Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 1750

Chapter 1750: Meeting

The banquet continued deep into the night.

Atticus felt tired. Unfortunately, becoming a star did nothing to rid one of the exhaustion that came from dealing with people. His mind felt heavy. He wanted to go home.

As he idly contemplated escape, an announcement rang through the hall.

"Duke of Man, Kalaxt Ravenstein. Avatar Bourn Ravenstein, has arrived."

’Avatar, hm.’

It seemed his mother had been right. His cousin was recognized more as Solvath’s vessel than him.

The doors swung open and two figures entered.

The first was a broad, muscular man with a stern face. A perpetual gloom seemed to cling to him, accompanied by an oppressive presence that pressed against the hall.

The second was equally tall and broad, his expression calm and unbothered.bHis presence felt different. Deeper. More aligned with reality.

An Avatar.

The former was none other than the Duke of Man, Kalaxt Ravenstein. The latter was Bourn. His cousin. And the one his mother had spent most of last evening telling him about.

’I see.’

The power system of the Higher Planes was simple and direct, and he’d learned everything about it last night.

Every Ascendant Star possessed the ability to influence reality. Unfortunately, as creations of the Primordials, they had limits. Every ascendant star possessed equal influence over reality, unable to grow any longer. What determined victors and losers was the nature of that influence and how skillfully it was wielded.

However, people would always search for ways to place themselves above their peers. The Primordials had provided one through their followers. Each Sanctum possessed Blessed Ascendants, stars personally blessed by a Primordial.

Not only did they gain access to a second path besides their own, but their influence over reality also increased. Blessed Ascendants were usually stronger than ordinary stars.

Unfortunately, not all blessings were equal. Though nobody knew the exact criteria, it was generally believed to be tied to talent. The strength of a blessing was measured from one to ninety percent.

Ninety percent was reserved for the strongest among the Blessed. The Avatar of a Primordial, while others fell below it.

Atticus was also Blessed by Solvath, and so was Bourn. Unfortunately, the difference between them, according to his mother, was significant.

Atticus was at thirty percent, while Bourn forty. It was expected that Bourn’s influence over reality would be greater than his own.

The Duke of Man searched the hall briefly before making his way toward Attimax. Their conversation never reached Atticus. No matter what method he employed, he couldn’t overhear a single word.

Still, something about it seemed unpleasant. His father’s eyes appeared colder and the Duke’s expression wasn’t much different.

’They don’t have a good relationship, hm.’

The Duke was his father’s elder brother. Yet it was Attimax who led the Sanctum. Atticus couldn’t help but wonder if that was where the resentment came from.

His gaze drifted across the hall, then paused. A pair of brown eyes met his own.

Bourn.

Their gazes locked. For a brief moment, everything else seemed to fade away. Then, as though Atticus were nothing more than part of the scenery, Bourn looked elsewhere.

Even as the banquet continued, he never glanced in Atticus’ direction again. Never acknowledged him. It was as though he simply didn’t care.

Atticus resisted the urge to laugh. Amusing. Such things were meaningless to him.

With practically nothing else to do, Atticus eventually escaped the banquet, though he could practically feel his mother’s stare drilling into the back of his head the entire time.

He found himself standing alone on a quiet balcony, the silver moon high above. Atticus felt strangely surreal. The Rion Sanctum, the Higher Planes, everything felt strangely familiar, as though he were back in Eldoralth. The world didn’t feel all that different.

Then he remembered what was coming, and an ache settled in his chest. Could he really bring down family just to achieve his goal?

He couldn’t. It would be far too hypocritical. Yet he also couldn’t abandon it. Atticus stared at the moon. It was full. Certain. He envied it. At least its purpose was clear, unlike his own.

"Hey."

Atticus turned and found his father standing beside him. Attimax stared up at the moon, his expression unreadable.

"Aren’t you supposed to be at the banquet? Can you just leave? You’re the God of Man." The title still felt cringe in his ears.

"It’s fine." Attimax shrugged. "They’ll still be there when I get back."

He said it so matter-of-factly that Atticus couldn’t even question it. Then Attimax looked at him. His eyes seemed to see straight through him.

"How are you holding up?"

Atticus was silent for a moment, wondering if he should say something, then ultimately decided to answer. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

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