Ethan emerged from the library when the sun had already long set and night enveloped the world. Despite it all, the Academy was far from quiet. Many students still walked the halls. Although exhausted from a long day of learning, their zeal toward mastering the uses of their contracted spirit shone brightly.

  Somehow, Ethan couldn't help but be jealous. Ever since he became aware of his deficiency, not a day passed without this flaw eating away at him. He had spent days seeking alternative methods, even forcing his way into the Endless Library, but now, the wait was over. He held tightly onto the stone hidden in his coat pocket.

  Bordering the Academy was a massive forest, which Ethan entered, slipping through the shadows cast by the bright moon shining overhead. The foliage was dense, obscuring his path, yet Ethan swiftly moved through the uneven terrain, avoiding the many branches barring the way.

  Ethan moved like an assassin in the night. He carefully avoided the brittle branches but also leapt from stone to stone, leaving no footprints on the muddy soil in his wake. There were no signs of his passage except for the slight rustle of the night wind through dense vegetation.

  His steps were slow and measured. He carefully listened to his surroundings as he ascended a small hill at the back of the Academy. Near the top, the dense sea of trees opened into a small clearing, allowing an unobstructed view of the sky and the world below.

  Ethan could clearly see the Academy in the distance, in all its majesty. The Academy was known throughout the land for its Gothic Architecture; large pointed towers lined its perimeter while a clock tower loomed over it all, serving as a distinct landmark for all the Capital to admire.

  In fact, the Academy was so sizable that it dwarfed any other construction within the Empire; not even the Archon's palace could hold a candle to it. It was also a relic of days long past, dating back to even before the Empire's founding; it had survived the birth and fall of countless nations. Some even speculated the Academy would remain long after the Empire itself had crumbled to dust.

  Within the distance, tucked away to the side, Ethan could see three massive buildings, each facing the other two. Their facades were slightly curved, forming a large circle with a large courtyard in the middle. One massively dwarfed the other two in both size and pretentiousness. This was the Academy's teachers' residence. It was also what should have been Ethan's home within this gated community.

  How gaudy... Reminds me of home, Ethan couldn’t help but think, a slight smirk creeping on his face.

  And yet, it swiftly faded. Years of bitter memories flooded his mind, remembering the abuse and neglect he had endured as a child. Somehow, he couldn’t help but appreciate the lack of interest he produced in those he interacted with. He felt like a ghost, moving through life as if invisible. Still, this was much better than the alternative.

  Surrounding the massive grounds, encircling it all, was a high fence keeping the plebs outside. It stood tall and majestic but also imposing, deterring any from seeking to break in. Throughout all the eons the Academy existed, those who breached its defences could be counted on one hand as spirits constantly patrolled the area.

  Ethan had long heard of their existence, yet this was the first time he gazed upon them. He saw them flying in the air as if phantom, yet their threats were reflected in his eyes. Still, he held no delusion that this was the only line of defence. Many more should be hidden from the public eye.

  Beyond those walls was the Royal Capital, the Seat of Power for the entire Empire. This was where all decisions were made, housing the Archon but also all Magisters. This city was like no other, housing over a million people. A veritable production titan, but also the city at the forefront of arcane research. All of this was granted by the Academy's existence, without which none would have been possible.

  Ethan saw the city extend into the distance. Yet, even from his small hill, he couldn't see its full extent. Although grand and impressive, standing straight in the middle, the Academy's grounds accounted for not even one percent of the city's area. It was a mere fraction of the whole, yet it held all the power.

  It's wild to think that if something were to happen to this place, the Empire might as well collapse. They can't be unaware of this, but after such a long time, what can they even do about it? It has become so entrenched in the Empire's power structure that nothing can shake its dominance.

  Ethan paused as he raised his gaze upwards, looking at the bright moon shining overhead. Yet his full attention was focused on his ears, seeking to find something floating in the wind. Nothing seemed out of place. By all metrics, he was alone here—a perfect time and place for his next step.

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  He took a few steps from the open clearing, returning to the dense forest, seeking a place of power where mana gathered. Through intensive research, Ethan had narrowed his search to a few locations.

  His eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, yet the more they did, the stronger the flicker of mana became. To Ethan, mana seemed alive, like fireflies dancing in the atmosphere, yet blown away by the slightest breeze. It seemed to possess a will of its own, yet was a slave to the whims of the world, as if but the slightest nudge could change its trajectory.

  Ethan arrived at a promising place, one of the few he had scouted beforehand. A small pond stood before him, nestled peacefully in these woods, the last remnant of wilderness left amid this metropolis.

  Ethan felt the freshness of humid night air condense on his skin, but even more so, he was bewildered by the thickness of the mana permeating this slight valley where water pooled. The water was pristine as if filtered by the earth itself. It felt as if mana had condensed to form this isolated pond.

  This is it! This place should give me the best odds.

  Ethan quickly glanced around the area, ensuring he was alone. He felt a slight movement to his side and the sound of a breaking twig. He turned sharply, his gaze slightly narrowed, only to be faced with a small squirrel gathering fallen nuts.

  He slowly let the air leave his lungs, finally free from the tension. He couldn't help but shake his head, feeling slightly conflicted. He could only thank the spirits no one had seen his overreaction. Still, he did not intend for anyone to witness what would happen next.

  Ethan retrieved a dull grey gemstone from his coat pocket. Even as the moon's light pierced through the foliage and landed on the stone, no light was reflected; it remained opaque and lifeless.

  Ethan brought the stone forward, palm held upward as it rested in the crux of his hand. All around him, the world was bathed in mana. He could see the flicker clearly reflected in his eyes, only to close them soon after.

  Then, without wasting a moment, Ethan began to speak in ancient tongues, reciting a cryptic incantation. This incantation was old, older than the Empire itself, yet most knew the words by heart, even if the meaning eluded them. This was the first thing those born of old magic families would be taught upon their coming of age, and Ethan was no exception.

  The words were but a whisper yet were echoed by the world. The surrounding mana began to shimmer, resonating with the words as they synced, creating a most wonderful sight.

  As Ethan recited the words he had committed to memory so long ago, he couldn't help but feel elation rise in his heart. This wasn't the first time he had stood in this place, reciting those exact words. He had done so many times before—almost an uncountable amount of times. Yet, this was the first time they provided the expected result. For the first time, Mana was moved by his words.

  Having said the last of them, Ethan opened his eyes, only to see a maelstrom begin to form. Mana began to dance, prompting reality itself to respond in kind. Power pooled in his vicinity, prompting space to tear, allowing a glimpse of the world beyond. Still, the vision was hazy, almost like a mirage in the desert.

  Is this what the Veil is like—the barrier separating our world from where the spirits dwell?

  Ethan’s heart couldn’t help but be filled with anticipation. The moment that would soon change his fate was almost upon him. A small tear appeared on the Veil, allowing a glimpse of the world beyond. It was a fantastical sight, filled with wonders he could hardly comprehend.

  From what he had gathered from ancient literature, the world beyond the Veil was without physicality. The spirits' world was made only of thoughts and energy, where spirits were but concepts enslaved by their very natures.

  Only when they peered through, allowing themselves to be bound by contract stones, did they finally achieve sentience, allowing their own personalities to evolve. But even then, they remain bound by what they were, forever unable to escape the chains binding them, only seeking to change the master holding the leash.

  Finally... After all this time...

  A white light appeared beyond the veil—a mass of energy and thought crystallized into an immaterial vision—seeking to break through the barrier between worlds, attracted to the dull stone held in Ethan's hand as if in sympathetic resonance.

  A break appeared, only big enough to allow the light passage, but it struggled to slip through even then. The hole within the fabric of reality existed only for a moment. Of the countless beings beyond the veil waiting for their single chance to escape this chaotic world of thoughts and energy, only the chosen one could do so.

  This process was nothing more than a gamble—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Luck determined whether one would be bound to a greater spirit or to a useless one. While spirits would grow alongside their contractors, this singular moment was pivotal.

  Ethan almost drowned in anticipation, his hand tightly wrapped around the dull stone. He could see chains of light begin to appear in its core, awaiting the being to dwell within. The maelstrom of mana began to rage, allowing it all to congregate on the stone's surface, slowly bringing out its shine and attracting countless spirits from beyond the veil. Still, Ethan's expression couldn't help but sour.

  From what he had read and experienced, he knew that most stones attracted many spirits competing for the chance to break free from their world. However, he saw no such thing. In fact, only a single light shone dimly beyond the threshold.

  He remained hopeful, bringing the stone closer to the pond's edge, where the mana flow was more substantial, reinforcing the tear between worlds. For a brief moment, the gap widened, allowing the white light to slip through, rushing straight into the stone.

  There was no fanfare, no explosion of light. The contract stone only grew slightly brighter as the maelstrom began to fizzle out, its purpose accomplished. The tear started to fade, disappearing back into the aether.

  Ethan remained silent, eyes fixed upon the stone. He knew not whether to be happy, yet the fact was already fixed in stone, his contracted spirit already chosen.

  Lux... the lowest-ranked light spirit.