The Entombed Wastelands

One could see the vast Borough of Minafallen from the tallest spire.

Vastarael came to notice that Spheraphase was actually a desolate world. A Borough in Spheraphase is a group of extremely massive cities stretching for dozens of kilometers in diameter, covered by very powerful mystic barriers.

Outside them, the landscape was... arid.

It was as if the world was nuked and cities were build on those lands. However, this doesn't apply everywhere. In the elven territories located at the central and western parts of Anqerise, massive rainforests covered the landscape.

On the east and south was the human territory, where Cities and Boroughs existed. Only four Boroughs exist in the smallest continent in the world.

The Rise Borough, known to be the second largest Borough in the world. This is the capital of the human kingdom, Amaniya, covering the east and south of the continent.

The Thereia Borough, which is the capital of the elven kingdom, Mintheris, covering the west and central Anqerise.

And the Inayas Borough in Northern Anqerise. This is where other races exist, those who cannot handle the meritocracy system initiated in Amaniya and Mintheris.

And of course, the Minafallen Borough, which is located at the intersection of all the three kingdoms in the continent. It doesn't belong to anyone except the Primemaster, an Omniscient who rules over the entire Borough.

Since the academy welcomes any race into it to study in the academy, it is a neutral territory.

However, in Anqerise, only three Nexuses exist.

The Mage Nexus, The Blade Nexus and The Flora Nexus, who is Elyonari's mother.

These three have complete supremacy over the continent. As for the northern races, they only have a god ruling over them so they don't have a good standing.

Civilization and settlement exist only in Cities and the three Boroughs. Outside them.. Krepsunas roam and of course, the lands are inhabitable for anyone to live there.

And so, the lands outside the Cities and Boroughs were called the Envenomed Wastelands.

Right now, the two of them could see the area from the vantage point. It looked like an arid desert unsuitable for settlement. Who would live in a place with toxic air and full of Krepsunas roaming around like wild animals?

"Prince Vastarael, do you know the history of how the population of Spheraphase was forced to exist only in Cities and Boroughs? How the Entombed Wastelands were born?"

Narisva's question made Vastarael frown as they both sat on top of the tallest spire in the Borough. Of course he knew the reason from studying in the Royal Library in the palace.

"During the Destras Cataclysm," he replied. "The war between the First and Second Generation Deities destroyed Spheraphase completely. Even the World Tree Mintherenia couldn't repair the destruction the war caused."

"Yes. And that's why most beings live in Cities and Boroughs. Outside them, only the Ascenders can survive its conditions. Apart from Mintheris and hundreds of places in Spheraphase, one can be easily killed by Krepsunas or from the harsh climate."

Vastarael didn't know how the atmosphere outside the Boroughs were but he knew that it was a literal hell. Over time, the Boroughs usually reclaim some of the land.

That's why the Flora Nexus and her people are trying to convert the entire continent into a beautiful paradise. In fact, Anqerise was extremely lucky to have the Flora Nexus.

Reclaiming the Entombed Wastelands was not easy, not even for the Flora Nexus but the slow progress was appreciated.

"May I ask why you asked me to meet you?"

Vastarael looked at the women sitting next to him and sighed as his gaze turned to the wastelands.

"I'd like to know what your Boon and Bane is."

The moment Vastarael's question left his lips, Narisva's demeanor shifted abruptly. Her posture straightened, her hands, previously relaxed on her lap, tightened into fists. The warm sunlight that bathed them seemed to grow colder.

Her starry eyes sharpened like the edge of a blade as she turned her head toward him. The faintest frown tugged at her lips, and her tone was icy, each word carefully measured.

"Do you make it a habit to pry into the private lives of others, Prince Vastarael?"

Vastarael blinked, startled by the sudden chill in her voice. He opened his mouth to respond, but Narisva continued before he could form a coherent thought.

"Boons and Banes are not topics for casual conversation. They are deeply personal, sacred, even. You might as well have asked me to strip bare before you."

Narisva stood rigid, her back straight and her knuckles white against the railing of the spire.

"You have Celestial blood flowing in your veins, do you not?"

Narisva's starry eyes widened imperceptibly, betraying her surprise. She quickly schooled her features, but it was too late. Vastarael had seen the crack in her composure.

"I'm an Aeterium. And only the gods and Dynasties know about us. While we have strong, near-indestructible souls, Celestials are different. They are unmatched in physical strength and possess a versatility in power that puts the rest of the Four Ancient Races to shame."

Narisva said nothing, but the tightness in her jaw betrayed her frustration.

"Everyone knows that Dynasty Starisnova descends from Celestials. That isn't a secret. What is interesting is how your Dynasty, for all its power, chooses neutrality. If you truly wanted to, Narisva, the Entombed Wastelands could be reclaimed in a century. They rule over Xypelia alone, the second-largest continent after Nesmarone."

She remained silent, her hands gripping the railing tightly.

"And yet," Vastarael pressed on, leaning forward slightly, "Xypelia has no Wastelands. Isn't that curious? Unlike the rest of Spheraphase, where Boroughs and Cities must fight tooth and nail to reclaim their lands, Xypelia stands pristine. Why?"

Narisva's starry gaze hardened, but she refused to answer.

"The answer is simple. Dynasty Starisnova used its Celestial abilities, specifically its spatial manipulation powers, to alter the continent entirely. The mountain ranges that shield your land? They were constructed by your Dynasty to erase the wastelands after the Destras Cataclysm. Sure, it's a snowy wasteland but it's better than a desert of nothing."

A faint crack in her demeanor now. Her lips parted as though to retort, but she held her tongue.

"Of course, no one knows this. Even my parents haven't figured it out. They think the mountains were natural, but the truth is far more insidious. While the other Dynasties have spent millennia reclaiming the Entombed Wastelands bit by bit, risking lives to create safe havens for their people, your Dynasty did nothing."

"Stop—"

Vastarael ignored her, his tone growing sharper and colder.

"Your excuses were convincing. Your Dynasty claimed that Xypelians were unruly and dangerous, that they couldn't be trusted. But the truth? They are your people, assimilated centuries ago. While the rest of the world believed you were keeping them in check, the reality is they're living peacefully, part of Dynasty Starisnova."

"Enough..."

But he didn't stop. He stepped closer, his voice a venomous whisper.

"If the truth were ever revealed, Dynasty Starisnova would be branded as traitors. While the other Dynasties bled to reclaim the lands for all of Spheraphase, you hid behind your fabricated paradise, your lies."

Narisva's lips trembled, her body radiating fury, her voice trembling with both anger and restraint.

"You speak as though you know everything but you understand nothing. You know nothing of the cost, the sacrifices we made to ensure Xypelia's survival."

"Then enlighten me," Vastarael shot back, his tone now dripping with mockery. "Because all I see is a Dynasty that turned its back on the rest of the world while hiding in its self-made sanctuary."

The tension between them was suffocating. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Narisva's breathing was steady, but her trembling hands betrayed her inner turmoil.

"You dare judge us," she finally said, her voice a dangerous whisper. "You, who sit in the safety of your golden palace, who knows nothing of the burden we carry."

"Of course I do. All Nexuses have a pact to maintain peace and help one another. Now then, if my Dynasty comes to learn that Starisnova didn't uphold the vow the Second Generation deities placed after destroying the First Generation, guess what will happen?"

Narisva bit her lip.

"War. All the nine Nexuses will wage war to Xypelia," he grinned. "Besides, your continent is the only one not that much affected by the Entombed Wastelands. It's basically a fight over territory. And where would that put your Dynasty at?"

"..."

Narisva took a shaky breath and faced the golden eyed prince with an extremely cold expression.

"What do you want from me, Prince of Anqerise?"

Vastarael grinned when he heard those words.

'Jackpot.'