Omniphage of Apathy

In Spheraphase, Gods and Nexuses are worshipped.

Nexuses are known as the most powerful beings in the world, possessing incredible power capable of destroying continents, perhaps the world if multiple of them fought at the same time.

Vastarael knew that his parents were powerful Nexuses but never did he realize how monstrous they were.

Vastarael leaned back in his chair, staring at the records before him. His mind reeled from the sheer weight of the revelations within the library's ancient texts. His parents had always been a constant in his life. Loving, supportive, and guiding him every step of the way. He had seen Dilasyus and Lysameria as perfect but approachable, larger-than-life yet entirely within reach.

Reading the accounts of their feats now painted a vastly different picture.

His father, Dilasyus, was a Nexus whose power shaped the very existence of Anqerise. Not just a ruler, but a protector who had single-handedly ended wars and subdued entities that even other Nexuses feared. His calm demeanor and affectionate parenting masked the sheer magnitude of his strength.

He was known as the Mage Nexus, also the Nexus of Apathy.

And then there was Lysameria, his mother. She had always been soft-spoken yet commanding, her presence a warm comfort that filled any room. But the records described her as a tactician and warrior unparalleled, one whose mastery over th sword and physical prowess made her a legend.

She had defeated enemies thought to be invincible and stood as an equal to Dilasyus in might. Her serene gaze and nurturing touch had never betrayed even a fraction of the terrifying force she could wield.

She was known as the Blade Nexus, also known as the Nexus of Oceans.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. It was baffling to reconcile these two identities of his parents, their godlike roles as Nexuses and their grounding presence as his loving mother and father.

"They could obliterate continents without breaking a sweat," he muttered under his breath, "and yet, they were the ones tucking me in at night when I was a kid. They hid their power so well. Maybe too well. I grew up not knowing just how extraordinary they are... but now, I do."

But there was something else that bothered him.

When he was reincarnated, his soul was sent to Vastarael's body. However, he had an ancient soul. He was an Aeterium.

But how?

Before his reincarnation, back on Earth, he was human. Ordinary. Fragile. His soul had been weak, constrained by mortal limitations. There was nothing extraordinary about it. He had struggled with mediocrity, fought to survive in a world where his existence barely left a mark. How had that frail soul become what it was now?

His fingers tapped against the desk absently.

Time—or rather, Thyrexxa—had plucked him from his previous life and thrust him into this one. But that didn't explain how his soul had transformed. Souls were immutable, or so the records claimed. They didn't change; they simply were.

"Then why is mine infinite with Soul Energy now?" He muttered to himself.

He thought back to the descriptions he'd read about the Aeterium. Their souls were ancient, boundless reservoirs of power, capable of fueling a body to unimaginable heights. The records mentioned that Aeterium souls were among the first creations of the universe, fragments of existence itself. How could his weak, human soul have become one of them?

His chest tightened with unease.

Was it possible that Thyrexxa had tampered with his soul? That Time itself had remade him into what he was now? Or was it something else entirely, something more natural, more... terrifying?

What if his soul had always been Aeterium, and his life on Earth was merely... an accident?

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

If that were true, it would mean his existence as Vastarael wasn't a second chance. It was a reclamation of his true self. And that scared him more than he cared to admit.

He leaned back, exhaling a shaky breath.

"I need to understand this," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet of his room. "If my soul is infinite now... what does that mean for me? For who I was?"

There was a nagging fear he couldn't shake; that the more he learned about his soul, the more he might lose himself in the process. What if the human part of him was overshadowed by this ancient power?

What if, one day, he stopped being Vastarael and became... something else?

Vastarael tapped his pen against the edge of the book, his thoughts circling the same unsolved mystery. Finally, he sighed and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. There was only one being he could ask about this directly and... she wasn't exactly forthcoming most of the time.

"Phaenora," he said aloud. "I know you can hear me."

There was a moment of silence before her familiar, serene feminine voice echoed in his mind.

[Of course, Veneri. How can I help?]

He hesitated for a second, unsure how to phrase it. He decided to choose his words carefully to get information.

"It's about my soul," he began cautiously. "When Thyrexxa sent me here, I was... human. My soul was human. It wasn't anything special. But now, I'm an Aeterium. My soul is infinite, boundless. That doesn't just happen, does it?"

Phaenora's voice was calm but unreadable. [You are correct. Souls do not simply change their nature. What you are now is vastly different from what you were.]

"Then explain," he pressed, leaning forward. "You were given to me by Thyrexxa. Surely you know what she did. How did I go from being a weak, mortal soul to having one that could shatter reality if pushed hard enough? How did this happen?"

There was a pause—a long one.

"Phaenora, I'm serious. Tell me."

When she finally replied, her tone carried a hint of something unfamiliar. Was it reluctance?

[I don't know, Veneri.]

His hands clenched into fists on the desk. "What do you mean, you don't know?Thyrexxa sent me to this world and assigned you to guide me. How can you not know?"

[It is not that I do not know. It's that I am not permitted to tell you.]

His frustration bubbled to the surface. "Not permitted by who? Thyrexxa? The universe? Who decides what I'm allowed to know about my own soul?"

[Certain truths must be uncovered by you, not given. The journey to understanding your soul is one you must take alone. It is the will of the Primordial who sent you here. Thyrexxa's will.]

He gritted his teeth, anger simmering under his calm exterior.

"So, I'm just supposed to stumble around in the dark, hoping to figure out why I'm even me anymore?"

[You are still you. Who you were before and who you are now are not as different as you believe. But the nature of your soul is tied to your destiny, Veneri. Answers will come in time, but not before you are ready to receive them.]

He slammed his fist onto the desk, though not hard enough to damage it.

"You're seriously telling me that you know but can't say anything? Not even a hint?"

[That's... correct. I can guide you in your studies and support you in your journey. But the truth about your soul is not mine to reveal.]

Vastarael exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He didn't like to be put in the dark. Now that he found a way to escape fate, he was looking for ways to avoid it from happening.

Also, he had a nagging feeling that if he died, something very wrong would happen to his family. He couldn't explain it but his instincts told him that.

"Fine," he muttered. "Keep your secrets, then. But don't think I'll stop asking."

[Of course,] Phaenora said with an almost teasing warmth. [I wouldn't expect anything less from you. It wouldn't be fun if I revealed everything.]

He shook his head, grabbing one of the books from his desk. If answers wouldn't come from Phaenora, he'd find them the hard way.

"I guess I'll just have to uncover the truth myself. But answer me this. You're an Omniscient, right?"

[Yes.]

"Then answer me this. Spheraphase is linked to Earth in some way, is it?"

[...]

Silence.

"Don't pretend you didn't hear me," Vastarael continued, his tone sharp. "I'm not just pulling this out of nowhere. The evidence is all around me."

Phaenora hesitated, her presence unusually still in his mind. When she finally spoke, her tone carried a faint edge of caution.

[...Explain what you mean.]

Vastarael smirked. "Gladly. For starters, the timekeeping system here is nearly identical to Earth's. The measurements of length, weight, even temperature, are shockingly similar. Celsius, meters, kilometers, liters... should I continue?"

[That doesn't prove anything,] Phaenora said firmly, though there was a hint of unease in her voice.

"Maybe not," he admitted, "but let's not forget the architectural similarities. The symmetry, the designs, there's no way it's all just chance."

Phaenora's silence deepened and Vastarael could almost feel her calculating how to respond.

Phaenora's presence in his mind shifted, and for the first time, Vastarael sensed genuine worry.

[Vastarael, stop this. You don't understand the ramifications of what you're saying.]

"Why? Because I'm getting too close to the truth?" He challenged, his curiosity now burning brighter than ever.

[No,] Phaenora said, her tone almost pleading. [Because if you continue down this path, you'll force Thyrexxa's hand. Do you understand what that means?]

He frowned. "What does Thyrexxa have to do with this?"

[Everything,] Phaenora said firmly. [If I reveal too much, the balance of Spheraphase and the universe itself could be shattered. Thyrexxa would have no choice but to immobilize me. Permanently.]

Vastarael blinked, taken aback by the severity in her voice. "Immobilize you? You mean—"

[Yes,] she interrupted. [I would cease to exist as you know me. Not because I am your enemy, but because some truths are too dangerous to be shared. The connection between Earth and Spheraphase is one of those truths.]

For a moment, Vastarael was silent, his mind racing with questions. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized he was treading dangerous waters.

"Alright," he said finally, his voice subdued. "I'll stop... for now."

[Thank you,] Phaenora said, relief evident in her tone. [I promise, Vastarael, that the answers will come when the time is right. But forcing them now will only bring chaos.]

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You're lucky I like having you around. But don't think this is the end of it. One way or another, I'll find out the truth."

[Of course,] she replied softly. [That's who you are, Vastarael. But I can tell you this. Those are Hidden Truths.]

"Hidden Truths?"

[The Hidden Truths refer to profound, foundational revelations about worlds, its creation, its role in the cosmos and the underlying forces that govern its existence. They carry existential significance, intertwining with the destinies of its inhabitants and the balance of the universe itself.]

"..."

[An example is the measurement and temperature system. That's a Hidden Truth. Once you get to the academy, where they reveal it, you'll know more.]

"Oh I can't wait to get to school."

His curiosity shifted and he glanced toward the ceiling.

"By the way, Phaenora," he began cautiously, "you're an Omniscient, right? Do you... have a soul? Or are you just a voice in my head forever?"

For a moment, there was silence, then her reply came in its usual tone.

[Of course I do have a soul. If you become an Ascender, I will gain a body.]

"So... no body until I become an Ascender? That's grim."

[Of course it's doable, though it won't be simple. But even then, my connection to you will not be like Adelasta's. I am your guide, bound to you for as long as you live.]

He raised an eyebrow. "Lucky me."

[Indeed. And for the record, I'd prefer not to manifest because of your death, so... try to stay alive.]

Vastarael chuckled softly, leaning forward and flipping open another book.

"Well, if I want answers, I'd better work on surviving long enough to make you a corporeal being."

[That would be appreciated.]