the era of calamities

I held it in my hands— a star no bigger than a grain of sand. The energy within it could probably wipe out Astoria if released. I expected to be obliterated just by being this close to it, yet instead, I felt at peace. It was a part of me, and it would grow with me.

Maybe one day, it would be as vast as the sun.

It floated on its own toward the center of my soul. The farther it moved away, the brighter it became, until its light forced me to close my eyes.

When I opened them again, my wounds were gone— so was the weight that had been pressing down on me. My soul’s space was bathed in light, a breathtaking sight. My soul and the ether within it resonated in harmony, becoming one. The higher my soul rank grew, the more it could contain.

The cloud that had been supporting me vanished after setting me down. It was over. I had survived. Soon, I would have to leave my soul and return to the real world. I could feel that I was free to leave whenever I wanted, but before that...

I raised a hand, and a white orb gathered in my palm. It was an unknown substance. I didn’t know what it truly was, but it felt like a fusion of my soul and ether.

I focused on the sphere and spoke a single word:

"Nephele."

Instantly, the orb evaporated, and a faint white mist surrounded me. I willed it to rise and take the form of a cloud, and it obeyed.

I spoke another word:

"Igros."

The mist transformed into a milky-white liquid. I commanded it to disperse into raindrops, and it complied.