"I understand, I'll follow your guidance," Sonya replied thoughtfully after hearing Kassadin's words, nodding in agreement.
"You haven't evolved enough times yet, and your body's still weak. No need to strain yourself trying to keep up with me. Give me your hand."
Seeing Sonya nodding, Harvey didn't linger on the topic further. Noticing her ankle had turned red, he gave a simple command.
Without hesitation, Sonya extended her hand.
In an instant, Harvey took her hand, and with a slight motion, the two vanished from the road.
The next second, they reappeared at the entrance of a grand and majestic golden temple. Built from earthy-hued stones, the temple exuded a sense of grandeur and power.
A series of stairs led up to the temple's entrance, culminating in a vast stone platform. Atop this platform stood a massive ten-meter statue, intricately carved in Kassadin's likeness, showcasing the sculptor's extraordinary skill.
"Not bad at all," Harvey said with approval as he took in the temple's design and the statue that perfectly mirrored his current appearance.
While the Void itself is often associated with darkness and nothingness, a temple built entirely on such a theme would hardly be appealing. A dark-colored temple wouldn't just look bad, it would also give off an oppressive first impression.
Sonya had consulted him earlier, asking whether the Void's aesthetic should lean more towards light and grandeur or dark and foreboding. He had simply said to make it bright and grand, and she had done exactly that. To be honest, the result was quite impressive.
Though Sonya wasn't surprised by their sudden relocation, as she already knew Kassadin possessed teleportation abilities, she couldn't help but admire the sight before her. After all, when she first received the Void's power, she had witnessed Kassadin perform miracles — vanishing without a trace across the vastness of space.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Kassadin," she responded with a smile. "However, you still need to inscribe the Void Church's commandments and teachings on the stone tablet beneath the statue. That way, future followers will feel a sense of awe and reverence."
Harvey nodded in response, using his Void powers to lift Sonya into the air, ascending to the platform beneath the statue. Once they landed, he released her hand.
With a single gesture, Harvey summoned Void energy, and symbols began to etch themselves into the towering stone tablet, forming words.
Sonya didn't pay much attention when he let go of her hand. However, when she saw the characters inscribing themselves onto the tablet, she recognized them. Her translation device confirmed that they were written in a language from C-53, Earth.
Her eyes flickered with a hint of realization. If Kassadin were ever gone for an extended period, perhaps she could go to C-53 to learn more about him. Though using Earth's language didn't necessarily mean Kassadin was from there, it did imply that he'd likely spent significant time on the planet to have mastered the language.
"Now I can tell future Void followers that this tablet's teachings were personally inscribed by you," Sonya said with a smile, keeping her thoughts to herself while admiring the finished commandments and teachings Harvey had set in stone.
"I'll be spreading the word soon. It won't be long before people on Xandar start to hear my name," Harvey replied. "When that happens, it'll be your job to guide them properly, ensuring they don't lose themselves to desire."
Sonya nodded slightly as Harvey spoke, her mind already preparing for the influx of potential followers.
"The inscriptions are done. Shall we check out the interior of the temple now?" she asked.
Harvey nodded and followed Sonya as they entered the temple.
At the far end of the temple's great hall, there was an enormous mural, a breathtaking blend of night and stars.
"It's impressive, but why did you choose this particular design?" Harvey asked, intrigued by the mural.
"Because you didn't give me specific instructions on what the Void's emblem should look like," Sonya explained. "So I painted what I saw when I first received your blessing. While it's not the full picture of the Void's majesty, I believe those who follow the Void will understand that this mural represents it."
"The conference room and judgment hall are also set up," she continued. "If anyone from the Void Church violates its commandments in the future, they'll be judged there. Maintaining order in the temple is crucial."
Sonya couldn't hope to capture the essence of Kassadin's vast and majestic presence in a simple mural, so she chose to depict the starry night sky she saw when she first connected with the Void. She believed that future followers, too, would witness such phenomena upon joining the Void and understand its meaning.
"You haven't let me down, Sonya," Harvey said, visibly impressed. "The temple turned out great."
Hearing Harvey's praise, Sonya let out a sigh of relief, her tension easing at last.
The temple had been the most nerve-wracking part for her. While Harvey had given her general guidance on the color scheme, the rest was left to her discretion. However, with the villas, she had directly asked about his preferences and provided sketches for him to choose from, so she felt much more confident in that area.
As for the training grounds, she wasn't worried at all. Built with special materials, the gravity training facility was cutting-edge technology. As long as it functioned properly and looked presentable, it would meet Harvey's standards.
Noticing Sonya's visible relief, Harvey understood that his vague instructions had put some pressure on her.
"You can start thinking about what kind of reward you want now," Harvey said. "Money, power, or something else entirely. As long as your request isn't too outrageous, I'll consider granting it."
Having delivered a satisfactory result, Sonya deserved a reward, and Harvey wasn't one to hold back on that front.