If it was just about Recall, Alex wouldn't even be special. The House of Vehrlin had that.
They'd been fostering a bloodline devoted to such abilities for generations. Alex remembered skimming through Volume 3 of the novels, which glorified their achievements. They had a leg up on him too with the Aspect of "Translation."
In the novels, though, no one was ever shown to have a time-based power. Not even a passing mention. And if Lucien's knowledge—which was admittedly extensive—couldn't dig up a single clue, then it probably didn't exist.
The House of Verlin didn't have "Recreate", though. He bet that little tidbit would've sent their lineage into collective apoplexy if they knew.
Still, Alex was confused himself by how Recreate worked. Yes, it was an ability to pull something from the past into the present, albeit temporarily. But he had no Present Aspect in him. It was a nitpicky technicality, but it was enough to send his mind spiraling into its overthinking state. And as with most of his late-night existential spirals, he didn't have a damn clue. It made him mildly pissed off.
"It's Atypical," Alex finally said, returning his attention to his parents while laughing a little. "The power lets me recall glimpses of the past from whatever I touch, provided I command it to show me."
He conveniently left out the part about "Recreate."
"Indeed…" Kael responded somewhat blandly, predicting that answer. "So, what's your intention with this ability?"
"I want to become an archaeologist," Alex declared, deadpan but unshakable.
He saw this as his redemption arc. It tied into Lucien's original personality and age while making Alex's action seem rational—redeemable. It's a calculated choice to steer attention away from his far less-than-ideal records before.
'Definitely should avoid the original main character while at it,' he added mentally.
Not for the lame reasons like "maintaining the original storyline". No, the stakes were more personal.
'That guy could probably "see" right through my situation with that absurdly overpowered Aspect,' he winced internally.
Dominion Light was the most protagonist-y ability Alex could imagine: combining blindingly righteous power with the knack for lighting up (or exposing) everything one would rather keep hidden. The Aspect tied to that Dominion was capable of illuminating truths buried deep inside of you, shredding through illusions, and unraveling any bullshits you tried to hide.
He grimaced. 'The guy could see right through me whether figuratively "and" literally, which is just annoying.' He shook those thoughts quickly.
Straightening up, he went on to his parents, adding a gravity to his voice that wasn't there five minutes ago. "To pursue that dream, I would like to request for another chance in White Mountain Academy. Please help me with that, Father, Mother!"
White Mountain are the name of the academy he previously went to.
Anna frowned immediately, instinctively wanting to prevent that. "Why not study from home? We can provide you with the resources you need, and you won't have to leave."
"No," Alex refused, his tone decisive. "I've given this a lot of thought since last night. I won't tarnish the family name like I did before—I've identified where I went wrong. If you're still concerned, just send Luna with me."
At the mention of her own name, the maid twitched noticeably, barely restraining a frown. 'If that happens, I'll definitely force Mr. Kael and Mrs. Anna to triple my pay.'
Kael's brow furrowed as he regarded the determined, borderline unfamiliar expression on his son's face. 'Was he serious?'
He was naturally uneasy considering his previous records. He wasn't particularly willing to see his family's legacy almost getting burned down again by his actions.
The Harberdt family wasn't exactly known for high ambitions. Publicly, they came across as modest local leaders—a managerial family quietly governing a tiny hamlet on the outskirts of the Valdaris Kingdom's territories.
Which was mostly true.
Mostly.
The Harberdts held sway over a particular lineage tied to the Dominion of Euphonic Entropy—the power of Sound. Their control extended over two of its Seven Aspects: Silence and Dissonance.
In the Harberdt family, the men leaned into Dissonance—transforming sound into a weapon of chaos and devastation. The women, by contrast, wielded Silence, counterbalancing the discord with a void so oppressive it made you long for noise.
Kael and his eldest son carried the mantle of Dissonance, while Anna and their younger daughter embodied the Silence that hushed rooms and unsettled hearts.
This peculiar mastery over sound linked the Harberdts intimately with Alnear, the royal capital of Valdaris. Their skills found particular favor in the heart of bureaucracy, where efficiency was more than prized.
Kael had once envisioned Lucien as the Dissonance Heir, but plans shifted when Lucien's rebellious nature derailed expectations. Fortunately, his eldest son already fulfills the minimum role of the family, so he let it slide, and the family hadn't undergone a bad Mutation enough for Lucien to be unable to pursue another Dominion.
The Ascension Cycle wasn't just a power-granting phenomenon, after all; it was a deep reckoning. And over time, what once celebrated individuality became entwined with nepotism. Bloodlines and familial legacy dominated the landscape.
For most locals, Dominion wasn't just power—it was pedigree, identity, and destiny bundled into one. It was a blueprint of who you were and an end to mediocrity.
Then there were Earthlings, summoned by the Covenant of Cynide, the Central Nation of Alliance of Demonic Opposition.
They weren't just wild cards; they were chaos incarnate to a system bound by predictable paths.
For the people pulled from Earth's modern era, the Ascension Cycle was like hitting a jackpot. They brought in not just variance but modern ingenuity, cultural collisions, strange hobbies—the works. Their Dominions shattered conventions. Where locals fit into neat categories, these wild cards forged strange and often terrifying abilities, unpredictable yet absurdly effective.
Mutation existed to twist local bloodlines with bizarre consequences.
Take the Von Adalmen clan. Their Dominion of Pyroclasm essentially turned their descendants into walking volcanoes.
Or the Ravendrecht family, bearers of the Dominion of Shadows. Their abilities ruled espionage and assassination—but came at the cost of couldn't step into direct sunlight without half their bodies turning translucent.
Then there was the Solaris lineage. Their Dominion was nothing short of regal, but their mutations were… complicated. They couldn't even cry without weeping glowing, liquid gold. It looked stunning in a melancholic sort of way, but those luminous tears etched permanent stains wherever they landed. Living rooms in their homes resembled galleries of unfortunate emotional expression.
Yet, despite the obvious inconveniences, bloodlines remained staunchly devoted to Dominion-focused breeding.
Because power didn't lie in comfort, after all—it lay in consistency, no matter how strange or hazardous it became.
***
A/N: Rate it from 1 to 10 with the reasoning as well, if possible. That'll help me covering what's lacking from the story.
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