After Darius' ghost told everyone to be happy and moved to the lands of the dead, basically, all plans for the post-burial ceremony had to be rewritten. It was decided that the state dinner should be a solemn and thoughtful moment but the later part of the evening would be less rigid. That led to the meal passing in a semi-awkward atmosphere but, fortunately, it was quick. Some Metakan nobles tried to weasel their way to the graces of the new Emperor but his response was more indifferent than they anticipated. When they failed, those same Metakan nobles tried to acquaint themselves with the Arcadian nobles; however, no one dared to approach their Emperor. He was chatting with Empress Matilda, surrounded by his wives, while Cassmira was casually talking with Goddesses Hera and Verka. Former Prince Leonard was, also, much different than everyone remembered him. From a shy and thin young man, he had changed drastically. He appeared to be a formidable warrior and the sword on his hip didn't look like a decoration.

His posture gave pause to anyone who thought about approaching Arcadians. The remaining Arcadian nobles weren't as social as the Metakans wished. The fact that only a few of their fellow Metakans were invited to the summit of the alliance filled the others with a feeling of unease. The room Empress Matilda picked for the meeting was spacious and furnished peculiarly. In the middle sat a large, round table but around it there were seats for just a couple of people. The rest of the attendees would sit in an ascending, audience-like semicircle around the room, granting an excellent view and decent acoustics, however, it turned them into mere observers. The layout was divided even further into three equal wedges, over which hung large standards of Metaka, Arcadia, and Iceleon, clearly indicating which seats belonged to who. At the table sat Emperor Guad and Prime Minister Vettalia. They were accompanied by Empress Matilda and Admiral Tu'sarr. Arcadia was represented by Emperor Theon Avalon. The tall man was sitting alone while his wives and Princess Cassmira took special places slightly closer to the table. The rest of the Arcadian delegation took, seemingly, random seats as if they didn't care about being as close to the table as possible. The Iceleon delegation consisted of, only, Queen Theresa and her Fiancée, Victor Thornton.

"I want to express my gratitude for your presence here, our Esteemed Guests." Emperor Guad stood up and lowered his head towards Arcadians and Iceleonians. "I would like to assure you and confirm that the Empire of Metaka is grateful to your nations for joining the alliance."

"Iceleon is honoured to join the alliance and we are especially grateful for the help we obtained. In those trying times, the future looks much brighter with honest allies like Arcadia and Metaka." Theresa Iceleon smiled brightly.

"The accords and rules that you have laid down as foundations for this alliance are interesting but ambitious." Theon Avalon leaned back in the chair. His voice was calm but he went straight to the business without sugarcoating. "Maybe too ambitious. Don't get me wrong, because I love the idea. The groundwork you have paved here is a vision for an alliance meant to last for generations to come. But how do you plan to ensure that future generations won't destroy what we will build here?"

The Metakan nobles took in a collective outraged breath but Emperor Guad softly smiled before anyone was able to raise their voice. "There are a few reasons for my hopes. First of all, the laws of Metaka must be rewritten. They are outdated, promote opportunists, and decentralise too much of the Emperor's power. The nobility of Metaka was elevated to heights where they started believing they were equal to the Emperor. That will change. The next thing is to secure our alliance as a vital and inseparable part of the Empire's national interest. And lastly... I want to appoint the guardian of Metakan succession."

"And who would that be?" Theon asked, playing along with a soft smile as Guad prolonged the suspense.

"The rightful Crown Princess of Metaka and, one day, your wife." Guad pointed at his youngest sister sitting among the Empresses of Arcadia. "Cassmira Metaka."

"That would be a solution for some time..." Theon smiled.

"With all due respect, Emperor Theon Avalon-"

"Theon is enough. We who sit around this table have to be equal. Without equality, there is no kinship and, certainly, no hope for any sort of alliance." Theon interrupted Guad who smiled brightly with a nod.

"In that case, Theon, I don't want to play ignorant in front of you. I may not be privy to your secrets but I know that you are no mere mortal. I also know that your breathtakingly beautiful wives are untouched by the march of time. Once Cassmira marries, and I believe that it will happen in the near future, she will also be immortal. Or so close to being immortal that the difference won't matter." Guad smiled. "You were chosen to be the protector of Nilmerthis, Theon Avalon, by the powers we don't comprehend. Metaka is ready to stand with you, as your ally in this ruthless world. We, the people of this world, may be fragile and our memory may be short, but we must give our best to support your cause. Well... In truth, it's not your cause but ours. Whatever is hiding in the darkness between the stars or in the plains outside our reality, we need to fight it."

Guad slowly rose from his chair as he spoke. His words were full of conviction and passion. The room was silent as his voice filled it.

"But we can't." His head dropped down and he leaned over the table. "We are weak, prone to corruption, and easily frightened. We can't fight the evils from beyond."

Everyone looked at Guad in shock. The man who was well-known for his military prowess and straightforwardness had never before shown this part of himself. He ensnared the audience with his words and forced them to feel every emotion he showed. The dread of the unknown loomed over the Metakan nobles. They had never felt so weak as when their new Emperor told them they couldn't win this battle.

"But you can win." Guad's words were like a lifeline, causing everyone to focus on Theon Avalon. "You have already fought their minions and won!" Guad heavily sat and crossed his hands on the table. "But you can't fight everyone and everything. You need trustworthy allies and, by thy Gods, Metaka wants to be one of them."

The people held their breath but the silence was broken by the pure and clear voice of Theresa Iceleon. "My Kingdom owes its very existence to you, Theon Avalon of Arcadia. We not only want to be allies but true friends. The relationship we have is already beyond things imaginable in our world. Iceleon will stand with you, forever, no matter what."

All eyes in the room focused on one man but his facial features did not even twitch. He looked calm and peaceful and, yet, it was obvious that he weighed his options.

"I'm overjoyed by your honest words and declaration of eternal friendship. But..." He looked around and asked a simple question. "How will you help me?"

"There is no simple answer to that question." Guad sadly shook his head. "We, and I can speak for Iceleon as well, can't really aid your armies which surpass ours both in quality and quantity. But given time, we will get there." Guad smiled confidently as he glanced at Theresa who nodded with an eager facial expression. "We don't have a significant Navy nor anything you wouldn't already have. We must enter a new era of learning and development to follow you on a road you already know very well. But... Right now, we can support you with everything we have that isn't involved in the construction project. The dam project might be even more ambitious than our dream of an alliance but we must continue on this path. There is no turning back."

"Guad is right. Thousands of years ago, the Dark Empire conquered most of Aderon. They easily conquered the lands because the countries of our continent couldn't find common ground and fight against a mutual enemy together. Now we make the first step towards preparing for something similar. We should..." Theresa hesitated for a moment as if she was looking for a fitting word. "We should learn from the mistakes of our predecessors and trust that, this time, our future will be brighter. This alliance... No, that is a quite unfortunate name. It's something grander and already surpasses what, usually, allied countries are willing to do for each other. We are working like an organisation..." She paused and smiled. "With you at its helm, the North Aderon Treaty Organisation will have the means to develop and thrive!"

Theon started laughing in amusement. "I'm sorry Theresa. My old world had its own NATO. We are definitely keeping that name; I like it. The North Aderon Treaty Organisation has a nice ring to it."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"I like it as well." Guad nodded with a smile. "Can I assume that we have an agreement according to the founding of our Organisation?"

"Yes," Theresa confirmed while Theon simply nodded.

"Now... I want to hear what Arcadia wants." Vettalia nodded towards Theon. "I won't be exaggerating if I say that your country is the most powerful treaty participant."

Theon Avalon was quiet for a moment and, after which, he exhaled through his nose. "To be honest I don't have any particular expectations or demands. As much as I would like to demand a free market, it would be hypocrisy. I can't agree to sell you any military technology, at least, not now-"

"Let's agree on a progressive trade deal then." Theresa interrupted Theon with a smile and there was fire of enthusiasm in her voice. "Of course, you must have reservations about selling anyone your military-grade magi-tech or teaching us the secrets of magic that elevated your mages to, unthinkable, mastery. There are other things you can teach us and, certainly, there are other harmless items we would like to buy! Clothing, fabric, furniture, tools, potions, not-sensitive magi-tech or, even, food. These examples could be multiplied infinitely I believe. Everyone who spent even a few moments in Avalon knows how much our lives would be improved if we could obtain, even a fraction of, what your people take for granted. Even the knowledge alone would significantly push our development."

"Theresa is correct." Matilda chimed in, exploiting a moment the Queen of Iceleon needed to take a breath. "There are endless possibilities for trade that won't be threatening to the state secrets of Arcadia. Each country has such secrets so we all understand your decision."

"In that case, we will have to prepare the necessary regulations for trade and education." Theon smiled, and everyone flashed happy smiles at this significant declaration. "One thing that is easiest to discuss, I believe, would be the mutual defence pact. I'm not familiar, however, with the typical pacts, like that, in this world."

The representatives of Metaka and Iceleon seemed relieved that it was Theon who initiated the subject.

"More common are non aggression pacts. I think that mutual defence pacts are... Unreliable at best." Guad sadly shook his head. "When one of the signatories of a mutual defence pact is attacked, the other, usually, responded with a detachment that couldn't change much. Rarely any larger response was available until recruits were drafted which, usually, took months."

"So... Are you saying that the Union's response to Mia's invasion of Verksa was... Justified by their treaties?" Theon looked warily at Guad. "It took them a lot of time to gather soldiers."

"Of course not." Guad waved his hand dismissively. "It violated all commonly accepted rules of warfare. In fact, if they invoke the mutual defence pact, they would admit to being part of the initial aggression. They bluffed, believing that you would be scared of their army, and they lost that bet. Badly."

"Thank you for the clarification."

"You said that a similar organisation existed in your previous world. How did mutual defence work there?" Vettalia took a curious gaze at Theon. "How does such a treaty even sound?"

"That would be Article 5 of the treaty..." Theon smiled. "If I throw out a few references to the geography of my old world and international law, it won't make any sense here. We must make it fit our reality, I believe that it would sound as follows..."

The words started appearing on the wall behind Theon as he spoke.

"The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them shall be considered an attack against them all and, consequently, they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Aderon area."

Everyone looked in shock at Theon, expecting him to continue but he was sitting silently.

"That's it?" Guad asked uncertainty. "How long did it take to gather armies and help in accordance with that article?"

"A quick response force was ready to enter combat in a few hours. The first wave of soldiers was directly under NATO command. Any additional forces were ready to aid in the following days and, by the end of the week, an entire organisation was fully mobilised. The general course of action had been already discussed between the members' political parties." Theon replied with a shrug that indicated it wasn't that simple.

"You weren't very convinced..." Matilda frowned.

"In over a century of that NATO existence, Article 5 was used twice," Theon calmly explained. "So, there weren't many opportunities to measure the accurate reaction times. In reality, a simple reminder of this article's existence was enough to make even the most warmongering people tone down. Fighting technologically advanced armies of all member states would have been a suicidal option. So, most of the time, the sole existence of the organisation was enough to deter any attacker."

"It sounds far more reliable than any assurances I’ve heard of so far." Theresa sighed and looked at the still visible quote on the wall. "An armed attack against one or more of them shall be considered an attack against them all... That's something more substantial than a promise of symbolic help. I would gladly sign such a mutual defence pact."

"I would sign it as well." Guad nodded eagerly. "It would cover other dangers as well. Like the Dungeon tides or monster outbreaks. The fact that we could rely on the help of our allies would allow us to deal with such problems much more efficiently."

"I don't mind including it in the already signed treaty." Theon smiled.

"I like the idea but... Just a few days?" Vettalia shook her head in disbelief. "Even your magnificent airships can't travel that fast."

"We had aircraft that were many times faster than even the fastest airship of Aderon. We also had professional armies that did not rely on forced conscription." Theon shrugged. "Their ways of communication and surveillance were far more sophisticated than you can even imagine. That world, despite the distances to cover, wasn't big anymore."

"How primitive we must look for someone like you..." Vettalia sighed heavily.

"Primitive?" He tilted his head and looked at Vettalia with his piercing, mana-blue eyes until she started blushing. "I wouldn't say that. Our worlds are so vastly different that I would dare to say are incomparable. There were no World Words, levels, magic, monsters, or Dungeons in my world, for starters. We had to industrialise because we had no other choice like the conveniences provided by magic you have. Technology replaced magic because, at some point, sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Yet... Our resources were limited because they couldn't be infinitely spawned from Dungeons. We couldn't learn anything from obtaining a corresponding skill. If we hunted any creature to extinction, it was gone, without any hope of reappearing on its own or at all. You couldn't kill a few monsters daily as a job because there were none. Your reality is vastly different. Also, it's not like my people had technology for thousands of years. We had to develop it and, during that time, our lives weren't that different from the conditions your people live in today and we, possibly, had it even worse."

There was a thoughtful silence in the room as the people tried to digest what Theon told them. After a few moments of silence, he raised his voice once more.

"But, eventually, technology erased the darkness and made our lives much easier. The Heroes of Old, who arrived from my world, knew about it, or at least understood it on some level. However, they never tried to share their knowledge. Or, even, cared enough to actually teach you something useful." Theon's eyes flashed with a dangerous, blue flame. He was visibly angry. "My current hobby is depressing, to be honest, but I need to know what my predecessors deemed important to share with your people. The most common things I have found are some stupid recipes. Among all the useful knowledge they could share, most of them believed you were in desperate need of some fucking apple pie recipe. AND THERE WEREN’T EVEN ANY FUCKING APPLE TREES IN ADERON!" He shouted angrily. "Medicine, science, everyday technology, social science... They had so much to offer. But no! Let's teach you guys how to make fucking scrambled eggs. Yes, some Heroes tried to teach you useful things, but they failed miserably and their work was forgotten. Oh, wait. The most successful things they managed to share with you were the airship magi-tech and magi-cannons."

Most of the people chuckled at his outburst but some furrowed their brows upon understanding the importance of Theon's words. The Emperor of Arcadia looked at them in silence.

"You wanted to know what I want, Vettalia. I want to protect this world from the unspeakable horrors that dwell outside of our universe. I want to protect our realm from the monsters who creep their way inside our reality to attempt to conquer it. For this reason, I want your cooperation and I won't reject your peace offer." He continued, far more calmly. "You decided you wanted to build a brighter future for you and your people and I understand that. I want to have friends and allies but I won't ever forget the sole reason why I am here. But, mindful of the mistakes made by my predecessors, I want to promote knowledge and progress. I believe that we can protect our world together as long as we can put aside vain ambitions and greed."

"What do you suggest?" Vettalia carefully asked, but she was visibly uncomfortable with appearing as a skeptic.

"We will discuss multiple articles of our new organisation." Theon smiled softly. "Then, we will discuss the scope of trade and exchange programmes."