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.

by her, or even the idea of her, then a subtle connection was established between them and Nephis, making

had taken a small breakthrough in mastering her Aspect Legacy for Nephis to

Aspect Legacy was a tree of knowledge that bore seven fruits, She had reaped the benefits of

Nephis had made strides

last four years, she had

was that last branch of her Aspect Legacy that had helped her fathom the underlying nature of her Aspect

learned how to sense the subtle connections formed between her and those she inspired. She had also earned the ability to vaguely feel the passions and desires of those around her, which were like sparks

easy to read... the Lord of Shadows, for example, was like a closed book, especially when he wore that mask of

after Nephis had gained that understanding, she found out with a bit of surprise that there were already countless people in the world who were

the Dreamer Army to siege the Crimson Spire and failed to come back with them, the mighty propaganda machine of

had 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 by the people born

even movies made about her, horrendous as

veneration people felt toward her, followed by her adoption into Valor, which added the Great Clan's

by the time Nephis became a Saint, there were already numerous people

it clearly... some were inspired to strive for martial strength. Some were inspired to cultivate the nobility

carnal desire because of her looks. It was a bit awkward for her to sense the kind of yearning they had for her when she was out and

her

it wasn't vast enough, and it wasn't potent

past four years, Nephis had endeavored tirelessly to make it even more

how to present a perfect

put her sword

always sent her to the most deadly battlefields, dispatched her into the epicenters of the most

the will

to show the