(Gavin)

Ryan looks around, awe and wonder clear on his face, as we walk through the halls of the castle, eventually arriving in a moderately-sized room with a rectangular table with two seats on either side, as well as one on each end.

Sitting on one end of the table is a man in his sixties, dressed in fine clothes, a simple crown atop his head.

George Human 9 Ruler 7

Princess Nina sits to his left, Prince Wyatt to his right, and Varkle beside Prince Wyatt. The other end seat is empty, as well as the seat to its right. The table is set, though no food is out yet.

"King George," I say. "I was not aware that this meeting would involve someone who betrayed his homeland, served under a False King with absolute loyalty, and then violated the Blood Oath of absolute loyalty to the True King of Jozan he swore to the Hero of the First God of Blood Oaths."

In the presence of Varkle, I can sense the exact thing he did that resulted in the violation of the oath."

"Excuse me?" King George asks.

"You have no need to be excused," I say. "Though Adrian here does. He won't be, however. Adrian, you are aware that when you swear an Oath to me, I am aware the moment it is violated, yes? You broke it within hours of swearing it. As you are not a representative of Jozan, the only assumption would be that you are here to further the lie that Jozan has fallen, and not restored, and that Turas will soon reign again?"

Adrian opens his mouth to speak, and I look at the King.

"I swear," I say. "On the blood that flows in my veins that Tyler vul Jozan, son of Wesley vul Jozan, has claimed his rightful place as the King of Jozan, and that I am Gavin Jakran, Duke of Zelar of Jozan.

"In addition," I continue as I glow with Nies's acceptance of the oath. "I swear on the blood that flows within my veins that Adrian Varkle is no longer nobility of Jozan, after violating the second chance he was given, and that he is, as of my conversation with His Majesty, exiled, as an act of mercy, instead of having a bounty for his head placed on him."

I glow with Nies's confirmation once more, and King George stares at me.

"I am here," I tell King George. "On behalf of His Royal Majesty, Tyler vul Jozan, King of Jozan. I have little patience for traitors, as they will only interfere in our talks. I do apologize if I'm coming off inappropriately for you, but I believe things would go much smoother if he were to vacate the premises."

"How do we know that some minor god," Adrian looks at me. "Isn't backing you, faking all of this? How do we-"

"If my patron weren't sleeping," I fix my gaze on him. "I would happily request his presence, so that you may feel the sheer power behind his existence. It is unlike any you have ever encountered before, and no minor god could replicate it. That said, as you have no Access, I don't believe there is any place for you within this room, either. You aren't even worth the notice of a Divine, right now."

Adrian stares at me, anger barely concealed within his gaze, then stands.

"I will have you know-"

"That is enough," the King says calmly. "We have yet to receive confirmation from Jozan or Turas on the matter, so until our message arrives, and then is returned, we cannot know for sure."

"Is there any question in particular," I say. "Whose answer you know, which someone of Turas would not know? Something which King Wesley and King Tyler would know?"

"What was the gift I sent Wesley for his fortieth birthday?"

"Your Majesty?"

"Yes?"

"Do know what King George gave your father for his fortieth birthday?"

"Nothing."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah," His Majesty responds. "George was only twelve at the time. He wouldn't have given a gift to my father. I do think his father sent mine some crates of Thorntyne Wine, though. Forty-one bottles, one for each year of his life, and one to grow on."

"You didn't," I end the communication with His Majesty. "According to His Majesty, you were only twelve when King Wesley turned forty, and His Majesty said that he believes your father gave him some crates of Thorntyne Wine. Forty-one bottles – one for each year, plus one to grow on."

"Sorry for the communication again, Your Majesty – how do you know this? We weren't even alive back then."

"I'm looking at my father's ledger of the gifts he received right now."

"Thank you," I end the communication. "His Majesty is sure of this, as he's looking at his father's ledger at this very moment."

Adrian does his best not to snort.

"It took Wesley," King George looks slightly amused. "Nearly four decades, from what I hear, to acquire the Skill required to communicate over such a long distance."

"His Majesty doesn't currently possess it," I inform him. "He has only barely woken up that power of his, as of this morning, according to our communication before I entered this room. I am having to link to him, in order for us to communicate. He has authorized me to act on behalf of him, to do what is required to amend relations with Isil. You were one of our most powerful allies, and we would like for us to return to being allies once more."

The King still looks unsure, though I did already plan on spending several days waiting for his message to arrive, then His Majesty to answer it.

"Father," Princess Nina speaks up. "My goddess has already verified his identity to me, and the truth of what he claimed. She personally Descended yesterday when Archmage Jakran and I met, resulting in his own patron, along with another, Descending.

"She is also speaking to me right now," the Princess continues. "Omitting certain things she's saying, she says that she will Descend again if it is needed to prove the validity of the Archmage's claims."

She's saying that?

Yeah, Nies sighs. I dun wanna have to Descend again to keep her in check.

You would need to do that?

Have you ever heard the saying, Ekre calmly asks. That when a god Descends from the heavens, they are accompanied by a pure one?

Yes, they always show up with a young boy, because-

That's you guys.

Divine Beings are forbidden to Descend without one of us Elder Original Divine Beings present. I'm not sure why Nies commented about it, I told him that I'd Descend this time, should she choose to.

I want cookies.

Then get some, Nies.

Okay.

Please don't encourage him.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Says the guy who keeps, on-hand, things that Nies likes. Thank you, Ekre.

For what?

For entertaining Nies and keeping him from obliterating every world in existence. I've heard he's good at that.

I only burned up one world, and it recovered. It was also an accident.

That is enough, a young voice filled with ancient power speaks, and everyone in the room freezes up as the voice radiating with Divine power that fills their minds.

Well, everyone but me.

There is no doubting in any way whatsoever that this speaker is a Divine Being of immense power.

Adrian Varkle, Yggdrasil continues. Former Duke of Turas, Duke of Jozan, you have committed high crimes against Jozan and the Code of Jozan. There are currently three powerful gods who wish to destroy you for your crimes and violations. As you swore a Blood Oath to the Hero of the Divine Being known as Nies, also the Origin of Oaths themselves, you were given a chance at not meeting their wrath, despite escaping justice from your former home.

However, you have violated that Oath, Yggdrasil continues. Despite knowing for sure that Jozan has been restored, and you have acted against it and to twist the truth into lies. For that, your existence is no longer necessary. The Code of Jozan was designed for honor, and you have violated it. As the Code of Jozan is etched within my Heartwood, I will be the one to destroy you.

Adrian explodes into bloodred petals, which then fade as they drop to the ground, and the presence of a Spirit forms in its place, though not one I can see directly.

Light pink, light green, light blue, and light purple petals form in the air near me, swirling around, revealing a fair-skinned boy around ten or eleven in appearance, his Divine Presence filling the room.

A silvery leaf is imprinted upon his left side, a golden upon his right. His right eye is silver, his left, gold, his hair as green as the leaves of the World Tree, with silver and gold strands here and there. His pointy ears declare the high worship from the Fairies, along with his sparkly cheeks.

A pair of thin, translucent wings stretch from his back. The wings are a vibrant green in color with sky blue veins, matching Warren's hair and eyes respectively in the summer seasons.

He is dressed in shoulderplates made of bark, with more bark covering his more private regions. A bracelet of woven fibers rests on each wrist and ankle. Each ear has a small, platinum cuff clipped to it, hanging from which are two leaf-green beads and a golden feather with a silver stalk.

The Biggest, Hardest Wood

Yggdrasil himself. Or rather, his Divine Avatar.

"Bow before me, mortals," Yggdrasil's ancient, powerful voice fills the air, and every person in the room, save for me, scrambles to obey the Divine being. "The Kingdom of Jozan has been restored. Gavin Jakran is here to see what can be done to amend relations damaged by Turas. There is no doubt of this whatsoever."

Yggdrasil turns to look at me.

"You still show no respect to the Divine," he says. "A true testament as to a reason Nies likes you. That said, Kar is still furious you won't ask him to Advance the Magus of Kar Class to the Third Tier."

"Lord Yggdrasil," I dip my head to acknowledge his status. "Could you kindly inform Lord Kar that in exchange for not having a time limit on those Quests, I can't acquire Experience? I do not wish to Advance a Class, only to have it sit there, showing me that I need Experience. When a Class is Mastered for its Tier, it shows no needed Experience. It is for my own sanity that I have not. I do apologize to him for that, and intend no disrespect to the Gods of the Kingdom of Jozan."

"I will talk to him again," he says. "But do not expect Kar to remain patient, he may one day personally Descend to demand that you request for him to Advance it, so that he may."

"I will explain to him then," I say. "Why I have not, and hope that accepts it from me directly. Thank you, Lord Yggdrasil, for your interference."

"I only interfered," he says. "Because Kar, Jozan, and Kaz are all inside of me and agitated. As Adrian was not within Jozan and being dealt with by Tyler's forces and the Village of Kar, as the other traitors are, all three of them wanted to personally smite him. Have you ever had three gods argue inside of you? It isn't fun. Especially not with Rifts opening up left and right inside of me as a result. Not fun. Then Nies and Ekre started arguing in the way they do, and that wasn't pleasant, either. This was entirely selfish.

"Now that Adrian's gone," he says. "I'm going to go smash some Divine Heads together."

He vanishes in a puff of petals.

"Whoa!" Ryan is the first to act once Yggdrasil disappeared. "That power… that was a god?"

"That was Yggdrasil," I turn to face my wide-eyed student, who did not bow, now that I notice it. He probably didn't understand what Yggdrasil said. "He is the Divine Being attached to this world. He was apparently agitated by a few of the other Divine Beings, and decided to personally get involved. Rare, when it doesn't involve the Fairies."

"Was that what he said?"

"In summary," I nod, then turn to look at the King, who has return to his seat, albeit looking shaken-up. "Your Majesty, I do apologize for that, I seem to agitate the Divine a lot. That said, I believe a Divine Being Descending and confirming my honesty is enough?"

"It is," he says, shaking a little and still somewhat pale. "You may be seated."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," I dip my head to him, then take my seat, gesturing for Ryan to sit to my right. "Please know that I will not force you into an alliance with us again. If you will settle for neutrality, Jozan will be appreciative, after what happened. If you wish to return to an allianceship, then we will look into what is needed for that."

"Very well," he nods. "Let us eat before we discuss this further."

He gestures to the servants, who begin putting food out and pouring wine and orange juice. Ryan looks hesitant with the food, but eats, eyes widening a little. He starts eating a bit faster, then slows himself down when he sees the rest of us eating slowly.

Lord Yggdrasil?

Yes, child?

I do apologize for causing you issues.

It wasn't your fault. I already have to deal with other Divine being agitated because of you, and diverting the Rifts so they don't hit you again. Your very existence is an irritant to many, because of how ridiculously powerful you are and your unfair buffs. At the same time, your willingness to wipe out the Ilinia furthered this, despite it being a Divine Quest. Doing something like getting my children to stop squabbling over who gets to smite an enemy of theirs is nothing.

Princess Nina covers a snort with her hand, and her father looks at her.

"Sorry," she says. "Something Her Ladyship just said to me."

"Indeed," the King looks from his daughter to me as the servants begin clearing the table. "One of my conditions is that Tyler weds Nina. Unless that is acceptable, I will consider Jozan to retain Turas's hostilities towards us."

"Even if we offered you," I say. "Three of Jozan's closely-guarded magics and a Spatial Ring?"

King George's gaze flicks down to my own ring as I sip some of the wine, then he returns his gaze to my eyes.

"Jozan has them sitting around, to offer up?" He asks. "The ring worn by the members of the crown was the only one known to us, and it seems you have another, but a third? Does Jozan intend to offer them to all of their enemies?"

"If you see us as enemies," I say. "Then I believe there is nothing to negotiate, and Jozan will turn from seeing Isil as the ally it once had to seeing Isil as an enemy. However, I, much like my King, believe that the animosity between Turas and Isil should not affect relations between Jozan and Isil, and wish to settle things peacefully. Will you accept this offer of peace, even if not allianceship, instead of our King marrying your daughter?

"You see," I say as he attempts to speak again. "If you marry your daughter to Jozan royalty, then your daughter would, in essence, lose her place among your court, turning to a Princess of Jozan instead of a Princess of Isil.

"With my offer," I continue. "She retains her heritage and birthrights, you gain a Spatial Ring, and also three magics Jozan has kept to itself."

"What spells?" He asks.

"Magics," I correct. "Only two are spells. Shroud of Gardens and Mysts of the Lake are the two spells, and Paired Mirror is an enchantment.

I wave my hand, a stack of bound papers forming, dropping into my other hand.

"This here," I hold the stack up. "Is a book containing the knowledge needed in order to create the Paired Mirror enchantment. I have never performed it, myself, but our Royal Witch was honest with me as to the method of enchantment, so I believe you'll find it true."

The booklet floats out of my hand with a gentle manipulation of air, then floats down the table to the King.

"Regardless of your decision," I say as it lands on the table before him. "The enchantment is yours, as an offering of goodwill. The maximum range our magicians have managed for it in the past is approximately twenty miles – enough to communicate between neighboring cities.

"If you would like to verify it," I tell him. "Before making a decision either way, then I will wait. I had not expected to be invited here so soon, and had already planned on waiting for your enchanters to verify the magic."

"My enchanters," the King says. "Will take a look at the enchantment, and tell me whether or not they believe it to be a true one, as well as attempt to forge them. I will expect to see you tonight."

"Very well," I say. "For dinner, or after?"

"We will meet for dinner," he answers. "Then discuss things after."

"Very well," I say. "Just so you're aware, I've never used either of the spells before, either, and have only acquired their formulas today. Would there be a place I can safely use them for the first time?"

"Mysts of the Lake requires a source of water, correct?" The King asks.

"Indeed."

"Would a small source suffice, or must it be a large pond or a lake?"

"Our magicians first practice using it on small sources," I answer. "First with a bowl of water, then a basin, then shallow wells roughly two feet deep and three across, filled with water. They only transition to bigger once they can do it safely on a smaller on repeatedly with success. Typically, when Jozan performs it in war, it's with four or five more powerful magicians. The other spell simply requires nature being around."

"We have gardens here you can use," he informs me. "I can have a bowl brought out for you."

"Does the garden have its own water source?"

"It does," he nods. "However, the pond is roughly thirty feet long and forty across, much larger than that which you are used to."

"Wyatt," the King looks at his son. "Escort the Archmage of Jozan and his apprentice to the Moon Gardens. Ensure he has whatever he requires."

"Yes, Father," Wyatt nods, then the King dismisses us.