Chapter 39: Information On The World
’A vast and dangerous realm?’
The moment Alistair said that, Paige’s snarky voice rang out in my head, practically dripping with arrogant disdain.
[PFFFFT! Hahaha!] Paige scoffed, sounding thoroughly unimpressed. [A dangerous realm? Oh, please! Seth, if you want, I can literally flip the entire Astral World upside down and turn it into a floating bouncy castle right now! Your grandfather is just too weak to understand how simple it actually is.]
I nearly choked, keeping my face perfectly stone-faced as I responded mentally. ’Paige, chill out. Out of curiosity, how strong is my grandfather compared to the rest of the world?’
[Hmm? Oh, he’s actually one of the strongest human beings on the planet,] Paige answered casually, as if she were commenting on the weather. [Top tier among mortals, really.]
I let out a slow mental sigh. ’Right. He’s one of the strongest mortals alive, and you’re calling him weak. I really need to stop asking you for power scale comparisons.’
Completely unaware of the omnipotent system voice roasting him inside my mind, Alistair continued smoothly.
"The Astral World is the metaphysical foundation of all things," Alistair said, his deep voice carrying quiet authority. "It is home to the Fundamental Concepts that govern reality, the Archetypes that define every class of existence, and the Astral Souls of all living beings. Every person possesses an Astral Soul, every species possesses a collective Archetype, and every Archetype resonates with one or more Fundamental Concepts. Whether the Astral World created reality or merely reflects reality’s deepest truths remains a subject of eternal debate."
I listened intently, my interest genuinely piqued. "What about humans? What concept does the human Archetype represent?"
"Adaptability," Alistair answered with a warm smile. "It is a complicated metaphysical structure, but at its core, humanity is bound to infinite change and adaptability. Other races are bound to more specific concepts. Take the Vampire Truebloods, for instance. Their collective Archetype is intrinsically tied to the Concepts of Blood and Vitality. Because of that resonance, almost every Vampire who awakens an Astral Soul develops abilities related to blood manipulation or life-force absorption."
I tapped my chin thoughtfully as the pieces fell into place. "So that’s why their abilities are predictable. But why don’t most humans ever awaken their Astral Souls? Is it the same for other races?"
Dad shifted in his seat, taking a sip of his tea before continuing the explanation. "It’s quite the opposite, Seth. Races like Vampires, High Elves, and Dragons awaken their Astral Souls almost naturally as they mature because their bloodlines are rigidly tied to specific Concepts. Humans, however, possess a level of potential unlike any other race."
His expression grew serious.
"Because our Archetype is tied to Adaptability and Infinite Potential, a human can awaken an Astral Soul aligned with any Concept in existence-from simple elements like fire or iron to abstract ideas like space, luck, or even causality itself. But because our potential is so boundless and unfocused, the barrier to awakening is exponentially higher. Most ordinary humans live their entire lives without ever awakening their Astral Soul."
"And that," Alistair added, leaning forward on his cane, "is the primary reason the supernatural world remains hidden behind a veil of absolute secrecy."
I raised an eyebrow. "Because of humanity’s potential?"
"Precisely," Dad said with a nod. "If the existence of the supernatural, magic, and Astral Souls became common knowledge among Earth’s eight billion people, the collective belief and awareness would shatter the subconscious seals holding humanity’s potential back. Millions would begin awakening simultaneously. A sudden, unguided surge of wild, unpredictable Astral Souls would throw the global balance into absolute chaos. That is why every major faction, from Heaven and Hell to the ancient family bloodlines, enforces the secrecy of the mortal world."
"I get it now," I murmured as everything finally clicked into place. It made perfect sense why my family, despite owning half the country’s economy, operated within a hidden layer of society.
"So," I asked, looking back at Alistair, "can a human’s Astral Soul really be anything? Does it grant actual abilities?"
"Indeed," Alistair replied. "Throughout history, human awakenings have varied wildly. Some awaken mundane Astral Souls, granting enhanced physical strength, elemental manipulation, or refined sensory perception. Others awaken extremely rare or conceptual Astral Souls that defy logic. An Astral Soul serves as the core channel through which a mortal taps into the fundamental fabric of existence. What you can achieve, and the limits of your authority, depend entirely on the nature and grade of the Astral Soul you possess."
Before Alistair could launch into a deeper lecture on spiritual conduits and metaphysical ley lines, Mom crossed her arms and stepped in, giving both Dad and Grandfather a stern, protective glare.
"Alright, alright! That’s enough!" Mom declared, shaking her head in exasperation. "Stop piling endless lectures onto my boy! He just awakened yesterday! You’re overwhelming him with information he can read later when he attends Avalon."
She walked over, sat beside me, and wrapped an arm affectionately around my shoulder. Looking at Dad and Grandfather with a firm huff, she said, "Just give Seth the essential details. Tell him about his own Astral Soul, what happened during his awakening, and what we’re going to do from here."
Hearing Mom speak with such authority, both Dad and Grandfather instantly fell silent.
A faint smirk tugged at my lips as I watched the two most powerful men in the house, and arguably two of the most influential figures on the planet, fall completely silent without a word of protest. It really showed who held the true power in this family.
Still, Mom was right. They were throwing an entire textbook’s worth of cosmic lore, metaphysical concepts, and dimensional politics at me all at once. As curious as I was about the supernatural world, it was a lot to digest over a single cup of morning tea.
That was when my brain caught up to what Mom had mentioned earlier.
"Wait, Mom," I asked, leaning forward slightly. "What exactly is Avalon?"
Mom’s stern expression melted into a warm, affectionate smile as she patted my shoulder. "Avalon is the premier global institution for Awakened individuals, sweetie. It’s an academy dedicated to teaching the younger generation how to control their Astral Souls, understand the supernatural world, and conduct higher-tier research. More importantly, it’s where the heirs and prodigies of every influential family, bloodline, and faction study together, forge connections, and shape the future of the supernatural world."