty.
This was one of the few things the gods provided the participating champions in this dinsion. Tily and bountiful food at the right intervals.
It appeared without ceremony, set and ready, and nobody questioned how.
The Ravens Grave mbers sat together on one side. The guild captains, except Elena, sat on the other length of the table.
When the plates had been cleared and the cups were mostly empty, Oberon stood.
The table went quiet as he reached into his coat and produced a folded note, then turned toward Katherine at the far end of the table. "We received this reply from the gods not long ago," he said. "This is the answer to the question you asked earlier."
He opened it and read aloud.
"After an evaluation of the strengths of the dragons in comparison to the other champions and their own beasts, the dragon riders of Dragonhold will be allowed to fight in the Holy Grail War with their dragons."
Katherine nodded. "Thank you, Your Grace."
Down the table, Rin, Innis and Aeris exchanged looks. They had been waiting on that answer since noon and the relief on their faces was visible.
It was the confirmation they needed.
The gods had evaluated the dragons against every other creature and champions that would be present in the war and found them to be within acceptable range.
Had the dragons been deed too powerful an advantage, the ruling would have gone the other way.
It was for this sa reason that Laela and Arianna were not active participants. Their presence on the battlefield would have been considered unfair.
Oberon set the note down and picked up a scroll.
"What I have here is the selection scroll," he said, holding it up so the table could see. "It was handed to the kings and to those guiding their respective champions. On it, we are to write the nas of those representing us on the battlefield. It must be filled and sealed before dawn."
He let that sit for a mont, then unrolled it and began to read.
"Prince Kayden."
"Forr Captain Katherine."
Katherine gave no particular reaction.
"Grand Magus Talen."
"Captain Elena."
"Captain Ursula."
Then Oberon turned to his right, where Thamoryn sat beside him, "And finally, Queen Thamoryn."
A few of them were visibly taken aback by the announcent. These were, after all, their strongest champions.
So could not help but wonder why anyone would deploy their most powerful fighters on the very first day.
Oberon had already seen it coming. He nodded and addressed the table.
"Earlier today the other rulers of Valaross and I held a eting in the grand hall. We talked for a long ti and what we arrived at was this; every other continent considers Valaross the greatest threat going into this war. Which ans when the first day begins and champions start hunting for targets, Valaross will be the first place they look."
He paused, letting that land properly.
"All of our preparation over the last month cos to nothing if Valaross is eliminated in the first stage. So we decided together, every kingdom on this continent, that we start strong. We set the tone from the first dawn and we make every other continent reconsider how hard they want to co at us."
The table went quiet for a mont, but it finally made more sense. A few persons even nodded in agreent.
In the other castle houses within the Valaross fortress, the sa conversation was happening, with different rulers and their champions, arriving at the sa conclusion.
With that, the dinner was done. People began to move, so back to their rooms, so staying at the table a while longer with their final cup of wine.
——
Aiden was standing on the cliff of the floating island as he stared down at the fortresses and watched as everyone got ready.
He had spent most of the day with Laela, Arianna and the children. He had told them about the Shadow Lord, and how the conversation that had gone far differently from how anyone would have predicted.
He also revealed that he had several avatars on the business of scouting for agents of the other Herrschers that might have been overlooked.
Aiden heard footsteps behind him, but didn't turn. Ambrose stopped beside him with a slight bow.
Aiden glanced at Ambrose briefly with a small smile, then turned his attention to the fortresses below. "How has it been in Eden? And being Thera's ward?"
Ambrose let out a slow breath before answering. "The goddess is well and gives no trouble," he said. "I also serve as her assistant at the Academy, where the children of the gods receive their education."
"Ah." Aiden turned toward him with interest. "How is it over there? I was thinking of enrolling Andrea and Tristan when they co of age."
Ambrose nodded slowly, then added, "I will tell you this. I know they are children. But they are the worst kind."
Aiden raised his eyebrows amusingly. "Pray tell."
"Mostly arrogant," Ambrose said. "No one actually listens. They spend a significant amount of ti discussing how powerful they will be as gods when they grow into their full strength."
He shook his head. "They are the ones who give the hardest ti."
Aiden smiled at that. "It's understandable. So of their parents are among the most powerful beings in any universe. One day they will be too. That makes it hard to sit still and take instruction from a human."
Ambrose sighed. There was silence for a mont before he turned his gaze back down toward the fortresses below.
"I hope they win," he said, aning Dragonhold.
But Aiden said nothing more after that.
——
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
So I'll apologize for how slow this has been but that slowness ends today. I finally got to prepare it all down.
Kindly Join The Discord as I'll be attaching the current character arts of the characters in there.
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