The instant Renn's fingers brushed the cool, smooth surface of the ancient white statue, the serene valley was bathed in an intense, pure light. The air thrummed with power, a resonant hum that vibrated deep in his bones and echoed in the very heart of the Sacred Order nuns guarding him. Nyra's violet eyes widened slightly, Eryn and her Templars instinctively gripped their spears, but there was no malice in the energy, only an overwhelming sense of ancient sanctity and recognition.
Then, Renn's personal sacred order system sprang to life in his mind, its voice resonating with solemn clarity.
[System: Ancient Sacred Order Statue detected. Resonance with Lord of the Sacred Order confirmed. This effigy is a Guardian of Faith, a territorial anchor of immense passive power. It can be claimed for the Order.]
[System: Do you wish to claim the 'Guardian of Faith'?]
"Yes," Renn whispered, his gaze fixed on the radiant statue.
Upon his intention's confirmation, the statue did not crumble or offer resistance. Instead, the intense light it emitted seemed to condense, folding in on itself. With a sound like a thousand whispers, the towering stone figure shimmered, turning translucent, then ethereal, until it finally collapsed into a single compact object that floated gently into Renn's outstretched hand. It was a small, intricately carved effigy of the statue, no larger than his palm, made of the same luminous white stone. It felt warm, alive.
[System: 'Guardian of Faith' claimed! Item obtained: Guardian's Effigy (Artifact Quality). Can be placed in any territory claimed by the Lord of the Sacred Order to activate its effects.]
[System: Guardian of Faith Effects (Passive, once placed in a territory):
Territorial Sanctity Aura: All allied Sacred Order units within the territory receive +10% to all base statistics (Strength, Agility, Intellect, Stamina, Faith).
Heart of the Order: Increases Sacred Energy/Faith regeneration for all allied units by 25% within the territory.
Bastion Against Corruption: Grants +30% resistance to corruption, curses, and mental attacks to all allied units within the territory.
Echo of Devotion: Slightly increases loyalty gain speed for standard troops (Templars) and training effectiveness.]
[System: Guardian Active Ability (Lord Renn - Once per day): 'Minor Purification Wave'. Releases a wave of holy energy from the statue that heals minor wounds and removes minor negative effects from all allied units within a 200-meter radius.]
Renn gazed at the small effigy in his hand, and then at the empty pedestal where the magnificent statue had stood. The passive buffs alone were astonishing. This was a game-changer for the defense of his territories, especially with the impending threat of the Tithe and the dangerous journey to the Whispering Peaks.
"Incredible…" Eryn breathed, her usual stoicism momentarily dissolving into awe as she felt the lingering sanctity in the air. "My lord, what is it?"
Renn explained the System notification, the nature of the Guardian of Faith, and its powerful territorial buffs. A wave of elation washed over the Templars. Melisa let out a yelp of joy, quickly stifled by a sharp look from Eryn, though even the commander's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"+10% to everything and more faith regen!" Astrid bellowed, slapping Thalia on the back hard enough to make her stumble. "Those Ardyn elephants won't know what hit 'em next time!"
Lin looked overwhelmed, gripping her spear tightly. "It's… a blessing from the Lord," she whispered reverently.
Meanwhile, Nyra had turned her attention to the small cluster of ethereal blue crystals they had found at the statue's base. She knelt, a gloved hand hovering over them. "These crystals, my lord… they emit a pure energy, almost identical to the Sacred Crystals we obtained from the Ash Nest, but more… refined. I would call them 'Sanctity Crystals.' They are not for construction or currency, I believe. They are… catalysts. Enhancers for sacred rituals or for imbuing objects with faith power."
[System: New Resource Discovered: Sanctity Crystals (Rare Quality). Used for sacred artifact creation, Order ritual potentiation, and sacred structure enhancement.]
"Another treasure," Renn mused, a smile on his face. "This hidden valley has turned out to be a gold mine." He looked around. "Secure the area, Eryn. Collect all the Sanctity Crystals. Nyra, anything else of interest?"
Nyra shook her head. "The valley itself is peaceful now that the trolls have been… dealt with. The Guardian's energy seems to have purified it further. It is an ideal spot for meditation or for the sisters to train in a sacred environment, should you wish."
The return to the Sylvan Bastion was swift, spirits buoyed by the incredible discovery. Renn immediately convened his inner circle in the main hall. The Guardian of Faith effigy was placed on the central command table; its soft glow illuminated their faces.
"The question is where we place it," Renn began. "The Sanctuary of Faith is our original home, our spiritual nexus. But the Sylvan Bastion is our new stronghold, our first major conquest, and a more strategic, defensible base of operations."
Seraphina, who had been listening intently to the expedition's report, spoke first, her voice resonating with her divine authority. "My lord, the Guardian of Faith is an anchor. Its power will broadly benefit any territory. However, the Sanctuary of Faith is the cradle of our Order, the place where your power as Lord of the Sacred first manifested. Placing it there first would reinforce its spiritual foundations, which could have long-term beneficial effects on the cohesion and growth of the entire Order. The Bastion, while vital, is a more recent acquisition. We can consider a second Guardian, should fate favor us, for this place later."
Lilith, surprisingly, nodded her agreement. "Big sister is right, my lord. The Sanctuary is… special. It's where I met you." A flicker of genuine emotion crossed her normally mischievous features. "Strengthening our origin will strengthen everything that comes after."
Valka also agreed. "The faith currents are purer and deeper in the Sanctuary. The Guardian will resonate with greater power there, amplifying its essence."
Nyra added, "Furthermore, my lord, the ritual for the Tithe will be performed at the Primeval Essence Pool, which is within the Bastion's territorial domain. If the Guardian is placed at the Sanctuary, its effects will not directly overlap with the Pool's energy, allowing each source of power to operate at its fullest without interference, at least until we better understand their synergies."
Renn considered their advice. It made sense. The Sanctuary was their heart. "Then it is decided. The first Guardian of Faith will be placed at the Sanctuary. Eryn, prepare a detachment. Nyra, you and I will take it. I want to see its effect firsthand."
The journey back to the original Sanctuary of Faith was uneventful, a stark contrast to their recent bloody adventures. Upon arrival, the familiar clearing greeted them with its serene atmosphere. Renn, holding the effigy, walked to the center, near the main altar where Lilith had first been summoned.
[System: Do you wish to place the 'Guardian of Faith' in this territory: Sanctuary of Faith?]
"Yes."
The effigy in his hand dissolved into pure light, which rose before descending and merging with the earth. The ground trembled, and with a sound like ancient stone grinding, a full-sized replica of the Sacred Statue they had found in the valley materialized before them, radiating an immense aura of peace and power. The air itself felt charged, cleaner. All Order members present, from Nyra to the newest Templar guard, felt a surge of strength, were invigorated, and their connection to faith and to Renn perceptibly deepened.
[System: Guardian of Faith successfully placed in the Sanctuary of Faith! Territorial Sanctity Aura activated! Heart of the Order activated! Bastion Against Corruption activated! Echo of Devotion activated!]
Renn could feel it—a subtle but undeniable surge in his own reserves, a clearer connection to the threads of faith that bound his Order. The entire Sanctuary seemed to hum with new vitality.
"Now," Renn said, turning to Nyra, a new determination in his eyes, "let's discuss that ritual for the Tithe. With the Guardian here and the Pool at the Bastion, we have two power nexus points. How do we optimize this?"
Nyra's eyes glowed. "My lord, the Guardian will stabilize and empower the faith we channel from here. We will be able to send a purer, more concentrated stream of sacred energy to the Pool for the transmutation ritual. This should reduce cost and increase efficiency."
Back at the Sylvan Bastion, Seraphina and Lilith were already preparing the Primeval Essence Pool grotto. Runes were being inscribed, and offerings of purified water and rare herbs laid out. News of the Guardian's successful placement and its effects reached them via communication crystal, further boosting their confidence.
As the final preparations for the grand Tithe ritual were underway, Valka, who had been gazing into the depths of the Primeval Essence Pool, suddenly stiffened. Her usual serene expression gave way to one of awe and dawning comprehension. The Reliquary map in Renn's inventory, dormant after its recent outburst, pulsed violently again, burning into his mind the image of the tear symbol, now glowing with an almost desperate light.
"My lord…" Valka gasped, her hand flying to her chest, her eyes wide and fixed on something unseen. "The Whispering Peaks… the Sleepers… I feel an… an immense disturbance. A call… no, a warning." Her voice trembled. "The awakening we felt before… it was not the Statue. It was an echo. This… this is different. The timeline… it has… accelerated! Something or someone is forcing their awakening!"
The air in the grotto grew thick, the light from the Primeval Essence Pool flickering erratically as if responding to a distant cosmic tremor. The urgent call of the Four Sleepers could no longer be ignored. The choice between the crucial Tithe for the Earth and the dangerous call of the Whispering Peaks had become a razor's edge.