Five legendary bladers and three bey spirits were now face to face with two armoured humanoids who suddenly showed up on their path to The Heart of Aether, right after their victory against the evil wolf spirit known as Fenrir.

"So, what has happened here?" The slightly taller one asked in a male voice, muffled a bit by his helmet. "We heard a loud noise coming from this direction."

"Wait, are those...humans?" The other armoured humanoid asked, pointing at the bladers.

The boys instantly grew tense at being recognised by beings that were not of their own species. Valkyrie immediately stood in front of the boys in defence.

"Yes, they are indeed humans." The female answered. The armoured spirits seemed shocked, though not because of the presence of humans.

"L-Lady Brynhildr?!" The armoured humanoids said in surprise. At this, the bladers, especially Valt, gave Valkyrie a confused look. Why did the two knight-like spirits refer to her by such a name and the noble title of "Lady"?

Both armoured humanoids proceeded to kneel before the female as she were royalty, causing the boys to be more confused. As for Achilles and Dragon, they just stood in their current position as if this was a daily occurrence for them.

"Stand up, there's no need to kneel." Valkyrie said to them. The knight-like figures then stood up.

"We did not expect you to be here, my lady." The shorter one said. "Especially with a group of human children. Did you somehow find them here?"

"No, we brought them here."

"You brought them here?!"

"Yeah!" Achilles interjected. "They're our masters! We are bound to them through The Oath!"

The two armoured spirits glanced at each other before turning back to the group. "The Oath, huh? Then you must have a very special connection with these children."

The taller one then looked at the bladers. "We are deeply sorry if we scared you, humans. We almost never receive any visitors from your kind ever since all gates to this kingdom were closed."

"Anyway, are you all on your way to The Heart?" the shorter knight asked.

"Dang right, we are!" Aiga said. "We're actually looking forward to visit that giant castle!"

"You want to go to Suria Castle, boy?" The taller one laughed a bit. "I'm not sure if the king would allow that."

"Oh, come now. We all know the king! Of course he'll allow humans into his domain! Besides, doesn't he have a human master too?" The shorter one said to his fellow knight.

"Wait, the king of this place has a master? Does that mean..." Valt pondered.

"What you're thinking right now is correct, Valt." Dragon said. "Our king is a beyblade and is owned by someone."

"That's seriously cool!" Drum exclaimed. "Screw Arthur! The king here is the true King of Beyblade!"

Achilles, Dragon and Aiga proceeded to laugh at Drum's statement. O, how they love to make fun of those they despised.

"I agree! Whoever the king here is, he deserves that title more than that butthole." Aiga said. Achilles and Dragon nodded in agreement. Valt can't help but smile at the attitude of his younger friends.

The bluenette then turned to the armoured spirits. "So, can you show us the way to Suria Castle, sir?"

"Well...as long as you are with your spirit companions, we can guide you there!" the taller knight said.

"Let's go then! The sun will be gone if we stay any longer." Hikaru said.

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The group of eight and the two mysterious armoured spirits ventured along the path that lead to Aether's capital. As they walked, the boys, especially Valt, had questions that had to be answered about what happened just now.

"Hey, Valkyrie," Valt said to his partner.

"Yes, Valt?" Valkyrie replied.

"About what happened just now, before we started walking along this path. Why did those two guys kneel down to you and called you Lady...Lady..." Valt tried to pronounce the name but it didn't really roll down his tongue.

"Brynhildr?" Valkyrie helped him out.

"Yeah, that! Why did they call you that? And what was with them kneeling to you?"

"Well...first of all, Valkyrie's not my actual name. It's a family name and Brynhildr is the name that I was given."

"So, does that make your full name, Brynhildr Valkyrie?"

"Well, technically yes but most of us don't really have surnames. We usually mention our given name and then our parentage."

"But that doesn't explain why they bowed to you and called you Lady."

"Well, boy. Your companion here is not what she seems." The taller armoured spirit spoke. Everyone turned to him. "You see, Lady Brynhildr here is the younger sister of Lady Eir, head of the House of the Storms."

"The House of the Storms? What is that?" Aiga asked.

"The House of the Storms is one of the four royal families of Aether." A voice explained. It was Dragon. "The other families are the House of the Sun, the Moon and the Dawn. Each are descendants of the four noble siblings who founded this kingdom."

"So, that means Valkyrie's a princess? That's so cool!" Drum said in amazement. The other boys  were astonished too, especially Valt. I mean, who wouldn't be amazed at the fact that their long-time companion was royalty all along?      

At this, Valkyrie chuckled. "I wouldn't really call myself a princess. Besides, only the ruling family is allowed to use titles like that. I like the term 'noblewoman' more."

"The ruling  family? As in, only one family can rule in a certain period?" Hikaru said.

"Something like that," Achilles joined the conversation. "The rules say that a king or queen is allowed to rule for 400 year-"

"400 YEARS?!" Hyuga exclaimed, interrupting the red spirit. "That's a long time! We'd be dead when the king right now finishes his job!"

"Hyuga, please let Achilles explain." Valt said, sweat-dropping.

"Sorry..." Hyuga replied.

"Thanks, Valt." Achilles said to the bluenette. "Now, like I said before, a king or queen is allowed to rule for 400 years. The family that the king or queen belongs to is allowed to rule Aether so long as the current ruler is able to make an heir. If the current ruler fails to make an heir in the span of his or her reign, one of the other three families has to take over. Which family is decided by a meeting between the heads of the families and the subjects of Aether."

At this point, the bladers had learned so much about their partners. Ever since they had bonded and battled alongside them, they thought that they were mere spinning tops that somehow gained a mind of their own. Turns out, they were something much more — in a good way! But there was still something that bugged their minds.

"Hey, mister armoured guys?" Valt asked the armoured spirits.

"What is it, boy?" The shorter one responded.

"Who are you guys exactly?"

"We?" The taller one said. "We are the Celestials! The royal guards of Suria Castle! Protectors of the four royal families and this glorious kingdom!" He said that with his chest almost puffed up.

"Royal guards?! No wonder you two are in full armour!" Aiga said.

"Indeed we are!" The taller Celestial said. "By the way, I don't think we've introduced ourselves properly. I am Finn and this little lad here is Brok."

"Little?!" Brok exclaimed. "I may be a dwarf but that does not mean you can just call me little so casually!"

"What? I was just stating the facts." Finn talked back.

"Just because I'm little doesn't mean my brain isn't! I bet with that giant body of yours, Finn, you have a brain that's the size of an ant!"

"But at least an ant is strong!"

"Then explain why it still can be easily squashed by a horse's hoof?!"

The dwarf and the giant erupted into a ridiculous argument regarding their sizes. They were rather loud and childish with their quarrel which annoyed Valkyrie. Eventually, the blue noblewoman lost her cool.

"SILENCE! BOTH OF YOU!" She thundered, not only silencing the two Celestials, but also startling the bladers. "You two are guardians of Aether! You're supposed to be warriors who's duty is to protect the king! Not quarrel over something petty!" 

"F-Forgive us, our lady..." Brok and Finn said as they knelt before Valkyrie, shaken by her scolding. Once again, the blue spirit dismissed them. The bladers, Achilles and Dragon just sweat-dropped at the scene.

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"We have arrived!" Brok announced. "Welcome to The Heart of Aether!"

The group reached a gateway. When they entered the gate, they were met with a stunning sight. A magnificent city with medieval-styled buildings along roads and streets made up of cobblestone. The city was protected by a great white wall. In the very centre of the city, Suria Castle rested on top of a hill, asserting its dominance as the residence of the king as it towered over the rest of The Heart.

The five bladers were beyond mesmerized. They felt like they had traveled into the past. As they, their bey spirits and the two Celestials walked around the city, they began to see more of Aether's inhabitants. The citizens were completely comprised of mythical creatures! Some appeared human with extra features like wings, horns and pointy ears, while others looked completely inhuman. 

The point is, think of any mythical being and Aether's got them for you!

And all of them behaved just like humans. Some were eating and drinking, some were socialising with one another and some were taking their children for a walk.

"Woah...this place is amazing!" said Valt.

"Yeah! Feels like we're in those RPG fantasy games!" Aiga said in astonishment.

"Guys, look! There're pies here!" Drum exclaimed. He and the Asahi brothers were standing in front of a stall that was selling different kinds of pie. Everyone else joined them.

"Hello there, young ones." An old female voice said, but the boys couldn't seem to find the source of the voice.

"Huh? Who's there? Where are you?" Valt searched around for the voice.

"Down here!" The voice said from somewhere below. The bladers looked down and saw a small old lady, dressed in rags and wearing a cone-shaped hat.

"Nice to meet you!" The little old lady greeted.

"Eh? You're so small!" Hyuga said in shock.

"Yes! As a gnome, I am very aware of that!" The gnome said as she climbed up to the table.

"A gnome? Aren't those the weird, creepy little statues that people put in their gardens?" Drum asked.

"Those are what your kind think we are." The old gnome said. "But really, we're actually quite nice folks. Only a few of us gnomes cause trouble."

"Wait, how did you know that we're humans?" Aiga asked.

"Well...I can smell your scent. Plus, most of us Aetherians don't wear such flashy clothes like yours." The gnome pointed at the bladers clothes. "Now, what can I do for you, children? I have a lot of mouthwatering pies. I've always heard that young humans like you get really excited when it comes to desserts."

"Can we get apple pies, please?!" Hyuga and Drum demanded with excitement.

"Do you even have anything to pay for it? We don't know what they use as currency here." Hikaru pointed out, much to the younger two's dismay.

Hyuga then turned to the bey spirits. "Hey, what do you guys use to buy stuff?"

"Well...we usually trade stuff but we also do tasks in exchange for things we need." Valkyrie explained. "Don't worry, I'll help you guys."

She went closer to the stall to talk to the old gnome.

"Hello, miss." Valkyrie said to the gnome.

"Oh, Lady Brynhildr! What a surprise! What brings you here?" the gnome asked.

"Oh, not much. Just showing those little humans around. I invited them here!" Valkyrie said.

"Oh, I see."

"So, what can I give you in exchange for three apple pies, miss?"

"Well, I do need some string."

"String? Why would you put string in pies?" Aiga questioned.

At this, the gnome laughed. "No, silly. I need it for the contraption I use to make these pies. This tiny body can't work on its own, you know?"

"Well...I don't really have string," Valkyrie said. "I have my hair but that's not going to be strong enough."

"Don't worry," Valt said. "I think I have some string in my bag. Just hold on a sec."

Valt put his camping bag down, unzipped it and began searching. It only took him a few seconds to find the item he needed.

"Found it!" he cheered. In his hand was a big roll of string. He then walked up to the old gnome. "So, how much string do you want, miss?"

"Oo, that is quite a lot." The gnome started to think about the amount of string she needed. "How about as tall as that blue boy right there with the strange hair?" She pointed at Hikaru, causing the latter to be a bit confused.

Valt pondered at this request for a little but eventually agreed. He measured the string using the older Asahi's height, from the tallest of his mohawk to his feet. After that, he gave the old gnome the string.

"Oh, thank you so much, boy! Three apple pies are all yours!" Said the gnome cheerfully.

The group got their apple pies and bid farewell to the old gnome.

⏪ ⏪🔶⏩⏩

After successfully getting the apple pies, the group and the two Celestials continued to walk to the grand castle on top of the hill. Hyuga had grown tired and fell asleep on the way. Not from eating all the pies, which they hadn't eaten yet, but from not being allowed to eat said pies by his brother. From this, Hyuga grew tired of walking and decided to take a little nap, forcing Hikaru to carry him on his back, much to the older Asahi's dismay.

Eventually, they reached the castle gates. Finn and Brok escorted the group, passing through the gates and some of their fellow royal guards. The bladers were almost speechless at the massive interior of the castle. The floors were decorated with the finest of carpets, a giant glass dome above that allowed sunlight to enter and lanterns to light up the place when night falls. At the end of this grand hall were two flights of stairs that lead to a singular door.

The group were lead to the door and Brok swiftly slid the door open, revealing a space filled with wooden levers but was wide enough for the entire group.

"Woah! Is this some kind of lift?" Valt asked in amazement.

"It is," Brok confirmed. "We usually take the stairs but for those who are unable to, the builders of this castle made this." He then closed the door and pulled one of the levers. The bladers felt the box that they were in started to go up.

"This lift was made possible through dozens of pulleys, ropes, wheels and water weights." The dwarf explained. "It is considered one of Aether's finest masterpieces."

"Wow! I didn't expect you guys to be this advanced!" Drum said.

"Oh, Drum. Humans aren't the only ones with technology, ya know?" Dragon said to his partner.

They spent five minutes in the medieval elevator. During the ride, Hyuga finally woke up. He panicked at first since he had no idea of where he currently was but luckily, Hikaru managed to calm him down. The group eventually reached the floor they were intended to go in order to be face to face with the king of Aether himself.

The bladers were a bit nervous about this. They had never met royalty before. Well, except for Aiga since he met Xavier Bogard who was raised in a royal family. But Xavier was a prince, not a king, and that was the reason why Aiga still felt nervous.

"Hey, Valkyrie," Valt asked his partner. "What's the king like? Cuz you seem to know him."

Valkyrie glanced at her master. "The king, huh? Well, let's just say...he was named one of the kingdom's best rulers."

"One of the best rulers? He must be a really nice guy." Hyuga said.

"Oh, I'll tell ya, he's a really nice guy." Achilles bumped in. "He's very down-to-earth. He sometimes goes to the city to buy stuff. He'll pay for them even if the sellers offer them for free!"

"And he's a very forgiving person. He always chooses mercy over execution and only executes if there's no other option." Dragon told more of the king.

"This king sounds like a swell guy. Can't wait to meet him!" Said Aiga.

Finn chuckled at this. "It is nice that you want to meet His Majesty. Just be respectful to him and everyone in this castle, especially his son."

"His son? What about him?" Hikaru asked.

"The prince has...quite the temper, I must say. He doesn't like getting offended or wronged in anyway. The moment you do, he will surely make you leave the castle with burn marks."

This warning made the boys even more nervous. They did not want to accidentally offend the prince if they ever encounter him.

After a few minutes later, they arrived at a massive golden door that was decorated with designs of stars, moons, lightning bolts and rays of light.

"This is the throne room." Finn said. "His Majesty is in here right now. So, please be respectful."

"Okay," the boys said.

With this, the giant opened the door, allowing the group to enter the throne room. It was decorated with colourful and enormous glass-stained windows that seemed to be telling a story. One depicted four figures pointing swords and arrows at monstrous beings. Another depicted a female figure waging war against a seemingly tyrannical dragon. But one caught the eyes of the Asahi brothers. It was a depiction of two knight-like figures with wings, one was red while the other was blue. They were pointing their weapons at a demonic black and purple being.

Before the brothers could think further, they and others heard Finn speaking to the king.

"Your Highness, we have brought some unexpected guests for you. Do you not mind them being here?" He said while kneeling.

"Ah, it's alright. Besides, I was expecting them to be here." An adult male voice said kindly.

The boys turned to the direction of the throne where the king was seated in. When they met the king's face for the first time, Hyuga uttered something that shocked his fellow bladers.

"H-Hyperion?"