Sunless walked with hurried steps to the castle, messaging Seishan along the way.
He left Motza in the alleyway, it didn't seem like his new ally was interested in Sunny's problem anyway.
[Shadow]: A right of challenge? Like Junbei did? Against who?]
[Blood]: Andel, one of my handmaidens informed me that 'Changing Star challenged Andel for the crime of stealing'... Looks like she heard of the man's less than stellar hobby.]
That raised even more questions, why would Nephis even do that? He did tell her about Andel when he mentioned Junbei but she had no reason to challenge him.
Not to mention his strength, even if his personality was horrible, Andel still was one of the Pathfinders of the Bright Castle, and his aspect ability was also deadly.
[Shadow]: I'm already on my way there.]
[Blood]: You're going to stop her?]
[Shadow]: No, I'm going to see if she is either a genius or just crazy.]
[Blood]: Knowing how mother speaks of her father, probably both.]
Sunny dismissed his runes and looked up to see the Bright Castle's entrance with all its glory. The guards there looked annoyed and kept mumbling something about 'a waste of a beautiful girl'.
Sunless ignored that and simply walked up to the two, who woke up from their mumbling and went to stop him, only to remember who he was.
"I'm only here to see the girl's right of challenge, let me in."
The guards seemed scared and confused, however, be it because of the armor he was wearing, because of the trauma they received, or simply because of the rules of the castle, Sunless was escorted to the main hall, where multiple Sleepers waited to see the duel.
Nephis was at the center, already using her Starlight Legion Armor. Caster and Cassie were at the side, the scion already looking like he was regretting his life's choices. The blind seer, however, was calm…
Gamma was sitting on the steps of the throne, looking impatient and disappointed. Seishan did say that the leader of the Hunters was someone who hated unnecessary death.
All of them turned their heads to see the new arrival, Sunless, dawning a obsidian armor of impressive quality, a fearsome and imposing armor. Even the hunters and guards present took a step back.
Caster and Cassie shared a bit of that surprise, only for different reasons. One was because of the armor itself, the other was because she didn't believe Sunny would actually use the [Mantle of the Underworld] this soon.
Only Nephis looked indifferent.
As Sunny walked to talk with her, Andel appeared, entering with two other guards through a different entrance.
Andel ignored all, even Sunless with his grand armor, and came to Gamma, showing respect to the leader of the hunters. However, even though the respect was genuine, the elite Pathfinder wasn't hiding his smugness and smirk.
"I'm here."
If Gamma's irritation wasn't apparent, the sigh he let out made it more obvious.
"You know why you are here?"
The smirk on Andel widened.
"Some wench challenged me. And if you ask me? I welcome it, finally I am going to have some fun."
Several angry whispers rose through the crowd, but their hatred wasn't open, they hid it. Not revealing to the arrogant hunter.
Gamma irritation rose, after some seconds, he broke the silence with a murderous voice.
"Fun? You want to have fun, Andel? Fine, defeat the girl then I will show you what fun really is."
He gestured Andel to Nephis, indicating to him to prepare for the duel. The elite Pathfinder frowned, but then smiled, walking to the silver haired girl, wanting to begin.
But before, Sunless approached Nephis and whispered for only her to hear.
"What are you doing?"
Nephis answered him evenly.
"You'll focus on destroying him."
She continued, this time looking at his eyes.
"I'll make sure there is someone to follow after you do."
Sunless stared at those gray eyes, white flames dancing in them…
She stared back, his hollow eyes didn't seem so empty for a second…
Then eventually he sighed.
"End this quickly would you?"
Nephis nodded. The moment was interrupted by her opponent, whose voice was annoyantly loud.
"Hey! Can you love birds wake up?! I want to have some fun!"
Sunny turned to see Andel, his hollow eyes showing anger, directed at him and his flaw.
"We are awake, we are not dating, and don't be too arrogant, you'll never know…"
With that, Sunless walked to the side of Caster and Cassie, sighing as many eyes were directed at him. Including two guards who were extremely similar.
Andel didn't seem to listen to the warning, still smiling crookedly at Changing Star.
"So… You think she wins?"
Caster asked, the scion had just seen Nephis fight in the academy, where she was holding back, not showing what she was really capable of, even hiding her true battle style.
So it made sense that he didn't know who would win, Andel was older, more experienced, his strength was noticed by many, and his aspect was strong too.
However, Sunny knew better, Shadow Dance allowed him to see anyone's movements and battle styles and understand them, to the point he could adapt and even replicate everything he saw.
In the 2 months he spent in the Labyrinth with Nephis, they faced numerous battles, difficult battles, where she needed to use her full strength, even if reluctantly.
So if anyone knew how strong Changing Star was, it was him.
So, between Nephis and Andel…
"Of course, after all…"
The battle started.
Andel used his aspect to sharpen his sword even more, to the point it could easily bypass the Starlight Legion Armor.
He advanced, aiming to cleave Nephis completely. Yet the girl did not move, standing still, as if indifferent for her attacker. She didn't even summon her weapon.
Andel's speed increased, his inhuman, dark smile widened even more. In the next moment, he was steps away from her, moving his weapon to cleave her completely.
"Compared to her, he's an arrogant amature."
Just before the second the cleaver tore her apart, Nephis sidestepped the strike and summoned her longsword, the white sparks of ethereal light passed started to take form in the beginning of his slash, only to transform in the metal of the blade milliseconds before it reached the Pathfinder's neck.
Andel only understood what happened after he saw his own body without its head.
Blood splattered on the ground of the great castle, coming from the body of a once despicable hunter.
All present in the hall looked with disbelief in their eyes. The head of Andel rolled until it came close to Gamma's feet, the leader could only stare in shock.
The only faces that held their indifference were Sunny and Cassie. Caster's eyes widened, but soon became indifferent, he remembered who she was. Immortal Flame wouldn't die in the hands of a simple Pathfinder.
The two guards with very similar faces looked at each other with their identical navy blue eyes, with something akin to hope.
A woman with purple hair gripped the sheath of her katana tightly, not looking at Changing Star, but rather, her indifferent companion with dark armor.
A blonde, tall man smiled ear to ear, elation growing inside him for the first time in months, maybe years.
A man with dark armor left the room, the events he had witnessed solidifying his decision.
Nix smiled, her presence unknown to all but one person.
Nephis walked non-chalantly to Andel's head and grabbed it, looking at Gamma with a practiced smile.
"By the way, nice to meet you."
—
"Is that… Andel's head?"
Motza was still processing what he was seeing.
The guy that just beat him, Sunless, was walking out of the Bright Castle with three other people, one guy that looked like a legacy of a Clan, a blind girl…
And a silver haired beauty carrying the severed head of one of the scumiest humans of the Dark City.
Even Motza himself had a bone to pick with the man.
The group walked through the streets of the outer settlement, blood still dripping from Andel's head. None cared to some of the stares they received.
They arrived at… At the cabin Athena lived… That ogre…
Motza would continue to observe through his hiding spot if Sunless hadn't looked directly at him, motioning with his head for him to follow.
Motza sighed. He would have to get used to this… Following someone again… But this one seemed different, more worthy.
He easily and and quietly caught up with the group, they only noticed his presence when he arrived behind them.
Before they all jumped and killed Motza, Sunny put one hand in front of him, putting himself between the group and the new sleeper.
"He's with me. His name is Motza."
The tan legacy was glaring at him with suspicion, a wise choice.
The silver haired girl just stared with indifference, it didn't even seem like she was carrying the head of a person.
The blind girl meanwhile looked… Happy? She went up to him and smiled.
'How did she…'
"So you are Motza. It's good to finally meet you, please, don't be too wary of Sunny. You two make a good team."
'What the..'
The girl that was supposed to be blind walked up to him? He hadn't done anything to get her attention, and what did she mean by 'a good team'?
Sunless eyes sharpened, but eventually closed his eyes and sighed, deciding to answer the question Motza didn't even voice.
"This is Cassie, she's a seer."
Understanding passed through Motza's eyes, then curiosity took root in his mind.
'Does that mean… I will become…'
The seer turned to the group.
"You can trust him."
Her confirmation seemed to calm everyone down. Cassie proceded to present all of them, Caster, and Nephis… The Immortal Flame…
Motza hid his surprise. Maybe… Following Sunless was the right choice.
The tan legacy turned to Sunless.
"What is it with you and hiding plans?"
His dark armored companion simply shrugged.
"Bad habit I guess…"
"Habit… Or training?"
"... Both."
The silver haired girl looked at the two with no peticular emotion, then turned to the door.
Only to it suddenly open to reveal the giant figure of the huntress.
"What the hell did you all do!? And Motza! You short-stack! What are you doing with them?!"
'I have no idea… And I'm not short, you are just tall.'
He had little energy to debate with the huntress again.
And luckily for him, Changing Star had more pressing matters for the huntress.
"So Effie, this proves our strength, no?"
The giant girl stared at Immortal Flame…
Then laughed.
—
The next day, something once thought impossible, 5 sleepers were preparing to hunt nightmare creatures as a cohort in the Dark City. The reason it was considered impossible is because of the components of the cohort.
Motza and Effie were working together, all knew the disdain the hunter had for the giant. A resident of the Bright Castle, a warrior that, even with his small time in the Forgotten Shore, already had a reputation of being powerful. The man with the dark, imposing armor. And finally, the silver haired girl…
Immortal Flame's daughter.
Many of the residents stared in awe of the scene. Some whispered of their insanity, others, of hope, a few, of jealousy.
A lone girl with green, cat-like eyes stared at the cohort with suspicion, yet she couldn't help but hope.
The cohort mostly ignored, well, Sunny ignored, he couldn't talk in the others stead.
He was talking with Cassie.
"Are you sure Cass? I can leave you with Serpent."
Cassie shook her head with a pleasant smile.
"Don't worry Sunny, I doubt anyone will be a threat. I have the Carapace Scavenger, remember?"
Sunny sighed, looking at the Echo that was summoned beside the blind girl, sure, it was a powerful tool, he doubted anyone in the outskirts had one to begin with, so not many would dare mess with Cassie.
However, it was merely an Awakened Beast, and considering the existence of Motza and Effie, there was the possibility of someone attacking her searching for a hostage. Wanting to get something out of the cohort.
Sunny almost left Cassie with Serpent against her will…
But he remembered she was the Heir of Fate.
"Is it hard?"
Cassie looked at him with her blind eyes, her face expressing a question mark.
"To live with Fate?"
The seer's expression darkened, losing all colour. She sighed.
"Yes… The visions are constant now… I can control them somewhat but… It's difficult."
Sadness passed through Sunny, it was supposed to be him.
He was supposed to be Weaver's Heir, yet she accepted the burden instead.
'Should I have…'
"Sunny."
He looked up, to see a smiling Cassie.
"If you took [Bloodweave], you wouldn't be able to see through Fate. I can because my Aspect has a high affinity to it.
So please, don't blame yourself, It was my decision."
The Heir of Shadows opened his mouth to speak. Then sighed, opening a small smile.
"Stay safe Cass, we shouldn't take long."
He turned around, walking to the rest of the cohort. Effie talked to Nephis loudly.
"Sooo Princess! Shall we get going?"
Motza rolled his eyes, he really didn't like Effie's personality.
Nephis answered evenly.
"Let's begin."
The 5 Sleepers moved to the Dark City. Leaving their seer behind.
Changing Star got closer to Sunless and whispered for him. Her voice was low and even, yet Sunny could tell there was worry in it.
"I told you, that version of Fate is gone…
We'll make a new one, she chose that."
The Prince of Song smiled at her, and answered with the same voice.
"Since when have you started including me?"
Nephis didn't answer. She didn't know how to.
—
The hunt was surprisingly simple and relatively easy.
With Effie and Motza serving as Pathfinders and sharing their knowledge on the nightmare creatures, they always had the advantage in battles.
Nephis and Sunny decided the positions and battle plans.
Motza scouted a head and distracted strong creatures.
Effie and Nephis served as vanguard and main attackers.
While Sunny and Caster were the ones who dealt the final blows. And of course, they started a competition on who could kill the most.
Unfortunately for Caster, Sunny had two soul cores and two shadows… One that let him use essence and the other was an Ascended Demon…
Even then, his strong Aspect made it pretty close. But Sunny won.
After returning, they shared the meat and spoils of the hunt.
The residents stared at them, a big pile of meat conquered by the cohort held their attention.
The scion of Han Li was glaring at his friend.
"You are a cheater. You have two Echos!"
Sunny shrugged.
"I'm lucky. And it was close, I only beat you by two."
Caster rolled his eyes.
Motza leaned on the wall behind them, observing.
Effie had already left for her cabin, getting her part of the meat.
Nephis came to Caster and Sunny asking in an indifferent voice.
"Can I use a part of yours?"
Both Legacies looked at Nephis confused and curious.
'Why would you need more meat? Your body is already per-'
Sunny shook his head, trying to get rid of his impure thoughts as a hint of red appeared on his cheeks.
"Sure, I don't mind."
"Me either Lady Nephis. Are you going to sell them?"
The crowd of the outer settlement snapped their heads towards Nephis, they all wanted the meat.
Changing Star nodded, then turned, speaking loud enough for all to hear.
"No, I'll be giving for free."
—
Sunny stared at the crowd as they moved for the food.
At the beginning, they didn't believe her, but over the course of a few minutes, all moved to satiate their hunger.
Caster was standing right beside him, glaring in search of any fights or chaos.
"So that's her plan… Manipulate them…"
Caster turned his head to Sunless, questioning him.
"Do you really think like that?"
They were speaking loud enough for only them to hear, the outer settlement was focused on something more important.
"Yeah… She'll give them freedom, a way out, and they will eventually die for her."
Caster hesitated for a second, but let his thoughts out.
"Isn't that just loyalty, Sunny? The ruler giving the best of his people and the soldiers fighting for him?"
Sunny didn't want to answer, he wanted to ponder that. But he remembered his mother, she was a Sovereign, and in a way, she did exactly what Nephis is doing. His flaw forced him to answer.
"You're probably right… I just… I remembered the time when I was the one in there..."
He was referring to the outskirts, when he was a rat. Caster decided to not push the question.
But Sunny couldn't deny, it was the answer, to rally the Sleepers, to defeat Gunlaug.
To escape the Forgotten Shore.
Something caught his attention, he saw a small, dirty white blur in his peripheral vision.
Turning to see what it was, in an alleyway not far from him, a girl with dirty white hair was crouching, putting her hands in her chest, like she was hungry.
Yet she made no effort to go for the food.
Sunny's eyes softened, the girl was like him, not trusting the helping hand…
Motza, who heard all of the exchange, moved to his side, he also noticed the outlier.
They looked at each other. A question apparent in the eyes of Heir of Shadows.
The one-eyed assassin nodded.
Sunny moved, grabbing one piece of meat.
"Where are you going?"
Caster asked, just noticing the strange action.
Sunny thought for a moment, then answered.
"I'm becoming a hypocrite. You really were right, Caster. You and Nephis… My mother..."
He didn't know everything that Changing Star wanted to do, all her motivations.
But for them to get out of here, they would have to become rulers, masters…
Sovereigns.
And Sovereigns had to choose when to care… And when to use.
His mother had already taught him that all those years ago. He just now understood the true weight behind it, what he needed to become...
'I just want them to choose for themselves, at least.'
He reached the alleyway where the malnourished Sleeper was, tossing the piece of nightmare creature meat to her.
She jumped, surprised to see him. He looked at her with his hollow eyes, seeing her instincts and responses. Her distrust.
"Wise choice. What's your name?"