Caster had appeared.
Sunny was about to ask a question but was interrupted again by Jonathan.
"Caster. It's a pleasant surprise to find another academy mate in this city."
Sunny decided to leave the task of talking to Caster to Jonathan since Sunny might cause a misunderstanding with his usual demeanor.
"Yes, and you really left an impression just now, huh."
Jony looked again at the spot where the guards had exited and asked:
"Well, they had unpleasant looks when... well, when they saw Cassia. I don't think they'll cause more trouble, right?"
Caster glanced at Cassia for a second and then spoke:
"I don't think so. They're just lowly guards, the lowest among Gunlaug's ranks. By the way, it's nice to see you alive as well, Cassia and... Sunless, right?"
"Yes," Sunny said dryly.
"Yes, nice to see you too, Caster."
"Though it's surprising you remember our names. Don't think we've forgotten how you treated us at the academy."
Cassia squeezed Sunny's shoulder.
"Sunny!" she hissed, reprimanding his attitude.
"No, he's right. Looking back, we were a bit harsh on you."
Jonathan interrupted the small talk among the three.
"By the way, Caster. How long have you been here? You don't seem like the type to join Gunlaug, do you go hunting regularly?"
Caster turned his gaze to Jonathan and replied, still maintaining his good-boy facade:
"I've been here for several weeks now, appeared near the city and then found a group of hunters. They brought me here, and here I am. As for Gunlaug; no, I don't join him. I'm one of the few strong enough to remain neutral."
He turned his gaze to Sunny and Cassia, then spoke to Jonathan again.
"But, I'm curious. How did you manage to survive two months in the dark city? Or did you come from the labyrinth?"
"We came from the labyrinth, we were there for two months until we found the way to this place."
"Two months in the labyrinth! That's quite a feat, as expected from someone who finished second." He praised Jonathan for being able to bring along those deadweights, though he didn't say it directly.
"Well, yes. But you should hear what Sunless did."
Caster turned his gaze to Sunny, who was watching the conversation while eating his soup. Now he was at the center of the conversation and felt a bit stiff.
"Uh, yes. Remember all my feats of killing tyrants and sword saints in my first nightmare? Well, that pales in comparison to what I did in the labyrinth."
Caster's eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked at Sunny, who was about to recount his journey through the labyrinth.
He pretended to think for a moment before speaking again:
"Well, first of all, we killed many awakened beasts, some awakened monsters, then demons, lived under an ancient horror, I killed a great devil with a single blow without much effort, escaped the ancient horror in the skin of a demon while fleeing from the horrors of the black love, and fought at night against tentacles coming from the depths."
Cassia and Caster smiled together at first, but as Sunny spoke, Cassia's smile froze and it seemed that only now, being calm, could she see that all the events they had gone through would be like a mythical tale for simple dreamers.
"Wow Sunny, that's incredible, compared to that, my little adventure in the city feels like a stroll in the park. It's good that your sense of humor hasn't changed." Caster smiled while talking to Sunny.
"Hey, it really happened, ha ha ha."
Caster froze and looked between Jonathan and Sunny, seeming reluctant to believe Sunny could have done all that.
"Uh, well. Okay, you helped him, I imagine."
"No, well, not with everything. I just helped him kill the great devil."
Caster looked again at Sunny and Jonathan and seemed to give up on things.
"Well, that's incredible. Even if it's you, Jony, I can't believe you two killed a great devil."
The two looked at Caster, and Sunny was the one who responded.
"Actually, the great devil was just an egg. Jonathan led me to it, and I just stabbed it with a sword." He continued eating without looking at Caster's reaction, though his eyes were down, his shadow's eyes were gleaming with joy at Caster's reaction.
After that, they continued talking with Caster for a while until he said goodbye and told them where their rooms were in case they needed anything.
***
Five days passed in the blink of an eye while Sunny explored the entire castle interior and monitored the lieutenants with his shadow. He had shared everything he had discovered so far.
In summary, the castle's system and the outer settlement were designed to maintain control through fear and hope. Gunlaug kept people aspiring to his favor, while the punishments for going too far deterred excessive abuses.
The castle inhabitants feared being banished to the outside, while those outside longed to enter. This cycle kept everyone in a state of submission and survival.
Within the castle, there was a rigid hierarchy with different castes. Most served directly under Gunlaug as guards, hunters, craftsmen, and maidens, under the command of five lieutenants.
The Castle Guard, with 150 men, protected the fortress and enforced the laws, facing monsters when necessary. Led by Tessai, a fierce commander, they were essential for security.
The Hunters, the elite with exceptional combat skills, went out daily to search for food and resources, facing great dangers. People dreamed of rising to this position due to the rewards it offered, though their lives were short.
The Conquerors, expert guides and veterans, helped the hunters avoid more dangerous monsters and enjoyed luxurious lives.
These groups formed Gunlaug's army, ensuring the castle's control and regime stability.
In addition to the Guards, Hunters, and Conquerors, there were two other key groups in Gunlaug's castle: the Artisans and the Maidens.
The Artisans, led by Kido, were Dreamers with Utility Skills and their assistants, numbering around a hundred. They were vital for creating and maintaining essential items for life in the Forgotten Coast, such as clothing, tools, and equipment. Although not fighters, their crucial role created tensions with the Guards, who felt the Artisans did not deserve as much prestige. However, Kido, with his ability to change the attributes of plants, enjoyed high status, and Gemma, the Hunters' leader, supported the Artisans, preventing conflicts.
The Maidens, approximately one hundred young women, were responsible for maintaining the castle and serving the higher ranks. Contrary to Sunny's expectations, they were not victims of abuse, due to the protection and secret training of their leader, Seishan, a feared and respected woman. Their status was secured by Gunlaug, who did not tolerate anyone claiming his belongings without permission.
These groups, along with the Guards, Hunters, and Conquerors, formed the complex social and hierarchical structure of the castle, each playing a vital role in the survival and maintenance of Gunlaug's regime.
And at the top of that hierarchy was the golden serpent, the master of the castle, the Bright Lord Gunlaug himself.
The man who, according to Effie's description, was almost immortal.
And the fifth lieutenant, the most feared in the bright castle: Harus.
He was Gunlaug's executioner, sent when someone needed to disappear.
That was, basically, everything they had learned through Sunny. Those five days he had worked hard investigating the place thoroughly.
About to receive their breakfasts, Sunny, Cassia, and Jonathan felt the entire hall fall into a deathly silence.
Sensing something was wrong, the three turned their heads towards the entrance, where they saw a large group of guards entering.
Jonathan felt the fear that appeared in Sunny's soul and placed a hand on his shoulder, which seemed to calm Sunny, knowing that the two of them could at least escape alive if something bad happened.
Fortunately, the guards just ignored them and spread out in the hallways, moving tables to corners and leaving a large empty space in the great hall.
"What's happening..." Cassia asked, to which Sunny responded.
"I'm not sure..."
The two saw Caster among a crowd, with a solemn expression looking towards a dark hallway at the other end of the hall. The two followed his gaze, as a moment later everyone looked in the same direction.
And a few seconds later, five figures emerged from there.
Slowly, five figures emerged from the darkness of the niche and stood on the steps leading to the throne. They were Gemma, Tessai, Seishan, Kido, and the most feared of them, Harus.
Jonathan felt the change in Sunny's emotions that went from irritation to fear and back to calm. 'He must have seen Harus.'
A second later, Sunny looked away, and the two could see a golden man.
Bright Lord Gunlaug was dressed in a strange golden armor that covered his tall figure from head to toe, not even leaving his eyes exposed. It seemed simultaneously solid and liquid, almost flowing over his powerful muscles and broad, powerful shoulders.
In the place where his face should have been, a smooth, empty expanse of polished gold reflected the frightened faces of hundreds of Dreamers.
"Don't look at the golden fabric that covers his face." Jonathan's voice was serious and low, only for Sunny to hear.
Obeying, Sunny avoided looking at Gunlaug's golden visor and noticed how all the Dreamers in the hall made themselves smaller to show submission to Gunlaug.
All except the three of them and his lieutenants.
'Is there something special about his visor that makes everyone feel that way?'
Sunny, out of mere foolish curiosity, looked at the visor. When he saw his reflection there, he felt a great pressure sink his shoulders.
She quickly averted her gaze but still felt the pressure. Though it was strong, she managed to resist it quite well and avoided lowering her head; anyway, that pressure was inferior to what Jony's crown made her feel.
"Fool, I warned you haha," Jonathan's voice was serious but amused at Sunny's actions. It's just psychic pressure anyway, it won't hurt her.
Meanwhile, Gunlaug approached the empty white throne and sat down gracefully. The light falling from the numerous holes in the back wall of the niche reflected off his armor, making it seem as if he were enveloped in a bright glow.
The golden mirror that served as his face turned to contemplate the rows of Sleepers trembling at his feet.
A few moments later, a deep, insidious voice resonated around him, as if the castle itself were whispering in their ears:
"Ah, what a lovely day it is today. A perfect day for justice, don't you think, my precious pupils? I've heard there's a criminal hidden among us today. Well... am I not just? Am I not? Let me show you how just I am..."