Beyond the Veil of Shadows

Chapter 1

It was hard to say how long it had been, but Wilhelm deWolf slowly opened his eyes, immediately assaulted by a wave of nausea that felt reminiscent of a bad hangover. His head throbbed painfully, as if it might split apart.
With a loud snap of his jaw, Wilhelm clutched his head with both hands, flopping around on the bed like a fish in hot oil as his covers tumbled to the floor.
Wilhelm couldn't be sure how long he had endured such agony until, at last, the sharp pain in his head began to fade, and the tight tension in his mind finally relaxed. He lay flat on the bed, panting like a fish out of water.
After some time, Wilhelm turned over, gazing at the pristine ceiling while a blue ceiling fan spun vigorously above him.
A complex expression crossed his face, and a bitter smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He had acquired part of an ‘alien’ memory...
He had crossed over into another world.
Wilhelm had sometimes fantasized about being transported to a fantastical realm, embarking on a series of incredible adventures—becoming the main character in stories that made the world spin. Who wouldn’t want to be at the center of such excitement?
With that thought lighting a fire in him, Wilhelm straightened his back and sat up, glancing around to assess his surroundings.
His room was about 200 square feet, resembling a college dorm—desks and beds lined the walls, leaving a path open in the middle for walking.
With four matching wooden tables and chairs, it was clear that this was a four-person dormitory.
Memories bubbled up, revealing that Eldrin the Unknown was also known as Wilhelm deWolf.
Curiosity prompted Wilhelm to see what he looked like now. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and planned to find a mirror.
“Knock knock…”
Suddenly, a series of knocks sounded on the door, causing him to freeze. Feeling anxious as the knocking continued, he called out carefully, “Who’s there?”
Before he could brace himself, the blue door swung open, revealing a middle-aged man with slightly darker skin, whose face lit up with joy. The man strode in, beaming, and picked up the covers off the floor.
“Little Wilhelm, you’re awake! Are you feeling okay?”
As the man’s familiar face registered in Wilhelm’s mind, memories surfaced. This man was Alaric, a member of the City Guard just like Wilhelm’s father. Alaric had been a classmate of Wilhelm’s during elementary, middle, and high school, and their families later became neighbors.
They often say that close neighbors become like family, showing just how intertwined their lives were.
What Alaric didn’t know was that this Wilhelm deWolf was no longer the same as the boy he remembered.
Wilhelm shook his head slightly, concealing his true feelings as he replied, “Uncle Alaric, I’m fine.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Alaric breathed a sigh of relief, but then suddenly turned serious. “You naughty kid, didn’t I tell you to refrain from using your special abilities?”
“...The Spirit Realm is damaged, and your consciousness is in turmoil; you should be resting to stabilize things. Yet, you keep using your powers…”
As Alaric’s concerned lecture washed over him, warmth spread through Wilhelm’s heart. It had been a long time since anyone had shown him such care.
However...
At the mention of "the Spirit Realm being damaged," Wilhelm's expression darkened immediately.
After digesting his predecessor’s memories, Wilhelm understood that he was no longer on Earth but had crossed over to a world called "Blue Sphere."
The culture here was vastly different from Earth.
From ancient times, Blue Sphere was filled with extraordinary powers.
Not the various forms of cultivation, martial arts, or magic one might find in books and films, but rather what humans here referred to as “evolution.”
This was not the result of nature's harsh selection process but rather a proactive change...
Every living being on Blue Sphere could awaken greater wisdom and immense abilities—not limited to plants and animals; even mountains, rivers, storms, and even tools could potentially evolve into sentient beings.
These extraordinary entities resembled the mythical beasts of Earth’s legends.

Chapter 2

In ancient times, the extraordinary powers of humanity were no match for the formidable supernatural beings that inhabited the world. Humans relied on these beings to survive, venerating them as guardians. It seems that in every realm, humanity was favored by the divine, with remarkable individuals emerging from the masses.
As time progressed, ancient humans gradually discovered the proper way to harness their abilities, realizing that not all supernatural beings were inherently powerful. The humans of antiquity formed bonds with equally weaker supernatural beings, establishing soul contracts that allowed them to accelerate their growth many times over, even surpassing the limits of their own species—essentially evolving into greater forms.
For these supernatural beings, the drive to grow stronger wasn't as compelling. After all, most of them had lengthy lifespans, affording them ample time to enhance their abilities. But evolution? That was the dream held by all supernatural beings, even those mortal regarded as divine. They yearned for evolution to reach higher states of existence, leading to a new era marked by the signing of contracts with ancient humans—a period known as the Age of Spirit Masters.
This marked the genesis of the Spirit Masters. A Spirit Master is someone who forges contracts with supernatural beings, like Wilhelm deWolf, a dedicated Spirit Master.
Thousand years of development refined the Spirit Master system. In the Blue Sphere, every individual begins meditating to absorb the energy of the earth and sky at the age of twelve. By fifteen, they can create an alternate space within their consciousness, known as the Spirit Realm, where their contracted supernatural beings reside.
The Spirit Realm requires one to two years of nourishment to stabilize. After this, the next step isn't about contracting supernatural beings but testing one's talent. Spirit abilities are akin to human attributes; for instance, a fire elemental being can breathe fire, a water elemental can manipulate water flows, and a wood elemental can accelerate plant growth. Talents represent an individual's unique supernatural prowess.
Generally, talents can be categorized into enhancement talents and special talents. The former is numerous, while the latter is vast and complex to detail. Determining one's talent before contracting a supernatural being is essential. For example, if a Spirit Beast Master who specializes in fire contracts a fire elemental but possesses the talent “Water Surge,” enhancing water-related skills instead, there's no inherent conflict such as “water extinguishing fire.” However, in combat, they would be at a disadvantage compared to a Spirit Master with the talent “Flame Eruption,” who could boost the fire elemental's flame attacks.
With one dealing with status and the other applying buffs, one will clearly be stronger. Generations have learned that the most fitting match is the best match.
Wilhelm deWolf's talent was dubbed the “Elixir of Enlightenment,” enabling him to instill his mental energy into supernatural beings, bestowing them insights. There was a chance they could even inherit techniques from their ancestral bloodlines. However, using “Elixir of Enlightenment” placed a significant burden on Wilhelm, limiting him to once a day.
In contrast, Eldrin the Unknown forced himself to use “Elixir of Enlightenment” three to four times a day over the span of a week, worsening his already damaged soul. This deterioration arose from a battle where an opponent maliciously killed his Little Ember Lizard. Wilhelm deWolf felt a surge of rage from the depth of his heart at such cruelty.

Chapter 3

In the realm of the Blue Sphere, young adolescents often find themselves tested for their innate talents by the time they hit sixteen or seventeen. This is the first step toward forming a contract with a Spirit that resonates with their abilities.
In ancient times, extraordinary beings were referred to as "Beasts of Magic." However, with the rise of Spirit Masters—formerly known as Beast Masters—the terminology transitioned through several phases, such as War Beasts, Battle Pets, and eventually, Spirits, as they are known today.
Eldrin the Unknown possessed a unique talent known as the "Elixir of Enlightenment," which was highly versatile and not restricted to any specific Spirit attribute. He chose a fire-type Spirit, the Little Ember Lizard, as his first contract, simply because it appealed to him personally.
After absorbing all memories from Eldrin the Unknown, Wilhelm deWolf discovered that the Little Ember Lizard was far from ordinary. Not only was this Spirit one of the five that the Kingdom of Emberholm deemed most suitable for novice Spirit Masters, but it also stood out among the other four options: the water-based Venomous Toad, the wood-based Vine Serpent, the metallic Spearbug, and the earth-based Emberback Tortoise.
The Kingdom of Emberholm possessed a variety of Spirits, encompassing attributes like wind, lightning, ice, and poison, with fire, water, wood, earth, and metal representing the foundational elements. This structure mirrored similar concepts found in Western thought.
Moreover, the Little Ember Lizard was exceedingly rare. Although Emberholm was a mountainous country, volcanic regions were scarce, causing fire-type Spirits to be significantly less common than other types.
Lastly, the Little Ember Lizard boasted a high classification level. Spirits crisscross through two distinct ranks—"race rank" refers to their potential and inherent talents while "growth rank" is linked directly to the Spirit's strength and battling capabilities. The Little Ember Lizard held a high race rank, marking it as one of the elite Spirits within its realm.
Being officially recognized as Spirits validated the potential and strength of the Little Ember Lizard, the Venomous Toad, and the other Spirits. Once a Spirit contract was formed, training and combat practice became an immediate priority.
While this world may share traits with a fantastical pet-keeping universe, it is far from the idyllic realm of sunshine and justice that one might envision. Not every Spirit is amenable to forming a contract with humans; some harbor deep-seated hostility, even banding together to launch attacks on human settlements.
Each Spirit Master shares the duty to protect their cities, defend the populace, and safeguard human prosperity, akin to soldiers in a relentless war. Even without such noble aspirations, self-preservation is paramount, and aspiring Spirit Masters must cultivate the skills required to defend themselves.
Consequently, after forming a contract with their Spirits, students are introduced to a pair of critical courses: Spirit Cultivation and Spirit Combat.
Educators vigilantly guard against any harm to students or their Spirits within school grounds; conflicts between peers are handled without bloodshed. However, when these conflicts spill into the outside world, the teachers’ authority is limited.
Wilhelm deWolf had matured considerably after enduring life’s tribulations. He had initially chosen to ignore continuous provocations, but when they escalated to personal insults, particularly targeting his parents, his resolve began to shatter.
Seven years before, during a Beast Tide siege, his parents had tragically perished, a wound that had never healed in his heart.
Fueled by youthful passion, Wilhelm deWolf finally snapped and accepted a challenge to combat. His opponent commanded a wind-type Spirit known as the Windspeed Hound, which matched the Little Ember Lizard in terms of power yet possessed a slight edge in speed. With both fighters’ Spirits experiencing exponential growth, the odds were stacked against Wilhelm.
As the battle approached its climax, Wilhelm couldn’t fathom that his opponent would strike a fatal blow. Just as the Little Ember Lizard teetered on the brink of collapse, his adversary ordered the Windspeed Hound to savage it fatally.
The contract forged between Spirit Masters and their Spirits was a bond of souls; should a Spirit perish, it resulted in devastating repercussions for its Master, impairing their own spirit and essence.
……

Chapter 4

Uncle Alaric noticed the change in Wilhelm deWolf's expression and immediately recognized that he had struck a nerve with the young man. His awkwardness grew as he quickly added, "Um... Little Wilhelm... I didn't mean to..."
"I'm fine," Wilhelm deWolf interrupted, shaking his head and managing a small smile.
He felt a twinge of sympathy for Eldrin the Unknown's hardships, but that was where it ended. Although it felt a bit wrong to occupy someone else's body, Wilhelm had no intention of sharing this life with the original's spirit. The worst that could happen would be to seek vengeance down the line.
A lightness washed over Wilhelm's mind, and he sensed something slipping away, yet not entirely gone. As a well-read young man, he understood precisely what was happening and couldn't help but let a brighter smile break across his face.
Uncle Alaric watched the range of emotions flit across Wilhelm's features—from deep sorrow to a genuine smile. With a concerned look, he ran a hand over his thinning hair, wondering if the boy was perhaps on the brink of a breakdown from all that was happening.
"Little Wilhelm, don't lose hope. I believe your parents wouldn't want to see you like this… You've always been a trustworthy child..."
"Thank you, Uncle Alaric, but I really am okay," Wilhelm reassured him.
Uncle Alaric studied Wilhelm's serious expression as if confirming the truth in his words. Eventually, he nodded. "Good, good..."
"You have six months to recover. Focus on healing, and remember, don't use your special abilities again."
"Don't worry about the spirit matters; Uncle Alaric will help you find a promising one," he said with a warm smile.
A wave of gratitude washed over Wilhelm, and he returned a sincere smile, saying, "Uncle Alaric, thank you."
"Why are you so polite, kid?" Uncle Alaric waved his hand dismissively, though he quickly added, "Just rest well here. I’ll handle any unfinished tasks and we can go home together when I'm done."
At this, Wilhelm recalled that the reason for the previous body's fainting spell was due to assisting a spirit in awakening the latent skills in its bloodline.
The Little Ember Lizard had already cost a fortune, and with tuition and daily expenses... Wilhelm was in desperate need of money.
Although the original parents had made significant contributions during the beast tide siege and received substantial national compensation, it seemed they never intended to use this money.
Wilhelm respected their wishes.
Currently, he was an intern caretaker at the New Dawn Elven Sanctuary, tending to spirit cubs. However, his true task involved using the "Elixir of Enlightenment" ability to help the spirit cubs awaken their skills.
After all, spirit cubs with advanced skills could sell for much higher prices.
The New Dawn Elven Sanctuary was a legitimate enterprise, and Wilhelm's minor status had earned him a special position due to Uncle Alaric's influence.
Uncle Alaric wasn’t just the head of security at the Sanctuary; he was a powerful Spirit Master who could command substantial fees for his services.
"Uncle Alaric, you don't have to..." Wilhelm noticed his concerned look and quickly explained, "I assure you, I really am fine. All I need to do is some feeding... I promise I won't touch my abilities until I'm fully healed."
Despite having numerous impressions of spirits in his memories, Wilhelm felt a genuine curiosity to see them with his own eyes.
Uncle Alaric regarded Wilhelm seriously, his gaze penetrating.
Wilhelm met his eyes with unwavering determination.
"Well..." Uncle Alaric squeezed his weary eyes and sighed, "I’ll trust you know your limits and what you're doing."
"Thank you, Uncle Alaric," Wilhelm expressed again, gratitude spilling out of him yet again.

Chapter 5

Uncle Alaric still had his patrol duties, so he said his goodbyes and left.
Wilhelm deWolf, lost in memories of Eldrin the Unknown, made his way to the Grain Mill, where numerous caretakers were busy at work.
A sharp-eyed caregiver spotted Wilhelm at the door and looked pleasantly surprised. Other workers approached him, expressing concern for his well-being.
Wilhelm, being the youngest and most diligent worker, had earned a good reputation for himself. Along with his eagerness to learn, people looked out for him.
“Brother Aelfric… Lord Hargrove… Judge Silas… thank you all for your concern. I’m fine.”
“What are you doing here instead of resting?” asked a stocky man, Middle-aged Tobias.
Upon seeing him, Wilhelm instinctively shrank his shoulders and called out, “Uncle Cedric!” He added, “Uncle Cedric, I still have feeding duties to finish today.”
“It’s just a small task. I’ll help you out. You should be resting and eating more to regain your strength. Look how thin you've gotten,” Uncle Cedric replied, scrutinizing Wilhelm’s arms and giving him a playful squeeze.
That was quite a grip.
“Uncle Cedric, take it easy! I can’t handle that kind of roughhousing,” Wilhelm winced, grinning through the discomfort.
Uncle Cedric blinked in surprise, then burst into hearty laughter. “Since when did you start cracking jokes?”
“Uncle Cedric~” Wilhelm sighed in exasperation.
“Alright, alright, you wait here while I go load up the supplies for you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Cedric.”
A smile broke across Wilhelm's face. He was finally going to see the elves.
Before long, Uncle Cedric returned driving a bright yellow delivery cart emblazoned with the base's logo, stacked with neatly arranged coolers in the back.
“Be careful.”
Wilhelm had been working long hours, but Uncle Cedric always took the time to remind him.
Grateful for the concern, Wilhelm responded with sincere thanks.
…
The New Dawn Elven Sanctuary was expansive, divided into five main regions: forest, lakes, desert, mountains, and snowy peaks, each managed by dedicated caretakers. Wilhelm deWolf was assigned to the forest region, responsible for a small section of it.
The elves had strict requirements for living in their habitat, and as Wilhelm ventured deeper, he found himself growing more anxious as he hadn’t seen any elves yet.
Pressing down on the accelerator, he sped along the pristine cobblestone path leading to the forest area, where numerous trails branched off. At last, he spotted the sign marking his destination.
He parked, turned off the engine, and hopped out in one smooth motion.
Uncle Cedric had thoughtfully provided Wilhelm with a cart.
“Lalalala~~”
“Come on, little ones, it’s mealtime!” Wilhelm called out, dragging the cart as he cheerfully shouted.
The leaves rustled in response, and suddenly, the surrounding trees seemed to awaken, revealing creatures that resembled lizards.
These were the pseudo-tree lizards, wood-element elves whose skin blended seamlessly with tree bark, serving as perfect natural camouflage from predators.
As he watched these slow but steady creatures descend from the trees, Wilhelm recalled the detailed information on the pseudo-tree lizard.
If he hadn't seen them with his own eyes, Wilhelm would hardly have believed such magical beings existed.
Soon, a group of tiny pseudo-tree lizards gathered around him.
Yes, these lizards were just recently hatched, about the size of house cats.
Their skin would darken as they matured, and adult pseudo-tree lizards averaged about 5 feet, with some exceptional individuals growing even larger.
In the distance, several larger adults ambled towards him…
Some of these fully grown pseudo-tree lizards had been purchased by the New Dawn Elven Sanctuary specifically for breeding young, while others had simply missed the opportunity to be chosen by Spirit Masters and were now left behind as “stay-behind children.”

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