Eryan had black hair, average height, and defined muscles. His bright green eyes, alert with curiosity, made him stand out.
Since childhood, he dreamed of uncovering the world—seeking secrets, answers never found, and exploring everything deeply. Nothing should remain hidden: land, sea, or sky. He wanted to see it all.
Unfortunately, he was born into the wrong family.
Exorcists.
Worse still, they were from an ancient family that hid behind pacifism, choosing caution over the unknown.
But Eryan didn't give up.
He ran away, enrolled at the Academy of Explorers, graduated, and received his first patrol.
Alone.
Individual reconnaissance missions were a standard start. Newly graduated explorers handled mapped, low-risk routes to check for changes.
Eryan walked his assigned route and activated his Book of Life.
Books of Life were unique powers, each created from the user's strongest desire.
Eryan's, naturally, was linked to exploration.
The book appeared, floating above his left palm.
He crouched down and lightly touched a pink flower.
The pages opened, showing symbols only he could read.
Name: Véronica
Description: Common flower with pink coloring. It can be used as a dye. No positive or negative effects.
Nothing remained unknown to his Book.
He closed the tome, let it dissolve, and moved on.
That's when he heard the snap of a branch being broken.
He drew his weapon immediately—a metal staff.
A wolf appeared. Larger than usual, dark veins marked its skin, and thick liquid dripped from its mouth.
The monster charged like lightning.
Eryan waited until the last instant before sidestepping the wolf's charge. In a single fluid motion, he swung his staff hard at the creature's stomach, as if trying to launch it away like a baseball.
The wolf was thrown several meters away, disoriented.
Not wasting a moment, Eryan dashed to the stunned wolf and swung his staff down on its head, knocking it unconscious.
The creature fell, immobilized against the ground. Eryan breathed, steadying himself. It was a decisive moment.
He could kill.
It would be faster. Safer.
He knelt beside the immobilized monster and murmured to himself:
"I think I can't kill a living being."
He began the exorcism ritual.
A symbol glowed beneath the wolf's body, radiating a sky-blue light.
Just as the ritual was about to conclude—
Suddenly, the wolf, still trapped under the ritual's influence, thrashed violently.
With a burst of energy, the wolf lunged forward, breaking through Eryan's hold.
The fangs sank into Eryan's leg.
Pain.
A violent heat spread instantly.
Poison.
Even so, he did not stop the ritual. Even as pain wracked his body, Eryan gritted his teeth, refusing to let go, and forced himself to complete the exorcism.
The light in the wolf's eyes faded.
The soul was freed.
The body slowly dissolved into particles that dispersed into the air.
Eryan sighed and collapsed onto the ground.
The poison had already spread.
His heart stuttered. His vision dimmed.
He tried to get up, but his strength abandoned him. Eryan allowed himself a wry smile despite the pain.
"Damn… maybe being an explorer was a terrible idea for someone born an exorcist."
The world went dark.…
...
Beyond that world, another man opened his eyes.
Ancient runes spun around him. Space warped under a will beyond human limits.
He was at the peak of the ritual.
The final step to abandon mortality.
"Almost there," he murmured, with a smile laden with arrogance. "Almost."
Then, something broke.
There was no explosion.
There was no warning.
Just a sudden void.
The runes crumbled like ash. The world seemed to step back. The man frowned.
"Hm?"
He felt it.
His ritual had been interrupted—not by failure, but by interference.
"It seems my ambition drew too much attention…"
Space folded.
In the instant his existence began to fade, he activated his Book of Life.
Without hesitation.
Without regret.
He used his supreme ability.
To cut his own soul in half and hide it.
Anywhere. In any being.
For a brief moment, he felt countless possibilities.
Then, one connection stood out.
Weak. Dying.
But open.
The man smiled.
"It'll do."
And his soul dove in.