The orphanage was quiet but warm, filled with the hum of evening chatter. I waved to the other children as I passed, a small smile crossing my face.
"Hi," I said softly, making sure to meet everyone's eyes. Most just glanced back shyly, but then…
My gaze landed on her.
A girl standing near the window, her hair falling like silver threads. Her eyes… pure white. Not the blind, dull white of sickness, but a luminous, clear shade that seemed to see everything at once. My heart skipped a beat.
"Hi," I said again, louder this time, and she gave the faintest nod, her lips curving into a quiet smile. I nodded back, and for a moment, the world felt lighter.
Leaving the common room behind, I climbed the stairs to my small room. I closed the door, letting the shadows from the Pure Darkness Ball curl faintly at my feet.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stared at my hands.
Why am I at a bottleneck with Devouring Veil?
Ever since I could remember, the technique had been part of me. At age three, it had appeared naturally, flowing through my body without teaching. Yet now… it felt as though I had hit a wall. I could summon the shadows, twist them, even smother small lights, but beyond that, the Devouring Veil refused to grow.
The frustration burned inside me, sharper than any shadow. I clenched my fists, shadows writhing in response.
Is it my soul? My understanding? Or… something else holding me back?
The silence of the room pressed in, but I refused to look away. One day, I would break through. One day, Devouring Veil would no longer be a bottleneck.