Chapter 121: Chapter 121:True Name Chapter 121: True Name Zara HeartWeaver. The moment Noah spoke those words, the moment he chose her name and said it aloud— Something stirred. The Akashic Records—how could they stay silent in this moment? Especially when Noah was involved? They couldn’t, so— {Ding! Ding! Ding!} {Noah Weaverheart, you are attempting to name a being that is not one of your creations.} {A name is an identity. Something tied to one’s very existence.} {Changing her name means changing her identity.} A pause. Then, the Akashic Records sent a notification to each of them—Noah and Zara: {Do you wish to continue?} Noah said nothing at first. He looked at Zara, letting the choice rest with her. After all, it was her name. But Zara just smiled. "HeartWeaver? I like it a lot." Noah had told her: Take the first step, and you’ll see it’s not as difficult or as scary as you think. She had already taken that first step—so why would she fear this one? Why fear changing her name, her existence, when she was finally happy? She was determined to never become her old self again. "I wish to continue," she said softly, firmly. "I wish to change my name to HeartWeaver." "From now on, I am Zara HeartWeaver." Her mind was set. Her heart settled peacefully in her chest. Noah smiled proudly at her, giving her a thumbs-up. {WONDERFUL!} {You have changed your very name, your very existence.} {Your new recorded name is now Zara HeartWeaver.} {For this feat—for your courage to let go of your past self, for your determination to transform—you have received a title.} {Title received: The Weaver of Hearts.} Zara’s name changed—and instantly, she felt the difference. Something deep inside her shifted. Altered. And now she felt... stronger. Liberated. Happy. But Zara wasn’t the only one receiving something from the Akashic Records. {Noah Weaverheart, you are the cause of this change.} {Your presence and words were worthy.} {You were worthy. You are worthy. You will be worthy.} {You have accomplished feat after feat impossible for a being of your world and level of existence.} {The Akashic Records are amazed by you.} {You have received a new trait as a gift.} {Trait: The Giver of Name.} {Truly, you are fantastic... Noah.} {Current state of existence: 9000.} {Next threshold: 20000.} The notifications fell silent. Noah looked at them and couldn’t help but smile. ’The Akashic Records don’t seem so robotic now, do they?’he mused inwardly. ’Right, system?’ [Indeed.] ’Any idea why?’ [That’s how it responds to worthy beings. You are... a being of interest.] ’So that means there’s a being—or several beings—behind it?’ [Don’t bother with that. You are far too weak, Host, to investigate the Akashic Records.] Noah chuckled softly, unsurprised. What a cliché response. ’Never mind then. I’ll figure it out eventually... if I don’t die first.’ He laughed, not really believing death was coming for him anytime soon. Give me the new trait description. [The Giver of Name: Your words carry weight. They are recognized by the Akashic Records. You can now bestow a "True Name" on people, and that name will grant them ability tied to it. Note: Applicable only to your women.] Noah’s eyes flew wide. "WHAT??" he blurted, shocked. Zara immediately looked up, concern flashing in her eyes. "What’s wrong?" she asked, hurrying over. The worry in her face warmed Noah’s heart. "Nothing," he murmured, pulling her into his arms. He hugged her close, their heartbeats falling into a gentle, perfect rhythm. Zara melted into his embrace. She had never known that being held by someone you love could be so peaceful... so addictive. With a soft sigh, she closed her eyes, resting quietly. After all the crying, after all the emotional storms, she deserved rest. Soon, she drifted into the dream world, slipping away peacefully. Noah watched her and smiled. Then, his thoughts turned back to his new trait. ’System, even if I’m used to being overpowered—but this feels like a lot. Isn’t this basically like giving titles?’ [Not quite. A "true name" is different. Every higher being has a true name. Sometimes it’s one of the titles the Akashic Records assigns; sometimes it’s a name they choose themselves. But the fact remains: a true name is unique, unchangeable, and tied to you forever. Titles, you can stack infinitely—true names, you only get one.] [A true name also reveals, in a sense, your divine attribute.] [That’s why higher beings don’t reveal their true names unless they’re deeply close to someone.] [And you, Host, only have the authority to name your women. Granting the power to name anything or anyone else would be too much.] Noah nodded thoughtfully. ’A true name, huh...’ If a true name revealed the attribute of a higher being, then— ’I can give my women the most absurdly powerful true names to match their specialties, right?’ He smirked, already plotting. Honestly, he didn’t mind that he could only name his women. That was enough. He smiled, glancing back at the sleeping Zara. "You’ve given me so much," he murmured. He couldn’t help but caress her cheek tenderly. In her sleep, Zara smiled at his touch. And Noah smiled, too. Honestly— Zara might just become our new favorite. Right? ... Elsewhere, at the training grounds of the Apex Academy— Aphasia sat cross-legged on the ground, her breathing calm, her body still. All around her, basic elemental spirits danced and chirped, their tiny voices filling the air. But among them floated another presence. A rare one. The shadow spirits. Thanks to the bracelet Noah had given her—Shadowy Love—she had managed to win the shadow spirit’s trust. Not command. Not domination. But trust. Now, they worked as partners. Not master and servant, but equals. A relationship of mutual benefit and respect. Aphasia smiled softly at the spirits surrounding her. Since she’d stopped trying to control them and chose to bond with them instead, her talent had blossomed like never before. She realized now—she had been using her gift all wrong. "Noah helped me figure this out," she murmured, fingertips brushing over the bracelet as she thought of him. And even if he was a player... "I can’t help but like him," she admitted, shaking her head with a smile. She didn’t care. Noah was worthy. And he had helped her, truly. "But I wonder what my parents would say if I told them I love a human..." Her smile dimmed slightly. Her parents were fiercely protective, fiercely proud of their bloodline. They would never want it "tainted." But— "It’s my life. I’ll choose who I want." No way in hell would she marry one of those cousins just to keep the bloodline "pure." She wasn’t sure yet about the depth of her feelings for Noah. But one thing was certain— Right now, she would choose him over anyone. And that— [Aphasia’s feelings for you have reached 60%.] —was a good step forward. —End of Chapter 121—