The astral realm, p.1
The Astral Realm, page 1
The Astral Realm
Book One of Spire Lords
Aiden Vale
Copyright © 2026 Aiden Vale
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 9781234567890
ISBN-10: 1477123456
Cover design by: Art Painter
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309
Printed in the United States of America
To Destiny
May we explore the world together
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Epilogue
Afterword
Pronunciation Guide
Cultivation Chart
Content warning:
Chapters 28 and 50 are explicit chapters marked with <3<3<3. The book is written such that any important content from those chapters are covered in the following chapters, so they may be safely skipped.
Prologue
The Arbiter
I sighed as I watched another realm disappear; devoured to become fuel for the enemy's growth. I had the thought that if frustration were one of the feelings deemed necessary for me to function, I would be feeling it now.
The situation was not improving. Just as there were multiple realms within a reality, there were also multiple realities; though if there was a connection that bound realities the way a reality bound the realms, I didn't know it. The hostile reality that was attacking this one was relentless, and the danger it posed was very real.
Many of the peoples of this reality referred to their foe as the void or oblivion. The truth was that the void was a result of the conflict, not the cause. Every reality had to have a method to grow, expand, and increase the strength of its existence. As with everything, if a reality wasn't growing, it was fading. The enemy was simply another reality; one whose growth concept was based on devouring. When they won, the result was a cessation of existence for the losing realm, as it was turned into food for the enemy.
It was both similar and opposite to the growth concept of the reality which I served. This reality's growth concept was based on perseverance. Both this reality, and that of the enemy grew through conflict and strength, but while this one grew by survival of the fittest on its own merit, the enemy grew through devouring other realities.
Shifting my attention, I observed that one of the growing branches in the sector I was responsible for was nearing a new stage in its progress. Soon, its connection to the greater Astral would be opened. There were countless branches, with countless Arbiters like me; each one with their own realms that fueled the cycle of growth for the nebulous essence that was the heart of this reality. Each of the branches were different, and grew with their own rules, laws and concepts, yet they each fed into a whole that perpetuated existence.
As an Arbiter, one of my responsibilities was to ensure this reality could continue to grow. This newly developing branch would be my next task. There were five material realms on this branch, four of which had grown properly aligned with the Astral. The fifth realm would have little hope of surviving, as it had grown away from the Astral, and thus had no experience with aether nor any of its refined energies. The idea of magic and mysticism for its inhabitants was little more than a fantasy.
The material realms and the astral realms both played an important part in creating the aether that sustained reality. They existed on different layers of reality with different rules to govern them, but they were meant to connect; to create a cycle. When a connection was weak as it was with the fifth planet of this branch, the laws of the Astral couldn't properly effect the Material.
Still, I had to have some hope. Having developed separate from the Astral, the realm was filled to bursting with the mental and emotional energies that fed the cycle. If it could survive, it might produce some powerful support for this sector. It was nearly unheard of for a realm such as this Earth to survive integration, but hope was one of the few emotions deemed necessary for an Arbiter, so I would do what I could.
This Earth was coming into alignment with the Astral now, but having matured this far without magic of any kind, it had no one powerful enough to survive the conflicts that were to come. As the alignment drew closer, the realm would face great change and painful struggles. It would need powerful defenders if it was to stand a chance of survival.
I observed it closely. While there was little hope for this place, there were at least two advantages it had gained. The first was that the creativity of the people of the planet was larger than most. It was steeped in emotion and thought, which gave way to impressive and diverse possibilities for growth. The other was the amount of Potential energy it possessed. Some of the souls in this realm had enough capacity that they could grow rapidly —with a little help.
I thought as I observed. There were several methods I could use to bolster this realm that still fit within my directives of minimal interference. One of the options was to create a class of being that would grow in power alongside their realm. It would allow the being to increase their growth capacity alongside a pocket realm that was tied to their Material Plane.
In order to maintain balance, the other four realms on this branch would need to have the same opportunities given, yet the unconnected Earth would have the possibility of growing faster, so long as someone there found a proper path.
Making my decision, I began my preparations. I started gathering the Potential I would need to create a host of defenders on this realm. At the same time, I observed the inhabitants, selecting those with enough soul capacity to withstand an influx of Potential. The energy was flexible but volatile, and no soul could survive holding it for long. I would need to find souls capable of holding it for the short time it would take to use it.
The next thing I would need to do was decide the amount of information I could give and how. I decided I wouldn't influence their choices too much. Instead, I would program the Potential to react with the individual it was fused to in order to maximize their latent talents. I would also give them enough knowledge to use the Potential to create a pocket realm and generate new abilities.
Many of the beings, or spire lords as I preferred to call them, would fail to use their potential correctly and expire. Yet for those who succeeded, they would gain the strength needed to bring their realm hope.
Chapter 1
The afternoon sun slanted through my open apartment window, casting long shadows across my tidy desk. Dust motes, illuminated like tiny stars, danced in the golden light. My fingers, nimble and practiced, flew across the art tablet’s smooth surface, a faint clicking accompanying my movements.
The character on screen —a lithe elf warrior, clad in shimmering emerald armor— slowly took shape. The design was straightforward, a commission for a guild emblem, but the subtle details —the intricate braid in her hair, the glint of light on the etched pommel of her sword— demanded patience and skill.
On my secondary monitor, a vibrant world unfolded; a fantastical landscape teeming with pixelated heroes battling grotesque monsters. The streamer’s voice, a cheerful flow of commentary, blended with the gentle tap-tap-tap of my stylus, a counterpoint to the digital chaos onscreen. The colors —the deep greens of the elf’s armor, the fiery oranges of the in-game explosions— competed for my attention, yet somehow, my brain effortlessly juggled them, filtering the visual noise while my conscious mind focused on the delicate curve of the elf's eyebrow. It felt less like multitasking, and more like a seamless weaving of two separate realities.
It was early January in Miami, the sun a hazy gold warming my skin. Perfect weather, though I knew some would shiver and complain. Growing up traveling the globe with my Aunt Akari, I'd seen real cold. It might even be snowing in Kyoto right now, though it wasn't likely. Her image flickered in my mind —Aunt Akari, with her sleek black hair pulled back, her dark eyes sharp and watchful beneath a calm façade. Even at 42, she possessed a timeless beauty; a subtle strength etched into her elegant features. Thinking about her made me wonder what she was up to.
Some people talk about how it isn't easy growing up while moving a lot, but for me, it was just life. I knew it wasn't as bad as some military families had it. My aunt was a security consultant who worked with some of the biggest firms in the world. Her job required her to travel a lot. Even so, we spent most of our time between jobs either in Kyoto or Miami. that meant a lot of my education was either online or with tutors. Aunt Akari was strict, but I appreciated her. My parents passed when I was too young to remember anything and Takahashi Akari, who was their friend, raised me.
As I finished my work, I signed it using my art pad. Cai Masaru Ryuzaki, named after the heritage from both parents. Cai was a Welsh family name from my mothers side while Masaru was Japanese from my father's. My looks reflected the mix, with coal black hair, golden eyes and a height that would be standard for a Caucasian. Unfortunately, I had experienced a lot less of my mothers cultural heritage than my fathers. Aunt Akari had done some business in the UK, but we never established a residence there.
Finished with my art commission, I opened up me in box to see what other projects I had waiting for me. There were a lot of small jobs I could do, with equally small pay. Such was the life of a private contractor.
As with most people, I had grown to reflect my upbringing rather strongly. My Aunt was strict, only rarely showing her playful side. That meant learning and practicing were always a priority. I had passable experience in a wide range of disciplines, from martial arts, to art and literature, though my degree was in computer science.
Thanks to my unique and focused learning experience, I was able to graduate from an online American collage at twenty, and spent the last year working and living in Miami. I was what Americans would call a renaissance man, but as Shakespeare phrased it, "A jack of all trades, is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one." I enjoyed a wide variety of activities, and I didn't like the thought of limiting myself. Thus, my contract work.
Still, my diverse preferences had a drawback. I was still trying to find my place in life, and I was conflicted about what I wanted. If I loved or excelled in one specific field, I would expect finding my path would be a lot less complicated. I knew a lot of people my age wanted to travel and experience the world, but while that had its appeal, I had already done a lot of that. I wanted to try having something more stable and lasting, but I wasn't sure how to go about that. Honestly, even the thought of staying in one place for too long made me a little uncomfortable. So a dichotomy of preference had a definite drawback.
While I was thinking about my direction in life, —or lack thereof— I received an e-mail notification from Aunt Akari, and my phone vibrated a moment later. Seeing it was her, I quickly answered. "Hey Aunt Akari, what's up?"
"Cai, did you get it?" she asked in her usual clipped way. She was always business first. I opened the folder and found an encrypted file.
"Yeah, I got it. Is this the usual?" I asked as I opened several tools used to examine and decrypt files. She often sent me things like this. As part of her work she would ask me to test different systems and see if I could crack them. The pay was actually very good, and was what made up a large portion of my income.
"Yes. This one is particularly tricky, and I need the results by tonight if possible." There was a pause before she continued. "How are you doing? Are you eating well?"
"Yes Aunt, I've kept a good diet."
"And your exercises? It wouldn't do to allow yourself to grow soft."
I smiled to myself, "Yes Aunt Akari, I haven't let up. I make sure to keep in shape. Thanks to the work you send me, I can afford a good gym. I may not be at your level, but I do well enough."
"Good. Just because you're living on your own doesn't mean you can slack off. What about girls? Have you met anyone?"
I rolled my eyes "No Auntie, no one special. I meet plenty of people when I go out to play my music, but somehow, I haven't found anyone that I was interested in." I glanced to the corner at my guitar case. Maybe tonight I should go out again. I knew a few places that let amateurs play. I was far from a master, but I did well enough that I could meet some people.
"It's all because of that girl isn't it? I told you to let it go. She isn't worth being hung up over." Her tone was still strict, but I could hear the concern in it.
"I know Auntie, and I have let go. It was a long time ago, and I've put all that behind me. It's just difficult to let myself fall for someone new when I might be hurt. I know myself well enough to realize that I don't do things in half measures, and if I allow myself to fall for someone and they aren't serious in return... I just don't want to do that again." The girl in question was my first kiss. It shouldn't have been that serious, and for her it never was, but I fell hard. Perhaps because of the way I was raised, when I allowed myself to become attached, it tended to stick.
Akari's tone became softer. "I see. I don't know how to help with that. You know I'm not good at this sort of thing. I just want you to be happy."
"I know. It's ok, I'm not in a hurry." I cleared my throat and grimaced. I didn't care for this kind of discussion. Feelings were well and good, but it didn't take a lot to have too much of that particular good thing.
Changing the topic I asked "So what about you? where are you at right now?"
"Eastern Russia for the moment, but I'll be back home soon." There was only one place she ever called home, and that was on the outskirts of Kyoto near the mountains. "You should come soon too. It's Amaya-chan's birthday soon, she'll be turning twenty. As you know, that number is particularly important in her family." She paused, before adding "I know you want to make your own way, and I approve. But it would mean a lot to her to have you there, and I would like to pay for your trip. It would be my gift to her."
I had to hold in my sigh. I definitely wanted to be there for Amaya-chan, and while I did ok financially, it was just that. 'Ok' wouldn't get me back to Japan. For her though, I could swallow my pride. Besides, My Aunt had given a valid excuse. "Sure, that sounds good. I'll make plans. Thank you Aunt Akari, it means a lot to me." I made sure my tone let her know how serious I was.
"Good. Then I look forward to seeing you. You should let Amaya-chan know too, I'm sure it would make her happy." I could hear the satisfaction in her voice. It had been awhile since I last visited, and this would be good.
We exchanged farewells, and I was left ruminating once more on my life, past and future. I started some system diagnostic software to get started on my Aunt's project while I thought.
Just because I moved a lot as a kid, didn't mean I had no friends or that I lacked a social life. On the contrary, I had several friends all around the world, many of whom I kept contact with online. I made friends easily enough, but I only had a few that I would consider close. Of all of those, Amaya-chan was the best. We had grown up together, at least whenever I was in Kyoto. She and her family had even accompanied me and my Aunt on occasion for work. We had many of the same lessons and tutors, which meant she was the closest thing I had to a classmate.
My computer finished with its work and I had to turn the streamer, RogueLily, off so I could focus. Her stream had been of a new mmorpg that I was looking forward to getting into. She was one of my favorite streamers for that type of content. Not only was she fun to watch, but she had a lot of insightful commentary. She was cute too. It was no wonder she was so popular.
Giving my full attention to my new project, I lost myself in my work for several hours. My Aunt was right. This was a far more secure file than usual, and there were a few times when I was nearly stumped. In the end though, I decrypted the file without opening it. The details were probably fake anyway, as it was unlikely anyone would use real data for a security test. I had peeked a few times on previous projects, and what I found had made no sense to me anyway. I gathered the data from my diagnostic and put together a pack to send to my Aunt.
