Immediately after Sunny killed the Cursed Herald, he went to Nephis and helped her get rid of the claw that pierced her shoulder, which was left hanging in the air. The cohort as a whole was wounded, but Nephis was the priority, she was the only one with a healing aspect, she needed to live.
He made a makeshift tourniquet with the cloth he had used to shut his eyes, Frostblade had taught how to make it quickly so it wasn't an issue. Then waited for her to use her flames to heal herself.
"Why did you do it?"
His voice was full of worry and anger. But Nephis didn't seem to acknowledge his anger, staring at him with indifference.
"Do what?"
Sunny rolled his eyes.
"I'm not an idiot Neph, I know how you fight and how strong you are, you could have dodged it, you chose to be hit."
She continued with her indifferent expression, but something changed in her eyes… they showed… Guilt? Regret?
"I had to give you an opening."
Sunny scoffed, annoyed at her lack of self-preservation, didn't she want to know the truth about the Sovereigns? To understand what really happened to her father? Hell, to kill Anvil and the Dreamspawn for all he cared.
"I couldn't take the chance, if I hadn't immobilized its claw, it could have used it to attack instead of the beak. You could have died."
"I could have dodged it, or even take the hit, I have an Ascended armor."
Changing Star looked at him evenly.
"I couldn't take the chance…"
— —
Caster stared at the ceiling, laying down to recover after he had dodged the attack of the Spire Messenger to clear a way for Sunny to kill it. He was recovering, exhausted after the tough battle, four bleeding claw marks on his torso he had received earlier on the fight.
A raven black haired boy that was annoyantly way more handsome than he was appeared in his vision in black obsidian armor and hollow black eyes that stared at him with an amused expression.
"You look pathetic."
Caster rolled his eyes and cursed.
"F*ck me looking pathetic, did you kill it?"
Sunny nodded, the amusement never leaving his smile.
"Yep."
"Please tell me you got an Ascended Memory I can use…"
"No… The [Dusk Shard] is just a shield, a heavy one at that, I can't wield it, I had to give it to Effie."
The entire truth was that the Memory, although very heavy, could have its weight changed with an active enchantment, and Sunny could use it… But since Effie lost her shield and he was already using all of his little supply of Dormant essence augmenting his body and using [BloodRaven]'s active enchantment, he decided to give it to the huntress. And he already had Ascended armour of the sixth tier.
Han Li's scion sighed in frustration, all his perfect legacy act from the academy going away. We'll, it went away a while ago.
"Why am I so unlucky with Memories? Not even when I kill Fallen creatures, I don't get anything, not an Echo, not a Memory."
Sunless tilted his head and remembered something he got from a Fallen Beast.
"I don't know why, but I do have something that can help you…"
He stretched out his hand and summoned the Memory he got from the eel he killed on the headless stone statue.
A spear appeared in a well of white ethereal sparks, it was made of a green moss metal, like it stayed in salt water from the sea for too long, yet it was still incredibly sharp. The bladed side had an intricate rectangular hilt that separated from the rest of the spear with two extra, shorter blades from each side pointing diagonally, like it was an attempt to create a mix between trident and spear.
Memory: [Stalker from the Sea.]
Memory Rank: Ascended.
Memory Type: Weapon.
Memory Description: [A loyal soldier betrayed his comander after learning the truth, but their betrayal lead to him to lose himself in the dark waters.]
Caster stared at the impressive spear in the hands of his companion, only for it to be dismissed soon after it was summoned.
Sunny offered a hand to Caster, who accepted it, with a little force from both Sleepers, Sunless helped him get up, transferring the Ascended spear in the process. The scion let out a tired puff, his wounds still haunting him.
"Couldn't you have given me that earlier?"
Sunny chuckled and scratched his head.
"Things were so hectic I forgot it even existed."
"Either way, thanks."
Sunless smirked.
"No problem."
They both felt their necks being invaded by an arm that hugged them affectionately, Kai leaned onto them like they knew each other for years, the archer looked like he would pass out, the bow Sunny gave to him used his own blood to make arrows, when he hit the target, he got his blood back, but every time he missed, he lost the blood forever. The hurt bodies of the legacies were bombarded with even more pain.
"I thought you guys were going to die!"
"Agh… Kai, please, Lady Nephis still hasn't healed me yet…"
Speaking of which, Nephis had already healed herself and began using her flames to heal all other members, Effie was being healed as they spoke.
Sunny and Cassie weren't seriously wounded, the seer had been a support for the battle, all the damage that she would have received went to her Echoes, Carapace Scavenger was almost destroyed.
Sunny on the other hand had only internal injuries, [The Blood's Shadow] was already healing him. His Shadows, Saint and Wraith, were on his soul sea, also healing in the calm waters.
Kai then turned to Sunless and asked in the most exhausted face imaginable.
"Please tell we are done here…"
Sunny's smile suddenly disappeared, remembering what will happen when they return… What situation they will find, his expression darkened.
For the first time… He hoped Gunlaug was strong enough.
"Yeah. Time to return."
It was the way, to break his spirit, to open everyone's eyes, and get as much people as possible for the Crimson Spire. Targeting the one thing he guarantees to everyone that enters the Bright Castle.
And yet… It was so foolish… Maybe just dueling him was enough, maybe everyone would join them if the Bright Lord was defeated…
But that was wishfull thinking, sometimes, people had to suffer to understand. The Bright Castle's safety was built on circunstance and human determination, now they would destroy that…
'Maybe I am foolish for doing this… Maybe I'm going against everything I am…'
At the same time, it was what Ki Song taught him, killing a few to reach the objective was inevitable.
Now, he would risk a few lives on the Bright Castle to convince the ones that survived to breach the Crimson Spire. Just like his mother sacrificed humans that were infected by that Thing to save humanity.
He had already made his choice, and he still hesitated.
He looked at Nephis, who was approaching them to heal Caster and Kai. She noticed Sunny's dark expression and looked down, she knew what would happen, he told her, and she shared the same feelings he had. It was their responsability... No, it was his.
Opening his runes, he sent a message to Seishan.
[Shadow]: We are finished here, it was a success, no causualties, in a few months, we'll be back.]
A few seconds later, he received an answer.
[Blood]: Understood… Stay safe. Once your back, it will all be over.]
He stared at the runes for a moment, then sended another message.
[Shadow]: Don't let anyone die.]
[Blood]:... I will do my best.]
— —
After three months, the cohort had returned, after killing numerous nightmare creatures, facing the dangers of the Crimson Labyrinth and the weather of the Forgotten Shore, they had reached the Dark City.
They were dirty, their armours were full of scratches and marks, mud and dirt covered their bodies. Yet none were tired thanks to Changing Star's healing.
And they were fortunate, because the Bright Castle that awaited them, for the first time since it was discovered by The First Lord, was not the bastion of humanity in the Forgotten Shore.