3rd person POV
The next morning everyone woke up early as Arthur had told them about introducing methods of transportation between the two continents. Everyone gathered in Agrona's castle waiting patiently and excitedly for Arthur's arrival.
Meanwhile sounds akin to scream kept reverberating from a particular room.
"ART FOR VRI- FOR FUCK SAKE WAKE UP"
Caera yelled taking the blanket off of Arthur as he just turned on his side and started snoring again, not bothered by her screaming in the least. Caera let out a deep sigh as she looked at Arthur sleeping like a log with no signs of discomfort despite everything she did, with a defeated look.
"Still having trouble waking the princess up?" Regis chimed as Caera saw his back against the door and his arms interlocked.
"I don't know how to wake him up. I've tried everything but he won't wake up." Caera said, letting out a deep sigh.
Regis pondered over something for a moment as he extend his hand towards Caera with a shimmering purple dagger in hand. "Stab him with it."
"Huh?" Caera seemed dumbfounded as he was talking some foreign language.
"Don't worry, princesses can regenerate instantly. And he has quite an intimate relationship with Pain, so I know he won't mind." Regis replied in a nonchalant manner.
"B-but…."
Regis sighed "Don't do it if you don't want to. Aya '' Aya appeared out of nowhere making Caera take an instinctive step back.
"Wake him up, love. Oh and yeah. No need to hold back." Regis said as he grabbed Caera by the wrist and took her outside. He conjured a barrier around Caera and himself.
(E/N I do believe Authors been hinting about some of his more "intimate" Desires, Take notes ladies)
"Believe me we'll need it." He said and the next moment a deafening voice boomed making cracks all along the glass windows and shook the walls ever so slightly followed by a scream. Both of them went inside as they saw a bamboozled Arthur staring daggers at them.
"Come on. There might be a better way to wake me up. Must you all retort to violence." Arthur said, sounding hurt.
"Alright princess, get ready. Everyone was waiting for you. I've completed the last bit of preparations. You just have to make an appearance now." Regis said as he took Aya and left without waiting for Arthur's reply.
Caera moved slowly towards Arthur as he got up and started to move towards the bath. Caera hastened her steps as she embraced Arthur from behind.
Arthur shuddered at her touch but didn't move so as to not disturb their moment. She buried her face in his wide back as her grip around his waist tightened.
"Is something wrong?" Arthur asked as he turned back. He cupped her pudgy cheeks in his palms.
"Nothing. Just felt like it." Caera said her expression was bright but Arthur felt something was wrong.
"Are you sure? You don't seem so okay." Arthur replied with concern evident in his voice.
"It's just that….." her voice trailed off as she looked down, her hair covering her eyes like a curtain. "Do you really have to fight against them? Can't you just cover both continents in aether domes? They won't be able to come here then."
The gaze in Arthur's eyes softened as he removed her silky hair off her face and gave a light kiss on her forehead.
(E/N why doesn't he treat me that well… I mean he's legit thinking it so cmon)
"Caera, you know that's just a temporary solution. How long do you think I'll live? How long do you think the domes will last? They will bypass it in a few centuries and then our race will cease to exist. I have to do it. For our next generations."
Caera wanted to retort but she held herself back. She had always trusted Arthur, never even once doubting him. Even in the previous timeline when her relationship with Arthur was all based on lies. Even then she trusted him.
Arthur closed in as he grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her towards himself. Their lips locked for a moment as Arthur savoured the raspberry taste of her soft lips.
Arthur then sat her on the bed as he left to take a quick bath. He returned after a while, his hair still damp as he saw Caera still sitting on the bed. Arthur made his way towards her but he soon stopped in his tracks.
"Hey what's wrong.?" Arthur asked with fright.
"A-art I don't feel very…." She was cut off as she put her hands in front of her mouth, her cheeks inflated like she was holding something back.
"Tell me what happened ?" Arthur asked but she simply stood up and shot towards the washroom. Arthur followed closely as he saw her leaning against the toilet and throwing her guts out.
Panic overtook him but he soon recomposed himself as he syphoned aether from his core. His hand glowed a slight amethyst light and produced a slight hum. He placed his hand over her back. No matter how much he tried he couldn't find any injuries.
"I-I'm fine now. You should go, I'll just rest here." Caera said as she removed his hand and stood back up.
"No you're definitely not okay." He was interrupted as Caera spoke up.
"I'm okay. Just nauseous, and that's all. Maybe it's because of the food I ate. You need to hurry and go. I can take care of myself. Now don't waste anymore time."
Caera said as she slightly pushed Arthur towards the door, hushing him towards the meeting. Arthur didn't want to leave but still left after some insistence.
She closed the door as Arthur left and locked it as she slumped against the door.
"What is wrong with me?" She pondered.
(E/N keke≈)
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The representatives from both continents were in an uproar as they were waiting for Arthur for the past hour now.
"Where the hell is he?"
"How can he make us wait so much, for Vritra's sake?"
"Hey, stop saying that. Do you want to die?"
"He must have his reasons."
All chattered and grumbled as to what was the reason for the delay in his arrival. Regis stood in the corner with Aya by his side as he continued to watch the people with disdain.
"Noisy as ever aren't they?" He said.
"Indeed they are. Hey, I didn't say it before in front of him but don't you think there's something wrong with Caera.?" Aya asked in a low voice.
"The reason is pretty obvious. Knowing Arthur he knows the reason but can't put his finger on it. While I know the exact reason I won't be telling him. It's a matter he should find out for himself." Regis replied shrugging, not wanting to say more than the bare minimum.
As everyone continued talking the space around them distorted as tendrils of amethyst lightning flickered in a specific point in the sky. The space teared as a portal shimmered to life. Then a single foot stepped inside. The mere pressure of that step was enough to make all of the people take instinctive steps back.
As soon as the figure fully emerged, everyone except Regis was having trouble breathing.
"Sorry for the delay. I was caught up in a rather... personal situation."
He said in an apologetic manner but the tone he carried was enough to not make anyone question or complain about anything. He retracted the little pressure he was emitting as every one breathed a sigh of relief.
"As you all know we have gathered here in the wake of the unification of two continents. While I admit many will bear grudges, I believe one day we all will be able to settle down. We have gone through many steps to unify the two continents from merging the currency to exchange of students, adventurers and ascenders. Today we have all gathered here for transportation between the continents."
The crowd bursted into echoes of praise. The voices died out after a few minutes as Arthur continued,
"Now I'll like for all of you to step through this portal which will lead to the building where it all starts."
Arthur said as the air around them distorted as Arthur activated his 3rd phase. Intricate runes ran over all his body as he pointed his finger at a certain point in space. A portal shimmered to life as everyone's eyes widened. They had seen this ability multiple times, but every time they couldn't get enough of it.
"Please step through it one by one." Arthur said as everyone started to move towards it. Once everyone was inside they found themselves in a huge room with nothing inside it.
"Huh?"
"What place is this?"
"Why is it so empty.?"
"Hey, look what's that.?"
Visible confusion was etched over everyone's faces as they looked around. Suddenly a person spotted a big metallic frame, with a translucent oily barrier.
"Excuse me Mr Arthur, but what is that?" A man asked.
"Ah that." Arthur walked over it as he placed his hand on the frame. "This is the entrance to the real thing." He said as the previously translucent barrier became transparent, showing the scene on the other side.
"I'd like you all to pass through this now."
All of them complied as they made their way to the other gate and stepped through it. Arthur followed behind them as the last person who was Regis entered. Regis had a huge grin plastered over his face as he looked over to Arthur.
As the both of them entered they saw many people looking around with wide eyes and mouth agape as they started to take in what they were seeing. Or more importantly; exactly what did they step through?
The portal or gate that led them here was just a wooden case. However as they stepped through it and looked behind the portal on the other side was a huge tree.
The portal was placed in a huge gap in the tree. The tree seemed to be alive as it shone brightly in a purple colour. Motes of purple pulsed through it as it radiated a lot of energy.
Its branches extended towards the boundless sky and then curled back down towards the walls of the room. Multiple other portals which seemed to be glued with the walls came into sight. The purple motes travelled through the branches and seemingly were giving life to the portals.
"Welcome to Yggdrasil." Arthur said as he brought everyone out of their stupor.
"W-what is this?" A man asked as he couldn't understand whatever was going on.
"As you can see, this is the central place for all transportation. The multiple small portals you see in front of you lead to all domains of Alacrya as well as Xyrus, the capitals of the the three kingdoms of Dicathen and beast glades. The other sides have similar rooms like this one. However they don't have portals leading to everywhere. If one wants to travel, they have to first come here."
"And why is that ?" It was Cecelia this time who asked.
Arthur smiled, "Was waiting for you to ask that question. This place is what you can call the power source."
Everyone had visible confusion plastered over their faces.
"The relictombs are powered by something other than mana. Something, astronomically more potent. You all know how they have been denying asuras from entering. To do that and maintain the trials inside it needs a power source."
Arthur walked away as he placed his hand over the giant tree as he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.
"This tree is the source of all that energy. I'm not sure how it gets all that energy but it is the source. That is why I named it Yggdrasil. Which means the tree of life in a language I won't be telling you about."
Normally they would've questioned him about his other worldly knowledge but right now they were so mesmerised by the scene in front of them that they didn't pay heed to it.
The crowd burst into Cheers as slogans of "Long Live Dicathen and Long Live Alacrya" echoed in the space.
Arthur looked back at Regis who was looking at him with concern in his eyes. Arthur grinned "Worrying about me?"
"As if." He huffed but readied himself.
"No one will leave this place for a while. Cecil take care of things here and don't let anyone out. Regis, get Caera." Arthur commanded suddenly not allowing anyone to think.
"About damned time. Was getting sick waiting." Arthur sneered as he left the space.
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(E/N Mans taking forever to finish, I just want the sys fic man… Put my heart and soul into it just to have it shelved for weeks, anyone down to hunt?)
(A/n Patience child, you shall get the Swordmaster's fic soon.)