The Gamer's POV-Chapter 258: New Order

’...I’m the New Order?’

Cedric stared at the epithet now given to the high elf. The first part was to be expected, of course. She was the firstborn of his inner sanctuary, and in a way, his firstborn.

But what about the New Order bit?

This made him question again who or what the old order was and how that was related to him.

He thought about it for a long moment until Aika’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Let’s go see how much our inner sanctuary has changed."

She had gently placed one hand on his arm, to ground him back to the present.

Cedric looked up at her, and as she began walking and gesturing to him to follow, he decided to put his thoughts aside for now and check out his private world. After all, that was another thing he was curious about.

He began moving too and soon caught up with Aika. As he moved, the elf stood up, then followed silently behind him as if she were his shadow.

When they all exited the inner sanctum, Cedric halted to watch the doors close back until the wall appeared seamless once again, hiding the entrance.

Looking away from the wall, he continued onward, out of the chamber, out of the vestibule and finally out of the temple.

When they got out, the night wind greeted them with a fragrant chill.

To Cedric it felt refreshing, but then a curious smile immediately appeared on his face because his inner sanctuary had indeed changed.

Of course, the beautiful field of daffodils began some meters away, ravens were either perched on the swaying stalks, or they were hovering in the air, and the pale, crescent moon above cast a warm silver light upon the ethereal scenery.

However, unlike before when shadow and darkness veiled the sanctuary in a circle, right now, that darkness had been pushed back to the horizon and another structure had been added to Cedric’s sanctuary.

It was a magnificent castle carved from obsidian, its sharp spires reaching toward the sky.

There was a path that led from the castle, past this temple. The path had been paved with smooth, gray cobblestones that snaked elegantly through the sea of daffodils, parting the yellow flowers, and it led all the way down into the darkness beyond.

’It’s beautiful...’ Cedric thought in awe as he stared.

That castle would be where Aika and he would reside whenever they came into the inner sanctuary. It would also be where his ten Kleshas and Kushalas would reside, as they were meant to be his divine guardians and the enforcers of his will.

Looking away from the fortress toward Aika and Athena, who were still admiring the obsidian castle, Cedric said calmly, "I’ll first restore the temple, and then we can go have a look."

While Aika nodded in silent agreement, Athena bowed and said, "Yes, my lord."

Cedric turned around to face the ruined temple, then he stretched out both hands and visualized his intention. Not long after, a wind blew fiercely through the field of daffodils, causing the ground to shake. Dust swirled into a thick, gray cloud, and as the debris began to lift from the earth, the building began to reassemble itself as if time was being reversed for it.

The broken columns rose from the dirt, the shattered marble fused back together without a seam, and the cracks in the walls vanished as the temple returned to its former glory.

But what surprised Cedric was that the obsidian color of the temple began to shift to white. And by the time the process was completed, a magnificent white temple stood before the three.

’So that’s what it looks like...’

At that moment, the ravens began cawing in a frantic, joyous chorus, as they hovered around him, causing him to chuckle. He opened his hand, and one of the birds perched on his open palm. It nipped affectionately at his thumb before settling its wings with a proud flutter.

Cedric smiled because he could recognize this raven. It was his favorite bird, Arlo.

Other birds also decided to join the party, like Kage, who landed on top of his head and immediately began digging for a nest in his hair, and Midnight, who perched on his shoulder.

Stroking Arlo’s glossy feathers, Cedric began taking measured steps toward the path as he led the two women onward.

The trio walked on for quite a while, and then Cedric looked up as he noticed something interesting. The sky on the horizon was bleeding into the soft, honeyed warmth of a rising sun, as the moon retreated into the pale morning haze.

’So there’s the concept of night and day in here? Hm... that’s fascinating. Why did I think it would only be night?’

Looking away from it, he continued onward and as they got closer to the castle, the field of daffodils lining both sides of the path changed into a field of green grass.

Eventually, the trio reached the large gates of the obsidian fortress, and when Cedric flicked his ring finger, the gate groaned with a heavy, metallic click before swinging open on silent hinges.

As the gates parted, they stepped into a vast courtyard where the air felt cooler and smelled of fresh rain. The walk toward the main structure was short but hushed, with the only sound being the soft thud of their boots against the stone, and the ravens who kept following them and were now also hovering over Aika.

Soon, the trio reached the castle doors. Cedric pushed his hand out, and the doors opened, revealing the stately grandeur of a classic hall.

Though the sun was beginning to touch the horizon, the hall remained draped in deep shadow, but upon entering it, a single, rhythmic sequence of wall-mounted braziers ignited with a soft, warm hiss, chasing the shadows away as they moved.

Cedric raised his head to the side and saw tall windows with clean glass soaring to the distant ceiling. Between the glass panes hung several long, velvet wall banners, each embroidered with the solemn sigil of a bisected moon. It was a striking image, perfectly split so that one half was a deep, ink-black void while the other was a brilliant, shimmering white.

To be honest, standing in the hall really made Cedric feel like a Lord.

Turning to Athena, he smiled and said warmly, "You can go take a look around your new home. When you are done, feel free to pick a chamber that pleases you."

He closed the distance between them, placing a hand on her shoulder as his tone grew serious. "Once you have settled, I’d like you to begin preparing yourself. We have a battle in a few days outside this sanctuary, and I shall require your aid."

Athena stilled, and the warmth in her expression instantly sharpened into the focused mask of a warrior. She pressed a hand to her heart and gave a sharp, disciplined nod. "My life and my magic are yours to command, My Lord. Trust that I will be ready."