Chapter Text
Cassie had been acting strange.
Again.
'What's wrong with her?' Sunny frowned as he sat on one of the chairs the cohort used during their meetings. 'I'm not dumb enough to miss the fact that she's been avoiding me.' He frowned even deeper.
'Did I do something? Was it... my smell?' Sunny discreetly sniffed himself. 'I'm pretty sure I showered. Thoroughly.'
A moment later, he nodded in satisfaction.
No.
That definitely wasn't it. He smelled fabulous.
'Damn right I do.'
Sunny shrugged. 'Whatever... Cassie was a problem for the future Sunless.'
The current Sunless had more important things to worry about, it seems.
With that, he went back to his humble Castle.
***
Somewhere in the Dark City, two girls sat in a small room.
Each stood out in their own way.
One was the beacon of hope the people of the Forgotten Shore desperately clung to.
The other possessed a quiet, gentle beauty that seemed strangely untouched by the cruelty of this ruined world.
Nephis and Cassie.
"...Cassie, tell me. What happened?" The silver-haired girl regarded the blind girl with her usual calm expression.
Cassie hesitated. Should she tell Nephis what she had seen? She couldn't decide whether the truth would bring salvation... or disaster.
"What happened to what, Neph?"
Nephis simply stared at her.
Cassie didn't need sight to make it obvious that she wasn't buying the act.
"...I've noticed you've been avoiding Sunny, Cas. What's wrong? Did he do something?" Nephis asked quietly.
If Sunny—her friend—had somehow hurt Cassie... She didn't know what she would do.
Cassie was important to her.
Sunny was important to her.
There was no "more". There was no "less". They were both precious.
"...Nothing, Neph. It's just..." Cassie lowered her head.
Should she lie? Or tell her the truth?
After a moment of silence, she chose the former.
"I'm still a girl, you know. I... haven't showered in a while. Gods..." She forced a weak smile. "I wouldn't want Sunny to smell my... stench."
Bullshit.
The word echoed silently in Nephis's mind. She knew Cassie was lying. She simply couldn't understand why. But she knows better than to pry when it comes to Cassie.
"...Alright.
After a moment of silence, Nephis stood.
I'm going hunting. We still need food." She paused at the doorway. Then, after one last glance at Cassie's lowered head, she quietly left.
The door creaked shut. Silence filled the room. Cassie remained where she was.
Lost From Light.
Sunny's True Name.
'Why...?'
Why would someone kill to protect something like that?
A chill ran down her spine. It felt as though Sunny himself were standing behind her.
'If he finds out I know... what will he do to me?'
She hugged herself.
'I can't pretend nothing happened anymore.'
Then there was the vision.
[ The Angels being devoured by the Hungry Shadows. ]
Cassie let out a quiet sigh. 'Even a child could understand what that meant.'
She turned toward the window. Beyond it... only darkness waited.
For obvious reason, it reminded her of Sunny.
Once again... she shivered.
Yet despite everything... She couldn't suppress her curiosity.
What does his True Name actually do?
If learning the answer could save Nephis... Then she would learn it. No matter what. For the sake of the first friend she'd ever had ever since succumbing to the Nightmare Spell.
Her savior.
***
The next day unfolded much like every other. The Outskirts of the Dark City buzzed with life. Sleepers walked the streets.
Sunny and Effie were nowhere to be seen.
For Cassie... that was a relief.
Nephis, as always, attracted attention wherever she went.
People admired her. Praised her. Placed their hopes upon her shoulders.
Yet no one dared step too close.
Not even hope was something they believed they deserved to touch.
Kai was nearby. Cassie couldn't tell exactly where. Probably circling the city from above. Sometimes she still found it unbelievable. Who would've imagined she'd end up in a cohort alongside her idol?
Certainly not she herself, only them.
Caster, meanwhile, remained close to Nephis.
Always close. Cassie had noticed it long ago. At first, she thought it was strange.
Eventually...
She simply accepted it. Everyone knew why.
Caster had become the replacement for Sunny.
Stronger. Faster. Better suited to stand beside Nephis.
At least, that's what everyone believed.
Cassie didn't. Neither did Nephis.
If Sunny and Caster ever fought...
Both of them would choose Sunny without hesitation.
Not because they favored him. Because Sunny will cheat.
Not literally. He simply refused to fight fairly.
Every Memory. Every trick. Every lie. Every opportunity. He would use everything at his disposal until victory became inevitable.
That was what made him frightening.
Still... what puzzled Cassie most wasn't Caster's strength.
It was his possessiveness.
Whenever someone approached Nephis... she could almost feel his gaze harden. It lasted only an instant. Barely noticeable. But her heightened senses never missed it.
As for Cassie...
She stood quietly where she always did. Greeting those who recognized her with a polite nod. She wore her usual clothes.
And yes...
She had showered.
'Do you really think I don't shower? Hmph.'
She blinked.
"...Huh?"
'Who's 'you'...?'
Thud.
Someone walked straight into her.
'...Use your eyes, damn it.' She scoffed internally
The young Sleeper hurriedly bowed. "I'm so sorry!"
Cassie smiled politely. "It's alright. Please don't mind me. Go on."
The Sleeper thanked her before quickly leaving. He never noticed how forced her smile had been.
Cassie sighed. 'Seriously... I'm supposed to be the one bumping into people.'
She lifted her face toward the blue sky. It was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
A reminder that the Forgotten Shore could still deceive people into believing it was peaceful.
A week. I have one week...
Before Sunny and Effie return.
*** — Time skip
"You... you have no... no honor." The old man said, slowly falling off to the ground.
"...That does it." Sunny said, still wearing the [Weaver's Mask].
Just as he was about to go and look for Nephis, a figure appeared behind him. Which he felt, and then looked at the figure..
"...Cassie?" He muttered
"...Sunny." She spat back.
...
"What... what the hell are you doing here?!" he asked, his voice rising. He immediately dismissed the Weaver's Mask and took a step toward her.
Then he stopped.
The moment he moved, Cassie shivered.
His heart sank.
"...Cassie, we'll talk... but not today. Please. Go... go through the Gateway." He forced himself to stay calm. "I still have to find Neph. She's... out there. You know that, right? She needs help with the abomination."
Cassie almost laughed.
Really.
"Will you really help her, Sunny? Or... will you kill her while she's weakened?"
There was neither warmth nor mercy in her voice.
'...Right. Of course she knows. Those damned visions of hers!' Sunny cursed inwardly, desperately searching for an excuse.
But he knew it was pointless.
"Leave, Cassie... please," he pleaded.
She didn't move.
"...Sunny, wh—"
She was interrupted by the sound of someone descending from the sky.
Kai.
As soon as he landed, his gaze shifted between Sunny and Cassie. "Sunny? Miss Cassie? What... what's going on? Where's Lady Nephis?"
Before Kai or Cassie could react, Sunny disappeared from their sight. The next instant, the edge of his hand struck Cassie's neck. knocking her unconscious.
Kai's eyes widened.
"H-Huh?! Sunny, wha— what did you—"
He was cut off.
"Kai... please. Take Cassie out of here. Leave through the Gateway. Right now. I have... something I need to finish."
Sunny's expression was urgent. And strangely... pained.
"...What do you mean?" Kai asked, catching Cassie before she hit the ground. "The Gateway is right there. We can all leave."
'Shit. I can't exactly tell him Nephis and I are about to fight.'
He needed something believable. A half-truth.
"I'm looking for Nephis. She... fought the abomination alone. I'm worried she won't be able to reach the Gateway by herself." He looked Kai straight in the eyes. "Please."
It wasn't a lie.
"...Sunny..."
Kai hesitated for a moment before nodding. "...Alright. I'll trust you."
The moment those words left his mouth, Sunny sprinted into the darkness.
Kai looked after him for only a second before taking to the skies, carrying the unconscious Cassie in his arms.
***
"Sunny..why did you have to kill Caster.." Nephis groaned, sitting while looking up at him.
"...What, he's the assassin sent to kill you." He replied, deadpanned.
"I know... But now, look at your attributes." He quickly did so. "See now? That means, one must stay behind to keep the Gateway functioning."
"...So, it all comes down to this? Well, it's not like we didn't know this would not happen." He said. Deadpanned, because he already knows what will happen. Cassie had told them.
"Indeed." She replied, with a smile of hurt in her face
"...I don't suppose you'll stay behind and let me go?" He said, a small smirk forming in his lips.
"...Not a chance." She replied, wistfully smiling, too.
***
Her eyes slowly fluttered open. Her hair swayed in the wind.
'Where... am I?'
Then she realized Kai was carrying her. They were so... so high up.
Judging by the dirt on her clothes, it couldn't have been more than a minute since Sunny had knocked her unconscious.
...Nephis.
NEPHIS!
"Kai! L-Let... put me down! Hurry!" Cassie squirmed frantically in his arms, startling Kai.
"Miss Cassie?! W-Wait! Hold on! Don't move too much!" Kai's grip nearly loosened, but he managed to steady himself before tightening his hold on her.
"Hurry, Kai! Nephis... she..." Her voice trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Kai glanced at her before coming to a complete stop in midair. 'What is happening?'
"Lady Nephis...? What about her?" he asked, worry creeping into his voice.
"She'll die...
...
By Sunny's hand...
So... please... go to Sunny and Nephis..." She spoke between broken sobs.
Kai's expression darkened.
Without another question, he turned around and shot through the sky, following the directions Cassie gave him.
***
Two people, both bloodied, one standing tall, one on her knees.
With his back to her, Sunny stared into the darkness. After a few moments, he closed his eyes and sighed.
'...Over.' He thought
A second or two later, he stood up, turned around, and walked toward the broken figure of the young woman, who was still trying to reach for her sword, blood spilling from her mouth.
As Sunny's shadow fell on Nephis, she gritted her teeth and spat:
"It's… it's not over yet… I still can… I can…"
Ruthlessly throwing the silver long sword away with the tip of his boot, Sunny looked at her from above and said in a tired, listless voice:
"You can't. It's over, Neph."
Then, he looked away, at the shining dais of the Gateway. His face was hidden in the shadows.
Should he end it now? Can he actually... kill Nephis?
Slowly, he walked towards her and said..
"Congratulations, Neph. You almost got me." He looked at her, really looked, and Nephis did the same.
"I don't... understand." She mutters. Her skin covered by white flames.
Sunny sighed. "Do you really think you can deceive me?" He was now infront of her.
"Sunny... I don't.. understand." She said once more.
Sunny was about to place a hand on Nephis's shoulder when a shout rang out.
Not from him. Not from Nephis.
Cassie.
"Stop, Lost From Light!" she screamed.
He froze.
Half because of the shock. Half because of the command.
He felt the tapestry of Fate stir around him.
One thread was so black that only those bearing the [Child of Shadows] Attribute could perceive it. Another shone with a radiant golden light, while the silver thread light slowly dim.
The golden thread forcefully tried to intertwine with the black thread. The black thread resisted with the help of the silver one—the thread that is intertwined with it.
But it was futile.
Fate wished for it.
And so, black and gold became one, while the silver thread was torn away from the black one.
Black and Gold. Their fates had intertwined. Silver was left astray.
Nephis, who stood before him, looked toward Cassie.
'Lost From Light?'
Then she looked back at Sunny. Her eyes widened.
Sunny... wasn't moving. He wasn't even breathing.
'Did she just... order Sunny... and he obeyed?' Nephis thought, bewildered.
'Damn it... damn it... damn it!' Sunny's mind screamed. 'How?! How the hell did she know?! How the hell did she find out?!'
Yet he remained perfectly still.
A few seconds later, Kai landed on the ground, giving Cassie the freedom to walk again. She hurried toward Nephis.
Her expression darkened the moment she saw the two of them.
Nephis's body was battered and covered in blood.
Sunny looked even worse.
Her face twisted in anguish. She had known they were destined to fight. She had known Sunny would win.
But still... Does he have no remorse to leave his friend in such state? Cassie knew she was being biased, but she didn't mind.
Nephis's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Cassie? Kai? What... what are you two doing here? Why haven't you left yet? And... why is Sunny... not moving? Or even breathing?" She looked at Sunny's frozen figure.
Hearing that, Cassie quickly turned to him. 'Is... is that what his True Name does to him...?'
She swallowed nervously.
"...You can... move now."
The moment the words left her mouth, Sunny lunged at Cassie.
Nephis saw it instantly.
Using the precious moments of rest she had gained, she forced herself to move. She shoved Cassie aside just as Sunny reached them. Kai caught Cassie before she could hit the ground.
She stared at Sunny. 'Why.. would he hurt Cassie? I know you're not... like this, Sun—' But then, her eyes caught his eyes. There was hatred, sadness, and fear. '..Huh?'
Cassie's voice rang out once again. To everyone else, it sounded heavenly, almost divine. But to Sunless, it was like a call of a numerous nightmare Gate Seed. Or the mocking voice of the spell. "Don't hurt me!"
And with that, his will to kill Cassie was greatly suppressed. Nephis, who witnessed this was shocked. '...What?'
Kai, who was still holding Cassie could only look at Sunny with a saddened expression.
"...You.. How did you know, damn it.." Sunny groaned. Looking directly at Cassia's eyes. Fear was now the dominant emotion he felt when he looked at her, and hatred came second.
"...I saw it. In.. a vision." She said.
"..." Right. Of course. Just his luck. 'No wonder she was avoiding me. She knows I'll kill her once I find out she knows my True Name.'.
Sunny looked at the ground. It helped suppress his anger somehow.
Nephis who was just staring spoke. "...What is going on?"
Which was followed by a "mh! mh!" by Kai. Who looked eager to know what the hell was currently happening between his friends and best friend.
"Cassie, what did you do to Sunny? Why is he.. following you? And Lost From Light? Is that.. a true name?" She looked at Cassie, who was shamelessly looking at Sunny.
"...Yes, a True Name. His true name." Cassie pointed at Sunny.
Kai spoke. "Sunny.. has a True Name...? But that doesn't explain this.. situation, Miss Cassie. Why is he... following your orders?" Kai slowly walked towards Sunny, his best friend. The moment he saw his eyes, he almost fell to the floor. He was hurt, sad. But there was a cold hatred behind those. Kai froze where he stood.
"...Great! Spread it more, let the whole world know, you Seer!" He cursed at her as he spat on the ground. 'Damn it...'
"...Sunny, what does your True Name.. does to you?" Nephis asked. He stared at her. For a few seconds, he didn't speak, enduring his Flaw. Not until Cassie said "Sunny, say it."
With a grunt, he did. Fully detailed, too.
"... It's an Innate ability of mine. [Shadow Bond]. : Find a worthy master and let them know your True Name. Once they recite it out loud, you will be bound to their will, unable to disobey any command. It is improper for a shadow, let alone a divine one, to walk around without a master." He said, not removing his gaze from Cassie.
Nephis and Kai were baffled. Cassie, was slightly shocked. Their gazes quickly whipped to Cassia.
"...Neph, Kai.. we should go. The.. this place is—" Cassia was cut off by Nephis.
"...No, Cassie.. I'll... be staying." Hearing that, Sunny's eyes widened. Cassia's unfocused eyes locked onto Nephis. Kai, too, looked at her.
"Wha—" Cassie was immediately cut off again.
"No, Cassie. Go... go leave. This place won't last much longer... Please." Nephis looked saddened. She doesn't know the reason. Was it because she's going to be alone again, in this hell? Or is it because of Cassie enslaving Sunny? Probably both.
Sunny's eyes was still on Nephis. He doesn't know what to do. His heart says to go, to insist on going with her. But his mind — clouded by the hatred for Cassie — says otherwise. And so, he kept silent.
Kai who look like he finally got his ground, spoke. "...Why.. Why are you leaving behind, Lady Nephis..?"
"...Look at your attributes. Surely, you guys have it too."
And so, Cassie and Kai did.
[Soul Conduit.]
Their eyes went wide. Kai quickly looked at Nephis and Sunny.. While Cassie... she kept staring at her runes.
...Slave : Lost From Light.
Aspect Rank : Divine.
Rank : Dreamer.
Class : Beast.
Flaw : [ Clear Conscience ]
After looking at her runes for a while, she finally looked at her friends.
"...As much as I want to talk about what just happened.. There is simply no time. Leave, Cassie, Kai.. and Sunny." Nephis said.
Kai was still looking at Sunny, torn between hugging him or leaving right now.
Cassie's expression was filled with horror. 'Leave..? Without her? No!'
But then, his voice cut through the atmosphere.
"Damn it. Go, Nephis I'd rather...be stuck here than stay in a world where I'm enslaved. Go!" With that, Nephis and Cassie looked at him.
"Sunny, you.. you can't survive in this place.. alone." Nephis said, clearly against his idea.
'...What?' Is the only thing Cassie could say in her mind. This isn't what is supposed to happen, right? It was supposed to be Nephis stay, Sunny leaves. Did she just.. defy Fate?
Kai wasn't talking. Sure, he doesn't want his best friend to stay. But he was scared. He, too, doesn't want to stay in this place.
"Kai, please." Sunny said as he looked at Kai. "Take Nephis." His head whipped towards where the Gateway is.
'I could.... probably run there right now.. if it weren't for this damn Seer.
My.. Master.' He grimaced.
"Sunny, you don't have any healing abilities. I do. So, please, let me do this..." Nephis said once more. But was quickly knocked out by Sunny. It was easy, her guard was down. Cassie and Kai looked shocked at his action.
"Take her, Kai. I'll be.. okay. I hope." And then, he looked at Cassie. Fear and Hatred quickly enveloped his heart and mind. "So? Planning to just stare? Go leave, damn it. Don't die, because.. I'll be the one killing you, Cassia."
Cassie shivered, but.. strangely... she wasn't actually afraid. "...Sunny."
"Sunless. It's Sunless for you." He spat.
Cassie's heart was torn with that. She couldn't understand why she felt this way. It was obvious he'd hate her. She enslaved him. She prepared for this, even while not knowing what his True Name does to him...
Kai picked Nephis up, and put her arm around his shoulder. And took a quick look at Sunny. His eyes were like saying 'Please, Sunny.. Come back. Stay safe. Don't... die on us.'
Cassie spoke. Clearly, not used to the Shadow Bond.
"Survive. Come back to us quickly, Sunny. I'll.. be waiting.
And with that, they left.
Leaving Sunless alone.
Leaving Lost From Light alone.
Leaving the slave of Cassia alone.
All alone.
In this Hell called the Dream Realm.