Days turned into weeks as the rehearsals continued, each session bringing the cast and crew closer to the first day of filming in the VFX Studio.
As time passed, Red and Yellow found themselves growing accustomed to the presence of their human and elven colleagues. To the surprise of many, the dragons also began to exhibit a greater degree of obedience towards Arthur, a development that did not go unnoticed.
While curiosity about Arthur's ability to command these magnificent creatures lingered in the minds of all, they knew better than to pry. Instead, they gradually accepted Arthur's control over the dragons as simply another facet of his mysterious persona.
Upon entering the VFX Studio, the dragons couldn't help but marvel at the transformative power of the illusions that altered the backdrop, transporting them to another world entirely.
"Incredible!" Red exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder. "It's as if we've stepped into a different land, all through the magic of illusion!"
Yellow, though less easily impressed, nodded in agreement. "It reminds me of the Illusion Valley back in the Draconic Realm," he mused, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
Arthur's ears perked up at the mention of this unfamiliar place. "Draconic Realm?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Red, caught up in his excitement, began to explain. "It's the realm where we dragons—"
But before he could continue, Yellow swiftly interrupted. "It's nothing! Just a figment of my imagination, a made-up place!"
Red, catching Yellow's pointed glare, quickly realized his error. "Ye-yeah, that's right. Just an imaginary realm, nothing more!"
In his enthusiasm, Red had nearly forgotten the cardinal rule: the Draconic Realm was a closely guarded secret, its existence meant to be hidden from outsiders.
Arthur, however, was not so easily fooled. "Is that so?" he murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Inwardly, he had no doubt that this 'Draconic Realm' was indeed the dragons' place of origin.
An intriguing realm, he mused silently. Perhaps I should consider paying it a visit before venturing into the Netherworld. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel·fire·net
After all, the Draconic Realm was likely to pose fewer dangers than the infamous Netherworld.
Pushing these thoughts aside for the moment, Arthur refocused his attention on the task at hand—bringing his cinematic vision to life.
With a mere flick of his finger, he uttered a command that resonated through the studio. "Atmosphere Control."
In an instant, the very air around them shifted, the temperature and ambiance morphing to match the scene's requirements. The seasoned crew, accustomed to Arthur's impressive displays of magic, took the change in stride.
But for the newer actors, those working with Arthur for the first time, the casual manipulation of the atmosphere left them stunned and in awe.
Even the dragons found themselves marveling at the feat, recognizing it as a remarkable display of power and control.
As the transformed studio hummed with anticipation, Arthur took his place behind the camera, ready to guide his cast and crew in bringing his extraordinary vision to life.
December 10, 1274—the "Winter Day" celebration in Horn Kingdom was just around the corner, and the anticipation was palpable.
The Hellfire Network had launched a campaign promoting the idea of adorning homes with twinkling lights as festive decorations. The concept spread like wildfire, captivating hundreds of thousands of households across the kingdom. Everywhere you looked, houses were embracing the spirit of this new holiday, which had only been established a year prior.
In Hellscape Locations, the jolly, rotund figure of Santa Claus, with his snow-white beard and twinkling eyes, added to the enchantment of the season. His presence further elevated the sense that "Winter Day" was truly a special time.
Adults and children alike were swept up in the excitement, especially since many grown-ups had received holiday bonuses.
Arthur, through the Hellfire Network, introduced another delightful tradition: children could write their gift wishes on paper and place them under the Winter Tree, with the promise that Santa Claus might make those wishes come true.
Of course, parents understood that this was simply a way to kindle hope and joy in their little ones. But that didn't stop them from eagerly planning to purchase the desired gifts and present them as offerings from Santa himself.
One item stood out as the most coveted among Horn children—the "H.E.S" video game console. Sales of the device skyrocketed, along with purchases from the Hellfire games library.
The unmistakable lines forming outside Hellfire stores caught the attention of the media, who eagerly covered the phenomenon and interviewed waiting parents.
"What gift do you plan to give your child this Winter Day?" a Horn Reporter inquired.
A demon parent shrugged, a smile tugging at their lips. "My kid's been wishing for that H.E.S video game console, so that's what I'm here to get."
The reporter's brow furrowed. "But isn't that plaything quite expensive?"
The parent laughed. "Expensive? Not at all, especially with the bonus I just received."
The reporters found themselves at a loss for words.
The media had previously criticized the H.E.S for its high price point, deeming it too costly for a mere toy.
But now, faced with the console's impressive sales, they realized they had underestimated the lengths parents would go to bring happiness to their children.
When December 25th arrived, tens of thousands of children across the kingdom awoke to find beautifully wrapped gifts waiting beneath their Winter Trees.
Squeals of delight filled the air as they tore open the packages, revealing the H.E.S consoles they had so desperately wished for.
"Mommy, look! Santa Claus made my wish come true!" one little boy exclaimed, bouncing with joy.
His parents exchanged knowing glances, their hearts full of warmth at the sight of their child's unbridled happiness. In that moment, the true magic of Winter Day became clear—a magic born not from the existence of Santa Claus, but from the love and dedication of parents striving to create precious memories for their little ones.
The festive energy that enveloped Horn Kingdom during Winter Day didn't go unnoticed by other nations. Television broadcasts carried the joyous atmosphere to kingdoms like Morningstar, Bharat, Choson, and Japon.
While the concept of Santa Claus and the Winter Day celebration was new to many in these lands, they quickly grasped the essence of the holiday.
The appeal of Winter Day was so strong that other kingdoms began considering adopting the tradition for themselves. Corporations took note of the economic boom Horn Kingdom experienced during December, and they were eager to replicate that success.
But it wasn't just the financial benefits that caught their attention. The televised images of smiling faces, particularly those of delighted children, stirred envy among the citizens of these kingdoms.
As the Winter Day celebrations in Horn Kingdom dominated the airwaves, viewers in other countries couldn't help but notice the frequent mentions of the H.E.S video game console. This inadvertent promotion served as a powerful advertisement for the device.
The H.E.S had already made its way to the United States of Empirica and other Evros kingdoms. Despite these nations' efforts to block Arthur's crucial businesses, such as the barcode system and computers, they had allowed the import of his video game console, believing it to be of little consequence.
However, unbeknownst to them, the popularity of video games was steadily growing, with more and more people discovering the joys of interactive entertainment.
In Japon, a kingdom known for its gambling machines like pachinko, the concept of video games was still relatively new. However, the televised Winter Day celebrations from Horn Kingdom had piqued interest in the entertaining world of video games.
Yamauchi, a savvy businessman who owned a chain of hotels, a taxi service, and several casinos in Japon, recognized the untapped potential of video games.
While he knew he couldn't directly copy the advanced technology used in the H.E.S, Yamauchi saw an opportunity to partner with Hellfire and develop entertaining games for the console.
He astutely observed that the H.E.S's popularity was hampered by a limited selection of games. By collaborating with Hellfire to create compelling video games, Yamauchi believed he could capitalize on this emerging market that many had yet to fully appreciate.