Eleanor and Ashley came to their senses faster than the other four, so their disorientation only lasted a few seconds. When their vision returned, they were greeted by many people going in and out of the teleportation array.

Seemingly all the minor families had gathered at the teleportation array, as hundreds of people with several different carts happily gave out necessary items for day to day activities.

Some carts contained pickaxes for mining, shovels, and goggles with light stones for the excavation assignments. Others had fresh food, gathered thanks to the combined efforts of hunters and gatherers.

Eleanor watched the minor family members scurry around, each person with a sense of purpose, the whole environment like a self-sustaining ecosystem.

A large signboard filled with requests and missions stood against one of the walls.

"Anyone who needs their axes sharpened come over here!"

"Food will be ready soon, come get a hot bowl."

"Need more hunters for non-magical fox trapping, Grand Mage approved." A hunter held a parchment with the imprint of the Grand Mage's insignia.

"The fifth division Knights are going out to suppress a toxic pus Giant Toad, wish us luck!" A Knight held a similar parchment with a similar imprint before the Gathered company teleported away.

"Good luck, stay safe!"

Many conversation could be heard, but they all seemed unbelievable to the newly arrived guests. No one was bartering or haggling, they gladly accepted more work at no cost. Food was distributed fairly on a first come first served basis. No one was fighting, and children were even playing a game of memorizing the runes within the teleportation array with card cutouts.

"Onerous!"

"Merge?"

"I found chervil."

"Isn't that a herb? Haha!"

"I meant Fehu!"

Children slammed the cards down on the teleportation array where the cards would overlap the runes carved into the ground.

Despite dozens of children playing the game, they did not even cover one tenth of the overall size for the array; which was even smaller compared to the few thousand square feet of the floor.

Thanks to the array capabilities, anyone that used it will inherently be pushed away from another in case someone stands on the other side, to ensure the safety of everyone. The six guests still stood within the teleportation array without disrupting the flow of those coming and going.

"Children, come get some food!" An elderly Matron called out to the children playing on the array.

One by one, the children lined up quietly and took a clean bowl of stew with a couple pieces of bread. Each one of the children sat at the table where they were designated by another family member and quickly ate their meal, so that they could have more time to play.

"I have never seen anything like this, even in the Inner City..." Craig was astonished.

"Excuse me, where do new arrivals go?" Veeta approached a cart and bowed slightly as he asked his question.

"Oh, what a pleasant young man, but there is no need to bow, everyone here is equal in the eyes of the Grand Mage. What family do you belong to? Have they already arrived?" The older gentleman pulled out a small parchment with a list of last names. Each cart was equipped with the same paper, updated every day with new entries. The ink of the last few names had barely dried, such was the large influx of guests.

"There are quite a few of you, why don't you all have a seat while we sort this out." The Matron who had previously been serving soup had relinquished her duties to her daughter in order to help the old man.

"Thank you, my sight is not as good as it used to be." The old man handed the list over to the Matron.

"Trell, Wyvern, Shard. You're families can be found on the left, you can look for your family sigil on the door. Lavenge, Unskal and Gevild, same on your right. Your families should be able to better explain the situation. Now, without using the teleportation array you can tell the time of day by going into the forest room just behind us, down the stairs, which is exactly the same as the outside time. Food is served pretty much any time of day, since we have many people coming and going at nights." The Matron gave an impassioned speech.

"Where is the Grand Mage? We were apparently placed on a list as important guests, according to an emissary."

"Ah, in that case, if you wish to speak with him, you can walk up those steps there." The Matron pointed at the stairs leading up to the next level. "If you get lost, you can look for one of his three attendants or the various staff he just hired, they are marked with a rune on the back of their hand." The elderly Matron showed the mark on the back of her hand. A simple seal, easily erasable and not branded into her flesh.

"You cannot guide us?" Eleanor looked over the rune.

The rune itself looked simple, but actually had multiple layers with certain effects.

(Truth compulsion, Guidance, Minor Luck, Stamina). Of the twelve runes, Eleanor recognized only four of them.

"I cannot, only certain staff and guests are allowed to enter the top floor, I am meant to serve at the teleportation array. It is a job I take very seriously." The Matron smiled, and the creases of her forehead deepened.

"What kind of person is the Grand Mage?" Eleanor looked into the eyes of the gentle Matron.

"I can only tell you what I have seen for myself. He cares for his people, and protects them fiercely. To be in his employment means you no longer fear where your next meal comes from. My children had moved on and abandoned me, he gave me a renewed purpose. It may sound trivial, but I owe him my life." The Matron stood at the top of the stairs and motioned another staff member over. "These people are important guests of the Grand Mage, will you see to them?"

The staff member parted her hair to one side and waited for them to pass through the barrier.

The Matron moved out of the way, allowing the six to pass through.

Eleanor walked through first, completely unaware that she had even passed through the barrier until it touched her own magical body.

"Eh?" Eleanor looked back but saw nothing.

Craig followed, and the other four joined. Ashley made an equally startled sound, but was unsure why.

"Thank you! Please follow me, I will see if the Grand Mage is available." The woman walked briskly through the labyrinth of hallways until she finally arrived at a regular looking door.

Before she could knock, she heard a deep but gentle voice.

"Enter."

The staff member grasped the doorknob, opened the door slightly and spoke quietly. "Your guests have arrived, Grand Mage."

"Well done, please, feel free to take a walk wherever you wish, I will be speaking with them alone for a while." Willem thanked the staff as she ushered the guests inside, nodded, and closed the door behind her.

As the door closed, Eleanor and Ashley stepped forward and put one knee to the ground.

"We greet thee, Grand Mage of Darkness, Grandia."

The two women placed their Pre-Mage badges on the ground as a show of allegiance.

"Please, stand. I know it has been a while, but that is not how I remember us greeting each other." Willem lowered his hood and smiled at the six.

"Willem?" Each person gasped as their friend finally revealed himself. For years they had sought out any little information they could about him, but came back empty each time.

Despite a much older looking face compared to what they remember, they recognized him immediately.

"Four years..." Craig wiped away a tear. "We had feared the worst, when you traded our safety and became a slave to a Mage."

"Why... How?" Eleanor was speechless. All the years of fighting to earn a spot as a Pre-Mage, hoping to understand what happened to Willem, whom had indebted himself to a Mage all those years ago. Now she was reduced to a few words in front of him.

"A lot has happened... I could not tell you the truth, to protect you from my enemies. I have made many strong Mages angry, and only recently have been able to create this safe haven for those who align with me." Willem looked beyond his friends, scanning over his Private Sanctum, seeing the smiles of the denizens.

"How are you a Grand Mage? Even after four years I have only become a Pre-Mage. Does it have to do with the Darkness Magic you share with the One True King?" Ashley was in a stupor, and began to spew out questions quickly.

"My progress has as much to do with the element as it has to do with my Master, the Grand Mage of Earth, Archus. Without him, I would not be able to have saved you. If you happen across him, I would suggest extending a thank you." Willem was done looking over the Private Sanctum, and created six chairs for his friends to sit on.

Each one took a seat, still slightly unsure if this was real or not.

Willem passed each one of his friends a glass filled with red wine, one of the favorites of Archus'. He then poured himself a glass and sipped from it.

"I'm sure you all have questions, now would be the time." Willem smiled a deep, grateful smile.

After an hour, the group had seemingly ran out of questions, and they had been filled in about everything.

"So you go to war at dawn? Here we are, asking questions like you aren't about to go fight against the Magical Beings in a few hours." Veeta finished off his wine.

"All I want you guys to do is enjoy everything I have created here, let me worry about such trivial things." Willem sipped his wine.

"You've changed so much, and you've become so dependable." For the last hour, Eleanor had reverted back to herself from four years ago, completely infatuated with Willem and naive to the truth.

"There is one last thing I have not told any of you. My attendant, Kinsey, she is pregnant with my child." Willem looked at Veeta's empty wine glass and refilled it.

"Congratulations!" The young men in the group seemed to be in consensus. Even Ashley had a huge grin on her face.

The only one who did not respond was Eleanor.

After an eerily long silence, Eleanor was the first to speak.

"P...Pregnant..." The Glass she had been holding broken beneath her death grip.

"It's getting late, we should rest for now and continue this at a later time..." Craig understood the mood immediately, grabbed Red and Arin whom were almost passed out and staggered out the door.

Ashley tried to grab onto Red who was helping her up, giggling the entire time. Eventually they left and the only two people in the room were Eleanor and Willem.

"Eleanor..." Willem was unsure what to say. He could read emotions since he was a child, but blind obsession never ended well.

"Make... mmm..." Eleanor mumbled something incoherently.

"Eleanor, speak up. I cannot hear you." Willem lifted Eleanor's face with his index finger and thumb.

"Make me pregnant too, you jerk!" Eleanor grabbed onto Willem and wouldn't let go.

Willem could not hold back and laughed loudly, despite being in front of an incredibly flustered Eleanor. He could feel the heat of her passion beneath her shirt, the rapidly beating heart and her face becoming more red.

"I waited four years, you owe me this..." Eleanor tried to reason with him.

"Holding onto a candle for four years, you may be burned. Are you sure this is what you want?" Willem used his Magic to remove the alcohol from her body, to ensure she was sober.

"Yes, I have never been so sure of anything in my life." Eleanor could not wait for Willem to lead her to bed. She grabbed her cloth shirt from the hem and pulled it over her head.

Eleanor had grown into a splendid young woman, her figure was well toned and her blonde hair dropped below her shoulders, partially covering her bare breasts. The freckles of her face seemed to be ignited by the blushing, covering her pale face in hundreds of red dots.

"I'm ready." Eleanor stared deep into Willem's eyes.