Shadow Slave: Flaw of Gods.

Veil closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again, hoping the runes would disappear.

But the runes were still there, glowing faintly, as if mocking him.

Deficiency: [Phantom Identity].

Deficiency Description: [You forget yourself].

Veil felt his mind gradually returning to reality. The words of the Spell still echoed in his head.

[Awaken, Forgotten Spark!]

When he heard that name, something stirred inside him. It was as if a faint, almost extinguished flame flared up for a moment. He didn't know why, but that name... it was important. It anchored him, preventing him from slipping into the chaos of forgotten memories.

Opening his eyes, Veil took a deep breath, as if trying to absorb the surrounding world, to fix it in his memory. He knew that over time, much might disappear from his mind, but as long as he remembered his True Name, he was still himself.

Slowly looking around, he realized he was in a room with a reinforced ceiling. It was a strangely familiar, yet simultaneously foreign place. However, a sense of relief washed over him — he was no longer in that nightmare.

On the plastic chair next to his bed sat a man. A tall, solidly built man with sharp facial features. He looked slightly worn out, but there was a hint of cautiousness in his gaze, as though he wasn't entirely sure if what stood before him was truly the awakened Veil, and not something else.

"You look like you haven't breathed fresh air in ten years," he muttered, studying Veil. "How are you feeling?"

Veil paused for a moment, checking in with himself. He felt light, but there was also a strange emptiness, as if part of his thoughts slipped away the moment he tried to hold onto them.

"...Better than expected," he replied, carefully choosing his words.

The man raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. He had clearly noticed something, but wasn't planning to voice his thoughts. Instead, he leaned back in the chair.

"Well, since you're alive and conscious, that's already a good sign. Here's a standard piece of advice: don't try to force your abilities to awaken before you get used to things. Some of us get too eager, start pushing too hard, and end up injuring ourselves. Gradual progress is key to survival."

Veil nodded slowly. His mind was still frantically trying to keep his thoughts in place, but then something clicked. At the moment the spell uttered his true name, it had become easier.

Forgotten Spark.

And something inside him warmed again, as though he had lit a candle in the endless darkness.

Veil took a deep breath, trying to gather himself. His thoughts were still tangled, memories were slipping away, but one thing remained unchanged — his True Name. "Forgotten Spark." When he thought of it, something within him strengthened, as if he was anchoring himself to reality, preventing himself from fading.

The Ascended watched him with narrowed eyes but said nothing. He merely shook his head as if noticing something unusual.

"Alright, get up," he said. "You've got a few hours to pull yourself together. After that, decide what to do next."

Veil lowered his legs onto the cold floor and tensed. It was a strange sensation — as if he had just relearned how to walk. Every movement felt slightly more conscious than it should be. He remembered how to move, but his body still felt... foreign.

He straightened up and scanned the room. Details were being fixed in his memory — but he knew that some of them would vanish if he didn't hold onto them. The rough texture of the wall, the soft hum of the ventilation, even the hue of metal on the wrist restraints that had just been on him.

The Ascended crossed his arms. "Did it hit you hard?"

Veil thought for a moment. How should he answer? He remembered the pain, the fear, the despair of the Nightmare... but the exact details? They were already starting to fade, as if they were being pulled into a fog. He looked at the Ascended and honestly said:

"I don't remember."

The Ascended frowned but didn't press further.

"It happens. Some people get memory gaps from the First Nightmare. The important thing is you made it out. Alive."

Veil nodded, but suddenly a sense of unease stirred within him. He knew he had lost something important. And, worse, he knew this wouldn't be the last time.

'Forgotten Spark...'

He repeated his True Name in his mind like a mantra. He felt how it filled the emptiness inside, binding the scattered pieces of his "self." He didn't know how long this would work, but for now — it was working.

"Alright," he whispered to himself. "For now, this is enough."

Veil spent a few moments in silence, trying to gather his scattered thoughts and reconnect with himself. His gaze wandered over the sterile room, where every sound and smell seemed to remind him of the past nightmare. But what held him strongest was one thing — the true name that echoed deep inside his consciousness: Forgotten Spark. This mantra, repeated within himself, gave him some semblance of confidence, helping him piece together the fragmented parts of his "self."

Aron, sitting nearby, watched Veil with mild interest. He had noticed something strange in the young awakened man's behavior — a slight instability in his gaze, a thin trace of oblivion flickering in his eyes. However, the experienced Ascended knew: every awakened person had their quirks, and strangeness was nothing unusual. He didn't focus on it, instead offering Veil a hand.

"Alright," Aron said, leaning back in the chair. "Basic procedures can't be delayed. Get yourself together."

Veil, still pondering the words, paused for a moment. His mind caught every nuance, trying not to miss anything important. He felt his true name resound within once more, like a quiet beacon in the dark ocean of oblivion.

"Go take a shower," Aron continued, calmly, as if it were the most natural request. "Wash off the remnants of sleep and nightmares. It's standard procedure after awakening."

Those words, spoken casually. Veil nodded without saying a word and headed for the door. Every step required effort, but at the same time, it felt filled with the determination to hold onto himself, fragile as he was, but still real.

On his way to the shower, Veil repeated in his mind: "Forgotten Spark... Forgotten Spark..." — as if it were a spell, a way to solidify his memory and reclaim what was lost. The cool air of the hallway met him, reminding him that the path to recovery begins with small steps. At that moment, he knew: even if parts of his being were still lost, his true name would be the anchor holding him in this world.

"See you after the shower," he heard Aron's voice faintly, calm and confident. "Don't forget, basic procedures are key to survival."

Hearing that phrase again, he understood that he would hear it often. However, in a couple of seconds, he had already forgotten about it.

With these words, Veil took a step toward the shower, feeling how with each movement he was returning a little more to himself, to who he once was, and to who he could become again.