No matter what planet, star system, or even galaxy you were on, everybody looking into the sky would see an enormous tree with branches made from stars and a crown of nebula. Among its branches, eighteen Fruits could be seen hanging, each one representing Path born from this world.
Now, if one were to look closely, a new Fruit was forming, gathering power from all around. Streeks of light started traveling to it. Each of them had a different hue, representing a different Law. Some of them arrived from the world, while others broke in from the Chaos.
As those Laws gathered, they started weaving themself into newly forming Fruit, but they never mixed. Every singular ray of light was like string, joining with others into the fabric. It didn't take long for the Fruit to form fully.
The same Fruit also appeared in my hands, being both literal and metaphorical fruit of my labor, my Path. When it was formed, the Imaginary Tree that materialized before disappeared, leaving the whole world waiting quietly for what was about to happen.
Bringing the Fruit into my world, I took it to the Tree, placing it on the roots. At the same time, [Hearth of Hold] appeared before me, offering itself to be the foundation for me once again. Joining the three together, my true ascension began.
The [Hearth of Hold] and the Fruit were both absorbed into the Tree that started growing rapidly. The roots started to extend down, reaching the bottom of my world and soon breaching into Chaos. They continued their expansion, forcefully breaking through Chaos and firmly rooting into the realm underneath it.
This realm was the Origin of everything, being empty yet having everything that will ever exist. This was a place from where the [Hearth of Hold], one of two realms between which Chaos existed, the [Void].
The Tree started using the Essence of the [Void] to facilitate its growth.
Extracting the purest ideal of the Five Elements from the countless Laws in existence, I used my Path to create the first Five Principal Elements, [Wood], [Fire], [Earth], [Metal], [Water]. Using those Elements, I started to create five elemental realms at the roots of the Tree. By harnessing the Essence of the [Void], the five interconnected realms were promptly established.
Following that, I extracted both [Light] and [Darkness], and once again, using the Essence, built the next two realms upon the first five, one above and one below. The last two realms that I created were built on the Elements of [Space] and [Time], connecting them to the [Light] and [Darkness] realms, respectively.
Those Nine Realms portrayed my power of Nature but also showed what my Path represented: the power to differentiate and define. From the singularity of the existence in [Void], discern singular Law or Principle and define their properties. Similar to how the Hold operates, I can grant others the power of those Principles, making them my dependants, the gods of my world.
Using the words of Cultivators: '[Void] gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, The Two gives birth to Three, The Three gives birth to all of the [Myriad of Worlds].'. This is my Path of Ordination.
Opening my eyes, I looked at the Tree before me. The white Tree bark was twinkling with countless Spirit Runes, while the crystal leaves existing in every color mixed together to create an aurora-like crown, shimmering with purple hue.
Taking my attention from it, I inspected myself. I was now in my, no longer false, Aeon state. My silhouette is made from the starry cosmos itself, with my long white hair and nine tails behind, which had a purple tint at the ends. The [Crown] on my head and hagoromo scarf, which looked like the aurora of the Tree crown, completed my image.
Levitating high over the Hold, I could be seen from almost every point in the city, and despite my size being the same as always, everyone was able to see me clearly. Civilians knelt down, sending prayers in my direction while members of Hold rushed to the Tree.
Descending to the ground, I could hear all the prayers people made to me, getting first-hand experience of how gods of faith feel. The first to appear by my side was Terminus, whose eyes had genuine surprise in them for the first time.
~"You truly exceeded my every expectation, Yue."
~"I'm also shocked by the power of my Path. I wished for the power to manipulate and change reality, but Ordination to something unexpected."
~"I can finally see a future in which the world can survive."
-"Yue!"
Looking to the side, I could see many people running to here.
~"I missed you guys."
-"Yue, can you control your aura? It's hard to approach you."
~"Ah, yes. Sorry, Ningguang."
-"I can feel from changes in your aura that you have many stories to tell us."
~"I do, Nobu. But first, I have to do some things. I have places to show you and people to introduce."
-"Hou? And here I thought that you went there for power, not to form more relationships."
-"Nobu, you think that Yue won't attract someone? Look around. This is the result of only two years. How long have you been in that world?"
~"Long. Too long to count, Astraea."
-"I see. Can you take your previous form, Yue?"
~"It should be possible. Give me a second."
Turning back to human form, I noticed that I couldn't fully hide my status as Aeon, as the hagoromo scarf was now a permanent addition to my appearance. I could only cover it with illusions like my tails. At the same time, the irises of my eyes now also shimmered like aurora, retaining slits from before.
-"Can't do much more if we are talking about my avatars. I could prepare puppets to inhibit, but that brings other problems. Wow, I haven't spoken mortal words for so long it now feels strange."-I cleared my throat.~"I think I'll keep speaking like that."
-"I still can't understand the difference between those two ways of speaking."
~"The basic difference is using spirit to talk doesn't require mouth or even air to speak. The second comes from the power of words, but those only matter when you cast spells. The last upside concerns the feelings. It's easy to feel the emotions of others when speaking using spirit, and it's also much easier to understand intents behind words and see falsehoods."
-"Oh? I will have to learn that! How easier it would be to speak with new people with that ability."
~"I'll teach you later, Elysia. I'll quickly take out everything I took from that world. Wait for me."
Teleporting outside the realm of Hold, I took out three sealing spheres and undid their restrictions. Moments later, Elune and Winter appeared next to me, looking confused around. Giving them time to get used to the changes, I focused on stabilizing the Emerald Dream and helping it connect to my world.
~"Yue. Can you?"
~"Now I can explain."
I told two of them about my origin and the outside world, as well as the reason I traveled to their world. Two of them listened quietly, and when I finished, they were in deep thought for some time.
~"I would like to see those members of Hold."
~"I'll introduce everybody, but would you like to set your realms first? My world lacks the realm of the dead."
~"Then, please. To think I would become the main deity of Death."
~"Don't forget about me. You seem to lack something akin to Realms of Life, so my can fit perfectly."
~"Elune, your realm was always joined together with others in your pantheon. This is the first time you spit it from the rest. Have you thought about how to name it?"
~"Now that you mention it... Yue, can you pick a fitting name?
~"Eden. The Garden of Eden."
~"Hmm... Good. It's sound nice."
~"I'll arrange it to act as the underlying realm of Life for my world."
Two of them took out their realms while I connected them to myself, making part of my world. Two of them were now connected to this world, becoming second and third celestials here.
~"You seem to lack moon in your world. Would you mind if I become one?"
~"Feel free. All celestial bodies in other realms are just illusions, not true celestials. Only Feng and her constellation are true."
~"Right, you are not celestial here, but Spirit and Aeon. Sigh, I will miss us being twin moons."
~"Well, I have a form of the Tree, as you can see, so having a second form of the moon would be unnecessary."
~"Leave the banter for later, you two. I'll explain everything to those inside Emerald Dream while you, Yue, go and bring those Hold guys."
~"Ok."
Teleporting back to Hold, now all members of Hold gathered, waiting for my return. Some of the felt changes that took place, Feng could feel two new celestials, while three mikos could feel the appearance of realms of Life and Death.
-"You finally become one of us."
-"Right, took you long enough."
~"I'm also happy to see you again, Ena, Xipe. I'll take you to Emerald Dream to meet those from that world and explain the details. I think you will like that place."
Opening the entrance to the Dream, I took the group to Moon Palace. My portal alarmed Wardens guarding the Moon Palace, but seeing me, they instantly saluted. Nodding to them, I informed them who were people following me and gave them orders to treat them with respect.
The difference in architecture and feeling of the buildings attracted the attention of those following me. They also noticed Elves, Dracthyr, and Dragons and were surprised by the number of people and the strength they possessed.
-"They are all Cultivators? Did you teach them, Yue?"
~"Yes, I did. I created some techniques well suited for them, but I will give you copies later if you want, Shen Meng."
-"Please."
-"This place is truly beautiful. Especially the nature."
-"I can't agree with you more, Aranyani. You have to give me plants from here to research, Yue."
~"I will give you some of them later, Ruan Mei. Now let's go inside."
Entering the hall, all Elven leaders, Aspects, Scalecommanders, and even commanders of the Wild Hunt were waiting for us on one side of the room. Chairs were prepared for members of Hold on the other side, while my chair remained in the main position.
~"Welcome, people of Hold. It's good to meet those who set Yue on his Path."
-"It's our pleasure. While we don't know each other yet, I believe that we will soon become companions. I'm Astraea, Principle of Duty and wife of Yue."
~"I'm Winter, Queen of Ardenweald, where Yue is my consort. Now, I'm also celestial of this world, responsible for the realm of Death."
~"I'm Elune, Celestial of the moon, and Yue is also my consort. I'm the ruler of the Garden of Eden, which is the new realm of Life in this world."
-"It's an honor to meet you. I'm Ningguang, Aspect of Avarice and wife of Yue."
-"Nobunaga, Aspect of Domination, and his wife."
-"I'm Elysia, Aspect of Hope. I'm also the wife of Yue. It's nice to meet you!"
The introductions continued, after which everyone took their seats. Winter and Astraea gave some basic explanations of the three realms and Hold to the other side, making sure everyone was on the same page during the talks.
-"Do you have any other questions about Hold?"
~"No, we know all that we needed to. Yue, what do you want?"
~"I don't want fractions in my world to form. This is my only requirement."
~"This is what I expected. While I don't mind Hold being the government of the whole world, I won't let Ardenweald be under your jurisdiction. Life and Death are not something that should be interfered with."
-"I agree that meddling too much is out of the question, but as part of Yue's world, we have to have some hierarchy."
~"We already have. Yue is the Emperor of this world. By the nature of our relationship, he is also the ruler of Ardenweald and Eden. While we won't be part of Hold structures, we will be part of the world."
-"Hmm... Ningguang, do you have any opinion?"
-"This can work, but I suggest two of you join Hold personally, forming ministries to be part of structures, while Ardenweald and Eden are considered your personal realms, only under your and Yue's control."
~"I can work with this. What about you, Elune?"
~"I don't mind. My realm doesn't have many sentient beings, only some Wild Gods and Wisps, so being part of your structures won't change much."
-"Then what about the rest of you?"
-"Yue, will you make us into Guardian of your world?"
~"You sure?"
-"Yes, as Aspects, we will be Guardians of your world along our dragonflights, the same as we were once on Azeroth. Dracthyr will be under us. We don't mind being under Hold, but we won't fight for you, only for Yue."
-"Then you five will join my Domination, along with commanders from Dracthyr. You will form the Ministry of Defence, which will have separate structures, but I will still retain position over you."
-"Good, but you won't be able to order us without Yue's approval."
-"OK."
-"What about you all?"
-"Lady Elysia, we talked between ourselves, and all of us wish to follow His Excellency. We want to continue following his will as his personal force, as we did on Azeroth."
-"You want to be his personal force?"
-"Yes, lady Nubunaga."
-"What do you think about that, Yue?"
~"Tyrande, tell me exactly what you want."
-"Your Excellency, we want to reestablish the Elven kingdom, but with you at its head."
~"I'm already Emperor of Hold."
-"And we wish to become part of it, but remain in Emerald Dream, acting only in Your Excellency's name, not as part of Hold."
~"Why don't you just become part of Hold?"
-"Your Excellency, we don't share ideas of Hold. Quiet lives are more important to us. The only thing that matters to Elven people is Your Excellency, and we will follow you to the ends of time."
-"Yue, how about treating Emerald Dream the same as Eden and Ardenweald? This will be your personal force, separate from the rest of Hold."
~"Won't that affect the state of matters in Hold? Undermining its power as government and especially your authority as Principles."
-"It won't if you correctly divide responsibilities."
~"Loki?"
-"Who else but me would advise you on such matters? I think that having personal force would help you in some matters. You have to divide your attention between expanding both Hold and your world. If you have personal force, matters of expanding your world can be left to them."
~"You want my world to act as a vassal and not one under the direct control of Hold?"
-"Exactly. That way, you can grow in power more easily while not having to be limited by forces of Hold. What do you think of that, Tyrande, Malfurion?"
-"This meets our requirements."
-"Good. Then, Yue, you can use forces of Emerald Dream as you wish, but forces of Hold can be used only for matters of Hold. Is that agreeable?"
~"I'll do my best to separate my and Hold's matters."
-"You better do, as if you don't want fractions to form, you have to clearly divide the responsibilities and actions you take as Emperor of Hold and Emperor of Elves. You can't have the two do the same job, as this will result in rivalry between forces of Hold and Elves in the long run."
~"I'll keep that warning in mind."