[You have received a ???.]
'...What?' Lua froze. Lua felt something very wrong about what she just received, just trying to prove that which was not in her soul caused an instinctive revulsion. Changing her strategy she dove into her soul sea.
In front of her were 3 purple suns resting in the sky. She slowly walked forward, the still gold tinted water below her feet rippling slightly. The starry void beyond the 3 stars was speckled with both gold and purple.
Lua paused, attempting to call her new…. 'What even is it?' She asked herself, but the spell answered.
[???]
Memory Rank: ???
Memory Tier: ???
Memory Type: ???
Memory Description: [???]
Memory Enchantments: [Transmogrify]
[Transmogrify]
Enchantment Description: [???]
'Huh?'
[Would you like to use ???.]
'It's not a lineage memory?' Lua noted, based on the spell's question, it was clearly something new.
'...This just… keeps getting stranger and stranger.' Lua pondered. 'Do i say yes?''
What felt like an eternity within her soul sea later, she spoke.
"Yes."
White sparks collected as the Gemstone Wolf manifested in the soul sea. Seconds later a small ball of purple mist manifested in front of her, split into three and one shot into the wolf. The spell's next words made her heart drop. 'Why…'
[Your Echo has been destroyed.]
[You have received an Eidolon, Aetherium Wolf]
'A… What? eidolon, what the Spell is that.'
The gemstone wolf stood in front of her, still surrounded by the purple mist. 'It's not done yet.'
Just before she had more time to think, the remaining two balls of mist moved, one shot into her body, and the other into her beast core. Stars burst behind her eyes as she felt her whole body being torn apart and stitched back together. The process lasted what seemed to be an eternity. Before the spell's soothing voice whispered lightly in her ear.
[You have acquired a new Attribute.]
[You have acquired a new Attribute.]
Whimpering, Lua uncurled her body, she called on the Aetherium Wolf's runes, she was shocked by what she saw.
Aetherium Wolf
Eidolon Rank: Ascended
Eidolon Class: Devil
Eidolon Attributes: [Aetheric Maw], [Aether Veil], [Celestial Radiance],[Stellar Talons], [Astral Bond]
[Aetheric Maw]
Attribute description: [Teeth of the cosmos, each bite brings with it a different curse forged from the stars that dwell within the wolf's essence.
[Aether Veil]
Attribute description: [The wolf's form fades into a glimmering silhouette, its body half-present, half-lost in the weave of the astral realm.]
[Celestial Radiance]
Attribute description: [The wolf radiates with the brilliance of a thousand gems, its presence strengthening and healing those who fight beside it while sapping the strength of its foes.]
[Stellar Talons]
Attribute description: [Its claws shimmer like falling stars, carving through the veil of existence with each strike, unravelling the very essence of those touched by its cosmic fury.]
[Astral Bond]
Attribute description: [A cosmic tether forms between the wolf and its master, empowering them both as the wolf's ethereal energy flows into the mortal world.]
Eidolon Abilities: [Astral Essence], [Aetheric Leap], [Astral Rejuvenation], [Elliptical]
[Astral Essence]
Ability description: [Drawing on the cosmos the wolf can enhance its master's essence.]
[Aetheric Leap]
Ability description: [With a burst of cosmic energy, the wolf vanishes from sight, only to reappear in a flash of shimmering lightning.]
[Astral Rejuvenation]
Ability description: [The wolf's cosmic aura rejuvenates its master, drawing on the power of the stars to restore their vitality and endurance, ensuring they remain at the height of their strength.]
[Elliptical]
Ability description: [The wolf is never bound to a single shape, it forms a fluid echo of the cosmos.]
'So it's a buff based Echo then.' Lua concluded with a nod just as the wolf's transformation finished.
The purple starry mist formed the very form of the Wolf, its stone-like skin and fur gone, replaced with a true fur mane that seemed to be a starry night. Two bright yellow eyes looked back at her.
The wolf slowly walked towards her, its paws treading lightly on the stone. It reached Lua and licked her hand, its tongue was soft and unlike the usual roughness of a wolf's tongue.
'...is it…' Lua wondered if the wolf was sentient, as if to confirm this, the wolf sat down and looked at her expectantly. 'Whatever. ??? clearly was a good thing.'
Lua called on the wolf mentally, prepared to test out [Astral Bond]. The wolf took a few steps towards her and turned into a small ball of starry mist, before going intangible and forming into her body.
'Weird' Lua frowned as she felt the Eidolon's attributes take hold. Her essence felt powerful, nearly double the strength and potency it usually was. Along with that, she instantly knew that [Astral Essence] and [Astral Rejuvenation] now affected her as well.
Sensing her soul's change, she called on the runes.
Soul Fragments: [1423/3000]
Memories: [Winter's Blessing], [Knight's Crest], [Sky's Gift], [Scale Suit], [Talon of Unrest], [Eventide], [Mystic Beacon], [Sky Cleaver], [Valhalla], [Broken]
Echoes:
Eidolons: [Aetherium Wolf]
Attributes: [Dreamspawn], [Flame of Divinity], [Soul Bound], [True Heart], [Asura], [Astral Bond]
[Soul Bound]
Attribute description: [Your soul is inexplicably linked to the world.]
[True Heart]
Attribute description: [You are the True Heir of the Heart God. Souls and Spirits view you as their princess. You are able to directly absorb soul fragments]
[Asura]
Attribute description: [Your body is infused with Essence. Your soul is adamantite. Strengthening, healing and improving your body and soul.]
[Astral Bond]
Attribute description: [A cosmic tether forms between the wolf and its master, empowering them both as the wolf's ethereal energy flows into the mortal world.]
Lua flexed her hand. She felt it, power, she was considerably stronger now. It seemed the [Asura] attribute was a physical enhancement similar to Effie's aspect but still weaker. The weirdest part was that Lua didn't feel as hungry or thirsty anymore.
'Does it reduce my body's needs?'
As she turned her head she noticed something wrong with her appearance, her usual bright golden eyes had turned into a rich magenta colour. 'An effect of [Astral Bond] maybe?'
To test out a few more things she dismissed the Aetherium Wolf. The [Astral Bond] attribute remained but weakened and [Asura] remained in full. 'It's weakened.' Lua felt the power of the first attribute decrease but still present.
'Best to keep it active then.' Lua exited her soul sea, finding herself on the floor in her room, she summoned the Aetherium Wolf. The mist collected and formed into the wolf before diving into her body. The two weakened attributes returned to their proper form.
Channeling a small amount of essence into her body she felt as though the essence was far stronger than it was previously. 'I guess that's improved as well.' Lua exited her room. Walking around the large lodge until she found Nephis.
Nephis turned when she heard Lua approaching, but froze when she saw the changes to Lua's eyes and armour. "Your armour… did you advance your Aspect Legacy?"
"I did, and I received a boon." Lua nodded.
"Your eyes."
"My echo-thing… changed, it augments my body when it 'merges' with me."
"So you've obtained a power boost?" Nephis tilted her head.
"Yeah. On another point, have those two left yet."
"They have." Nephis looked towards the Crimson Spire with a complex expression.
"Bet you wish it was you, not Effie right?" Lua teased, but froze when she saw Nephis approaching with her sword. "Wait, I was just joking. Neph?"
***
The next week was busy. Whilst Effie was in hiding they had to fully prepare the people they were leaving behind to deal with what machinations The bright lord would attempt. It wasn't too complicated in retrospect, but it was essential in allowing the final overthrow to happen.
During the walk to Sunny's 'house' the group of sleepers were constantly on the lookout for any enemies who might appear. Lua was walking next to Nephis, being the strongest out of the group often meant she took point.
Eventually after a bit of walking they found them. Lua went straight to Effie and learned about what she'd been doing for the past week whilst Sunny caught up with the others.
When they had finished, Sunny turned to Nephis "About your request. I'm ready to join the expedition, but on one condition. I will not become a part of your cohort. Rather, you can provide sufficient compensation to acquire my services."
Nephis responded a few moments later "Do you have something in mind?"
Sunny grinned. "As a matter of fact, I do. Behind us, you can see a magnificent ancient cathedral. Inside that cathedral lives a creature which is called the Black Knight. He's a Fallen Devil. In return for my help during the expedition, I want your help after it is concluded. Once we return…I want you to help me kill it."
The group fell silent. After a while, Caster finally spoke, an expression of subtle shock on his face "Sunny… did you perhaps misspoke? We are only Sleepers, after all. How are we supposed to kill that Black Knight of yours? A Nightmare Creature of his rank and class…"
Sunny's grin widened as he looked at Caster and said "...It's just a fallen devil."
Lua laughed loudly at the proposition, Sunny grinned as well, seemingly encouraged by her reaction. After a while, Caster was finally able to answer "Just a fallen devil? Did you say j…"
However, Nephis interrupted him. Glancing at the cathedral, she simply shrugged and said "This is acceptable."
Lua slowly stopped laughing, a grin plastered on her face. "Sunny, that's quite the idea, it's gonna make a great story." Lua slapped him on the shoulder whilst ignoring the flabbergasted look from Caster. After all, she herself had taken on plenty of Fallen ones.
They proceed to go over the plan for dealing with the Black Knight and some more random pieces of conversation, including Sunny's pop up store. Once they were all ready they set out into the ruins, heading south.
Lua was at the front, dawned in the onyx and gold of her armor, her brilliant white cloak billowing behind her, the hood over her head and horns. Nephis was beside her, wearing the black and white plate armour she always wore.
Caster and Effie were behind, the former in his in a polished scale mail that glistened in the morning light like the skin of a silver dragon. To his left was tall and powerful Effie, clad in the archaic bronze armor with a white chiton beneath.
A few steps away, wearing his elegant lamellar armor made out of burnished brown leather, walked Kai. On his back, there was a quiver full of heavy arrows. Cassie was walking beside him, her light tunic and bright cloak just the same as before. However, now there was a sheath with a graceful rapier attached to her belt.
At the very back, with an unhappy expression on his face, was Sunny wearing a ragged light armor made out of dark-grey fabric and black, lusterless leather. Lua was pretty sure he had the ascended armour she repaired for him, but it was possible he would only bring it out in combat.