Aiden stared, breathless and wide-eyed, into the charcoal black eyes of the man who had just saved him from hitting the floor. The grip on his shoulders was firm, but not painful, steadying him with surprising ease. He blinked, his heart still racing from the sudden fall, as his gaze traced the face of the man before him.

The figure standing tall before him was clearly old, though there was something about him that felt ageless. His skin was pale and weathered, etched with the lines of countless years, but his posture remained straight and dignified. His hair was stark white, combed back neatly but falling just above his shoulders, giving him an air of timeless elegance. His eyes—those intense charcoal black eyes—held Aiden’s gaze, calm but piercing, as if they could see through him entirely.

It wasn’t just his eyes that caught Aiden’s attention, though. The man’s mouth, though closed, revealed two long canines that just barely poked out from his lips. They were sharp, like the fangs of a predator, though the rest of his expression remained warm and composed, with no hint of menace.

“Careful, Master Aiden,” the man said, his voice low and rich, carrying with it an old-world charm. “The library has its ways of surprising those who aren’t prepared for it.”

Aiden stood frozen for a moment, still processing the fact that someone was here—someone who seemed to know him. “You… you know my name?”

The man gave a small, respectful bow, his white hair shifting slightly as he did so. “Of course. I’ve been waiting for your return for some time now.” He straightened, his eyes softening as he let go of Aiden’s shoulders. “My name is Regis, and I am, or rather, was your grandfather’s butler. I remained here in the Castle of Wisdom after everyone else departed.”

Regis gestured for Aiden to stand upright, and Aiden complied, still feeling slightly off-balance, not from the fall, but from the sudden weight of this meeting. “Everyone left?” Aiden repeated, confused. “You mean… the others in the Castle?”

“Indeed,” Regis nodded. “When your grandfather closed the portal and sealed the Castle, he gave all of us who resided here the choice to leave, to find our own paths. Most of us did. But I…” His eyes flickered with a quiet loyalty. “I chose to stay.”

Aiden swallowed, his mind racing to catch up with the information. “Why?”

Regis smiled faintly, the expression barely shifting his weathered features. “Because, Master Aiden, I have served your family for generations, and I knew that one day, you would return. This place, this world—Astralis—was always meant to be yours.”

Aiden’s breath caught in his throat. “Astralis?” He glanced around at the vast library, at the magical ceiling above him, at the glowing shelves filled with ancient books. “This isn’t… Earth?”

“No, Master Aiden,” Regis said calmly. “This library exists in Astralis, another world, one connected to Earth through the portal your grandfather sealed years ago. When you opened the trapdoor in the library above, you crossed over into this realm.”

Aiden shook his head, trying to piece together what he was hearing. “But… but it looks like Earth. The library, I mean. It feels like it’s just part of the house.”

“That is because this library, the Castle of Wisdom, is a reflection of your grandfather’s will, a place that exists both on Earth and in Astralis. The two are connected, though they are not the same.”

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Aiden rubbed his temples, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him. A whole other world, he thought. He had crossed into another world without even realizing it. “So… this isn’t just my grandfather’s library,” Aiden murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “This is a portal to another world.”

Regis nodded slowly, his expression gentle but serious. “Yes. But more than that, Master Aiden.” He paused, his charcoal black eyes meeting Aiden’s once more, filled with a quiet intensity. “This world… all of Astralis, it is yours.”

Aiden’s heart skipped a beat. “Mine?” He looked at Regis, half-expecting him to laugh or correct himself. But the butler remained still, his expression unchanging, a calm certainty in his charcoal eyes.

“This entire world was not merely entrusted to your family,” Regis explained, his voice steady and deliberate. “Your grandfather created it. Every piece of this world—Astralis—exists because of him. He shaped it, molded it, and, in doing so, made it a part of himself. But it was never meant to be his forever. He built this world with you in mind, Master Aiden. Even as a child, he saw something in you, a spark that would one day make you its rightful master.”

Aiden’s mind reeled. Creating a house or a library? That was within reason. But an entire world? The idea was almost incomprehensible. The thought weighed down on him like a heavy cloak, draping over his shoulders, making the air feel thick around him.

“I… I don’t understand,” Aiden muttered, running a hand through his hair. “How can someone… make a world? And how can I possibly own it?”

Regis’s expression softened, the faintest trace of a smile crossing his lips. His sharp canines, though prominent, did not appear threatening. “In time, Master Aiden, you will come to understand. Your grandfather’s knowledge was vast, far greater than what most would consider possible. The Castle of Wisdom is not just a sanctuary for books and ancient scrolls—it is the heart of Astralis. Through the portal beneath the library, this world was born, shaped by your grandfather’s vision and will.”

Aiden stared at Regis, feeling an overwhelming sense of disbelief. The library—the Castle—had always felt like something special, even magical, but an entire world growing from it? It seemed impossible.

“And now, Master Aiden,” Regis continued, his voice filled with a quiet reverence, “this world is yours. Astralis is a place of boundless potential, a reflection of the knowledge, creativity, and magic your grandfather built into it. And though your grandfather was its creator, it was always meant for you to shape in ways even he could not foresee.”

Aiden’s chest tightened. He glanced around the library, taking in the towering shelves, the shifting ceiling of glass and jewels, the ancient books that seemed to hum with life. It wasn’t just his grandfather’s legacy. It was a world—a living, breathing world—waiting for him.

“But why me?” Aiden asked quietly, still trying to grasp the enormity of it all. “Why didn’t he keep it for himself?”

Regis stepped closer, his eyes filled with something akin to admiration. “Your grandfather was a creator, Master Aiden. But he always knew that true creation is meant to be shared. He built Astralis with a purpose—a purpose that only you can fulfill. He saw something in you, something even greater than his own vision. This world wasn’t meant for him to rule—it was meant for you to explore, to shape, and to discover. You are its master now, not by birthright, but because you are the one who can unlock its true potential.”

Aiden’s breath caught in his throat as the enormity of the truth settled over him. It wasn’t just about inheriting his grandfather’s belongings or stepping into a life he didn’t choose. This was something far beyond that—a creation his grandfather had built with him in mind, a world filled with untapped potential.

“I… I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” Aiden whispered, feeling both the weight and wonder of what lay before him.

Regis’s gaze softened, his voice carrying a deep reassurance. “No one is ever fully prepared for the paths that are laid before them. But your grandfather believed in you, Master Aiden. And it’s not a responsibility, it's a gift. For you to enjoy.”