「愚蠢者以肉身為牆，貪婪者以錢財為牆。末日到來時，他們化作相同的灰燼。」
——佚名，《此生苦短》
傳說「存護」的克里珀是最古老的星神。祂沉默持重，以光年為單位修築著環繞星河的障壁，從不介入銀河間嘈雜的爭鬥紛擾，亦不理會其它星神的嘲弄呼喚。
銀河間的文明紛紛揣測祂的動機：一則說古老的星神預見了足以令宇宙湮滅的危機，為「存護」萬千世界建築壁壘；一則說克里珀甘願淪為其它星神的苦隸，尊奉旨意為祂們修建城牆。真相無從驗證，唯有祂孜孜不倦的舉動驅策了凡人，他們自發地聚匯成群，開始修築保護星球的壁壘。築城者中有人聲稱自己感受到了「存護」之神的注視：祂的目光透出讚許，捎帶鍛爐的暖意，摻糅石灰的氣味。
一顆恆星的湮滅可能殃及千百光年外的星球，把它們推上存亡的陡崖——偶有世界經歷此般浩劫，全因矗立的高牆才得以保全。死裡逃生的人們不再譏諷「築城者」們的固執，並紛紛加入他們的行列，再不過問「存護」的動機或意義。
The Architects — Preservation
"The foolish have their wall of flesh, and the greedy have their wall of riches. When the end comes, they will all turn to ash."
— Life Is Too Short by Anonymous
Legend has it, the Aeon of Preservation, Qlipoth, is the oldest Aeon. Silent and mighty, Qlipoth built a light-years long barrier around the cosmos, never engaging in any trivial conflicts or badgering with the other Aeons.
Civilizations across the cosmos speculate on the motive of Qlipoth. One said the ancient Aeon foresaw a disaster that could obliterate the cosmos, so Qlipoth built a barrier to protect the worlds; one said Qlipoth was willing to slave for other Aeons and was ordered to build walls for THEM. There is no way to verify the truth, but Qlipoth's tireless actions moved the mortals. They spontaneously gathered in groups to build a barrier to protect their planet. Some Architects have claimed to feel the protective gaze of the Aeon upon them. They liken it to a gaze of approval, tinged with the warmth of the forge and the smell of lime.
The annihilation of a single star can devastate planets thousands of light-years away, pushing them to the precipice of extinction. On the rare occasions of such calamities, worlds are saved only by the walls their denizens have built. People who survived their demise no longer mocked the stubbornness of the Architects. Instead, they joined them, never to question their motives or the meaning of Preservation ever again.
