Chapter 15: First Steps into the Mystical World

The Sanctified Lanterns' base felt colder than usual to Elias as he followed Adrienne and Captain Lirian through the narrow tunnels. The faint glow of gas lamps barely lit their path, leaving long shadows that flickered across the damp stone walls. Today would mark the beginning of his formal training—a prospect that filled him with equal parts curiosity and apprehension.

"This will be a challenge," Lirian said, breaking the silence. "Elira isn't just a librarian. She's one of the Covenant's most seasoned Veilborn. She's trained many, and she's never been easy on beginners."

Adrienne smirked. "If you think I'm harsh, wait until you meet her."

Elias rolled his eyes. "I'll take it as a chance to learn, then."

"You'd better," Adrienne replied.

The library was vast and labyrinthine, a cathedral of knowledge hidden beneath the city of Arkwright. Shelves towered toward the arched ceiling, filled with tomes bound in leather, brittle scrolls, and strange artifacts that pulsed faintly with energy.

At the center of the room stood Elira, a tall, slender woman whose silver hair was pulled into a neat bun. She wore a simple black robe, her arms marked with faintly glowing Veil sigils that seemed to shift with her movements. Despite her age, her presence was commanding, her dark eyes sharp and assessing.

"Elira," Lirian said, his tone more formal than usual. "This is Elias Thorne, our newest recruit."

Elira studied Elias with an intensity that made him shift uncomfortably. "So, this is the man who found himself at the center of the chaos at the docks," she said. Her voice was soft but carried an edge of authority.

Elias met her gaze. "I've had a rough introduction to your world, yes."

Elira raised an eyebrow. "Then let's see if you can handle more than a rough introduction."

Elira led Elias to a cleared space marked by an intricate circle etched into the stone floor. She gestured for him to step inside.

"As a Veilborn," she began, "you are naturally attuned to the Veil. This grants you abilities that most mortals can never hope to comprehend. But that attunement is also a burden. Use your gifts recklessly, and they will destroy you."

Elias nodded, his curiosity piqued. "What exactly are these abilities?"

Elira raised a hand, and the shadows around her seemed to gather and shift, dimming the light of a nearby lantern. "Shadow manipulation," she said. "The ability to control shadows, create minor illusions, or obscure yourself. It's the most basic of Veilborn powers."

She gestured to a small book on a nearby table, which rose into the air and hovered above her palm. "Ethereal touch. A faint connection to the Veil's energy, allowing you to interact with the physical world."

"And how do I do that?" Elias asked.

"First, you must learn to harness Echoes," Elira said.

Elira stepped closer to the circle, her tone taking on a sharp edge. "Echoes of Divinity are the fragments of godly power that linger within the Veil. To use your abilities, you must first draw these fragments into yourself. This is called direct harnessing."

She extended her hand, and a faint shimmer surrounded her as if the air itself had condensed. "This is the essence of the Veil, flowing through me. Without it, your powers are nothing but empty potential."

Elias tilted his head. "How do I do that?"

"Focus," Elira said. "Close your eyes. Breathe deeply and imagine the Veil as an endless ocean. You must pull a drop of its power into yourself, but no more. If you lose control, it will overwhelm you."

Elias hesitated but obeyed. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, his mind reaching for the image of an ocean. The air around him seemed to shift, growing colder. For a brief moment, he felt something—a faint ripple, like the brush of a wave against his skin.

"Good," Elira said. "Now hold onto that. Use it."

"Let's start with shadow manipulation," Elira instructed. "Use the Echo you've drawn to dim the light from that candle."

Elias focused on the candle, extending his hand. The shadows around it flickered but refused to gather.

"You're forcing it," Elira said. "Guide the energy, don't push it."

Taking a deep breath, Elias tried again. This time, he imagined the Echo flowing from his core to his hand, a current of unseen energy. The shadows around the candle wavered, then thickened, dimming the flame slightly.

"Better," Elira said. "But you're still hesitant. Again."

With each attempt, Elias improved, the shadows responding more fluidly to his intent. By the fourth try, the candle's flame had dimmed to a faint flicker.

Next, Elira had him focus on lifting the small book from the table.

"Direct the Echo to your hand," she said. "Imagine it as an extension of yourself."

Elias extended his hand, the book trembling slightly before lifting an inch off the table. For a moment, it hovered, but then it dropped back with a soft thud.

"Not bad for a beginner," Elira said, though her tone remained stern. "But you need control. Try again."

Elias repeated the exercise, each attempt slightly better than the last. Though progress was slow, he felt a growing connection to the energy within him, like learning to flex a new muscle.

---

After the exercises, Elira led Elias to a desk surrounded by shelves filled with ancient texts. She opened a large tome, its pages covered in diagrams and runes.

"The Veil," she began, "is a barrier that separates our world from a shadowy dimension. It is home to the Forgotten Pantheon—deities who once ruled mortals but were cast down for their betrayal. Their power lingers as Echoes of Divinity, fragments that fuel all Veil magic."

Elias leaned forward, his detective's instincts sharpening. "And the Syndicate? The rituals they perform—are they tied to these Echoes?"

"Precisely," Elira said. "But their methods are crude, born of greed rather than understanding. Forcing the Veil open without respect or control leads to disaster, as you've already seen."

Elias nodded, absorbing her words.

When Elias asked about the whispers that haunted him, Elira's expression darkened.

"Veil Fraying," she explained. "The more you draw on the Veil, the more it draws from you. Whispers, visions, and, eventually, corruption—it is the price of power without discipline."

"And how do I stop it?" Elias asked.

"Discipline, restraint, and, in time, proper training," Elira said. "Or you can choose the Shattering, though that path is fraught with risk."

As the lesson ended, Elias felt drained but also invigorated. Walking home through the quiet streets of Arkwright, he replayed Elira's teachings in his mind.

The Veil was dangerous, yes, but it was also fascinating—a puzzle layered with secrets and possibilities. Despite his earlier disinterest in his father's legacy, he couldn't help but wonder how much his father had known about the Veil—and why he had disappeared.

Sitting at his desk, Elias picked up the brass monocle and turned it over in his hands. For now, his focus would remain on the task ahead—learning, surviving, and uncovering the Syndicate's plans.

Placing the monocle back on the desk, he let out a long breath. "One step at a time," he muttered.