Chapter 197: The Pantheon of Infinite Dreams
Akasha’s question had never been meant for himself, nor for anyone present on the high balcony of the treehouse.
The thought had barely finished forming when a soft status notification answered from somewhere far beyond the reach of ordinary systems.
In that moment, a brief pause hung in the air, as if whatever listened needed a moment to turn its attention fully toward him.
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Far beyond Star systems, beyond the layered boundaries of Universes and the quiet dark that separated them, there existed a realm that made every other paradise seem unfinished.
Endless fields of soft, luminous grass rolled outward in every direction, broken only by rivers of clear water that tumbled over white stone into wide, misting waterfalls.
Flowers of every color bloomed without season, their petals releasing a faint, sweet fragrance that drifted on a wind that never grew cold.
The sky above was like an endless projection, playing without a single pause, and though it had the power to display absolutely anything, it chose only one thing.
Since the day Akasha was born, it had shown every moment of his life with flawless precision, each detail unfolding in perfect, vivid clarity.
In the middle of the field, a plain blanket lay stretched over the grass. Akashi sat upon it with the relaxed ease of someone who had never known the press of urgency.
Her light brown skin caught the realm’s gentle glow, radiating a quiet warmth in the serene atmosphere.
Her long hair, a striking mix of black and pure white, tumbled down her back and spread over the blanket in loose, flowing waves.
Her eyes, shaped like perfect red hearts, stayed locked on the sky above, following the live feed of her son with the unwavering, gentle focus of a mother who had never once let her gaze stray.
She sat alone... much like she had been for the vast majority of her existence.
While her longtime friend had been around for decades, Aethea had left some time ago to attend to a few matters that required her attention.
When Akasha’s silent question reached her, Akashi’s lips curved.
A soft giggle escaped her, light and warm, and she gave a small shake of her head, black-and-white hair shifting across her shoulders.
"Oh, my baby boy," she whispered, the words soft enough that they seemed to sink into the warm air of the realm rather than disturb it.
A quiet laugh followed, light and genuine, as she gave a small shake of her head.
The long strands of her black-and-white hair slid across her shoulders with the motion, catching the gentle light that filled the endless sky above her.
"I’m certainly not the Akashic Records," she continued, still watching the living projection with those steady red heart eyes, "but that was a clever guess... I suppose I’m not far from her."
She reached out without looking and plucked a small, ripe fruit from the spread beside her.
The skin of the fruit gave under her fingers, releasing a faint sweetness into the air as she brought it to her lips and took a delicate bite.
Juice touched the corner of her mouth; she wiped it away with the pad of her thumb while her gaze never left the image of her son.
"But you’re not wrong about the important part," she said after she swallowed. "I may not be the Records... but I am still the one you need to come to."
On the far side of the connection, she watched him lift one hand and begin to tap his chin in slow, thoughtful rhythm.
Seeing him so much calmer, even though she could still hear the resignation in his voice, brought her a quiet sense of comfort.
As usual, Akasha seemed to slip away from any conversation they shared, always rushing through their exchanges.
However, it seemed like he had more time on his hands in this moment.
His next words reached her a moment later, spoken softly and with deliberate care, as if he had turned the question over in his mind several times before letting it go.
"Well... are the Akashic Records more than you?" he asked, before clarifying. "I mean, do they hold greater authority?"
Akashi tilted her head, red heart eyes narrowing just slightly as the question settled.
She chewed the remaining piece of fruit with deliberate slowness, letting the flavor linger while her thoughts moved in quiet circles.
For a while, she spoke almost as if to herself, her voice quieter than before.
"Honestly, I’ve never really compared myself to her..."
The power Akashi had attained... and even someone who was the Akashic Records, it wasn’t about raw strength anymore... or even Authority.
The thought had never occurred to her—and, for other reasons as well, there had never been any real need to draw such comparisons.
A wry, faintly self-mocking smile tugged at her lips.
"Who knows? Maybe I am, maybe I am not." She said before continuing.
"Though, if I’m being honest, I’m not sure. And in the end, it doesn’t really matter."
She lifted one hand, the gesture subtle and unhurried, almost languid in its ease.
For an instant, the air around her fingertips seemed to pause, as though holding its breath, before she pressed them together.
Snap!
A gentle resonance resonated softly through the flawless stillness of her realm.
"There," she said, voice warm and final. "I’ve already completed the steps for you. Your Pantheon is formed—the Pantheon of Infinite Dreams. Everything is free for you to adjust once you finish dealing with that little world consciousness of yours."
On the live projection, Akasha tapped his chin thoughtfully for a moment before finally stopping.
He stayed silent for a while, the pause stretching on, until at last—much to her quiet surprise—his voice came back, steady and sincere, stripped of its usual sharpness.
"...I appreciate the help," he said.
A heartbeat later, the connection went dead.
Akashi stayed seated on the blanket, her red, heart-shaped eyes still locked on the sky where the image of her son played on.
A gentle, warm smile spread across her face as she took in every detail of him.
"My baby boy," she whispered, her voice carrying only pure love and affection.