Emblem of the Veil

Elijah's life was a bleak routine of fear and isolation. After what remained of his parents' assets were depleted by medical bills, he had to leave school and find work. The apartment, now small and rundown, became his prison.

Traumatized by the attack that left him crippled, Elijah rarely ventured outside. The world beyond the apartment's walls felt like a dangerous unknown, a reminder of his vulnerability. Inside, he spent his days working a meager online job that barely covered their basic needs.

The apartment was dim and cramped, its few furnishings offering little comfort. Elijah's income from data entry and odd freelance tasks was insufficient, forcing him to live on cheap food and juggle bills. His sister, trying to help with odd jobs, added to the strain on their strained relationship.

After his sister left for school, Elijah started his day. He moved slowly, the ache in his body an annoying struggle but something he got used to. In the kitchen, he washed the dishes from their simple breakfast. The sounds of running water and clinking dishes echoed in the small space, filling the silence.

Once the kitchen was tidy, Elijah wheeled himself back to his room. The small, cluttered space was filled with remnants of a past life—a faded rug, family photos, and a dusty desk cluttered with papers and his old computer. He carefully positioned himself at the desk and powered up the computer. The screen flickered to life, revealing a workspace cluttered with files and unfinished tasks.

Hours passed as Elijah immersed himself in his online job. The repetitive nature of the work provided a small distraction, easing his mind slightly.

At lunch, he prepared a modest meal—a simple sandwich and a bowl of soup. He carried it to his desk and set it down carefully. As he ate, he turned on a video about Bellatores and the other world. The video discussed new monster species discovered and additional land claimed by the Bellatores. It was a topic that once might have fascinated him, but now it brought emotions of sadness and anger.

As the video played, Elijah's gaze wandered to a drawer in his desk. He opened it slowly and retrieved a high-tech looking watch, its sleek design a stark contrast to the worn surroundings. The watch had been a gift from his parents before their last departure, a symbol of their belief in his potential. It was a sophisticated device used by Bellatores to monitor their physical improvements and soul level—a tool he had not used since their disappearance.

He slipped the watch onto his wrist and activated it. The screen lit up with a display that resembled a high-tech status window, but with a more refined and less game-like interface. The watch's interface projected a series of detailed statistics:

Name: Elijah

Status: Unawakened

Physical Condition: Crippled

Soul Level: 0 (Unawakened)

Strength: 2

Agility: 1

Endurance: 3

The watch provided a clear depiction of his current state. Looking at his stats with a ridiculing chuckle, "The peak of a normal person should be around 10, but look at me, a fucking joke!"

As Elijah gazed at the watch, a sudden, intense burning sensation flared up on the back of his hand. He gasped, clutching his wrist as the pain surged through him. The smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils, mingling with the faintly metallic scent of the watch.

Through the haze of pain, Elijah saw a glowing, intricate symbol beginning to form on his skin. His eyes widened in shock as the emblem took shape—a swirling pattern of interlocking lines and sharp angles, reminiscent of a stylized sunburst with tendrils extending outward. The core of the symbol featured a circular motif surrounded by ornate, branching filigree that hinted at both strength and elegance.

The symbol was detailed and mesmerizing, its lines and curves shifting slightly as if alive. The initial form of the emblem was captivating, radiating a faint, otherworldly glow that contrasted starkly with the pain it caused.

Elijah stared in disbelief, his mind racing with confusion and awe. The symbol was a tangible sign of his awakening, a connection to the world of Bellatores he had long thought lost to him.

As the burning sensation subsided, Elijah's hand trembled, his heart racing. He stared at the newly-formed symbol with wide eyes, a mixture of fear and disbelief washing over him. The emblem was glowing softly, casting faint, shifting shadows across his hand. His breath quickened, and he tried to calm himself, wiping away the sweat on his forehead.

With a shaky hand, Elijah reached for the watch again, his fingers trembling as he navigated the interface. He opened the status window, hoping to see any changes. The watch's display updated in real-time, revealing the following:

Name: Elijah

Status: Awakened

Physical Condition: Crippled

Realm: (None)

Ability: ??????? (Level 1)

Soul Level: 1%

Strength: 3

Agility: 2

Endurance: 4

The watch now showed a slight increase in his Soul Level, a sign of the beginning of his awakening. The addition of the "Realm" stat, marked as "(None)" indicated that he had yet to access or connect with any specific realm. Though his physical condition barely changed, the faint glow of the emblem on his hand and the slight improvement hinted at the potential for change. Elijah's eyes lingered on the screen, his mind racing with questions and hope. This unexpected development was a small but significant shift, a glimmer of possibility in his otherwise dark world.