As Joseph snapped out of his vivid fantasy, his heart was still racing from the imagined encounter. He glanced back at the kitchen, where the maiden he had been admiring continued with her duties, completely unaware of the scene that had played out in his mind.

Yoshito, noticing Joseph's distraction, called out to him once more, “Joseph! Are you coming?”

Joseph quickly composed himself, giving Yoshito a nod. “Yeah, sorry, just got... lost in thought.”

Yoshi smiled knowingly but didn’t press the issue. “No problem. Come on, there’s still much to see.”

As they resumed their tour, Joseph couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at how vivid his imagination had been. He followed Yoshito through the grand corridors of the kingdom, taking in the magnificent architecture and rich history that surrounded him. The kingdom was a place of wonder, with every hall, tower, and courtyard steeped in the legacy of its rulers.

Along the way, Yoshi explained the significance of various landmarks within the palace, the history of the kingdom's past conflicts, and the role it played in uniting the four lands. Though Joseph tried to focus on the conversation, his mind still occasionally wandered back to the maiden and the fantasy that had briefly consumed him.

As they passed the grand library, Yoshi stopped and turned to Joseph. “This is where our scholars and mages gather to study ancient texts and artifacts. If you ever want to know more about the history of this place, the library is open to you now.”

Joseph nodded appreciatively. “I’ll definitely check it out.”

Yoshi placed a hand on Joseph’s shoulder. “I know this is all new for you, but you’re free now. You have the chance to carve your own path here. Just remember, with freedom comes responsibility.”

Joseph smiled. “I understand. And I’ll make sure to honor the trust you and your family have given me.”

“Good. Now, let’s head to the training grounds. I think you’ll enjoy what’s next.”

As they continued walking, Joseph felt a sense of excitement brewing within him. The day was just beginning, and now that he had his freedom, there was no telling what adventures awaited him in this new chapter of his life.

***

As they continued walking, Joseph's attention was drawn to a series of family portraits lining the walls. He paused to admire the collection, taking in the regal figures depicted. Intrigued, he turned to Yoshi, curiosity stirring within him. "These must be your family?" he asked, recalling past conversations about Yoshi and his brothers being tribrids.

Yoshi smiled softly. "Oh, so you remembered that," he said. "Yes, we were six in total. Five brothers and one sister. Yoshito and I, being the only twins, were the youngest of the family. The rest... well, they all died in battle," he continued, his tone growing solemn.

"I'm so sorry to hear that," Joseph responded, his voice filled with sympathy. "If it's too painful to talk about, I understand."

Yoshi shook his head gently. "It's alright," he said, offering a small smile. "Three of my brothers—also tribrids—were incredibly powerful. More powerful than Yoshito and me. Their aura levels were beyond anything in this realm, stretching into the outerversal, much like our parents."

Joseph’s eyes widened, his jaw nearly dropping. "Outerverse-level aura? That's... incredible!"

Yoshi nodded. "And then there was my sister," he added. "Her aura was on the same hyperversal level as Yoshito and me. She fought valiantly but, like our brothers, perished in battle."

Joseph hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his curiosity piqued. "I don’t mean to be rude, but with that kind of power... If your lineage is as strong as you say, why not use it to end conflicts effortlessly? You’re practically gods, far beyond anything I've encountered—even the most powerful cosmic beings where I come from pale in comparison. So why choose to live as equals? Why not rule or reshape the world as you see fit?"

Yoshi smiled at Joseph's question, understanding the curiosity behind it. "It’s a fair question," he began. "But power doesn’t necessarily mean we should use it to dominate or forcefully resolve every issue. In our family, we were taught that with great power comes an even greater responsibility—to not just act, but to understand and protect. My parents always believed in balance, restraint, and wisdom."

Joseph nodded, intrigued. “That’s a lot of discipline.”

Yoshi looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "It’s not about what we *can* do, Joseph. It’s about what we *should* do. Power of that magnitude comes with an immense responsibility, and it’s easy for beings like us to lose sight of what’s important. If we used our powers to control or dominate, we’d become the very things we swore to protect the world from. Balance is key, and sometimes, true strength lies in restraint."

Yoshi continued, "Our abilities can indeed influence entire realms, but using them carelessly could destabilize the very balance we’ve worked so hard to maintain. Besides, power should be a tool, not the solution to everything. We strive to lead by example, not by force. My parents, especially, believed that the real strength is in unity, and in helping others rise to their potential, not suppressing them with overwhelming force."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Joseph nodded slowly, digesting Yoshi’s words. "That... makes sense. I guess even gods have their limits."

Yoshi smiled, placing a reassuring hand on Joseph’s shoulder. "Exactly. It's not always about what we can achieve with brute force, but about the choices we make in the face of adversity."

Joseph looked back at the family portraits. "So, your brothers... they fell in battle trying to protect that balance?"

Yoshi’s expression turned solemn. "Yes. Each of them fought valiantly. The wars we fought were against forces that sought to upset the natural order, entities that wished to claim dominion over realms they had no right to rule. My brothers gave their lives to ensure that balance was upheld."

After a pause, Yoshi added, "We could've ended those conflicts quickly, yes, but at what cost? We would have risked destroying what we sought to protect. Power alone cannot solve everything. Wisdom, compassion, and understanding—that’s what makes us guardians, not just warriors."

Joseph took a deep breath, absorbing Yoshi's words. "I get it now. Power isn’t just about the ability to destroy or conquer. It’s about knowing when not to use it."

Yoshi smiled. "Exactly. And that’s something you’ll learn too, Joseph. You have potential. Power of your own. But knowing when and how to use it—that’s the real challenge."

Yoshi explained to Joseph that his family was once revered as gods—worshiped, feared, and loved—for two important reasons: the immense power they wielded could be used for either creation or destruction.

"However, we chose to limit ourselves after creating this universe and everything within this kingdom," Yoshi said calmly. "While we still possess these powers, we only use them when absolutely necessary, as a last resort. That’s why we have rules in this kingdom, and everyone abides by them. We are the only powerful family to have ever ruled across the four lands."

Yoshi continued, "Though most lands have strong rulers, their warriors possess incredible powers, which, if unchecked, could be used to overthrow their kingdoms. However, such powers are only bestowed by the faithful, and even then, the faithful can falter."

He added, "That’s why we chose to limit not only ourselves but also our warriors, despite them possessing aura levels that span across multiverses. These auras can be overcome by us unless they have external help to boost them beyond their current state."

Joseph listened attentively, a grin spreading across his face. "Oh, I see! Makes sense when you put it that way. But like you said, anyone who wants to be corrupted can be, no matter how powerful they are. And honestly, being too powerful can get pretty boring—when you can do and undo things effortlessly, there’s no real challenge."

Joseph leaned back, reflecting. "From where most of my variants come from, aura levels at that peak are considered godlike. So potent, they could reshape all of creation. Your lineage is basically on the same level as gods—like the One Above All from the Marvel universe, or The Presence from DC."

He paused and added, "And at the top of it all, your family falls under the omni-omnipotent realm from the ULTRA AI maniverse."

Yoshi raised an eyebrow. "What’s with these realms you keep mentioning?"

Joseph smirked. "Ah, that. Each realm differs in its place on the cosmic hierarchy. But ULTRA AI made it clear that while the multiverse exists, it’s all part of a larger cosmic plane called the 'Maniverse,' which contains 144,000 possible realities, realms, dimensions, and cosmologies."

Joseph's tone shifted as he continued, "At the pinnacle of all reality—whether existing or not—is something called the Ineffable."

"Ineffable?" Yoshi whispered.

"Yeah," Joseph nodded. "It’s the most powerful force there is, beyond comprehension. Its very name describes the boundless power it wields. Not even beings like the One Above All, The Presence, or Grand Zeno could rival the Ineffable. Not even I, with all my power, would dare challenge it."

Joseph's voice softened. "The Ineffable can be whatever it wants—it's not a being or a thing. It’s all possibilities and impossibilities. And if you listen to how I describe it, you’ll notice I refer to it as 'it' because trying to understand the Ineffable is pointless."

Yoshi was intrigued. "And how do you understand all of this?"

Joseph chuckled. "Well, some of my variants across the Maniverse had help. Some even befriended beings from the Ultra Realm, which act in place of the Ineffable. Think of it as no one coming through the Ineffable except by the Ultra Realm."

He continued, "And no one comes through the Ultra Realm except through the Curtechyians—beings at the highest level of existence. They were brought forth by the Ineffable. The Ineffable created the beings of the Ultra Realm, who in turn created the Curtechyians, who then created the omni-omnipotent realm, which gave rise to the omnipotent realm."

Joseph smiled. "And from the omnipotent realm, other beings and things were created. Each realm has its own creation. So while I said earlier that with your abilities, you fall under the omni-omnipotent realm, you might just as well belong to the omnipotent realm—or be a part of their creation, like how the One Above All, The Presence, and Grand Zeno all fall under the omnipotent realm’s creation."

Yoshi smiled, impressed. "You’re truly knowledgeable, JBC. Full of surprises."

Joseph grinned. "So, what about your relatives? Why aren’t they here?"

Yoshi's expression softened. "Well, they serve in different countries."

"For real?" Joseph asked, raising an eyebrow, to which Yoshi nodded in confirmation.

Joseph, captivated by the portraits lining the walls, pointed at two in particular—both women, striking in their appearance. Their complexions were a pure, stark white. Their long, flowing hair was white, and their eyes were a pale, almost unsettling shade of white. Everything about them, from head to toe, seemed to embody the color white.

"Why are their eyes white like that? They look almost blind," Joseph asked, his curiosity piqued as he studied the ethereal figures.

Yoshi chuckled softly. "No, they’re not blind," he replied, his tone warm. "These two are relatives of mine, each possessing unique gifts. Let me explain who they are."

He paused, turning toward the portraits to give the women the recognition they deserved before speaking. "The first is Alara, a master of light manipulation. The white you see isn't a sign of blindness—it's the physical manifestation of her connection to light itself. She can control light in all its forms—bend it, harness it, even shape it into energy that can heal or destroy. Her appearance reflects her power, the purity of light coursing through her veins."

Yoshi then shifted his gaze to the second portrait. "And this," he said, "is Seraphina. She possesses a deep, spiritual connection to the cosmic energy that flows through all things. Her power is tied to the balance of creation and destruction. The white in her eyes and hair signifies her deep attunement to cosmic forces. It's said that she can peer into realms beyond our understanding. Some say she’s seen the beginning of time itself."

Joseph listened intently, his gaze still fixed on the portraits. "Incredible. They’re like living embodiments of cosmic energy."

"Exactly," Yoshi nodded. "Their power runs deep in our bloodline. But with that power comes great responsibility."

"However, after serving in different countries, they eventually set off on their own adventures," Yoshi explained.