The temple shook.
The god-eater's voice still echoed—
"You want her name? Then suffer what it meant."
But Lucius didn't flinch anymore.
He stood with blood running down his hand, the Blade of the Last Name humming like a heartbeat.
He looked the creature dead in its hollow eyes.
And smiled.
"You shouldn't have reminded me what loss feels like."
---
> [New Skill Triggered: Letter of Flame – Level 2]
— Passive Memory Manifestation active
— Lucius will now begin to recall sensory memories tied to her name.
---
A wave of emotion hit him like fire.
Smell:
Lavender.
And ashes.
Sound:
Laughter.
Then silence.
Touch:
Her fingers brushing his cheek the moment before she was torn away.
---
He staggered forward.
Velda screamed from behind him. "Lucius, stop—your body can't take this!"
Lilith was already summoning flames.
Claire reached for him, but the memory hit her too hard—
She felt the same grief echo inside her. It dropped her to her knees.
Zara yelled, "Let's just kill the damn thing already!"
But Lucius… was somewhere else.
He saw her.
Not fully.
Just a blur.
A smile.
Eyes that believed in him when no one else did.
She whispered—
> "If you remember me... then become who you were before they broke you."
---
Lucius roared.
The Blade of the Last Name ignited.
His aura exploded outward—flames laced with silver memory and pure, unfiltered grief.
The creature lunged—
Lucius didn't block.
He walked into it.
And whispered, "You don't get to keep her name anymore."
---
> [Ultimate Skill Unlocked: Eidolon Flame – First Bond Form]
Effect: Summons a spectral memory of the one you lost. She fights beside you for 60 seconds or until the wielder falls.
---
A figure appeared beside him.
Not solid.
Not alive.
But real.
Hair of fire. Eyes like dawn.
She raised a mirrored blade and moved with him.
Lucius and her—in sync.
They didn't speak.
They didn't need to.
They cut through the memory eater like it was paper soaked in regret.
---
The creature let out a scream that sounded like a thousand forgotten prayers.
Then silence.
Ash.
Gone.
---
Lucius dropped to one knee. Breathing hard.
The phantom of her faded again—but not all the way.
Just enough to stay as a flicker behind his eyes.
---
> [Memory Progress: 63%]
Name Fragment 2 of 3 Recovered: "Arielle"
Skill Updated: Letter of Flame – Now permanently active at 20% strength.
Bond Effect: Girls near Lucius now instinctively remember pieces of Arielle when holding the blade.
---
He stood.
The girls surrounded him.
Claire whispered, "I saw her. I didn't know her… but I missed her."
Lilith nodded, eyes glassy. "She loved you in a way none of us were ready for."
Zara exhaled, steadying herself. "I don't care what she was. You're here now."
Velda? She smiled.
But it wasn't teasing.
It was grief.
"She would've been proud of you."
Lucius turned to the sky.
He didn't speak.
But the fire behind his eyes said everything.