Blood Salamander Palace—
Sylutia recorded the Ritual Array before her in detail, recalling what she knew and pondering it.
The Star-Gazing School had once divided the stars wandering along the world's inner boundary into twelve Star Palaces and named each one. These stars had originated outside this world, descended into it during the Seventh Era, and ultimately remained.
Although the world still rejected them to some extent, their long presence had allowed it to gradually accept them. Occasionally, they could even cast starlight upon the land, guiding those who could sense their power.
Compared with the many beings from the Star World that had descended during the Seventh Era, those represented by the twelve Star Palaces were relatively mild. At least their behavior followed discernible patterns; they would not commit evil or damage the world without reason. Anyone who grasped their patterns and characteristics could gradually draw upon and attune to them, obtaining the power of these stars.
In the past, the Mortal Continent had been occupied by various factions and frequented by the Hours' followers. Even after existing for thousands or tens of thousands of years, these stars had struggled to gain factions and forces that followed them. Without the guidance and acceptance of the people on the Mortal Continent, they had remained adrift on the world's periphery, unable to approach its center.
The Fourth Continent was indeed rather unusual. After the Seventh Era gave way to the Eighth, the Silver Moon Dragon had fallen, while the new Hour of the Radiant Moon had merely occupied the position without exerting firm control over the continent. This had allowed many emerging factions to rise.
The Blood Clan might also have come to the Fourth Continent with this in mind. Had they gone elsewhere—to the First Continent favored by the Dragon