It was a bright morning in Bastion as the man known as Master Sunless slept peacefully in bed.
His beautiful black hair was scattered across the pristine sheets, his head resting comfortably against a pillow.
His face was the picture of calm in that moment, his expression peaceful and serene.
So much so that a certain someone could stare at it all morning.
That someone was, of course, Changing Star of the Immortal Flame.
However, soon the peace was broken when—
Sunless's eyes flew open.
He turned in bed just in time to receive a flying projectile.
"Papa!"
Orphany climbed onto his bed and jumped onto his stomach, causing a light puff of air to escape him.
She didn't stop.
Standing up, Orphany started jumping around him.
"Papapapa! Come on, come on, come on! We're late!"
She exclaimed with a bright smile.
Indeed, today was the day Master Sunless was supposed to meet the King of Swords.
And, for Orphany—
The day she would finally see Pretty Miss's castle.
Yet—
Sunless frowned and slowly sat up.
"..."
"Come on!"
"It's barely five, Birdy."
Indeed.
The sun had barely risen.
Orphany didn't seem to care.
"Come on, please!"
"We have hours, Birdy. Go back to bed."
"Nooooo!"
Sunless sighed as he sat up properly and looked at her.
"Birdy!"
Orphany immediately stood at attention, her lips twitching into a smile.
Sunless stared at her.
"It's too early—"
"It's not! It's morning already! Wake up!"
"By the dead gods, you are a bird," Sunless teased.
"Let's go!"
She didn't seem to care.
Sunless sighed.
"Listen. If you stay up now, you'll get tired and fall asleep later. Then you won't be able to look around the castle for long. You want that?"
Orphany's face fell.
"No..."
Then she immediately raised her head.
"But I won't get tired! I promise!"
"Uh-huh?"
Sunless raised an eyebrow.
With another sigh, he grabbed his tunic and pulled it on.
Quite a shame, huh?
Lying back down, he called the girl closer.
"Here's the deal. If you can lie here for ten minutes without falling asleep, we'll get ready."
"Papa!"
"Scared?"
Orphany blinked.
Then huffed.
She marched across the small bed and plopped herself beside him.
"I won't fall asleep!"
Orphany pouted as she stared determinedly at the ceiling.
"Is that so?"
Sunless lay beside her and placed a hand gently on her hair.
"Yes!"
...
A few moments later—
Orphany was drooling in her sleep.
Sunless looked at her.
Then chuckled lightly.
He leaned closer and kissed her forehead.
"Oh well. Might as well start the day."
...
A few hours later, Sunless and Orphany stood in the hall.
Sunless carefully placed one final hairpin into her hair.
Orphany turned around once he was done.
Sunless kissed the top of her head once again.
Now neat and tidy, Orphany stood proudly before him in a dress, carrying a little handbag. A summer hat rested on her head, making her look as adorable as always.
"Alright, Birdy. Let's go."
Sunless dismissed a storage Memory.
Then his gaze moved toward another, more advanced one.
A small, hopeful smile appeared on his face before he took it with him.
His own clothes were normal, as usual.
He wore clothing more commonly seen in the Dream Realm: a tunic tied around his waist with a sash, loose black pants, and high boots. The sleeves around his arms were somewhat shorter than those of his usual clothes at home.
Despite the lack of extravagance, the man looked majestic as always.
"Alright! Let's go!"
Orphany raised one hand into the air and began marching toward the door.
Sunless smiled.
"Are you taking me, or am I taking you?"
"Me! I'm walking ahead!"
Sunless chuckled.
Then promptly picked her up.
"No, you're not. Let's go."
"Let's go!"
Orphany settled comfortably into his arms, practically vibrating with excitement.
Sunless and Orphany reached the castle, where the guards let them through without issue.
They had already been expecting him.
They didn't have to walk far before Nephis appeared, accompanied by several Fire Keepers.
Sunless smiled.
Orphany beamed the moment she saw her.
"Pretty Miss!"
She immediately started trying to wriggle out of Sunless's grasp.
"Careful."
He lowered her to the ground.
Orphany ran straight toward Nephis.
Then something happened that almost no one in Valor had ever seen.
Nephis knelt down.
A smile appeared on her face as she received the little girl in a hug.
...
The guards and residents alike stopped what they were doing.
They stared.
"What the hell?"
"That's a smile?"
"She can smile?"
"I told you we're still in that mind hex from three years ago."
"Shut up."
Neither Sunless nor Nephis cared.
Nephis stood and turned toward him.
"Good morning, Master Sunless."
She was still smiling.
"Good morning to you as well, my lady."
Nephis looked Master Sunless up and down.
Something resembling approval flashed through her eyes.
Sunless tilted his head.
Nephis blinked.
Then looked away.
The tips of her ears turned red.
"Let's go, Master Sunless. We have a light walk ahead."
Sunless smiled.
Meanwhile, Orphany was staring up at the enormous castle in complete awe.
Sunless and Nephis both looked at her.
"Birdy."
Orphany looked at him.
"To the castle."
"Yes!"
...
A man was walking down one of the castle halls when he noticed Nephis turning a corner.
It was the same man who had bowed to her in the hallway a few days ago.
Seeing the woman again, he immediately tensed and reminded himself not to look into those cold eyes.
Then—
A black-haired man turned the corner beside her.
'Poor guy.'
However—
His eyes widened.
Because he saw a—
'Smile?!'
Orphany happily hopped around the two of them while the Fire Keepers followed with light smiles of their own.
Nephis patiently answered every question the little girl threw at her.
"So this is the entrance?"
"Yes."
"And then the court hall?"
"Courtyard first."
"And then the court?"
"There are some other things. But yes."
"Are there lots of rooms?"
"Yes."
"More than five?"
"More than fifty."
"Ahh!"
"Birdy."
Sunless's tone made Orphany turn toward him.
Nephis almost giggled.
The man, however—
His mouth fell open.
He remained rooted in place as the strange group walked straight past him without noticing.
Only after they were gone did he manage to choke out—
"Who's that?"
...
"Wow~"
Orphany stared upward in wonder.
Sunless placed a hand against the back of her head before she could fall over from leaning too far back.
"Birdy, we went over walking several years ago."
His voice was filled with humor.
"But the roof!"
Orphany pointed upward.
"We're walking."
"The curtains are all the way up there!"
Sunless sighed.
Then simply picked her up.
Orphany remained mesmerized by the distant ceiling and enormous curtains.
Nephis pressed her lips together.
She was very clearly trying not to smile.
But there was something else.
Sunless glanced around.
Nephis walked one step ahead.
Another glance.
There were many of them.
Legacies.
Enough of them.
The Legacies of the Sword Domain and its subordinate clans had been giving Sunless hostile looks since before he had even entered the gates.
But now—
Whenever they were outside Nephis's line of sight—
Some openly glared at him.
Sunless said nothing.
Eventually, they reached a large staircase overlooking an open courtyard.
Nephis stopped and turned toward them.
"Master Sunless, if you could wait a moment, I'll go and see if the King is on his way. Otherwise, we'll go to the waiting room first."
Sunless smiled.
"Of course, my lady. We'll wait."
He looked at Orphany.
"Maybe I'll show her around a little right here."
Nephis smiled.
Orphany finally returned from her little world of wonder and looked at Nephis.
"Ahh! You're going already?!"
Her face immediately fell.
She reached toward her.
"Please don't go!"
Nephis smiled softly.
She leaned closer.
Orphany reached out and touched her silver hair.
Their little thing.
"Don't worry. I'll be back really soon. You won't have to wait long."
Orphany pursed her lips.
"You promise?"
Nephis smiled softly as she patted Orphne's hair.
"Promise."
Orphne remained pouting for another moment before finally letting go.
Nephis rose and looked toward Master Sunless.
"I'll be back shortly."
Sunless smiled.
"Of course, my lady. Take your time."
Nephis hesitated for just a moment before turning away.
Several Fire Keepers followed her into the adjoining halls while three remained behind with Sunless and Orphne.
The little girl watched Nephis disappear through the doorway before looking around the enormous courtyard again.
"Papa, can I look around?"
Sunless glanced across the open space.
"Right here."
Orphne's face fell.
"Only here?"
"Only here."
"But—"
"Birdy."
She puffed her cheeks.
"...Okay."
Sunless smiled and lightly patted the top of her head.
"Good birdy."
That seemed to satisfy her.
Orphne immediately wandered toward the nearby stone railing, staring down into another courtyard below.
"Papa!"
"Hm?"
"There's another one!"
Sunless looked over.
"So there is."
"Why do they need two?"
"I haven't the slightest idea."
Orphne turned around with wide eyes.
"You don't know?"
Sunless placed a hand over his chest.
"Terrifying, isn't it?"
One of the Fire Keepers laughed quietly.
Orphne stared at him for a second before giggling and returning to her exploration.
Sunless watched her for a moment.
Then his gaze shifted.
Several people were approaching.
Young men and women.
Legacy Awakened and Masters belonging to the Sword Domain and its subordinate clans.
None of them were particularly important.
None were people Sunless recognized.
Yet their expressions made it clear that they knew exactly who he was.
One of the men stopped several steps away.
"So you're Master Sunless."
Sunless turned toward him.
"I am."
The man looked him over.
His expression was openly unimpressed.
"You don't look like much."
Sunless smiled faintly.
"I've been told that before."
One of the women beside him spoke.
"So the rumors are true."
Sunless tilted his head.
"Which rumors?"
"That Lady Changing Star has been spending her time at your establishment."
There was something strange in the way she said the word.
Sunless, however, seemed entirely unbothered.
"My lady visits whenever she wishes."
The first man scoffed.
"Convenient."
Sunless looked at him.
The young Legacy crossed his arms.
"An independent Master appears in Bastion. Opens a little café. Somehow catches Lady Changing Star's attention."
His gaze moved toward the halls Nephis had disappeared into.
"And now you're being summoned personally by the King of Swords."
Sunless remained quiet for a moment.
Then he gave a mild smile.
"I admit, the last part surprised me as well."
One of the Fire Keepers had to look away.
The Legacy's expression worsened.
"You think this is amusing?"
"No."
Sunless's voice remained soft.
"I simply think there has been some misunderstanding."
"What misunderstanding?"
Sunless folded his hands loosely behind his back.
"Lady Changing Star is my friend."
A few of them visibly stiffened.
Sunless continued as though he hadn't noticed.
"She comes to my café because she wishes to. We spend time together because we both enjoy doing so."
The woman narrowed her eyes.
"And that's all?"
Sunless blinked.
"At present?"
There was a brief silence.
One of the Fire Keepers coughed into his fist.
The woman's expression became sharper.
"You seem rather comfortable saying that."
Sunless merely smiled.
"I was asked."
Another young man stepped forward.
"You're quite shameless."
"If you say so."
"You expect us to believe you aren't taking advantage of her attention?"
Sunless looked at him calmly.
"Yes."
The answer was so simple that the man paused.
Sunless continued.
"I don't particularly need you to believe me, though."
His tone remained pleasant.
There was no challenge in it.
No hostility.
Just a simple statement.
The first Legacy frowned.
"You've gained access to Lady Changing Star. Her favor. Her time. And now the King himself has taken notice of you."
Sunless nodded slightly.
"That is certainly one way to describe recent events."
"You don't deny it?"
"Why would I deny things that happened?"
The Legacy stared at him.
Sunless smiled.
"My disagreement would be with your interpretation of them."
Another woman spoke.
"Then explain it."
"There isn't much to explain."
Sunless glanced briefly toward the doorway Nephis had disappeared through.
"My lady came to my café."
His expression softened almost imperceptibly.
"I enjoyed her company."
He looked back at them.
"She continued coming."
A pause.
"I continued enjoying her company."
One of the Fire Keepers lowered her gaze to hide a smile.
The Legacies did not seem similarly amused.
One of them scoffed.
"So that's your defense?"
"I wasn't aware I was being tried."
The man's jaw tightened.
"You know exactly what we're talking about."
Sunless sighed quietly.
"I believe I do."
His voice remained gentle.
"But I also believe this conversation is becoming unnecessarily unpleasant."
He gestured lightly toward the courtyard.
"If you dislike me, that is perfectly fine."
Several of them blinked.
Sunless continued.
"You do not require my permission."
One of the men frowned.
"And if we think you're using Lady Changing Star?"
"You are free to think that as well."
"You don't care?"
Sunless considered the question.
"About your opinion of me?"
He smiled.
"Not particularly."
The Fire Keepers exchanged glances.
The Legacies seemed more irritated by his lack of offense.
The first man stepped closer.
"You act very confident for someone without a clan."
Sunless looked at him.
"I don't believe confidence requires one."
"You're standing in the heart of the Sword Domain."
"I noticed."
A Fire Keeper bit the inside of her cheek.
Another Legacy shook his head.
"Unbelievable."
Sunless smiled politely.
"If this is all, I would rather wait for my lady in peace."
He turned slightly, his attention already moving back toward Orphne.
That should have ended it.
Instead—
one of the Legacies looked past him.
Toward the little girl wandering several steps away.
His brows furrowed.
"And who's that?"
Sunless's gaze shifted back.
For the first time, the Fire Keepers' expressions changed.
Orphne had heard the question.
She looked over.
Then slowly made her way back toward her father.
As she approached, Sunless held one hand out toward her without taking his eyes off the group.
Orphne took it immediately.
"She's my daughter."
A brief silence followed.
The Legacy blinked.
"Your daughter?"
"Yes."
Orphne looked between the strangers before shifting a little closer to Sunless.
The first man stared at her, then at him.
"You brought your daughter here?"
"I was invited to the castle."
Sunless's voice remained perfectly mild.
"And I had no reason to leave her behind."
One of the women frowned.
"So Lady Changing Star has been spending time with her too?"
Sunless glanced down at Orphne.
"Yes."
Orphne smiled at the mention of Nephis.
"Pretty Miss is my friend!"
The Fire Keepers' expressions softened.
The Legacies' did not.
One of them let out a short laugh.
"Pretty Miss?"
Orphne looked at him.
"That's what I call her."
The man shook his head.
"Unbelievable."
Orphne's smile faded slightly.
She moved closer to Sunless's leg.
The first Legacy looked at Sunless again.
"So not only have you managed to attach yourself to Lady Changing Star, you've involved your daughter as well."
Sunless merely looked at him.
"I haven't involved her in anything."
"Oh?"
"No."
His voice remained soft.
"Orphne likes my lady. My lady likes Orphne."
He gave a small shrug.
"There isn't much more to it."
The woman crossed her arms.
"You're either incredibly naive or pretending to be."
"Perhaps."
"You seriously expect us to believe you don't understand what this looks like?"
Sunless sighed.
"I understand perfectly well what you believe it looks like."
"And?"
"And I disagree."
The first Legacy stepped closer again.
"You're an independent Master with no clan, no meaningful backing, and apparently a child to support."
One of the Fire Keepers frowned.
"That's enough."
Sunless raised one hand slightly.
The Fire Keeper paused.
He did not look offended.
If anything, he seemed tired of the conversation.
"Please."
His voice remained courteous.
"My circumstances are my concern."
"But Lady Changing Star's aren't."
"I agree."
That answer caught them off guard.
Sunless continued calmly.
"Which is precisely why whether she visits me, spends time with me, or chooses to befriend my daughter is entirely her decision."
A short silence followed.
The Fire Keeper nearest him looked faintly satisfied.
The Legacy clearly was not.
"You say that very easily."
"It is easy."
"Lady Changing Star has responsibilities."
"Yes."
"She's one of Valor's most important Saints."
"I am aware."
"She doesn't have the luxury of wasting her time."
Sunless smiled faintly.
"I would suggest telling her that yourself."
Several Fire Keepers suddenly found the courtyard very interesting.
The man scowled.
"You know what I mean."
"I believe I do."
His voice remained almost painfully patient.
"And as I said, my lady chooses how to spend her own time."
Orphne looked up at him.
Then toward the strangers.
She did not understand most of what they were discussing.
Only that they did not seem to like Papa very much.
Her small fingers tightened around his.
One of the women noticed.
Her eyes moved down to Orphne.
Then back to Sunless.
"Does she even have a mother?"
The Fire Keepers went still.
Sunless's expression did not change.
"No."
The answer was simple.
Orphne lowered her gaze.
The woman continued.
"So you are raising her alone."
"Yes."
"And now Lady Changing Star happens to be spending enough time around the two of you that the girl has a special name for her."
Sunless's fingers gently closed around Orphne's hand.
"My daughter's affection for someone is not part of whatever argument you are trying to make."
His voice was still soft.
Still polite.
But one of the Fire Keepers stepped closer nevertheless.
"Leave the kid out of this."
Another Legacy scoffed.
"Why? She's clearly part of it."
Sunless looked at him.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"She isn't."
The man ignored him.
"What exactly is your plan, Master Sunless?"
"I don't have one."
"Of course."
He gestured vaguely toward Orphne.
"You become close to Changing Star, let her grow attached to your daughter, and then what?"
Sunless's brows drew together slightly.
"Nothing."
The Legacy laughed.
"You expect anyone to believe that?"
"Believe whatever makes you happy."
Sunless glanced down at Orphne.
"Birdy, why don't you—"
"Please don't be mean to my Papa."
The little voice cut through the courtyard.
Everyone stopped.
Orphne was half-hidden behind Sunless now.
One arm wrapped around his leg while she peeked around him.
Her golden eyes stared uncertainly at the strangers.
The first Legacy frowned.
"Papa?"
Sunless looked down at her.
Orphne pressed herself a little closer to him.
Another man stared at the two of them before scoffing.
"So that's how it is."
Sunless raised his gaze again.
"What does that mean?"
The man's eyes moved toward Orphne.
"You really did bring the whole package."
One of the Fire Keepers stepped forward immediately.
"Watch your mouth."
The Legacy ignored him.
"Lady Changing Star already carries half the Domain on her shoulders. She doesn't need some café owner trying to make himself her responsibility."
Sunless remained silent.
The woman beside him added:
"Or his child."
Orphne's fingers tightened.
Sunless lowered his gaze toward her for only a moment.
Then looked back at them.
"Enough."
His voice had not risen.
There was no anger in it.
But this time there was no humor either.
The first Legacy shook his head.
"What? It's the truth."
"No."
Sunless's hand rested gently against Orphne's hair.
"You may say whatever you wish about me."
His fingers moved once through the black strands.
"Leave my daughter out of it."
The Legacy stared at him.
Then scoffed.
"That's precisely the problem."
Sunless said nothing.
"She's already involved."
The young man's gaze dropped toward Orphne.
"If you're going to pursue Lady Changing Star, at least have enough dignity not to expect her to carry your burdens as well."
...
Orphne did not understand much of what they had been saying.
Most of the words were too complicated.
Clans.
Responsibilities.
Domains.
She knew Pretty Miss was important.
She knew Papa liked Pretty Miss.
She knew Pretty Miss liked being with them.
But—
'Burden?'
Orphne blinked.
'That means... heavy, right?'
Her small brows furrowed.
Something stirred at the back of her mind.
A memory.
A much smaller Orphne sitting beside Papa.
Her face wet.
Her chest hurting.
'Am I a bad girl?'
Her own voice.
Small.
Broken.
'Then why did Mama leave me?'
Orphne's fingers slowly curled tighter around Sunless's clothes.
Another thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it.
'Does Pretty Miss think that too?'
Her eyes began to sting.
No.
Pretty Miss was nice.
Pretty Miss hugged her.
Pretty Miss smiled at her.
Pretty Miss let Orphne touch her beautiful silver hair.
Pretty Miss had promised she would come back.
But Mama had gone too.
Her vision blurred.
'Will Pretty Miss leave too?'
The Fire Keepers were saying something now.
Their voices had become angry.
One of the Legacies answered.
Orphne did not hear any of it.
Sunless had become quiet.
She did not notice that either.
Her tiny heart clenched painfully.
A light sniff escaped her.
Her fingers curled harder.
She had not meant to tug on Papa's clothes.
But Sunless noticed anyway.
He looked down.
Orphne looked up at him.
Her eyes were wet.
Her lower lip trembled.
And the question came out before she could stop it.
"Papa?"
Sunless's eyes widened slightly.
Orphne swallowed.
"Am I a burden?"
...
"Papa?"
Sunless's eyes widened slightly.
Orphne swallowed.
"Am I a burden?"
For a moment—
nobody moved.
Sid felt something in her chest twist.
The anger she had already been struggling to suppress disappeared beneath something colder.
The girl had not even understood most of what had been said.
That somehow made it worse.
Master Sunless looked down at her.
And immediately, everything else seemed to stop mattering to him.
He crouched.
"Of course not, Birdy."
His voice was so gentle that Sid almost looked away.
Sunless raised one hand and wiped carefully beneath Orphne's eye before the tear could properly fall.
"You are not a burden."
Orphne sniffed.
"But they said—"
"I know."
Sunless cupped her cheek.
"They were wrong."
Another tear escaped.
His thumb wiped that one away too.
"You could never be a burden to me."
Orphne stared at him.
Sunless smiled.
"And you're not a burden to Pretty Miss either."
Her lips trembled.
"Really?"
"Really."
He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against her forehead.
Then he pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.
"Do you think Pretty Miss would ever say something like that to you?"
Orphne answered almost immediately.
"No."
"Would she ever call you a burden?"
"No."
"Would she want you to think you were one?"
Orphne shook her head harder this time.
"No!"
Sunless smiled.
"There you are."
His fingers brushed through her hair.
"You know Pretty Miss better than these strangers do."
Orphne sniffed again.
That seemed to help.
A little.
Sunless gently touched the tip of her nose.
"And what did Papa tell you about listening to strangers?"
Orphne's brows furrowed.
"Stranger danger."
"Exactly."
A tiny smile appeared.
Sid exhaled quietly.
Even now.
Even after what had just happened.
Master Sunless had somehow managed to make her smile.
Sunless remained crouched before her.
"Can you do something for me, Birdy?"
Orphne nodded.
"Go stay with Master Sid for a little while."
Sid straightened when her name was spoken.
Orphne immediately frowned.
"But Papa—"
"I'll be right here."
Sunless smiled.
"I promise."
She hesitated.
Then finally nodded.
Sunless stood and looked toward Sid.
"Master Sid."
Sid stepped forward.
"Could I trouble you to watch Orphne for a moment?"
"Of course."
There was no hesitation.
Orphne slowly walked toward her.
Sid crouched and held out her hand.
Orphne took it.
The other two Fire Keepers moved closer as well.
Orphne looked back.
"Papa?"
Sunless smiled at her.
"It's alright, Birdy."
Only then did she settle beside Sid.
Sunless watched her for another moment.
Then—
he turned around.
One of the Legacies scoffed.
"What? Finally going to say something?"
Sunless looked at him.
His expression was calm.
"I believe I've said quite enough."
"Then what was all that?"
Sunless glanced toward Orphne.
When he looked back, his voice remained as mild as before.
"You seem to have a problem with me."
The Legacy laughed.
"Only just figured that out?"
"I noticed."
Another one crossed his arms.
"Then perhaps you should understand your place."
Sunless regarded him for a moment.
"My place?"
"You're an independent Master. A Memory-maker. A café owner."
A few of the others smirked.
Sunless merely nodded.
"All true."
The man's expression twitched.
"You think this is a joke?"
"No."
Sunless slowly stepped away from Sid and Orphne.
"I simply don't see the insult."
Sid watched him.
Master Sunless had always been like that.
Behind his counter.
In the kitchen.
Making Memories at a table while Orphne bothered him with questions every few seconds.
Gentle.
Soft-spoken.
Almost painfully unassuming for an Ascended.
Perhaps that was why it was so easy to forget what the word Master actually meant.
One of the Legacies stepped after him.
"You don't belong here."
Sunless stopped.
He glanced around at the enormous castle.
Then back at the man.
"Lady Changing Star invited me."
His lips curved faintly.
"So I'm afraid we'll have to disagree."
The Legacy's face darkened.
"You hide behind her name quite easily."
Sunless's smile did not disappear.
"I was answering your statement."
"You're very good with words."
"I own a café."
Sunless continued walking toward the open courtyard.
"Conversation comes with the occupation."
A Fire Keeper beside Sid made a strange choking sound and quickly covered it with a cough.
The Legacies were not amused.
Sid barely noticed.
Something else had caught her attention.
Sunless's steps.
They were light.
Balanced.
There was no stiffness despite the eyes following him.
No hesitation.
No unconscious attempt to keep his back away from the armed Masters surrounding him.
He simply walked.
Another Legacy moved farther into the courtyard.
"So what now? You'll complain to Lady Changing Star?"
Sunless paused.
"No."
"Then the King?"
"No."
That seemed to surprise them.
Sunless looked back at Orphne for a moment.
The little girl was watching him closely now.
Then his gaze returned to the group.
"This matter doesn't concern either of them."
Sid's eyes narrowed.
For some reason, that answer bothered her more than if he had threatened to report them.
Master Sunless was still an Ascended.
The thought came suddenly.
Obvious.
Embarrassingly obvious.
He had survived his First Nightmare.
He had entered the Dream Realm as a Sleeper.
Whatever hell had waited for him there, he had survived long enough to Awaken.
Then, at some point, he had entered a Second Nightmare.
And returned as a Master.
Every Ascended had a story like that.
They had to.
There was no peaceful road to their Rank.
One of the young Masters laughed.
"So what exactly do you intend to do?"
Sunless looked at him.
"Resolve our disagreement."
The laughter stopped.
Another Legacy frowned.
"How?"
Sunless's gaze drifted across them.
Most carried weapons.
Of course they did.
They were Legacies of the Sword Domain.
People born into clans that treated swordsmanship as inheritance.
Raised around Awakened warriors.
Taught battle arts before most people learned how to properly channel essence.
Sunless's eyes lingered on the weapons for a heartbeat.
Then he asked:
"You all serve the Sword Domain, correct?"
One man frowned.
"Obviously."
"And your clans swear themselves to Valor."
"Where are you going with this?"
Sunless looked toward the training court.
"A disagreement among swordsmen."
His voice remained soft.
"It seems almost wasteful to settle it by arguing."
Sid's grip on Orphne's hand tightened slightly.
One of the Legacies stared.
Then barked out a laugh.
"You want to fight?"
Sunless tilted his head.
"If that's what you would like to call it."
Several expressions changed.
One of the women gave him an incredulous look.
"You're challenging us?"
Sunless continued toward the court.
"I am proposing a more productive conversation."
"With swords?"
"Your Domain seems fond of them."
Sid almost missed the next thought.
Antarctica.
She remembered something Master Sunless had said months ago.
It had been nothing.
Barely even a story.
Someone had mentioned the Antarctic campaign and he had casually commented that he had helped there for a time.
Nobody had pressed him.
Why would they?
Hundreds of thousands had fought across that continent.
Government soldiers.
Awakened.
Clan warriors.
Volunteers.
Refugees forced to become combatants simply to survive.
Yet—
Sid remembered the ones who came back.
Kim.
Samara.
Others she had met over the years.
There had always been something different about their eyes.
Nothing mystical.
Nothing that could be explained through an Attribute.
They simply looked at danger differently.
As though somewhere in that frozen hell, fear had stopped being surprising.
Sid looked at Sunless again.
At those calm black eyes.
'That's right.'
He had been there too.
One Legacy walked into the courtyard behind him.
"You're an enchanter."
Sunless glanced over his shoulder.
"Among other things."
"You're seriously planning to fight Legacy Masters?"
Sunless considered the question.
"You seemed quite eager to judge my worth a moment ago."
He turned forward again.
"This seems more efficient."
Another followed.
Then another.
The others began moving as well.
Not one seemed willing to step away now.
Not in front of each other.
Not after the café owner they had mocked had openly invited them into the court.
Sid watched them spread out.
And another memory surfaced.
Master Sunless had never boasted about Antarctica.
Never described some grand battle.
Never spoken about how many Nightmare Creatures he had killed.
In fact, Sid could not remember him boasting about combat at all.
He spoke endlessly about food.
Memories.
Orphne.
Lady Nephis, whenever someone managed to tease him into it.
But battle?
Almost nothing.
Perhaps that was why everyone had assumed there was nothing to talk about.
One of the Masters stopped several meters from him.
"If you apologize now, we'll forget this."
Sunless looked genuinely puzzled.
"For what?"
The man's jaw tightened.
"For challenging your betters."
Sunless stared at him for a moment.
Then a faint smile touched his lips.
"I see."
Essence stirred.
Sid felt it immediately.
So did everyone else.
Something manifested in Master Sunless's hand.
A sword.
Simple steel.
No ornamentation.
No beautiful runes.
No visible enchantments.
Nothing resembling the extraordinary weapon he had created for Lady Nephis.
Sunless rotated it once in his hand.
Sid noticed the edge.
Or rather—
the lack of one.
The blade was blunt.
A training sword.
Someone else noticed too.
The Legacy laughed.
"You aren't even going to use a proper weapon?"
"I would rather avoid killing anyone."
That silenced a few of them.
Another scoffed.
"How considerate."
Sunless inclined his head.
"I try."
He walked farther into the court.
The Legacies followed.
One.
Three.
Five.
More.
They began spreading around him.
Sid counted them almost without meaning to.
Masters, for the most part.
Young Masters.
But Masters nonetheless.
Men and women who had survived their own Nightmares.
Legacies trained since childhood.
Warriors carrying battle arts refined across generations.
And at their center—
a café owner stood with a blunt sword resting loosely in one hand.
Orphne tugged Sid's sleeve.
"Master Sid?"
Sid looked down.
"Is Papa strong?"
Sid opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
She realized she did not actually know.
Nobody did.
They knew Master Sunless made extraordinary Memories.
They knew he cooked.
They knew he had somehow survived Antarctica.
They knew he was an Ascended.
But somewhere along the way, everyone had quietly decided those facts did not mean anything together.
Sid looked back toward him.
Master Sunless lifted his sword.
The tip remained pointed lazily toward the stone.
The Legacies circled him.
One smiled.
"So which of us do you want?"
Sunless's gaze moved across the court.
For the first time since this started, Sid saw something in his eyes that reminded her of those who had returned from Antarctica.
Not anger.
Not excitement.
Familiarity.
As though standing surrounded by armed enemies was simply another place he had once known very well.
Then Master Sunless smiled.
"Any of you. All of you. It doesn't matter. I won't even use my Aspect."
...
The Heir of Weaver sat among the ruins of the knowledge no one should know as his gaze remained on the great tree.
The man did not move either, merely sitting there in peace.
Until—
"Do you stay here all day?"
A voice came.
He did not care to look as a figure walked out from behind his throne in the garden.
"What of the future?" the Heir of Weaver disregarded the question altogether.
The man, too, wore a demonic mask.
"You ask as if you don't know, oh great Keeper of Fate."
The Heir of Weaver only looked at the man calmly before he closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, they were in the grand hall once more. Yet the man remained in front of his throne, looking at him with a side glance.
Then he walked away with calm and composed steps.
"Do not make the next move against the Sovereign on the moon," he said as he descended the steps to the throne.
The Heir of Weaver raised his head to look at the man's back.
"Where should I strike, then?"
The masked man stopped at the end of the steps but did not turn.
"Nowhere..."
"...Nowhere?"
The masked man walked again.
"Sometimes the mightiest strikes are the ones that are never made."
A moment of silence settled.
The Heir of Weaver looked away as neither spoke for a moment.
"The war... with the Sovereigns is close, is it not? Have you seen any outcomes?"
The masked man stopped.
Then he looked over his shoulder.
"Oh, great Keeper of Fate, do you not know anything and everything?"
The Heir of Weaver was once again faced with this question.
Unbothered, he spoke.
"I do."
The masked man turned to him.
"Then do you know what lies at the end of this War of Sovereigns?"
The Heir of Weaver did not answer immediately.
"I do..."
The masked man seemed pleased as he took a few more steps.
"Tell me, Keeper of Fate, which of the Sovereigns will be embraced by Death?"
The Heir of Weaver considered the question.
"Both will die," he declared.
A pause.
"The true question is not who, but when." A pause.
"In the end, all shall be forced into the embrace of Shadow's creation. After all, while any being who reaches the rank of Sacred or Divine becomes a god..."
Another pause.
"Yet the laws governed by the Great Gods are the pillars of existence and are the mightiest of them all."
Something about him shifted.
"So mighty that even they had to accept each other's laws..."
The masked man knew there was something profound in those last few words.
Perhaps the Heir of Weaver had once again spoken a truth of existence that only he understood?
No.
That would be a lie.
There were a few more here who could understand.
Here, at least three more who took these very thrones.
The masked man walked away again.
"Who do you think is the strongest of those who rebelled against the Gods? Among the seven?"
"Among the seven?" the Heir of Weaver repeated thoughtfully.
"If you ask in the language of weapons alone, three stand at the top."
The masked man climbed the steps to the other side.
"First is, without a doubt, the Heir of Shadows," the Heir of Weaver began.
"His battle art is as strange and mighty as his natural. Even without his Aspect, very few in today's age can keep up with him."
The Heir of Weaver praised him without hesitation.
"So much so that, in the Age of Heroes as well as The Golden Age—Even those who had become Gods failed to kill him."
His eyes drifted toward an empty throne.
"Then there is that one who not only fought on the same battlefield as the Great Gods," He looked away.
"but survived a deathblow from the God of War"
The Heir of Weaver did not showed neither ammusment nor disdane.
"Only to steal the very Divine weapon meant to kill him."
A moment of silence.
The Heir of Weaver looked at the masked man again.
"And then there is you yourself."
The masked man took his throne.
The Heir of Weaver spoke.
The masked man did not look at him.
"You, who not only faced but fought the youngest of Daemons..."
The masked man looked up.
"...The Daemon of Destiny."
The masked man did not comment on that.
Suddenly—
Something about his presence sharpened.
"Tell me, oh great Keeper of Fate..."
This time, his voice did not have even the slightest hint of reverence for the title.
Well, it never truly did...
"When you spoke of the laws of existence that even the Great Gods submit to... you did not mean the ones under Shadow, did you?"
The Heir of Weaver looked up.
Something about him sharpened, matching that of the masked man.
He did not answer.
...
Nephis made her way back with her usual expression.
But there was a hint of softness to it.
The King of Swords was on his way, but they had enough time to go to the waiting room inside.
That meant she could sit down with Master Sunless and talk for a bit, as well as let Orphany see her wing of the castle with the Fire Keepers accompanying her.
She would have preferred to host them for the first time at the Ivory Tower, which was her home, but that was fine.
This was better than simply making Master Sunless take care of her at his place.
Even if it had begun to feel like theirs...
But that was fine, right?
Then the thought came.
'I should bring them to the Ivory Tower at least once...'
Her cheeks warmed.
'W-wait, isn't that the same as bringing Master Sunless to my home?'
A hue of red crept up her neck.
She shook her head as she reached the courtyard.
However—
She stopped.
Her eyes narrowed as her gaze settled on the courtyard.
Then on Master Sunless.
And Orphany—
Who was running around him with cheerful laughter.
Nephis's expression softened as she descended the steps and reached them.
Master Sunless looked at her with his usual smile.
"My lady, you're back," he greeted.
Nephis nodded. However, her gaze turned toward the courtyard as her brows furrowed in confusion.
"What happened here?" she asked.
There were around a dozen Legacies scattered around the courtyard. Some had pained expressions, while others were limping with the help of their companions.
One or two sat beneath the shade of the trees a bit farther away.
People were whispering excitedly about something, and several glances came her way.
Nephis assumed they were for her, as always.
Well...
She turned to Master Sunless.
The man tilted his head.
"Oh, well, nothing especially. The Awakened and Masters of the Legacy clans had some... disagreement," he said, though his smile never dropped.
Nephis looked back.
It did look like they had come out of a scrap.
A particularly painful one, considering the state some of them were in.
"Eventually, one side challenged the other. Some... group duels broke out, and, oh well, this is the aftermath," Sunless explained.
She looked at Master Sunless.
The handsome café owner looked unharmed, so she believed he had not been involved.
'Good.'
Master Sunless getting dragged into the arrogant mess of Valor's Legacies was the last thing she wanted after realizing he would already be involved with the King of Swords.
"Pretty Miss!"
Orphany ran over and hugged her leg.
Nephis smiled before her hands reached for the girl's head almost on their own.
"Yes?"
"Papa is so cool!" she said.
Nephis tilted her head at the seemingly random words.
She looked up.
Master Sunless's eyes had widened slightly, although his smile remained.
A smile of her own broke out as she looked back at Orphany.
"Yes, Master Sunless is very cool," she said.
She hadn't really looked for a reason to say that.
Then—
Her face warmed.
She glanced back.
Master Sunless was looking away, red slowly creeping up his neck again.
Nephis quickly looked back at Orphany.
"Well—let's go. We have some time before the King arrives. I can show you around a bit," she said in a slight hurry.
They moved toward the stairs, Nephis holding Orphany's hand to keep her safe as they climbed.
Sunless walked behind them with a pleased smile.
The two Fire Keepers accompanying Sid were quietly talking about what had happened when—
Master Sunless glanced over his shoulder.
He raised a finger to his lips, his expression becoming somewhat serious.
Sid and the other Fire Keepers stopped in their tracks.
They blinked.
Sid's eyes widened slightly.
'Master Sunless doesn't want us telling Lady Nephis about what happened?'
But Master Sunless had already turned away.
A moment later, he caught up with Nephis and Orphany, walking in step beside them with the same pleasant smile as before.
Soon, they were walking through the halls of the castle, leaving the courtyard behind.
Orphany walked beside Nephis with her little bag and summer hat as they talked.
Well—
Orphany talked.
Nephis listened and answered her seemingly endless questions.
Sunless walked a few steps behind them while the Fire Keepers trailed after him.
However—
"Oh! Did I tell you what Papa—"
Orphany was abruptly cut off as Sunless scooped her up.
"Alright, Birdy. Take a breath. We went over the importance of breathing when you learned to pout."
Orphany's lips parted.
Then she did, in fact, pout.
"Hmph! Papa makes fun of me in front of Pretty Miss because I'm cooler!" she decided.
Nephis smiled in amusement as Sunless raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
He lightly booped Orphany's nose, making it scrunch before she giggled.
Sunless sighed.
"My, you have energy, huh?"
Orphany didn't even seem to hear him. She was already far more fascinated by yet another sword hanging on the wall.
Sunless sighed again while Nephis brought a curled finger to her lips, hiding another smile.
However—
Nephis didn't notice the small gesture Sunless made behind her.
A wave.
Then a subtle point toward her.
Sid blinked before realizing what he wanted.
He needed a distraction.
She didn't question it for now.
"Lady Nephis," Sid began.
Nephis turned toward her, and Sid started telling her about some recent Fire Keeper updates she claimed Nephis might want to decide on now.
As soon as her attention was occupied, Sunless slowed his steps, falling closer to the other Fire Keepers.
Orphany turned toward him.
"Papa, let's tell Pretty Miss how cool you were!"
Sunless immediately shushed her.
Orphany blinked in confusion.
"Birdy, we can't tell her."
Her head tilted.
"But why?"
Sunless sighed lightly.
"Well, you see, the mean people were mean to us because Pretty Miss spends time with us."
"Is that bad?" Orphany immediately asked.
"No."
Sunless's answer was soft but firm.
Then he smiled gently.
"It's neither bad, nor does it have to be good. What Pretty Miss likes and doesn't like are her choices. The problem is that the mean people were against it."
Orphany's tiny brows furrowed.
"They were deciding for her?"
"No," Sunless explained. "They were trying to force us to decide for her."
Orphany became even more confused.
Which was better.
Some things children needed to understand through the emotion behind an action rather than the action itself, so they didn't learn the method from it.
Sunless knew that.
"Is that bad or better than deciding for her?"
"It's worse, Birdy."
Orphany's face fell a little.
"But that's so mean! Why would they do that to Pretty Miss?!"
Her voice rose.
Sunless gently shushed her again and glanced toward Nephis, who was still talking to Sid.
Then he looked back at Orphany.
"Because they were jealous."
Orphany furrowed her tiny brows.
"Because she plays with us?"
Sunless's expression softened almost painfully.
"Because she's happy with us... and they don't like that they can't do the same."
He paused.
"That's why they want to take away the people who can."
Orphany's face fell.
"B-but why?! T-that's so... evil!"
Sunless smiled and softly kissed her cheek.
"Some people are just like that, Birdy. They don't have a good reason to be that way, but they believe they're right."
He paused.
"It's not something you need to understand yet."
His gaze drifted toward Nephis.
"And Pretty Miss is so kind she'll blame herself if people are mean to us because they're jealous."
Orphany looked at Nephis, her lips pursed sadly on her behalf.
"So we'll keep it a secret from Pretty Miss?"
"Yes."
Orphany thought about that for a moment.
Then her brows furrowed again.
"Forever?"
Sunless actually paused.
Then he smiled softly.
"No. Not forever."
Orphany tilted her head questioningly.
"Even if it wasn't Pretty Miss's fault, she was involved in a sense. At the very least, she deserves to know. But not yet."
"But why?"
Sunless looked forward.
"Because the person we're going to meet is calling us because he saw the sword I made for her."
"Pretty Miss's guardian?" Orphany asked curiously.
Sunless chuckled.
"No. Pretty Miss is old enough not to need one. But yes, the King. He's a very strong person, and he rules the Domain we live in."
Orphany's mouth opened in realization.
"Ahh~ And he wants to see us too?"
"Yes."
Orphany's brows furrowed.
"Will he be mean to us too?"
Sunless smiled simply.
"No. He wants to see us because I make good Memories."
Orphany's face lit up.
"You make the best Memories!"
Nephis looked back.
Her face melted into another smile.
The moment she turned back toward Sid, Sunless looked at Orphany again.
"But, Birdy, Pretty Miss thinks she's bothering me because the King wants to see us now. She's already blaming herself for this meeting. I don't want her to worry more."
Orphany's eyes widened with realization.
Even if she didn't understand all of it, she understood enough.
She looked toward Nephis.
"But it's not her fault."
Sunless smiled.
"It isn't. But Pretty Miss is too kind, so she'll blame herself. If she finds out what happened outside, she'll be even more sad. Let's avoid that, okay?"
Orphany nodded vigorously.
"Okay!"
Sunless grinned.
"Good Birdy."
He kissed her forehead again.
"When will you tell her the secret?" she asked.
Sunless smiled softly at her.
A pause.
For a moment, his gaze became distant.
"Soon... as soon as I can..."
Orphany smiled.
"Then I can tell her how cool you were?"
Sunless blinked and smiled at her.
"I wasn't that cool."
"But you were! The mean people came, and you went bam! Boosh! Swish!"
She made the sounds with her mouth while wildly waving her arms around.
Then she looked at him excitedly.
"And then they all said sorry to me too!"
Sunless smiled.
"Well, they were mean to you. I had to make them say sorry."
Orphany beamed.
They continued forward, and Sid took the hint, bringing the conversation to an end.
Nephis looked back at them.
"Sorry, Master Sunless. Sid needed to pass on some information."
Sunless smiled.
"No need. If anything, I should apologize for not talking."
Nephis blinked at his words in confusion before Orphany suddenly reached out.
"Pretty Miss, what's that?"
Nephis followed her finger.
"That's the—"
Sunless simply watched the two of them.
And smiled softly.
Soon, they reached the resting room. It was quite spacious, with several tables and sofas, and Orphany raced into the room.
"This room is so big!" Orphany said, spinning around.
"There now, Birdy. No running indoors. It's rude," Sunless said as everyone poured in, smiling at the girl.
Sunless looked around as Orphany stopped.
"My lady, is Saint Song of the Fallen not usually with you?" he asked.
Nephis looked at him.
"No. Saint Cassie is a bit busy today, so you won't be able to meet her," she explained.
Sunless nodded in understanding before turning toward the long table with a smile and bringing out a storage Memory.
"Birdy, wanna help?" he called.
Orphany turned toward him and beamed.
"Yes!"
"Master Sunless?" a Fire Keeper asked.
Nephis looked curious and confused when—
Sunless pulled several boxes from the Memory, followed by more containers, wrappings, and packed dishes.
The Fire Keepers looked on with awe and excitement as the aroma of the warm dishes spread throughout the room.
Even Nephis was taken by the smell.
"Master Sunless?" she called, walking toward him.
Sid and the Fire Keepers prepared to join him as Orphany climbed onto a chair to watch.
"I hope there's enough for everyone here, though I'm not sure how many Fire Keepers are with you."
"There was no need for this, Master Sunless," a Fire Keeper said politely, although her eyes remained on the dishes.
Nephis looked at Sunless as well.
"That's right, Master Sunless. There was no need for this. The King invited you—"
"Ahh, details," he dismissed her as he pulled several more dishes out.
Okay, they were tasty to look at alone.
Beside them, Sunless glanced at her with a smile.
'Uh-oh.'
Nephis's face warmed.
She knew this smile.
"I came to visit my Pretty Miss's castle too, right? Can't come without a little treat."
He closed one eye before turning back toward the table.
Nephis stared at him.
Then—
She took a deep breath before turning away to compose herself.
"Here, let me help," Sid said as Sunless stepped back, letting them take over.
"Here! I helped too!" Orphany said.
"Really?" Sid asked with a smile.
"Yes!" Orphany confirmed.
"Ahh, yes. She sat eating some cookies while I was making them. Very helpful!"
"Papa!" Orphany cried as the grown-ups chuckled.
"You promised you wouldn't tell!"
That only made them laugh harder.
"I said I'd say you were present when I prepared this."
This was answered with a—
"Hmph!"
Even Nephis covered her mouth softly.
Eventually, Nephis and Sunless found themselves close to the large window overlooking a garden and the clear blue sky as Orphany gave her actual opinion on which foods were her favorites, in their respective order.
Nephis watched her with a faint smile when Sunless called her.
"Ahh, my lady."
He pulled out the advanced storage Memory.
Nephis tilted her head.
"Hmm?"
To her surprise, Sunless carefully pulled out a white box.
Nephis looked at it and realized what it was.
"Here. For you," he said.
Nephis took the cake almost out of instinct.
"M-Master Sunless? You already brought so many things, so this..."
She paused when she saw his face.
'Oh no.'
She knew that smile.
Once again, her ability allowed her to feel what he was feeling, and once again, her face warmed.
Though it was more because of his smile and his eyes than her ability.
Because once again, Master Sunless was looking at her with those gentle, tender eyes.
And after what had happened in the hallway—
'Someone right in front of me.'
Nephis looked down at the cake box.
"But still... was there really any need for a special handover?" she asked, trying to divert her attention.
"Oh, but there was..."
Sunless's voice made her glance up.
He was still smiling, though some of that tenderness had calmed enough that she could manage.
She looked at him curiously.
"A special handover for a special cake..." Sunless said.
Nephis managed to blink innocently.
"Open it."
He gestured toward the cake with light excitement.
Curious, Nephis followed his instruction as a faint smile remained on her face.
"I took some of your preferences together and made this," he explained as the package opened.
Nephis's breath caught in her throat.
It was a cake.
A cake in the shape of a star, with a long sword resting simply against it.
Nephis couldn't take her eyes off the cake Sunless had made for her.
"I designed the cake with a mix of the ones you like to eat at the café, with some tinkering. I hope it fits your palate," he said.
There was a hint of nervousness in his voice that only she could detect.
Nephis looked up to meet his eyes with a tender sense of joy and gratefulness.
"Master Sunless, I—"
She didn't have the words for the thoughtfulness of the gift.
Sunless didn't mind.
He simply tilted his head and smiled.
"I hope you enjoy this."
Nephis lowered her hands carefully to make sure the cake was safe while looking softly into Sunless's eyes.
"I will..."
A moment passed before she took a step back and turned to set the cake on the table.
Lowering her head, the side of her face was covered by her hair as she smiled a shy smile, a soft red blush spreading across her face.
Badum. Badum.
Nephis didn't mind the thundering of her heart because of Sunless.
Eventually, a guard arrived and quietly informed Nephis of something.
Afterward, she asked some of the Fire Keepers to take Orphany and show her around.
She had also noticed some of the things Sunless had placed in the storage Memory and handed it to Sid for Cassie. He had packed some treats that Nephis had told him Cassie especially liked.
Sunless watched with a smile, already knowing what that meant.
Nephis looked back at him.
His smile dimmed slightly, but he nodded softly.
Reassuringly.
The King of Swords was here.
They didn't need him to appear to know that.
Even before he came close to the hall, his presence was something both Sunless and Nephis could already feel.
Sunless took a few steps forward as the doors opened and guards quickly moved to flank both sides of the room.
Anvil's gaze went to Nephis first.
Then it settled on Sunless.
"Sunless?"
Sunless stepped forward with a polite smile and bowed lightly.
"Yes, my King. I am Master Sunless."
Anvil's gaze did not waver.
"Ascended?"
Sunless looked up.
"As eveyone knows."
The guards grew tense.
Nephis glanced carefully between the two.
Even Morgan was standing by the door.
"You made the sword Nephis uses."
Sunless stood straight.
"That is also a yes, my King," he answered.
Anvil's gaze sharpened.
Several people's breaths hitched instantly.
Then Anvil stepped back and turned.
"Follow."
He commanded it as simply as that.
Nephis blinked.
Sunless did not.
"My King?"
Anvil stopped in the doorway and glanced over his shoulder.
"You will forge."
He paused.
Something about the air seemed to thicken despite the man doing nothing at all.
"Now."
The King of Swords had spoken.
Master Sunless was bound to answer.
To show a form of Memory creation no one in history knew.