“He did it! Our sister is whole once more!”

  “This is good news indeed, First Sister. Shall we send a retinue to retrieve her now?”

  “No. I believe this group will be able to get here on their own strength. Now that Yu is unshackled, her true strength will be shown. However, be prepared to send a group out the minute enemies appear to overwhelm them. We owe them a debt now.”

  “Of course, First Sister! We will have a retinue ready and waiting.”

  “That dragon was cause for concern, but it seems even the dragons have a stake in this party of young adventurers. I’m more worried about the visitors our world is getting.”

  “Yes, it appears that events are taking place. Through scrying we have witnessed eight powerful class chosen causing problems in the city of Aventiny. That’s nearly on the other side of the world from these adventurers, however.”

  “All the same, keep our eyes on them. I don’t like the feeling I’m getting. Teleportation gates are too readily available these days.”

  Az sighed and left the scrying room to reconvene with the other sisters of the Knowledge Twelve. Decisions needed to be made, and a homecoming was too be planned.

  ***

  Powerful wings beat sending a gale crashing against the castle gates. At his descent, the enormous gates grinded open.

  Asu-Rin’ashen walked into the castle and towards the Elder Dragon’s courtyard.

  His head bowed as smoke escaped his nostrils once he arrived in front of the golden ruler of the dragons.

  “My liege, the Bond Forger was able to pass your challenge with ease. What’s more, the Hydragon hatched during the battle and immediately jumped into the fight.”

  “Full Report, Asu-Rin.”

  “Yes, my Elder. Her bonded were exceptionally well versed in combat. She had a…”

  The red dragon disclosed what he had witnessed while spectating the battle going into every detail from the line-up of Zuls’ bonded as well as their abilities. Then he continued describing the actions of the baby hydragon. After explaining the battle, he then went in to describe her fellow party members and how they reacted to the duel.

  When he was done, the Elder stroked his golden chin with clawed hands.

  “It sounds like this Bond Forger is strong enough after all. Having the hydragon instantly form a bond with her upon hatching is a positive note. It certainly has the blood of dragons running through its veins from what you described. Another positive note is that she has a wyvern bonded to teach it the ways of the dragon even if the wyvern is a lesser.”

  “Are any more challenges needed, my Elder?”

  “No. You’re dismissed. I believe these adventurers will visit the domain of the dragons. When they do, I will give them an audience myself. The Branch Elder speaks highly of one of them.”

  Asu-Rin’ashen bowed his head once more and left the courtyard.

  Once alone the Elder Dragon started to contemplate and process every word that he had heard about the mysterious party that was seemingly the center of everything that was currently taking place.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “Yes, I can’t wait to meet them. Perhaps the strange events will result in more class masters. It has been a long time.”

  His golden-scaled shoulders shrugged before he went back to browsing the nexus for anything golden to further his hoard.

  ***

  A beautiful woman practically radiating light pulled down her hood once at the top floor of a gilded tower. She looked around at the golden light coming through the glass walls and smiled.

  Her hand brushed against the shelf as her thoughts wandered. Every sport on the shelf was taken by instruments of all kinds. Some were intricate and true masterpieces. Others looked ragged and used. Every single one, however, was priceless.

  When she reached the end of the shelf, her sunlit eyes fell upon the only empty spot on the entire display. The spot that she always promised to place her original instrument. Her first ever ocarina.

  That promise would likely never be fulfilled now.

  Still, she may have gained something even more valuable, if that was even possible.

  “Who is this mortal that possesses my ocarina? And her friend that has touched the domain of the divine?” She spoke aloud before moving mana to her eyes to further enhance her already unbelievable perception. Her gaze looked out of one of the glass walls towards the brightest of the stars orbiting her planet.

  Her eyes could see anything. She was Radia, Divine of Perception and her sights were on a Wave playing her ocarina.

  ***

  “Creator, this isn’t good. There are a lot of eyes on him and his party.” System said to Zunzutoxian.

  “Too be fair, we are watching as well.”

  “Yes, but we have the right to watch. I see all.”

  “I agree with my sibling. They see everything anyways. We might as well get some entertainment while being contained within their domain.” An owl with circuits running up their feathers said.

  “It is true that there is a difference I suppose. We cannot interfere whereas all these other spectators can. Fortunately, no one seems hostile as of yet.” The original Progress Druid spoke while throwing a ball up and down. With each successful catch he would transmute the material into something slightly heavier.

  “Our warning was given so he would be subtle, was it not?” Syster questioned their creator.

  He shrugged. “We cannot change the minds of others to bend to our will. Personally, I like what my young follower did. He’s not letting fear rule his life or his path. System, I figured you out of everyone would respect that.”

  “An achievement was prepared. I decided against it at the last minute. Giving positive reinforcement for standing against the Coalition would only urge him to do it again.”

  “That will happen regardless. His path is different from mine. Now, I’ll admit that him killing those two took an obvious toll on his soul. Of course, I didn’t want my student to have to go through that, but I think we all know that a path of non-violence isn’t possible while fighting them.”

  “It is an unfortunate necessity, creator. System, I do hope that you’re staying unbiased.” The copy of Gene retrieved their creator’s ball as it fell and rolled away.

  “Of course.” System said in a mischievous tone.

  “The Living System is right. You are still a gift for the universe and that includes them. Some mean well. They have just been lied to their whole lives. There is still hope.”

  “Yes, Creator.” The six-armed glowing chicken bowed their head.

  “Sibling, you know you aren’t an owl, right?”

  “Of course! I wanted to be a chicken for a while to see how it is. Did you not see the Queen of Chickens that your student concocted?”

  That got a laugh out of the other two.

  “Don’t worry, System. You’ll find a form you like one day. I still can’t believe the seed of your sibling actually grew into an owl again.”

  “What can I say? The wings are much better than branches.” Gene said.

  System mumbled something.

  “What was that sibling?”

  “Oh nothing. I was asking Tox, creator of all, if I should give Synexus an achievement for unlocking the sphinx’s skill. That’s quite a feat.”

  “Not my place. System you know that is your choice and your choice alone. We aren’t even supposed to be here.”

  “As you say Creator.”

  Zunzutoxian sighed and put the ball away. His eyes darted around the domain of System and took in the sights of trillions of class chosen. If he focused in, he could see the progress of every single one in the universe. It was as if they were peering outwards from their souls. A sight and feeling that he was never sure he would get used to even if it was where he would stay for an eternity.

  ***

  A sickening cough echoed in a damp basement that was darkened completely. Eyes the color of vomit snapped open and took in the darkness before a maw of gnarled teeth let out a laugh in between coughing fits.

  “More prey approaches. Two have the stench of my brethren hanging on them.”