The sanctuary stood as a beacon of harmony, a place carved out of the mysteries of the fairy realm where the believers of the Winged Deity had been transported after the deity's untimely death. The early days of the sanctuary were marked by awe and disorientation. For the faithful, the transition from Shamba to this luminous, ethereal world was a miracle and a test of their unity. The believers from various races, transported en masse, found themselves in a realm of floating islands, bio- luminescent vegetation, and structures crafted from an otherworldly blend of natural and magical elements.
When the Winged Deity perished, its followers were chosen and physically transmigrated into the fairy realm, a space hidden from ordinary mortals. The process, though miraculous, left them in a world utterly unfamiliar. Despite this, their shared faith and altruistic natures guided them. The crime rate was nonexistent; cooperation and mutual care were inherent virtues among the population. Their survival instincts and unwavering belief united them to build the sanctuary as a tribute to the deity.
The elders, chosen based on their wisdom and devotion, formed the first governing council. They laid the foundation for what would become a thriving civilization. Their leadership encouraged learning, adaptation, and innovation. Villages blossomed into towns, and soon the sanctuary became a central hub of knowledge and spiritual growth.
Five years before the transmigration of the faithful, Orimudi had discovered the fairy realm and made it his refuge. To Orimudi, the sanctuary was a higher dimensional space that he discovered using mathematics in his quest to hunt fairies.
Orimudi was a man of secrets and unorthodox beliefs, he was not a follower of the Winged Deity but a practitioner of the forbidden soul titration technique, a military scientist of the Koronic Empire. Yet, his unparalleled knowledge of the fairy realm and its resources made him invaluable to the fledgling sanctuary. His contributions to their understanding of the realm's flora, fauna, and latent energy sources earned him the title of Headmaster—a position bestowed upon those leading the magical and intellectual growth of their civilization.
For Orimudi, however, the altruism and zeal of the believers felt alien. Their pure-hearted faith clashed with his pragmatic and often cynical nature, leaving him an outsider despite his status. Still, he played his role with precision, using the sanctuary's advancement as an opportunity to continue his research.
The sanctuary's leadership was structured into a council of twelve elders, the highest governing body responsible for law, order, and spiritual guidance. Beneath them were various headmasters like Orimudi, tasked with overseeing specific domains such as magic, education, and defense. This balance of spiritual and intellectual governance ensured stability and progress.
The council chamber was awash with an otherworldly luminescence, the golden vines on the walls reflecting the solemnity of the gathering. Headmistress Kasrel, her verdant form an embodiment of nature's resilience, stood at the center of the semicircle. Her skin shimmered like polished jade, and the soft rustling of leaves emanated from her form as though she carried the whispers of ancient forests within her.
Kasrel was a tree nymph, an evolved being who had once been a towering tree in the sacred groves of Shamba. Her transformation granted her not just mobility but profound insight into the symbiosis of life and the delicate balance of the world's energy. She had always been a silent sentinel, listening to the voices of the tree spirits and nature itself. But now, her voice carried urgency and dread.
"Esteemed elders," she began, her voice a soft cadence that carried the weight of the forest's wisdom, "I come to you not just as a member of this council but as a guardian of the natural order. Something has shifted in Shamba, a disturbance that the trees themselves have fled from."
Her words hung heavy in the air. Rujik leaned forward, his keen eyes narrowing. "Fled? Trees do not flee, Headmistress Kasrel. Explain."
Kasrel's gaze swept over the council. "The spirits of the trees, the life force that resides within them, have abandoned their earthly vessels. Across Shamba, ancient groves now stand hollow. The sanctuary itself has felt their absence; the trees along the outermost edges of our lands have gone silent. These spirits have fled to planes beyond my reach, their fear palpable."
Elder Lirana, her expression skeptical, crossed her arms. "And what has driven them to such extremes?"
Elder Lirana was an earth elemental master, she had a firm built and was responsible for organizing and planning the development of all constructions made in the sanctuary. She had participated in laying each brick that built the utopia they stood on.
Kasrel's leafy crown rustled as though stirred by an unseen breeze. "A being," she said, her tone grave. "A presence with a soul count so immense it defies comprehension. The energy it radiates is unlike anything the spirits have ever encountered. It appeared in Shamba recently, and the exodus began almost immediately. Whatever it is, it has the power to uproot the sanctuary's defenses and disrupt the balance of this realm."
The council murmured, the implications of her words sinking in.
Kasrel continued, her green fingers flexing as if to channel the tension that coursed through her. "This is not merely an isolated phenomenon. This being's presence signals a coming storm, one that we are ill-prepared to weather. And yet, at this critical juncture, Naria has vanished on an unsanctioned mission."
"Do you know where she has gone?" Rujik asked.
Kasrel shook her head. "I do, but the timing cannot be ignored. Naria's departure coincides with this emergence in Shamba. If she knows something we do not, we must question why she did not bring it before the council."
Elder Lirana spoke next, her voice measured but edged with concern. "Headmistress Kasrel, could this being pose an immediate threat to the sanctuary?"
Kasrel nodded. "Its existence alone is a threat. The sanctuary is not protected rather it is hidden. It is a space extrapolated over the physical world of Shamba. Anyone searching for it is a threat. The spirits' flight is a dire omen, and I fear it is only a matter of time before the sanctuary is invaded."
Headmistress Kasrel paused, allowing her words to sink in. Then, turning to Rujik, she added, "And yet, Elder Orimudi, who is tasked with safeguarding the sanctuary's research endeavors, has failed to attend this meeting. He claims urgent matters involving Niu. What is this child to him?"
"Where is Orimudi?" Elder Lirana asked, her voice calm yet pointed.
"He claims urgent matters with the child," replied Headmistress Kasrel, shaking her head.
"Why would he, of all people, prioritize a child over his research?" murmured one elder.
"Elder Orimudi would say anything to evade council duty."
Another elder, known for her pragmatic nature, responded, "We have tolerated Orimudi's eccentricities because of his contributions. But if Naria's departure jeopardizes the sanctuary, his neglect will not be excused."
The question lingered, and Rujik responded, his tone contemplative. "The child is... an anomaly. Orimudi's interest in him is unprecedented. I suspect there is more to Niu's nature than has been revealed."
"More secrets," Kasrel said, her tone heavy with disapproval. "At a time when transparency is vital, we are mired in unknowns. Naria's love affair is directly linked to this matter. The tree spirits in the Kitui region of Shamba were the first to flee. Without tree spirits holding back the locusts, the swarm easily overwhelmed Shamba's army."
Elder Lirana added, "the council is navigating blindfolded."
Lirana leaned forward, her sharp gaze cutting through the tension. "Headmistress Kasrel, you predict this entity would attack us. How do you propose we prepare?"
Kasrel sighed, the sound akin to a breeze through leaves. "We must fortify the sanctuary's wards and expand their scope to detect spiritual entities and practitioners of the soul titration technique. But that will only buy us time. Our true defense lies in understanding the nature of this entity and its intentions."
"And how do we achieve that?" Elder Lirana asked, her brown eyes glowing with resolve.
"I will attempt to reach the spirits that remain in hiding," Kasrel said. "Their wisdom could provide answers."
Rujik cleared his throat, drawing the council's attention. "We are fragmented in our efforts. Naria's actions, while unsanctioned, may be tied to the very threat we are discussing. I propose we dispatch scouts to Shamba to uncover what she seeks and to gather intelligence on this being."
When Naria left the sanctuary to save Faelan, she violated the sanctuary's sacred laws requiring all missions to Shamba to be vetted by the council. To compound the matter, she appointed two intelligence officers, Stargen and Evermon, to guard her child, Niu, without council approval.
The council convened, their chamber glowing with golden light as bioluminescent vines wove intricate patterns across the walls. Elder Rujik presided, his stern demeanor mirrored by the other elders.
" Elder Orimudi is hiding something," Rujik interjected. "But first, let us question the officers that Naria left to guard the child."