CHAPTER 137: ARDAN’S HEART SANCTUARY

The sanctuary dedicated to Ardan’s heart stood as part of Vaingall’s growing architectural prowess, a structure born from the fusion of Claturian craftsmanship and divine miracles.

Nestled in a secluded ground between the connected path of the two pieces of Vaingall that housed the Yoiglah’s hallowed ground and the land where Azulus’ Feather Library was located, it was a massive concentric dome of ethereal stone, etched with sigils that glowed faintly under the morning sky.

The core chamber was a circular altar room, walls lined with blooming vines that mimicked the exotic flowers from Kivas’s vision, their petals shifting colors in response to the heart’s rhythm.

At the center, elevated on a pedestal of purified Eulanite ore, pulsed Ardan’s heart—a luminous organ encased in a web of spell formations, barriers layered like onion skins to contain any abyssal corruption within it, and also from outside interference.

Runes of containment and resonance hummed softly, drawing from Vaingall’s Dark Matter Reactor for perpetual energy.

Kivas stood at the altar’s edge, her silver-yellow hair cascading over her shoulders, halo pulsing with a soft golden light that illuminated the chamber.

Her white dress swayed gently in the artificial breeze generated by the sanctuary’s wards, designed to evoke the open plains Ardan had described.

She gazed at the heart, its steady beat a reminder of the promise she had made—to free the Araran from their curse, one purification at a time.

The construction had taken days, and was overseen by Samael directly after Kivas revealed the purpose of the sanctuary, and also the story behind the still-beating heart that Kivas manifested out of her divine essence.

It seemed like Samael was unconvinced by some part of the story, but not opposing completely, she took responsibility in ensuring that the sanctuary would be a strong containment for the occasionally corrupted heart.

To ensure the safety of Vaingall, and in extension, Kivas’ wellbeing.

Now finished, it felt like a living entity, breathing in sync with Vaingall’s essence and thousands of complex protective measures put in place that not many could even detect without a proper appraisal.

Samael approached from behind, her red-black hair flowing like a banner of night and blood, draconic horns catching the vibrant halo’s glow.

She crossed her arms, wings folded neatly against her back, her expression a mix of skepticism and irritation. "How’s it looking? Will it go corrupt anytime soon as Araran told you?" she asked, nodding toward the heart.

Kivas smiled faintly. "Stable for now, with nothing else to note so far."

Samael raised an eyebrow, her voice dropping to a deadpan tone. "This Ardan person... you’re sure she’s not a trickster? Planting corruption in Vaingall, waiting for the right moment to unleash some calamity? We barely know her—could be a long con."

Kivas turned, her smile unwavering, a touch of amusement in her eyes. "If that were the case, she wouldn’t have given me a unique skill to counter the Hollow Aequor’s illusory power.

"The Anti-Aequor Formula has already proven its worth in Salissic Vein. Ardan’s intentions feel genuine and desperate, and I’m saying this as a deity who knows more about people’s emotions and intentions at a personal level."

Samael remained unconvinced, her deadpan deepening into a slight frown. "Or maybe it’s a five-step plan. Lure you in with a gift, gain trust, then hijack a living deity’s vessel.... Make it their own. I’ve seen worse ambitions in the depths, and they won’t ever back down until they acquire what they want."

"Funny, considering that the Hollow Aequor didn’t end up gaining what they wanted with the Sallisic Vein."

"Norn arrival put off their whole rhythm. They thought that the Great Abyssal is on their side so they just stopped sending more hordes and let the chaos happen in itself, only for Norn to not do it."

"Exactly."

"It is an entirely different situation!"

"Norn wasn’t wrong when it said that you’re the wisest, not the smartest, heh."

"It is exactly because I’m the wisest that I have a tinted sight over this."

Oizys, lounging against a vine-covered wall, rustled her black feather wings and chuckled. "You’re surprisingly stubborn about this, Sammy. Usually, you’re the one diving headfirst into risky alliances."

"If I know what we’re getting into." Samael shrugged, her wings twitching slightly. "I barely know anything about these ancient kin called Araran or their origins. No records in my memories, no whispers from the void.

"That’s what makes me wary—unknowns are variables, and variables can explode the moment you forget that there is one tiny bit of possibility that something wrong may or may not happen."

Oizys countered with a grin, her violet halo flickering. "Or maybe you just weren’t on the right continent back then. Fathomi’s big—lots of pockets you might’ve missed while... being the Endless Dragon."

Samael shot her a playful glare. "That’s why I can’t be sure. Better to be extremely cautious than to lament in regret."

They all turned their gazes to the heart on the altar, protected by layers of spell formations and sigils—runes of warding etched into Eulanite, barriers of divine light interwoven with a tons of Darkness Essence in its making

It beat steadily, a golden hue pulsing with each contraction, but a faint shadow lingered at its edges, a whisper of the abyssal curse.

A moment later, the heart darkened, its glow dimming as inky veins crept across its surface, the beat irregular, like a storm brewing in its core.

Oizys straightened, her wings folding. "Is this the event you mentioned? Where do you purify it with divine power?"

Kivas nodded, but her expression was thoughtful. "Yes, but if possible, I want to try something else."

On cue, a Claturian entered the chamber with graceful steps, eyes closed in reverence.

It was Uryusha, the newly appointed second official Shrine Maiden under Kivas’s Divine Portfolio.

Her form was adorned in simple robes embroidered with symbols of harvest and renewal, a staff of woven vines in her hand.

She approached the altar slowly, the air around her shimmering with latent divinity—a mark of her role, blessed by Yoiglah’s guidance.

Uryusha stopped before the altar, opening her eyes to reveal a determined gaze.

She raised her staff, channeling Kivas’s portfolio through her own essence.

Divine miracles flowed, the same signature as Kivas’s power—golden light cascading from her hands, enveloping the heart.

The corruption recoiled, inky veins retreating as the glow restored, the beat steadying once more.

The process was efficient, the heart purifying under Uryusha’s touch, the abyssal taint banished for now.

Kivas watched with approval. "Well done, Uryusha. This heart must be purified at intervals—I won’t always be in Vaingall until Ardan breaks free of the curse. That’s why I’ve appointed you to this task."

This very reason alone also accelerated Uryusha’s role as the second Shrine Maiden, following Lyenar who focused on a greater purpose in Solvish Keep.

Uryusha bowed deeply, her voice filled with gratitude and resolve. "Thank you, Kind One. I promise to do my utmost as the Shrine Maiden stationed in Vaingall. This honor... I’ll protect it with all I have!"

"She is the total opposite of Lyenar," Samael commented.

"I can see why," Oizys snickered.

At this point, it had become her whole life’s purpose.

To fully dedicate herself into the role of the Shrine Maiden, high expectations were put on her every action.

Of course, not every role possessed the same expectation.

"As the newest representative of Vaingall to work as a worker in this Feather Library, I will do my utmost best!"

A bustling corner of Vaingall, where Azulus’s Feather Library stood as a beacon of knowledge, its shelves lined with tomes now infused with defensive measure fueled with Darkness Essence, pages fluttering like living wings.

A Claturian, happy and eager, stood before Azulus, his eyes wide with determination. "I’ll burn this honor to my soul, in the name of the Kind One!" he declared, bowing slightly as he was appointed to assist in the library’s maintenance—shelving scrolls, cataloging new acquisitions, as a new local recruit.

Azulus, her mouse ears perking slightly, waved a hand lazily, her deadpan expression unchanging. "Just do your best."

As the Claturian hurried off after a salute, Azulus’s ears twitched again, catching the soft rustle of pages from a nearby desk.

There sat Karen in her casual outfit—a simple tunic and pants, artist hat tilted back—comfortably reading a thick book, surrounded by snacks and drinks.

Crunchy caramelized nuts, a pitcher of glowing fruit juice, and some baked treats from the local farms.

Her gray eyes scanned the pages intently behind her decorative glasses, oblivious to the world.

Curious, Azulus approached, her ledger tucked under her arm.

"What are you reading?" she asked, her voice laidback but intrigued. "The latest public information on Yafka Continent, huh."

Karen glanced up, curving a smile as she marked her page. "It is surprisingly intriguing. Want some snacks? I brought extra."

Azulus accepted the offer, grabbing one of the treats before munching thoughtfully. "Heavy topic for a newcomer to Fathomi. Digesting it all?"

Karen chuckled. "Trying. It’s like piecing together a puzzle from another world. But hey, it is surprisingly fun since it mattered more than the history of the world that I used to live in."

"How come the history in your world mattered less?"