The Fragment of Memories

As my fingers closed around the strange, cube-shaped object, a sharp, searing pain pierced my head. It felt as if my skull was splitting open from the inside. I stumbled backward, clutching my temple, my vision blurring as I fell to one knee.

"Master!" Tsuki's voice rang out, laced with panic, but it felt distant, as though she was calling to me from the end of a long tunnel.

The world around me faded. The cold, damp air of the boss room was replaced by a warm, golden glow. I blinked, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

I found myself standing in an elegant, dimly lit bedroom. Its walls were lined with intricate carvings of stars and constellations, and the air carried a faint, nostalgic scent of jasmine. Everything about the room felt regal, ancient, and strangely familiar.

A soft voice broke through the silence.

"Are you sure you'll be going?"

I turned, spotting a blurred figure standing by the window. It was a woman dressed in flowing robes of silver and white, her features indistinct, as though she was shrouded in mist. She was gazing at a man whose back was to me. He, too, was blurred, but his presence radiated authority. His attire—golden armor inlaid with glowing runes—reminded me of something ancient and otherworldly, almost divine.

The man sighed, resting a hand on the window frame. His tone was calm but heavy with resolve. "I have to go. My people need me."

The woman took a step forward, her voice trembling with desperation. "You'll die if you do this. You know that."

He turned to face her, and though his features were still unclear, his expression radiated both sorrow and determination. "Even if I lose this body, even if my soul is torn apart, I will protect you. That is my promise to you."

Her composure broke as she rushed to him, clutching his chest. "Then let me come with you! We can face this together—"

"No!" he interrupted sharply, but his tone softened immediately after. "Your life is worth more than mine. Stay here. Stay safe."

She shook her head, her voice cracking as she whispered, "Without you, there is no safety."

The man leaned down, pressing his lips gently to her forehead. "Even if I am gone, even if the stars fall from the heavens, my light will always find you."

Tears streamed down her face as the man stepped back, fading into a swirl of golden light. The woman reached out, calling his name, but her voice was drowned by a deafening roar. The vision shattered like glass, and I was pulled back into the present.

Back to Reality

I gasped, my body jolting as though I had been struck by lightning. The cold, damp air of the boss room rushed back to me. I realized I was still kneeling on the ground, the strange cube clutched tightly in my hand.

"Master!" Tsuki was beside me now, her hands on my shoulders, her usually confident expression replaced with genuine concern. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

"I…" My voice was shaky, and I could still feel the echoes of the vision. "I saw something… someone else's memory."

Wogg stepped closer, his brows furrowed. "What kind of memory?"

I stared at the cube in my hand. Its surface was smooth, glowing faintly with golden light. "It was a man and a woman. He was leaving to protect her… but he knew he wouldn't survive."

Tsuki frowned, her tails flicking nervously. "A memory? From the cube?"

The system's voice chimed in, startling us all.

[Fragment of Memories Acquired. A rare artifact capable of storing ancient memories.]

"Ancient memories…" I repeated under my breath, still trying to process what I had seen. "But why did I see it? And why did it feel so… familiar?"

Tsuki tilted her head, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Familiar?"

I hesitated. "I don't know how to explain it, but I felt like I knew them. Like I'd… been there before."

Wogg crossed his arms, his expression grim. "Sounds like trouble to me. Anything involving ancient magic usually is."

Tsuki's gaze softened, though her usual smirk was absent. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out. Together. For now, let's get out of this place."

I nodded, slipping the cube into my pouch. My fingers lingered on it for a moment longer than necessary. The echoes of the man's voice still resonated in my mind.

"Even if I am gone, my light will always find you."

What did it mean? Who were they? And why did this fragment of memories find its way to me?

As we left the boss room, a new sense of unease settled over me. The battle with Frigmentum was over, but I had a feeling that whatever I'd just uncovered was only the beginning.

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