The ancient door groaned as Lyra pushed it open, revealing the treasury hidden deep beneath the temple. The air inside was thick and still, heavy with the scent of age and divinity. Dust curled in golden beams of light, and each footstep echoed with a reverence that made even speaking feel like a trespass.
Noxy floated beside her, the soft glow of her form casting flickers across
gilded walls. "This isn't just treasure," she murmured, voice hushed with awe. "This is legacy. Divine legacy. This place... it wasn't made only for you. It was created to house the rewards of those who passed the temple's trials—chosen ones from ages past. You are not the first, though perhaps the most significant."
Lyra stepped further in, her eyes wide and shimmering with childlike wonder.
"So others came here before me... what happened to them? Did they use these treasures? Or... did they fail?"
"Some succeeded and left their mark on history, some were never heard from again. The treasures remember. And they wait."
She paused before a gleaming sword resting atop a pedestal, mesmerized by the faint pulse of energy it radiated.
"It's like they're alive," she whispered.
"In a way, they are," Noxy replied. "These are divine treasures—items imbued with fragments of divinity. They weren't forged. They were born. Formed by the will of gods or shaped by miracles."
Veyrith padded in behind them, his keen gaze scanning every corner. He paused, ears twitching slightly.
"This place feels... alive," he murmured. "Like every stone is watching us. It gives me chills."
Lyra slowly made her way between the pedestals, her curiosity leading her from one artifact to the next.
"What's this?"
She asked, pausing before a bow wrapped in ivy.
"That one sings to the forest," Noxy answered. "Only someone with a pact to nature could wield it."
She moved on to a mirror that shimmered faintly.
"And this?"
"A mirror that shows not your face, but your path. But it's dangerous—seeing the path too clearly invites despair."
Veyrith spoke, watching her with quiet fascination.
"Do you feel anything... pulling you? Like one of them was meant for you?"
Lyra nodded slowly. "Yes... but more than one. It's overwhelming. Like they're whispering."
"Focus," Noxy said gently. "They are voices of the past. You must listen for the one that belongs to your future."
They passed dried herbs crumbled to dust, and Lyra knelt near a faded bundle.
"These used to be powerful, right?"
"Miracles in plant form," Noxy confirmed. "But even miracles fade with time."
They moved to a pile of dull gold coins. Lyra turned one over.
"Old currency?"
"Obsolete," Noxy confirmed. "From a lost era. Can only melt them down for materials."
Then the mana crystals drew their attention. Lyra felt her breath catch as a thrumming resonance filled her chest.
"Mana Crystals," Noxy said. "The lifeblood of magical trade. They hold condensed mana, used as both fuel and currency. Some are elemental—fire, water, lightning, and rarer ones like space."
"Space crystals?" Lyra tilted her head. "Could those that used to make the storage ring?"
"Yes, but they're rare. And the blacksmiths who can work them even rarer. Storage rings are luxury tools."
Veyrith inspected a crimson crystal. "You could buy a city with these."
"Or burn one down," Noxy added dryly.
"And the ones without elements?"
"Used like coins in high-tier auctions and transactions. But they're also good for replenishing mana quickly."
She moved on, then spotted a basin holding three luminous stones. She gasped.
"What are those?" Lyra asked, stepping closer.
"Gift Stones," Noxy said. "Extremely rare. Normally, Gifts are awakened through destiny or bloodlines. But these allow one to bestow a Gift by choice."
Veyrith's ears perked. "You mean... anyone can gain a Gift through these?"
"Yes, though the bond must still be accepted by the soul. They are not without cost."
Lyra picked up the first—an emerald-green stone, its surface warm to the touch. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held it up to the light, mesmerized by the faint glow within.
"What kind of Gift is this, Noxy?"
Noxy drifted closer, voice reverent.
"That one is called the Favor of Nature. It enhances your mana regeneration and natural healing when you're in forests or other natural environments. It's passive—meaning you don't need to activate it consciously."
Lyra's brows furrowed slightly.
"Can I even use these? What if it rejects me... or worse?"
"You can," Noxy said gently. "Gifts like these bond through intent and potential. Simply hold the stone, open your heart to it, and accept the connection. If your soul resonates, it will take root."
Almost as soon as Noxy finished, Lyra felt a warmth spread through her chest. Her breath deepened, her pulse slowed, and she could almost smell the faint scent of moss and wildflowers clinging to the edges of her awareness.
"It feels like the forest is holding me," she murmured, eyes wide in wonder.
Noxy gave her a warm nod. "That's how you know it accepted you."
Lyra reached for the second stone—a pale blue gem that pulsed with a steady rhythm, like a calm heartbeat. She paused, holding it up to the light.
"What's this one, Noxy?"
"That is Enhanced Memory," Noxy said, her tone thoughtful. "It's a passive gift that strengthens your memory, especially with arcane languages and complex symbols. You'll find yourself remembering spells, runes, and magical formulas much faster."
Lyra's curiosity sparked.
"So it just... makes me smarter?"
"Not quite," Noxy chuckled. "It enhances the way your mind processes magical knowledge. Think of it as widening the path through which understanding flows."
Lyra nodded slowly. "Can I use it now too?"
"Yes," Noxy said with a small nod. "Just like before—hold it, focus your intent, and accept the bond."
Lyra did as instructed. The moment she let her awareness sink into the stone, her mind shifted. Thoughts sharpened. Patterns and symbols she'd once struggled with came into sudden clarity. Languages she'd only glimpsed in fragments now unfolded in her mind like blooming flowers.
"This is... strange. I can remember spells I've never even studied," Lyra whispered in awe.
"That's the gift at work," Noxy said softly. "You've lifted the fog from your own mind."
Lyra closed her eyes, letting the clarity settle.
"It's like a veil has lifted."
She hesitated over the final stone, a matte grey one that offered no warmth, no immediate feeling.
"And this one?"
Noxy drifted a little closer, her glow dimming as she regarded the stone with seriousness.
"That is the Gift of Storage. Unlike the others, it isn't passive. It grants you access to a personal space—a pocket dimension—where you can store items. But you must activate it consciously."
Lyra tilted her head.
"So... it's like a storage ring?"
"In essence, yes," Noxy replied. "But more secure. It's bound to your essence, which means no one can steal it from you. Not even death will easily sever the link. However, there are limitations: you cannot open it while moving, and it may drain a bit of mental focus when overloaded."
Veyrith finally stepped closer, raising a brow.
"That's impressive. What's its size?"
"Ten cubic meters to start," Noxy said. "And yes, it can be expanded. Space-elemental crystals or rare upgrade stones can enhance it, even remove its current limitations."
Lyra's curiosity gleamed.
"Can I use it?"
"Of course," Noxy said. "Place your hand over the stone, close your eyes, and focus inward. Will it to open. Picture a space inside you waiting to receive."
Lyra nodded, took a steady breath, and did as instructed. As her focus narrowed, she felt a ripple pass through her chest—then her awareness shifted. A vast, empty chamber unfolded in her mind's eye: clean, silent, and still.
"I see it... Ten cubic meters," she murmured. "It's really inside me?"
"Yes," Noxy confirmed proudly. "Now try to store something. Touch an item and will it to enter the space. To retrieve, focus on the item and pull it from the chamber."
Lyra hesitated, then knelt to pick up a small stone from the ground—a simple, smooth pebble.
"Maybe I should try it with this first?"
Noxy nodded approvingly.
"Good idea. Start simple. Touch it, then will it to be stored. Let your mind guide the action."
Lyra did as instructed, placing her fingers on the stone. She focused, visualizing the storage space she'd seen before. With a quiet blink, the stone shimmered and vanished from her hand.
"It worked!" she gasped. "I can feel it inside—like it's waiting for me."
"Excellent," Noxy said with a pleased tone. "The more you use it, the more instinctive it will become. Later, I'll explain more about storing complex items—like mana crystals. But for now, just get used to the feeling."
Veyrith, who had been watching intently, let out a low whistle.
"That's one of the most useful things I've ever seen. If I'd had something like that back in my territory, I wouldn't have lost half my gear to scavengers."
Lyra grinned. "I'll be careful. This kind of power... it changes how I travel."
"And how you survive," Noxy added.
Finally, after much deliberation, Lyra made her choices. She picked a sword—unadorned but glowing faintly with enchantments. She felt comfort in its simplicity.
"Not flashy," she said, testing its weight. "But real."
"It won't shatter when you need it most," Noxy confirmed.
Next, a cloak the color of dusk. When she wrapped it around her shoulders, her outline shimmered faintly, almost disappearing from sight.
"This one grants invisibility," Noxy explained. "You can turn it on and off at will, but every moment it's active drains your stamina. It won't use mana, which is good—but push it too far, and your body will give out. No cooldown, though."
Lyra raised a brow and nodded.
"So... vanish and run. But don't overstay. Useful."
Lyra smiled. "Perfect for ambushes... or escapes."
Then she paused before a blank mask. It felt eerie.
"This?" she asked.
"It's more than a disguise," Noxy replied. "It projects an aura that unsettles others. Makes them instinctively avoid you."
"To ward off unwanted attention," Lyra murmured. "Smart."
"A beautiful girl traveling alone would attract... the wrong kind of interest," Noxy said.
Lyra took it with a faint blush.
A scroll in the corner caught Noxy's eye. Her face lit up.
"Shadowform. A spell that lets someone live within a shadow."
She handed it to Veyrith.
"It's for you. You'll be safer traveling within Lyra's shadow."
Veyrith's eyes widened.
"That's possible?"
Lyra turned to him with a grin.
"Guess you're officially my shadow now."
He chuckled, shaking his head.
"I suppose there are worse places to be."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They spent a few days gathering food, potions, and survival tools. Lyra then stored them efficiently, testing her new Gift. With Noxy's guidance, she experimented with storing simple items—smooth stones, wooden utensils, and small tools—carefully willing each into the pocket space. As her confidence grew, she added more essentials. Among the last to be stored were a handful of mana crystals, set aside earlier. She paused, then carefully placed them into the storage, marveling at how seamlessly they vanished into the void. It was a strange feeling—like tucking power away inside her own soul. Noxy patiently guided her.
"To store something, just will it gone while touching it. To retrieve, focus on the space. With time, it'll become second nature."
On their last night in the temple, Veyrith approached Lyra under the starlit canopy.
"You know," he said, tail flicking lazily, "when I chose to follow you, I thought it was a gamble. But now I think... maybe it was fate."
Lyra glanced at him.
"Why?"
"Because if I follow someone like you—someone on a path to reclaim fate itself—I might grow stronger too. Maybe even find my own purpose."
She smiled gently.
"Then let's find it together."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After several days weaving through the dense woods, they finally stepped beyond the tree line. The air shifted, lighter and freer, as if the forest itself exhaled with their departure. Behind them, the temple gradually faded from sight—its ancient presence retreating into memory and myth.
Then, Noxy's glow dimmed.
"I can't go further,"
She said quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Lyra halted, brows drawing together.
"Why not?"
Noxy hovered just above the ground, her form flickering faintly.
"I have to go,"
She said softly, her voice barely more than a breath. Lyra's eyes widened.
"What? Why? We've only just—"
"I can't explain everything,"
Noxy interrupted gently, her glow dimming slightly.
"But if I stay, things might become... harder for you."
Lyra blinked, her heart skipping.
"You're not telling me everything, are you?"
Noxy hesitated, her glow dimming a little more.
"There are things you're not ready to know yet. Not because you're weak, but because the knowing would change you before you're ready."
Lyra swallowed hard, her thoughts swirling. Her hand brushed against her chest where the warmth from the Gift still lingered.
"It's because of... what happened in the temple, isn't it? The awakening. Something inside me changed."
Noxy didn't respond. But her silence was heavier than words.
Lyra nodded slowly, eyes stinging.
"You don't have to say it. I already know."
The silence between them stretched, tender and fragile.
"Just come back to me,"
Lyra whispered.
"Always,"
Noxy replied. And with a flicker, she was gone.
For a moment, all was still. Then Veyrith stepped forward, his gaze lingering on the space Noxy had occupied.
"She didn't want to worry you," he said softly. "But she looked afraid. Not for herself—for you."
Lyra clenched her fists.
"I know. That's why I have to keep going."
She turned westward, the shadows of the forest at her back.
"To the valley."
Veyrith fell into step beside her, and together they stepped forward—toward a future that trembled with unseen threads.