My Dragon King System-Chapter 341: Just Beyond The Horizon

After a few more hours had passed, everyone gathered around an enormous table in one of the castle’s grand dining halls.

The table was filled with food fit for royalty.

Everyone ate, talked and laughed. After a while and as the meal wound down, people began pushing back from the table.

There were satisfied and content, but it also became clear that departure was imminent.

Aiden stood from his seat, preparing to send them back to Dragonhold.

"Actually," Innis said suddenly, which made the general chatter come down to a pause. "I intend to stay. If that’s okay."

All eyes turned toward her, some of which were surprised. Bernard especially.

Aiden smiled and said. "Always."

"Hey.... Uhm.." Bernard began. "Innis I—"

Innis immediately grabbed his hand and said, "oh please bernie, you were the best boss I could’ve ever asked for. This has nothing to do with you or the Inn love, this is for me"

Bernard nodded and with a smile on his face, he said "i’ll miss you"

"Yeah, me too" innis added, and right after they both embraced themselves.

Innis then walked toward Rin and Aeris, both of whom immediately lit up with excitement as they welcomed her with open arms. Finally, another girl to join their little group.

"We’re so glad you’re staying!" Rin said, grabbing Innis’s hand.

Aeris nodded. "It’ll be nice having you around."

Then Piers cleared his throat. "Actually, we came to a similar conclusion."

He glanced at Katherine, who nodded in agreement. "We’d like to stay as well. If you’ll have us."

Aiden nodded. "Of course. You’re always welcome here."

Aiden then turned his attention to the others who still seemed ready to depart; Elena, Oliver, Bernard, Amelia, and Kayden.

The Prince’s frown remained the same as it was, even at the table.

Elena suddenly raised her hand. "Wait."

Everyone paused.

"What if we want to come here to check on Laela and Arianna?" she asked. "How would we do that?"

Aiden’s expression softened. "You only need to call to me in your minds with that request, and I’ll answer."

As Lord of the Mind Sea, Aiden was interconnected to everyone’s mind in this universe.

He may not have been actively listening into anyone’s thoughts unless he chose to, but if his name was called, it would act like a beacon directly to him.

Elena nodded slowly. Then she moved around the table, hugging each person who was staying. When she reached Aiden, she chuckled softly, remembering their conversation from earlier.

Then she hugged him too, and afterwards returned to stand beside Oliver.

Amelia glanced at Ambrose and gave him a small nod, which he returned.

Bernard waved at the group staying and after that, Aiden snapped his fingers.

In an instant, they vanished.

The hall then suddenly felt quieter without them.

Aiden turned toward Ambrose. "I’ve spoken to Thera. She’ll be your guardian moving forward. So right now, I’ll be sending you to her."

Aiden had reached out to the Archon a few hours earlier while standing in the gallery with Elena. Thera had agreed without hesitation.

Ambrose nodded without saying much. There was trust and gratitude in his eyes.

Aiden snapped his fingers again, and Ambrose disappeared as well.

Piers then rubbed his palms together with a grin. "Alright, show us our official rooms."

Aiden scoffed as he turned away. "Piers, anywhere not occupied is fine."

He, his wives carrying their children, and Uriel began heading back.

"Piers, son of Lechner," Katherine said, in a tone that sounded half serious. "Your training continues today."

Piers turned toward her with a look of exaggerated despair. He opened his mouth to protest.

"Shh." Katherine raised a finger to her lips, cutting him off before he could start. "It took you three years to become a Sword Knight. At this rate, when will you become a Sword Saint?"

Piers sighed heavily, with his shoulders slumping in defeat.

Katherine chuckled and took his hand, pulling him along as they headed towards the direction leading out of the castle. "Come on. You’ll thank me later."

"Unlikely," Piers muttered, but he followed without real resistance.

——

Several hours later, they were gathered around the same grand table once more. This was around the time they would have dinner in the real world.

Suddenly, Aiden’s expression shifted as though his eyes seemed to focus on something distant.

He stared blankly for a second, then sighed.

Laela noticed immediately. "What is it?"

"Another intruder," Aiden said.

Uriel straightened in her seat. "Where?"

"One of the dimensions," Aiden replied. "I already have an avatar on it."

Arianna’s face fell as sadness creeped in. "When will they ever stop bothering us?"

Katherine, Piers, and Innis all looked confused now. Rin and Aeris already knew about this.

"What’s going on?" Katherine asked, in a tone of concern.

Aiden leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "The universe has been facing intruders from other ones. It’s been this way for the past three years."

Katherine’s eyes widened.

"Why?" She demanded. "Why would they come here?"

Aiden sighed. "What does every king want when they’re not content? More."

He let that sink in for a moment before continuing. "The rulers of other universes send scouts here to learn about our life forms, our hierarchy of power. They’re called Herrschers."

Piers looked genuinely worried now. "So while the world has been enjoying peace for the last three years, you’ve been fending off intruders this entire time?"

Aiden smiled a bit. "It’s partially my fault. During my fight against Samael, we both released enough energy to draw the rulers of other worlds closer. They wanted to see what was happening for themselves. That’s when they realized this universe has no ruler."

He paused for a moment then added, . "So you see, to them, this is just a world up for grabs."

"But aren’t you the ruler of our world?" Innis asked. "You made it what it is today."

"True," Aiden said. "But I was only able to tap into a power close to that of a Herrscher temporarily. Without the same conditions as before, I can’t just do that again."

A heavy silence fell over the table as the mood had shifted.

Aiden quickly added, "But you all have nothing to worry about. In the last three years, none of them have been successful. And none ever will be."

He tried to lift their spirits and reassure them. But the damage was done.

They couldn’t help but wonder if another situation like Samael was looming just beyond the horizon.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​