The landscape of Planet Nax stretched endlessly before him, a canvas of impossible geometry, floating islands suspended in midair, rivers of molten metaphysical energy that defied gravity, and skies that seemed to fold in upon themselves, layered like translucent dimensions. Lucien's boots made no sound as he strode across one of the larger islands, his Abyssal Eyes scanning every ripple of the planet's awareness.
Kaelith, as he had been called—walked beside him with the same relaxed smirk, his hands tucked into his pockets. Though he was far more restrained than Lucien in personality, he still radiated the presence of a being who could casually manipulate laws of existence.
"Enjoying the view?" Kaelith asked, flicking his blue-and-red hair out of his face.
Lucien's grin was easy, almost mischievous. "The view? Sure. The conversation? Not as much. You talk too much sometimes."
Kaelith laughed, a low, amused sound that carried unnaturally through the shifting air. "And yet you listen. You're learning faster than I expected."
Lucien tilted his head. "Learning… hmm." He paused, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "I can feel the pulse of this place, Kaelith. The metaphysical plane itself… it's alive, but it resists full domination. I've stretched my control far beyond what any being should—beyond the primordial void, into this plane itself—but…" He trailed off, a faint smirk crossing his face. "It feels like a child resisting a parent who's too patient."
Kaelith's eyebrow rose. "A child, huh? I like that analogy. And the child is…?"
"The regulators," Lucien said simply, his gaze drifting upward to where faintly glowing abstract forms twisted above the horizon. "They're… everywhere. Watching. Guiding. Testing. My control is vast, yes, but here, it's… tempered. Limited. Like someone left the rules intentionally unbroken for me to discover."
Kaelith nodded, clearly intrigued. "And you think that's deliberate?"
Lucien chuckled softly. "I don't just think, Kaelith. I know." He held out a hand, letting the floating energy streams of Nax swirl around him, bending subtly, reacting to his will. Yet, no matter how much he tried, there was a resistance—not violent, not defiant—but an unmistakable pushback, like the planet itself had its own mind. "It's teaching me. And right now… I'm only halfway listening."
The pair walked past a cluster of islands that shimmered in the metaphysical light, and Lucien let himself glance at the distant branches of the World Tree stretching into the plane above. Each tendril was alive, vibrating with raw potential, yet even there, his power didn't dominate completely. The branches responded, yes—but subtly, as if acknowledging him rather than obeying him.
"Partial control… that's what's holding me back," Lucien murmured, more to himself than Kaelith. "If I wanted to… I could tear this planet apart, absorb its consciousness, bend the regulators… but that wouldn't teach me anything. The limitation isn't weakness—it's… deliberate."
Kaelith raised an eyebrow. "So, it's all part of the learning process?"
Lucien smirked, his aura flickering faintly. "Exactly. You can't just have omnipotence thrust upon you without refinement. Even I need… boundaries. Or at least, the illusion of them."
Kaelith glanced at him, smirk fading slightly. "I've never seen you this… contemplative. Normally, you'd just reshape the planet into a playground and move on."
Lucien laughed softly. "Oh, don't worry… I'll get there. But first… observation."
He extended his hand and the island beneath them trembled subtly, energy rippling outward like a stone dropped into a cosmic pond. Islands nearby shifted slightly, rivers of crystallized void flowed into new patterns, and yet, everywhere he touched, he could sense an invisible resistance—the regulators watching, the plane itself alive. He smiled faintly.
"You know, Kaelith," Lucien said, letting his gaze drift across the horizon. "I've mastered entire realms. I've bent existence and nonexistence, causality, space, time… and yet this place—" He tapped his head lightly. "—is still teaching me humility."
Kaelith chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Humility, huh? You're still you, I see. Even after all that power."
Lucien turned his gaze downward, letting the swirling energy streams below him dance around his fingers. "Speaking of… let's see how my army is holding up."
In an instant, he projected his consciousness back to the Primordial Void, focusing on the Ecliptic Citadel and his legion. What he saw made him place a hand on his face, the faintest groan escaping him.
"Man…" he muttered, shaking his head slowly. "You guys are so unserious."
He observed his generals lounging lazily on levitating platforms, sipping metaphysical beverages, and laughing uproariously. Malthior sparred with no one, swinging a sword at empty air while Veloria attempted to teach a few soldiers martial techniques… unsuccessfully. It was chaos, but not threatening chaos—playful chaos. Lucien exhaled slowly, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
"Figures," he muttered to himself. "Even my army… they can't resist having fun when I'm not glaring over them."
With a casual flick of his hand, he severed the link, returning to Nax and the immediate presence of Kaelith. The energy of the planet hummed under his awareness, subtly acknowledging him, like it had grown comfortable with his presence.
"Planet Nax…" he murmured softly, letting the word roll off his tongue. "Alive… aware… curious… patient. I like this place."
Kaelith's smirk returned, teasing. "Don't get too attached. I've seen beings like you get bored of entire planes after a decade."
Lucien chuckled. "Not this time. Not yet. I have… things to understand. And Nax… will teach me. Slowly."
Kaelith raised an eyebrow. "Slowly, huh? That's… unusual for you."
Lucien's eyes glinted, and he let a faint laugh escape. "Let's just say… the lesson here is more important than the speed of completion."
He strolled forward, his aura brushing against rivers of living energy. The islands shifted subtly, opening pathways, twisting into impossible patterns, yet always in a way that let him explore rather than restrict.
"And there's the other thing," he said, muttering as he watched the metaphysical currents, "I'm starting to realize the regulators… the plane itself… it doesn't fight me. It… teaches me control. Patience. Refinement. And… awareness. It's like… it wants me to understand what it's truly capable of."
Kaelith walked beside him, nodding slowly. "And when you do?"
Lucien's gaze drifted upward toward the topmost branches of the World Tree piercing the metaphysical horizon. "When I do… Nax won't just be a planet anymore. It'll be… part of me. And I'll be… part of it. For now, though… I watch, I learn, and I stroll."
He turned, smirking at Kaelith. "Come on. Let's see where the rivers want to take us. This place isn't just a playground—it's a teacher. And I love being the student… for now."
Kaelith followed with a quiet chuckle. "You call yourself the Sole Exception… and yet you're actually… patient. I think I like this version of you."
Lucien's grin widened. "Don't get used to it. It's only temporary… and Nax is only the beginning."
The floating islands shifted underfoot, the rivers of energy curling around their path, and the horizon shimmered with possibilities. Even now, Lucien could feel the regulators' eyes watching. The planet was alive, aware, and infinitely patient. But so was he.
And with that realization, Lucien took his first full, leisurely stroll across Planet Nax, not as a conqueror, not as a god… but as a student learning to understand the metaphysical plane itself.
The journey had just begun.