Omniphage of Apathy

[Name: Calimostria.]

[Weapon Type: Double-Bladed Glaive, Divine Weapon.]

[Length: Two meters, perfectly balanced for agility and reach.]

[Key Abilities:]

[Sapphire Resonance: Calimostria channels Vastarael's sapphire-based abilities directly through the weapon, acting as both a conduit and amplifier.]

[When imbued with essence, the glaive can extend its reach with arcs of sapphire energy, turning every strike into a deadly ranged attack.]

[Energy Absorption: Calimostria can absorb energy and store it temporarily. This energy can be redirected into powerful counterattacks or channeled to enhance the wielder.]

[Phase Slash: A special technique that allows the glaive to phase through solid objects for a short distance, making it nearly impossible to block. The phase slash leaves an ethereal afterimage that confuses opponents.]

[Sentience (Dormant): While not fully alive, Calimostria has a semi-sentient awareness. It reacts to Vastarael's emotions and intentions, subtly guiding him in combat.]

[Indestructible: The glaive is impervious to physical, mystical, magical and elemental damage, making it a weapon that endures through time.]

[Soulbound: The weapon is bound to you by soul and only you can wield it. You can allow anyone to touch it and it can always return to you by summoning it using your hand.]

______

Vastarael sat cross-legged on his bed, the Divine Mystic Book balanced on his lap and the glaive, Calimostria, resting nearby.

Over the three years of training, he decided to call his crystal by the name sapphire since it was the same color as his essence, sapphire blue.

Leaning back into the plush pillows, he waved his hand, making the book and hologram vanish. He glanced at the glaive for a long moment before shrugging.

"I'll try them out soon," he murmured, his voice quiet in the stillness of the night. "No point in getting ahead of myself tonight."

His gaze lingered on the glaive's faint sapphire glow for a moment longer before his eyelids grew heavy.

For the first time in three grueling years, his body wasn't wracked with pain. No aching muscles, no blistered hands, no stinging cuts or bruises. The absence of agony was almost strange, yet the comfort it brought was undeniable. A deep sigh escaped him as his body sank into the mattress.

"So this is what it feels like to not be sore…" Vastarael thought with a quiet chuckle before sleep claimed him. For once, his dreams were peaceful, unburdened by training or pain.

It was a peaceful night.

°°°°°°

"Yes! We're leaving the palace for the first time!" Anamorsia exclaimed as she walked outside the palace gates. "I want to see how the world looks like! Right, Milliania?"

"Yeah..."

For the first time, the Richinaria Siblings would be leaving the palace, including Leon and Leones, with Opera as their guide.

Vastarael was the most curious.

He was used to being coped up on one place for years so it wasn't strange for him not to be outside. But after careful consideration, they were allowed to go outside.

Veneri wanted to see how beautiful their world was. Since the floating palace is way above the clouds, he couldn't see the city very well. Now, he would be able to see other people.

But... they had to wear disguises.

The decision for the Richinaria siblings to wear disguises was not just precautionary but necessary. Vastarael, as a prince of the most influential family in Anqerise, carried not only the burden of expectation but also the weight of immense political significance.

The Richinaria Dynasty's power was both admired and envied across Spheraphase, making its members natural targets for those seeking leverage, political advantage, or outright rebellion.

Opera, their guide and protector for the day, had been clear in her explanation earlier that morning.

"Your presence in public, unguarded and recognized, could lead to more trouble than good. The people adore the Richinarias but there are those who would use that adoration against you. Ambushes, kidnappings, or even attempts to manipulate your reputations—these are risks we cannot take."

She continued as she handed each sibling their disguises, tailored and designed to blend with the citizens of Anqerise.

"You'll all wear these cloaks to hide your royal attire. Your faces will be veiled slightly to keep your identities secret. The floating palace is a sanctuary, but the outside world isn't always as forgiving."

For Vastarael, it felt strange. The idea of disguising himself to blend in with the very people he was meant to protect and someday rule was foreign.

"Why go through all this trouble?" He had asked curiously. "We have a meritocracy system, right? I doubt they'd do anything to antagonize the Richinarias."

Opera had given him a knowing smile, impressed by his knowledge.

"It's not about fear, Vastarael. It's about freedom. If you walk into the city as yourself, you won't be able to enjoy the experience. People will crowd around, trying to meet you, ask things of you, or simply bask in your presence. But in disguise, you'll be just another face in the crowd. You'll see the city as it truly is, not as a prince, but as a person."

The logic resonated with him, albeit reluctantly. Vastarael realized that this opportunity was rare. Being able to experience the life of ordinary people, even for a day, would give him insights into the world he could not gain from the palace. Besides, he didn't mind blending in. It was the curiosity about what lay beyond the clouds that drove him most.

As he tied the mask over his face and adjusted his hood, he couldn't help but glance out the window at the city below. He could barely make out the tops of the grand spires, bustling marketplaces, and intricate streets winding through the metropolis. Soon, he'd see it all firsthand.

Though the disguise felt unnecessary to him, Vastarael trusted Opera's judgment. This was a chance to explore the world beyond his gilded cage and he wasn't going to let a little inconvenience ruin it.

As the siblings prepared for their excursion, he couldn't suppress the excitement bubbling within him. For the first time, he'd walk among the people of Spheraphase and he couldn't wait to see what the day held.

°°°°°°

Vastarael came to realize how efficient mystic circles were.

In Circlecraft, which is the ability to create and use a mystic circle, and Circlemancy, the ability to summon mystic circles, they are categorized into levels called Stars.

There are Ten Stars in total, the strongest mages at the Tenth Star.

Some capabilities can only be achieved on certain stars. Teleportation Circles could only be used on the Third Star Immortald and it was energy consuming.

And this is what they used to move from the palace to the city of Rise, the capital of Anqerise and the largest city in the continent.

Dressed in white cloaks, black masks concealing their bright golden eyes and a white hood, they were barely recognizable, landing right in the middle of a fountain.

The moment Vastarael and his siblings emerged from the shimmering teleportation circle, they found themselves in the center of an extraordinary square, dominated by a massive fountain.

They weren't alone though.

More teleportation circles flickered around the fountain, each glowing with unique runes. Travelers appeared in bursts of radiant light—merchants pulling hover-carts laden with goods, scholars in long robes discussing animatedly and modern adventurers armed to the teeth, their weapons gleaming under the sun.

A faint smell of ozone lingered with every arrival, mingling with the scents of roasted spices, fresh flowers and faintly metallic undertones of advanced machinery.

The square surrounding the fountain was expansive, bordered by massive, elegant buildings that blended ancient architecture with futuristic elements.

Crystal spires pierced the sky, their surfaces shimmering as if alive, reflecting the sun in kaleidoscopic bursts.

Bridges connected the spires, glowing faintly with energy. Between these towering structures were more modest, streamlined buildings constructed from a mix of gleaming metal and stone, their surfaces etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly in rhythm with the city's heartbeat.

Vastarael could feel the heat of the sun on his cloaked shoulders, tempered by the cool mist rising from the fountain's cascading water.

His gaze shifted to the streets radiating outward from the square, lined with vendors and bustling crowds. Holographic displays floated above the vendors, showcasing their products in vivid, three-dimensional projections—fruits that gleamed unnaturally bright, fabrics that shifted color when touched and even small, contained storms swirling in glass globes...

Above them, the city extended into the skies. Platforms hovered at various heights, linked by spiral energy staircases that seemed to twist and pulse with life.

To his right, Vastarael noticed an enormous obelisk standing tall at the edge of the square. Its surface glowed faintly with runic inscriptions and at its peak, a bright orb of energy pulsed rhythmically, as if it were the heart of the city itself.

He recognized it from his studies—it was a Guardian Beacon, a structure that kept the city safe from any external threats.

It was like a massive danger sensor.

"Welcome to Rise Borough, one of the Four Boroughs in the continent of Anqerise," Opera said softly as she gestured to the expanse of the city. "This is the beating heart of Anqerise. From here, everything converges."

Vastarael turned to look behind him.

Rising from the center was the fountain itself, a ten-meter-tall crystalline structure shaped like an open lotus. Each petal seemed alive, shifting colors between blue and gold as it refracted the sunlight. At the heart of the lotus was a sphere of shimmering light, its surface rippling with mystic energy. Streams of water cascaded from the tips of the petals, creating a curtain of liquid light that splashed into the pool below.

At its base, embedded into the marble, were multiple teleportation circles glowing faintly in blue or gold. People stepped onto these circles and vanished in bursts of light, only to be replaced moments later by others who appeared as though conjured from nowhere.

Vastarael and his siblings stood at the edge of the fountain, watching in fascination as the sequences of arrivals and departures unfolded. Families laden with goods materialized, laughing and chattering as they hurried into the bustling streets. Merchants stepped into the circles, vanishing along with them in a flash of light. A noblewoman, flanked by two armored escorts, appeared mid-conversation, her voice carrying on uninterrupted as though her journey was instantaneous.

Opera, standing beside Vastarael, gestured to the fountain with a knowing smile.

"This is the Fountain of Maelisande, the heart of Rise and the symbol of its vitality. But it's more than just a monument. It's a teleportation station, one of the most sophisticated in all of Spheraphase."

She pointed toward the runes etched into the marble.

"Only the most privileged of the city's residents are allowed access to this central teleportation hub. It's a symbol of the meritocracy system at work here. Those who live in Rise have either achieved greatness or were born into it."

Anamorsia tilted her head, staring at the shimmering teleportation circles.

"So… this is like a gate to anywhere?"

"Not anywhere," Opera corrected gently. "It connects to other hubs in Anqerise and a few neighboring territories. Its use is tightly regulated. The city's leaders believe that such advanced technology should only be for those who contribute to society's progress."

Vastarael folded his arms, his sharp gaze scanning the arrivals.

"Efficient. But it also keeps the lower classes out of the city center."

Opera nodded.

"Exactly. Rise thrives on order and access to the Fountain is part of that order. It ensures only those deemed worthy enter these circles."

Vastarael's golden eyes, hidden beneath his mask, lingered on the scene before him. The ebb and flow of people moving in and out of the fountain resembled the lifeblood of the city itself.

"Now come along. We have a lot to see, don't we?"