Chapter 10: Weaver of Doubt
[Prepare for appraisal…]
Dolin found himself in a dreamlike space. It was an endless black void illuminated by a myriad of stars held together by countless strings of silver light. He was happy of course. He had just done the impossible.
It was truly breathtaking.
[You have received a Memory: Crown of Quiet Resolve]
Hell yeah. Another memory.
He had just gotten a memory from the Puppeteer he had killed. Being an awakened terror, it was bound to be something good. He could not stop a smile from creeping up his face. After all of that pain, from the creatures he faced to the doubts that plagued his mind, he felt that he at least deserved a good memory.
He wanted to take a look, but the Spell was done with its appraisal.
Here in the void, its voice sounded more like the universe rather than a familiar voice.
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[A lone prisoner stood tall in a falling castle. He triumphed over both monsters and men. When confronted with his fears, his conviction stood unbroken. He challenged doubt itself, overcoming it with valor.]
[You have defeated an awakened human, name unknown.]
[You have defeated a dormant beast: Carcass Stalker.]
[You have defeated a dormant monster: Grasping Bonefiend.]
[You have defeated eleven dormant humans, names unknown.
[You have defeated a dormant beast: Mountain King.]
[You have defeated an awakened terror: Puppeteer.]
[You have achieved the impossible!]
[Final appraisal: glorious. Your conviction is unbroken, your tenacity knows no bounds.]
All Dolin could do was smile. His work was going to be rewarded. After that hell he was in, he planned on taking a nice break. Perhaps with his new status as a sleeper he could finally get one of those fancy 'burgers' he had seen city dwellers eating in commercials.
[Dreamer Dolin, receive your boon!]
Life of luxury! Here I come.
Dolin was then reminded of the events prior to the nightmare, his mind going back to the start.
Dolin was definitely going to go beat the shit out of those gangs, but then, he realized.
Ah… That's another thing.
Dolin would probably not be going anywhere soon. He just remembered the condition he had been in before waking up in the nightmare. Bullet wound, caved in ribs, and a beating.
Ha… this is going to be a headache.
The spell then spoke again, interrupting his thoughts.
[You have been bestowed a True Name: Blight of Conviction.]
Dolin's eyes widened.
A true name!
He had only heard myths of people accomplishing the great feat of gaining a true name. Well of course, if anyone deserved one, it was him. After that hell…
But the rewards kept on coming.
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
Is this what my aspect description meant?
Dolin immediately said "yes". Well, who wouldn't want to evolve.
[Dormant Aspect Whisper of Doubt is evolving…]
[New Aspect acquired.]
[Aspect Rank: Divine.]
Holy shit…
[Aspect Name: Doubt Weaver.]
***
He was stunned. He took a big gulp, still processing what had just happened.
No way. Divine?
There were only a couple records of divine aspects ever, and even those were said to be myth.
Still shaking from the revelation of his godly new aspect, he summoned the runes.
Aspect: [Doubt Weaver.]
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Description: [You are a spawn of doubt left behind by the divine doubt. As a spawn of a divine being, you possess plenty of strange and interesting powers. Your existence as a spawn of doubt is one of deception and control.]
Innate Ability: [Spawn of Doubt]
Ability Description: [Spread your influence through doubt. A spawn of doubt rules through its influence.]
This aspect. It is completely linked to the Puppeteer. Maybe I will be able to control minds eventually like it did with the knights.
The voice of the spell continued.
[The First Seal is broken.]
[Awakening dormant powers…]
Dolin felt something awakening within him. It was as if his very being was being touched by a warm embrace.
The feeling came from within, as if it had always been there.
He was being rebuilt. With each second, the transformation was becoming more noticeable. His limbs became filled with a new vitality, replacing the once frail stature he once had as a kid from the outskirts.
Wow… I might be a real looker.
He could now see a calm sea. Its waters were grey and they rippled peacefully. There was a mysterious grey fog over the still waters, barely visible, but there. It lay like a thin veil, adding even more mystery to the sea.
There was a bright grey star burning from above, stunning him from its intensity.
Even more fascinating was the huge tapestry of silk hanging in the black void surrounding the star. It was pitch black, blending into the void. He could only see it due to how it shined from the intensity of the star's light.
So beautiful.
Everything within this space seemed magical to Dolin. There were three spheres of light orbiting around the star.
Those must be… my memories.
The Spell's voice called out again.
[Awakening Aspect Ability…]
This is it!
[Aspect Ability acquired.]
[Aspect Ability Name: Doubt Manifestation.]
Dolin quickly summoned his runes, his mind racing with anticipation.
Name: Dolin
True Name: Blight of Conviction.
Rank: Dreamer.
Soul Core: Dormant.
Soul Core: [0/1000], [95/5000].
Two of them? Why are there two?
He had a number which represented his soul core, yet there were another set of numbers.
He had always heard that awakened souls could only consume soul shards to feed their core, yet he had two sets of numbers, with one already having progress.
Interesting.
Dolin then checked the rest of his runes.
Memories: [Traitorous Edge], [Bonefiend's Embrace], [Crown of Quiet Resolve].
Echoes: –
Attributes: [Mark of Divinity], [Puppeteer].
Aspect Abilities: [Doubt Manifestation].
Seems like I have been blessed.
Dolin's train of thought was broken when the spell resounded again.
[All power has a price.]
[You have received a Flaw.]
[Your Flaw is forbidden Knowledge].
Dolin grimaced at the words in front of him. He knew that all awakenings had a flaw, but it still did not sit well with him. He stared at the new runes.
Flaw: [Lost Embrace].
Flaw Description: [You will slowly be consumed by your power.]
Dolin stared at the words. Lost. Consumed?
"That could get messy," he muttered.
Dolin did not understand the meaning behind his flaw, but it did not sit well with him either way. He was certainly still excited from the great boons he had gained from his nightmare, yet the flaw had soured his mood.
Interrupting his thoughts once again, the Spell resounded.
[Wake up, Blight of Conviction!]
The black void disappeared.