Sunny lay chest down into the dirt ground as he covered the area with dark shadows from [Shadow Lantern]. He opened the chest and took out a pair of fine glasses before struggling to put them on. With them, his sight became magnified, and he could easily count how many clothes were hanging from a wire between houses, the scratches on kids who played on the street, and more.
Selena had lent them to him as a way to spy from afar. He didn't need to enter the town, since he could send his shadows in to be his ears and let them infiltrate.
While spying on the town, he took the time to digest how fast things were moving. He felt the wheels of the nightmare spinning. Perhaps even without interference, it would've ended on its own. Sunny determined it would've taken too long. Not being able to control what happens, even in minuscule amounts, could be detrimental.
He also believed his theory that Nephis was somewhere nearby to be true; otherwise, he would need to venture north. Selena had mentioned a kingdom in the north, so if Nephis wasn't nearby, then she was most likely there. Even though he knew it was also the case that Neph had been put inside a creature's body as well, he made it a point of looking out for anyone in town with white hair.
As his shadows traveled through crowds of people and skillfully maneuvered into their shadows, he picked up mostly useless information that was mostly gossip, politics, or how they were struggling. Sunny didn't envy their living situation as he took a bite out of his premade sandwich.
'Would've been better if Neph had burnt the chicken slightly like always.' He thought bitterly as he gobbled the remains of his delicious sandwich.
Although for now things were going slowly, he felt his mind go at ease knowing he was connected to civilization again, which also meant loads of people. He had a love-hate situation with people, but after being away from it for a long while, he definitely came to miss and love it. In the streets, people of all occupations roamed around on their breaks, way back home, or going to work. However, Sunny made sure to pay attention to any awakened citizens, which was easier said than done since Blood Weave allowed him to see soul cores, which the glasses also did. After an hour without spotting anything, an awakened walked around the street corner, and, hugging the outer sidewalk, hustled into an inconspicuous house. Not wanting to miss his chance, Sunny commanded Happy to enter her shadow as she entered the house, making it without revealing itself barely.
After the awakened entered inside, she walked with purpose until she reached a study room filled with bookcases and walked over to a specific one.
'Don't tell me this is the stereotypical bookcase with a hidden lever scene.' Sunny moaned to his dismay as she pulled on a red book. Although it could be heard, he couldn't sense the shadows of the cogwheels and mechanism being activated as a section of the wooden floor opened to reveal a ladder leading down. Not waiting around, she climbed down on the sturdy ladder as the floor closed above her, and they both traveled downward as it became harder to hear the streets from above, with the shadow.
"Well, it's not like I'm not hearing enough of it from the other shadows, am I right, gloomy?" Sunny said to his shadow, who in return only gave him a weird look before ignoring him.
Returning his attention to Happy Shadow, they had finally reached the bottom of the latter, which revealed a thick steel door a short distance away. She knocked a certain number of times, knocks that were hard, soft, and at certain intervals between each knock. After she was done, a series of sounds that were locks being undone started until the door opened, revealing a man who had a stone-cold face. Sunny by now suspected that whatever was going on was a heavily kept secret that not even the government was a part of, since there were only low-ranking officials who were in the room, everyone present was an awakened.
The room itself was quite lavish, with chairs with intricate designs and gold lining in a circle, with a table of similar design at the center. The walls were painted dark brown with torches equally spread apart, and the ground was made of wooden planks of the same color. He was able to see colors thanks to the glasses, and he realized just how much his head was strained seeing in only two colors.
Closing the door again and relocking it, she sat down as a slim figure stood up from her chair with grace, and it was none other than the Ascended who had spotted Sunny when he scouted the town for the first time. Sunny shivered and prayed that she wouldn't spot him again as he closed his shadow's eye in hopes he would be hidden enough since it had worked with Seishan in the past.
Sunny felt his blood start to freeze as her gaze reached where he was hidden, and he started to shiver and feel his temperature drop to the negatives. Sunny hypothesized that Shadow God's ichor was working its magic to keep him hidden before the effects wore off as she gazed left.
'But then, come it didn't work the last time she spotted me? Perhaps it's because Saint and Bitey raised my shadow fragments significantly ever since they left, it must've made me powerful enough to tap into the hidden powers that I haven't unlocked yet, because I'm still too weak. Perhaps I'll be able to capitalize on His ichor once I become a master.'
She finished looking around the room before bringing out a wooden cube and placing it on the table. When it was put down, Sunny felt a small breeze before realizing it created a barrier to block out sound just like the memory Caster owned.
"Well then, I suppose we should get started despite our lacking attending members. We'll simply inform them in the next meeting." Mia announced before continuing with a proud and commanding voice, one that made everyone focus on her.
"I know that this meeting was sudden, but I have to announce that since the government is in turmoil now, with the people seething due to the rising inflation and distrust in the government, we are moving on to phase two." People gasped as they whispered among themselves, as Mia embraced the shock among the crowd.
'Phase two?' Sunny questioned as he wondered just what the ascended was planning. Mia turned to a man who had a large beard, was warmly tone, and had black hair that grew as long as Nephis's.
"Josh, I must say, since I forgot in our last meeting, but good work agitating and bringing the Corrupted Tyrant to attack the town, even I wouldn't have been capable of doing that, at least not at the speed you did."
"Thanks." The man said plainly as he looked at her with a straight face, but Sunny could tell there was a hint of pride underneath the cold look.
"Moving on, as you all know, phase two is to take out the high officials and blame it on the witch. Therefore, next year the annual high-class ball will take place, and during the ball we will assassinate the governor and high officials, by then I will already cover the place with plants with a creature I have under control. Afterwards, we will take control of the town with the power gap, and I will declare myself as governor, and with you all as my chiefs. This town is merely a stepping stone to greatness!" Everyone slowly nodded along as she finished her speech, sat back down, and intertwined her fingers before putting her chin on them.
"For now, though we will wait, gather allies, pursue higher rankings in the government, and wait for the day to arrive when our thirst for power is finally quenched. Afterward, we will expand this tiny town into something that can rival even the War Empire, perhaps into something even grander!" It was greeted with applause and clapping as everyone cheered their leader.
'Wow, and I though Nephis was ambitious.' Sunny thought deeply as he slowly digested the meeting and everything his leader had said.
She was planning on assassinating the royalty and seizing power of the town, and then framing it on the witch to then most likely assassinate her as well after taking power. Sunny didn't, however, have much belief that she would be able to create an empire as grand as the War Empire, and at most would only be able to expand while staying a vassal town for the empire. He also deduced that her thirst for power came from the belief that he believed the War Empire had, which was to annihilate anyone who wasn't with them and take their resources like a pirate.
'Those damn bastards, I'm glad their great legacy is reduced to rubble, especially after becoming a slave for the blood thirsty empire.' Sunny was merely distracting himself from the dreadful fact that the War Empire still played a huge part in the nightmare.
First, his devious First Nightmare, he had been in a slave cavern controlled by the War Empire, now he was stuck inside a vassal town of the War Empire that was going to have a power struggle and dissatisfaction among the people. He amused himself by thinking about how great a leader Nephis would've been and how just one speech was all she needed to bring unity and complete control over the town.
His heart ached a little thinking about Nephis, but he shook it off as his shadow stayed hidden in the girl's shadow as she left the house.
Leaving her shadow, Sunny left the shadow in a hidden corner as he focused his attention on his creepy shadow, which he named that way because it was always poking around with corpses with a high interest. They had just managed to hide inside a chief's shadow; he was merely a mundane human, unlike most of the government workers. Hiding in his shadow, Sunny eavesdropped on the conversation he was having with another government official inside a break room.
The chief was wearing a formal black and white suit with a black top hat and a golden keychain hanging around their neck. They were slightly pale, although it seemed he had gotten a suntan, and he had a relaxing and formal posture, yet maintained an informal tone. The official he was talking to, who was clearly in a lower position, was in an awkward position, and their forehead was slightly sweaty. They had an easygoing smile despite being a little intimidating and not trying to say something that could anger them, boss.
"You know, I have a feeling that things aren't ever going to get better with how things are heading." The chief said softly, chuckling as he poured water from a kettle into a porcelain cup.
"The governor is a total mess, and with what I'm hearing, he does some questionable things that someone in his position and age shouldn't be doing, if you get what I'm saying." He added.
"Well, I haven't heard any of these rumors, but I have heard that he was merely chosen as the new governor because of his father, so I guess they're accusing him of nepotism." The official said glumly as he drank water.
"Mmm... most likely." He said as he was mixing his tea with a small silver spoon, "well there's nothing we can do now other than do our best with what we have for the government and people, although I'm sure we're the only ones who haven't been corrupted by soul shards yet. Although I must say that if I had any choice in it, I would have run for governor, but if I did, the Department of Military would be down a chief until a replacement could be found." The official shook his head before giving a smile.
"I'm sure the department would be mourning their loss, since you know, you're the best chief we've ever had in that department, aside from Chief Mary from agriculture."
They chatted about menial things that Sunny filtered out, some of which he wished he hadn't heard, as they talked about women. After a while, the official had to get back to work, so the chief went back to their own office as Sunny left his shadow.
'What a joke, I might start to feel a little bad for the town for the situationship there in. And if the witch is planning on also ruling the town, then a three-sided battle is going to happen, and with the civilians in the crossfire.' Sunny thought as he recalled two of his three shadows.
The third shadow that he sent out, who was Haughty, was still searching out and about while Sunny was listening in on conversations. Eventually, he found what he was looking for as his shadow slid inside one of the few motels the town had, and Sunny purposefully went inside a room that had a man inside.
The man was halfway through shaving his small beard when he noticed a huge shadow on the ground, and his calm face shifted into terror, and he backed away from the shadow. After taking a moment to analyze the shadow, his expression of fear faded into relief.
"Ah, Sunless, is that you?" The shadow seemed to be slightly annoyed as it forcefully shook its head.
Before Alex could say anything more, the shadow motioned for him to follow. Alex followed the shadow through the busy streets as it occasionally pointed to the direction he needed to go when no one was looking. Eventually, he ended up on a hill alone with the shadow as it flew off into a bush, and then, after a huge devilish creature rose from it.
"A-As terrifying as always, Sunless!" He remarked as he had to force himself to stop shaking. "I take pride in that fact," Sunny said confidently as Alex was shocked that he could speak, which he had secretly been awaiting to see.
"You can talk now, it seems. Is it because of your necklace around your neck? Also, I have asked around, but no one seems equipped, skilled, or even knows how to tackle the curse of a God, not that I'm surprised."
"Yes, I can talk now because of the necklace, and also, you can stop asking around since I have someone who can possibly cure me."
'That someone is the abdominal spell!'
"Is that so..." Alex's mood seemed to become gloomy as his long blond hair moved due to the wind. "Well, I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you on your curse, so how about I do you another favor?
"Actually, I do have another thing in mind you could do for me," Sunny said, "be my informant for the political state and rumors inside the town while you're here. I won't always be able to stay in town and eavesdrop, so I'd like your help on that front while I'm away, and be careful unless you want to get caught and be accused of espionage. Also, since most likely I'll be too busy to check in again soon, you can leave here a research paper on your findings underneath one of these rocks when you leave to find your family." Alex was perplexed but didn't linger on the reason as he nodded his head.
"One more thing, how many more days are there until the next annual high-class ball in the town, and where will it be hosted?" Sunny also wanted answers as to where and when the ball will exactly be. Selena wanted to crash the ball for her mysterious plan.
"Well, I'm not sure about where it'll be hosted, but I know it will be hosted 300 days from now," Alex said as he curled up his hand next to his mouth. "Why'd you want to know something like that anyway?"
"An ally might find it useful, is all." Sunny quickly excused herself before asking, "Wait, what do you mean you don't know where it will be hosted?"
Alex blinked, as if Sunny has asked is grass green before responding, "Well due to the threat of assassination the ball is held in secret somewhere in the forest, only people in the government and in a high position will know exactly where it'll be hosted, lower governmental positions and nobles will know the day the ball is being held so to not give assassins prep time to set up a trap. The only clue I can give you is that it'll be hosted inside the forest, and that the government won't go out of their way to clear trees since it'll also attract attention from both creatures and anyone with bad intentions, so it'll most likely be in a clearing. I hope this is enough for your ally."
"Yes, this is enough, thank you, Alex," Sunny said awkwardly while rubbing the back of his neck since he rarely apologized, even to Nephis, although they didn't need words to make up." Well then, if that's all, Sunless, then I must get back, friend. I still need to search the town thoroughly before heading out. Although this town reminds me a lot of my own, it will be hard for me to do that. I think... I think that I will buy a house here, and when I find my family, we'll settle down here. Truly, I thank you, Sunless. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for you." He said with a smile, which made Sunny feel guilty that he had debated whether to save the man or not when he was attacked.
"One last thing," Sunny said before cringing, 'Damnation, Selena has really been rubbing off on me'
"Why did you call this forest 'the forest of blood'?" Sunny had forgotten to ask the man when he had told him the name of the forest when they first talked, and was only reminded when the witch had called the forest another name, which was almost the polar opposite of the name." Well, originally it was called the Everbloom forest, but it was changed when a Corrupted Tyrant attacked the town." He explained
Not long after Alex departed, while Sunny stayed where he was planning to be for 6 more days. Once night fell, Sunny ate, relaxed, and went to sleep content and with a full stomach.
***
I just realized the mistake I made in my Devil vs holy chapter and I fixed it since it seemed to be doubled.