The students sat in the dimly lit classroom, the wooden desks arranged in neat rows. The air smelled of aged parchment and ink, a stark contrast to the metallic tang of the combat room from the day before.
Most of them had expected another grueling training session, but instead, they were handed notebooks and pens, a sign that today's lesson would be more theoretical than physical.
Hope, sitting near the back of the room, flipped through the blank pages of his notebook, his expression unreadable. He wasn't particularly excited about taking notes, but he wasn't foolish enough to ignore something that might save his life.
The classroom doors creaked open, and the new supervisor stepped in.
This one looked younger than the others. His sharp, dark eyes held a calculating intelligence, and his demeanor was less strict, more fluid and confident. He carried himself like a scholar, yet there was something about his posture that hinted at hidden strength.
The students straightened as he walked to the front of the room, setting a thick tome on the desk beside him.
Then, in a clear, steady voice, he greeted them:
"Good day, class."
A few murmured responses followed.
His gaze swept across the room, analyzing their faces before continuing.
"Today, we'll be covering the fundamentals of Essence Control, Memories, Aspects, and other Veil-related matters."
He let the words sink in.
A few students leaned forward, clearly eager to learn more. Others, like Hope, simply listened, absorbing everything without showing much reaction.
The instructor lifted a single finger, drawing their attention.
"Let's start with the most important thing—Essence."
He began pacing slowly, hands clasped behind his back.
"Essence is the foundation of everything for those connected to the Veil. Whether you are a simple contestant or a Supreme existence, your power hinges on this one thing."
A few students exchanged glances.
The instructor smirked.
"Without Essence, you are nothing. You can't summon Memories. You can't use your Awakened Ability. You can't reinforce your body for combat. You'd be no different from an ordinary human—except maybe for your raw strength."
The room was silent, everyone listening intently.
Hope tapped his pen against his notebook, making a mental note of the emphasis on raw power. That meant even without Essence, someone could still be dangerous.
The instructor continued.
"Essence is not unlimited. It must be gathered, refined, and controlled. Waste it recklessly, and you'll find yourself helpless in the face of danger. But control it properly, and you'll achieve feats beyond imagination."
He stopped pacing and turned to the class.
"**You are all still at the first stage. Your bodies have started to produce Essence, but it is weak, unstable. The more you fight, the more you absorb, the more refined it becomes. Eventually, you'll reach a point where controlling it will be as natural as breathing. But until then, you must train your control—or risk death."
Hope's grip on his pen tightened slightly.
"So, it's like a muscle… The more you use it, the stronger it gets."
The Concept of Memories
The instructor moved on.
"Now, let's talk about Memories."
At this, several students perked up.
"Memories are the gifts of the Veil, granted when a contestant slays a Veil creature. They can be weapons, armor, tools, or even something entirely different."
He gestured toward the back of the room, where a rack of strange objects was displayed—items that looked neither modern nor ancient, their surfaces humming with energy.
"Unlike artifacts—" he continued, "—which are retrieved from the bodies of Veil creatures, Memories are directly linked to the soul of the person who receives them. This is why Memories can be dismissed into the Soul Sea, while artifacts must be carried physically."
Hope nodded slightly.
That explained why his daggers from yesterday felt completely normal—they were artifacts, not Memories.
The instructor lifted a black-gloved hand and summoned something from thin air.
A long, silver chain appeared in his palm, glinting under the light. The moment it materialized, a faint hum of power spread through the room.
"This is my Memory. It was granted to me after I slew a Veil creature years ago. Unlike normal weapons, it responds to my will. I can summon it at any time, dismiss it when needed, and as I grow stronger, so does it."
A murmur passed through the room.
One student raised a hand hesitantly.
"Sir… Does that mean Memories can evolve?"
The instructor smiled slightly.
"Yes. Some remain the same forever, but others… they grow, adapt, change. They can become something entirely different from what they started as. It all depends on you."
"Now—" the instructor's tone became more serious, "—let's discuss Aspects."
The atmosphere in the room shifted.
Even the more distracted students straightened, sensing the importance of this topic.
"An Aspect is the core of your power. It is the ability granted to you by the Veil itself. Unlike Memories, which can be earned and changed, your Aspect is unique to you and cannot be replaced."
Hope's fingers tightened around his pen.
"So this is it—the true power of a contestant."
The instructor's gaze became sharper.
"An Aspect is what separates those who merely survive from those who rise to the top. It is an expression of your soul, your nature. Some Aspects allow manipulation of elements, some enhance the body, others defy logic itself. There are no limits—only potential."
A moment of silence followed.
Then, the instructor folded his arms.