[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[An -unknown- dared to play against the demon of dread in a match of chess, a deal was struck between the two and a bet that had forbidden rewards was set in motion. Fated to lose, the -unknown- drew a draw, winning the bet and forcing the hand of the great demon. And so, his lineage was shared.]
[You have achieved the impossible!]
[Final Appraisal: Glorious! Your cunning will send ripples through the world.]
'Phew, that was intense. Was it really impossible to beat Ariel for the -unknown-? Were they truly terrible at such a simple game?'
[You have received a Memory: Lantern of Dread]
'A memory!'
[You have received a Memory: Twisted Scissors]
'Two memories!'
Riley waited patiently, but there was no voice to announce a third Memory. Still, he was grateful already. A part of him knew that Ariel would not be so heartless as to not grant him something, but it was still sweet to hear the voice he had read so many chapters of.
[You have received Ariel's blessing.]
'Heh, at least he kept up his end of the bargain.'
His ears perked up as he stared into the darkness.
[Dreamer Riley, receive your boon!]
[You have been bestowed a True Name: Lingering in Remembrance]
'A true name? For real? From the first nightmare?'
He didn't know whether to be happy or disappointed, True Names were a sign of great achievement, yet he received one from simply beating a demon whose dominion was over truth.
'Ah whatever. Let's just read the rest I guess.'
Aspect: [Veilbound]
Aspect Rank: Divine
Aspect Description: [You are an empty existence, one to be forgotten by all who encounter you. You carry the mantle of a long gone demon, tasked with both spreading and retrieving dread. Being the profane heir of a demon has granted you a special power, use it wisely.]
Innate Ability: [Veiled Mind]
Ability Description: [Those foolish enough to prod your mind will suffer the agony of dread. No mind attacks, no manipulation or even influence can have an effect on your mental state.]
Innate Ability: [Fateless]
Ability Description: [You are unbound from the tapestry of fate. A cockroach from an outside realm better not stir trouble in the great weaver's masterpiece.]
"Seriously? Like, for real? Screw you weaver! There is only room for one cockroach in your shitty sewing. And Sunny already exists!"
Riley shot his fist up toward the ceiling, still though, he couldn't see much of anything.
[Aspect Ability acquired.]
[Aspect Ability Name: Veilbound]
Riley flicked up and summoned the runes.
Name: Riley
True Name: Lingering in Remembrance
Rank: Awakened
Soul Core: Awakened
Soul Fragments: [0/1000]
Memories: [Lantern of Dread], [Twisted Scissors]
Echoes: —
Attributes: [Veiled Mind], [Fateless], [Truth's Heir]
Aspect: [Veilbound]
Aspect Rank: Divine
Aspect Abilities: [Veiling]
Aspect Ability Description: [You can hide yourself and others from wary eyes and presence recognition.]
'God damn! That is like, super crazy! And it doesn't seem like there is a limit on how much I can spam it-'
[All power has a price.]
[You have received a Flaw.]
[Your Flaw is, Faded Memory.]
'Wait, so I lose some of my memories for every use?'
Riley looked down further, his brows furrowed in frustration.
"Of course it had to be that."
Flaw Description: [Every use of your aspect erases a memory of you in someone you care about.]
'I am going to kill you weaver…'
This was beyond frustrating. Riley thrashed around, now understanding a small fraction of Ariel's distaste for the demon. And it made even more sense that both the gods and the demons cornered him to end his pitiful existence.
'But even at the end he pulled that trick and killed them all. Scary.'
In that moment, he felt a small trickle of essence cooling his body, sending shivers down his spine.
Dread Core: [3/1000]
Something…that was not in the novel.
'So this is what it means to be Fateless. Breaking the established rules and status quo. I am starting to like that little attribute.'
He pulled out the [Lantern of Dread] and trickled essence into it slowly. But to his surprise, the lantern had barely been pulling any essence at all.
Riley wandered the corridors of the great castle, he had fully figured out where he was. The forgotten shore, and considering there was no sunlight, it meant this was after Sunny and Nephis woke from the solstice.
A bigger question that plagued his mind was why he had already been thrust into the Dream Realm. By the novel's logic, he would be in the real world then would fall asleep and enter the decrepit and dangerous land.
"AHHHHHH SAVE ME-"
'What the heck? There are no nightmare monsters here."
A girl ran from around the corner, bumping straight into him. Two teary blue eyes looked at her, golden hair swayed by her sides as she snuggled into his chest.
"Uh, hi?"
Riley's voice was hoarse. I mean, who wouldn't after being head butted in the solar plexus.
"S-S-Sorry! I am j-just afraid of the dark…"
She pulled closer into him, wet splotches dampening his shirt from work. Not that he would be needing it anymore.
RIley caressed her head for a few minutes until the sobbing stopped. She was still shivering in his embrace, but at least now she seemed capable of talking.
"My name is Riley, what's yours?"
Her blue eyes glistened in the lantern's light. A faint hope consuming her being.
"L-Lucy. I woke up here half an hour ago…and- and I don't know what to do. Please help me!"
She snuggled in again, this time unwilling to peel away until he agreed to take her along.
"Alright alright. But uhm, don't stick onto me like that…"
Her face lit up, completely forgetting that they were in a dark and dangerous place.
"Yes sir!"