Chapter 23

The armory was humongous, consisting of nine rooms filled with Memories of all sorts, with a few Echoes lying here and there. Most of them were older than Dane himself, acquired by his family, who were always at the vanguard of the battlefield. The newer ones were earned while answering dozens of Nightmare Gates or competitions among the Legacy clans.

Of course, the precious memories were being held by Armorer Lian within his soul sea, a retainer from Bastien's time. The man stood before Dane and Lancel, sifting through the memories in his possession. Dane's patience was growing thin. They had already spent most of the day in the armory, only leaving to use the restroom or for lunch. He had even offered to help Nolan and Nova find rooms so he could spend more time away.

[This one can record things and play them over] Lancel said, taking a pen that Lian offered. He spoke to it and then clicked it. His uncle's confused voice came from it again. "It doesn't work," Dane informed.

The armorer scratched his head and continued looking at more options. Behind him, his son was dusting a weapon. His name was Jun, and he was a sleeper.

[How about a talking parrot? You can teach it what you want and let it do all the talking for you] Lancel suggested.

"No, it won't be helpful during battle. And it'd be awkward for me," he refused. He knew the parrot in question, and it was nothing but a foul-mouthed waste of oxygen. All of its previous owners despised it, and so did Dane. Besides, he already had an echo picked out.

[How about this? We won it from those suckers last year…oh nevermind, it needs essence, too bad]

[... not this one, too complicated]

Dane was almost ready to give up and retire to his room to finally acquaint himself with his ability when Lian perked up and said something cheerfully.

[Perfect!] Lancel said.

"You hear me? If you can, think about conversing with me and voice the words out in your head," Lian's voice rang out inside Dane's mind, perfectly coherent. Dane concentrated and found himself linked to the Armorer's mind oddly. "I can hear you," he said, relieved.

"Great," the armorer said and reached out with his hand. Dane's hand tingled as the Memory traveled into his Soul Sea.

[You have received a Memory.]

Dane summoned his runes instantly.

Memories: [Dead Medallion], [Mercurial Maw], [Keeper's Half-Plate].

Dane focused on the new one, Keeper's Half-Plate.

Memory: [Keeper's Half-Plate].

Memory Rank: Awakened.

Memory Type: Armor.

Memory Description: [The Keepers said no words in all their years of service to the Imperials. Though men of silence, nothing slipped their attention.]

Interesting, Dane thought, an armor with a telepathic enchantment.

[The ability is passive. You look at a person to link your mind to theirs, and you need to be within five meters of the person. You could converse with over five people at once, Lian told me]

The armorer ended up giving him a few more Memories. A whistle that created a dome of silence around a space, a sword, a forged bow, a forged quiver of replenishing arrows, a bag to store things, and a vial that created water of various temperatures.

[You have received a Memory: Bandit's Whistle]

[You have received a Memory: Basket Sword]

[You have received a Memory: Gray Gust's Longbow]

[You have received a Memory: Gray Gust's Quiver]

[You have received a Memory: Gargantuan Sack]

[You have received a Memory: Myriad Vial]

He also received his promised Echo.

[You have received an Echo]

***

Dane sat inside a luxurious PTV on his way to the Academy. He wore a simple set of clothes aside from his shoes. Those were metal sabatons belonging to the Keeper's Half Plate armor. He had unsummoned everything but them so he could talk with someone if needed.

He was prepared for the Dream Realm. He had made sure of it. Dane spent the time before boarding the car packing sleeping bags, tents, a few years' worth of synthpaste, various canned foods, vegetables, meat, tons of firewood, and certain essentials like toilet paper, soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, spices, instant coffees, cooking utensils, and medications, among other things. Lancel had also given him a few hundred soul shards. He couldn't use them, but he didn't tell his uncle. He was sure he could find use for them, like strengthening his allies in the Dream Realm.

There was officially a month left before the winter solstice. It was the twenty-first of November. He looked to Lancel, who sat opposite him. "What else are you planning?" he asked in the privacy of his armor's enchantment.

Lancel fiddled with his communicator. "Nolan wants to get associated with the other clans, and Nova wants to try her hand at the Dreamscape tournament. I plan on helping to make sure they don't do anything that blows up in their face."

"You're taking this parenting thing seriously."

"Of course."

"That can't be all. Do you honestly think Night will accept us? Just like that?" Dane snorted.

His uncle glanced at him and put his device down. "...I don't know."

Dane raised his eyebrow.

"I'm planning on getting assistance from one of their Saints," Lancel finally confided.

Dane kept his gaze level on the man. "Which one?"

His uncle smiled awkwardly. "The same one that I rejected a while back." It couldn't have been. The one that he refused to marry over text message?

Dane chortled loudly. He leaned forward and patted Lancel's shoulders. "Good one."

"...I have good reason to believe she's still head over heels for me."

"Right, and I have the echo of an Unholy Titan."

Lancel clicked his tongue and went back to scrolling on his communicator. Dane shook his head and closed his eyes. He nodded off to sleep eventually.

He was shaken awake a while later. As soon as his eyes focused on Lancel, his voice came. "Wake up buddy. We're here," he said, handing Dane a breath mint and a suitcase. He paused for a moment. "Your eyes look cool. I didn't get a chance to tell you before."

Dane smiled softly, popping the mint into his mouth and taking the suitcase as the chauffeur opened the door for him. He hugged Lancel. "Don't miss me too much," he joked.

"You're my only living blood, Dane…don't die on me," his uncle said. The words forced him to say something he knew he shouldn't have. "I won't," he promised.

They broke it off, and Dane stepped out of the car. The PTV sped off, and he turned toward the academy gates.