Tale of Vanguard

They arrived at a glade before them. In the middle of the glade, surrounded by towering trees and thick undergrowth, lies some kind of a laboratory. The lab is an ancient stone structure, weathered by time but still standing strong, its walls covered in creeping ivy and moss. The roof is made of dark slate, blending seamlessly with the shadowy canopy above. 

As Master Cronos headed to the entrance, he gestured for Kaelen to follow him. Kaelen, still shocked by the sight in front of him, managed to linger in place until he eventually followed the old man to the entrance. The entrance itself is a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron, etched with intricate runes that seem to pulse faintly with magic. Just as he had done with the gate in the sanctuary earlier, he touched the tip of his staff to the rune etched on the door, causing the door to slowly dissipate.

"Come then"

***

Inside, the lab is dimly lit by a series of floating orbs that cast a soft, ambient glow. The air is thick with the scent of aged parchment, herbs, and a faint, earthy musk from the forest that creeps in through the cracks. Shelves line the walls, overflowing with dusty tomes, scrolls, and curious artifact. In the center of the room stands a large, worn oak table cluttered with alchemical tools, half-finished experiments, and stacks of notes that seems to belong to the old man's meticulous handwriting.

In one corner, a massive astrolabe turns slowly, its brass rings catching the light as it moves. Nearby, a small hearth crackles softly, the only warmth in the otherwise cool and damp space. Two large, old leather chairs, worn from years of use, sits before a window that overlooks the glade, offering a view of the forest beyond. The lab feels both timeless and alive, a place where ancient knowledge meets the mysteries of the forest. 

'I guess it suits the old man's taste?'

"So, have you considered my offer from before?"

Master Cronos asked the boy in front of him while tidying the sheets of parchment on the table in the middle of the room.

With a resolved look, Kaelen bowed his head and aswered:

"Yes, and i'm sorry for my sudden outburst from before"

Master Cronos stared at him for a few seconds and then laughed.

"I see that you still have some manners in you, very well."

Master Cronos took his time searching the table in front of him until he found what appeared to be an old tome. Judging by its ragged appearance, the tome was likely hundreds of years old. He then gives the tome to Kaelen.

"What's this?" Kaelen accepted the tome with both his hand.

"We will begin your training in four days. In the meantime, I want you to first understand how the foundation of this world works, everything you need to know will be available in that book you're holding. Oh, and your room will be upstairs, it might need a little bit of cleaning though. I will be heading to the capital to grab any necessities that you might need."

And just like that, Master Cronos figure disappeared into the ground below until he was completely gone from the room.

"Hey, wait a minute old man..!"

Just as kaelen was about to speak, Master Cronos already vanished from his sight

'Ugh! curse him and his habit of suddenly dissapearing'

Kaelen looked at the heavy tome that he held in his hand.

"Well.. knowledge is power, i guess"

***

In a moderately small room, a rickety desk sits against one wall, cluttered with writing materials, a flickering oil lamp, and a few personal trinkets. An old, creaky wooden chair is pushed up to the desk, offering a place to sit and ponder. Across the table, is a bed with a boy lying on it.

Four days have passed, and Kaelen is seen lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression. He had more or less understood how the main framework of this world's power worked.

Firstly, The Veil of Aetheria: it's the main foundation centered around the manipulation of Aether, a mystical energy that permeates all dimensions. The Aether is divided into different Veils, each representing a layer of existence with unique properties and abilities. Only those attuned to the Aether can pierce these Veils, drawing on their powers. The old man already mentioned this before. Speaking of the old man, he briefly mentioned that he has mastery over two Veils: the Veil of Umbra (darkness) and the Veil of Tempus (time). That likely explains the time when he appeared in the hospital room; the surrounding area seemed to freeze in time.

Secondly, the power source that a person must have to draw upon to unveil the Veil is called an Astral Resonance. It is the attunement of an individual's soul to the celestial energies that permeate the Veil of Aetheria. This resonance is both a personal and metaphysical connection that allows the individual to channel and manipulate the Veil's powers. This resonance also has many important attributes; the first is the Celestial alignment: Each person's Astral Resonance is aligned with a specific celestial body or constellation that governs their abilities. The stronger the alignment, the more potent their connection to the Veil become. the second one is the Resonance level: Astral Resonance is not static, it fluctuates based on the person's emotional state, proximity to celestial events, and their personal growth in understanding the Veil. Higher levels of resonance allows for more powerful and diverse manifestations of a Veil abilities.

Lastly, for Kaelen to harness Astral Resonance, he must first undergoes a ritual known as the Astral Attunement: this ritual serves as both the process of binding his soul to the Veil of Aetheria which will established his initial connection to the Veil to unlock his potential of harnessing astral resonance, and revealing his celestial alignment. It provides him with his unique Astral Resonance and identifies the celestial alignment that governs his abilities. You could say that this is the foundational step for him to become a Seeker.

A few moments passed in silence within the room until a knock echoed from outside the door. The door slowly creaked open, revealing Master Cronos standing in the doorway. 

"Let's go"

Kaelen rose from his bed, his movements were slow and deliberate as he approached the old man.