King

"Ethan Blake… heir of Eldranor. The one who awakened me and carries divine energy within his body. For ages, I waited for someone like you."

Her voice was soft; there was something almost maternal in the way she spoke. Ethan nodded with a brief smile.

"So… it really worked," Ethan murmured. "Eldranor truly belongs to me now."

"The ancient rulers are dead," the Guardian replied. Her voice was firm, deep, echoing through the vast empty hall. "It is not my place to rule this land, but the least I can do is pass the leadership to someone who holds divine energy."

She turned and, with slow yet determined steps, led Ethan toward the main hall of the central palace. The doors, carved with symbols of ancient gods and forgotten kings, opened before them without the Guardian needing to touch them. She commanded the place with nothing but her presence and thought.

The main hall was magnificent: tall columns rose until they disappeared into the golden dome above; on the walls, bas-reliefs depicted battles against dragons, pacts with gods, and ancient coronation ceremonies. In the center, a large polished stone platform where lines of mana formed a complex circle.

"This is where they ruled," said the Guardian, stopping by the circle. "The throne was merely a symbol. The true power lay here."

Ethan followed her gaze, noticing the soft blue glow that ran along the lines of the circle. "How does it work?"

"The divine energy in your body is the key," she explained, her voice gentler now. "Focus it and extend your will. Eldranor will hear you and respond."

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, and let the mana flow through his body until it became something more: something pure, almost warm, divine energy. When he opened his eyes, his pupils reflected a faint golden glow.

He extended his hand toward the circle.

The mana lines responded instantly, lighting up intensely. It felt as if an entire network had awakened beneath his feet. Ethan felt the connection: it was different from any magic he had ever touched. It felt alive.

"Can you feel it?" the Guardian asked.

"I feel… as if the entire kingdom were part of me," he replied, excitement evident in his voice.

"Your thoughts and commands can shape this place. You will command the golems, open sealed gates, and control all that lies within this city," she explained.

Ethan slowly drew back his hand, the golden traces fading from his eyes. A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"Perfect."

The Guardian inclined her head slightly, in respect. "What do you wish to do first, heir?"

Ethan turned to her, thoughts racing.

"I want to open a passage. So my allies can come to me."

She made a graceful gesture, indicating he should try.

Once more, Ethan let the divine energy flow, extended his hand, and with a clear thought, traced a luminous door in the air. In response, a golden rift opened, flickering as if made of pure light.

On the other side, he could see Aeris, Sylfie, and even Sinnon, surprised to see the passage appear out of nowhere.

Ethan kept his calm smile. "Come. Eldranor is open."

The light of the portal enveloped them, and in a few steps, Aeris, Sylfie, and Sinnon crossed the threshold, stepping onto the ancient marble of Eldranor.

The main hall, lit by blue mana lines and golden accents, seemed to breathe around them. The walls told stories in bas-reliefs so vivid they looked like moving paintings. White golems, motionless, watched like living statues. The air was clean, almost sacred, carrying something that felt like eternity.

Aeris was left speechless, hand on her chest, her gaze shining with pure reverence.

"It's… beautiful…" she whispered, her voice trembling. Her eyes darted around, as if trying to remember every detail forever.

Sylfie, meanwhile, gripped her bow tightly, her expression caught between awe and tension. "So… this is what was inside the barrier?" She glanced at Ethan, frowning slightly. "You never stop surprising me, huh."

Sinnon let out a low chuckle. "Hmph. Yeah, kid… I admit I'm impressed. Even for me, reaching this place wouldn't have been simple." The vampire's red eyes wandered over the columns and reliefs, as if searching for something familiar. "Some of these symbols… are older than you can imagine."

The Guardian inclined her head slightly to the newcomers. "Welcome, companions of the heir." Her voice was deep and welcoming at the same time, echoing through the hall. "Eldranor welcomes you."

Sylfie raised an eyebrow. "Heir?" She looked at Ethan, scrutinizing him more closely, but asked no further questions. Aeris, however, bowed her head respectfully.

"Heir…" the Guardian said again, turning back to Ethan, "there is much to rebuild. The great wings are sealed, and there are golems still dormant, awaiting your command."

Ethan walked slowly to the center of the hall, the echo of his footsteps setting the rhythm of the scene. He raised his hand, feeling again that connection with the mana circle.

"Time to show off a little," he thought.

Immediately, golden lines spread across the floor, running up the walls, illuminating massive doors that had been hidden. Ancient symbols glowed, and a sensation of awakening rippled through the entire hall.

Sylfie's eyes widened. "He… he's really controlling all this?"

Aeris answered in a tone filled with devotion: "He is the Herald of the Goddess. Of course he is."

Sinnon crossed his arms, the smile fading. "So that's how you plan to make your name echo through this world, kid."

Ethan turned toward them, his gaze calm but steady. Trying not to show his usual smile in front of Sinnon. He hadn't really done anything, he was just putting on a show.

His eyes focused mainly on Aeris.

"This place is now under my command," he declared. "Behold the new refuge for the followers of Aurelia. An entire kingdom for our cult."

The Guardian remained motionless, watching closely, but the light in her eyes seemed to approve. A kingdom needed inhabitants.

Slowly, Ethan closed his hand, and the softly glowing lights dimmed, returning to their original state.

"It's time to see Eldranor from the inside," he concluded. "Come with me."

And together, for the first time in ages, a group of living beings walked through that forgotten kingdom.

The sound of their footsteps echoed gently through the white corridors, accompanied only by the low hum of divine energy running through the walls. Ethan walked in front, guided by the Guardian, while Aeris, Sylfie, and even Sinnon followed, each lost in their own thoughts.

Sinnon, in particular, wore an expression of nostalgia.

They finally reached a narrower hall, yet still grand: columns carved with symbols of ancient gods, and in the center, a pedestal of pale stone that seemed to glow from within.

The Guardian stepped forward first, her deep voice breaking the silence.

"Heir, this was the brain of Eldranor. In the past, it served as the link between the king and the entire network of golems, defenses, and knowledge of the kingdom. While the heart can be used by anyone with divine energy, the brain can only have one user."

Ethan approached, observing it carefully. Ancient engravings covered the pedestal, all converging on the symbol of a flame wrapped in wings.

"What happened to it?" he asked, his hand hovering over the pedestal.

"It weakened over time," the Guardian explained. "The absence of a user and the loss of divine energy left it almost inert. But now that you're here… it can awaken again."

Ethan closed his eyes, took a deep breath. His hand touched the pedestal's cold surface. Instantly, as if answering a call, a golden light erupted from within, rising up his arm and wrapping around his body in traces of divine mana. The air in the hall seemed to tremble, as if the very kingdom awoke from a long sleep.

Aeris raised her hands to her mouth, surprised, and Sylfie stepped back, eyes wide. Even Sinnon, who seemed to know everything about the place, watched with quiet interest.

Ethan opened his eyes. They shone an intense gold for a moment before softening.

"I did it," he murmured to himself. "It feels like the entire kingdom is now directly linked to my divine energy."

The Guardian nodded slowly, her expression serene, yet there was almost a smile on her face.

"Now you are, officially, the Lord of Eldranor."

The hall seemed to breathe again, as if, after ages of waiting, it accepted its new master.

Ethan took a step back, looking at Aeris and Sylfie.

"Despite how it looks, this kingdom is far from perfect. I can see now that I'm connected to it. We'll need to rebuild parts of it, but my goal remains the same: to make this place the main base of Aurelia's Church, a divine kingdom."

Aeris, her gaze steady, smiled and placed a hand over her chest.

"I'm sure the other cult members will not disappoint you, my lord."

Sylfie, still serious, looked away but muttered quietly:

"Guess I'll have to join this crazy church too?"

And for the first time, even Sinnon inclined his head slightly, his voice coming out low.

"Hah, I had no expectations, but if I did, you'd have surpassed them all, kid."

Eldranor, the forgotten kingdom, now had a new lord. A new purpose.

And in that ancient chamber, where millennia were carved into every stone, Ethan Blake, Herald of Aurelia, felt the entire kingdom around him, and the weight of an entire era resting in his hands.

If Sinnon hadn't been there, he would've worn his widest smile yet. For now, he could also sense the location of every artifact within the kingdom.