Chapter 9: The First Commandment
The sight of Vance Haven's walls sent a ripple of visible relief through Kael and Roric. Their guarded postures softened, the grim tension of the caverns finally leaving their shoulders. But for Alistair, the return felt different. The wooden palisade was no longer just a barrier against the dark; it was the boundary of his domain. He could feel its presence on the edge of his perception, a defined line of his will made manifest.
As they passed through the gate, the tribe emerged from the hut and gathered around, their faces etched with worry that quickly transformed into open-mouthed awe. Thora, Kael, and Roric had returned unharmed, but it was Alistair they stared at. He carried himself differently. The lingering fatigue from his first days was gone, replaced by a grounded, resonant calm. The air around him seemed to hum with a subtle energy, the scent of ozone and rich earth clinging to him. He had walked into the heart of the world and returned, changed.
He didn't need to say a word. Thora stepped forward and began speaking to her people in their flowing, consonant-rich language, her voice low and intense. She gestured back toward the jungle, mimed the fight with the serpent, and finally placed a hand over her own heart, then pointed to the ground at Alistair's feet. The message was clear: He faced the great darkness below and claimed its power for us. He is the heart of this land.
A new prompt appeared, soft and golden.
FAITH THRESHOLD REACHED.
FOLLOWERS: 32. DEVOTION: STEADFAST.
UNLOCKING: EDICT SYSTEM.
A new tab in his Admin menu pulsed with light. He focused on it, and a simple interface unfolded. It was a list of potential decrees, fundamental laws he could impose upon his territory, powered by the faith of his people and his own Admin authority.
Most were greyed out, far beyond his current power.
- [EDICT OF BOUNDARIES: Prevents designated native fauna from crossing settlement borders. Cost: 500 Faith.]
- [EDICT OF BOUNTY: Increases resource yield and regeneration within territory. Cost: 1000 Faith.]
But one was available, its text glowing with a gentle, welcoming light.
- [EDICT OF SANCTUARY: Designate your settlement as a sanctuary. Non-hostile native creatures will not instinctively fear this location. Minor healing and stamina regeneration increased for followers within the walls. Cost: 50 Faith.]
It was perfect. It wasn't a weapon; it was a foundation. It would make this a true home, a place of rest and safety. It would stop the constant, low-level fear that had everyone jumping at shadows.
He selected it. A window popped up.
ISSUE EDICT OF SANCTUARY UPON VANCE HAVEN?
THIS WILL CONSUME 50 FAITH. FAITH POOL: 52/100.
He confirmed.
There was no blue light, no roaring hum. The change was subtler, more profound. A wave of palpable peace washed out from him, flowing through the clearing like an invisible tide. It was a feeling of safety, of profound calm, that settled over the land and the people within it.
The tribespeople felt it instantly. Their postures, which had been permanently braced for danger, relaxed. The ever-present tension in their faces smoothed away. A few looked up at the sky as if seeing the twin suns for the first time without the filter of fear. The young man who had laughed after the wall was built let out a soft, genuine sigh of contentment.
The environment reacted, too. A small, six-legged creature with iridescent fur, which had previously bolted at the slightest movement, paused at the edge of the tree line, its nose twitching. It took a tentative step past the wooden wall, then another, before scurrying off to nibble on the blue moss, no longer viewing the clearing as a place of imminent death.
Thora closed her eyes, breathing in the new atmosphere. When she opened them, they shone with unshed tears. This was a magic deeper than summoned walls or conjured fire. This was a gift of the spirit.
Alistair felt the Faith pool drain, but he also felt the Edict take root, drawing a tiny, constant trickle of power from his Core Link to sustain itself. It was a sustainable system.
He looked at his people, truly looked at them. They were no longer just assets or followers. They were his community. Their belief had a tangible power, and he had just used it to make their lives better.
A new construction option, unlocked by his Tier-2 authority, now glowed in his menu: [WATCHTOWER].
He had the power. He had the faith. He had a home to defend and a people to lead.
"Tomorrow," he announced, his voice carrying easily in the quiet, sanctified air. He pointed to the four corners of the palisade. "We build higher. We see further."
No one questioned him. They simply nodded, their faces filled with a trust that was now unshakable. The first law of Vance Haven had been decreed: This is a place of safety. And its leader was just getting started.