June 3, 3464.
A historic ceremony was about to take place at Avalon.
It was the wedding of Fritz and Gloria Allstatt.
Jin and Maquina had already engraved the newly finalized Avalon Charter and the Avalon emblem onto plates of adamantite.
The event was attended by every high-ranking dignitary from the various nations who had participated in the World Conference.
Naturally, the families of the couple were present as well. For the groom, Fritz, there was his father, Georg Randol; his mother, Marlene Randol; and his elder brother, Moritz Randol.
For the bride, Gloria, her father, Boulton Allstatt, and her maternal grandmother, Priscilla Livingston, were in attendance.
They were joined by Fritz’s cousin Reinhard, his brother-in-law Jin, and his younger sister Elsa Randol.
Furthermore, with the presence of Deus Ex Machina and Elena representing Nostalgia, it became a wedding of unprecedented scale.
"F-Fritz, w-what should I dooo..."
"C-C-Calm down, Gloria."
Even these two, veterans of many battles, could not hide their nerves in the face of such a situation.
The atmosphere was so grand that it was doubtful whether a more magnificent ceremony would ever be held at Avalon again.
As the historic first Avalon-style wedding, everyone involved had put their heart and soul into the preparations. It was destined to become the benchmark for all ceremonies to follow, making it impossible not to feel the pressure.
It was then that Elsa and Jin, Fritz’s sister and her husband, approached them.
"Ani-sama, please stay calm... though I know that might be easier said than done. If you just follow the rehearsal, you'll be fine."
Fritz and Gloria, who were not involved in the official conference business, had spent the previous day rehearsing the ceremony.
"Don't worry about the guests; they are merely witnesses. There's no need to let them get to you."
"You... you’ve certainly become quite stout-hearted, haven't you?"
Fritz looked at his sister standing before him, finding her presence dazzling.
"Nn... it's because the person I fell for is such an extraordinary man."
"Haha, that’s true enough....Yeah, I feel a little more at ease now. Thank you, Elsa."
Jin watched the siblings’ exchange in silence, looking just a little bit envious.
"Gloria, congratulations."
"Grandmother, thank you so much."
"I was always worried about you, you know."
Gloria was receiving her own encouragement from her father and grandmother.
"To think I would live to see you in your wedding dress... and on such a grand stage, no less."
Priscilla Livingston, her grandmother, was moved to tears.
Just then, Safi 1 and Safi 2, the dedicated Avalon golems serving as masters of ceremonies, arrived.
For this day, Safi 1 was dressed in a masculine butler's suit, while Safi 2 had changed into a formal outfit even more elegant than her usual lady's maid attire.
"Fritz-sama, Gloria-sama, it is nearly time to change into your ceremonial garments."
"R-Right."
The two headed to their respective dressing rooms.
Fritz was accompanied by his parents, while Gloria went with her father and grandmother. Jin, Elsa, Moritz, and Reinhard headed to their seats among the invited guests.
＊ ＊ ＊
"The wedding ceremony of Fritz Randol and Gloria Allstatt will now begin."
Cheers and applause echoed throughout the Avalon auditorium.
"The bride and groom are entering!"
Doors on the left and right at the rear of the hall opened, and the groom and bride appeared.
Gloria was escorted by her father, Boulton, while Fritz was accompanied by his mother, Marlene.
Walking from the sides, they met in the center. Then, hand in hand, Fritz and Gloria began their procession up the central aisle toward the stage.
Waiting for them on the dais was the witness for the ceremony, the Empress Emerita of the Shouro Empire. Behind her hung the brand-new metal plate engraved with the Avalon Charter.
Buoyed by the celebratory applause of the guests, the couple slowly climbed the stairs to the dais.
There, they both bowed toward the Avalon Charter.
The Empress Emerita, acting as witness, addressed them.
"Fritz Randol, Gloria Allstatt, do you both swear to walk the long path of life together from this day forward, hand in hand?"
"I do."
"I do."
"Let the assembled guests bear witness. Here, under the name of the Avalon Charter, the bond between these two is firmly joined."
The hall erupted in a standing ovation.
Fritz and Gloria turned to the guests and gave a respectful, deep bow.
Then, it was time for Deus Ex Machina.
Stepping slowly onto the dais, he used magi-craft to engrave the date and the names of the couple onto a mithril plate set beside the Avalon Charter.
"Here, I have engraved the names of the first two individuals to form a bond in our Avalon!"
"Eh?"
"Wait, what?"
Fritz and Gloria were caught off guard; they hadn't been told about this part of the ceremony.
"From this day forward, every couple who weds here at Avalon will have their names recorded in this place."
"Whaaaaaat!?"
This meant the names of Fritz and Gloria were engraved at the very top of what would become an eternal registry. It would remain there for as long as Avalon stood.
"Everyone, let us give the couple another warm round of applause!"
At the Empress Emerita’s prompt, the venue was once again filled with thunderous applause.
"This is likely to become a legend," someone among the attendees was heard to murmur.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...I didn't hear a word about that..."
Back in the dressing room, Fritz grumbled to Deus Ex Machina when he came to visit.
"That was a bit of playfulness from Her Majesty the Empress Emerita and the others who planned the proceedings."
"..."
In the traditions of the Shouro Empire, there was a custom of carving names into stone tablets for such occasions, so Fritz didn't press the matter further.
After all, the reception was about to begin.
＊ ＊ ＊
The reception was equally magnificent.
While Avalon prided itself on simplicity and fortitude, avoiding gaudy or hollow decorations, it was far from ordinary.
To begin with, the world’s most powerful figures—kings and emperors—were in attendance.
They each took a moment to offer their congratulations to Fritz and Gloria.
"Fritz-kun, Gloria-san, congratulations."
"Fritz, Gloria, may you find long-lasting happiness."
"Fritz-kun, make sure you make Gloria happy."
"Gloria-san, I’m counting on you to look after Fritz."
"Both of you, be happy!"
"I am truly delighted that we could hold such a joyous event here at Avalon. Fritz, Gloria, congratulations."
The couple, caught in a dreamlike daze, had no confidence they would remember exactly who had said what.
The event was a buffet-style party, but the food and drink were exquisitely refined.
Since the Safi golems provided by Jin were handling the service and the cooking methods followed the standards of Hourai Island, the quality was exceptional.
"As expected, the food here is superb."
"I wonder if I could ask the Lord of Kunlun or Maquina-dono to create a golem with these culinary skills."
Such comments could be heard throughout the hall.
"Ani-sama, Gloria-san, congratulations once again."
"Thank you, Elsa."
"Fritz, congratulations. Gloria-san, please take care of my son."
"Yes, Mother."
"Frit... z, do... your best."
"Father, thank you."
"Fritz, congratulations. From this day on, you are a member of House Allstatt, not House Randol. Work hard and do us proud."
"Big Brother, thank you."
Fritz and Gloria were basking in the blessings and encouragement of their family when a blunt, urgent announcement cut through the reception.
<<A swarm of 54 Death Sea Serpents is approaching the east coast of the Kingdom of Elias. All available members of the World Security Guard, deploy immediately. I repeat. To the east coast of the Kingdom of Elias...>>
"Death Sea Serpents? Fifty-four... that's an unprecedented swarm."
Fritz looked up, his expression instantly sharpening. Sensing the change in him, Gloria asked as if to confirm what she already knew.
"Frit... Dear, you’re going, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Fritz!?"
"But today is your wedding day!"
"Surely you don't have to be the one to go..."
His father, mother, and brother looked on in shock, but Fritz shook his head.
"I am a member of the World Security Guard. If I can go, I must. It is 'Sincerity'. I wish to walk the righteous path without deceiving myself or others."
With those words, Fritz kissed Gloria on the cheek.
"I’ll be back. Our honeymoon will have to wait until then."
"Yes, Dear. Please, go safely."
His new wife, Gloria, sent her husband off with a smile.
Jin, who was watching from nearby, let out a silent sigh.
(Seriously, those Death Sea Serpents... they really need to learn how to read the room.)
"...Reiko, contact Laojun. Tell him to provide them with backup."
"Yes, Father."
Despite the interruption, the performance of the World Security Guard, led by Fritz and the others, was exceptional. Word arrived four hours later that the 54 Death Sea Serpents had been eradicated with almost no casualties.
This final feat served to add yet another layer to the legend of Fritz and Gloria's wedding day.