Cultures and Beliefs

The Cor Order was a set of rules that would later be inscribed into slates of wood and stone.

The Order's values consisted of two wooden slates and two stone slabs that kept the rules and regulations that were confirmed for the people both in the town and other regions who followed Semna to obey. In total, it included sixteen rules in number as well as what one should and shouldn't do. Forming the core of governance and order for the Humans of the Toris tribe.

*Ding! Congratulations, you and your people are the first to be given rules from a higher being, and for that, you have been given an additional 500 ounces of Sensory energy.*

Rina, who heard this voice once again, became even more curious as to what it entailed; what interested her even more was the name of the energy itself, what was its purpose. This was the beginning of a new setting for the culture and beliefs of a certain group of people, but this action from Semna was more than enough to incite reactions from the other beings. Ikdo and Himlo also decided to copy her method but rebranded it into their own invented version.

Somewhere under one of the trees situated in the Great southern forests, Ikdo, the deer, sat upon the bed of grasses, and upon hearing the system's announcement, his lips then drew into a tight smile. As soon as he closed his eyes, an image of the elf whom he met a long time ago reappeared in his head.

"Might as well start." He thought, closing his eyes as they began glowing and as soon as he sensed her location, the next thing that happened around the area was him transforming into a green wisp before rushing towards the sky.

Hidden deep in the forestlands, a set of elves who identified themselves as Ehedkar Elves constructed their houses around the trees using the resources granted to them by the forest and a little bit of stone here and there, creating giant tower houses attached to the fat trees themselves, connected to spiral staircases forged with hard wooden railings.

Bridges primarily made from Vines connected the houses, making them easily accessible.

From one of these tower-like houses, a Female Elf with wrinkly skin came out to her balcony holding a small baby wrapped around a cloth in her arms. The Baby Elf closed his eyes, descending into a sleeping state while the Elven Grandmother quickly returned inside and dropped him with a male elf before leaving.

The moment she placed a foot out of the staircase, a strange presence descended on her, tugging her nerves before her eyes started to glow. All the elves who were present noticed this change and were left wondering what was going on.

She found herself in the forests, with no more tree houses but countless empty and dark corners cast by shadows of thirty-meter-tall trees right. Then a voice spoke to her from behind, "It's a good thing that I established a connection with you; therefore, I can also summon you at will."

The Old Elf promptly turned her gaze to see a figure with horns protruding from its head, standing in an upright position while it looked at her. For a while, all was silent, and then her memory juggled, reminding her that this was the creature of the forest whom she met more than a century ago.

With respect, she bowed, trying not to break her neck, "Why have you summoned me oh great protector of the forest?"

Ikdo looked at her with a smile, "You are welcome to the Intermediary, a place where I can communicate with you from any location.

As you are here, your eyes are glowing back in the physical realm; this is to let the other elves know that I called for you, a messenger of mine when you return."

"Your words have been heard, and your will be done. However, may I ask why you indeed summoned me here?" She asked.

"I summoned you here, to reward you and your tribe for obeying my words and not destroying the ecosystem of the forest. You, Alvinia, will be the one to deliver these gifts to them."

Alvinia raised her head and looked at the Ikdorn, "What would these gifts be, Protector of the forests?"

"Gifts willed by the power to harness energy from the natural world which the forest brings, to protect the forest and be its essence of protection," Ikdo replied.

"However, these gifts are not meant to destroy or harm what lives unless it is an enemy that needs to be destroyed at all costs. These gifts were given to protect the forest, animals, yourselves, and families. I will give you the knowledge of how to use these gifts so that you will teach them to the rest of your tribe."

"Won't I forget how to use these powers when I return to the physical realm?" Alvinia queried.

"Even if you return, you will still be able to learn the ways of how to use these gifts," said Ikdo, who then moved close to Alvinia before touching her forehead with his upper left hoof. His eyes began glowing and Alvinia's own followed. When the glow flowing from both of them finally dimmed, Ikdo spoke once more,

"Use this knowledge wisely," His body then dimmed slowly into a shadow, and before Alvinia knew it, she found herself back in the physical, still outside with one foot on the grass, the other on the stone tile, surrounded by elves who were still restraining themselves from coming over to her side.

A loud notification ring attacked her ears, *Congratulations you have gained the bestow skill and 200 ounces of Sensory energy!*

*The bestow skill allows you to grant gifts of your higher being to others.*

Alvinia decided to deal with this notification later.

"The Great Creature of the Forest just spoke with me.” She said,

"What did he say?" One of the Elves asked.

"A delivery of gifts from the forest for some of you who have been seen as exceptional for these gifts."

That day the entire tribe was summoned. They looked at Alvinia, who stood in front of them with her eyes glowing from the rays that managed to pierce the foliage. Standing right in front of her were eight other elves that she walked towards and touched their foreheads, the eyes of the elves also began to glow, hers resonating with theirs.

“Your training will be,”

Alvinia took care of her child during the morning and afternoon and in the evening, she taught the eight elves how to control and use their various powers. Birthing the beginning of a new tradition known as the Divine Gifts Ceremony.

Every 10 years the messenger of Ikdo would go to the Elves and choose 8 of them from among the ages of 18 and below who would have the gifts of the forest given by Ikdo to be transferred to them.

"An interesting concept," Shawn thought.

In the North Central Lands, before Demna had even made the Cor order, somewhere within the deep caves, six golden-skinned individuals sat on the hard floor, inhaling and exhaling, with their chests rising and falling along. After doing this for a while, they all opened their eyes and located a figure in their center still meditating, having his legs crossed and his eyes closed.

"You are almost close," said a voice who spoke into the ears.

His eyes remained closed for a little while before a booming sound erupted from his body. Upon opening his eyes, he found that they were no longer in the cave but in an open plane. He looked around and spotted a figure wearing white robes and having both hands lying on the bed of grass.

Idan looked closer at the figure and immediately noticed who it was, "Old man Kadan!" He yelled.

Karan slowly opened his eyes and calmly smiled, "Ahhh yes.”

"Why am I here?"

"You have broken the first phase of enlightenment and seen me because I am here to congratulate you on being the first golden to unlock this phase," Kadan said.

"How did you know about this? Shouldn't you be the first golden to enter this phase?" Idan asked.

"That's because I am not a goldorn; rather, I was a goldorn before I became a being. These phases were set by me to make you all attain them," Kadan replied.

"What are beings?" Idan asked another question as his confusion heightened, the more he looked at Kadan.

"Let us just say, that a being is powerful but is neither physical nor ethereal,"

"But–"

"You will know what you need to know when you reach that phase; for now, you are still in the starting stage," Kadan cut Idan from asking any more questions.

"What have you gained when unlocking the first phase?" Kadan asked.

"I understood that our body is like clothing to another lifeform, and that is our soul." Idan gave an earnest response.

"And that is true. This is the basic and most important step that you must understand before moving to the next. If you did not understand the meaning behind that thought then you might never unlock another one.” Kadan said.

"I will continue as old man Kadan to you and will continue to teach you especially though I will still give lessons to the rest who came with you and stayed this long. As of now, you have gained enough sensory energy to continue your enlightenment progress. With each phase, you will enter another phase filled with a much deeper understanding of things." He added.

"Now it's time for you to return to the physical,"

Then his image started blurring from Idan's view.