Chapter Four: The Sanctuary Tour
The halls of the Northern Division's sanctuary stretched like the ribs of some grand cathedral—towering arches, white stone veined with silver, and warm light pouring through stained glass depictions of angels, saints, and scenes of divine battle. The air thrummed with energy—holy, alive, and ancient.
Orion followed closely behind Caelum, dressed now in the crisp new uniform he'd been given. The fabric felt strange on his skin—not because it was uncomfortable, but because it made everything feel real. No longer an orphan. No longer just a survivor.
He was stepping into something bigger.
"This place… is huge," Orion murmured, golden eyes sweeping across the wide corridors. Knights in light armor passed by. Others wore long robes, their hands glowing faintly with magic. Not all carried weapons. Some held scrolls. Others books. Some simply meditated beneath glowing sigils carved into the walls.
Caelum smiled as he walked beside him. "Yeah. Welcome to the Northern Division headquarters. Halron City's pride. This sanctuary is where we train, heal, and coordinate missions across the north." He turned a corner and gestured to the open courtyard ahead.
Beyond the archway was a massive, multi-level courtyard—gardens, fountains, sparring grounds, and even a floating training platform suspended by magic. Holy faction members of all kinds moved through it like a living system—some in armor, others not. Some wielding blades, others simply barehanded, with elemental energy swirling around them.
"So not everyone here is a knight?" Orion asked quietly, observing the variety of uniforms and combat styles.
Caelum nodded. "Exactly. 'Knight' is just a general term. But not all of us wear armor or swing swords. Some are Priests—combat priests or healers. Some are Arcanists, specializing in holy spells. Then there are Sentinels, Summoners, Luminarchs… the titles vary depending on role and specialization. But officially, our ranks follow the same structure."
He held up a hand and ticked them off with his fingers.
"Rank F. The starting point. Mostly trainees or those without awakened cores. Then E, D, C, B, A—each step harder to reach than the last. And then…"
He stopped, glancing back at Orion with a small grin. "…S-Rank. That's where things get rare."
"S-Rank?" Orion echoed. "That's the highest?"
"Well," Caelum said, eyes twinkling, "almost."
He leaned casually against a white stone column and looked up at the sky.
"There's also something above S… but it's not officially recognized by the Council as a formal tier. We call it EX-Rank. It's reserved for those who've gone beyond the realm of normal magic or combat. People who've surpassed even the best of the best. They're so rare, some say it's just a myth."
Orion stared for a moment, eyes thoughtful. "So… what rank am I?"
Caelum turned, arms crossed.
"Judging by the mana rolling off you?" He tilted his head, studying Orion with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "C-Rank, which is really amazing"
"You can tell… just by looking at me?" Orion asked, brows slightly raised.
Caelum chuckled. "Let's just say I've been around long enough to get a good sense of these things. Mana pressure, core strength, spiritual stability—it's all there."
Orion absorbed the words silently.
Then, almost absentmindedly, he asked, "So what about you, Caelum? What's your rank?"
Caelum smirked and looked over his shoulder as he started walking again.
"Me?" he said with a laugh. "Let's just say I'm stronger than most."
"Stronger than most huh" Orion said as he followed Caelum as he strolled ahead, his steps relaxed yet sure, the confidence of someone who belonged deeply to this place.
They moved past the courtyard and into another wing of the sanctuary. This one was quieter—lined with doors, each bearing glowing glyphs.
"These are focus chambers," Caelum explained. "For meditation, training mana control, or receiving divine guidance. Some of the higher-ranked Luminarchs even communicate with celestial spirits in there."
"You mean angels?" Orion asked.
Caelum nodded. "In rare cases. Summoners are the most attuned to them, but even regular members can sometimes receive visions. Depends on your alignment, affinity, and favor."
They passed a wide-open training hall next—marble floors, lined with holy crystals, where several recruits sparred in controlled duels. Blades sparked, spells flared, and golden sigils lit up with each strike. One trainee dashed across the floor, barefoot, holy wind swirling around her like a cloak. Another blocked with an arm glowing in radiant stone.
Orion paused to watch, eyes wide.
"No armor. No swords. And still fighting like that…"
"Like I said," Caelum said, smiling, "not everyone here's a knight. That girl there? A Sanctified Monk. Uses a fusion of martial arts and wind magic. That guy she's sparring? A Stone bound Sentinel—defense specialist. His magic makes his body a living shield."
Orion looked around in awe.
"And what about people who summon angels?" he asked.
Caelum led him past the hall and pointed upward toward a tower in the distance. "Summoners train in the Celestial Spire. They form contracts with angelic beings—Guardians, Heralds, even Seraphs if they're lucky. It takes years to earn their trust. But those who succeed… they don't fight alone."
Awe sparked in Orion's chest again.
The deeper they went, the more he felt it.
This wasn't just a sanctuary.
It was a world. A universe within stone walls. A place where people were shaped into forces of light—and where the weak could become strong.
They reached a garden next. Quiet. Serene. A small waterfall trickled into a glowing pond, and trees swayed under invisible breeze. Holy energy flowed through the air like unseen rivers.
"This is the Aether Garden," Caelum said, voice gentler now. "For recovery and reflection. Many trainees come here after missions. It's said the trees here bloom with divine mana. That's why it's always so peaceful."
Orion paused, taking a slow breath. His gaze lingered on a statue at the garden's edge—an armored figure holding a shattered blade, kneeling in prayer.
"Who's that?" he asked.
"One of the Seven Martyrs," Caelum replied. "Legend says they gave everything to stop the Abyss from breaching the realm centuries ago. Some say their souls became stars."
Orion stared at the statue a moment longer, then looked down at his hands.
I'm really here. I survived.
And now I have a purpose.
He turned back to Caelum. "There's… a lot I don't understand yet. But this place… it feels right."
Caelum gave him a nod, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You've got a long way to go, Orion Caelvar. But I see something in you." His eyes grew sharper, more serious. "You didn't just survive the Abyss… you awakened something because of it."
Orion looked back with steady eyes. Calm. Focused.
"I'm ready to learn. Whatever it takes."
Caelum grinned. "That's what I like to hear."
He stepped back, then stretched a little.
"Alright. Let's get you to the dorms. Tomorrow, you'll meet the others in your trainee cohort. There'll be a test—not just of strength, but spirit."
"A test?"
"Every new recruit takes one. It determines your training path. And more importantly…" He smirked. "It tells us who's serious—and who just wants to wear a shiny uniform."
Orion gave a soft breath of amusement.
"I'm serious," he said simply.
"I know," Caelum replied, turning back down the path. "Since you already have the strength of a C ranked holy knight, I can't consider you as a recruit. Follow me let's go and meet someone.