◆◇◆
The air beneath the high hills was always cold.
Mist slid between the roots like pale snakes, and the wind whispered through the branches overhead. Master led me there without a word, her footsteps silent, deliberate… almost ceremonial. The old man who tended the training grounds watched us from afar, and behind him like a shadow that didn't belong stood a dark figure whose presence felt like a weight on the world.
I swallowed.
Master finally turned toward me, her hair swaying gently.
"So, Gray… now that you have a core and can see essence, it's time to know what type of user you are."
My heartbeat quickened.
I wasn't sure if it was excitement or fear.
"What type of user?" I asked, trying to sound calm.
She folded her arms.
"There are two types of essence users, one is an emitter and the other is an enhancer…"
Her tone was cool but steady, like she'd explained this hundreds of times before.
She raised one finger.
"An enhancer can use essence, which is soul energy to strengthen muscle, skin, bones and weapons and objects. They're ideal for swordsmanship"
Then she raised another.
"Emitter, release their soul energy outward, projecting it into the world….. they are best for long rangers and snipers, they are also common"
I nodded slowly as she watched me with that sharp gaze of hers.
"Now," she said "any questions?"
"I do have a question master…. "
I hesitated.
"There was something that had been bothering me for days."
"Master… you keep saying 'essence' and 'soul energy.' Are they the same… or different? It's confusing."
For a moment, she looked genuinely pleased.
"That's the question I've been waiting for you to ask."
She stepped closer, tapping my chest lightly with a finger.
"As you know, soul energy is the fundamental source of life. Everything living or not has soul energy."
Her voice lowered, becoming more serious.
"But humans are fragile. Using soul energy directly can cause backlash. Injuries. Madness. Even death. So we created a way to refine that energy safely… the essence core."
"So essence… is refined soul energy?" I asked.
"A weaker version?"
"Yes, you are absolutely correct…., the essence core collect, energy from the soul, and transfer it to the body, like a buffer.,, but once you reach the peak of essence, you will be able to tap into your original spirit energy"
My heart skipped. Original spirit energy…
"Master," I said, "is it possible to be both? Grandmaster hinted that I might be."
She stared at me for a moment, assessing.
"Yes it's possible but it's rare, extremely rare.
But with the triple energy colors you showed… I wouldn't doubt it."
"Triple color…" I whispered.
The memory of that swirling white, abyss-black, and faint third hue returned to mind.
She continued:
Apart from being a dual essence user, there are other type of users with a unique soul energy, which are healers and prophets, who tap directly into their soul energy without using essence cores
Then she clapped her hands once.
"Enough talk. Let's find out what type you are."
◆◇◆
"This method we are going to use to check your essence frequency is called Shape manifestation, although this is not the normal method, it's slower than the normal way of finding your essence type"
"How slow?" I asked.
She ignored the question.
"I want you to release your energy….."
I blinked. "…Release it? How? I don't even know what that means."
She sighed.
"This practice is going to take you a year to master, I was able to master this method within half a year, if you can beat that I have something special for you….
She placed her palm over my sternum.
"Now that you have a core, I want you to feel that core, and try and circulate your energy while breathing in and push that energy out while breathing out."
"this is hard"
"yes It's going to be hard at first but I trust you will get it. Now get training"
I began meditating, master was there to help me but this method was extremely hard to do. I have to circulate my energy fast enough while taking a breath, and release it while breathing out. The master says if I can do this, I will have great control over soul energy….
I sat beneath the old tree at the edge of the forest.
The roots pressed against my legs.
The air was cold enough to bite.
I closed my eyes.
Breathe in. Circulate. Breathe out. Release…
It was like trying to grab smoke with bare hands.
The more I focused, the more it slipped.
Time blurred.
A day became two.
Two became a week.
A week became… I lost count.
Master visited each day with food, but I barely noticed.
My mind was buried in that invisible current within me, that river of energy I couldn't quite shape
Well this is no big deal for me, I have been training myself since I was a kid, and when I was found I couldn't use soul energy I trained ten times harder than anyone in the village, day and night
Because of my healing abilities I was able to do so, after all I have a perfect body…
◆◇◆
The chamber echoed with metallic hums.
"My liege, my glorious king, the one whose blade cuts through dimensions"
> "Enough, Eryth…" Karioth muttered, visibly embarrassed.
"My apologies, My Liege."
Eryth bowed so deep his forehead nearly touched the stone floor.
He smiled nervously standing before the Sword Demon was no small matter.
Karioth's eyes glowed faintly.
> "Prepare yourself. You're coming with me… to the Dark Hell."
Eryth froze.
"The Dark Hell…? Isn't that the place where he is sealed? Don't tell me you—"
> "Exactly."
"I've found a way to enter. The probability is low… but it exists."
Eryth's face lit with awe.
"As expected of My Liege…"
> "We leave at dawn."
"Yes, My Liege!"
◆◇◆
Three months later.....
Master stood with arms crossed, staring at me like I was some strange beast.
"It's been three months you have been here, I underestimated you, to think you will actually stay here for three months just trying to refine your essence with the technique I have taught you… and you actually did it… "
I stood up from the corner of the forest, my legs trembling from sitting down for over three months.
"Why… did I have to go through all this… just to know what type I am?"
She bopped me lightly on the head.
"That's the first thing you say to your master?"
I rubbed my forehead, annoyed.
She sighed.
"Doing this purifies your soul energy. I already knew you were a dual essence user from the moment I saw your colors.
But this training gives you control. Precision. Discipline."
I stared at her blankly.
"Gray… are you even listening?"
"…I'm starving."
I staggered past her.
"I haven't eaten in months."
She looked horrified.
"What about the food I brought you!?"
"They're… over there."
I pointed at a pile of half-eaten containers.
"Animals… kept stealing them."
I felt dizzy.
Lady Aris looked at me for a long moment… She thought to herself while chuckled quietly.
"I've gotten myself a hell of a disciple…"
◆◇◆
I walked towards the infirmary... .master asked me to come meet her after I was done…but I kept wondering, why do I feel some sense of familiarity when I am with her....?
why did I just accept being her disciple,
my thoughts scattered when someone called out
"GRAY!! GRAAAY!!"
I turned.
Rhapel was sprinting toward me, waving wildly.
"…Rhapel." I exhaled.
For some reason, seeing him made the world feel lighter.
"Where have you been gray, I have been looking all over for you" also did you have a growth spur?
"I was training under the cliff."
"You've started training already? No wonder you look taller!"
I touched my arm.
"…I guess I do feel different."
"Heading to the Infirmary? Let's go together!" he said eagerly.
"Why.....Do you have someone there? I asked
Yes he answered "my senior brother"
I am also a disciple too, just like you
Although you are not officially lady Aris disciple yet"
"…What do you mean?"
"To be official, you need to complete a mission and get your Eclipse Mark that shows you are a disciple of a Phase .
Like the one Lady Aris has on her stomach."
I touched my own abdomen unconsciously.
"That's probably why she called me…"
Do you also have a mark? I asked
"Yes."
He pointed to his back.
"Same place my brother's is."
Your brother?
Yes my brother is a phase in the eclipse…you might have heard of him Oric, although he is currently in the Infirmary
"A phase…?" "what's that?"
"You have been in this place for more than three months and you still don't know anything about it…"
"Apart from being an organization of people who their homes have been distroyed, what else is there?"
"you,"! Rhapel grind his teeth feeling annoyed and took a deep breath
"The Eclipse is a secret organization that opposes the system… and the fate forced upon this world."
His expression grew serious.
"And at the top of the hierarchy are seven individuals.
People so powerful… they're said to command even demons."
"They are The Seven Phases of the Eclipse"