When he touched one of the sprites, a change occurred. All the sprites began rapidly condensing into one. His soul sea was aglow with a brilliant light. When the radiance finally dimmed, a strange object lay in his hands—a white sprite, shrouded in a black aura.
He felt a powerful pull as the sprite was drawn into the kiln. The force released from the reaction hurled him out of his soul sea. For a moment, Solaire panicked. Damage to the soul sea was irreparable—it could cripple a Dreamer permanently.
Desperate, he attempted to re-enter his soul sea. Relief washed over him. Something was different, yes, but nothing was broken. Beside the kiln now stood a stone pillar, and wrapped around it was a crimson-red branch. Other than that, the sea remained still. Unharmed. He checked his runes.
Name: Solaire
True Name: Chosen Undead
Rank: Dreamer
Humanity: Awakened
Humanities: [0/1000]
Memories: [Estus Flask], [Wanderer's Armor], [Soldier's Regret], [Interpreter], [Training Sword], [Training Spear], [Wooden Bow], [Darksword]
Echoes: [Bloodhound]
Aspect Legacy: Vestiges of cinder
Aspect Legacy Description: [What remains of the First Flame is neither light nor warmth… only cinders]
Aspect Legacy Mastery: [1/6]
Branch of Wrath: Unlocked
Aspect Name: [Kindler of the Flame]
Aspect Description: [Thou who art undead, art chosen. And in thine exodus from the Undead Asylum, maketh pilgrimage to the resting place of the █████, where the fate of the Undead thou shalt know.]
Aspect Rank: Awakened
Innate Ability: [Kindler]
Ability Description: [You are linked to the flame and can tend to it.]
Aspect Ability: [Blessing of Invulnerability]
Ability Description: [Dodging successfully grants a brief window of complete invulnerability, allowing you to pass through enemy attacks unharmed.]
Flaw: [Fading Echo]
Flaw Description: [Your voice has been silenced. With each step toward power, the world forgets you a little more. Words fade… and so does your presence.]
His humanity was now awakened and its limit had raised to a thousand. The hundred he had collected painstakingly had disappeared, no, they had unlocked his aspect legacy.
Solaire was excited, from what he had learned unlocking an aspect legacy has set conditions that need to be met, finally luck had shined on him. Who knew all he had to do was sacrifice a hundred humanity.
He looked at his aspect legacy again.
Aspect Legacy: Vestiges of cinder
Aspect Legacy Description: [What remains of the First Flame is neither light nor warmth… only cinders]
Aspect Legacy Mastery: [1/6]
Branch of Wrath: Unlocked
For a while now, he had sensed a strange strength growing within him. He had always assumed it was just an illusion.
"So this is the power that's been stirring inside me?"
He flexed his fingers instinctively. They felt heavier—charged with something volatile and raw. He clenched his fists, a quiet confidence blooming in his chest. Perhaps he really could take down one of those rats with nothing but his bare hands. A small smile crept onto his face.
Tomorrow, he would test that theory. But before that, he wanted to visit the memory store.
The next day, he returned to his stash, carefully stuffing his soul shards into a makeshift bag. After masking his face, he made his way toward the shop, hoping to find something truly useful.
Inside the radiant castle, whispers rippled through the halls. His eyes widened as he caught sight of a figure clad in gleaming gold armor.
"The Bright Lord..."
Gunlaug stood tall, flanked by his lieutenants. As he entered the mess hall, a crushing pressure swept across the room, making it difficult to breathe. Solaire could barely lift his head.
"A mind attack."
Holding his breath, he slipped through the chaos, using the distraction to conceal his stash of shards.
Inside the shop, a strange floating lantern glowed softly, lighting a modest hall with no windows. Weapons lined the walls, full suits of armor adorned mannequins, and tables brimmed with trinkets and relics.
All of them were memories.
Solaire's eyes swept the room.
"How much would selling all this even get me?"
A pot-bellied man with a round face and cheerful eyes stepped forward. He eyed Solaire cautiously.
"My name is Stev, the owner of this fine memory shop. How may I assist you?"
[Hello, I am here to purchase some memories.]
Stev blinked, uncertain.
"The memories here cost several dozen soul shards, young man."
Without another word, Solaire dropped his bag onto the counter with a heavy thud. Stev's eyebrows shot up. Clasping his hands together, he smiled.
"Please, dear customer, take your time. I would be happy to assist you."
As Solaire browsed the charms, Stev pointed to one in particular.
"This one might interest you. It strengthens you the longer you remain silent."
Solaire's eyes widened.
"Isn't this broken? If I never speak again, it'll just keep growing stronger."
Seeing his reaction, Stev added with a grin, "Ah, but it consumes essence at a frightening pace. A fully saturated Sleeper only managed ten minutes before his essence ran dry."
[How is it priced? I would like to purchase it.]
"100 soul shards," Stev replied casually.
Solaire flinched.
"100?! That's my entire savings."
Still, he maintained a poker face and handed over the shards. Stev presented the charm reverently.
Memory: [Charm of a Silent Oath]
Memory Description:[Once, there were warriors who took vows not with words, but with silence. In stillness they waited, and in stillness, they struck. This charm remembers their promise.]
It was an ascended memory, after all. He would test it out today.
He set out to hunt—ready to test the power of both his Aspect Legacy and his new charm.
Activating the charm as he left the castle gates, he felt it immediately—the quiet siphoning of essence, slow and steady.
"Five or six minutes, tops," he estimated. "That's all I get."
Today's target was an Awakened Devil.
In the distance, his eyes narrowed as he spotted it—massive, lizard-like, its scales etched with molten seams, five eyes glowing like blade slits. Razor fangs clicked together as it prowled near the crumbling bones of a ruin.
Solaire crept forward, silent, breath shallow. The Charm of a Silent Oath pulsed softly against his chest. In his hand, he held the Darksword, its edge silent but ominous.
The beast noticed him too late.
He surged forward, Blessing of Invulnerability flaring to life. He slipped between claw swipes like smoke, like a flame that could not be touched. The creature's tail lashed out, but passed through him harmlessly.
The charm pulsed again.
Strength surged through his limbs—each motion more fluid, more forceful. His steps carried weight, his grip tightened with authority.
The creature lunged.
A jagged claw caught his shoulder, tearing through flesh and cloth. Solaire stumbled back, gritting his teeth in silence. Pain flared—but he endured.
He twisted, drew the Estus Flask, and drank. Golden light rippled through him. The wound sealed, the bleeding stopped.
The devil snarled.
Solaire's only answer was silence.
He ducked under its maw and slashed up with the Darksword, cleaving into molten scale. Blood hissed as it struck cold air, and the devil roared in pain.
Another claw swipe—this one struck his thigh. His leg buckled. He barely managed to roll away before the beast slammed its bulk down where he'd been.
Another pull from the Estus Flask. His leg burned, but the pain subsided. The flask trembled in his grip—it was nearly dry.
Another surge.
He didn't stop. Each movement was a dance—his silence building power with every heartbeat. His vision narrowed, steps quickened, weight behind each blow growing heavier.
He hacked at its legs, driving the blade deep into the joints. When it stumbled, he seized the opening. With a silent leap, he landed on its back, plunging the Darksword again and again into its spine.
It thrashed wildly. One blow sent him flying across the clearing, smashing into the ruin wall. His ribs cracked. He gasped—but not a sound escaped his lips.
Shaking, bleeding, he forced himself upright, raised the flask one last time—and drained it.
Golden warmth. Steady hands. A final pulse from the charm.
With a growl in his throat and fire in his limbs, he sprinted forward, dodging the beast's final desperate lunge—and with one final upward strike, drove the Darksword deep through its skull.
The beast shrieked, then collapsed into a shuddering heap.
Solaire stood panting, knees shaking, essence nearly drained. But he had done it.
He had won—cleanly, completely.
A moment later, golden text shimmered faintly in his vision:
[You have slain an Awakened Devil: Scorchmaw][You have received a memory: Fanghide]