CHAPTER 5: SORTING ALLEGIANCES

 Arthur's mind reeled in shock, his thoughts racing wildly. The unknown man, Daniel, a general? Was he one of his uncle's loyal officers? Had his hopes of freedom and vengeance been crushed?

But Daniel's next words shattered Arthur's assumptions. "Don't worry, it's not a trap. I'm not a general under your uncle," he said calmly, his expression unreadable.

Arthur's eyes widened as Daniel continued, "We're the help you sought, kid. The revolutionary army opposing your uncle's brutal regime."

A mix of emotions swirled within Arthur – shock, relief, and gratitude. A revolutionary army? People willing to fight for him? Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he felt a sense of hope he hadn't felt in years.

Daniel's calm demeanor was a stark contrast to Arthur's turmoil. "Come along, Arthur. We have much to discuss with the other generals," he said, walking away from the group of revolutionary soldiers.

As they ventured deeper, Arthur followed closely behind Daniel, who received salutes from the soldiers they passed. The respect and admiration in their eyes were palpable, and Arthur's curiosity about Daniel's past grew.

 As Arthur followed Daniel, his curiosity grew. The environment was serene, with lush greenery and vibrant flowers. Daniel noticed Arthur's awe and began to explain, "This is a realm discovered by me by mere coincidence during a mission of mine, unknown to all. After creating the revolutionary army with the rest of the generals, I made it known, and it was chosen as our base by everyone because it was the perfect base we needed to shield us from the sight and wrath of the usurper, as well as a perfect place to foster the growth of our then infant army."

Arthur listened intently, fascinated by the secrets Daniel was sharing. "Of course, the secrets of the realm are taken seriously," Daniel continued, "leading to us having no choice but to place everyone under a heavenly oath, as well as the restriction for anyone aside from a commander to bring an unauthorized person into the realm."

Arthur's mind was reeling with questions, but before he could ask any, Daniel began to explain the concept of realms. "Realms, Arthur, are dimensional planes anchored to a point in the world, but not actually part of the world. They're not of this world, but have key places or objects that give access to them. The access points of realms are random objects or places and cannot be discovered by following any pattern."

Daniel paused, studying Arthur's expression before continuing. "Realms vary in numbers and specialness and have been classified according to the specialness of the realm and their numbers. The classification includes Town realm, City realm, Kingdom realm, Continental realm, and World realm."

Arthur's eyes widened as Daniel elaborated on each type of realm. "Town realms are the least unique kind of realm and countless in number. City realms are more unique and less than town realms, but still much more common compared to Kingdom realms, which become drastically small in numbers, but extremely unique in comparison. While town and city realms are in their hundreds, kingdom realms are in tens."

Daniel's expression turned somber, and his voice took on a hint of reverence. "Continental realms, on the other hand, have never been found or discovered, although there have been ancient texts that acknowledge it's existence. No one has been able to discover it for hundreds of years, not since the Great War.

According to an ancient text written by the venerable Old Sage, the Continental Realm, a singular entity connecting all continents of Blue Star, once existed. However, it vanished after the Great War, which resulted in the sealing of the Central Continent, also known as the Dark Continent. The Old Sage prophesied the reemergence of both the Continental Realm and the Dark Continent, stating, "The darkness shall be the forerunner of light."

Realms are highly coveted, as they provide immense opportunities and treasures for those who possess them. The number and rank of realms held by a kingdom determine its strength. Since ancient times, countless wars have been fought over realms. Weaker kingdoms often keep their discoveries secret, biding their time until they can protect their realms openly.

The Limus Empire possesses three Kingdom Realms, out of the five known in the continent, significantly bolstering their strength and securing their position as the continent's dominant power. The remaining two Kingdom Realms are held by two other kingdoms, making them formidable foes that even the Limus Empire hesitates to confront unless absolutely necessary.

Each realm has unique properties, with some having concentrated elements in their atmosphere. For instance, a realm rich in fire elements is a treasure trove for blacksmiths, allowing them to craft exceptional weapons and armor with relative ease."

 The realm discovered by the Revolutionary Army was teeming with nature's energy, causing fruits and plants to thrive in abundance. This made it a treasure trove of resources—so valuable that any nation would covet it if they learned of its existence. Despite being merely a city realm, its discovery was a stroke of fortune, as uncovering realms relies almost entirely on sheer luck. A realm's access point could be anything: a gleaming sword, a serene pond, or even something as unassuming as a roadside pebble.

As Arthur listened to Daniel's account of the base, the two eventually arrived at a heavily guarded tent. Soldiers stood vigilant, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, but they saluted Daniel with respect before stepping aside to grant them entry.

Inside, a confident yet playful feminine voice greeted them, her tone laced with equal parts authority and charm. "It seems you've succeeded, Daniel. We were beginning to wonder if the task had prove too much for you, and you had failed" she teased, addressing the pair as they stepped into the tent.