The glyphs hovered in front of him again.
Water.
Light.
Separate.
Alive.
Albion didn't rush.
He studied them.
Water flowed in curves.
Light formed in angles.
That was the problem.
They fought each other's shape.
He exhaled slowly.
'Don't force it.'
He adjusted the water glyph first.
Just a little.
Sharpened two curves.
Not fully straight.
But closer.
Then he softened the inner edge of the light glyph.
Not weakening it.
Just… easing it.
The air felt different this time.
Spell Code didn't speak.
Albion guided the glyphs together.
They touched.
The resistance came again.
But weaker.
Like pushing against a door that wasn't fully closed.
He didn't shove.
He rotated the water glyph half a degree.
The inner lines aligned.
Light flickered—
Water surged—
The symbols overlapped.
For a split second—
Nothing.
Then the structure shifted.
Lines merged.
Curves straightened.
Angles flowed.
A new glyph formed.
Not water.
Not light.
Something clear.
Bright.
Fluid.
It hummed softly in the air.
Eria gasped.
Dharc lowered his book.
Spell Code's eyes sharpened.
Albion stared at it.
He could feel it.
Not two elements layered.
One system.
Stable.
Spell Code finally spoke.
"Hold it."
Albion focused.
The glyph trembled once.
He adjusted a single inner line.
The tremble stopped.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Still stable.
Spell Code stepped closer.
"Release."
Albion flicked his fingers.
The fused glyph shot forward and struck a stone pillar at the edge of the yard.
There was no explosion.
No blast.
The stone didn't shatter.
It… smoothed.
The surface became glass-like.
Clear.
Polished.
Light reflected through it like water.
Silence fell.
Albion blinked.
"I didn't expect that."
Spell Code walked to the pillar and ran his fingers over the surface.
"Refraction."
He glanced back.
"You fused illumination and flow."
Albion stood still.
"So it changes properties."
"Yes."
Spell Code faced him fully.
"This is not stronger magic."
He paused.
"It is different magic."
Albion looked at his hand again.
No burn.
No strain.
Just a slight ache in his fingers.
Behind him, Asterion let out a low whistle.
Scarlet crossed her arms tighter.
Dharc muttered, "That shouldn't be possible at his level."
Spell Code ignored them.
He looked at Albion.
"Most mages master one element."
He pointed at the glassed stone.
"Few master two."
His gaze sharpened.
"Almost none rewrite how they interact."
Albion rolled his wrist once.
A slow smile formed.
"So… can we try light and dark next?"
Spell Code did not smile.
"Not today."
Albion sighed.
"But soon."
Spell Code turned back to his book.
"If you survive water and light consistently…"
He flipped a page.
"Then we discuss your primary and secondary fusion."
Albion looked at the polished stone again.
Clear.
Sharp.
Different.
He felt it settle inside him.
Not power.
Possibility.
And for the first time—
He wondered what would happen
If he fused worlds
The same way.
Later that evening, Albion sat in the Royal Library.
At first, he had been interested.
Gods existed in this world.
Actual gods.
That alone was enough to catch his attention.
Back in his first life, people argued over whether gods existed.
Here?
The answer was simply yes.
So naturally, he expected something familiar.
God of Fire.
God of Water.
God of Wind.
God of Earth.
Simple.
Easy to understand.
Then he opened the theology section.
And everything went wrong.
Albion stared at the page.
"The Destruction."
Zorc.
"...Okay."
That made sense.
A giant evil dragon thing being the God of Destruction was normal.
At least by this world's standards.
He kept reading.
"The Hunt."
Obelisk.
Albion paused.
"What?"
He read it again.
Still Obelisk.
"The Erudition."
Number 88: Gimmick Puppet Leo.
Also known as True God Leo.
Albion blinked.
"The Abundance."
Holactie the Creator of Light.
Reasonable.
"The Nihility."
Egyptian God Slime.
Albion stared at the page.
Then at the illustration.
Then back at the page.
"Nihility is represented by a giant slime?"
Housekee adjusted her glasses.
"Yes."
"No one questioned that?"
"Theologians have debated it for thousands of years."
"Good."
Albion pointed at the page.
"Because one of these things is not like the others."
He kept reading.
The Preservation.
MA'AT.
The Harmony.
Slifer.
The Beauty.
Ghostrick Angel of Mischief.
The Voracity.
Vennominaga.
The Permanence.
Winged Dragon of Ra.
Then he reached the final entry.
The Enigmata.
Exodia.
Albion froze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
He lowered the book.
'The same Exodia?'
The God who gave him the power to travel between worlds.
The God worshipped across nations.
The God spoken of in holy texts.
The God with a capital G.
Was named Exodia.
Albion looked toward the ceiling.
'You couldn't have picked a less suspicious name?'
Silence answered him.
Which somehow felt suspicious.
He sighed.
Then continued reading.
The more he read, the more he realized something.
These weren't gods of elements.
They weren't gods of objects.
They weren't even gods of species.
They were gods of concepts.
Destruction.
Preservation.
Harmony.
Beauty.
Knowledge.
Mystery.
Ideas.
The kind of things that shaped entire civilizations.
A fire could burn out.
A river could dry up.
A mountain could crumble.
But concepts?
Concepts lasted forever.
Which meant every nation wasn't simply following a god.
They were following a philosophy.
A way of viewing the world.
And suddenly the political situation became much more terrifying.
Because nations didn't fight over resources.
They fought because their gods taught them different truths.
Albion leaned back in his chair.
"I miss when I thought theology was simple."
Albion turned the page.
And stopped.
The illustration showed a towering figure clad in white and gold armor.
Ancient.
Regal.
Mechanical.
Several golden spheres floated above one hand.
His posture was calm.
Confident.
Like a being who already knew every answer.
Albion stared.
"This is the God of Erudition?"
Housekee nodded.
"True God Leo."
Albion looked at the picture again.
He had expected an old scholar.
Maybe a giant library.
Not this.
The god looked less like a teacher and more like the final boss of mathematics.
Then Albion turned the next page.
And immediately regretted it.
"What."
Housekee glanced over.
"The God of Elation."
Albion pointed at the illustration.
A blond boy stood on a stage.
Arms spread wide.
A grin stretched across his face.
Knives floated around him.
The entire image looked like someone had trapped chaos itself inside a theater.
"That's a god?"
"Yes."
"That's a child."
"He is older than recorded history."
Albion looked back at the image.
The smile somehow made it worse.
Not evil.
Not threatening.
Just completely unhinged.
The kind of smile that suggested he would start a food fight during a peace treaty and somehow improve diplomatic relations.
Albion looked between the two pictures.
One looked like the answer to every question.
The other looked like the reason the question existed.
And somehow they were both cosmic beings.
Albion closed the book.
Very slowly.
Then sighed.
"I miss when I thought gods were just the God of Fire and the God of Water."
Housekee thought for a moment.
"Most children do."
"How old were you when you stopped being confused?"
Housekee adjusted her glasses.
"I'll let you know when it happens."
Albion looked up from the book.
"Which nation worships which god?"
Housekee adjusted her glasses.
"That is not how it works."
Albion blinked.
"It isn't?"
"No."
She took another book from the shelf.
"The gods represent concepts. People do not worship the gods themselves."
She placed the book on the table.
"They worship the concepts."
Albion thought about that.
"So what does that mean?"
Housekee opened the book.
"The Dragon Nation follows Permanence."
Albion looked down.
"The Winged Dragon of Ra?"
Housekee nodded.
"Yes. Dragons value legacy, continuity, and endurance. They believe what is built should last. What is inherited should be protected."
Albion slowly nodded.
That sounded like his father.
And his grandfather.
And honestly, most dragons he had met.
Housekee continued.
"The Sky Striker Nation follows The Hunt."
"Obelisk?"
"Yes."
Albion tilted his head.
"I thought Hunt meant hunting animals."
"It means pursuit."
Housekee turned a page.
"The pursuit of knowledge. The pursuit of victory. The pursuit of improvement."
Albion paused.
That actually sounded exactly like the Sky Strikers.
Always moving.
Always adapting.
Always chasing the next objective.
Housekee flipped another page.
"The Riseal Nation follows Erudition."
"True God Leo."
"Correct."
That one made immediate sense.
Half their nation seemed to spend their lives researching things.
Housekee continued.
"The Traptrix Nation follows Preservation."
"MA'AT."
"Though some regions follow Abundance."
"Holactia?"
"Yes."
Albion nodded.
That also fit.
Traptrix protected their forests with almost religious devotion.
Housekee pointed to another section.
"The Maliss Nation follows Harmony."
Albion stared.
"Slifer?"
Housekee nodded.
Albion looked confused.
"The nation constantly has civil wars."
"Exactly."
Albion blinked.
Housekee continued reading.
"They seek harmony because they lack it."
Albion opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
That was actually deeper than he expected.
Housekee turned another page.
"The Fiendsmith Nation follows Enigmata."
Albion immediately groaned.
"Exodia."
"Yes."
"Why does everything come back to Exodia?"
Housekee looked at him.
"I do not understand the question."
Albion lowered his head onto the table.
Of course she didn't.
Meanwhile, Housekee calmly continued.
"Of course, these are only the dominant beliefs."
Albion looked up again.
"What do you mean?"
"Not everyone follows the same path."
Housekee pointed toward a map.
"Coastal cities often follow Abundance."
She pointed elsewhere.
"Certain warrior tribes follow The Hunt."
Another location.
"Some scholars devote themselves to Erudition regardless of nationality."
Albion leaned back.
"So people can worship a concept even if their nation doesn't?"
"Correct."
Housekee closed the book.
"The nations influence belief."
She paused.
"But belief is ultimately a personal choice."
Albion looked at the list again.
For the first time, the gods started making sense.
Not because they were gods.
But because they reflected the values of the people who followed them.
That was somehow more complicated.
And more believable.
Albion sighed.
"I miss when I thought religion was simple."
Housekee adjusted her glasses.
"Most people do."
Albion looked down at the list again.
"Okay, but what about the others?"
Housekee looked up from her book.
"The others?"
"The Beauty. The Elation. The Voracity."
Housekee adjusted her glasses.
"Mostly cities."
Albion stared.
"...What?"
"Mostly cities."
Albion pointed at the page.
"Those are cosmic gods."
"Yes."
"And entire nations don't follow them?"
"No."
Albion blinked.
"Why?"
Housekee thought for a moment.
"The concepts are too specialized."
That somehow raised more questions.
Housekee continued.
"The Beauty is popular among artists, performers, craftsmen, and merchants."
Albion nodded.
That made sense.
"The largest temples dedicated to Beauty are usually found in major cities."
"Not nations?"
"No."
"Just cities?"
"Yes."
Albion looked disappointed.
That sounded far less dramatic than he expected.
Housekee flipped another page.
"The Elation is similar."
Albion immediately sat up.
"The theater god?"
"The God of Elation."
"The chaos theater god."
Housekee ignored him.
"Followers of Elation are usually entertainers, travelers, adventurers, and festival organizers."
Albion slowly nodded.
Actually, that tracked.
"The largest communities devoted to Elation are found in trade hubs and port cities."
"Because?"
"People with stable lives rarely worship Elation."
Albion paused.
"...That is surprisingly profound."
"Thank you."
"You didn't mean for it to be."
"No."
Albion sighed.
Of course.
Housekee turned another page.
"The Voracity is common among coastal settlements."
Albion froze.
"What?"
Housekee pointed to a map.
"Fishing communities."
Albion looked confused.
"The God of Endless Hunger?"
"Yes."
"The terrifying snake goddess?"
"Yes."
"The one worshipped by giant sea monsters?"
"Yes."
Albion pointed at the map.
"And fishermen looked at that and said, 'She seems trustworthy'?"
Housekee nodded.
"They wish for plentiful catches."
Albion lowered his head onto the table.
Religion was exhausting.
Housekee continued reading.
"The same applies to Abundance."
"Holactia?"
"Yes."
"Farmers?"
"Farmers."
Albion sighed.
That one at least made sense.
Housekee closed the book.
"The truth is that most people are practical."
Albion looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"They do not choose concepts because they sound impressive."
She pointed toward the castle window.
"They choose concepts that help them live."
Albion followed her gaze.
Outside, dragons flew through the sky.
Merchants moved through the streets.
Farmers worked distant fields.
Children played near fountains.
For a moment, the gods seemed smaller.
Not weaker.
Just... closer.
Less like cosmic beings.
More like ideas people carried with them every day.
Housekee stood.
"Most people do not think about theology as much as scholars."
Albion nodded.
"That honestly sounds healthier."
Housekee adjusted her glasses.
"Most scholars would agree."
That surprised him more than anything else.
Albion looked at the list again, he still had questions.
Then back at Housekee.
"Okay, but what about Elation?"
Housekee adjusted her glasses.
"What about it?"
"You said most followers live in cities."
"That is correct."
Albion frowned.
"So there isn't a nation that follows Elation?"
Housekee was silent for a moment.
Then she pointed toward the window.
"There is."
Albion turned.
Outside, the evening sky stretched across the horizon.
The blue sun had already dipped below the mountains.
Only its fading light remained.
Above it hung the moon.
Not gray.
Not white.
Crystal.
A massive crystalline sphere floating high above the world.
Light shimmered through its surface.
As if the entire moon had been carved from a single gemstone.
Albion blinked.
"...The moon?"
"The moon."
He looked back at Housekee.
"There are people on the moon?"
Housekee looked confused.
"Of course."
Albion stared.
"OF COURSE?"
Housekee tilted her head.
"Where did you think the Moonfolk lived?"
Albion opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
That was a fair question.
Housekee walked over to the window.
"The Crystal Moon is home to several civilizations."
She pointed upward.
"The largest of them follows Elation."
Albion looked up.
Far away.
Barely visible.
He could make out tiny lights sparkling across the moon's surface.
Cities.
Actual cities.
His world had moon cities.
Of course it did.
Why wouldn't it?
Housekee continued.
"The Moonfolk are known for their theaters, festivals, stories, and inventions."
Albion blinked.
"Inventions?"
"Many."
"They worship Elation and make inventions?"
"Yes."
"That sounds dangerous."
"It often is."
Albion nodded.
That tracked.
Housekee continued.
"Their greatest city is said to celebrate a festival every day."
"Every day?"
"Every day."
"How do they get anything done?"
Housekee thought for a moment.
"Very quickly."
Albion rubbed his forehead.
That somehow made less sense.
He looked back at the moon.
A civilization.
Living up there.
Following the concept of joy, freedom, possibility, and chaos.
Then he remembered the picture of Toon Master.
The smiling god surrounded by nonsense.
Suddenly it all fit together.
And that realization terrified him.
"Oh no."
Housekee looked at him.
"What?"
"The moon people are exactly what I expected."
"Is that a problem?"
Albion looked at the crystal moon.
"Yes."
A pause.
"A very big problem."
Housekee adjusted her glasses.
"The Moonfolk would likely consider that a compliment."
"That somehow makes it worse."
For a moment, Albion simply stared upward.
A crystal moon.
A blue sun.
Thirteen cosmic gods.
Two worlds.
And now moon civilizations.
He sighed.
Every day he learned something new about this world.
And every day the world somehow became stranger.
To be continue
Hope people like this Ch here and give me power stones and enjoy