章節 2: Echoes of Eternity

Valen lay quietly, his small body surrounded by the comforting warmth of the cradle. The treasure-infused milk that flowed through him was doing its work, strengthening his body in preparation for what was to come.

Mana remained out of his reach for now, as it did for all humans before their awakening, but the Aetheris family's technique would change that soon enough.

In a few weeks, he would undergo the Transcendence Ceremony, a dangerous ritual that defied the world's laws and granted the Aetheris children an early connection to mana.

His mind, however, was elsewhere, dwelling on the world he now inhabited—Echoes of Eternity, the novel he had read obsessively in his previous life.

What had once been an escape from his dark reality had now become his new existence. And in this world, Valen wasn't destined to be the hero.

No, he had been fated to be the final villain, doomed to fall to Kael Draven, the novel's protagonist. But not this time.

Now, Valen Aetheris would forge his own path.

Valen recalled the two great opportunities that had slipped past Kael Draven. Opportunities that would have changed everything for the hero had he been able to claim them. But he hadn't.

Despite his talent, despite his status as heaven's chosen, Kael was not worthy. He had been bound by fate, tethered to a path that kept him from reaching beyond the limits set for him.

And more than that, he had been held back by love—a weakness that Valen had no intention of repeating.

The first of these opportunities had been presented in the latter parts of Echoes of Eternity, a powerful chance that Kael had nearly stumbled upon.

But fate, and the nature of Kael's destiny, had prevented him from claiming it.

Valen, on the other hand, knew exactly what steps he needed to take. He had the knowledge Kael lacked, and with that knowledge, he would seize what the original hero had failed to grasp.

Even the novel had only hinted at the power this opportunity could grant. Its true nature remained a mystery, something beyond comprehension, but Valen knew it was immense.

Kael's inability to claim it had been one of his greatest failures, a moment that had haunted him as his journey progressed. Valen would not suffer the same fate.

The second opportunity was no less significant, though its form was even less clear. Valen had some idea of where and when it would present itself, but its exact nature was still clouded in uncertainty.

It was one of the novel's greatest enigmas, never fully explored or explained, but Valen understood its value. He knew that, in time, it would become critical to his rise.

The world around him was vast and complex, a blend of magic and technology unlike anything he had known before.

Echoes of Eternity had described it in great detail—an empire built on the foundation of mana, a world where magic powered every aspect of life.

It hadn't always been that way. The Shattering of Veils had torn the boundaries between realms, unleashing a flood of mana that had reshaped the world.

Cities like Valaris, the empire's capital, stood as monuments to this new age, with mana-powered airships drifting between towering skyscrapers, and mana crystals fueling everything from transportation to communication.

The crystals, mined from the earth and refined into pure power, had become the backbone of society.

But power was not distributed equally. The great families of the empire—those who had mastered the use of mana—held sway over the land. Chief among them was the Aetheris family.

Valen's thoughts shifted to his parents. His mother, Lady Isolde, was not Aetheris by blood but by marriage, hailing from the influential Varyss family.

House Varyss was known across the empire for their expertise in diplomacy and the arcane arts, their influence extending far beyond the capital.

The union of House Varyss and House Aetheris had solidified an alliance that combined political power with unparalleled mastery of mana.

Isolde's beauty was legendary—her raven-black hair and amethyst eyes were a symbol of her noble lineage—but it was her mind that had secured her reputation.

In Echoes of Eternity, she had been described as a woman of ruthless cunning, someone who could outmaneuver political enemies with ease.

Now, as Valen's mother, she was a key part of his future. Her loyalty to him was absolute, and she would stop at nothing to see him rise.

His father, Lord Marcellus Aetheris, was no less formidable. A man of silver-white hair and deep blue eyes, he had been a central figure in the novel—a silent but commanding presence whose power was felt across the empire.

Marcellus had led their family through countless challenges, maintaining their dominance through sheer force of will. But his strength had been built on the foundation laid by the generations that came before him.

The Aetheris family wasn't strong because of one man or woman. It was the product of centuries of power, passed down through the bloodline.

Many of their ancestors still lived, hidden away in seclusion, their strength unmatched even by the empire's greatest figures. The Aetheris legacy was one of supremacy, a legacy that Valen was now set to inherit.

The Transcendence Ceremony would take place in just a few weeks, and Valen was ready. He had read about it in Echoes of Eternity, though it had been only a minor part of Kael Draven's journey.

For most of the empire's nobles, the ceremony occurred when a child turned ten years old, unlocking their ability to harness mana.

But the Aetheris family had never followed the rules of the empire. Their children underwent the ceremony at one month old, thanks to their secret technique.

It was dangerous—many had failed to survive the process—but those who did were reborn with a connection to mana that surpassed their peers.

Valen would survive. He had no doubt about that. And once his mana core was awakened, the path to claiming the first opportunity would open.

He knew what steps he needed to take. The novel had laid them out clearly enough, even if Kael had failed to follow them.

This time, Valen would not let the opportunity slip away. It was powerful, even if its true potential remained unknown, and it was his.

The second opportunity was still a distant shadow, its details vague and elusive, but Valen would find it. In time, it would reveal itself, and when it did, he would be ready.

The real story of Echoes of Eternity wouldn't begin until years later, when Valen and Kael would both attend Astralis Academy. The academy was a place of learning, yes, but it was also where the most powerful figures in the empire were forged.

Kael would arrive as the chosen one, blessed by the heavens and guided by fate. Valen had been meant to be his rival, the final villain in a story that would end with Kael's victory.

But this time, Valen would not follow the script. He would rewrite the story, bending it to his will. Kael Draven may have been heaven's chosen, but Valen was something else entirely. He was free from fate, free to pursue his goals without the limitations that had held Kael back.

For now, though, he would wait. The Transcendence Ceremony was close, and once it was complete, the path to true power would begin.