The instructor let the weight of his words settle, his expression firm yet impassive. The students sat in a mixture of fascination, curiosity, and growing unease. This wasn't just another lesson—it was a revelation about the world they lived in, the forces that governed their survival, and the cruel reality of power.
Hope tapped his fingers against the desk, eyes narrowing slightly. So, Memories weren't invincible. The weapons they wielded, the armor they trusted, the shields they used for defense—all of it could be destroyed. Once gone, it was lost forever. There was no bringing it back.
The instructor's voice cut through the silence once more.
"Now that you understand that Memories can be destroyed, let's talk about the only exception—Soul Weapons."
He paused, watching for reactions. As expected, some students leaned forward in anticipation. Others frowned, clearly puzzled.
"A Soul Weapon is different from a Memory. While Memories are rewards granted by the Veil, Soul Weapons are something far greater. They are an extension of your very existence—a manifestation of your soul, given form in reality."
His words hung in the air, heavy with importance.
"And because they are tied directly to the wielder's soul, they cannot be destroyed by normal means. No force, no weapon, no ability can shatter a Soul Weapon. The only way to eliminate it... is to kill its wielder."
The room stilled.
Even those who had been idly jotting down notes paused.
Hope's fingers, which had been tapping rhythmically, halted mid-motion.
An indestructible weapon…
It was a monumental difference from ordinary Memories.
A Memory could be shattered, lost forever. But a Soul Weapon? It would persist as long as the wielder lived.
The instructor continued.
"However, do not misunderstand. Not everyone has a Soul Weapon. In fact, almost no one does."
A few murmurs rose from the students, but the instructor spoke over them, his voice firm.
"Even among the strongest beings in existence, those known as the Five Supremes, it is uncertain if all of them possess a Soul Weapon. That is how rare these manifestations are."
He let that fact linger, then turned slightly, pacing toward the side of the room before continuing.
"A contestant may go their entire life without awakening a Soul Weapon. Some believe it is determined by talent. Others believe it is purely fate. But one thing is clear—those who possess a Soul Weapon stand above the rest."
Hope leaned back, his mind processing.
So, Soul Weapons aren't just powerful—they're absurdly rare. Even amongst the strongest beings in the world, some don't have them?
That meant they weren't something someone could just earn like a Memory. They were something deeper, something… innate.
Something that set a person apart from everyone else.
The instructor shifted the topic, his voice growing more solemn.
"Now, let's step back in time—to when this all began. The Veil did not always exist. Its emergence changed the world forever. But before that? The world was different. People lived normal lives. They had no idea what was coming."
The air in the room grew heavier, as if the very mention of the Veil carried an unshakable presence.
"The first recorded appearance of the Veil was 150 years ago. At first, there were no warnings, no signs. People simply… died."
A shiver ran through some students.
The instructor's tone was grim, his gaze unyielding.
"There was no cause of death. No wounds, no poison, no sickness. They simply collapsed in the streets. Autopsies revealed nothing. To the world, it was as if they had just… stopped living."
He let that hang for a moment before continuing.
"But that was only the beginning."
His voice grew even quieter, forcing the students to lean in slightly.
"Because after some time, those who had died… came back."
A few students gasped, but the instructor didn't stop.
"They returned, but they were not the same. They spoke of things no living person had ever seen before. Nightmarish creatures. Twisted landscapes. A world that existed beyond reality."
His eyes scanned the students, ensuring they understood the gravity of what he was saying.
"They called it the Ashlands or soulrealm. The place where the Veil had pulled them. The place where they had fought, bled, suffered… and where most of them had perished."
The room remained still.
No one spoke.
Even Hope, who usually found something to smirk about, was silent.
So, the Ashlands weren't always known. It wasn't something people discovered—it was something forced upon them.
The instructor exhaled, then continued.
The Veil Targets the Young
"Not everyone who was pulled into the Veil survived. In fact, most did not. But those who did… returned changed. Stronger. Faster. Capable of things that no normal human could ever achieve."
His gaze darkened.
"And over time, we learned something else. The Veil does not choose randomly. It does not take just anyone. It targets the young."
The murmurs among the students returned, this time louder.
One student, a broad-shouldered boy, frowned.
"But why? Why only young people?"
The instructor's expression didn't change.
"That is the question scholars have been asking for over a century. Some believe it is because the young are more adaptable. Others think the Veil is drawn to potential. But the truth? No one knows for sure."
A long silence followed.
Hope's mind was already making connections. The Veil takes the young. If you survive, you come back changed. But why? What does it gain from this?
There was something missing. Something he couldn't see yet.
The Creation of Veil-Hunting Weapons
The instructor took another step forward.
"As the world came to understand the Veil and its effects, humanity was forced to adapt. We could not stop the markings. We could not prevent people from being pulled into the Ashlands. But we could prepare."
He gestured toward the artifacts hanging along the classroom walls.
"This led to the creation of Veil-Hunting Weapons."
His eyes gleamed with something close to pride.
"Scientists, engineers, and warriors came together, desperate to find a way to combat the unknown. After years of research, they discovered something—Veil creatures, upon death, left behind something extraordinary. A Soul Core."
Hope's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had heard of Soul Cores before, but never in such detail.
The instructor continued.
"A Soul Core is the crystallized essence of a slain Veil creature. It holds power, energy, and—most importantly—a connection to the Veil itself. By embedding these cores into weapons, humanity created the first Veil-Hunting weapons."
He looked at the students with intensity.
"These weapons are not as powerful as Memories. They do not bond with your soul. But they serve one purpose—to kill Veil creatures. The stronger the Soul Core, the stronger the weapon. A blade forged from the Soul Core of a Sacred Beast can wound an Ascended. But remember this—it can only wound. A higher-ranked being will not die from such a weapon alone."
He exhaled, his expression unreadable.
"This is the knowledge you must carry with you. Essence. Memories. Soul Weapons. The history of the Veil. It is all connected."
His gaze hardened.
"And soon, you will see it firsthand."