Veil of Aether

Auserre and The Vendor stood frozen, not by force, but by awe.

Before them, Kei Y moved with a grace that seemed beyond mortal comprehension. The ball of water hovered between his fingers, twisting, rippling, shifting from liquid to ice—then melting with barely a breath. His motions were fluid, trance-like, as if the very essence of the elements danced to his will.

Without a chant, without a word, ember ash rune strokes shimmered into existence around his hand. The ball of water hissed into vapor—rising in a controlled plume of steam that curled like a halo around him—only to be compressed once more into its original form, as if time had reversed itself.

“Fascinating,” The Vendor whispered.

But Kei Y wasn’t done.

As the ball of water floated gently to his side, a second set of ember ash runes bloomed—and with them, fire. A blazing sphere spun into existence, humming with restrained heat. Then the air pulsed. Wind roared. A tornado formed beneath Kei’s feet, lifting him effortlessly into the air.

In a single, seamless flow, Kei extended one hand—a wave of water surged across the floor, washing over Auserre in a warm pulse of High Tide healing energy. With his other hand, the fireball shot in the opposite direction, unfurling into a searing wave of ember ash flame. And with the final motion, he dropped from the vortex above, slamming down as the gust exploded outward—a burst of air scattering steam, heat, and awe across the chamber.

Silence followed.

“…What the fuck was that?” Auserre blinked, soaked and stunned.

The Vendor’s jaw was still hanging. “That kid… might actually be the most odd little bastard I’ve ever seen.”

“All I asked him was to catch the ball of water. What the hell was all of that?” Auserre muttered, completely thrown.

“How did you end up with another show-off as a student?” The Vendor shot her a look. “You attract them like moths to a flame.”

Meanwhile, the two elders were left speechless as Kei Y landed lightly on his feet, arms still half spread like he’d just stepped off a stage.

On the inside, though?

He was glowing.

“That’s right,” he thought smugly, barely able to hide the smirk tugging at his lips. “I’m the goddamn Avatar. I mean sure, I don’t have Earth Force yet, but even Korra couldn’t use Airbending at first.”

He nodded to himself, full anime protagonist energy radiating off him.

“Balance? Never heard of it. I’m gonna solo the world’s elements one flex at a time.”

He blinked—and realized he was still soaked in sweat and slightly winded.

“…Okay maybe not solo yet,” he admitted, “but I definitely looked cool.”

Probably.

He hoped.

He looked up to see the two staring at him. “What are you looking at?”

“You’ve got a long road ahead of you with this,” The Vendor said. “Since you guys are okay, I’ll head back. The clone I left behind to keep selling food is draining me dry. See you.” With that, he vanished without ceremony.

Auserre continued staring at Kei Y, uncertain. “I really don’t know what to do with you.”

There was no blueprint for mentoring someone like him. She could handle training God Sparks—she was even prepared for the complications of Pristine Aether—but Kei Y had the most coveted title in existence. [He Who Denies Fate].

And it wasn’t just rare. It was untouchable. If that title could be taken by force, or transferred willingly, she would’ve been more than tempted. In truth, she’d take it from a baby if she had to.

But he wasn’t just some anomaly.

He was her student.

And she was starting to care.

That was the part that made it difficult to act on her temptation.

“Did I do something wrong?” Kei Y asked, confused.

“No, not you specifically… well, actually—yes, you specifically,” Auserre admitted. “The amount of things you are might be more than I can handle, if I’m being honest.”

Her words hit harder than she realized. Kei Y’s expression fell.

“Oh…” he mumbled, unsure how to process what she said. “Um, I didn’t mean to be so much trouble. I’ll just… leave. And I’m really sorry.”

He nervously fidgeted with his hands, head lowered.

Her words echoed in his chest, drawing out a deep, familiar ache. He’d caused problems again—just like when he was born.

Back then, he had been the burden. One parent died singing to him. The other… well, he never heard his father’s voice like he did his mother’s. But with his technical skills—and the wealth he had on Earth—he managed to trace his father's life. An ordinary man, with a decent enough job. Kei even uncovered footage from the day of his birth, hacked from the hospital’s archived security feed.

He watched it all unfold: his father arriving at the hospital, soaked in rain, gripping an umbrella patterned with cherry tree blossoms—the same umbrella now resting in the corner of Kei Y’s office where he slept. The man had been frantic, eager, overjoyed. And then… the panic.

Kei watched as his father stormed out, chasing shadowed figures who had taken his newborn son. His mother, just minutes past delivery, tried to follow, collapsing over and over as hospital staff rushed to help her.

That moment—the desperation of two ordinary people—haunted him.

His first act in this world had been as a burden. And now, after everything, he felt like he was becoming one again—to his friend, his master, someone who actually cared about him.

“Don’t be an idiot,” Auserre said, sensing that her words had triggered something unpleasant. She smacked him lightly on the head. “I’m just saying… if I’m being truly honest, I don’t think I’m qualified to be your master.”

“Oh, that’s fine. If anything, I’ll manage afterward—or we can learn together. That should be fine,” Kei Y replied with a sudden smile, as if the moment hadn’t cut deep just seconds before.

His entire mood shifted like a flipped coin. The broken, saddened look from before vanished without a trace, replaced by a lighthearted grin and wide eyes brimming with energy.

Auserre blinked, uncertain what to make of it. The boy had looked devastated just a second ago—like he genuinely believed she didn’t want him. Now, he looked like that thought never existed.

She knew Kei had been a slave when they first met. He had lived with Sanu, and from that alone, she could guess his parents were no longer around. She wasn’t sure, but… she had a feeling that devastated expression came from thinking she didn’t want him—as if he saw her like a mother figure.

“Okay, stop looking at me like I’m your mother,” she chuckled, trying to brush it off.

“Looking at you, you’re more than old enough to be,” Kei Y said a bit too quickly for Auserre’s liking.

She glared at him. “You wanna die?”

“No ma’am,” Kei Y said with a grin, already stepping out of striking range.

“First things first—your equipment and skills. Because of that title, they’re basically useless,” Auserre muttered, rubbing her forehead in clear frustration.

“…Bitch, what?” Kei Y blinked, not at all prepared for that statement.

He didn’t get the chance to follow up.

CRACK!

Auserre smacked him straight into the ground with a casual flick, his body creating a neat Kei-shaped crater as his HP dropped dangerously close to zero.

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“Funnily enough,” she continued, completely unbothered, “because of that title, youcan, to some extent, build your skills and gear in a way similar to Mia’s.”

Kei groaned from the ground, arm twitching.

“Your innate talent’s insane. You’re clearly destined to come across the best skills, weapons, equipment, and titles without even trying. That’s all fine and good. But the issue…” Auserre exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“That’s your fate. And the name of your title already says exactly what it wants from you—to deny your fate.”

She looked at him like he personally handcrafted her migraines.

“…The path you’ve been walking? The one you stumbled onto naturally without anyone’s help? That just so happens to be the most optimal path someone like you could take. Of course it is. Of course it is. And I really, really wish I knew that before I agreed to train you.”

Kei, still face-first in the dirt, groaned: “Yeah, no… that’s fair.”

“So I’m not supposed to use any equipment? What about the skills I already have? Do I have to give up Shima Edgecraft and Whispering Breeze?” Kei Y asked, genuinely concerned now.

“I don’t believe you do,” Auserre replied, arms crossed as she thought aloud. “Since those are self-created skills, they usually function under a different framework than regular ones. Skills granted by the system and your class, though… those might be another story. They could end up being completely useless to you. Honestly, even having a class at all might become a hindrance.”

She paused, then added, “But you’ll still need a class to form your core. And without a core, you can’t progress further—so it’s a necessary step.”

As Kei listened, the title [He Who Denies Fate] pulsed within him—subtle shifts, minor reactions—confirming some of Auserre’s points while outright rejecting others.

“…Yeah, seems like some of what you said was right, and some of it wasn’t,” Kei Y said, squinting slightly as he interpreted the feedback.

“Huh? How did you… wait—did it tell you?” she asked, baffled.

“What is this title anyway?” Kei muttered, more to himself. “I just… happened to have it.”

Auserre tilted her head. “Actually, I never asked this before… but did you or the others ever enter the First Expanse?”

“I met Sanu there,” Kei said. “Dunno about the rest. But on my first day there, I already had this title.”

“And did you have a system before you entered?” she asked sharply.

“Nope,” Kei Y answered. “Only got it after. Do people have to go to the Expanse to get a system?”

“No,” Auserre shook her head. “The Expanse is more like a testing and training ground. You can either be randomly selected, or if you have the means, you can be taken there to train. It gives you the opportunity to wield higher-grade aether and helps you familiarize yourself with your Force Alignment on a more advanced scale.”

“So… the title?” he asked.

“Not much is known about it,” she admitted. “Basically nothing is known.”

Kei Y looked at her, watching as she continued.

“In short, it’s theorized to have the ability to act outside the scope of fate itself. To change the preordained as it wills. And to function beyond the limits of the system.”

“…Is fate important?” he asked.

“Basically,” she replied, “it lays out a path for you to follow. Some paths lead to power and luxury. Others to hardship, limitation, or ruin. Of course, some people gain the ability to change their fate—but a lot of what we experience is already preordained. Likeyou being a God Spark.”

"In a sense, fate is also seen as threads—threads that link you to other beings and actions in existence. Those with great fate tend to have more threads attached to them. It’s often mistaken for luck, but really, it's just your thread of fate tugging on a particular incident, pulling it into your path.

The number of threads someone has can even serve as a rough gauge of their talent. For example, someone with little to no talent might have only a few threads—just enough to get them through an ordinary, mundane life. But then there are those with immeasurable fate. And I’m sure you’ve already noticed one of them, one of the participants you're eager to fight… The Crown Prince of the Jerusalem Kingdom.

I’ve seen the way you glance at him.

The threads of fate around him are so numerous, you can mistake them for one thick thread—they’re that densely woven. He’s been heralded as the future Chosen of Earth, the one meant to break Earth out of its Mortal Realm ceiling and elevate it into the Ascended Realm tier. If that happens, it’ll become easier for others to step into the Ascended Realm too. And even then, I doubt his fate ends there.

He’s a once-in-generations kind of talent. I’m a unique case, of course—but he’s on a scale all his own.

Of course… that’s not counting you, Mia, Sanu, or Kei. Maybe the only one who can truly compare to him is Emory."

“So that’s the basic idea of fate. There are people who wield aspects of Fate Force—those who can delve deeper into it, glimpse it, even manipulate it. But that title you have? It can ignore all of that. It acts however it pleases.”

She tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“With that title, I suppose if you really wanted to… you could probably steal another God Spark’s fate for yourself.”

Auserre chuckled at the absurdity of what she’d just said.

“Could you imagine?” she laughed—

Just as Kei Y glanced awkwardly at his title.

It pulsed in response. Slightly. Knowingly.

"I have no shame. I’d do it again if you let me."

Kei felt it… not in words, but in raw, smug intent.

“Heh… could you imagine,” he echoed with a nervous chuckle.

Auserre didn’t notice the reaction, or maybe she chose to ignore it as she finished her thought.

“In short,” she said, eyes now fixed on him, “it’s a title that can act outside the scope of existence. Reality is whatever it wants it to be. And there’s not much—if anything—that can stand in its way.”

She paused, tone shifting.

“It’s a title so powerful, even Supreme Gods would fight to the death and sacrifice entire fortunes just for achance at claiming it.”

Her gaze narrowed as she looked her student up and down.

“And of course…you just happen to have it. And after seeing just the first effect of that title… I can understand why it’s so feared. So powerful. So… itself.”

She exhaled slowly.

“Just looking at it almost killed me.”

Although the revelation that Kei Y possessed the title had shaken Auserre, what truly sent her into shock wasn’t the title itself—it was what she glimpsed through it. Something she had no right to see. If she didn’t know better, she might’ve believed her student had let her see it intentionally, like some kind of trap.

But… no. He wouldn’t do that.

At least… she hoped he wouldn’t.

“So the no skills, no equipment thing?” Kei asked, still trying to wrap his head around it.

“You didn’t actually pay attention to the details of the title, did you?” she asked, exasperated.

“You mean Defiance of Destiny?”

She gave him a flat look. “What did you think the description meant?”

Kei scratched his cheek. “Does that count for the equipment I make? Like, I gave away most of the gear I got from zones. The rest I crafted myself. What about the unique quest items? Do they count too?”

He paused, thinking out loud. “Also, I don’t really use skills other than my self-created ones… I just manipulate Force directly. I don’t think I even have skills for most of my other forces.”

“Reread the description again. Carefully,” Auserre said, already rubbing her temples.

[Defiance of Destiny]

Rejecting opportunities that would be considered optimal—such as high-tier weapons, powerful artifacts, or class-defining skills—triggers a hidden calibration effect.

The greater the opportunity you deny, the more the world bends to reward your chosen path.

However, rewards are not immediate or guaranteed. They manifest over time as resonance-based boons, hidden synergies, or unique skill progression paths that align with your self-defined identity.

“Your Bond skill and self-created skills should be fine to use,” Auserre said. “In fact, I think those skills are the result of you rejecting the opportunities you’ve come across so far, so they shouldn’t be affected at all.”

She crossed her arms, thinking aloud.

“Pristine Aether operates under its own mechanism, so using your Bond skill should be safe. But with a fate like yours… the quality of treasures and rewards destined for you should be incredibly high. Even items ranked Ancient or Exalted should come to you in abundance.”

She gave him a stern look.

“But you can’t let your greed tempt you into chasing them. That path would only backfire.”

“Oh, that should be fine,” Kei Y said with a casual shrug. “I don’t like all those effects and stuff anyway. Too much to remember. Too annoying to build a fighting style around.”

“…Uh.” Auserre blinked, unsure how to respond.

She had just been worrying that his reluctance to rely on equipment would eventually hinder him. She’d planned to drill into him the long-term benefits of properly utilizing gear.

But now?

Now she was staring at someone who inadvertently benefited from rejecting gear because of a reality-warping title—only to find out he disliked Ancient and Exalted items purely because he couldn’t be bothered to remember their effects.

She didn’t even have the energy to be mad.

“…You’re actually insane,” she muttered, rubbing her temples again.

Kei just smiled, completely at peace.

"If I can't use equipment, I may as well make myself some new clothes. And my atlatl needs more ammo too," Kei Y muttered as he turned toward his workspace, eyes scanning for material. "I gotta hurry before I’m needed back at the tournament."

"You do that. I need a minute," Auserre groaned, rubbing her temples again. Her eyes drifted to his discarded sleeve, marveling at its deceptive craftsmanship. "It's just regular cloth… but there are hidden mechanisms inside, poison compartments too. Truly gifted… and utterly frustrating."

Just then, a ripple shimmered in the air as a water mirror formed beside her. From its depths, Oceanna emerged, arms crossed, amused.

"He really is a unique one, isn’t he?"

Auserre let out a slow exhale. "How much of that did you hear?"

"Nothing," Oceanna said with a coy smile. "But judging from how stressed you are, you must feel like you’re not qualified to teach him. And to think—you’ve got three more God Sparks like him?"

She laughed, the sound both teasing and oddly proud. Her eyes flicked toward Kei's corner. "That boy works fast. His old gear’s still torn and bloodied, and he’s already sewing… plain clothes?"

“It’s a thing, Master,” Auserre said, not even bothering to explain. “You’re better off not knowing.”

“Is it related to when Sanu was nearly terrified of him saying something?”

That question made Auserre pause. Sanu? Terrified? It had been strange…

“Does Sanu know something?” Auserre mused to herself. “Imagine if she had a Unique Skill too.”

Auserre chuckled despite herself.

Then, hesitating slightly, she turned serious. “But I do need something from you, Master. All the equipment and skills I gathered for him… are useless. I need you to send a request to someone.”

“Who?”

“…Senior Sanguine.”

The change was immediate. The water mirror evaporated into steam as Oceanna stepped fully into the room, her playful demeanor gone. A sudden chill blanketed the air.

“You better choose your next words carefully, Aquarius,” she said sharply. Pressure began to build in the chamber—so intense it was suffocating.

Auserre tensed, sweat forming at her temple.

Then—

"Help! I can't breathe!"

Both turned to see Kei Y collapsed flat on the floor, trembling, his arms barely able to move. His half-finished coat lay beside him.

“Oh! My bad, young one,” Oceanna said quickly, flicking her wrist as the pressure vanished.

Kei Y gasped like a fish pulled from water.

“Grandmaster… you’re scary…” he wheezed, clearly shaken. His eyes, wide and teary, were filled with one simple truth:

He’d nearly died because two powerful women started discussing favors.

"You're lucky you're cute," Oceanna said, chuckling.