bookpower Chapter 19 The Art of Letting Go
Chapter 19 The Art of Letting Go
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THUD!!
Caspian fell to his knees, his hands trembling as he clutched the air as though trying to grasp the fading remnants of something precious.
His breaths were ragged, his chest heaving with the weight of emotions that refused to settle.
"I... I want to go back there," he choked out.
Tears streamed down his face, his mask long forgotten on the floor of the church.
The memory of their smiles lingered in his mind—Elias's laughter, the soft lullabies Amy sang for her child to sleep, the warmth of their love as they celebrated each moment of life, no matter how small.
Caspian had spent fifty years with them, lived their joys and sorrows, watched their children grow, and seen their lives unfold in a way so vivid, so real, that it was impossible to believe it wasn't his own.
They were strangers when it began, but now they were family, even if they never knew him.
And now they were gone.
"Why?" Caspian whispered.
"Why show me their lives? Why make me feel this way?"
Bloodmoon, embedded in his soul, had seen everything alongside him.
{Child, their lives were beautiful, weren't they?}
Caspian nodded, tears blurring his vision.
"But why? Why let me live it, only to take it all away?!" Caspian screamed.
Before Bloodmoon could reply.
"Ding"
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[System Notification]
Requirement for Awakening Blessing:
~Sacrifice the memories.
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Caspian stared at the screen, his breath catching in his throat.
"What?" he whispered. "Sacrifice... their memories? What does that even mean?"
Bloodmoon's voice cut through the silence.
{It means exactly what it says, child. To awaken your blessing, you must let go of everything you've seen, everything you've felt. Those fifty years... they must be erased.}
"No!" Caspian shouted, his fists slamming against the floor.
"I can't! I won't! They're... they're like family to me!"
Bloodmoon sighed.
{Caspian, you know this is the price of power. The blessing of yours demands sacrifice.}
"But why them?" Caspian cried. "Why does it have to be them?,"
{No, they don't, And neither do you. But this is the path you've chosen. Power doesn't come without pain, child. The question is... are you willing to pay the price?}
Caspian clenched his fists, his mind racing.
He could still see Arthur face.
Elias face and the pride in his eyes as he watched his children grow.
He could hear Amy gentle laugh.
His brow furrowed as he tried to recall what it was, but the memory slipped through his grasp like water through his fingers.
"What was it?" he whispered to himself.
{I don't know,] Bloodmoon admitted.
{Even I can't remember. It's as if... we've both been made to forget.}
Caspian shook his head, trying to brush off the unease.
"Let it go. What's done is done. Let's figure out what this blessing actually does."
With a thought, he focused on the glowing window.
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•Memory of the Fallen
~Core Concept: By defeating enemies, you absorb fragments of their memories, embedding their skills, knowledge, and life experiences into your unconscious mind.
Abilities:
~Memory Sacrifice: Sacrifice the memories of fallen foes to gain points.
~Skill Embedding: Skills and techniques from the fallen are directly implanted into your mind.
However, they start at Level 0, requiring practice and effort to master.
~Unconscious Resonance: Instinctively understand the basics of a skill, allowing you to wield it immediately, albeit clumsily.
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Caspian read through the description, his eyes narrowing as he digested the details.
"So, if I kill someone or a monster, their skills become mine?," he asked.
{To an extent,} Bloodmoon replied.
{Their memories are sacrificed for points, but their skills aren't directly handed to you on a silver platter. You'll have to train, refine, and master them like any other.}
Caspian rubbed his temples. "Great. It's like I'm starting from scratch every time."
Bloodmoon chuckled faintly. {Not quite. The skill is already embedded in your unconscious mind. You'll know what to do, even if your body isn't used to it yet. It's more instinct than practice.}
"That's... actually kind of amazing."
{It is,} Bloodmoon agreed.
{But it's also a responsibility. You're carrying fragments of lives, Caspian. Memories, skills, even regrets. They'll linger in your soul, shaping you in ways you can't predict.}
Caspian exhaled, his shoulders heavy.
"I sacrificed something for this power, didn't I?"
"You did," Bloodmoon said quietly.
Caspian clenched his fists, determination rising within him.
"Fine. If this is my path, I'll walk it. No matter the cost."
As he turned to leave, a small glimmer caught his eye—an ephemeral flash of a smiling couple, hand in hand, fading into the depths of his mind.
But before he could grasp it, the vision was gone.
"Let's move," Caspian said.
Bloodmoon remained silent, a shadow of unease passing through the blade's soul.
In the silence, only one thought lingered in both their minds:
What had they truly sacrificed to awaken this blessing?
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