Elemental Magnetic Star

Chapter 89 Luminous Harmony's Vision

If Raina Grace's experience in the Sky Domain was limited to a small fraction upon her arrival, her stay at Prosperous Gathering made her feel as if she had never left its extensive yet confining boundaries. She lacked even the basic knowledge of the Sky Domain's geographical and functional divisions.

However, Luminous Harmony proved to be an excellent teacher. With his extensive knowledge and over a century of life experience in the Sky Domain, he skillfully narrated the evolution and origins of various families, industries, and administrative functions. He turned history into stories and integrated lessons into daily life, allowing Raina Grace, who had little to no background knowledge, to quickly grasp his teachings.

Raina Grace was a diligent and intelligent student, quickly learning much and realizing there was still more to discover.

According to Luminous Harmony, the different regions of the Star Domain—Surface Domain, Sky Domain, and Celestial Domain—not only occupied distinct geographical spaces and political hierarchies but also represented different eras. The Surface Domain was based on agricultural civilization, the Sky Domain on a feudal society supported by workshops and controlled by major families, and the Celestial Domain leaped into a futuristic society of advanced magic or technology, which he could only imagine as a "sci-fi world" since he had never been there.

Luminous Harmony mostly talked about the Sky Domain, where he had lived the longest and where Raina Grace would reside. He described the Sky Domain as composed of various guilds controlled by major families and alliances. The Wood and Fire Realms had three major families each, such as the Heng(Horizontally), Zhu(Bamboo), and Cai(Lumber) families in the Wood Realm, and the Huang(Flare), Qiu(Autumn), and Ran(Flame) families in the Fire Realm. There were also the Wood and Fire Alliances, which broadly included people from all levels of the Sky Domain, focusing on quantity over quality.

Families, however, prioritized quality in talent acquisition, making them powerful but confined to their spheres of influence. Joining a family meant adopting its surname, making affiliation easy to recognize. For example, the head of the Zhu(Bamboo) family was Zhu Jane, known for her elegance and also for engaging in profit-driven trades, albeit elevated to the status of art, in stark contrast to the Heng(Horizontally) family's disdain for the mercantile stench.

The Heng family managed commerce, essentially acting as a merchants' guild, while the Cai family focused on craftsmanship and artisan trades, producing limited but exquisite goods. The Huang family introduced technological inventions from the Celestial Domain, leading the production of the most advanced products in the Star Domain.

The Qiu family provided a stable and robust source of energy with their control of fire elements, essential for powering the Huang family's products. The Ran family specialized in weapons, their products rare and highly sought after, with many members serving at Celestial Balance Fortress.

Craftsmen guilds like stonemasons, carpenters, and blacksmiths were managed by the common people of the Wood and Fire Alliances, ensuring the transmission of craftsmanship and maintaining quality and standards.

Additionally, the Academy served as an academic guild, promoting scholarly exchange and research while upholding academic freedom and standards. Celestial Balance Fortress was responsible for security and patrol of the Sky Domain, also offering medical and mystical advice due to the current peace officer being a wizard.

Raina Grace was most familiar with Celestial Balance Fortress, not only because its name was well-known but also because she had been threatened with being taken there multiple times. Her first day in the Sky Domain was near Celestial Balance Fortress, at the base of Pine Mist Mountain, the habitat of the Azure Phoenix and Raina Grace's landing spot in the Sky Domain.

Pine Mist Mountain, the source of fire elements in the Fire Realm, was an ideal habitat for the fire-affectionate Azure Phoenix, which saw the mountain as its training ground, seeking enlightenment through intense combustion. However, Raina Grace couldn't withstand the high temperatures, so the Azure Phoenix left her at the mountain's base.

As the Sky Domain's only Terra Grove, WeeStick was reluctantly left behind. Alone in the unfamiliar Sky Domain, Raina Grace was unsure what to expect with a "flying log" like WeeStick by her side but didn't object to its staying with the Azure Phoenix, hoping it would benefit both beings. Thus, Raina Grace ventured into the Sky Domain alone.

Used to companionship since birth, from Granny Rain to Flame Wave, then in Verdant Thistle Forest with WeeStick, Arlinwood, and Flicker Shadow, Raina Grace had never lived alone. Despite the overwhelming new environment, the hustle and bustle of Prosperous Gathering, and Luminous Harmony's constant chatter, hearing about the various guilds and families reminded her of her companions, suddenly enveloped by a profound sense of loneliness. She clasped her hands tightly, wondering about WeeStick, the Azure Phoenix, and Flicker Shadow...

Noticing Raina Grace's distraction, Luminous Harmony paused, "Of course, all the knowledge and understanding I've shared require your own experiences to truly comprehend and bring the map in your mind to life."

"Ah, yes, thank you for telling me all this. It's like a map, and now I can finally distinguish north from south," Raina Grace refocused, appreciating Luminous Harmony's guidance.

Luminous Harmony smiled warmly, surprised and admiring, "You're really smart, grasping concepts that others might never understand in their lifetime."

"Are you saying I've finally caught on? It takes a touch of alchemy," Raina Grace joked, then pondered, "But what can I do for you? Why invest so much in teaching me?"

"I've told you, I need an assistant," Luminous Harmony spoke softly, comforting, "Remember the duties of the Wood Alliance I mentioned?"

"The craftsmen guild?"

"Exactly. The Wood Alliance mainly handles carpentry, masonry, and other artisan services. Though not high-status in the Sky Domain, everything here depends on us."

"Like the foundation of the Sky Domain?"

"More like the nodes connecting the entire Sky Domain. Without us, it would fall apart. So, we're important, aren't we?"

"Yes."

"And I am one of the chief stewards of the Wood Alliance."

"Steward?"

"Not to execute orders, but to manage affairs. As chief steward, my role is not just organizational and managerial but also to infuse passion into every creation. I strive for a fair environment where everyone feels respected and cared for. I want to resonate with their passion and joy as they work. I focus on heritage and nurturing the next generation of craftsmen. Seeing young apprentices grow from novices to experts brings me joy and pride." Luminous Harmony's voice was filled with pride and satisfaction. He looked at Raina Grace, "But the Alliance's glory is not just in hard work and service to others, but in our attitude towards life. I want the Alliance to convey a love for life and a pursuit of beauty. All this, I hope you can help me achieve."