The next morning, I left my room with a sense of purpose. The shadows from my Pure Darkness Ball hovered quietly around my feet, as if curious about where I was going.
My destination was the orphanage's small library — a place filled with dusty scrolls and old tomes about the world beyond these walls. Spirit Masters, martial spirits, spirit rings… all of it. I had seen fragments of knowledge in the Spirit Hall awakening ceremony, but now, I wanted to understand.
The library was quiet, the kind of silence that made even the faintest rustle of pages sound like thunder. I ran my fingers along the spines of books, reading titles: "Spirit Beast Hierarchies," "Soul Power and Martial Spirit Evolution," "Techniques of Ancient Soul Masters."
I pulled a thick tome from a high shelf and flipped through it. Pictures of martial spirits, their rings, and classifications filled the pages. Wolves, dragons, phoenixes… weapons, elemental spirits, even some shadows, though none like my Pure Darkness Ball.
So my martial spirit… isn't even listed.
I frowned, tracing the illustrations of spirit techniques. Most techniques were tied to spirit rings, gradually unlocking as the Spirit Master grew stronger. Devouring Veil… mine had already awakened, and yet it seemed to defy the rules.
I leaned back, thinking. Is it the spirit? Or me? Or… both?
The quiet of the library was broken by a faint shuffle behind me. I turned. Yuri was there, her white eyes glinting as she held a scroll in her hands.
"Curious, aren't we?" she said, smirking. Behind her, the Soul Sage lingered silently, eyes sharp and alert.
I stiffened slightly but nodded. "I… want to understand this world. My martial spirit. And… everything else."
Yuri tilted her head, smiling faintly. "Good. Knowledge is power. But be careful — some things in these books are old, dangerous, and not meant for everyone."
I swallowed hard, but determination burned in my chest. My journey was just beginning, and if I wanted to grow beyond this bottleneck, I would need every scrap of knowledge I could find.
The Academy gates loomed ahead, massive stone pillars etched with glowing runes. I followed Yuri closely, shadows from my Pure Darkness Ball curling lightly at my feet. The morning air was crisp, filled with the distant sounds of other students arriving and practicing.
"This is the Academy," Yuri said, her white eyes scanning the grounds. "Your training truly begins here. Observe carefully and learn — not everything is as it seems."
I nodded, heart pounding with anticipation. The orphanage and the library had prepared me in theory, but this was the real world.
At the main entrance, a commotion caught my attention. A young man with jet-black hair stepped through the gates, walking confidently beside an older man with a weathered face — clearly experienced, but moving with a quiet restraint.
"That's Tang San," Yuri whispered, noticing me staring. "And that's Old Jack — his mentor. They've just arrived."
Tang San glanced around, his eyes bright with interest, taking in the Academy grounds. Old Jack followed calmly.
The guard sneered at Tang San, frowning deeper.
"Blue Grass," he muttered. "Still trash. Spirit Hall thinks little of it, and frankly, neither do I. Step aside, kid. You don't belong here."
Tang San's expression remained calm. His sleeve shifted slightly, hiding a small weapon tucked into his arm, perfectly concealed. The guard leaned in, suspicious, unaware of the latent threat.
From the main walkway, a figure appeared, walking slowly with his arms folded behind his back. Students instinctively quieted their whispers as he approached, the aura of authority around him undeniable.
"Let me see your Spirit Hall paper," the man said, voice calm but commanding. His eyes swept over Tang San,and the tense guard. Every motion he made radiated control.
Tang San handed over the official parchment, the seal of Spirit Hall gleaming in the sunlight. The man examined it carefully, nodding slightly.
"Very well," he said finally, voice measured. "Come in."
The guard stepped aside immediately, tension easing from his posture. Tang San adjusted his sleeve, concealing the weapon once more, and walked past without a word. Old Jack followed silently.
From across the courtyard, I watched, shadows coiling faintly around my hands. So even what they call "trash" can pass with the right verification… interesting.
Yuri's smirk widened beside me, white eyes glinting. "Strength isn't always about raw power, Jiang. Sometimes it's about recognition, presence, and knowing when to act."