Sovereign of Balance

After the last spirit beast had been summoned, the atmosphere in the summoning hall became thick and heavy. Surplus streams of spiritual energy, yet to dissipate, swirled in the air, casting a faint, ethereal glow across everyone’s faces.

Suddenly, a deep rumble echoed from deep beneath the ground. The entire floor trembled—cracks of light began to spread, dividing the floor before them into five paths radiating outward like the points of a star, each glowing with a distinct color.

An ancient voice, both warm and distant, resonated inside the minds of everyone present—neither clearly male nor female, but carrying absolute authority:

“The Five Sovereigns of Aetherion, the pillars maintaining the balance of this world.

Those who bear a spirit beast, step onto the path to which your soul belongs.”

Immediately, lines of ancient script ignited in the air, revealing five names—bright and luminous, circling them like a ring of fate:

Sovereign of Light — Lysandra, keeper of the Land of Gods, the light of creation.

The path of silver, pure and radiant, emanating a holy aura.

Sovereign of Darkness — Morvane, ruler of the Vantaris Abyss, where darkness crystallizes into power.

The black-purple path, cold and profound, as if leading into a bottomless void.

Sovereign of Ice — Serin, sovereign of the eternal northern snows, where the east wind never ceases.

The blue path, transparent and serene, like a frozen lake reflecting the sky.

Sovereign of Fire — Caelis, commander of the red desert of Kha’reth, where fire consumes and renews.

The blazing red path, echoing with the roar of flames, like the heartbeat of living fire.

Sovereign of Balance — Neolux, the one who maintains equilibrium among the four forces and protects the human world.

The golden path, steady and luminous, like the dawn dispelling chaos.

The air grew heavy. Each path seemed to possess its own soul—inviting, yet challenging. Aster felt the spirit beast within him stir slightly; his heart raced, as if his soul was being drawn toward the golden path—the same path as those who had saved him.

Neolux… The name reverberated in his mind, cold yet gentle, distant yet near.

Lysandra’s gaze swept across them, and she smiled lightly:

“Perhaps this is where destiny divides you. Once you step into the light, you will be transported to the domain of the Sovereign you have chosen.”

One by one, each person stepped forward, carrying the weight of their choice. Light engulfed them, and the five paths began to close, leading to five different lands. From that moment, their fates—and the fate of all Aetherion—diverged into five separate directions.

Aster stood before the radiant golden path, his heart racing, eyes fixed on the gentle yet commanding light. As he took his first step into the beam, the surrounding space vibrated subtly, as if responding to his presence.

A warm, tranquil sensation spread throughout his body. It was not fierce or cold power, but balance—gentle yet certain, as if the world itself whispered:

“You belong here.”

From ahead, a familiar figure appeared—Silas had been standing there all along, his gaze softening as he watched Aster approach.

“You… have made your choice?” His voice was deep, with a faint smile.

Aster nodded

“Yes… this Legion. I want to understand this power, to see what I can do with it.”

Silas stepped closer, closing the distance. He raised his hand gently:

“Then… this will be the place where you will study, live, and protect.”

A soft breeze blew, carrying the scent of earth and fresh grass. Golden light enveloped them, and together they stepped into the central region of Neolux’s domain—where the soul of the world intertwined with the power of the chosen. Before them lay a vast square, five monuments representing the Sovereigns, with at the center a balanced tower of light, shimmering and radiating stable energy across the land.

Chosen ones moved about, training and interacting—but everything was orderly, never chaotic.

Silas addressed those who had chosen Neolux’s Legion:

“Alright everyone, step through this circle of light, and we will be transported to the city immediately.”

Aster nodded slightly, eyes fixed on the tower of light:

“I’m ready… starting from here.”

The golden glow of the teleportation circle dimmed, and Aster felt his body drift lightly before touching down gently. When he opened his eyes, he was back in the familiar room of the stone castle belonging to the Balance Legion, where his footsteps echoed across the cool stone floor.

The room was spacious, with high ceilings and intricately carved stone pillars. Light streamed softly from the yellow-tinted windows onto the floor mats, highlighting a wooden desk, bookshelves filled with tomes on strategy, magic, and spiritual balance. Small potted plants added a touch of life to the cold stone space. Cale, his spirit beast, perched on the windowsill, its golden light reflecting on the walls and brightening the room. Aster took a deep breath, absorbing the tranquility. Everything outside—along the long hallways where people moved, trained, or exchanged information—remained bustling yet orderly, reflecting the rhythm of the Balance Legion.

Aster placed his hand on the windowsill, watching the castle grounds. People moved between towers and training grounds, streams of golden light weaving together, forming the pulse of the Legion. He smiled lightly, thinking to himself:

“This is where I belong… and where I’ll start learning to master my power.”

Cale chirped softly, flapped its wings—a reminder that this journey had only just begun. Aster turned to the desk, where books, maps, and training tools remained in place, and began organizing his thoughts, preparing for days of practice, exploration, and the challenges ahead in Neolux’s Legion.

Standing in the familiar room, watching Cale’s golden glow, Aster remembered Silas’ words: the spirit beast could become a weapon, but it was not easy.

He inhaled deeply: “Cale, you can transform into a weapon, right? We should try, shouldn’t we?”

Cale flew to his side. Aster tried to sense every breath, every tiny vibration of his spirit beast. At first, nothing happened. His spiritual energy quivered, casting a faint golden light across the room, but nothing more. He closed his eyes, forcing himself deeper into the connection with Cale. “Cale… we can do this,” he whispered, clenching the air before his chest. A tense feeling spread from his shoulders down his arms, spiritual energy rushing like a turbulent river.

Suddenly, golden light began to coil around Aster’s arms from Cale’s body. A faint vibration echoed, as if the beast’s body was resisting, not fully cooperating. Gritting his teeth, Aster focused harder, guiding the energy in rhythm with his heartbeat. After a strenuous effort, a golden bow began to take shape before him. It was not a flamboyant sword but a slender, powerful bow, its light flowing along its frame. The arrow seemed to form spontaneously in the air, ready to launch at Aster’s command.

He grasped the bow, feeling the perfect balance—flexible yet potent. A warm surge ran through his arms, harmonizing with Cale’s essence, making every shot more precise and forceful than ordinary.

“All right… we did it,” Aster panted, sweat beading on his forehead. The golden light surrounding the bow signaled that the link between him and his spirit beast had formed, though it still required time to perfect. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes to focus, attempting to fully connect with Cale. Spiritual energy within him surged, the bow gradually materializing. Aster smiled, thrilled at the unfamiliar sensation of controlling his spirit beast’s weapon for the first time.

But just as Aster tried to lift the bow, a hollow wave of energy surged around him. The bow flickered, trembled, and vanished before he could grip it securely. Aster’s eyes widened, his heart racing with surprise and disappointment. “W-What… just happened?” he muttered. Cale also vanished.

Slumping onto the bed, hands gripping the empty air, Aster felt the sting of failure but also a surge of determination: “I have to train… I need to find a way to stabilize my spiritual energy if I want to wield this power.”

The room grew silent, leaving only Aster’s labored breathing—a reminder that the power he held was still fragile and unfinished. He inhaled, forcing himself up after the disappointment. Closing his eyes, he focused on controlling his energy, trying to stabilize the flow within.

Once more, the shape of the bow appeared, more delicate, golden light reflecting Cale’s presence along the frame. Aster smiled faintly, feeling a glimmer of hope. But when he tried to draw the string… only a faint glow emerged, insufficient to launch, and the bow partially dissolved, leaving only a dim fragment in his hands.

Aster frowned, inhaled deeply, staring at the empty space. “Just… a little at a time…” he exhaled, both frustrated and realizing the truth: his power was still not enough to sustain a full weapon. Every summoning drained his spiritual energy quickly. His body trembled, reminding him that he needed more practice, to learn energy control, and—most importantly—to understand his own limits. Placing his hand on the bed, his eyes filled with resolve:

“I must train more… next time, I’ll do it completely. There’s no other way.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***