The light of the portal faded slowly, as if dissolving into veils of gold that returned to the invisible fabric of the universe. And there they stood.
No longer surrounded by austere mountains or dense forests, but before an indescribable vastness.
The Empire of Eryndor stretched in every direction like a dream made tangible.
Yet, for all its beauty, the dominant feeling among the newcomers was not awe—it was hesitation.
The villagers' feet touched ground that seemed too sacred to tread. The wide streets, paved with a translucent, resilient material, reflected their faces like liquid mirrors. The buildings around them, majestic, curved in graceful arches, woven from crystal, gold, and living light.
But despite the visible wonder, the tribe's soul still bore deep scars.
Mothers clutched their children to their chests, eyes scanning every corner, fearing ambushes that would never come.
Weary warriors glanced over their shoulders, as if expecting enemy steel at any moment.
Even Ankar, now standing on this new soil, hesitated. The place was too beautiful. Too perfect. How could they trust it?
Doubt hung like an invisible mist.
Then, Orion stepped forward.
Without a word, he simply walked among them—like a presence that calmed the winds.
As he passed, the primordial aura surrounding him expanded subtly. It did not press, did not impose... it embraced.
A child, until then hidden behind her mother, peeked out. She reached out, her small fingers brushing the edge of Orion's robe. A wave of gentle warmth coursed through her tiny body, and she laughed—a sound she hadn't made in far too long: the laugh of safety.
That laughter broke the ice.
The murmurs ceased. Gripped hearts began, ever so slowly, to unclench.
The people of the Kanar Tribe, wounded and wary, began to breathe—for the first time, without fear.
Orion stopped before them. His gaze, vast as the stars, swept over every face, absorbing not just their physical presence but all they carried within: doubt, pain, promises.
His voice finally shattered the silence.
"Welcome to the Empire of Eryndor. Here, you will no longer be mere survivors. You will be seeds—and this empire, the fertile soil where you will flourish. Your names, your stories, your struggles... all will be honored. This is the place where dignity is rebuilt, where the spirit will no longer be crushed beneath the weight of injustice"
The silence lingered for a few more seconds.
Then, as if an invisible seal had been broken, something shifted.
The people began to move.
Slowly, with timid yet determined steps, they crossed the boundaries of the central plaza.
Lira, a young woman with wide eyes and a constant air of curiosity, was among the first to look up—at the towers that seemed to touch the sky.
The beauty was so overwhelming that her eyes welled with tears. It was the weeping of one who realizes that perhaps, just perhaps, life might soon be more than survival.
Orion led them onward, guiding with calm gestures.
"This is the Plaza of Destiny" he said, pointing to the immense clearing of golden marble at the empire's heart "Here, we will celebrate our victories. Here, we will rise after every fall. And here, together, we will decide who we wish to be"
Glistening fountains flowed with crystalline water that spiraled in perfect patterns, while trees with golden leaves swayed gently despite the absence of wind—as if dancing to a melody only the wise could hear.
At the center, empty pedestals awaited names. Heroes yet to be born. Stories yet to unfold.
"These pedestals are for you" Orion added "For you will be the first to build the myths of this place"
The tribe's breath became collective. One soul, divided into many bodies.
Yet, doubt still flickered in some eyes.
"My lord..." Ankar spoke, his voice still marked by decades of pain "How... can we live in this place? How do we become worthy of it?"
Orion approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You already are worthy. Not because you were born to be, but because you survived what would have broken any other people. Dignity is not granted by palaces—it is earned by the integrity of those who refuse to shatter"
And then, he led them further.
The Library of the Ancients rose before them.
"Here lies the knowledge of the ages. Magic, history, cultivation. Use it. Become masters of wisdom"
The people touched the walls with reverence. Some knelt. Others simply wept in silence.
Next, they walked to the Immortal Academy.
"Here, you will train. Cultivate your potential. You will become not just stronger, but wiser. The empire needs protectors. Leaders. Teachers. And you will be all of these"
The flame ignited.
Lira approached Orion once more.
"My lord... I wish to learn. Not just to fight... but to understand the world"
"And you shall" he replied "Your desire is what this empire values most: will"
At the end of their grand tour, the villagers were guided to a serene and enchanting valley nestled between gentle hills and trees with azure canopies.
This was where their new homes awaited.
The houses rose from the earth as if born from the soil in perfect harmony.
Their walls, crafted from radiant golden wood, intertwined with living vines that pulsed with energy.
Each home was unique, resonating with the essence of its future family. Their shapes followed no fixed pattern—they adapted to the soul of each dweller.
It was as if the houses chose their owners, not the other way around.
Lira, enchanted, paused before a circular structure with suspended balconies and a garden of white flowers that bloomed at her touch.
"This will be my home..." she whispered, eyes brimming.
For the first time, she felt she belonged to something greater. That she was, finally, seen.
Around her, the tribe explored with cautious excitement. Every detail—from the paths paved with shimmering minerals to the floating lanterns that hovered weightlessly—seemed plucked from an ancient tale once told on cold nights.
Ankar observed it all in silence. But his mind was already at work.
There was beauty, yes. But also responsibility. He knew that if this empire had been born from a god's will, its survival would depend on mortal wisdom.
He resolved to seek Orion.
In the Council Chamber, the doors opened without a sound. The grand hall shimmered in a blend of sunlight and silence.
Orion was there, seated upon his throne. His gaze turned immediately to the elder.
"Ankar, welcome"
"Lord Orion" the leader replied, bowing respectfully "Our tribe is integrating with admiration and gratitude... but also with doubt. Not for lack of faith in you, but because we do not yet know how to be part of something so... vast"
Orion leaned forward slightly.
"Speak, Ankar. I wish to hear every thought"
The elder took a deep breath.
"Allow me to propose three actions that, I believe, would cement our people's trust in this new world"
Orion nodded.
"First" Ankar said "I propose the formation of a Council of Families. A rotating group of representatives elected by their communities. This will assure our kin that their voices echo in this palace—not through pleas, but by right"
"Excellent" Orion murmured "Participation shapes loyalty. Approved. And it will expand. Every people who arrive here will also have a voice. We will rule with many eyes, not just mine"
Ankar smiled, gaining confidence.
"Second, I propose cultural festivals. Celebrations where each member may express their identity—dances, food, attire, art. We will not be silent survivors, but creators of a living civilization"
"An empire is not just power, but culture" Orion replied "Let the tradition begin. The Festival of Ascension shall be held every lunar cycle. Let art and ancestry flourish"
The elder hesitated briefly, then concluded. "Finally, I propose a Program of Shared Wisdom. Let our youth learn of cultivation, yes, but also philosophy, history, and the traditions of other tribes who may join us. Let us be more than warriors—let us be bridges"
Orion rose, descending the throne steps until he stood face-to-face with the leader. "You have grasped the soul of what we are building. This empire will not be remembered for its weapons, but for its wisdom. All three proposals shall be enacted at once"
He raised his arm.
『DING』
『New Administrative Policy: Council of Families』
『New Tradition: Festival of Ascension』
『New Wisdom Core: Integrated Knowledge Schools』
"Thank you for hearing me" the elder said, bowing.
Orion responded with a smile:
"You are not my subject, Ankar. You are a founder of this empire. And founders... do not ask permission. They build"
Outside, life began to pulse.
The Kanar were discovering everyday magic—wells that yielded healing water, gardens that responded to farmers' intent, walls that projected past histories when touched.
Children ran laughing through the fountains, their eyes alight not with the sun's reflection, but with possibility.
Tamur, the tribe's former blacksmith, was already setting up his forge at the village's edge, marveling at the living metals he'd found.
"With these, I can forge divine tools" he said, as his son watched in awe.
In the plaza, Lira and other young women organized an ancient dance passed down by their grandmothers. With scarves, instruments, and improvisation, the first steps of living culture took form upon the immortal stones.
And above it all, the sky was clear.
For the first time in centuries, no threat loomed over the village.
There was only... a beginning.
From the highest distant tower, Orion watched it all.
His eyes traced the fields, the homes, the smiles.
And deep within his eternal essence, he felt something even the Dao could not name:
Purpose.