[A Memento is responding to your presence...]

  [A long lost Memento is deeply moved by your aspirations.]

  [Obtaining Memento…]

  How come all of a sudden…?

  Seeing the new pop-up messages right after asking for a Memento, Somnu was a little hesitant to believe it was all just a coincidence.

  Nevertheless, standing there in his tattered outfit and newly healed body, he felt a flame of excitement ignite within him.

  Be a good one! Please be a good one!

  If he wasn’t so distracted, he might have realized his expression had changed to that of a hopeless gambler, or at least he might have remembered to check on the things he was currently forgetting.

  “Get on with it quickly, kid. We can’t stay here for long…” Eamon sighed while walking away, then paused for a second. “You. You can’t stay here for long…”

  However, Somnu ignored him and focused on his awaited pop-up message.

  And then, it came.

  “!”

  Somnu could see a small object rising from the half eaten corpse of the Leshen creature.

  Its translucent shape seemed to be in the process of forming as it defied gravity. The faint, iridescent glow, casting hues of soft violet, pale blue, and silvery white, shimmered across the surroundings.

  [Memento obtained.]

  As it hovered closer to Somnu, he could finally make out what it was based on the distorted colors.

  A translucent crown.

  [Memento recalibrated to suit the new owner.]

  [ERROR!]

  [Memento Name: Veilbinder’s Diadem.]

  [Current Memento Grade: Refined.]

  [Your new Memento, Veilbinder’s Diadem has successfully recalled multiple fragments of its original ability.]

  [Current Memento Level: Lvl 1.]

  [Current Ability Grade: Perfected.]

  [Memento Ability: Eidolon’s Authority.]

  [Ability Description: Veils stand between all things, tangible or intangible, covering what could have been, might be or will come to pass. Command the veils blocking your path to witness what lies behind, or create them to hide what must remain hidden away.]

  [Memento Skills: ERROR!]

  [Unable to access {Veilbinder’s Diadem}’s Memento Skills at this time.]

  “...”

  For a second, Somnu stood speechless while holding his new Memento.

  A Refined grade… with a perfected grade ability…?

  As he questioned, he came up with a hypothesis based on his gaming knowledge. The grades must be following some kind of system that hints at an item or an ability’s strength or durability level. He just couldn’t figure out the exact order.

  He simply knew Primal was likely the first grade, and Mythic, the last one based on what he had seen on the nearby Mythborn’s System. It was likely that Refined and Perfected were upgrades between those two.

  Additionally, Grudgekeeper’s ability grade was Unique, a grade Somnu figured might only be for Dream Catcher abilities since they are fitted to the Sleeper, whereas Mementos only regain some of their original Ability.

  But why did this one not start at the typical grade? He wondered, then moved on to the ability description. And what does this ability entail exactly? Can I look into the past and future or something?

  “It’s not that simple, punk scarecrow kid.” Eamon said from further away. “Veils are not so malleable, neither are you at a level where you could do such a thing.”

  “Are you still spying on my thoughts?! People want their privacy, you know?!” Somnu shouted back. “And can you stop putting those two words together like it’s natural?!”

  “The Lightmares spirits’ songs cannot be stopped so easily, and who are you to deny them their joy?” The old knight sat down a ways away and looked up at the throne being revealed behind the clearing fog. “Their long wait has been arduous and agonizing, it is but my honor to be able to lend them an ear.”

  Lightmares spirits? Is that how he knows everything…? Somnu figured, then blurted out. “You know, your constant switching between the witty old geezer and the theatrical fantasy knight is really starting to get on my nerves. Do you have a split personality or something?”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Did I not tell you to finish your business quickly?” Eamon ignored the scarecrow’s outburst. “We are losing precious time now that you have grown stronger.”

  Somnu shifted back to his pop-up screens and new Memento, having had enough of the old geezer’s cryptic phrasing.

  The first thing he did was put on the new crown he had just received, but the moment he did, instead of sitting on his head, it flew up and hovered above his hair.

  “!”

  And then, Somnu’s vision completely vanished.

  It wasn’t a white color, or complete darkness.

  It was simply nothing, a complete void.

  And then, from that void, an image began to materialize.

  A figure was laying motionless in a hospital bed, an oxygen mask covering most of their face.

  It was Somnu, his still lean figure laying deep in his coma.

  “?!”

  Somnu suddenly opened his eyes, finding himself back in the throne room. Before he had any time to process his vision, a striking headache invaded his mind, threatening to break it apart from the inside.

  Clutching his head in his hands, he quickly commanded the System to pull up the recent rewards he was yet to collect.

  [Congratulations!]

  [You have slain a Nightmare Creature of a higher grade.]

  [Rank of Nightmare Creature: Dreadbeast.]

  [Dreadbeast Name: Woodland Spirit.]

  [Woodland Spirit: An evolved tree spirit based on the fear of forests, Xylophobia, the fear of trees, Dendrophobia, and the fear of mist, Homichlophobia. It typically covers the surrounding area in a deep mist, leaving only a single visible path for its prey to follow, only to be led into a trap of turning into a tree the creature can use. The more trees there are, the more traps hidden within plain sight.]

  [Dreadbeast Level: lvl 37.]

  [Calculating all rewards…]

  [All rewards calculations are complete.]

  [You have obtained an Ebony Terror Core.]

  [Note: Ebony Terror Cores are worth 100 Transparent Cores each.]

  [You have obtained 37 Additional Transparent Terror Core due to Woodland Spirit’s level.]

  [Current available Transparent Terror Cores in storage: 137 Terror Cores.]

  [Would you like to consume available Terror Cores now?]

  Yes, consume all. Somnu commanded quickly before losing control over his thoughts.

  [You have leveled up.]

  [You have leveled up.]

  [...]

  [Your Hollow Core grows stronger.]

  [Hollow Core Level: Level 35.] {With 5 more Cores to the next level up.}

  [Your Grudge grows stronger.]

  With the sudden burst of level ups, and all the benefits that came with them, Somnu finally felt his strength return to his body, rushing into his veins with more of a boost than before. He felt he could take on any headaches or monsters, but he knew that was just the sudden relief and adrenaline.

  “Phew…” He let out a long breath as he stood up straight again.

  For once, it didn’t seem as though the old knight had noticed anything, or he had chosen to simply ignore it. Nevertheless, Somnu had way too much on his plate right now to consider anything else.

  His new Memento allowed him to steal a glimpse into the real world, into his current physical state being stuck in a coma. A tightness in his chest began to form, his feelings about the whole thing not even clear to him, but one thing was for certain. He needed to get stronger, much stronger, as fast as he could so he is able to complete the quests, wake up and live his life.

  On top of that, it seemed that his recent enemy had been a Dreadbeast, most likely the third rank of the Nightmare Creatures. While he was initially glad to see he was able to take on a monster of a higher rank, he wasn’t so naive as to believe he could have normally beaten it if it was in its own habitat. The creature’s description had made that very clear, not to mention he had received some help.

  Either way, let me just get the rest over with and find a way out of this place. Somnu thought as he pulled up the rest of the pop-up messages awaiting him. I don’t know why the System is working again now, but I need to find a way back to the Abyss of Lethe as soon as possible.

  [Obtaining Ego Particles information.]

  [Randomizing percentage of obtainable Ego particles…]

  [You have obtained 999 Ego Particles based on Woodland Spirit’s level.]

  [All rewards have been sent to your inventory.]

  “?!”

  Somnu unintentionally swallowed, his face turning pale.

  999?! And that’s only a percentage?! Don’t tell me…

  “That’s right, kid.” Eamon finally spoke again. “That monster consumed everyone that had lived in Nirvia.”

  “What?! It killed everyone?!”

  “No…” the old knight turned to face Somnu. “Someone else did, this was just who consumed their Ego Cores… Everyone’s… except for mine.”

  “!”

  “That Nightmare Creature had consumed the people I was sworn to protect, the monarch I was oathbound to serve for all eternity…” The last knight of Nirvia lowered his gaze. “To me, with my strength, it was no more than a little bug… and yet, I was forced to sit still behind those gates, unable to set foot or to thwart it…”

  Somnu’s eyes widened, realizing that with the Nightmare Creature having consumed the monarch Eamon was sworn to, the knight had been bound to it for some reason.

  Suddenly facing Somnu, Mr. Emberlyn with his oversized golden armor bowed so far down, his head touched the tattered carpet.

  “What are you-”

  “Although I pushed you into it without asking, for releasing their souls from the agonizing fate they were forced into… I humbly thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

  “...”

  The words of gratitude hung heavy in the air. Somnu didn’t know what he could say. He simply stood rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Now that you carry the crown, and their souls, with you, I truly hope you can achieve their dreams in their stead, Somnu… Please…” For a brief second, it almost seemed like the old knight’s voice had cracked a bit.

  Feeling his nerves scream at him to say something, Somnu blurted out the next words.

  “W-who… who killed them?”

  “...” Eamon stayed silent for a bit, then seemed to resolve himself to give an answer.

  No matter the consequences or circumstances, Somnu knew the old man well enough by now to know Mr. Emberlyn was always upfront with him when it came to serious matters.

  That’s why his pause made Somnu’s heart skip a beat before he heard the answer.

  As if the one who killed them all was…

  “The owner of the grinning skull.” Eamon revealed, his voice firm. “The one responsible for your mother’s death, he killed them all.”

  Here's the Patreon link for those who can't wait and want to read 30+ chapters:

  Rating and Leaving a Review goes a long way to support the series!

  !