The stacked dimensions trembled violently as Lucien and Kaelith's attacks collided, sending shockwaves that fractured planes, bent time in fractions of seconds, and ignited fragments of collapsing reality. Both were grinning, reveling in the chaos, each strike punctuated by banter and teasing, the void itself trembling under their barely restrained authority.
But then… a presence descended.
A figure, massive, radiating authority that even Lucien and Kaelith could feel, appeared above the chaos. His aura was not only immense—it was foundational. The elder's voice cut through the dimensional turbulence, calm yet carrying an unimaginable weight.
"Stop!" the elder bellowed. "Do you realize what you're doing? If you continue, this…," he gestured at the stacked realms, "would detonate like a thousand suns exploding at once!"
Lucien and Kaelith froze mid-strike, the clash between them suspended in the air. Even the shattered planes quivered in recognition of this authority.
Kaelith tilted his head, slightly sheepish but still smirking. "Heh… I guess I might have overdone it."
Lucien arched a brow. "And you are…?"
The elder's gaze softened faintly, yet his presence remained commanding. "I am Altherion," he said, name heavy with history and power. "I have watched over the Metaphysical Plane for eons. And you… Kaelith, are the one they call the favored of this plane. And you…" He looked at Lucien with a mix of awe and curiosity. "…you are the Sole Exception. Lucien Dreamveil."
Lucien smirked. "Well, someone finally got the title right."
Kaelith chuckled, punching lightly into Lucien's shoulder. "Guess we're officially friends now… if he's scolding me, he must be serious."
Altherion's voice softened. "Indeed. And now, Lucien, since your World Tree's branches have reached my plane, you have the right to know… its history, its folklore, and its true nature."
Altherion gestured, and the chaotic void faded into a serene expanse, a plane that shimmered beyond comprehension. Stars here were not just light—they were thoughts. The very fabric of the plane was consciousness, stretching infinitely in directions no mortal could fathom.
"In the beginning," Altherion began, voice echoing like a thousand harmonies, "before reality, before time, before even existence had a shape, there were the Primordial Architects. They were entities beyond comprehension—neither living nor dead, neither bound nor free. They sculpted the concepts of space, time, and causality as one might sculpt clay, but the clay was not yet real."
"From their essence were born the First Shadows, beings of pure potential. Each Shadow held the seed of what would become universes, stars, and even void itself. But they were unruly, uncontrollable… dangerous. Some of the Architects bound them within constructs that became the roots of the Metaphysical Plane—safe containment for what could destroy or recreate reality at whim."
Lucien's Abyssal Eyes glinted as he absorbed the information. "So… the plane itself is a living memory of potential existence?"
Altherion nodded. "Exactly. And now, because your World Tree's branches have grown here, you have dominion over its touch, though not yet its full consciousness. The snake you control… it is linked to this plane, but it is not fully awakened. With time, you may integrate its authority into your own."
Kaelith's grin widened. "Sounds like a fun upgrade for you, Lucien. Don't forget who warned you first."
Lucien smirked, floating toward the edge of the Metaphysical Plane. "Oh, I won't. But let's just say… I like what I see."
Visiting the Metaphysical Plane
Altherion extended a hand, allowing Lucien and Kaelith to traverse deeper into the plane. Here, laws of physics were suggestions, concepts floated as tangible threads, and time was a river that could be waded through like water.
Nebulae shimmered with awareness, as if sentient eyes watched their every move. Floating shards of memory drifted like giant jellyfish, remnants of long-forgotten universes. Constellations formed constellations—patterns not only of stars but of thought and potentiality, dancing in perfect harmony.
Lucien felt the World Tree's influence intertwining with this plane, its roots reacting, stretching subtly beyond the known metaphysical bounds. The snake, Null, pulsed faintly as if acknowledging this new layer of command, but not fully awakened, waiting for its time.
Altherion spoke softly, almost reverently. "Here, the past, present, and potential future coexist. What you do here… echoes everywhere. You are the first to wield such authority over a plane this ancient and alive. Treat it wisely, Lucien."
Lucien's smirk softened into a rare, contemplative smile. "I think… I can manage."
Kaelith chuckled, eyes flicking over the surreal landscape. "And I'll be here to make sure you don't get bored."
The elder shook his head, a faint smile on his ancient face. "And yet… there is much you do not know. The story of this plane, of these Shadows, is far from over. But now, Lucien Dreamveil, you have begun to see… the Metaphysical Plane."