Kael sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor of the Everglade Duke's modest library, the dusty tome resting in his lap. His eyes darted over the finely inked words on the aged parchment, each line drawing him deeper into the mysteries of Aetheria. He adjusted his position, his back stiff from hours of reading. The library smelled of old paper and faint traces of lavender, a comforting yet foreign scent to Kael, who had known only the sterile confinement of his former prison.
The book was titled Aetheria: A Continent's Chronicle, an ambitious name for a volume that sought to capture the history, geography, and culture of an entire world. But as Kael read on, he realized this tome barely scratched the surface of the complex and vibrant lands that made up Aetheria.
He skimmed over the first pages until his gaze settled on a section that piqued his interest: Domum, the Continent of War and Intrigue.
***
Domum was a land as divided as it was dangerous. Though it was predominantly inhabited by humans, its heart pulsed with conflict. The continent was split into three distinct regions:
1. The Bellum Empire: A vast and ambitious nation forged by Emperor Eldrick, a man whose vision united four kingdoms through sheer force and unyielding will. These kingdoms—Arvendon, Veridion, Windermere, and Emberlyn—formed the backbone of the empire. Kael noted the name Arvendon with interest, as it was here, in the Everglade Duchy, that he currently resided.
He glanced around the library, the question gnawing at the edge of his mind. If this is truly a Duke's manor, why does it seem so unremarkable? The walls were unadorned, the furnishings simple. The manor sat on the outskirts of civilization, surrounded by a quiet village, its people seemingly uninterested in grandeur.
Then there was Elowen. Kael's brow furrowed. He had encountered her, yet her face was a haze in his memory. Strangely, the old Kael—his former self—seemed desperate to forget her. But why?
And there was that other woman, the one Kael had clumsily bumped into during his chores. He flexed his left hand, recalling the moment of unintended contact. The memory made his face heat with embarrassment. Who was she? Her name eluded him, much to his irritation.
Shaking his head, Kael pushed the thoughts aside and continued reading.
2. The Vindict Alliance: A coalition of smaller nations resisting Bellum's relentless expansion. The text described their struggle as noble but ultimately futile. The beast forests, wild and untamed, acted as a natural barrier, shielding the alliance from the empire's full might.
3. The Beast Forest: An unexplored wilderness teeming with monsters and untold dangers. It was said that those who ventured too far into its depths never returned. Kael couldn't help but wonder what secrets the forest held.
***
Kael flipped to the next chapter: Centrum, the melting pot.
Centrum was unlike Domum. It was a land where races mingled freely—elves, humans, dwarves, and others lived side by side. Yet, despite its outward appearance of harmony, it was far from united. Several powerful factions vied for control, their allegiances shifting like sand in a storm.
Kael frowned. Aetheria's complexity was dizzying. Each continent seemed to have its own unique character, its own struggles and triumphs. He could see why Centrum was considered one of the strongest continents, though its lack of unity was a glaring weakness.
The next section delved into Alfheim, a land of eternal spring. Home to the towering World Tree, Alfheim was the realm of the elves.
Kael lingered on the descriptions of the three major elven races:
High Elves, with their pale features and ethereal wings, lived among the branches of the World Tree.
Forest Elves, the most common, resided in the vast woods encircling the tree.
Dark Elves, with their gray skin and silver hair, made their homes in the underground caverns intertwined with the tree's roots.
Despite their differences, the elven races coexisted peacefully, united by their reverence for the World Tree. Kael imagined the towering tree, its branches stretching into the heavens, its roots delving into the earth's core. The image filled him with a strange sense of longing.
As Kael turned the page, he found himself reading about Aetherium, the Land of Magic.
This was a continent where magic reigned supreme. Its people had harnessed its power to achieve technological advancements unrivaled by any other continent. At its center was the legendary Aetherium Academy, a place where the best and brightest awakened trained to master their abilities.
Kael paused. The academy reminded him of something—or someone—but the memory was just out of reach.
The pages continued, detailing the icy expanse of Norglace, the fiery plains of Drakase– the land of Dragons, and the sacred lands of Elysium, a continent ruled by the Church and said to host angels.
Kael's grip on the book tightened. Angels. The word sent a shiver down his spine. He had been one once—or something close to it. What role did they play here in Aetheria? And why had he, a being of divine origin, been cast into this unfamiliar world?
The chapters on Arickan and Lorum painted a vivid picture of cultural diversity between beast-like races and mechanical ingenuity. Kael was particularly intrigued by Lorum's warring nations between the dwarfs and the Gnomes, divided by a ravine so deep that its bottom had never been seen.
Kael flipped to the section on Inenor–the Isle of Tranquility, a continent unlike any other he had read about. Small and unassuming, Inenor was a haven of peace. Its people lived simple lives, untouched by the wars and political turmoil that plagued other continents.
The text described Inenor as a place of balance, with only two seasons—spring and autumn. There were no sprawling kingdoms, no great wars, and no magical academies. Instead, the land was dotted with small villages and serene landscapes, making it a favorite destination for those seeking solace.
Kael paused. A place like this felt almost too idyllic. Inenor's peace, while appealing, raised a question: what was the cost of such harmony? Was it genuine, or was there a hidden force maintaining this tranquility?
Kael reached Mortus, the Dead Lands. His breath hitched as he read about its barren landscape, chaotic weather, and hordes of undead. At its center was a demon wielding the Law of Death, a force of nature that even the bravest dared not challenge.
Kael read detailed Orion, a vast collection of islands scattered across the southern hemisphere like jewels cast upon the sea. Each island was unique, from tropical paradises to volcanic wastelands.
Orion was not one unified land but a fragmented series of territories, each with its own culture and politics. Trade routes crisscrossed the islands, making Orion a bustling hub for merchants, adventurers, and outcasts alike.
Kael's interest was piqued when he read about the Stormveil Isles, a cluster of islands perpetually shrouded in storms. Legends claimed these storms hid an ancient artifact, a relic of the gods themselves.
Despite its chaotic nature, Orion was considered neutral territory. No empire dared claim it, as doing so would risk angering the diverse factions that called it home.
The final section of the book mentioned Pelagoria, an underwater kingdom that some argued should be considered a continent in its own right. Kael skimmed over the descriptions of its merfolk and aquatic cities, his mind spinning from the sheer variety of life Aetheria held, there were 12 continents; Dodum, Centrum, Alfheim, Aetherium, Norglace, Drakase, Elysium, Arickan, Lorum, Inenor, Mortus, and Orion.
Kael sighed, a thought lingered in his mind: if Aetheria had any secrets worth uncovering, they were likely hidden in the forgotten corners of Inenor and Orion, the ravine in lorum and the world tree also seemed suspicious, and lastly there was Elysium, Kael had already made up his mind that regardless of what comes next he has to go to Elysium to verify the claims of Angels.
***
Kael closed the book, his thoughts in turmoil. This world was nothing like Earth. Yet, according to his memories, he had never left Earth.
"Miara," he called softly.
[Yes, Kael?]
"This world… Aetheria… How did I get here? Was I… transported?"
[No. Your consciousness transfer never left Earth.]
Kael frowned, trying to piece together the puzzle. His thoughts drifted to something another angel had once told him, a tale of fallen worlds.
These were worlds abandoned by God after a revelation and tribulation. Contrary to popular belief, these worlds weren't destroyed—they were left to collapse under their own weight, bereft of divine presence.
"The fallen worlds, were worlds that GOD had left. In the vast universe there were many worlds or rather planets, each with different being, creatures, and species, but they all had one thing in common, and that was their creator GOD. To all those worlds who have chosen to live in sin, GOD shows them mercy, and under certain condition the few who obey the conditions are accepted by GOD. But what of those that don't accept, they are not punished or destroyed rather they are left alone, in a complete GODless world without his presence. Those worlds are referred to as 'fallen worlds', and their faith is to perish, as a creation cannot do without the creator." Those were the exact words he was told, and he came to a conclusion.
"Aetheria is a fallen world," Kael muttered, the realization sinking in. This was a creation without its Creator, a land doomed to perish.
His mind raced. If this world was on borrowed time, then the fragile peace it enjoyed was little more than a countdown to destruction.
Kael's jaw tightened. "Is it possible…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Is it possible to redeem this world?"
The silence of the library was his only answer.