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"This isn't Elyvra."
I asked, noticing the strange environment. It wasn't unlike anywhere I've trained before.
"Honey, I won't take you anywhere outside Elyvra."
She said, a chair materialising as she sat down gracefully.
"This is a world within Elyvra."
Ela added.
'I can do that too.'
I thought, summoning a chair. Just as I was about to sit, it disappeared and I hit the ground.
"No sit for you."
She said.
"At least for now."
"What do you want?"
I asked, wiping the imaginary dirt on my clothes as I stood up.
"This is a Superworld. A Superworld of Dimensions to be precise. As the name implies, it's not Inhabitable. It more like a training ground."
She explained, and looking around, the world was empty. I couldn't pick any signals anywhere.
"It's called Matryoshka."
She continued.
"Said word means dolls of decreasing size placed inside one another. Each doll fits perfectly inside the larger one, symbolising containment within containment or a nested layer, however you may choose to see it. This World is different though. How many dimensions are there in this world?"
She asked.
"It looks like..."
I made a tree grow from the desert and gave my final verdict.
(Lame, I know.)
But it had to be done. Ela's chair might not give me the right answer.
"Length, width and height, a 3D World..."
Suddenly, the sound of massive mechanical gears turning filled the space, and the world began to shake, but we did not.
Ela, naturally, did not move, so I anchored myself, adjusting space to counter the distortion. Before I knew it, the world had changed.
The tree stood before me, yet half of it now stretched to my right.
'What?'
The tree that once stood tall was now distorted.
Every visible angle converged into a single point. It was difficult to fully comprehend what I was seeing. But imagine any ordinary tree. And instead of viewing it from one side at a time, you can see every side and angle simultaneously, all collapsing into one point.
"Matryoshka here means this is a prison of infinitely layered dimensions, where escaping one level only reveals another, larger and more complex. Just as opening one matryoshka doll reveals the next, and the next, and so on. It's a perfect metaphor for a dimensional trap that scales infinitely with awareness, don't you think?"
She asked, her eyes closed.
'I see. The architect of this Superworld is indeed a genius. Interesting.'
"Why dimensions, though? Why not time, space, or any Structural Concept?"
I asked.
"Yes, dimensions are indeed more fundamental than space, time, or other Structural Concepts because they serve as the foundational framework for describing any realm, world or universe in mathematics, physics and here too."
(Here = Star Realm.)
"Dimensions are chosen as the term because they're versatile and scalable: You can have 1D (a line), 2D (a plane), 3D (volume), or higher (nD hyperspaces). They don't assume specific qualities like spatial extension or temporal flow.
Other Structural Concepts like causality, logic, or gravity could be seen as emergent properties built upon dimensions, not replacements for them. A 3D world can be atemporal & aspatial, while an infinite-D world can be chained to space and time."
"Heh?"
'How's that possible?'
"Yes. The aspatial/atemporal finite-D worlds are transcendental prisons of form. Whereas the spatial/temporal infinite-D worlds are expansions of containers, but still subordinate to causality and temporal unfolding. Just like Fafnir said, reality isn't fair."
(This is one of the reasons why Star Realm is an unbound timeline logic and Stars are unbound by it. There are no temporal dimensions. Time is a Structural Concept, not a dimension. Dimensionality = rank of structural existence, not time. Yeah, I didn't just made that up. It's logical.)
"..."
I was at a loss for words, trying to grasp the mechanisms.
"In this Matryoshka, there are no temporal dimensions. You're handling the 4D pretty well. The moment you collapse, you've lost to the current dimension and will be ranked to the preceding one."
"That's how dimensionality is tested?"
She nodded.
"The Superworld of Dimensions became a thing during the A Class. Not only does it test one's dimensionality, but it also helps in highlighting a Star from Hyperworld and Superworlds."
"How?"
"A common Dwarf in a Hyperworld is shown to resist and out-scale these Superworlds instantly."
"???"
"It's called 'Superworld of Dimensions' because it can only be found in Superworlds. Hyperworlds are transcendental on their own. Unfortunately, we don't have one in Elyvra."
"You can take me to a Domain that has one. Voltara or Solaria, since you're close to the Deity of Sun."
"Nay."
She replied firmly.
"Now, give it a try and show me what you've got, Paragon of Transcendence.'
It was a challenge. I love challenges. It's game on.
'Ascend or be crushed, huh? Well, I can use something of this nature. The scale of infinity may be worth my time.'
I refused to play the game of the world.
'I can comprehend & crush dimensions in the lowest unit of time but that'll be time-consuming and more...human not a Supreme Way. It's funny how I don't need to think to get past this.'
I smiled, and at that moment, Essen had already delivered my message to the archetype, and the concept of dimensionality simply ceased to matter to me.
Because Essen wasn't merely denying the prison, it rejected dimensionality itself as a valid force of existence.
The prison's foundation cracked under the weight of its own obsolescence; its reliance on my interaction became its undoing. There was no sound or action because faulty equipment shouldn't be responsive.
"Your Highness."
Just then, a voice called out from the heavens, their presence masked.
"What's wrong, Guardian Stellio of Lacerta?"
Ela asked with a knowing smile.
"Matryoshka... is broken."
He said, his voice dripping with disbelief. Hearing this, Ela simply laughs.
'I've trashed the most vital framework of reality but it won't be fun looking at the world from the outside.'
'You can choose to project yourself into dimensions but the truth remains. You'll never be bound by it.'
'A vessel will come in handy.'
'Yeah, but it doesn't change the truth. To others, you may appear as someone part of the existing framework but those are just your reflections not your true state. This is something you can't undo. Even if you manage to do it, it just doesn't change the truth.'
'Then I'll rewrite that 'truth' you keep talking about.'
"I guess you really are the Paragon of Transcendence."
Another voice came from above, I looked up and there he was. Descending like the King he is.
"Errai."
"Yo, Antares."
He waved.
"What are you doing here?"
Ela asked suddenly. Errai froze mid-flight, startled.
"You didn't inform her?"
"Tell me what?"
She asked, turning towards me, demanding an explanation.
"Er… um… I… I want to explore the world, and I think I'll need some help."
I stammered on purpose, making it convincing.
"Oh, that's fine. Looks like this cute little bird is ready to leave the nest."
My cheeks once again fell victim to her hands, but I remained calm.
"Yewh. You said it yourself."
He sighs in relief.
"Well, I knew this day would come but I didn't expect it to be so soon."
She said, letting me free.
"Are you just going to visit Osterra?"
"Osterra?"
"My world."
Errai answered.
"No. I'd like to visit a few more worlds, maybe I'll visit Cerberus next."
"That's Norvethis. The world where the Cerberus live."
"Ok. Osterra and Norvethis it is. I'll come back right after that before heading out again."
I said. This way, I'll earn another opportunity to leave the palace.
"Just like the child you are. Well, stay out of trouble and you..."
She turned toward Cepheus, her aura flaring without restraint. The air tightened, even space seemed to hesitate around her.
Cepheus visibly shrank under it. His shoulders lowered, eyes averted. Full submission without argument.
"Keep him safe."
She said evenly.
"If I see as much as a scar on his flawless, cute skin…"
"Y-you don't have to say it."
Je cut in quickly, voice tight.
"I understand the gravity of the situation."
"No, you don't."
The words landed softly, but they carried weight. Then, just as easily, she eased her presence. The pressure receded. Balance returned, like a tide pulling back from shore.
"But you will."
She added lightly.
"If something happens."
Her tone shifted in an instant, warmth slipping back in as if nothing had occurred.
"Come here for a goodbye kiss, Anta-chan."
She opened her arms, welcoming, waiting.
"No. I'm almost five hundred years old. I don't need that."
I folded my arms and turned away, trying to look dignified.
"Of course you do."
Before I could react, my body betrayed me. One second I was standing firm, the next I was pulled straight into her arms. She wrapped them around me tightly, warm and unyielding.
"I'm going to miss you so much…"
'Stop being so emotional.'
She ignored that completely and kissed me before finally letting go.
I heard it. I definitely heard it. A faint giggle echoing from somewhere nearby.
"What's so funny?!"
Errai didn't get the chance to answer. A blast sent him flying mid-air, and he immediately switched to the most exaggerated, innocent cry he could muster as he tumbled away.
"Stay with him at all times. I don't know your habits around others but don't look for trouble. And most of all, don't talk to Fang. Don't even stand close to him. Ok?"
She gave minor instructions to stay safe in the outside world.
"He's not harmless."
I replied dismissively.
"But sure, I'll back off. It's better to be safe than sorry."
I answered immediately, not giving her space to protest.
"Good Star. Oh and...don't you forget..."
My clothes began to glow. The fabric dissolved into light, threads unraveling into drifting particles before reforming around me.
When the glow faded, I was dressed in white. A long, flowing dress, pristine and weightless, its surface smooth as untouched snow. A few white feathers rested along the hem and shoulders, subtle but deliberate.
A warm golden light traced across the fabric. Where it lingered, delicate golden ornaments formed, fine accents along the collar, faint filigree at the waist, small radiant details that caught the light without overpowering it.
"Stay clean and Supreme all the time."
She added. The words weren't just advice. They felt like a blessing.
"Good. You haven't done anything yet. I'm proud of you. I'll be waiting for you to come home and tell me tales about your little adventure. Until then… goodbye."
She said at last, blowing me a kiss.
"Goodbye, Ela. I'll see you later."
She smiled, soft, almost motherly, and then she was gone. No dramatic flash, just absence where warmth had been a second ago. But in truth, I know she'll always bewatching over me.
My companion stepped forward once the silence settled.
"You really are weird, aren't you? Being all lovey-dovey with the Goddess."
"It's weird."
I admitted with a shrug.
"But that's just how I was raised."
There was no shame in it.
Without wasting another second, I summoned a slab of stone beneath my feet. It rose smoothly from nothing. I stepped onto it and pointed ahead dramatically.
"Let's hit the road!"
...
..
.
To be continued...