To The Region Of Wisdom!

(As things cooled down for good in Serpengate Valley, new recruits were coming in for the Phantasm Hunter Force along with available spots for the Serpengate Guardians. While Eterne was attending to her work as the region's protector, Hu-Mai was giving lectures as the leading commander of the Phantasm Force, Lou was currently drinking at a nearby tavern where he was currently drunk, Elvire was cleaning up her room and being rid of her past to focus on today and Vuella along with Reika and Aoki were packing their belongings to travel to the next region.)

"Vuella: Phew! I bought one of everything from every clothing store here in Serpengate Valley!"
"Reika: Is having all of those clothes really necessary?"
"Vuella: You never know, dear Reika... You never know..."
"Reika: Bleh..."
"Vuella: It just occurred to me, where's Aoki?"
"Reika: He's packing up too, we plan to leave out this evening so he wants to say his goodbyes."
"Vuella: Ah fair point. So... How close did you two get?"
"Reika: Huh?"
"Vuella: Ohh ya know, everyone in the Magic Region and Spirit Region knows! You and Aoki are becoming closer everyday!"
"Reika: I don't know what you're talking about, he's to be watched around the clock until he can no longer control Banri. That was the deal."
"Vuella: You don't have to lie to me you know, there was a time you actually had a pretty lewd and romantic dream of him and-"

(A knife was then thrown at Vuella as it strikes right above her head, indicating Reika does not want to hear of it.)

"Reika: Enough of your malicious lies!"
"Vuella: What lies?~"

(Vuella holds a memory tape of Reika's dream as Reika summons her eight orbs to blast energy beams at the memory tape as Vuella was once again being chased by a rampaging Reika. Meanwhile, Aoki was packing up the remains of his luggage and belongings as he then remembers the first day he came to the Spirit Region.)

"Aoki: I was such a mess the first time I came here, now I managed to control my curse..."

(Aoki then begins to leave the room as he was then visited by Elvire who had a present for him.)

"Elvire: Hey.. Aoki. I have a gift for you."
"Aoki: Hm?"
"Elvire: Its a thank you for helping us and defeating Balgora."

(As Aoki then opens the gift, it was a special sachet that contains money in the hundred thousands in the Nature Region's currency system.)

"Elvire: Hu-Mai told me you were leaving for the Nature Region next, so I transferred a few hundred thousands in coins for you so your party can own a place in the next region."
"Aoki: Wow... Thanks Elvire... How are you feeling by the way?"
"Elvire: I can finally let go of the past... Balgora traumatized me for so long, I wasn't at my true strength in full honesty. But when you and the force finally defeated him, I felt free... Free from the prison I locked myself inside."
"Aoki: I'm glad you can be happy again, knowing he's gone."
"Elvire: Also one other thing... If you ever do come back, I wanna take you somewhere. Its a sacred place of mines that my family has kept hidden from the public for years."
"Aoki: I'll most definitely come back to fulfil your promise."

(As Elvire then smiles and skips happily out of the room, Aoki then cleans up the guest room, takes one final look around then closes the door with his belongings and notices Vuella and Reika running towards Aoki.)

"Vuella: Toshiharuu~!!! Help mee!"

(Vuella then hides behind Aoki.)

"Aoki: What's even going on?!"
"Reika: She has a memory that I want her to get rid of now!"
"Vuella: Just admit you love him!"
"Reika: NEVER!"
"Aoki: Reika, we discussed this... No blowing up Vuella. And Vuella, kindly remove the memory, please?"
"Vuella: Well, since you said please... I'll do it!"

(She'd then blow the tape into dust as it then vanishes in midair.)

"Reika: Ugh... You're so infuriating..."
"Vuella: Well someone's gotta keep you entertained!"
"Reika: ...Whatever. Anyway, if there's any last minute things we have to do here, we may as well get it out the way now."
"Aoki: I said goodbye to Hu-Mai and Elvire, Commander Lou and Empress Eterne are left."
"Reika: You'll be meet Eterne in her chambers, don't try anything now..."
"Aoki: Whoa! She's an empress, you honestly think I'd stoop so low?!"
"Vuella: Now now, he can manage himself! If he can't, I'll simply cut them both off!"

(As Vuella smiled and gestures her hands to do scissors, Aoki immediately understood the message and was off to fine Eterne. After a short walk, he'd halt himself after almost opening her door without knocking.)

"Aoki: This isn't a slice-of-life... I will not barge into another lady's room and get almost killed..."

(He'd then knock on her door three times.)

"Eterne: Who is it?"
"Aoki: It's Toshiharu! Is it appropriate to come in?"
"Eterne: Enter!"

(As the door opened, Eterne was sitting on a balcony with her hair flowing in the wind, smiling as she looked at the peace in Serpengate Valley. Shortly, Aoki joined her.)

"Eterne: Its beautiful, isn't it?"
"Aoki: It is. I didn't expect for Serpengate Valley to have such a scenery during the day."
"Eterne: This is why I wanted to protect my region at any costs. So others can enjoy the breathtaking view of our homeland."
"Aoki: You're a great ruler, Eterne."
"Eterne: I am. But you have my indefinite thanks, the Magic Region may have thrown you out. But we've molded you into a unit, one who has finally controlled that evil Magician."
"Aoki: I haven't thanked you guys enough for that."
"Eterne: No thank you is needed, all I was doing was fulfilling another contract."
"Aoki: Contract?"
"Eterne: ...The contract with the Magic Region's leaders. The pushing all of us gave you was only to make you stronger both physically and mentally. Plus, there's a saying the previous leader of the Spirit Region said: "When the mind speaks to you, it's making preparations for the next confrontation. Always speak what your mind tells you, don't hide it from the curious."
"Aoki: He sounded like a pretty good leader."
"Eterne: He did. And Toshiharu.. On behalf of all of Serpengate Valley, even though your visit and your work was short for a while, we thank you for assisting us in placing an end to Balgora as well. In return, I will answer any questions you have for me."
"Aoki: ...I see. Then... Is it true what you told me before? About the regions going into war?"

(Eterne continued to sit on the balcony as she kept silent for a few moments before speaking.)

"Eterne: There lies a prophecy founded by ancient researchers in the Region of Knowledge. According to the prophecy, there was an undeciphered message left by the former queen of the Region of Knowledge 700 years ago. Until in today's era of the region, the scholars and researchers of the Region of Knowledge managed to crack the code and reveal the message: In three centuries, the world will suffer a cataclysmic fate if the powerful is one-sided."

"Aoki: ...!"

"Eterne: As for why I mention this... A few months ago, the Elemental Region committed interregional theft against the Region of Knowledge which contained the Scroll of Divine Wisdom. One who is to steal such a scroll would be blacklisted from the nation indefinitely and of course, the rulers did take action against each other. This started trouble for not just these two Nations but the others as well. The Magic Region was recently under conflict with the Nation of Sand, The Wind and Combat Nations also began rallying against other regions as well. If I were to guess how long until the first region declares war... I'd say around two years from now. If it happens, we'll defend our region."

"Aoki: Wow... So it'll really happen huh?"
"Eterne: ...Seems like it. If the prophecy can somehow be avoided, no region would have to go to war so quickly... Is there anything else you wish to ask me?"
"Aoki: I'm always curious on the history of Serpengate Valley, how was it even founded or how was this city built... on the skeleton of a massive serpent?"
"Eterne: Hm... Do you want the extended version or should I shorten the story?"
"Aoki: I have time."
"Eterne: Then I'll start from the very beginning..."

(Eterne does as Aoki then begins to listen in.)

"Eterne (Narrating): Many, many eras ago, was the reign of deities. Familiar gods such as Zeus, Apollo, Hades, Poseidon and even Chronos were alive back then. In such times, there was an ancient serpent called Python. The serpent Python was killed by the Greek God, Apollo and its corpse was left unattended for years and years. Despite the unpleasant smell of the serpent's remains of its carcass, this was an opportunity for many of the next generations to have a place to live. Serpengate Valley started at the very bottom of the Python's stomach then began to expand centuries later. Around the time I was elected Empress of the Spirit Region, Serpengate Valley was already as big as an entire country alone. The bones you can see on the horizon of Serpengate Valley is the never-ending trail of the tail. The Python is not only a huge serpent, it is also one of the mythological creatures within the Greek era. And to this day, we actually thank the Greek God, Apollo for blessing us with our home in what Serpengate Valley has became today. He's partially the reason why for he helped us build our home as well."

(Aoki was then mesmerized that the entirety of Serpengate Valley was truthfully massive.)

"Aoki: Whoa...! That's actually amazing... But wait, how exactly did you become elected? Did you fight for the title or was it a poll vote?"
"Eterne: A fight? Let's just say... If I was two hundred years younger, I'd be able to swallow up an entire region. At the strength I'm at right now, I could level a large portion of a region."
"Aoki: So you're that powerful huh...?"
"Eterne: Hehe! You know it!... Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?"
"Aoki: ...What am I to expect in the Land of Nature?"
"Eterne: The main city isn't quite welcoming to outsiders without a passport. You'd have to purchase one in exchange offices in different regions in order to enter the Region of Knowledge."
"Aoki: Luckily Hu-Mai gave me his for us."
"Eterne: I'm grateful. If anything else, you'll have to go there and find out yourself... Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?"
"Aoki: ...No. I wanna thank you for everything once again."
"Eterne: No Toshiharu, I want to thank you for supporting and sticking with us the entire time. Just know if you ever feel homesick, Serpengate Valley is always welcome to have you back."

(As her hair flows through the wind with a smile on her face, Aoki then is grateful for the offer as he then leaves her quarters, regroups with Vuella and Reika who were ready to leave as the three then votes on how to travel to the next region.)

"Reika: I say we walk there."
"Vuella: Carriage?!"
"Aoki: Hm... Maybe we could try and teleport there."
"Reika: I'm not teleporting back and forth knowing how much stuff Vuella buys."
"Vuella: I wanted to buy it!!!"
"Aoki: Well.. Guess we're doing a carriage."
"Vuella: Yay! Two against one!"
"Reika: Sigh... whatever, I'm not carrying your belongings."

(As the three rents a carriage at Serpengate Valley's Carriage Transport Co., Hu-Mai along with Elvire and Lou was seeing the three off as they then were leaving to the Nature Nation, the Region of Wisdom.)