Hope's breath hitched as the surge of essence coursed through him. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't exactly pleasant either—like icy fire rushing through his veins, embedding itself into his very being. His vision blurred for a second, and then he felt it—something new settling into his soul.
He blinked rapidly, trying to steady himself. Across from him, Kelvin lowered his hand, his expression unreadable.
"Check the weapon out," Kelvin instructed, his voice firm but calm.
Hope barely had time to process what had happened before it spoke.
The Veil.
That eerie, omnipresent voice echoed directly into his mind, smooth yet unsettling, as if it knew more than it should.
"You have received a new Memory."
Hope tensed instinctively. He had heard this voice once before—when he was first taken by the Veil. Now it was speaking to him again.
He inhaled sharply as his consciousness was suddenly pulled inward. The Ashlands around him faded away, replaced by a different space altogether—his Soul Sea.
It was strange being here. A vast, endless expanse of swirling darkness stretched in every direction. Wisps of light flickered like fireflies in the distance, and at the very center of it all was something new.
A dagger.
It floated just above the inky surface of his Soul Sea, humming with an almost sinister presence. The moment he focused on it, information flooded his mind, appearing as if carved into the very fabric of his consciousness.
---
Memory Attained
Memory Type: Dagger (Stealth Assassin)
Memory Rank: Awakened
Memory Detail:
"Oh, the assassin has been given an opening in our home!"
A weapon forged from the essence of a fallen assassin who once stalked the Veil's depths, this dagger thrives in the hands of those who understand patience and precision. The blade absorbs light, rendering it nearly invisible in darkness. When wielded correctly, it can phase partially into the Veil itself, striking from angles that defy logic.
Abilities:
Veilstep: For a brief moment, the wielder can partially merge with the Veil, allowing them to move unseen for a short distance.
Phantom Strike: A perfectly executed attack with this dagger carries a delayed effect—wounds inflicted may not appear immediately, catching the enemy off guard.
Silent Fang: The blade emits no sound, ensuring that strikes remain undetected until it's too late.
---
Hope's heart pounded as he absorbed the details.
This wasn't just any weapon. This was something alive, something tied to the Veil itself.
The dagger pulsed once in his Soul Sea, as if acknowledging him.
Then, just as suddenly as he had been pulled in, Hope found himself back in reality.
He gasped softly, his body slightly tense as he readjusted to the real world. Kelvin was watching him closely, arms crossed, waiting.
"You got it?" Kelvin asked.
Hope exhaled slowly, nodding.
"Yeah," he murmured. "I got it."
Walker, who had been silent up until now, let out a low whistle. "Looks like Hopeless finally got himself a blade," he mused, twirling his own dagger idly.
Kelvin smirked. "It's a good one too. Perfect for someone like you—someone who doesn't like fighting head-on."
Hope flexed his fingers, feeling the dagger's presence inside him. He didn't need to summon it yet—he knew it would come when he called.
For the first time since arriving in the Ashlands, a weapon was truly his.