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  Eternal Dominion Book 7

  Ententes

  Bern Dean

  Bern's Books LLC

  Copyright © 2022 Bern's Books LLC

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  Cover design by: ebooklaunch.com

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  In review.

  Evening November 18, 2266.

  ED year 2 days 22-23.

  Morning November 23, 2266.

  ED year 2 days 24-25.

  Evening November 23, 2266.

  ED year 2 days 25-26.

  Morning November 24 to Evening November 25, 2266 & ED year 2 days 27-32.

  Morning November 26, 2266.

  ED year 2 days 33-34.

  Evening November 26 to Morning November 28, 2266 & ED year 2 days 34-38.

  ED year 2 days 39-40.

  Evening November 28, 2266.

  ED year 2 days 40-41.

  Morning November 29, 2266.

  Evening November 29, 2266 & ED year 2 days 42-46.

  Morning November 30 to Morning December 1, 2266 & ED year 2 days 46-49.

  Evening December 1, 2266.

  ED year 2 days 49-52.

  Evening December 2 to Morning December 3, 2266 & ED year 2 days 52-55.

  Evening December 3, 2266.

  Morning December 4 to Morning December 8, 2266 & ED year 2 days 55-70.

  Evening December 8, 2266.

  Morning December 9, 2266 & ED year 2 days 70-73.

  Evening December 9, 2266.

  ED year 2 days 73-74.

  Thanks!

  Preview.

  Afterword

  In review.

  The following is simply meant to help refresh readers on some of the key points from the previous books in the series. Many important details will be left out and to get them you should read the full story. I like to do this every time three books can be added, so 4, 7, 10 and so on.

  Book 1: Restart

  Alex/Xeal finds himself waking up 20 years in the past after logging into Eternal Dominion (ED) to delete his character. As he looks at his 18-year-old self just hours from the launch of Eternal Dominion in his new life, he decided to make sure things are different this time around.

  He is joined by his friends in Eternal Dominion as they fight to earn their place in a world that will represent much of the world’s economy in the near future. His friends are as follows:

  Dan, Ignis in Eternal Dominion, a mage who wants nothing more than to enjoy throwing fireballs;

  Fred, Amet in Eternal Dominion, a warrior that wants to be in the thick of things;

  Amanda, Clara in Eternal Dominion, a holy champion who refuses to just sit back and heal;

  Samantha, Gale in Eternal Dominion, a cleric who is just looking to have fun;

  Nicole, Aalin in Eternal Dominion, an arcane caster who prefers a good mix of offense and defense and is just happy to be with her friends.

  The six of them work together as Alex/Xeal uses his knowledge from his last life to ensure that they have the best start possible. This included acquiring the “first guild” bonus for his guild Free Art Expo (FAE) that is coveted by many as it gives his guild 1.5 times the normal member cap at each level.

  Book 2: Traction

  After reaching tier 3, Alex/Xeal continues to build up the foundations that will ensure his guild’s long-term success as complications come into play. Through the meddling of his younger sister, Alex ends up in a complicated relationship with Sam and Nicole, who have been best friends since early childhood, as they attempt to share him rather than fight over him, or wait for him to decide between them.

  In Eternal Dominion, the Abysses End guild, who were the top dogs from Alex’s/Xeal’s last life, have decided to take action to seize the first guild bonus from FAE by force. FAE is faced with a battle on four fronts at once and must resolve each at the same time, or risk a prolonged engagement that could see his guild’s growth stagnate. Outnumbered but with the level advantage, FAE weathers the storm as they remove the roots of the issue while sending a message to Abysses End and every other major workshop that FAE will not go down without a fight.

  Book 3: Concessions:

  With the storm caused by Abysses End weathered, a quiet few weeks in ED has passed and Alex/Xeal is ready to challenge his tier 4 challenge and reach the capital of Nium. There he has a meeting with Prince Victor. However, somehow along the way Xeal found himself unofficially courting two noble ladies, Lady Dyllis, the daughter of the local viscount of the city Xeal took his tier 4 challenge in, and Prince Victor’s younger sister, Princess Enye. Sam/Gale and Nicole/Aalin are accepting of it due to the political nature of the situation so long as they are not pushed to the side and a budding friendship is formed between the four of them.

  In reality, Alex finds himself dealing with a surprise visit from Abysses End (Nantan) and decided to play up the philanderer angle that having two girlfriends naturally causes. His hope is to manipulate how Abysses End targets him assuming that Sam and Nicole will keep the worst at bay while he buys time with the act. This of course leads to the plan almost completely backfiring when one of his sister’s best friends, Jessica, ambushes him at Nantan’s encouragement. Alex finds himself torn on how to handle the situation and in the end decides to have her seek out help from a psychologist. The catch is he has to promise her a date if she still wants one after she completes her last year of school in June. Alex hopes that with help she can move past him as he tries to flip her to help him work against Abysses End. Even so, Alex knows his plan has failed as neither Nicole or Sam could play the hypocrite he needed for it and with a visit from Abysses End’s junior members upcoming, he knows he needs a new plan yesterday.

  Book 4: Assertions:

  Book 4 opens with Alex and Sam on a date in a nice car that ends with him accepting his feelings for her and fully embracing the fact that there is no turning back. This is followed by Alex officially moving in with Sam and Nicole as Amanda moves out to avoid another Jessica (who is now in therapy) from happening. Alex’s father officially retires from his job to pursue a life in ED as a crafter. Meanwhile in ED, Xeal completes the first quest that Prince Victor had given him and with it officially becomes a noble as his courtship of Dyllis becomes official at a party held by Prince Victor. At the same time it seems that his unofficial courtship of Princess Enye has been deduced by the single house that she wishes to avoid, the Mercer House. Xeal dances with one lady after another as he works to avoid adding any more ladies to his arm. Xeal finds himself having to turn one rather pushy lady away and another gives him a quest.

  After dealing with the nobles at the party, it is time to deal with the guild leaders of the other guilds in Nium as he hosts a gathering for them as they reach tier-4. There friendships and rivalries begin to form as various lines are drawn. Once the party is done, it is time for a major guild expedition to unlock the city of Autumndale to be undertaken. Along the way it is time to face off with a few boss-level monsters while Abysses End comes knocking for a supposedly friendly visit. With them come Ava and Mia Quinn, with their red hair and forward approach as they work to add themselves to his love life. Alex calls Nantan out over it as Sam and Nicole make a deal with them. As things close, the city is unlocked and a pair of flirtatious identical twins decides to stay behind.

  Book 5: Interference:

  After an awkw
ard run where Alex had to explain why Ava and Mia are still there, he gets them settled in a hotel for the time being. However, when he goes to pick them up from said hotel, he finds them being harassed by four men. Things happen and Alex restrains one of the four men when they attack him as police arrive. Meanwhile in ED, Xeal is focused on completing the second task that Prince Victor has set for him, but is called away when his guild’s weaker members find themselves being targeted. Seeing these attacks for what they are, Xeal decides to turn an assault into a chance to do some recruitment. After cleaning up that mess, Xeal completes the second task, picking up a dark elf follower along the way before returning to dealing with the other guilds who wish to cause his to stagnate. They hoped to cause FAE to end up isolated and alone. To do this they are targeting any guild that is on friendly terms with them. This includes Rising Oblivion and their guild leader, Friva Doomcutter, who knows that she has no path forward and decides to deal the other Red Crushers and Templar Fall a major blow on her way out.

  Meanwhile, FAE completes their guild’s headquarters in ED and Xeal is made a viscount while Aalin and Gale become baronesses and their relations with Xeal are allowed to be public once more. While in reality an attack on the group while exercising prompts Alex to shift their morning routine to indoor activities. They take up kendo, aikido and swing dancing while the police move forward with their investigation. Back in ED, Xeal toys with his opponents as he leads them by the nose and they find themselves trapped. All of them but Hugo Mercer see the writing on the wall as he forces them to proceed. In the end, a deal is struck and Hugo Mercer takes the fall as Red Crushers and Templar Fall swallow a bitter lesson. Sam and Nicole learn that they are indeed pregnant.

  Book 6: Resolve:

  After Hugo Mercer’s fate is sealed at a trial where his own father refused to defend him, it is time to handle the rest of the aftermath of the plan Xeal and Friva came up with as she joins FAE. With that taken care of, it is time for Xeal to return to completing the tasks that Prince Victor has for him as he continues to focus on increasing his leveling pace as he races for tier-5. Along the way, his courtship with Princess Enye becomes official and it is announced that Prince Victor will assume the throne in a year’s time.

  In reality, the trial for the four idiots who tried to assault Alex takes place and he attempts to end things with the twins, but only partially succeeds as they agree to take a step back upon learning that Sam and Nicole are pregnant.

  Back in ED, Xeal travels to an orc village where he finds himself forced to prove himself before having to confront his own past in its entirety, stirring up feelings he had been suppressing. After meeting with the orc seer and the chief, he finds himself with another follower who is both the chief’s daughter, and the apprentice to the seer Bula. After mediating a summit between the Chief Xuk and Prince Victor successfully, Xeal undertook and completed his tier-5 trial.

  Closing on Alex, Sam and Nicole informing their families that both girls are pregnant, only for Alex’s mom to have a bit of news of her own.

  Evening November 18, 2266.

  “Oh, um yes, it’s just that, so am I.”

  Alex tried to process what his mom had just said, but it just didn’t compute, so in a daze he spoke.

  “Mom, so you are what?”

  “Alex, um, well, you’re going to have another sibling.”

  “Um, okay, wow, so yah.”

  All that Alex could muster as a response was a bunch of filler words. He had been prepared for anything, from excitement to being told off for being so irresponsible. Not this, and as he scanned the room, he could tell he wasn’t alone. Mrs. Carter looked shocked with her hand over her mouth while the look on Mr. Carter looked like he was afraid it was contagious. Both Mr. & Mrs. Jun had shifted from what Alex had expected would become a tirade to looks of disbelief, while Alex’s dad just looked sheepish in front of the looks he was getting. It was Sam and Nicole who broke everyone out of their frozen states when they both moved in and hugged Mrs. Bell.

  “Oh, my goodness, our little ones are going to have an aunt or uncle to play with growing up,” gushed Sam.

  “Yep, you are going to move to Colorado before your due date, right?” confirmed Nicole.

  “Girls, there is a lot to figure out. Besides, I feel like I just stole your stage, sorry.”

  “Mom, you don’t mind me calling you that right?”

  “Sam, you and Nicole are carrying my grandkids. As far as I am concerned that makes you my daughters.”

  Alex watched as all of this went down and finally just smiled and pulled his mom into a hug.

  “Thanks, Mom, and congrats.”

  “Thanks, Alex, but don’t think you’ve avoided talking about getting them both pregnant. Even if I am looking forward to the babies, you still have some explaining to do.”

  “I know.”

  “Good, now go give Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Jun hugs.”

  With that Alex, Sam and Nicole approached Mrs. Carter and were instantly pulled into hugs.

  “I knew it, I’m going to be a grandma. Now, Nicole, know that I am going to treat yours the same as Sam’s. As far as I care they are both my grandkids and you can call me Mom too if you want. I am so excited! I can’t wait to take you both shopping for baby clothes. This is going to be so much fun!”

  Sam looked like she wanted to run away as her mom gushed over becoming a grandma, like Christmas had come early. Nicole looked a little overwhelmed at the outpouring of affection coming from Mrs. Carter. Meanwhile, Alex could see the complicated emotions that the Juns were experiencing while they waited for Mrs. Carter to finish as they knew that they were next. Alex’s dad and Mr. Carter came over to him and congratulated him awkwardly as both didn’t know what to say as the situation had caught them completely off guard. Finally, Mrs. Carter settled down and turned both Sam and Nicole towards Mrs. Jun who looked like she was on the verge of tears as Alex, Nicole and Sam approached.

  “Is this why you wanted us here tonight, Nicole?”

  “Mom, as much as you and I are at odds right now and I felt like not telling you until after you were already a grandma, I felt that I needed to try and include you. Make no mistake, I am my own person. The girl who did as she is told and never breaks the rules is gone. The only one who runs my life is me and maybe Alex on occasion.”

  “I see, um, well, I don’t know what to say… Alex, if you hurt her, I am going to make your life a living hell. You took my daughter from me, now you have to take responsibility.”

  Nicole smiled as she could tell that took a lot of self-control from her mom and Alex knew just how vicious Mrs. Jun could get from his last life. The fact that she was staying civil was a good sign for the time being. Still, the lack of a hug told Alex that she wasn’t ready to be happy about it. Going by his experience, he would say Mrs. Jun was somewhere between wanting to launch into a lecture on how irresponsible they were and simply denigrate Alex without any concern for reality. The bright spot for Alex was the fact that she wasn’t doing either meant there was still hope. As things started to turn extremely awkward as both sides were just standing there, Alex’s mom came to the rescue.

  “Alright, we need to get back to work. I know everyone has a lot to process and once everyone out there is fed, we can dive back into this, but for now, let’s just get through dinner.”

  With that everyone went back to work, though it was a much different atmosphere than when Alex had come in. Where it had been a room full of hustle and bustle before, now the room was a mix of tentative excitement and lingering concerns. Still, Alex was just happy that the Juns had stayed measured in their response as he knew that they didn’t care about causing a scene at his expense during his last life.

  As Alex, Sam and Nicole returned to the banquet hall, he quickly found the room as lively as when he had left. As he looked around, he had to hold back a laugh as he noticed his cousin, Jack, who was the same age as Anna, trying to chat up an annoyed Ava and Mia. He found Jessica with
Anna as they chatted with another of their cousins and Nicole’s 14-year-old sister Alyssa. As he took in everyone in the room, Alex smiled, as while he knew his mom might have gone a bit far with everyone she invited on Alex’s tab, it was still nice to see everyone like this. Especially, as to him, it had been over a decade since he had seen most of them.

  While Alex was lost in the emotions and memories that seeing so many faces that he had all but forgotten in his last life brought to him, the feast started making its way out of the kitchen. His parents, all six of them as he thought about it, were pushing carts containing enough food to feed a small army of people. When it was all laid out on the serving tables off to the sides of the room, Alex could only smile at the four turkeys, eight ducks and four hams that had been cut up, sitting next to the mountain of mashed potatoes, with turkey gravy and butter set right next to it. Then you had the half dozen choices for vegetables, from green beans cooked with bacon, to collard greens, or salad with all the fixings. Add the various sides, from cranberry sauce to the rolls, and you had one amazing spread that had been split evenly between the two sides of the room so four lines could be formed to get food. Alex could tell that all three families had contributed to the menu as he knew duck was the normal fare at the Juns’ for Thanksgiving and he could see sides that he had enjoyed from both his and Nicole’s families laid out, as well as ones which he hadn’t seen at either, which he assumed were from Sam’s family. As the adults in the room kept the kids and teenagers from rushing the tables, Mr. & Mrs. Bell made their way to the front center where Mr. Bell got everyone’s attention before speaking.

  “Well, we managed to not burn the turkey or anything else. As you all know, today is about being thankful and being with family. As you all also know, my son Alex wanted to have a joint event for all three of our families due to his plans of moving away after next month. Now before we all dig into this food that he has paid for and the six of us worked to prepare, I feel it only right that I put him on the spot and make him say something to everyone.”