By the afternoon of the second day, the summit had shifted gears. What had begun as a declaration of intentions had now become the actual organizing of logistics, the development of military routes, and the sending out of ambassadors to contact the neighboring countries and inform them of what would happen. I bet they won’t be happy about hearing an army marching toward the east… but I also think they won’t try anything stupid if they see airships and mechs walk along with the rest of the army.

By the fourth day, delegates from all over the union arrived in my city, with more on their way every day. Suddenly, summer became very crowded in Avalon. There were even a few mock-ups of the eastern front being built by Krel, who was working on it via old maps to give the multitude of military officers a three-dimensional battlefield to start and try working together.

What was extra surprising was that it didn’t turn into utter chaos. Well… Not yet.

Right now, I stood in my garden, reading an official letter compiled by Merlin, who was balancing his work with Elena and doing it surprisingly well. Although their kid was still a few months away from being born, probably around the end of summer, he finally realized that a pregnant mother can be… moody. And needs more attention. So, instead of reporting by himself, nowadays, he does it via letters.

“He is right; the visiting generals are behaving like good little children.” A voice giggled, reading the letter with me.

Of course, it was Yuri who had claimed my left arm, leaning against me happily and satisfied after our morning exercises. Since the first one arrived, she had been keeping tabs on all of them; they were still foreign military leaders, after all.

“I just hope they don’t get used to it and start acting up later,” Luna added while she stood to my right, hugging my other arm, yawning a little. “I will take the day off… I need my beauty sleep!”

“Leocchy can give you the perfect sleeping mask~! It’s good for the skin!” Yuri joked, making me roll my eyes, while Luna hummed, shaking her head in the end.

“Can’t…” She shrugged in the end, “Galahad has been randomly coming into our room, looking for me. If he sees that…”

“Girl problems?” Yuri asked, getting extra curious, “Is it Fila?”

“Yep.” Luna giggled, and by now, I wasn’t even reading Merlin’s report but listening to the juicy gossip going back and forth between my wives about my own son. “Fila has been with him, building his mech, and she has been advising multiple additions to it regarding the magic shielding. Which I do not really understand, nor do I care about it! What I care about, though, is that Galahad has been talking about her a lot… Do you think he is falling for her?”

“For sure!” Yuri agreed without questioning it. “Galahad is not the kid who would go for looks but for brains! Although little Fila has the figure… In a few more years, she will be a beauty. It is good to lock in early. We should marry the two!”

“I don’t think he would agree yet,” Luna muttered, furrowing her brows, thinking.

"You know," Yuri said with a smirk, tilting her head up to me, "if Daddy here gives the order, he wouldn’t argue… And Mirian would agree to it on the spot."

"You two can knock it off," I replied, shrugging. "Let kids be kids."

“Neither of them acts like kids!” Luna chuckled faintly. "You can’t deny that!"

"You both know what I meant!" I grunted, slapping their bottoms, accompanied by a tight pinch.

Just then, a series of chimes echoed through the palace, a signal that one of our airships had returned. Of course, it had to be Lancelot, as we already got the message that he was coming home and bringing… Khulmani guests. As for what kind of guests he didn’t specify, which intrigued my curiosity even more, as it didn’t sound like he was returning with Bakhi.

“Oh? Is it Lancy?” Yuri grinned instantly. "Ooooh, I wonder if my boy got himself a wife!"

“Why is that your first thought?” I asked and I rolled my eyes again, but I couldn’t hide the slight twitch of amusement. Maybe she was right.

“What else could it be?” Luna asked in agreement, “I don’t think Lancelot would be troubled by anything else, no?”

"Let’s go greet them," I said, turning and pulling them along. "Let us see if your womanly instincts are right or not. Where’s Mikan? I didn’t see her after the morning… Was I too rough?"

“Nah,” Yuri waved a hand. “She took a shower and headed out with Morgan. They are meeting with the new Cardinal and the Geth Emperor.”

“Should I be worried?”

“I don’t think so,” Luna replied calmly. “I think this time around, the Theocracy won’t try any funny business.”

“I wish they would…” Yuri muttered under her breath, “I wish I were the one assassinating Damar… oh well. It is still good news that he died from accidental stab wounds.”

“Isn’t he sick?” I asked with a half-smirk.

“And I am secretly a young, tight-assed altar boy!” Yuri exclaimed, jerking my hand, “We both know what our new cardinal meant. The dude is dead or will be dead soon. Good riddance!”

…

….

…..

Outside the city, on its southern side, we stood ready, watching the airship get into place and slowly begin to descend until it was docked firmly enough to lower its access ramp. At the top, standing tall and dressed properly, was Lancelot, quickly locking onto us with a smile. He looked a little tired but not a hair out of place, so that was a good sign. Then my eyes moved and… Oh my. Five more figures appeared behind him.

All of them were female, young girls… My wives’ instinct was right. And of course, Yuri was the first to laugh, letting out a full, gleeful cackle.

"Oh my," she wheezed, nudging me hard in the ribs three times in a row. "I wouldn’t have guessed that he was returning with a harem! Atta boy! That’s our son, alright!"

"I wouldn’t have either," I muttered in agreement.

"This is fantastic." Luna blinked her mismatched eyes twice, her expression hovering somewhere between surprise and pride. "Wait… Maybe they are not wives… Are we... taking hostages, now?"

"No, these are not bound. Although I will need to give my son some ropes and binders… to rein in the feisty ones!” Yuri mumbled while I returned the jabs into her rib, so she kept those thoughts inside her head.

”I think they’re guests." I whispered, “Behave, at least for now, okay?”

“I am always prim and proper,” Yuri smirked at me. "Especially with our future daughters-in-laws. With all of them at once! That’s how Khulman does things, isn’t it? Gods, I knew I liked those people."

“You never even heard of them before.” Luna joked, but Yuri kept ignoring her.

As we talked, the girls descended behind Lancelot with unmistakable, wide-eyed awe, the usual look of those who first noticed my Avalon’s offerings. One of them, walking at the front, kept a protective formation, her eyes scanning like a mother hen. She reminded me of Sasha. As for the one right behind her, she didn’t even blink once; instead, she kept watching the train that was arriving in the distance with a loud whistle.

“One of them looks a bit green in the face.” Luna chuckled, pointing her out.

“But she keeps trying to move like a swan,” Yuri added, shrugging.

True. That girl moved with a very noticeable, stiff grace, her posture perfect even though her legs were pretty wobbly if I looked close enough.

“I like the flat one,” Yuri suddenly added.

And yeah, there was one who was practically bouncing, grabbing Lancelot’s arm and pointing at everything, her voice rising. I could also see that she was asking questions rapidly, like a machine gun. As for the last girl… She lingered at the back, her steps being the most unsure of all of the others. I think I will assign Morgan to be the icebreaker with her. A moment later, they were close enough that I could finally hear what the hyperactive one was asking of Lancelot.

"...Are those buildings moving?" she yelled, almost climbing onto his back to see better.

"No," Lancelot groaned. "They have metal wheels… Ugh… Dad, help…!"

"Welcome to Avalon," I said, ignoring Lancelot’s open plea. "I am Sovereign Leon, father of Lancelot and the ruler of this place."

“Mom?” Lancelot looked at Yuri, seeing that I wasn’t going to bail him out.

“Hi there, girlies!” Yuri giggled in a way that made two of the girls shiver, “I am Yuri, third wife, mother of my little Lancy~! I do hope he wasn’t rude. He is a good boy!”

"Mom Luna?” Lancelot tried one last time, but she just winked at him.

“Nice one, Lancy!”

“Hi there!” the one on Lancelot’s back jumped off and, without asking questions, hugged all of us one by one.

“I’m Jila, your daughter-in-law. I like fighting; I like all the things I've seen so far! Your city is cool!”

“Khm…!” The first of the girls stepped in, pulling Jila back by her hair, “Excuse my little sister. She is overwhelmed. I am Rashira, the oldest here. We are daughters of Tula-Kahn Rhanak, Emperor of Khulman, and we come here as his offerings for an alliance.” She bowed, showing enough respect but not groveling.

"He sent five of you?" I asked, raising a brow.

"He tried to make me choose a wife.” Lancelot explained, pinching the ridge of his nose, “I didn’t. So he sent them all."

“Perfect!” Yuri whistled. "Don’t worry, girls, you will have a wonderful life here!"

While Yuri laughed happily, I looked past my son, gazing at the girls one by one. Each of them now stood straight, composed in their own way, even if the shock of seeing so many alien things at once hadn’t worn off yet. When our eyes met, Jila waved enthusiastically, but she did not speak again because she clearly respected the authority of her eldest sister. While listening to Rashira’s introductions, Tarsine gave the most rigid bow I’d ever seen… The one named Seltana offered a simple nod with textbook diplomacy written all over her face, while Meyli simply whispered something akin to a greeting, but I barely caught it.

“Don’t be afraid,” Luna stepped forward, her smile suddenly very gentle. “We’re honored to have you in our home! Avalon will keep you safe while you're here, and please be free to ask any questions you may have!"

"You may not want to go back," Yuri added, eyes twinkling, but only Jila was nodding her head.

“We thank you for the… hospitality.” Rashira nodded stiffly. "We intend to represent Khulman with discipline, so you don’t have to worry about us."

"You don’t need to be so stiff," I said in a friendly tone. My city is not that strict on customs and habits. Honestly speaking, I think this place is the most open-minded on the continent, including in terms of etiquette. Well, you will have time to explore it and experience it for yourself!"

"I wanted to see where those iron horses go!" Jila grinned, already asking for a tour.

“Dad…” Lancelot groaned, but I raised a hand to silence his complaints.

"Come on," I said, patting his back and pushing him forward. “We have guest rooms prepared and plenty to show you in time, little Jila. But first, we’ll need to issue identification cards and give you a whole city orientation."

“A what?” Rashira asked, and I saw Seltana lean forward to hear it all.

“In my city, my people, including the visitors, have little books on them that show who they are, names, addresses, age, and a lot of helpful information. We can identify everybody through those.”

“And what if someone doesn’t have it?” Seltana asked.

“They get thrown out of my city. Or go to jail. They are required to have one when entering Avalon. It holds stamps, marking foreign traders, stating what goods they are allowed to bring out of here and for how long they can stay. Anyway, if you are interested in that part, there will be time for me to explain it in detail. Also, the city is pretty busy right now, as we just had a summit.”

“Again?” Lancelot asked, furrowing his brows.

“Yeah,” I nodded, looking at the girls, “The Union that my Avalon is part of decided to build up a joint military force to march and find the third Pass… and close it for good.”