CHAPTER 13 — MEMORIES OF THE LOST

Silence filled the Hall of Resonance.

Dev remained frozen.

His silver eyes stared at the place where Rani's image had disappeared.

For a brief moment...

She had been there.

Smiling.

Alive.

Just like before.

But now she was gone again.

The pain inside his chest returned immediately.

A wound that had never truly healed.

"Dev?"

Maya's voice finally pulled him back to reality.

He blinked.

The illusion was gone.

The hall was gone.

Only Maya, Shaurya, and the countless candidates remained around him.

Maya looked worried.

"Are you okay?"

Dev hesitated.

Then nodded slowly.

"...Yes."

But everyone could tell he was lying.

Maya glanced toward Eclipse.

The blue spear released a faint glow.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

Dev shook his head.

"You didn't."

His gaze moved toward the weapon.

"What exactly did it show me?"

Maya looked down at Eclipse.

"I'm not sure."

Shaurya crossed his arms.

"It probably revealed a memory."

"A memory?"

Shaurya nodded.

"Living Weapons often possess unique abilities."

His gaze moved toward Eclipse.

"Looks like yours can pull memories from people's hearts."

Maya looked surprised.

"Seriously?"

The spear glowed softly.

Almost as if confirming the answer.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Maya suddenly smiled.

"That's actually pretty cool."

Shaurya laughed.

"Only you would call that cool."

"Why not?"

Maya pointed toward Dev.

"It showed someone important to him."

The smile slowly disappeared from Dev's face.

Someone important.

That was an understatement.

Rani wasn't just important.

She had been his entire world.

Without realizing it, Dev's hand slowly tightened.

The darkness inside him stirred.

The familiar voice whispered softly.

"You still miss her."

Dev ignored it.

"Interesting."

The voice laughed quietly.

"Even after all that bloodshed..."

"You still remain weak."

Dev's expression darkened.

Not here.

Not now.

He refused to listen.

Then suddenly—

A loud voice echoed throughout the hall.

"NEXT!"

The examiner stood near the circle.

His gaze moved across the remaining candidates.

The line had become much shorter now.

Most participants had already completed their trials.

Dev's heart tightened.

His turn was approaching.

Fast.

Very fast.

Maya noticed immediately.

"You're nervous."

Dev immediately looked away.

"No."

"You're lying."

Shaurya nodded.

"Definitely lying."

Dev sighed.

For some reason, it was impossible to hide anything around these two.

Then Maya suddenly smiled.

"You'll be fine."

Dev almost laughed.

If only she knew.

If only she knew what lived inside him.

The candidate before him entered the circle.

Moments later, a white light appeared.

A longsword materialized.

The crowd applauded.

Another success.

Then another candidate entered.

A bow appeared.

Success again.

Then another.

And another.

The line continued shrinking.

Dev felt his heartbeat growing faster.

Not because of the examination.

Because of the Devil.

If the Hall detected Devil contracts...

Then everything was over.

The image of the burning candidate flashed through his mind again.

Ashes.

Nothing but ashes.

His fists clenched.

For the first time in years...

Dev genuinely wanted to run away.

Then suddenly—

The voice inside him spoke again.

"You're afraid."

Dev remained silent.

"How pathetic."

The darkness laughed.

"After destroying an entire kingdom..."

"You're afraid of a circle?"

Dev gritted his teeth.

"Shut up."

Maya blinked.

"Huh?"

Dev froze.

He hadn't meant to say it aloud.

Quickly, he shook his head.

"Nothing."

Shaurya raised an eyebrow.

"You're acting weird."

Dev looked away.

"I know."

Fortunately, neither of them pushed further.

Then suddenly—

"NEXT!"

The examiner's voice echoed again.

The hall became silent.

Because this time...

There was only one candidate left before Dev.

One.

His heartbeat echoed inside his ears.

THUMP.

THUMP.

THUMP.

The final candidate stepped into the circle.

White light appeared.

A dagger materialized.

Success.

The examiner nodded.

Then his gaze moved toward Dev.

"YOU."

The entire hall seemed to stop moving.

Dev felt every eye turning toward him.

His breathing slowed.

His body felt strangely heavy.

This was it.

The moment he had been fearing.

Maya smiled encouragingly.

"You've got this."

Shaurya nodded.

"Just relax."

Dev looked at both of them silently.

Then slowly...

He stepped forward.

One step.

Then another.

The distance between him and the circle disappeared.

The ancient symbols glowed faintly beneath his feet.

The examiner pointed toward the center.

"Sit."

Dev obeyed.

The moment he sat down—

A strange sensation spread throughout his body.

The symbols beneath him began glowing.

The hall became silent.

Thousands of eyes watched him.

Waiting.

Watching.

Judging.

Dev slowly closed his eyes.

And immediately—

The world disappeared.

Darkness consumed everything.

A familiar darkness.

One he had seen before.

Then suddenly—

A voice echoed through the void.

A voice he knew all too well.

The Devil was waiting.