Chapter 10 – The Revelation of the World (Part 2)
The morning sun filtered weakly through the broken, moss-covered windows of the ruined temple. Faint rays illuminated the cracked stone walls and the faded carvings of gods long forgotten. A thick mist lingered in the air, curling through the ancient pillars like ghostly fingers, as if the divine domain itself was still alive, still watching.
Cordelia stirred first, letting out a groggy sigh.
Cordelia:
— Ah... ah... so sleepy. It's been a while since I've slept like that...
She stretched her arms lazily and looked to the side, seeing Adrian still curled up in a cloak on the stone floor, softly snoring.
Cordelia:
— Hey, get up! We have a lot to do today!
Adrian (grumbling):
— Alright, alright... I'm up. Ugh, my whole body hurts...
He sat up slowly, rubbing his neck. The floor had been far from comfortable.
Adrian:
— Hey, Cordelia, where are we searching for your parents today?
Cordelia:
— We're getting close to the ruins you found. But first, I need to ask you a few questions.
Adrian (still yawning):
— What is it?
Cordelia:
— First, did you bring supplies?
Adrian:
— Of course I did.
Cordelia:
— At least you're not as dumb as I thought. Hand them over.
Adrian:
— Why? — he asked, handing over a small satchel.
Cordelia crouched near a flat rock and began checking the contents: dried meat, water flasks, root vegetables, and a few herbs tied in cloth.
Cordelia:
— We're inside a broken divine domain. I need to know how much food we have so I can figure out how long we can search for my parents before we have to get out of here. If we ration well, maybe three weeks.
A cold breeze swept through the ruins, carrying the scent of ancient dust and something faintly metallic — the lingering aura of long-dead power.
Adrian:
— What's a broken divine domain?
Cordelia:
— It's where the legacy of a dead god lies. It used to be their divine realm when they were alive. Now it's just fragments... leftovers after their death. Unstable, dangerous, but full of secrets.
Adrian:
— I see...
Cordelia (raising an eyebrow):
— Wait, how do you not know that? Wasn't it in the journal?
Adrian:
— That kind of information? The journal only showed the location of the legacy and some equipment.
Cordelia:
— So you don't know anything about heirs or divine domains?
Adrian (hesitant):
— Actually...
Cordelia (facepalming):
— I already knew you were dumb, but I didn't think you were this dumb!
Adrian:
— Is that really so important?
Cordelia (sighing deeply):
— Of course it is, you idiot! Ugh... fine, I'll explain what I know. Otherwise, you're going to get yourself killed trying to fight a monster without having the slightest idea what you're doing.
She stood, dusting off her cloak, and began drawing in the dirt with a stick.
Cordelia:
— Look, I already mentioned divine domains. Now let's talk about heirs. There are three types, at least from what I know:
— Race Heirs: they inherit mythical or legendary beasts, like phoenixes or dragons.
— Divine Heirs: they inherit gods and can awaken divine powers.
— Subordinate Heirs: they inherit heroes, like ancient warriors or saints.
Adrian (nodding):
— Got it.
Cordelia:
— Then we have power levels. I'll simplify:
— Superhuman: People who've surpassed normal human limits. Stronger, faster — at best, they could destroy a house.
— Supernatural: Where heirs start defying logic. Flying, fire manipulation... depends on the legacy. Strongest attacks might level a street.
— Hero: That one's different.
Adrian:
— Why?
Cordelia:
— Adrian, you know we inherit divine spirits that left behind myths or legends, right?
Adrian:
— Yeah, so?
Cordelia:
— To reach the Hero level, you have to perform one of those feats. Like if your spirit saved 100 people in legend — you have to do the same.
She glanced around, eyes narrowing as if remembering something painful.
Cordelia:
— At full strength, a Hero could destroy an entire city.
Adrian (stunned):
— Incredible... So this is the world of heirs... So you're saying a Hero could destroy the city we live in?
Cordelia:
— Yes. But thanks to divine barriers, we're mostly safe. Those barriers suppress power by 90%. Inside them, we can only use 10% of our strength.
Adrian:
— So that's why I've never heard of any of this...
Cordelia:
— One more thing. In places like this, you can find power stones — crystals filled with divine or demonic energy. They're valuable. Some people trade them, others absorb them to temporarily boost power. But they also attract monsters, so don't be stupid with them.
Adrian:
— Got it...
Cordelia tossed him a piece of bread wrapped in cloth.
Cordelia:
— Enough talk. Time to start looking for my parents.
She headed for the moss-covered doorway, the sound of her boots echoing faintly on the cracked stone.
Cordelia:
— Take this. You'll get hungry on the way.
Adrian (scrambling to his feet):
— Wait for me!
He chased after her into the mist, clutching the bread and the satchel. The ruins loomed ahead like the remains of a forgotten war between gods — vast, broken, and waiting.
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