That's why Noah took his time carefully setting up an array of magical detection devices around the gate. These tools were designed to collect all kinds of magical readings, transmitting the data in real time to several nearby lacrima for storage.
There were quite a few of these instruments, and they were all fragile and precise. Installing them wasn't easy, and it ended up taking Noah a good amount of time.
Once the setup was complete, Noah left behind a Thought Projection to monitor the equipment and returned home to continue his research.
During that period, he deepened his studies in time magic, spatial manipulation, and celestial magic. With the constant stream of advanced knowledge flowing in from the Celestial Spirit World, Noah's progress was remarkable.
The news that all twelve Golden Zodiac Keys required to open the gate had been gathered was brought to him weekly by Jude during Noah's regular visits to the Heartfilia estate to teach.
Each of the twelve keys already had a contracted holder.
To prevent any unexpected complications, Jude had personally invited all of the key holders to stay at the Heartfilia mansion one month ahead of time.
Noah had stopped by to observe them once, but aside from the three long-time servants of the Heartfilia family, none of the visitors were familiar to him. He didn't pay them much attention after that.
Layla signed a temporary contract with each of the twelve Celestial Spirits, allowing her to use the keys herself for the ritual.
With everything now in place, all they could do was wait for the day of the eclipse.
Noah double-checked the astronomical data and confirmed that the eclipse would occur on July 7, X777, exactly as recorded in historical predictions and the same date known in the original account.
So, on the morning of July 7, the Heartfilia family and Noah traveled to the royal capital, Crocus, where they were invited to dine and converse with the royal family.
It was here that Noah had his first opportunity to meet King Thomas E. Fiore, his daughter Princess Emerald E. Fiore, and the princess's personal knight, Arcadios.
That evening, while Jude remained upstairs to keep Princess Emerald company alongside her royal guards, King Thomas led Layla and Noah deep beneath the palace. There, they stood before a massive sealed door hidden in the underground catacombs.
"This gate has been guarded by the royal family for generations," King Thomas said, his voice echoing faintly off the stone walls. "Are you truly certain it can be opened?"
Though he had agreed to the Heartfilia family's request, skepticism lingered in the king's eyes. The gate had stood sealed for centuries unopened, unmoved.
"Your Majesty," Layla said gently, "I'm not entirely sure. But I believe this era holds the key to unlocking it."
Noah, standing beside her, didn't hesitate. "We'll open it today. The requirements have finally been met."
With that, Noah began activating the prepared instruments. Magical circuits hummed to life, lacrima crystals flickered as they backed up streams of magical data, and rows of detection tools buzzed as they collected readings from the air and the gate itself.
Time passed slowly, and no one spoke.
Layla quietly focused on stabilizing her magical flow. Noah, concentrating intently, moved between devices, adjusting output levels and monitoring the data. He had divided his consciousness into several projections to work more efficiently. King Thomas, meanwhile, watched the entire process in silence.
Then, at last, the lunar eclipse began.
"Noah," Layla said, her tone focused.
He turned toward her and nodded. "It's time. We can begin."
Layla took a deep breath, pulled out the twelve golden keys she had prepared, and poured her magic into them. Holding the keys high, she called out:
"Come forth and lend me your strength, Celestial Spirits of the Zodiac!"
A radiant golden light burst from each key, and one by one, they flew toward the gate. As if drawn by some ancient force, each key locked into place around the door's circular frame, illuminating intricate celestial symbols carved into the stone.
As the gate began to stir, Layla poured more magic into maintaining the connection. Noah, keeping a close eye on her condition, confirmed that her energy was stable strong and unwavering.
Satisfied, he redirected his focus to the instruments in front of him. A single Thought Projection remained beside Layla to keep monitoring her vitals, while the rest of Noah's attention was fixed on the flood of data now pouring from the sensors.
The gate's lock mechanisms clicked open one by one, and with each click, the magical pressure in the chamber intensified.
Noah could sense the surge of ancient power pure, dense magic that pulsed from the gate itself.
By the time the final lock disengaged, the entire door was glowing. Its magical aura had reached a staggering, almost terrifying level.
Then the door began to move.
Slowly, heavily, the gate inched open.
Noah's sensors flared wildly, recording hundreds of new data points every second. The magic emanating from the gate was no longer just passive it was reaching, connecting to something on the other side. Somewhere far, far away.
Noah's hands flew over the controls. He unleashed every detection tool he had without interfering with the gate's mechanism, logging as much as he could about the nature of the magic, the dimensional energy, and the otherworldly resonance pulsing through the chamber.
The Gate to the Celestial Spirit World once sealed for untold generations was finally opening.
And it was just the beginning.
The gate creaked as it opened wider, releasing a blinding white light that spilled into the chamber like a rising tide. Along with it came a billow of dust and smoke, stirred up by the long-sealed magic erupting from the breach.
Suddenly, five radiant streaks of light shot out from within the gate. Noah instinctively raised his hand to intercept them with magic, but before he could cast the spell, an earth-shaking roar echoed through his mind a thunderous, commanding voice that seemed to come from the beginning of time itself.
The sound was ancient and mighty. Even without a physical form, it carried such overwhelming pressure that it could make any living being tremble.
But Noah stood his ground.
He had anticipated this. Prepared for it.
Silently, he withdrew the magic he'd gathered and simply watched as the five beams of light scarlet, cerulean, emerald, ivory, and violet blasted upward through the ceiling, leaving five glowing holes in the stone as they vanished into the night sky.
Noah gave a small sigh.
"So much for trying to intercept the five little dragons," he muttered. "Guess their parents weren't too fond of that plan. I'll just have to wait until they come find me instead."
King Thomas had paled slightly from shock, his voice shaking as he muttered under his breath.
"I never thought... someone could actually open the gate passed down through generations of the royal family..."
Noah's Thought Projection turned to check on Layla. She was still standing, though clearly exhausted her skin glistening with sweat, her breathing heavy from the sheer amount of magic she'd just poured into the summoning. But aside from magical fatigue, she was unharmed. A bit of rest, and she'd recover completely.
Then, a new voice echoed from the glowing threshold of the gate.
"Someone... is coming out."
King Thomas took a step back, his gaze fixed on the doorway. Noah's Thought Projection and Layla both looked up toward the light, watching closely.
Out of the swirling white glow emerged a figure a woman.
She stepped fully into view, revealing herself in full. Her long golden hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and she wore a flowing white dress cinched at the waist by a black belt. Draped across her back was a dark cloak that fluttered gently in the residual wind. Her face bore an unmistakable resemblance to Layla sharp, composed, and noble.
The woman blinked slowly and looked around, her voice calm but curious.
"This place... the present... What year is it?"
"X777," Layla answered.
The blonde woman's brows furrowed slightly. She did a quick calculation in her head, then nodded slowly.
"Four hundred years later... So we made it."
But before she could say more, something struck her, and she turned toward Layla with sudden urgency.
"The children. There were five children with me. Where are they?!"
Layla's eyes widened slightly, but before she could respond, King Thomas stepped forward.
"Just after the gate opened," he said, "five beams of light shot out. I can't say for sure if they were the children you mentioned, but..."
He pointed up at the ceiling.
"There. Look. Five holes."
Everyone glanced up.
The dust still drifted softly from the shattered ceiling, where five fresh holes now gaped open to the sky. The blonde woman stared at them in stunned silence, her expression hard to read.
Noah, meanwhile, continued working with his instruments, collecting every last trace of magical data still lingering in the room. He glanced at the woman and asked calmly:
"Do you want to return through the gate now? According to my calculations, the magic signature is still stable enough for a short window. If you go back now, it will return you four hundred years into the past."
The woman fell silent, considering the offer. After a pause, she shook her head.
"No. I have unfinished business here. I have to stay."
Noah gave her a small nod, his expression unreadable.
"I respect that. Most people wouldn't have the strength to make that choice."
As they spoke, the magic surrounding the gate began to wane. The light faded, and the colossal door slowly creaked shut. The locking mechanisms re-engaged one by one, until the gate was sealed once more.
The twelve golden keys popped free from the door, scattering across the floor. Noah reached out with a flick of his hand and recalled them with a simple spell, storing them safely.
The room fell quiet.
Each person seemed lost in their own thoughts. Layla sat down to rest, still catching her breath. King Thomas rubbed his temples, trying to process everything that had just occurred. The golden-haired woman stood silently, staring at the ceiling. Noah methodically collected the most delicate of his magical equipment, carefully preserving the more fragile lacrima first. The rest he would pack up later.
But one thing was certain.
The gate had opened.
The future had arrived.
And the five children of the dragons had entered the world.