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 the inspired

not learned to sense these connections swiftly, though. In fact, it had taken a small breakthrough in mastering her Aspect

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

Nephis had made strides in comprehending a

the Knowledge of Corruption. And in the last four years,

fathom the underlying nature

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 and

of Shadows, for example, was like

of surprise that there were already countless people in the world who were

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

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

were

about her, horrendous

to conquer the Second Nightmare had only deepened the reverence and veneration people felt toward

became a Saint, there were already numerous people for whom she

after she became a Saint, their numbers only continued to grow. She could feel it clearly... some were inspired to strive for martial strength.

It was a bit awkward for her to sense the kind of yearning they had for her when she was out and about, and pretend

any case, the foundation of her future Domain was

it wasn't vast enough, and

in the past four years, Nephis had endeavored tirelessly to make it

the souls of even more people. She had learned how to carry herself, how to present a perfect facade to the masses. She poured her intellect into grasping the Knowledge

her sword where

the way Clan Valor treated her was ironically of great help. They always sent her to the most deadly battlefields, dispatched her into the epicenters of the most dreadful calamities, as if wishing for her to die. Wherever there was a crisis, Changing Star and her Fire Keepers would arrive, dissipating

with the will of

these opportunities to