Chapter 479: This Is How You Build A Kingdom Overnight

As the Gryphons circled the fortress of the Aslan Tribe, screeching at their riders in excitement, the brave men and women standing below couldn’t help but tear up.

Some even cried freely, unafraid of what people would think of them.

They thought they had lost a part of themselves forever, and yet, after all those hardships and tribulations, they had finally reunited in a place that they never thought existed even in their wildest dreams.

Leone watched this scene with a smile. He knew what it meant to be separated from family, as well as the joy of reuniting with them.

This was why he truly understood what the Gryphon Riders might be feeling upon reuniting with their partners once again, whom they had shared unbreakable bonds with.

"What are you all waiting for?" Leone clapped his hands to make the crying men and women snap out of their daze. "Go and ride them. You have no idea how rebellious they are recently. They even dared to go on strike yesterday, saying Boris bullied all of them."

After hearing the young man’s words, Dominic wiped the tears off his eyes using the back of his hand before whistling.

He then waited until Zephira dived from the sky before he jumped down from the ramparts.

Then, as if they had practiced this move countless times in the past, Dominic landed perfectly on her back.

With a flap of her mighty wings, she rose toward the sky and emitted a loud screech, as if to proclaim that the Gryphon Riders were once again whole.

And just like their Commander, the men, who had finally regained the fire in their hearts, jumped fearlessly from the ramparts and let themselves be caught by their partners, who were more than happy to take them to the skies once more.

Andreas watched this scene with a faint smile on his face. He could feel something warm rising up from his chest. A feeling that he had forgotten and lost decades ago.

That burning desire to do better.

That fire that made him wish for the Helion Duchy to prosper.

And the determination to overcome any and all obstacles that stood in his way.

Seeing his reaction, Jeeves decided to tease his Master, whom he had known for decades.

"Feeling jealous?" Jeeves asked.

To his surprise, Andreas gave the answer that he thought he would never say, nor admit.

"Yes," Andreas replied. "I feel jealous. And yet, I also feel happy."

The Patriarch of the Helion Duchy pressed his right hand over his wildly beating heart and closed his eyes.

The drive he once lost was coming back to him in full, making him feel ten times younger.

"Grandpa, would you like to fly as well?" Leone asked. "I know that you have a Wyvern back home, but since you are not able to take him with you, how about I lend you my vassal, Arion? That way, you can get a better look at my domain."

The Pegasus stood right beside Leone, standing tall and proud.

A glance was enough to tell Andreas and Jeeves that this magnificent steed was better than the Pegasi that were used by the Radiant Empire in battle.

"I’ll take you up on that offer of yours," Andreas replied with a smile.

As soon as he mounted Arion’s back, Andreas felt the quiet strength that hid within this proud and loyal beast.

"Go," Andreas said before lightly patting the Pegasus’ neck, fully understanding that he was in good hands.

Arion then took a step and opened his wings to take flight. After gaining momentum, he soared toward the sky, and then circled around Grimjaw Mountain, allowing his Master’s grandfather to see the things that he didn’t see earlier.

Only by taking flight did the Patriarch of the Helion Duchy understand that the fortress he was at earlier was nothing to scoff at.

It was a bastion that could stand on its own against a proper siege. It could even repel anyone who would dare to scale the mountain stronghold.

Soon, Arion headed toward the city, making sure to let its rider see a scenic view as they passed through the attractions of Aslan City.

Everywhere he looked, he could see that the city was filled with life.

Of course, this was all thanks to the tribes currently residing inside it.

The moment they returned to their respective camps, the city would lose nearly ninety-five percent of its total population.

But that was fine.

Leone knew that while it may not be possible after the war ended, he believed that a day would come when Aslan City would be filled to the brim with people.

It would become a prosperous city that tourists and merchants coming from afar would visit.

Andreas sighed once more after seeing the giant statue up close.

Although he didn’t know who this statue was modeled after, he could feel a quiet authority and grace coming from it.

It almost looked divine, giving him a similar feeling to the times when he visited the Temple of the Goddess of Light, Aine, whom the Radiant Empire worshiped.

After nearly half an hour of flying, Arion finally made his way back to Grimjaw Mountain, landing on the villa that was reserved for VIP guests.

There, Leone sat with Jeeves. It seemed that the two of them were having a chat with each other while enjoying some refreshments that the Aslan Tribe had prepared for them.

Seeing that his Master had returned, Jeeves carefully stood up and then pulled up a chair, waiting for Andreas to sit.

"Thank you, Arion," Andreas said to the Pegasus and lightly patted his neck. "That was the most wonderful flying experience I have had in years."

Arion gave a soft neigh before nudging Andreas’ cheek with its head, as if to tell Leone’s grandpa that if he ever wished to fly once more, Arion would be more than happy to take him wherever he wanted to go.

After giving his thanks, Andreas sat on the chair offered by Jeeves before looking at his no-good grandson, who had a faint smirk plastered on his face.

The young man looked incredibly smug, but Andreas understood that he had the right to have that expression.

"It is a wonderful city," Andreas said while Jeeves poured some tea into his cup. "Truly a masterpiece that surpasses even the Helion Duchy. However, this begs the question... how did you do it?

He had dealings with the Barbarians of the west in the past, so he knew that none of them had the skill, resources, and manpower to create a city this good so quickly.

Barbarians focused more on practicality and didn’t pay too much attention to aesthetics.

On the other hand, Leone’s city was both practical and pleasing to the eyes at the same time.

Which was why he looked confused. A city like this couldn’t have sprouted overnight.

The underground city, Soleil, and the city at the base of the mountain, Aslan City, would take years to be built to completion.

Leone was only exiled for a few months.

There was simply no way for him and the barbarians to build such a city, unless the city existed long before they laid claim to it.

Leone met his grandpa’s stare before raising his hand and making a sprinkling gesture.

Seeing this, Andreas scoffed in contempt, understanding what the young man implied.

Magic.

The power that could bend the laws and make the impossible... possible.

Seeing the grumpy look on his grandpa’s face, Leone decided to stop teasing him and showed him an example.

"Take a good look, Grandpa," Leone said. "This is how you build a kingdom overnight."

The young man then snapped his fingers.

A second later, both Andreas and Jeeves watched in stunned silence as the villa where they were, transformed right before their very eyes.