The hall remained silent, yet heavy with anticipation. Astéria's gaze swept across the four Chosen Ones, reading the questions unspoken in their minds. The words magic and Arcanes had been introduced, but their meaning lingered beyond reach.
Hana was the first to break the silence, her voice measured but curious:
"Tell us... is magic common? Is it practical? Do many people practice it? Or is it a rare art, reserved for the gifted?"
Astéria's violet eyes gleamed faintly.
"Magic is indeed accessible, and many attempt it, but its reach depends entirely on the practitioner. Some mortals, naturally gifted or favored by fate, accomplish minor feats and small manipulations. Yet other races — take the dragons, or the elves, for example — have refined magic to such an extent that it becomes almost inseparable from their racial talent. For them, it is no longer simply a learned art; it is a part of who they are, intertwined with their very nature."
Sophia leaned forward, her analytical mind at work. "So... even if many can practice magic, its impact varies dramatically. Only the talented or the specially trained can reach beyond basic effects?"
"Exactly," Astéria replied. "Magic is widespread in potential, yet extraordinary in mastery. Its use requires discipline, perception, and respect for limits. Even among races renowned for their magical affinity, understanding the boundaries of their own talent is crucial."
Adam frowned slightly, absorbing the words. "And the Arcanes? Are they equally restricted, or are they... entirely different?"
Astéria's lips curved into a small smile, almost approving. "Yes, the Arcanes are of a different nature entirely. They are not a tool; they are authority. Where magic channels Eidos to perform effects, the Arcanes govern the very flows of existence-forces that surpass mortal comprehension. Their accessibility is not a matter of practice alone, but of understanding, perception, and resonance with the universal order."
Clayton, ever the practical one, nodded slowly. "So, in essence... magic is widespread but limited, while the Arcanes are rare and absolute."
"Precisely," Astéria affirmed. "And this distinction must remain clear in your minds, for confusion here leads to failure later. Do not mistake potential for power, or sparks for mastery."
Astéria's gaze softened as she recalled the first moment she truly saw them.
"The first time I noticed your garments and accessories," she said gently, "they appeared refined... yet accessible. You did not all seem to belong to the same status, nor enjoy the same ease, and yet these items showed a certain level of progress. It demonstrates that your world has evolved in certain ways."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle.
"And here in Astra, there is something similar, though it goes further. You may have perceived it in your own world, but it is more than comfort or convenience — it represents the evolution of the world itself, of time, of needs, and of human nature. Part of this art is called the Arcanum Technik. I hope you are not surprised, but the essence of technology here goes beyond what you may know."
Her violet eyes glimmered faintly as she let the meaning linger.
"Creation is not dictated by necessity alone, but by understanding and harmony. Tools, machines, and systems are only part of a greater art — a resonance between purpose, essence, and life."
The four Chosen Ones exchanged glances, their minds buzzing with curiosity and subtle apprehension.
Adam frowned slightly, trying to process the words. "So... this Arcane thing... it's not just machines and tools or technology? It's... more?"
Astéria inclined her head. "Yes. You may have understood part of it in your world, but here, it can reach further — in ways you may not have imagined."
Clayton leaned back, a thoughtful smile on his face. "So it's like... the evolution of everything. Not just our needs, but our understanding, our perception of the world?"
"Exactly," Astéria replied. "And you must understand: the deeper one explores this art, the more one faces things beyond ordinary comprehension. It is not dangerous for its own sake, but it requires adaptation and discernment."
Hana's voice was soft but firm, tinged with wonder. "And some mortals... and even some gods, can push this further than others?"
"Yes," Astéria said, her violet eyes shimmering. "Some seek the limits of creation itself. They refine, they experiment, they take what others consider impossible and bring it into form. But every choice has consequences — a lesson you will learn in time."
Sophia crossed her arms, her analytical mind at work. "So, in essence, what we call technology is only a shadow of what it can truly become here. And we have to learn not just to use it, but to understand it?"
Astéria's lips curved into a faint, approving smile. "Well said. To comprehend the Arcanum Technik is to recognize that creation is never neutral. It is a reflection of intent, of understanding, and of the harmony between what is made and what exists.
That is the lesson you will carry forward."
The four of them fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words settling over them. Each felt a mixture of awe and anticipation — the beginning of a journey into knowledge, power, and understanding far beyond what they had imagined.
Clayton's eyes flicked toward Astéria, a spark of insight in his expression. "If I heard that right... Arcanum Technik... it's sound like Arcane, isn't it? You said the Arcanes are a kind of authority over some concepts, so is it part of Arcanes? Can we think about it like an authority of unknown wisdom? A wisdom that anyone can explore?"
Astéria's faint smile deepened, approving yet gentle. "Yes, Clayton. That is a fitting way to understand it. The Arcanum Technik is a form of wisdom, a guiding principle that can be approached freely, but never lightly. It is both an opportunity and a responsibility."
The group of four stayed silent as they assimilated the information given by Astéria.
After a certain time, the youngest one among the four spoke. It was Adam who had some speculations about the fantastic powers of Astra's world.
"Since you are the goddess of magic and Arcanes, I wonder if you can help someone awaken the Arcanes. Or maybe to awaken an Arcane it needs your own efforts. And for magic too, does it need help of others or what ?"
The goddess listened to the boy's questions until the end and sighed in happiness. A playful smile appeared on her lips making the rest of the team nervous.
This kind of smile reminded them of Inannael.
"You are making my day interesting boy."
« You are a bit impatient and I appreciate greedy, impatient ones. So I'll answer fully to your questions. But remember, do not be reckless with knowledge, for you must understand that knowledge is power. And without comprehension of your actions, you'll be in danger. »
Adam blushed; it was too obvious. He was afraid that the team would perceive his goal of easily gaining power, but he had to try.
« Sorry it's just that I lost my brother on the way to Astra. So I thought that maybe in this world I could find some solutions to resurrect him. But I was too naïve, I have read some novels that spoke about it and I lack many elements needed to bring him back, like his soul or his body. And I don't think that there are others ways to do it without those elements.»
Sighing in defeat, Adam confessed all the thoughts that had tormented his mind since the accident. Clayton and the two women knew his loss but they couldn't ask him to forget his brother. They tried to console him but they weren't very close, only the fact they finished together in Astra united them today.
The boy needed his family, which maybe he will never retrieve in the future. He tried to feign indifference and maturity but it was too hard — his desire to resurrect his brother soon became an obsession.
After a minute of silence, Astéria burst into laughter — wild, almost divine in its intensity.
The boy's goal amused the goddess. He wanted to do what only the gods can do. In other words, he wanted to become a god or obtain an arcanik authority allowing him to accomplish his goal.
It was as if the young boy's goal was just a funny story for her ears.
- Okay, goddess. Can we move on to the next step?
The young boy turned red with embarrassment. He wasn't pleased that the goddess treated his wish so lightly.
But the thought of bringing his brother back had not left his mind — merely hidden, waiting for the day he would have the power to make it real.
Next to him, his comrades were thoughtful but they too wanted to pass the familiarization of magic.
« Okay! Now sit down and empty your minds of all thoughts. Breathe with the vital breath or use a way to clear your mind. »
Astéria ordered them to get ready while a dazzling white glow appeared from her hand. It was the eidos of the goddess of magic.
The four sat on the floor in lotus position. Then everyone closed their eyes seeking to reach the state of emptiness.
After a minute, the goddess was satisfied. The four chosen ended up emptying their minds.
There was no disturbance, only calm—and a strange sensation of emptiness.
It was incredible — they had managed to enter a state of emptiness despite their worries. Was it talent or rather the persistence of wanting to go home? The goddess did not know but was happy that they had succeeded.
The white glow in her hand split into four and spun towards the group. More precisely towards their belly, just above the navel.
During this time, Tamiel, the god of wisdom and history, silently observed the process with an expression of excitement that would have amazed his students.
For Tamiel, it was something surprising. He witnessed the story, strangers came into contact with the power of their world.
But it wouldn't just be power. This would bring the culture of different worlds into collision, ideologies and divine quest ordered by the gods to foreigners.
When the natives of Astra realize that their difficulties had been entrusted to foreigners it would be too late. The gods themselves had lost faith in their people.
The conflict had gone too far and now Clayton and his companions had to help awaken their spirits. Only the future would tell whether the gods had done well or made a monumental mistake.
And Tamiel was going to be a direct witness to this story. For this god, as a guardian of knowledge and history, it was a boon.
_________
. . .
[ Adam's pov ]
At first, there was nothing.
Only the sound of my own breath — steady, distant — like waves fading into themselves.
The emptiness was perfect. No thought. No sound. No weight.
Just stillness.
Then, something shifted.
A tremor — faint, soft, almost unreal — brushed against that stillness inside me.
It wasn't pain. It wasn't warmth. It was… a presence.
For a moment, I thought I had imagined it. But the sensation grew, quiet yet insistent, like a heartbeat that wasn't mine echoing in my chest.
It came from within, not from outside — and yet, it didn't feel like me.
The intrusion was subtle, but undeniable.
My breath faltered, and the peace I'd reached cracked like thin ice.
Something had entered — no, awakened.
The feeling was strange. Foreign.
And yet, somehow… familiar.
Like remembering a dream I had never truly forgotten.
It expanded — soft light, textureless and silent, filling the hollow of my stomach, flowing through every vein and nerve.
It wasn't energy in the way I'd imagined. It was something more — alive, curious, brushing against my consciousness as if it were studying me.
I wanted to resist, but the more I focused on it, the clearer it became that this thing — this Eidos — wasn't trying to harm me.
It was just… looking for something. A rhythm. A place to belong.
Then, for a heartbeat, I felt it — a perfect synchronization.
My pulse, and its pulse, moving together. The boundary between "it" and "me" blurred.
The feeling was terrifying — but also soothing, like finding a part of myself I didn't know I'd lost.
And suddenly, a smile pulled at my lips.
"Oh, if Abdi had been here…" I murmured under my breath.
He would've lost his mind over this — the whole energy cultivation thing, the mystical synchronization, all of it.
He always loved stories like that.
"You'd have wanted to see this, bro," I whispered. "Don't worry — I'll bring you here someday."
The thought lingered — warm, grounding — as the light within me pulsed one last time, then settled.
I opened my eyes.
The world hadn't changed — yet everything felt sharper, quieter, more real.
Something had begun.
. . .
[ Clayton's pov ]
I settled into the lotus position, my mind deliberately emptying itself, a skill honed from years of disciplined training. Thoughts, worries, even the echo of the past — all of it faded into silence. This was my haven, a place to recharge, to gather strength.
Then I felt it. A gentle pull, foreign yet insistent, brushing against the edges of my consciousness. I tensed, instinctively resisting, but the sensation persisted — soft, probing, alive. It wasn't a threat, but it demanded acknowledgment.
I focused on my breathing, letting the calm of my body extend into my mind. The energy hovered just above my navel, radiant and vibrant. It felt alive, a pulse I could neither dominate nor dismiss. My control wavered for the first time; this was unfamiliar, a challenge of patience and perception rather than force.
I let my muscles relax further, exhaling slowly, and allowed my awareness to flow alongside the energy instead of against it. Its rhythm was subtle, almost imperceptible at first, and yet undeniable. I sensed potential in it — the raw essence of something far beyond ordinary comprehension.
Even now, I remained cautious, my focus sharp. I hadn't fully accepted it yet. My mind was aware, probing, studying, resisting the temptation to rush. But somewhere deep inside, I felt the faintest thread of connection forming — tentative, fragile, yet promising.
A flicker of movement from the corner of my vision caught me. I hadn't opened my eyes yet. Through the veil of this awakening, I sensed them — Adam, Hana, and Sophia — watching. Patient, curious, waiting. Their presence reminded me that this was just the beginning, and that my own journey with this energy had only just started.
. . .
[ Hana's pov ]
I settled into a comfortable cross-legged position, hands resting lightly on my knees. Closing my eyes, I tried to release the clutter of thoughts, letting them drift like leaves on a slow river. My body felt tense at first, a subtle unease rooted in anticipation, but also a quiet eagerness. The air around me seemed different — heavier, almost vibrating with expectation, and I could feel it brushing against the edges of my awareness.
Then, a gentle warmth spread from just above my navel, soft and insistent. It wasn't abrupt or forceful; it was more like a tide slowly washing over me, threading its way through every fiber of my being. My pulse quickened, not with fear, but with a thrill of wonder. Every breath I took seemed to echo in tandem with this strange energy, as though it were a living rhythm interwoven with mine.
It whispered to me in ways I could not articulate — a presence that was patient yet aware, inviting yet commanding attention. I could sense subtle ripples of sensation moving through me: a faint pressure in my chest, a delicate tingling in my fingertips, the weight of awareness in my head. The energy probed gently, exploring me as I explored it, a dialogue without words.
Despite the unfamiliarity, I felt a soft harmony beginning to form. The Eidos did not overwhelm; it asked, it suggested, it waited. I let myself sink into the flow, following its rhythm, letting it exist within me without resistance. It felt alive, almost sentient, and I realized that understanding it would not be instant. Patience, observation, and subtle attunement — these would be my tools.
A small shiver ran down my spine, not from fear, but from recognition. I was touching the edge of something vast and ineffable, a force that seemed to hold secrets I could not yet comprehend. My heartbeat steadied as I surrendered to the sensation, letting it thread through me like sunlight through leaves, warm, quiet, and alive. For the first time, I understood that learning to coexist with this energy would be a journey of perception, intuition, and restraint, not brute force.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Adam, smiling proudly—he had been the first. I allowed myself a small, amused smile. Still a child, I thought, despite the semblance of maturity.
My gaze then shifted to Sophia and Clayton. The white glow of Eidos lingered around them, vibrant and palpable, hinting at the ways they were just beginning to merge with the energy.
. . .
[Sophia's pov]
I lowered myself into a cross-legged position, hands resting lightly on my knees. My mind, always active, insisted on wandering — calculating, analyzing, questioning. Yoga had taught me how to quiet my thoughts, how to follow the rhythm of my breath, but this was different. This required more than relaxation; it demanded emptiness, a void I had never had to create before.
I drew a deep breath, deliberately setting my thoughts aside. Each exhale was a battle against my instincts, against the constant tick of reasoning that wanted to intrude. Stillness didn't come naturally. It had to be earned. I had to force my consciousness to step aside and let something else in.
A subtle warmth appeared above my navel, soft and persistent. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was impossible to ignore. The Eidos pressed gently against the edges of my awareness, probing, testing, inviting me to coexist with it. I focused on my breathing, letting each inhale and exhale guide the energy through me. Slowly, carefully, I felt it weaving itself into my being.
It wasn't instinctive. I had never experienced anything like this before, yet necessity had driven me forward. Without the discipline to follow through, I would have faltered. But I had no choice — to engage, to learn, to survive in this world, I had to accept it.
The energy moved through me like a silent tide, threading through my chest, limbs, and mind. It was aware. Patient. Alive. My pulse aligned with its rhythm, hesitant at first, then more confident. I realized this was a dialogue, a silent understanding between what I was and what the Eidos wanted me to be.
When I finally opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was Adam. He sat with a proud, almost mischievous grin — the first to succeed. I allowed myself a small, knowing smile. He was still a child, despite the semblance of maturity.
My gaze then drifted to Hana beside me, who had just emerged from her own meditation, the warmth of Eidos still lingering around her. She looked satisfied, alert, yet calm.
And then I noticed Clayton, his energy still swirling around him, vibrant and palpable, but clearly in the midst of his own struggle to attune. Watching him, I understood that mastery wouldn't come instantly for any of us — only persistence, patience, and discipline would forge it.
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A Note from the Author
Hello, dear readers!
It's been a little while since the last chapter, and I know some of you were eagerly waiting. Thank you so much for your patience and continued support—it truly means the world to me. 💛
I'm excited to finally continue the journey in Astra with you all. There's still so much to explore, so many powers to awaken, and mysteries to uncover alongside Adam, Hana, Sophia, and Clayton.
I may not always keep a strict schedule, but I'll do my best to release at least one chapter per week. I hope you'll continue to walk this path with me, sharing the discoveries, surprises, and thrills that await our heroes.
Thank you for being here. The adventure is far from over—and I promise, the best is still to come.
— DaoistlTIIch