Shadow Slave

Beacon of Hope

There were two ways to build a Domain.

One was provided by the Spell, and depended on the Citadels.

By becoming the master of a Citadel, or having a person who had accepted your authority become one, a Supreme could empower and expand their Domain over vast territories. A Citadel was much more than just a stronghold containing a Gateway it was a daunting construct of impossible sorcery that forcefully subjugated the part of the world surrounding it and brought it under the rule of a Supreme.

That was why both the King of Swords and the Queen of Worms, who controlled most of the human territories in the Dream Realm, were so immensely powerful.

The second way was innate to each Transcendent, and unique to their Aspect.

Nephis suspected that most Domains were territorial in nature, which was the reason why the Spell had based its method on territory.

But not all of them were.

Take the King of Swords, for example. He used the path provided by the Citadels to expand his Domain, but that did not mean that he limited himself to it. The true vessels of his authority were not lands, but people - every warrior wielding a sword forged by him was a part of his Domain, and thus empowered it.

Ki Song collected the dead. There was the mysterious Asterion, as well, who didn't seem to rule any Citadel.

As for Nephis herself, the only way for her to build a Domain was to inspire people, igniting the flames of yearning in their souls. At least that was her belief.

It had taken countless hours of contemplation and meditation for her to learn how to truly sense the underlying source element of her Aspect. She had noticed the subtle shift in her presence first... or maybe that subtle quality had always been there, too weak to be discerned.

The souls of people shone brighter in Neph's presence, their innermost hopes and aspirations igniting with a stronger flame. Her presence was like kindling for their passions, turning desire into yearning.

directly by her, or even the idea of her, then a

taken a small breakthrough in mastering her Aspect Legacy for Nephis

a tree of knowledge that bore seven fruits, She had reaped the benefits of one of them and comprehended the Knowledge of Fire in

then, Nephis had made strides in comprehending a few

the First Seeker in Verge, she had advanced considerably toward the Knowledge of Corruption. And in the last four years, she had not only fully mastered the Knowledge of Destruction, but also started on the path of comprehending Knowledge of

underlying nature of her Aspect better, as well as what she was

She had also earned the ability to vaguely feel the passions

not everyone was easy to read... the Lord of Shadows, for example, was like

out with a bit of surprise that there were

to come back with them, the mighty propaganda machine of the government churned, exaggerating her inconceivable achievements and making her into a tragic hero. A truly brilliant figure -

even built on the legendary fame of her father and grandfather, turning her into a symbol of human valiance and

words were spoken often now

about her, horrendous

only Sleeper in history to conquer the Second Nightmare had only deepened the reverence and veneration people felt toward her, followed by her adoption into

by the time Nephis became a Saint, there were already numerous people for whom she was

inspired to strive for martial strength. Some were inspired to

were even many people inspired with a straightforward carnal desire because of her looks. It was a bit awkward for her to sense the kind of

case, the foundation of her future Domain was

enough, and

Nephis had endeavored tirelessly to make it even

more people. She had learned how to carry herself, how to present a perfect

her sword where her mouth

the most deadly battlefields, dispatched her into the epicenters of the most dreadful

with the will of

these opportunities to show