The soft glow of the library's lanterns cast a warm, flickering light over the rows of bookshelves, their shadows stretching like silent sentinels over Kael's small form. He sat on the cold stone floor, a thick tome spread open before him.
The title, "The Astralia Continent." was written in elegant gold script, though its age showed in the faded ink and brittle edges of its pages. Despite the book's wear, its contents painted a vivid tapestry of the world Kael now inhabited.
The Astralia Continent was vast, a sprawling realm shaped as much by ambition as by geography. Two mighty empires dominated the land. To the north lay the Cerynthus Empire, a bastion of structure and order. Its capital, Arcelis, was a shining city of marble and gold, renowned for its towering spires and labyrinthine bureaucracies.
The empire valued unity and discipline, believing that a well-ordered society was the key to prosperity. Artisans and scholars thrived under its meticulous governance, their works reflecting the empire's ideal of harmony.
To the south stretched the Vandros Empire, a realm that could not be more different in spirit. Vandros was a land of fiery ambition, its people embracing strength and competition as virtues. The capital, Kaedor, stood amidst volcanic ranges, a fortress-city that seemed to defy the world itself.
Vandrosi society was built on merit, its leaders rising through feats of cunning and might rather than birthright. Yet, for all their differences, Vandros and Cerynthus were not enemies but rivals—two great powers coexisting on a continent where balance was fragile and fleeting.
Kael traced the map etched across the book's center pages with a fingertip. His brow furrowed as he muttered, "Two empires, both vast and powerful, yet neither has outright destroyed the other. Why? It can't just be about strength. Are they bound by fear of mutual destruction? Or is there something greater maintaining this balance?"
Above them both loomed the Holy Church of Luminous, an entity that transcended borders and politics. The Church preached doctrines of light and purity, presenting itself as a force of divine will. Its influence extended into every corner of the continent, from the courts of emperors to the humblest of villages.
The Church acted as both mediator and overseer, wielding spiritual authority alongside an army of inquisitors and knights to enforce its doctrines. To question the Church was to risk excommunication—or worse.
His gaze continued to scan throughout the map, settling on a sprawling green mass marked as the Umbral Forest, its name encircled with ominous script. The forest, the text explained, was a place of mystery and danger.
It was ancient, untouched by the empires' expansion, and home to creatures of immense power—Soul Beasts, beings tied to the world's enigmatic energy. These creatures were revered and feared in equal measure, their existence bound to the very fabric of the land.
Closing the tome with a soft thud, Kael reached for another book. This one was thinner, its cover plain, marked simply as "The Soulbound and Their Powers." The language inside was simpler, meant for common readers rather than scholars, but Kael read it with the same intensity. Its pages outlined the basics of soul energy and its connection to the people of this world.
Every individual, the book explained, was born with a connection to Soul Energy, though this connection lay dormant until the age of ten. Only then, it claimed, could the body begin to channel the energy safely.
Once awakened, this energy could manifest in numerous ways, enhancing physical abilities or granting unique talents. The most revered among the Soulbound were those who bonded with Soul Beasts, forging a connection that granted extraordinary power.
Kael frowned, muttering to himself. "Ten years old. Why ten? The text says the body isn't ready before then, but it doesn't explain why. Is it tradition or an actual limitation? What if it's neither?"
He leaned back, closing his eyes in thought. His previous world had no concept of soul energy, but it had taught him to view the body as a masterpiece of engineering. He had studied human anatomy relentlessly, understanding not only its weaknesses but its untapped potential.
"The body," Kael whispered, "is capable of far more than what most believe. If this soul energy flows like blood, through pathways like meridians… Then why shouldn't I try to harness it now?"
Kael's curiosity burned brighter than the logic that cautioned him to wait. He closed the book and sat cross-legged on the library floor, drawing in a deep breath. The stillness of the library amplified the sound of his heartbeat, steady and rhythmic. In his mind's eye, he envisioned the structure of his body—not just its muscles and bones, but a network of energy flowing beneath it all.
"It's there," he murmured, his tone resolute. "I just need to find it. Focus."
The warmth he felt was faint, like a spark struggling to ignite. Kael's brow furrowed as he concentrated, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead. For a fleeting moment, he felt it—a pulse of energy, faint but undeniable. The sensation vanished almost instantly, leaving him gasping for breath.
"Again," Kael said through gritted teeth, his voice barely above a whisper. "I felt it. I know it's there."
Though his body trembled with exhaustion, Kael's resolve did not waver. He wiped the sweat from his brow, a determined smile curling at the corner of his lips. Whatever secrets this world held, he would uncover them—starting with the soul energy that now pulsed faintly within him.