Hope shifted slightly, letting the fabric of his cloak drape more naturally over his shoulders.
"Then, I'll continue."
His voice was calm, steady.
"My Memories are… well, this cloak."
He lifted the edge of the fabric slightly, letting it catch the dim light.
It was a simple-looking thing, worn at the edges, dark enough to blend into shadows but otherwise unremarkable at first glance.
But the fact that it was a Memory meant it was far from ordinary.
"And this," he added, pulling out his makeshift dagger, holding it up briefly before spinning it between his fingers. "Though this isn't a Memory."
It was just a scavenged weapons, a weapon forged from necessity rather than power.
Hope let the words settle, then shrugged. "That's all."
It wasn't much.
At least, not compared to what came next.
—
Nefer took her turn next.
She straightened slightly, her expression shifting to something unreadable, yet undeniably commanding.
Even without trying, she carried herself like someone of importance.
"I have an affinity with the Divine."
The words hung in the air, heavy with implication.
"A connection to the Heavens."
Hope's fingers twitched.
That was… significant.
He had already suspected she was different, but this confirmed it.
"I was given a True Name by the Veil."
A True Name.
That alone meant she was recognized by whatever forces governed this realm.
"And a title," she continued.
Hope could feel Massa subtly leaning in, listening just as intently.
Nefer did not hesitate.
"My title is 'Child of Heaven.'"
For the first time, her voice carried a weight to it—a certainty, as if speaking her title out loud solidified its authority.
But she wasn't done.
"And my True Name is…"
A brief pause.
Then—
"'One of the Cherubim and Favored by Heaven.'"
The cave seemed to darken at her words.
Or maybe it was just Hope's imagination.
A True Name like that…
It wasn't just a title of recognition.
It was a statement of identity.
Nefer was chosen.
Not by chance.
Not by fate.
But by something greater.
—
Hope kept his expression neutral, even as thoughts swirled in his mind.
Then Nefer added something else—something just as dangerous.
"I can see people's thoughts, to an extent."
Hope stiffened internally, although he knew back at the academy. But the thought of knowing that someone knows what u wer think was scary.
That was not good.
"If they aren't guarded, I can perceive them."
His mind went completely blank, instinctively sealing away every thought he didn't want her to glimpse.
Nefer gave no sign of noticing, simply continuing.
"And things seem to favor me… though I mostly run out of luck."
Hope raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? A sharp contrast."
It was almost amusing.
Hope was plagued by misfortune.
And Nefer, despite claiming luck favored her, somehow ran out of it when it mattered.
Two opposites.
Hope wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
—
"My Memories are…" Nefer continued, now moving on to her equipment.
"My blade, the one I used to kill the Carapace Scavenger."
Hope had seen that weapon in action.
It wasn't just a sword.
There was something more to it, though he hadn't quite figured out what yet.
"My tunic."
"And an armor… though I hardly wear it."
She finished simply, as if that was all there was to say.
But Hope saw her face clearly.
She had left something out.
Her flaw.
Not surprising.
She wasn't obligated to share it, after all.
And Hope?
He hadn't fully shared his either.
—
Then, Massa spoke.
"I guess it's my turn, right?"
Her tone was lighter, but not without depth.
Hope turned his gaze toward her, waiting.
"I also have a title."
That didn't surprise him.
"The Sorcerer."
A single, simple title—yet it carried undeniable weight.
Hope's mind immediately went to possibilities.
Sorcery?
Magic-like abilities?
Before he could ask, Massa clarified.
"My True Name is 'The Weaver.'"
Hope tilted his head slightly.
"So… you kind of weave things?"
It was half a joke, half curiosity.
But Massa shook her head.
"No."
She frowned slightly.
"I don't even fully understand that aspect yet."
Hope kept the comment in mind.
Some people had to grow into their identity before its meaning became clear.
Still, it was worth noting.
Then Massa continued.
"As my title suggests, I can manipulate things."
That was intentionally vague.
"I can create illusions."
Hope nodded slowly.
That was useful.
Illusions had countless applications in battle.
"And I can understand patterns that are woven by the Veil."
Now that…
That was interesting.
The Veil itself was an enigma, a force beyond understanding.
But Massa claimed to be able to read its patterns.
It wasn't control—but it was foresight.
The ability to glimpse at the way things were meant to unfold.
Potentially invaluable.
"My Memories are…" Massa moved on.
"My staff."
A weapon, no doubt.
"The can of water, which is the Endless Spring."
Hope had already seen it and drank from it.
"My cloak."
Another Memory cloak.
And finally—
"incomplete armor."
That last part stood out to Hope.
"Incomplete?" he asked.
Massa nodded.
"Yes. I wasn't the full set when I was given by the veil."
Hope didn't press further.
She had given enough information already.
And just like Nefer, she had left out her flaw.
That was fine.
Hope hadn't shared his true flaw either.
—
For a moment, the cave was silent again.
Nefer and Massa had revealed much, but at the same time, they had held back.
Hope wasn't surprised.
Trust wasn't built overnight.
And in this world, trust was often a dangerous thing.
Still—
He had taken the first step.
And now?
Now, he just had to see where this path led.