As they crossed through the gates, they saw women hurrying from side to side, cleaning and closing shutters and windows everywhere. Ahead, there was a desk that seemed to have been dragged from the city to serve as a reception area.
Just as they were about to move, a loud noise caught their attention. The doors behind them slammed shut. They were now separated from their group and trapped inside for a week.
Sunny grimaced at the sight of the closed doors before moving toward the castle's reception. Behind the desk, a gaunt, nervous-looking young man was writing on a piece of parchment.
Approaching, Jonathan spoke instead of Sunny, as it had happened in the original novel.
"Excuse me, we were told someone would receive us?"
The castle receptionist flinched and looked up from his parchment, fear flashing across his face. However, when he realized who was speaking, the fear vanished and was replaced by a hesitant smile.
The boy had a pale, sickly complexion, quite unlike those who were supposed to be well-kept inside the castle, resembling more those outside its walls.
"Ah, guests! Sorry, you gave me a scare there. Welcome, welcome to Bright Castle. Wow, you arrived just in time. A few minutes later, and the doors would have been closed."
Saying this, the boy shot a quick glance at the guards and quickly looked away.
"Anyway, my name is Harper. I'm responsible for guest accommodations today. Let's see... Oh! I don't recognize you guys. Is this your first time paying homage?"
The two exchanged glances, and it was Sunny who spoke:
"Yes, it's our first time."
Harper then spoke about the kindness and benevolence of Gunlaug and how he had taken him from the outer settlement and given him a place here.
After a bit more talking, Sunny, looking a bit tired of listening, asked:
"So, what are we supposed to do now?"
Harper took his quill and opened a large ledger.
"That's quite simple, really. I'll just need your names to mark when you three paid the tribute, and that's all. We have plenty of rooms here, especially in the Dusk Tower. It's very quiet, so how about I set you up there?"
There was a nervous glint in his eyes.
Sunny hesitated a bit before agreeing.
"Sure, no problem."
"Great! That's great! Uh, so your names..."
"I'm Sunless, she's Cassia, and he's Jonathan."
The young man wrote their names and date of arrival in the ledger before looking back at them.
"All set. Now, leave your worries behind and follow me. Within these walls, you are completely safe. Nothing will harm you!"
...
Harper guided them through the castle, explaining the rules and customs one must follow once inside. He was a chatty and friendly type, quickly helping the three understand the essentials.
Overall, it was straightforward. They were free to do as they pleased unless they broke the basic rules of coexistence, with a few exceptions. There were areas in the marble fortress open to everyone and areas only accessible to members of Gunlaug's host. These were marked by a symbol of a snake coiled around a tall tower.
Aside from that, there wasn't much to know except when and where to find food, water, and other necessities. The last thing Harper mentioned was how they should behave with other fortress inhabitants:
"People here are very kind, but you still need to remember your manners. Especially when interacting with the guards and hunters. These guys protect us and risk their lives to keep us safe, so they deserve our respect. If one of them... uh... if there's a misunderstanding, be mindful of their burdens. Yes."
The two understood that he meant that if the guards accused them of any trouble, they should just shut up and take the crap.
"Uh... I forgot to ask, do you need three rooms or just one?"
Sunny and Jonathan looked at Cassia, who spoke first:
"I'll have a separate one; they can decide for themselves."
"Three rooms, it'd be better if they're next to each other," Sunny concluded for the three of them.
Harper thought for a moment before looking at them.
"Uh... alright. I think I can find three adjoining rooms for you. Follow me."
With that, he started walking ahead.
Soon, they were standing in front of two sturdy wooden doors. Harper handed two iron keys to Sunny and smiled.
"Here we are. The rooms aren't very big, but they are really... uh... cozy. Enjoy your first night of safety, folks! You probably haven't felt safe in a long time. I know I never did before coming here! Anyway, breakfast will be served tomorrow an hour after dawn, in the main hall of the fortress. See you there!"
Having said that, he gave them one last shy smile and walked away.
"Cassia, you don't mind if Sunny leaves his shadow outside your room, right? You know humans can sometimes be more dangerous than monsters," Jonathan said, looking at Cassia, who seemed to understand what he meant and had no problem with it.
...
On the other side of the sturdy door, there was a small room with stone walls and a single narrow window closed with wooden shutters and covered with thick fabric. Harper had warned them not to open the windows at night, but here in the Dusk Tower, no one would want to look at the view anyway.
Allowing any light to leak out of the castle at night was considered a severe offense, so he had been quite emphatic on that point.
Jonathan was able to discard his armor after months of wearing it continuously. For tonight, his armor could recover in his soul sea, and he could clean himself at leisure.
After washing up with the water on a small desk, he moved to stand in front of a small mirror opposite his bed.
'Heh, I really am handsome, aren't I? The awakening does wonders.'
He noticed his face had lost some of the innocence typical of a boy from his world. Now his features were sharper, his eyes had slightly dark circles underneath them, and his hair was longer, with his bangs reaching his eyes.
After looking at himself in the mirror a bit longer, he lay down on his bed and fell asleep within seconds, knowing that if anything happened, Sunny would alert them with his shadow.
...
In the morning, Jonathan woke up and summoned his ascended armor and the King's Legacy, once again suppressing his intimidation ability.
The armor was now clean, free of stains, and without any scratches on its surface. After a full night in his soul, it had been completely restored.
He left the room and waited for the others to come out.
"Good morning, Sunless," he greeted Sunny, who returned the greeting. Shortly after, Cassia came out of her room.
Jonathan was pleasantly surprised when he saw Cassia. With her delicate features, bright blue eyes, and pale blonde hair, she looked like a beautiful porcelain doll. The blind girl had discarded the enchanted cloak, leaving her dressed only in a light tunic and leather sandals. She was nothing short of stunning.
'Heh, her appearance is bound to cause trouble. If anyone tries to hit on her or do something stupid, I'll make them kneel.'
She turned her head toward Sunny and wrinkled her nose. Sunny frowned.
"What?"
The blind girl furrowed her brow.
"I don't know. You smell different."
Jonathan let out a light laugh, his lips curling at the comment, amused, while watching the two.
Sunny stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"If this is your way of saying I used to stink, then thanks, I guess."
Laughing, Cassia stepped closer and put her hand on his shoulder.
"That's not what I meant! Anyway, let's go eat!"
The two guided Cassia to the castle's main tower, following the route Harper had explained the night before.
Finding the fortress wasn't difficult, as many other Sleepers were also heading there for breakfast. Meals were served twice a day in the castle, once in the morning and once just before sunset.
If one missed a meal and had no other way to get food, they would have to remain hungry for the rest of the day.
Finally, they entered the main hall of the fortress, where long wooden tables were set up to accommodate the morning crowd of hungry Sleepers.
Suddenly, hundreds of eyes turned to look at Cassia. Jonathan had expected this, but it still felt highly unpleasant.
He glared at everyone with threatening eyes, and some looked away, but most didn't, continuing to undress Cassia with their ugly eyes.
He was about to activate the crown to show these idiots what happens when they do such things to his friend, but Sunny noticed and stopped him.
"That will cause more trouble. It's not smart to make enemies of the entire castle on the first day. Let's find an empty table in a corner."
Sunny was serious, and Jonathan knew it well. But a part of him still wanted to show those fools how stupid they were for looking at his friend that way.
After picking up food from a maid at the counter, they sat down to eat at a half-empty table in a secluded corner.
As they walked, neither of them avoided noticing how grand the hall seemed.
There was a hallway leading to a large alcove with several holes letting in the radiant sunlight.
And beneath that light, a magnificent empty white throne.
As they managed to sit, many eyes were still on them, or more specifically, on Cassia.
Jonathan clenched his fists when two rough-looking young men suddenly got up from their benches and crossed the hall towards them with unpleasant excitement burning in their eyes.
Sunny also noticed how those two unpleasant youths were looking at Cassia, clearly undressing her.
He reminded himself not to make enemies on the first day and looked at them, wanting to speak, but Jonathan interrupted him.
"It would be better if you stopped staring at my friend like that or I'll cut your balls off, you idiots." His voice came out full of contained rage as he stared directly at the two guards.
All the eyes that had lowered and looked away when the guards approached them now lifted again, but instead of looking at Cassia, they were looking at the boy in black and gold armor with a crown on his head.
The guards looked at Jonathan before speaking, contempt in their voices.
"This rat, we just wanted to say hello to that little doll, but we can talk to the clown next to her first."
Jonathan stood up from his seat and faced the two guards, clearly not intending to keep the peace.
"I'll repeat it a second time, get lost now."
It seemed the two guards hesitated for a moment as their hands on the hilts of their swords wavered. But they looked around and knew they couldn't let themselves be intimidated.
"This little rat. You'd better mind your manners in your next life." The guard on the right spat as he raised his sword.
A young man with brown hair and green eyes was about to intervene when a wave of immense pressure filled the room.
Most believed that Gunlaug himself had arrived unexpectedly due to the sudden pressure, but no, this pressure was stronger. Everyone knelt, including the boy who was about to stop the exchange.
Jonathan leaned down a bit so that his face was right between the heads of both guards and spoke:
"Didn't I tell you? Get lost, I won't say it a third time." Jonathan's voice was deep and exuded authority with all the pressure he exerted thanks to the crown.
The two guards nodded frantically, and Jonathan finally released the aura of pressure from the room.
Everyone was left shocked and surprised by such a display. The guards ran out of the room and all eyes turned to Jonathan.
"What are you looking at?" That was all he needed to say for everyone to avert their gazes, scared of the boy.
"Hey, that was a bit much, don't you think? Though, I would have given them a punch or two as well." Sunny said, as he watched Jonathan sit back down in his place.
Before Cassia could say something about the situation, or Jonathan could respond, the boy with green eyes and brown hair greeted them.
"Hey, it's been a while, it's great to see you again, Jonathan."
The three of them turned their heads to the source of the voice and saw a familiar face.
The one who spoke to them was Caster.