The walk back from Henry's hidden store was a quiet one, the weight of their new purchases—both physical and financial—settling over Ethan and Alan respectively.
The silence was broken when Sansa suddenly snapped her fingers, a look of realization on her face.
"Oh! You both haven't had anything to eat since you arrived, right? Come with me. I'll take care of the meals for today, since you barely have any points left." She gave them a stern but not unkind look. "But I'll have to advise you to pick up some Rank 1 quests in the hall later. You need points to live on. We're not Gods yet that we wouldn't need nutrients for the body."
Ethan and Alan nodded, their stomachs suddenly making their presence known at the mention of food. They followed her in contemplative silence until they reached a large, bustling building—the Order's cafeteria. Just before they stepped inside, Ethan's gaze was drawn to the distant horizon, to a massive, shimmering silver wall that seemed to encase their entire world.
"What is that?" he asked, pointing. "That huge silver wall in the distance."
Sansa followed his gaze and nodded, as if she'd been expecting the question. "I'm not sure you know the ranks and types of artifacts that exist, but the entire Aeltic Order exists within a Legendary Rank space artifact. That's what makes us one of the most secure and mysterious temples. I'm sure you've met the Guardian, Brutus." She lowered her voice slightly. "All of this exists within his body, almost like a domain, but not quite. The Aeltic Order is also the youngest temple, as its existence only became known after 'the Silence.'"
Ethan's mind, always searching for patterns and inconsistencies, immediately latched onto her phrasing. "The temple only became known after the Silence?" he clarified, his tone and contemplating.
Sansa's face broke into a wide, approving smile. "You understood. Honestly, if you didn't, I'd be disappointed, but I would never have corrected you. But since you noticed... what kind of tutor would I be if I didn't explain?"
Ethan admired her teaching method but didn't respond and just waited for her to continue.
Sansa continued, now dropping her voice to a low, conspiratorial whisper, her eyes scanning their immediate surroundings. "In fact, not a lot of ascendants know this, but I found the Order's footprint in records from an event that took place during the Age of Gods. It indicates the Aeltic Order wasn't new, as everyone thinks. At first, I thought I was being presumptuous, but then I considered the timing of their appearance."
She leaned in closer as the trio navigated through the crowded cafeteria. "You have to understand; the old temples were dedications to the Gods they represented. Honestly, I don't see a reason to establish a temple if you're not dedicating it to a God. Which led me to only one other possible motive." Her voice was barely audible now. "Personal profit. And trust me, I've seen firsthand that gathering resources as you ascend the ranks is no joke."
Realizing the two boys behind her had fallen into a deep, serious silence, she paused and turned. Both Ethan and Alan wore intensely focused expressions, their young faces wrinkled in thought as they processed the potentially heretical information.
Sansa chuckled, the sound breaking the tense atmosphere. Each of the boys contemplated this piece of information in their different ways but we're pulled out of their thoughts by the laughter.
Ethan looked up, pulled from his concentration. "What's wrong?"
She tried to stifle her laughter. "It's just that you boys are so cute. You haven't even woven your core, and you're thinking about cosmic conspiracies and the hidden history of the Order?" She shook her head, her expression becoming serious again as they finally reached the front of the food line. "Come on, get stronger first. Face these questions when the time comes. Who knows, it might not even be your problem to solve."
She handed them each a tray. "Great.... now, let's get food. Your first class starts now, while we eat. So, clear your heads. I'll be dropping a lot of basic, essential information on you, and you'll need to be able to keep up.
"So, like I was saying," Sansa continued as they walked to an isolated table in the hall.
Conversations in small groups like theirs were happening all over the place; everybody had a story to tell or a deal to make. Some exchanges were clearly about resources, and in the general din, no one cared about the noise.
Immediately after they sat down, Ethan noticed the sounds from the surrounding hall seemed to grow distant. He could still hear the murmur of the crowd, but it was no longer overwhelming. The only voices he could hear clearly were Alan's and Sansa's.
Before he could ask, Sansa answered, her tone playful. "An array under each table. Eating in that noise would have been unbearable. Give the Order some credit; I saw the question in your eyes on our walk over... hehe."
Ethan looked a little irked at having been so easily read. He immediately asked Sansa, who was unwrapping her sandwich, "So, the silver wall?"
"Oh, that..." she said, taking a bite. "I didn't get around to it. The Order is divided into three areas: the Outer Sector, the Inner Sector, and the Central Order. To step into the Inner Sector, you need to be at least the Lord Rank and work under a Mystic Rank. working under a mystic rank has something to do with the state of accommodation in the Inner Sector. But yeah, the silver wall you saw separates the Inner Sector from the Outer Sector."
Ethan immediately followed up. "So they refuse you entry to the Inner Sector until you reach the Lord Rank?"
Sansa laughed. "Who said you're refused entry?"
This response prompted a synchronized "Huh?" from both boys, including Alan, who had been quiet, struggling to keep up with the fast-paced information exchange.
"Exactly what I said," Sansa clarified. "No one refuses you entry. The gate that connects both sectors is completely unguarded. But everyone knows better than to open that gate without reaching the Lord Rank. Some even wait until the Mid-Lord Rank, just to be safe, before stepping in."
Ethan and Alan were shocked. Alan was the first to find his voice. "Is there a reason you can give us for this? I'm sure it's not all rumors that have everyone so spooked and fearful".
Sansa laughed again. "Well... It's mostly rumors." She leaned in slightly. "But there's one thing that's known for sure: the elemental density in the Inner Sector is at least ten times what it is here. The same way the density in this Outer Sector is twice that of the outside world. If you notice, you'll feel that the gravity is stronger within this artifact world. Now, imagine an environment with ten times the elemental energy density. How strong do you think the acting gravity would be?"
Ethan stayed perfectly still thinking about this for a moment.