The combat room was vast, its stone walls lined with racks upon racks of weapons. The air was thick with the scent of oil and metal, and faint scratches on the floor hinted at countless battles that had taken place here before.
Hope's eyes scanned the arsenal, taking in the sheer variety.
There were swords of all sizes, polearms with wickedly curved blades, maces that looked capable of smashing through armor, and bows strung with dark, sinewy cords. Some weapons even had an unnatural gleam, as if they pulsed with something not entirely of this world.
The supervisor stood at the front, his hands clasped behind his back. He was a tall man with a weathered face, his features hardened by years of battle. A pair of silver stars gleamed on the shoulder of his uniform—proof of his status as an Ascended.
Hope ignored the large weapons and went straight for what he was most comfortable with—daggers.
He had fought the Sacred Centaur with dual blades, and while it had been a fight for survival, he had found them natural in his hands.
Taking two curved daggers from the rack, he spun them lightly between his fingers, testing their weight.
"Not bad."
All around him, the other students were making their choices.
The muscular roommate took a massive battle axe, gripping it with one hand as if it weighed nothing. The skinny one picked up a rapier, his eyes flashing with a calculative glint. The silver-haired girl chose a spear, twirling it with practiced ease.
Others went for greatswords, staffs, shields, and even more exotic weapons—someone had even picked a chain whip with hooked edges.
Once everyone had made their choice, the supervisor stepped forward, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room.
"What you are holding right now... are artifacts."
The room stirred.
Some students exchanged glances. Others simply frowned, gripping their weapons a little tighter.
Hope turned his daggers over in his hands, studying them more closely.
They didn't seem special.
The supervisor continued, his voice carrying a tone of authority.
"Artifacts are weapons recovered from Veil creatures after they are slain. They retain fragments of the Veil's power, but they are not bound to you."
He let that sink in before adding, "They are different from Memories."
That got Hope's attention.
Memories.
He had heard the term before.
He had seen Kelvin receive one after defeating the corrupted fiend.
The students shifted, some whispering to each other.
The supervisor remained unfazed.
"Memories are gifts from the Veil itself. When you kill a Veil creature, the Veil may reward you with a weapon, armor, or other abilities. These are called Memories because they are fragments of the creature's existence, infused into your soul."
Hope's grip tightened around his daggers.
"The key difference," the supervisor continued, "is that Memories can be dismissed into your Soul Sea and summoned at will. They are part of you."
He gestured toward the weapons in their hands.
"Artifacts, on the other hand, are not. They must be carried physically at all times. Lose them, and you lose your weapon."
And mind you, artifacts can't be taken to the soulrealm or Ashland except you are a transcendend or a sovereign .
Hope frowned. That meant Memories were far superior to Artifacts.
A weapon you could summon at will? One that couldn't be stolen, lost, or broken permanently?
That was a huge advantage.
The students were still digesting this information when the supervisor gave a thin smile.
"Some of you might be wondering—why bother with Artifacts at all? If Memories are superior, why not rely on them instead?"
Silence.
Then, the silver-haired girl spoke up.
"Because not everyone gets a Memory."
The supervisor's smile widened slightly.
"Exactly."
His voice turned grim.
"You are not guaranteed a Memory just because you kill a Veil creature. The Veil is unpredictable. It grants rewards based on its own unknowable criteria. Some people kill dozens of creatures before receiving their first Memory. Others kill only once and are rewarded immediately. There is no pattern. No fairness."
He let that sink in.
"That is why Artifacts exist. Because if you do not receive a Memory, you will still need to fight. And fight well."
Hope exhaled slowly.
So that was the game.
Memories were powerful, but you couldn't rely on getting one.
For now, he would have to make do with these daggers.
And fight.