The Runic Alchemist

Chapter 748: Three Matters of Importance 2

That was not received well, with people not fully understanding what had happened, but Damian quickly moved on without giving it much importance.

“Second matter of great importance. The preparation for this is not complete yet, but this is just an early update. The land of Sanctuary currently has over forty reliable dungeons. But when I visited Shadowborn Island, I found an additional 256 dungeons under and above the ocean. It will take time, but we will connect waygates to all these dungeons—from both our land and these new ones—to explore them as efficiently as possible.”

Damian did not use direct words, letting everyone form their own interpretations. If it were simply a matter of the military, he wouldn’t be telling this to them. He had used ’we’ on purpose. Also, people who could think more logistically would soon figure out that Sanctuary did not have enough pathfinders to ’explore’ these dungeons, as Damian had mentioned.

This news would reach other countries soon, and they too would be confused as hell. It wasn’t his intention to keep them on their toes, but after a brainstorming session with Evrin and Souldealer, they had decided to make people curious about this topic and get them talking—so when they truly released this great event and invited the people of the whole mainland, everyone would feel like they had been part of the process.

This too was welcomed with much enthusiasm. Sanctuary gaining so many dungeons meant that the soldiers being recruited would have a chance to enter them—even if he did not open them to the general public. Anything that would make Sanctuary powerful was wholly welcomed. After enduring a war in which they were the weakest party of all, the need for strength was great for the people of Sanctuary.

Finally, Damian arrived at the last announcement.

“And the last thing that I personally am very happy to inform all of you about is that, from today on, the whole internal structure of the sanctum’s working will change. All lords in charge of the towns and villages will be reassigned under an improved governing system.”

The applause for that was the loudest of all. Clearly, not all lords of Sanctuary’s rural regions were very well respected. Damian raised his hands, the giant black-and-gold replica doing the same under the stage.

“The last thing, decided by the table of Sanctuary’s highest three authorities—From now on, the table of three will change into the table of seven. It is with utmost pride that I introduce the six already chosen seats…”

Damian activated one of the six runic circles he had placed in all six large replicas. It was a simple display—names and titles in giant letters made of mana-element-colored, heavily modified air shields. The one activated was on Evrin’s replica’s head, glowing green with the wind element.

“The Ember Seat of Stone, Evrin Eldorian – The Stonekeeper.”

She was welcomed with heavy applause. Damian moved on, activating another name-showing runic spell.

“The Golden Seat of Truth, Lady Souldealer of House Starshield – The Luminary.”

Damian continued amid the applause.

“The Crimson Seat of Power, Einar Larven – The Flame Warden.

The now new Transcendent of Sanctuary, Lord Stormcaller.

Skyborn Seat of Freedom – bearing the title of Stormwatcher.

The Azure Seat of Depth, Lady Lucian Goldilocks – Frostmother, bearing the title of Depthbinder.

And lastly, myself. Returning the Crimson Seat of Power to its rightful owner, I have embraced the new Obsidian Seat of Silence – Damian Sunblade, the Second Keeper of Sanctuary – titled The Crownless Voidking.”

Damian looked at Sam and Lucian as he sighed like a man carrying the weight of ten kingdoms. Sam and Lucian gave him a little thumbs-up. He rolled his eyes with an expression that screamed, ’You people are insufferable.’

His name was given to him by the two of them. Only they knew his other transcendent name. Knowing the status had given him a rare job that had king in it, they wanted him to use it somehow in his official title. Everyone else was using their real names. Damian refused to entertain their childish behavior—but then he felt like maybe he was trying too hard to refuse his other name.

So in the end, he accepted it—but he still added Crownless to remind himself that he might be a king according to status and his job, but that was not the life he had chosen for himself.

The applause of the crowd was the highest for Einar, Evrin, Souldealer, and even himself. Einar’s and his were almost equal. She had been here for decades, personally working with a lot of them, building it from the beginning. It was a surprise that he could even come close to that. Ending the war, however, was indeed a milestone—not just for their city but for the whole mainland.

Damian continued, “For the last seventh seat on the sanctum’s table of seven will remain empty. For that is reserved for a citizen of Sanctuary who is not a pathfinder. The requirements for joining, the same as the house of lords members, will be announced later.”

Needless to say, the chaos his last words made was the greatest till now.

One by one, everyone beside him finally stopped the mana connection to the replicas, letting them disintegrate into wind. Damian too let his go. Proving that he could hold on for longer meant nothing—leaving together, on the other hand, would look nicer.

The event had ended. Everyone who had stayed till the end received a piece of honey cake and sweet cookies with a glass of fruit juice sweetened with honey. They had flour and honey in large quantities from the market, so Damian had designed these simple things. He knew how to make them after watching and helping Sister Hedley prepare them for the church hostel.

It was received greatly by all who tasted it. They couldn’t do too much right now, but Damian had still prepared enough so that everyone could at least get a taste of it. In the future, when the waygates to other countries would be open, he would have access to all kinds of ingredients.

The fancy part was done. Now they had to do the actual work—putting efforts behind all the words he had said loudly.