Omniphage of Apathy

The capital city of Rise and the continent of Anqerise is a futuristic fantasy civilization.

Opera guided the Richinaria siblings through the bustling streets of Rise.

Vastarael's eyes were drawn to the sleek transport vehicle they were inside on—a Praesit. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, a marvel of futuristic fantasy engineering.

The Praesit resembled a long magnetic train but with a distinct otherworldly design. The vehicle had no visible wheels or traditional tracks, instead hovering several feet above the ground.

As it moved, translucen blue glowing tracks materialized in midair ahead of it, appearing seamlessly and dissolving into nothingness after the vehicle passed. The air around it pulsed faintly, a sign of the energy maintaining its suspension.

Each segment of the Praesit was streamlined, its surface etched with faint mystic patterns that glowed faintly as it operated. Long, panoramic windows adorned its sides, allowing passengers to gaze at the city as they traveled. The doors opened without sound, inviting passengers aboard from time to time.

Looking out the wide windows, Vastarael noticed how the Praesit moved. The glowing tracks constantly materialized ahead, as if the vehicle's path was being woven into existence moment by moment. It curved through the city, scaling heights that seemed impossible, moving seamlessly between towering structures and above bustling business centers.

While marveling at the transportation, Vastarael glanced at the reflection in the glass window and noticed something peculiar.

His golden eyes and celestial features were no longer visible. In their place was the appearance of an ordinary ten-year-old boy, with unremarkable brown hair and plain features.

The realization struck him—Opera must have used some disguise technique to alter their appearances.

The siblings, too, looked unassuming: typical children of various ages, blending effortlessly with the crowd. To the passengers on the Praesit, Opera seemed to be nothing more than a kind mother leading five children on a family outing.

Despite the suspicious nature of their cloaks and masks earlier, no one gave them a second glance. Vastarael leaned against the window, watching the city rush by in a blur of light and color.

The people outside were going about their day, entirely oblivious to the fact that the disguised figures on the Praesit were members of the esteemed Richinaria lineage.

The Borough of Rise unfolded before him in breathtaking detail, a harmonious blend of towering crystalline skyscrapers, lush green terraces and glowing skybridges that arced between buildings.

Even Earth didn't have beautiful scenic views like this.

And the best part? There was no pollution at all!

The city's advanced mystical systems clearly sustained this flawless environment, blending futuristic innovation with a reverence for nature.

Even from inside the Praesit, he could feel the subtle vibrancy of the world outside. The open squares and lush green parks below teemed with energy.

Leaning closer to the wide window, Vastarael couldn't help but compare this to the memories of Earth. The contrast was stark—no exhaust fumes clinging to the wind, no droning hum of crowded cities. Here, every corner of Rise exuded clarity, as if the very fabric of the world had been cleansed of imperfection.

For the first time in years, Vastarael found himself marveling at the simple act of breathing. He leaned back into his seat, a soft smile playing on his lips as he realized just how vast and beautiful the world outside the palace truly was.

Soon, the Praesit stopped and they all got out. And the tour began. Opera had carefully chosen three places that would give the Richinaria siblings a taste of the capital's splendor while remaining mindful of their time.

After all, they couldn't stay until nightfall in the city. Their father would worry. He was... overprotective of his children.

Opera's first destination was a marvel of both magic and engineering, the Sky Gardens of Seraphei.

Suspended high above the city on floating platforms, these gardens were a fusion of lush greenery and crystalline architecture. The platforms were connected by transparent, weightless bridges that seemed to defy gravity. As they stepped onto the first bridge, Vastarael couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity of it all.

The gardens themselves were breathtaking. Exotic plants from across the continent thrived in carefully curated sections. Giant, luminous flowers responded to touch, blooming further when the children reached out to them.

At the center of the gardens was a massive tree with golden leaves that sparkled like stars. Beneath it, a magical hologram narrated the history of the gardens, explaining how ancient Circlecraft had been used to create this floating paradise. The siblings wandered in awe, their laughter echoing through the air as they raced between the floating bridges and marveled at the fantastical flora.

It was like a school trip. They didn't stay for too long though because the second venue would take half their time.

Their next stop was the Varcad Dome, an enormous amphitheater of mysticism and technology that served as a hub for entertainment and recreation. Shaped like a giant crystalline sphere, the dome was transparent, allowing sunlight to flood the interior. Vastarael's eyes widened as he saw how the dome's walls shimmered, projecting interactive illusions of past sporting events and magical duels.

To him, it was like a sports museum.

Inside, the siblings were guided to a section where they could try various activities. Vastarael was particularly fascinated by the Simulated Combat Rings, where participants could battle holographic opponents in a safe but thrilling environment.

The system analyzed the fighter's movements and conjured realistic mystic projections for them to spar against.

Anamorsia and Milliania delighted in trying out an aerial game where they rode on enchanted discs that zoomed through obstacle courses of floating rings and glowing orbs. Opera watched with pride and exasperation as they whooped and hollered, nearly colliding into each other in their excitement.

As much as Vastarael wanted to try it, he just used Phaenora to record the scene. She was an Omniscient who could record memories after all.

Apparently, Phaenora can also record both in audio and video. She was like the perfect phone and computer. He knew that she was a living being but he couldn't tell how she worked.

Asking would just be rude and if she wanted, she would tell him. He wasn't in any rush to know everything after all.

The siblings also got to explore the Memory Ancient Archives, an interactive library of moments captured from history. Using enchanted bands, they could relive the sights and sounds of key events in Spheraphase's past. Vastarael was awestruck as he experienced the founding of Rise itself, seeing it through the eyes of its first builders.

This is where he noticed something strange.

It showed records from ancient times but he has a feeling that something was missing, like a lot of historical information was missing out. He couldn't put a finger into it but hey, he wanted to live his life.

Who cares about what happened millennia ago?

Finally, Opera took them to the Luminous Market, a sprawling district brimming with life and color. The market streets glowed with bioluminescent tiles that changed hues with the passing crowds. Stalls lined every street, offering everything from enchanted artifacts to exotic foods that shimmered with a faint magical glow.

Vastarael was drawn to a merchant demonstrating tiny, self-sustaining ecosystems in crystal spheres. With a gentle tap, the spheres would display miniature storms, blooming flowers or serene waterfalls. They were called Biomeglobes.

Anamorsia tugged on his sleeve, dragging him to another stall where an artist painted glowing portraits using enchanted ink that danced across the canvas.

They bought a few Biomeglobes and they took a portrait which took only a few minutes. The artist was shocked to see his own painting.

For some reason, he drew them the way they saw themselves; with white cloaks and hoods with black masks covering their eyes. Vastarael knew that Opera must have disabled the disguise somehow when drawing because he was glancing at them and then the painting.

They bought it quickly and left. Opera used a bag to place the painting and it was sucked in, even though the portrait was extremely massive.

'An inventory bag, huh...'

The group shared snacks from a vendor selling pastries that sparkled and dissolved into bursts of flavor as soon as they touched their tongues. Vastarael couldn't stop grinning as Milliania smeared glowing frosting across her face in delight.

They didn't care about poisoning. Despite being children, they are the children of Nexuses, beings above the status of Primordial Gods. Even though Opera checked just to make sure, Vastarael knew that a little poison wouldn't harm them.

They are divine beings who haven't been elevated to deity status. Not until they reach more than a few hundred years old anyway.

Vastarael began learning how to use his essence on the third year of weapon training because of his mother. He learned how to infuse them on his glaive as he fought, which acted like it increased his physical capabilities.

It was similar to aura in swordsmanship that he used to read in a lot of light novels back as a teenager. So manipulating water wasn't a hard thing.

All he had to do is summon essence on his hand, think of materializing water and boom.

All his major divinities were inaccessible except for water, which was a minor one.

He saw a performee summoning water and scoffed. He was ten times better than him.

By the time they finished their tour, it was already evening.

The Praesit hummed softly as it glided through the air, the shimmering tracks materializing and dissolving as it moved. The warm hues of the setting sun bathed the interior in a soft, golden light, casting long shadows that danced across the polished floors.

Leon and Leones were sprawled on their seats, their soft snores punctuating the quiet, rhythmic sounds of the train.

On Vastarael's lap, Anamorsia and Milliania had fallen asleep as well, their heads nestled against him. Anamorsia's small hand clutched the edge of his cloak, while Milliania's even breathing tickled his arm. Vastarael sat still, afraid to disturb them, though his legs had started to grow numb.

Opera sat across from him. Her face softened as she watched her children, her usual stern demeanor giving way to a rare moment of tenderness. After a moment, her eyes met Vastarael's.

"You handled them well today," she said quietly, her voice low so as not to wake the others.

Vastarael offered a small smile, brushing a strand of Milliania's dark hair away from her face.

"It wasn't so hard. They just needed to be distracted. Everything was new and exciting, so it kept them busy."

Opera leaned back, crossing her arms. "Not just today. In general. You've grown into a dependable brother."

Vastarael blinked, surprised by the praise. "I'm just doing what I'm supposed to..."

"No," Opera said, her tone more reflective now. "You're doing more than that. Taking responsibility for them, making sure they feel safe even when you're not always sure of your own place. That's rare. Especially at your age. Sometimes I wonder if you're ten years old."

He looked down at Anamorsia's peaceful face. "They're my family. I have to."

"You remind me of your father when he was younger."

Vastarael glanced up, startled. "Really?"

"He was like you in many ways," she continued. "Determined, always carrying the weight of others without complaint. But... take care of yourself too okay?"

He nodded slowly, her words sinking in. "Ill try."

For a moment, silence settled between them, broken only by the gentle hum of the Praesit. Vastarael shifted slightly, adjusting the sleeping girls on his lap.

"You're different out here," he said after a while, his gaze meeting hers again. "Less... strict. You look carefree."

Opera chuckled softly.

"Don't get used to it. Back at the palace, you'll still train until you're ready to collapse. I'm a mage but unfortunately, your dad is going to teach you and my hands are full with Milliania and Anamorsia."

"Milliania? Oh right. She received her abilities too..."

As the Praesit began its descent toward the Fountain of Maelisande, the city lights sparkled like stars in the growing twilight. Opera glanced out the window, her expression softening again.

"Today was fun. It's been ages since I've done this..."