Chapter 10: Rank up
In the days that followed, Ethan’s life settled into a surprisingly... normal routine. Or at least, as normal as it could be for someone carrying the title of Herald of Aurelia.
He was staying in a private residence owned by the Church, and it was absolutely worthy of a herald. Honestly, it reminded him of the five-star hotels he had stayed in back in his previous life.
The entire place seemed crafted from flawless white marble, while the furniture was made from a wood that closely resembled rosewood or dalbergia. Everything radiated wealth.
Time in the city passed faster than he expected. In the mornings, he focused on understanding his role within the Church itself, with Seraphina and the rest of the council personally guiding him.
He learned that within the Cult of Aurelia, his authority was absolute. As Aurelia’s Herald, his word was the word of the Goddess. He wasn’t just a symbolic figure, he was the right hand of a literal deity.
Afternoons were spent on something far more practical, the Adventurers’ Guild. Outside the sacred walls, the world still didn’t know his name. And that needed to change.
Becoming an adventurer was essential. Not just for fame or freedom of movement, but also to avoid raising suspicions about his origins and activities. After all, nothing was more convenient than being able to legally travel across any territory... with just a guild badge.
His goal was simple: reach Rank A as fast as possible.
The Great Crimson Rift was known across the entire continent, a colossal abyss, as old as the kingdoms themselves. A place where high-ranked monsters lurked... and where mediocre adventurers went simply to never return.
But there was something nobody knew. Not even the most renowned adventurers had ever realized it.
At the heart of the Rift, there was a barrier. Invisible to the naked eye. A magical wall so dense that, to the world, it simply didn’t exist. And beyond that wall... a forgotten realm. The ruins of a lost civilization, filled with artifacts, knowledge, and power that couldn’t be found anywhere else.