The foundation of Peace

The following day, the sun rose over the barren lands of the conflict zone, casting a hopeful glow on the gathered leaders and soldiers. The air was filled with anticipation as Kallen, the Emperor, and Demon Lord Onaku stood together, ready to finalize their historic agreement.

Kallen held the magical contract, a parchment infused with enchantments to bind the three parties to their promises. Elara, Gareth, Varak, Morgrim, and Zarek stood nearby, ready to witness this momentous occasion. The contract detailed the terms of their alliance, the establishment of Avalon as an independent nation, and the mutual benefits of trade and cooperation.

The leaders reviewed the content of the magical contract one last time, ensuring that every detail was clear. With a solemn nod, they each simultaneously slashed their thumbs and pressed their bloodied marks onto the parchment.

As their thumbprints touched the contract, it glowed with a radiant light. The magic within the parchment activated, sending shimmering sparks upward. The sparks danced in the air, creating a mesmerizing display of lights that resembled fireworks. The magical energy surged and then vanished above, signifying the sealing of the new peace treaty between Avalon, the Demon Kingdom, and the Human Empire.

The gathered armies watched in awe as the display unfolded. Kallen stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement. He summoned a vast amount of water, manipulating it with his elemental magic. With a sweeping motion, he sprinkled the water across the barren land on their left side. As the water touched the ground, small grasses began to emerge, transforming the desolate area into a patch of green.

Kallen then moved to the right side, repeating the process. The barren land responded once more, with small grasses sprouting where the water fell. The transformation was immediate and breathtaking, a testament to Kallen's power and the potential of the new Avalon.

Using his wind magic, Kallen amplified his voice to be heard by both the human and demon armies. "Today marks the dawn of a new era! Avalon stands as a beacon of hope, where humans and demons will work together in harmony. This is the foundation of our future, built on trust, cooperation, and mutual respect."

His words echoed across the plains, reaching the ears of every soldier and leader present. The impact was profound, as the realization of what they were witnessing sank in.

The human and demon armies, once adversaries, now stood united in their celebration. A cheer rose from the crowd, growing louder and more enthusiastic with each passing moment. Soldiers from both sides shouted to the extent of their lungs, their voices mingling in a symphony of joy and relief.

As Kallen watched the celebration, a sense of fulfillment washed over him. This was the beginning of something extraordinary. The dream of peace and coexistence was no longer just a vision—it was now a reality.

After the cheers of soldiers from both sides echoed across the plains, the Emperor stepped forward, indicating his desire to speak. Kallen, sensing the significance of the moment, used his wind magic to amplify the Emperor's voice.

"People of the Human Empire and the Demon Kingdom," the Emperor began, his voice resonating with authority and warmth. "Today, we witness a historic moment. We have put aside our differences and embraced the possibility of a brighter future. Together, we will build a world where peace and prosperity are not just dreams, but reality. Now, let us celebrate this new beginning. Bring out the feast!"

With those words, a flurry of activity began. From within Avalon, humans marched outside, carrying an abundance of food for the feast. Large platters of roasted meats, baskets of fresh bread, and bowls of colorful fruits were brought out, creating a mouthwatering spread.

On the demon side, soldiers marched through the center, carrying hundreds of barrels of alcohol. The sight of humans and demons working together to prepare the feast symbolized the unity they were striving for.

Kallen stepped forward once more, using his earth manipulation to summon multiple long tables and chairs. The tables stretched from one end of the plains to the other, creating a grand dining area where humans and demons could sit side by side. The tables and chairs rose from the ground, crafted from solid earth and stone, sturdy enough to accommodate the celebration.

As the feast began, Kallen walked among the tables, greeting soldiers and leaders from both sides. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, conversations, and the clinking of glasses. The feast was a testament to the power of unity and the hope for a future where humans and demons could coexist peacefully.

The Emperor raised his glass, a gesture that was mirrored by everyone present. "To Avalon! May it stand as a symbol of our commitment to peace and prosperity!"

"To Avalon!" the crowd echoed, their voices filled with conviction.

Kallen looked around, feeling a deep sense of fulfillment. This feast was more than just a celebration; it was a promise of what they could achieve together. As the night wore on and the stars twinkled above, the people of Avalon, the Human Empire, and the Demon Kingdom bonded over food, drink, and shared aspirations.

The foundation of Avalon had been laid, and with it, the hope for a new era of peace and cooperation.

The Next Day As dawn broke, the demon army began their orderly retreat. The vast host, which had camped in the plains, slowly moved back toward their homeland. The soldiers marched with a sense of purpose, knowing that their return marked the beginning of a new era. The Demon Lord Onaku and his generals bid farewell to Kallen and his allies, promising to uphold their end of the agreement.

The Emperor, preparing to return to the empire, approached Kallen. "Your gift will ensure that we can maintain communication and continue our cooperation," the Emperor said, holding the small, intricately designed communication device Kallen had given him.

Kallen nodded. "It will serve as a bridge between our peoples. Safe travels, Your Majesty."

The Emperor and his entourage departed, their presence a reminder of the monumental changes that had been set in motion.

After the feast, Kallen called for a gathering in the command center. As he entered, he was greeted by a sea of faces, all eager to hear what he had to say. The room was cramped, and Kallen realized that Avalon needed a better space for large meetings.

"We need a proper gathering hall," Kallen announced, looking around at the crowded space. "Follow me."

Kallen led the group to the outer wall. He decided to remove the additional wall he had created during Ragna's attack, as they no longer needed it. With a wave of his hand, the wall crumbled and sank back into the ground, clearing the area for new construction.

Standing in front of the outer wall, Kallen took a deep breath and focused. He envisioned a grand structure rising from the earth—the Avalon Convention Center. It would be a place for gatherings, celebrations, and international conventions.

In his mind's eye, Kallen saw the convention center's interior first. The main hall would accommodate up to 50,000 residents, with three levels of seating platforms to ensure everyone had a good view. He added numerous rooms along the hallways and backstage for various functions—dressing rooms, maintenance areas, and other essential facilities. VIP rooms would be located at the top of the hall for visiting dignitaries and royalty.

The exterior would be equally impressive. The convention center would have three major entrances to accommodate large crowds and six emergency exits for safety. The structure would be a blend of strength and elegance, reflecting Avalon's new role as a hub of unity.

With the design firmly in his mind, Kallen began the construction. He used his earth manipulation to slowly raise massive stone pillars and lay the foundation. The ground trembled as the convention center started to take shape, each pillar and wall emerging from the earth with precision and care.

Kallen's focus was intense, his powers working tirelessly to bring his vision to life. The crowd watched in awe as the grand structure materialized before their eyes. The foundation alone was an engineering marvel, with carefully balanced weight distribution and reinforced supports to ensure stability.

After several hours of continuous effort, the foundation and initial framework of the convention center were complete. Exhausted, Kallen fell to his knees, his body drained of energy. He had exerted every ounce of his power to create the structure, but the result was magnificent.

Gareth and Elara rushed to his side, helping him to his feet. "You did it, Kallen," Gareth said, admiration in his voice. "This will be a place for all of Avalon to gather and grow."

Gareth and Elara helped Kallen to his feet, guiding him to a nearby bench where he could rest. They handed him a potion, which he gratefully accepted, feeling its restorative effects almost immediately.

As Kallen caught his breath, an adventurer stepped forward. This man, who had previously worked as a craftsman, examined the stone pillars and foundation with a critical eye. "Kallen, these pillars and foundations are impressive, but they can't serve as our gathering hall. There's no roof, no walls for the rooms. What's the plan here?"

Kallen smiled, appreciating the adventurer's insight. "You're right. Let me explain the full vision." He raised his hands, and with a flicker of his elemental magic, a miniature dirt version of the convention center appeared, cut in half to reveal the interior.

"This," Kallen began, pointing to various sections of the hologram, "is the Avalon Convention Center. The main hall will accommodate up to 50,000 residents, with three levels of seating platforms. These smaller rooms along the hallways and backstage will serve multiple functions—dressing rooms, maintenance areas, and other essential facilities. VIP rooms are located at the top for visiting dignitaries and royalty."

He continued, "The exterior will have three major entrances and six emergency exits for safety. The structure is designed to blend strength with elegance, reflecting Avalon's new role as a hub of unity."

The adventurer nodded, clearly impressed. "It's an ambitious project, but I can see how it would work. What about in the meantime? We need a place to gather."

Kallen nodded, moving to another spot outside the convention center. "I have a temporary solution." He closed his eyes and concentrated, envisioning a massive hollow tree that would serve as a temporary gathering hall. As he manipulated the tree's growth, it began to take shape—a large, three-story building with necessary furniture, a front desk, benches, and wall divisions creating rooms on the second and third floors.

The adventurers watched in awe as the tree grew, its branches and leaves forming the structure of the building. All the doors were open for now, as Kallen had yet to figure out how to create functioning doors with his magic.

Kallen led the group inside, positioning himself at the front desk. "This will be our temporary gathering hall for now," he explained. "In the future, it will serve as the municipal hall of Avalon. The municipal hall will be responsible for registering every citizen, foreign or domestic. But that's for later."

As they explored the new space, they exchanged ideas and concerns about the future. Kallen addressed each issue thoughtfully, discussing the necessary work for starting a new country.

"We need to focus on several key areas," Kallen began, outlining the tasks. "First, road construction to connect Avalon with Tatoro and the demon kingdom. Agriculture to ensure we have a sustainable food supply. Laws to govern Avalon and ensure order. We'll also need infrastructure for housing, education, and healthcare."

Gareth spoke up, "We have limited manpower right now. With just ten adventurers and a few dozen reinforcements from Tatoro, we need to be strategic about assigning tasks."

Elara added, "We should appoint leaders for each area of development. People who have experience and can oversee the work."

They began discussing who would be in charge of various aspects of development. Suggestions and volunteers emerged from the group, each person eager to contribute to Avalon's growth.

One adventurer with a background in engineering volunteered to lead the road construction. Another, with farming experience, offered to head the agricultural efforts. A former scholar from Tatoro agreed to draft the initial laws and work on setting up an educational system.

Kallen listened carefully, nodding as each person stepped forward. "Thank you all for your willingness to help. We may be small in number, but with determination and cooperation, we can build something extraordinary."

The adventurers and reinforcements dispersed to begin their tasks, each one taking on a crucial role in Avalon's development. As Kallen watched them go, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. The foundation had been laid, and now it was time to build a future where humans and demons could coexist in harmony.

After the discussions and the distribution of tasks, Kallen turned to Elara. "Elara, make sure the command center remains closed to everyone for now. I need to focus on some important experiments."

Elara nodded but then hesitated. "Kallen, your house... Avalon is growing rapidly, but your house is still the same. If you're going to lead this country, your home should reflect that. It needs to be accommodating for any visiting dignitaries or royalty."

Kallen sighed, understanding her point. "I know, Elara, but there are more pressing matters right now. I'll get to it later. I promise."

Elara gave him a supportive smile. "Alright, just don't forget. You deserve a place that represents your hard work."

With that, Kallen made his way up to the command center, his mind already racing with ideas.

Outside, the group assigned to construct the convention center gathered around the miniature dirt version Kallen had created. Brom, a seasoned architect and former adventurer, pointed to different parts of the model. "Alright, let's review this structure and design. We need to figure out how to bring Kallen's vision to life with the knowledge and resources we have."

Brom examined the foundation closely. "These pillars need to be reinforced with steel. Stone alone won't support the weight of such a large structure."

A carpenter chimed in, "We'll need to source high-quality timber for the seating and internal structures. If we want this to last, we can't cut corners."

The group continued to discuss the logistics, each member contributing their expertise. They planned the construction process step-by-step, ensuring they had a clear understanding of the design and materials required.

Thalia, a skilled builder and former adventurer, stood with her team, reviewing Kallen's urban planning hologram. "We need to start with the main highway connecting Tatoro to the demon kingdom. This will be the backbone of our infrastructure."

Her team began marking the routes and planning the construction of the roads, ensuring they were wide enough for trade caravans and well-maintained for safe travel.

Orin, an experienced farmer and herbalist, and his team walked the fields where Kallen had summoned the grass. "We'll need to cultivate this land and introduce a variety of crops. This soil needs to be enriched to support sustainable farming."

The team started working on improving the soil quality, setting up irrigation systems, and planting the first seeds for a diverse array of crops.

Lila, a scholar and mage, stood in a temporary tent that served as the initial library. "We need to organize these books and scrolls provided by the emperor. Education is key to our development."

Her team began cataloging the books and setting up a system for teaching the residents, ensuring that everyone had access to knowledge and learning resources.

in the command center, kallen stood before a large board and began listing all the problems he foresaw: road systems, enchanted tools for construction, irrigation, water supply, agriculture, and a mana distribution system. He walked around the room, pondering each issue.

He then summoned a hologram of Avalon in the center of the table, accompanied by a miniature version on top. The hologram allowed him to visualize his plans on a grand scale, while the miniature

In the command center, Kallen stood before a large board, meticulously listing all the problems he foresaw: road systems, enchanted tools for construction, irrigation, water supply, agriculture, and a mana distribution system. He walked around the room, pondering each issue, occasionally murmuring to himself.

"This needs to be efficient," he muttered. "We can't afford any weak points."

He then summoned a hologram of Avalon in the center of the table, accompanied by a miniature version on top. The hologram allowed him to visualize his plans on a grand scale, while the miniature provided a tangible representation of the physical development.

Kallen looked at the board, then back at the hologram. "Alright, let's tackle these one by one," he murmured, determination in his eyes.

He declared that the current area of Avalon would be the center, with all government offices located within the outermost wall. To streamline his planning, he named the three existing walls of Avalon.

"Verdant Wall," he said, pointing to the small fence around his elevated home. "That's where it all began."

He moved his finger to the next wall. "Harvest Wall. It surrounded the initial farmland, which will now be converted into a government facility complex."

Finally, he indicated the third wall. "Ragna Wall," he said with a touch of solemnity. "In memoriam of Ragna's assault. This wall will provide accommodation and defense."

Kallen removed the moat around the Ragna Wall, envisioning a highway encircling it. This would serve as the central roundabout of Avalon, providing a crucial access point for the city.

"We need efficient traffic flow," he thought, adjusting the roundabout to have eight lanes. He created an exit and entrance ramp for an elevated expressway. "Let's extend the expressway from the roundabout to the outskirts near Tatoro and towards the demon kingdom," he planned. The expressway would be a two-lane, two-way road, while the main avenue below it would be a four-lane road. Smaller two-lane roads would branch off to various parts of the city.

"We also need a clear separation between the outskirts and the main city," he mused, measuring a distance of 250 hectares from the Ragna Wall. "This will be the Foundation Wall," he decided, creating another encircling wall. This new wall would define the main city of Avalon, with space inside for future expansion.

He named the walls as he visualized them in the hologram, showing a detailed and organized layout of the future Avalon.

"Verdant Wall, Harvest Wall, Ragna Wall, and Foundation Wall," he murmured, tracing the names in the air. "This is the backbone of our future city."

Kallen's mind raced with possibilities. "We need to think long-term. This isn't just about today or tomorrow. This is about creating a legacy," he thought, feeling the weight of his responsibility.

He turned his attention to the miniature model on the table. "What if every change here in the miniature could reflect in the actual Avalon?" he wondered aloud. "Could it be that simple?"

He decided to test his theory, inserting a surge of mana into the miniature. The mana spread out gradually, infusing the entire model and beyond. "Come on," he urged, pouring more of his mana into the miniature. "Let's make this work."

The miniature began to glow, the mana connecting with the hologram and spreading throughout the Avalon territory. Kallen's heart raced with excitement and determination. "If this works," he thought, "we can bring our vision to life in an instant."

As he exerted the last of his mana, he felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He stumbled, struggling to stay upright. "Almost there," he murmured, pushing himself to continue. But the effort was too much. His vision blurred, and he collapsed, drained of energy.

The citizens of Avalon were initially confused by the sudden surge of mana. The chill air and glowing light created a moment of awe and uncertainty. They looked toward the command center, knowing instinctively that this was one of Kallen's works.

"Is it Kallen again?" one of the adventurers murmured, eyes wide with wonder.

Another nodded, "It has to be. Only he can create such phenomena."

Despite their initial confusion, they stood in awe as the mana continued to spread, illuminating every corner of Avalon. The ethereal glow from the command center reassured them that this was part of Kallen's grand plan.

"He's done it," Elara said softly, watching the light spread. "He's really done it."

Gareth, standing beside her, nodded. "This will change everything."

With the awe and wonder fading into determination, everyone returned to their work. Brom, Thalia, Orin, and Lila led their respective teams in their assigned tasks. The construction of the convention center, the road systems, the transformation of the fields, and the organization of educational resources continued with renewed vigor.

Elara remained at the entrance of the command center, her duty to guard it until sunset. She stood resolute, watching over the entrance, ensuring that Kallen was not disturbed. As the evening approached, worry began to gnaw at her. She couldn't help but wonder why Kallen had not yet emerged.

"He's been in there for hours," she murmured to herself, glancing at the closed door. "I hope he's alright."

The sky darkened, and the stars began to twinkle above Avalon. The day's activities slowed down as the citizens retired for the night. Elara's concern grew with each passing hour. She knew that Kallen often pushed himself to his limits, but this was different. The sheer amount of mana he had used must have taken a toll on him.

Her resolve wavered, and she took a step towards the door, her hand hovering over the handle. "Should I check on him?" she thought, her heart racing with worry. But she remembered Kallen's order to keep the command center sealed off from everyone.

"He didn't want to be disturbed," she reminded herself, stepping back. "It would disrupt his focus and concentration."

Elara sighed, leaning against the wall next to the door. "I'll give him until morning," she decided. "If he doesn't come out by then, I'll check on him."

The night grew colder, and Elara wrapped her cloak tighter around herself. She stood vigil at the entrance, her mind filled with thoughts of Kallen and the future of Avalon. The faint glow from the command center cast long shadows, and the air was thick with the remnants of mana.

As dawn approached, Elara's eyes grew heavy, but she refused to leave her post. She was determined to see this through, to ensure Kallen was safe and that Avalon would continue to thrive.