The professor considered Veer's observations, thinking, "But the resonance stones and relics are much more difficult to obtain." He then said, "Now quit thinking and freshen up. I'll give you the day off. Go home and rest."
Veer, feeling a bit disappointed, replied, "Okay, Professor," and started packing his things. As he packed, the professor added, "Don't be disappointed. The relics and resonance stones are hard to acquire, but there's a chance we might get our hands on one in the future." Veer smiled and said, "Sure, if we're that lucky," before leaving.
As he walked down the road, a large spaceship flew by overhead. He reflected, "The soul is the core of everything; it comes first, and then matter forms around it. The energy in the soul is called ANIMA. Even machines have anima cores, binding matter to soul. In this world, everything has its own soul and energy called anima. Anima is the force that describes objects, planets, and even humans. To control anima, humans have developed Soulframe, the foundational martial art that everyone learns. However, it is just a base. After that, you are in charge of your life. The techniques you learn, your personality, and your affinity with the techniques all help humans to grow.
This is the year 2085, and there is great respect for those who are stronger. However, there has never been an equal society, and there probably never will be. The rich possess relics, improved techniques, and many advantages, while commoners rely on creativity, natural talent, and hard work. The road ahead is full of obstacles for commoners."
Veer opened the door and announced, "I'm home," before heading straight to the shower. On his way, he bumped into his younger sister, who was around fifteen. She wrinkled her nose and said, "Eww, brother, what's that smell? Go get a bath!" Veer, with a mischievous smile, replied, "Aww, come here! Put down that mobile of yours and give your big brother a hug!" He opened his arms in a hugging gesture.
His little sister, Arohi, started dodging him and, while escaping, said, "Stay where you are! Don't hug me; you stink! Please stay away!" She ran behind their mother, Avantika Ahuja, who was around thirty-six years old.
The mother said, "You two, stop your war! You're grown-ups now; get some manners. And you, Veer, why didn't you come home yesterday?" She noticed Veer's condition and added, "Forget it; just go get a bath first." Her angry gaze sent a chill down Veer's spine. He said, "Okay, Mother," and headed to the bathroom.
While showering, he thought, "I should get a part-time job. The scholarship money from the research center isn't going to last long at this rate, and I can't put more burden on my mother." After drying off and putting on his clothes, he sat on the sofa, contemplating what to do next.
At that moment, his mother placed a cup of tea on the table and sat across from him. "You're working hard, but don't overdo it. Nobody is asking you to work this hard. I got a call from your professor," she said with a touch of concern.
While sipping his tea, Veer replied, "I'm thinking I should get a part-time job." There was a moment of silence before his mother suddenly got up and slapped Veer's head as he barely held the teacup. "Did you hear what I said? Jeez, you never listen! Are you working part-time and had the professor say that?" She looked at him with anger and annoyance.
Veer hurriedly explained, "No, it's true. I've been working late on the research, not at any job. I was just thinking about getting one." His mother scrutinized him suspiciously but then sat down again. "There's no need for that. You're working hard on your research. Just do well in that and get a job when you graduate. If you need anything, just ask me."
At that moment, Arohi chimed in, "Then I want some makeup!" Before she could finish, their mother interjected, "You're not getting it." Her deadly glare made Arohi back down, muttering, "That's hypocrisy!" before storming off to her room. Veer chuckled, which only annoyed her further.
"Fine! If you want to help, help me clean the basement!" Avantika yelled from her room. Veer agreed and made his way to the basement. There were many old items and boxes stacked together. As he looked through them, he found nothing of interest until one heavy box fell, and a book tumbled out.
The book was unusual — bound in dark leather, faintly warm to the touch, with a lock that seemed to hum when his fingers brushed it. Veer searched for a key and found one nearby. After dusting off both the book and the key, he unlocked it. As the pages opened, faint letters glowed briefly, shifting as if alive. On the inside cover, he noticed small initials: A.A. His heart skipped — his grandfather's name.
"This is a technique," Veer whispered. "It's not Soulframe; it could be a lesser form of soul art, but I've never seen anything like this before." He finished his cleaning quickly, unable to resist the pull of the book, and carried it to his room.
Later, Veer sat cross-legged, reading its contents. He also found a letter, written in a language he couldn't find online. The techniques demanded sharp focus and precision, unlike the broad strokes of Soulframe. Curious, he tried a one-handed sign. A ripple shimmered in the air, accompanied by a faint hum. His body felt lighter, sharper — but the energy collapsed suddenly, leaving him coughing.
Despite the backlash, Veer's eyes lit up. "It fits me," he thought. "It's incomplete, but I can improvise. If I refine it, I can make it mine." He turned to the final page and froze. Scrawled in faded ink were the words: Beware — incomplete resonance leads to collapse.
He closed the book slowly, excitement and unease twisting together. With hard work, he believed he could unlock one of his seven soul locks at level one before his 20th birthday. That would allow him to be selected for special missions in unstable anima areas of space, known as anima dungeons, which yielded relics, resonance stones, and many other precious items. Getting his hands on even one of these treasures would greatly aid the professor's research. All he needed was to train hard.
This unexpected discovery filled Veer with determination. Yet as he stared at the glowing letters, he couldn't help but wonder what dangers lay ahead.