Stepping into the Sanctuary, Alden sighed.
Finally… he was back home.
Even though he had only been gone for a few days at most, it felt like an eternity had passed.
So much had happened during this brief, but unforgettable time.
Alden looked forward to some long-overdue rest.
Working as a porter had not been easy.
The physical strain aside, it involved long hours and meagre pay.
Now that Alden had awakened, he could have the luxury of working whenever he wanted.
…Which suited him just fine.
Anything that helped him spend more time with Celeste was a win in his book.
Staring at the familiar scenery, a wave of nostalgia quickly struck Alden.
The Territory of Wind was just as idyllic as ever.
The azure sky sparkled, not a cloud in sight.
A soft breeze blew through the air.
It brought the gentle rustle of Zephyr's melody into his soul, soothing it and offsetting any heat from the sun.
Alden sighed contentedly, basking in the spring-like air.
On either side of him, a plethora of light-green buildings stood. They were made from a mixture of wood and clay, the only available materials in plentiful supply after the Great Collision.
This close to the barrier, the houses were disjointed, some in need of a few repairs, while others simply did not have the necessary funds to build a high-quality home.
Nonetheless, the occupants inside made it work. They had no other choice but to if they wanted to survive.
As he surveyed the shabby homes, a complicated light bloomed in Alden's eyes.
It wasn't always like this.
Back during the inception of the Apocalypse, right after the Sanctuary had been set up, the Four Clans had set up their base of operations right beside the barrier in case of a sudden attack.
However, the current system changed that.
It was implemented around ten years ago, and Alden couldn't help but think it was a strategy used by the Four Clans to doom the mundane people into a grim fate as cannon fodder to stall their enemies.
Either that, or they had turned complacent and sought the best piece of land instead of fully upholding their duty as Guardians.
He sighed.
Neither of these two hypotheses bode well.
'... Well, since when did it ever?'
Alden chuckled to himself silently.
Maybe it was because of the impenetrable barrier protecting them… but everyone inside the Sanctuary had become a little overconfident over the years.
Alden included.
He struggled to imagine a Defiled that possessed enough might to shatter the magical wall.
Even a Titan had failed, though Alden hadn't been born yet at the time of its attack.
Still, with the increased sightings of Dark Dryads, maybe it was prudent for them to start being a little careful.
After all, a little caution never hurt anyone.
Shaking his head, Alden continued down the main path, past the area closest to the barrier.
Much like the other three Territories, the Territory of Wind was split up into different sections. One for the mundane humans, one for the awakened mages, one for the Guilds and Paladins, and at the very heart of it, lay the citadel of the Zephyr Clan.
Alden's route would take him close to their base, but the path would veer off before he actually entered their front gate.
Not that he wanted to, of course.
Alden was perfectly content keeping his distance from the Four Clans.
He was aware not all people behaved like he did, even going to the extent of viewing their Guardians in a reverent light, but in the end, he didn't really care.
As Alden travelled deeper into the Territory of Wind, he saw the state of the homes slowly improve - although the materials they were constructed from remained the same. In one particular house, he heard serene music wafting out from an open window.
Alden suppressed a smile.
He preferred the more heavy-metal kind played in the Territory of Flame, but he could see why some people listened to the soothing notes.
It soothed his soul gently, much like a soft breeze.
Pressing on, Alden came across a couple of children running around in the idyllic weather, broad smiles on their faces. The peal of their joyful laughter streamed into his ears, causing his lips to curve into a soft smile.
The boy and girl continued to giggle, almost charging right into him. Alden quickly moved out of their way, praying the kids could keep their carefree attitudes for as long as possible.
Asterons knew how much he had desired that when he was younger.
Releasing a poignant sigh, he shook off the heavy thoughts and continued on his journey, nearing the citadel of the Zephyr Clan. He could already spy the iconic light green robes of their members from afar.
Increasing his pace, Alden paid no attention to the cursory glances of the guards and kept following the path that led to his destination, with Ignia following him from above.
***
Alden sucked in a cold breath… quite literally.
The frigid air of the Territory of Flame chilled his lungs and his bones.
Small snowflakes fell from the heavens and blanketed the ground in a light sheen of frost.
Exhaling, Alden watched his breath mist over in front of his face.
He shivered.
Even though he had lived in the Territory of Flame for most of his life, and by all means should have become used to the cold, Alden disliked the wintry weather for one simple reason.
It reminded him of how cold his heart had been before Celeste and her parents took him in.
Gritting his teeth, he circulated his mana.
Even though his body was no doubt stronger after he had awakened, it still wasn't impervious to the might of the elements.
Slowly, Alden felt the chill in his lungs and bones subside.
'Much better.'
Thankful that he had had the opportunity to awaken, Alden's feet instinctively traced the way back home, leaving footprints in the snow. This time, instead of light-green structures, the homes were painted a light reddish-orange, appearing as protruding towers of flame contrasting against the white landscape.
As was customary, he saw the mundane people wrapped up in as many layers as they could find, doing their best to resist the biting cold. He also heard a family listening to the chaotic tune of Flame, and smelled the spine-tingling sensation of spicy food wafting through the air.
Alden's stomach grumbled, urging him to hurry.
And make haste he did, eventually stopping outside a grand house, situated in the area where most of the Guilds and Paladins had set up their homes. The wood was of high quality, and the clay was finely moulded to ensure that the structure stood on a solid foundation.
Its outer reddish-orange coating was also re-painted quite recently using a mixture of natural oils and extracts.
Several guards clad in black clothing stood around the large home, eyeing him with disdain and reproach. Alden ignored them, having had plenty of time to get used to their silent judgement since Celeste became a Chosen of the Divine Sovereign.
He paused, a mixture of anticipation and nervousness rushing through his veins.
Alden's heart beat faster at the thought of reuniting with Celeste.
Ignia released a short cry, sensing his anxiety through the bond - now laying in his arms after having had enough of flight.
Chuckling, he took a moment to ruffle her feathers and reassure her, before taking a deep breath and inwardly steeling himself.
Then, with a radiant smile, Alden opened the door and entered his home.