Before Sunny and Wren or rather Sunny had crossed their paths with the Carapace Scavanger. Wren had sensed something or someone moving, a few turns from the path they were walking on.
'So they are here.'
Smirking, Wren noticed Sunny and said:
"You go ahead, I will return in some time, need to check something."
He was moving but stopped, and said again:
"Hope you like the surprise ahead."
***
As Sunny finished gathering information about his Shadow Core, his Shadow saw something that momentarily sent Sunny state of stupor.
Through his Shadow sense, he saw three figures which he knew very well.
It was Nephis, Wren and Cassie. But what he saw after that is something he didn't expected, they were fighting again.
The Changing Star and The Heir of Abyss were engaged in another combat after the Waking World.
Had it been a friendly combat, Sunny would have just watched it for more experience but this was not the Waking World. Sunny quickly dashed toward the direction of battle.
***
Wren was hiding behind the red corals observing the two girls, a bit embarrassed as he felt like a creep. What he saw was a tall, lithe girl with makeshift skirt and crude brassiere, both made out of seaweed revealing her skin and athletic muscles. Her short silky silver hair flowing, the wind playing with them.
While the other girl was like a small porcelain doll, with big aimless blue eyes and golden blonde hairs. Her grip tight on the golden rope and followed the Changing Star like a little child.
'So I was correct, but it seems there senses are dull unexpected but this shall do.'
Wren released a bit of his intent, the Changing Star frowned and aimed her sword in the direction where Wren was hiding.
"You should come out, before I come to you."
Cassie on other hand was in a state of fear, when she felt Wren's intent, she immediately understood that it was him as she felt the same thing many times when he was with her and Sunny.
Coming out from his hideout, he smirked and stared straight into Nephis grey eyes, in which a white flame was burning furiously.
"Quite arrogant you are, might become your doom. I understand where it comes from, I hope you don't want to share the same fate."
The white flames were now burning more furiously, as if wanting to break out of her grey eyes. Nephis face was natural, almost.
'I did hit a nerve right? Yeah I did.'
Wren thought as he dodged the sword coming straight for his head, he summoned the Slayer of Shadows to test the limits of it. Clashing the silver blade head on, the black blade was more furious and stronger.
But this changed when the blade started to burn in the white flames. The Slayer of Shadows has met it's first obstacle, surviving the destructive white flames.
Wren knew that the flames are more dangerous than the weapon, and quickly removed his blade and jumped a few metres back creating a distance between then.
He then lunged forward, flashing the black blade and aimed it at the burning blade. He slashed it upward, and then he did something unexpected. Wren punched straight at Nephis right hand's radiocarpal joint, immediately dislocating the wrist, making her lose the grip.
But this didn't go as planned, as the Changing Star once agained grabbed the sword with her right hand.
'Huh? She shouldn't be able to use the sword. Did I miss? No this shouldn't be possible. I don't want to kill her so this is the only option.'
"I surrender."
But the blade didn't stop and moved with more speed, Wren dodged the burning blade by hair breadth. Nephis didn't took much time and once again started her assault.
"Wait, will you? Ugh!"
Wren kicked the blade but his leg was now burning with white flames, his usually calm face was now contorted with pain.
But the flames immediately died, when the water started to rise again. Wren's face had a smile... a smile that made him look like a maniac but it soon became normal when his leg was healed.
"Sunny! Now is not the time to enjoy the fight and get experience, take Cassie and run to the coral mound. We will follow you guys."
Wren stared at the blotch of Shadows, then a pale young boy came out of it startling the Changing Star while Cassie simply asked:
"Sunny?"
"The Pervert?"
"Yes and no, some misunderstanding this guy has caused for some reasons. We don' t have enough time, Let's go!"
Wren answered for Sunny, who just sighed and grabbed the golden rope from Nephis, who was unwilling at first but gave it.
Sunny's Shadow saved a lot of time for the group, while climbing the coral mound the girls were staying at. Wren started to materialize the darkness in the form of a hook, the golden rope was tied to it. Cassie grabbed it and the hook started to move upward.
While Cassie was moving upwards he glanced at the other two. He sighed and said:
"What you idiots are staring at? Move!"
Breaking the silence, they started to climb and went upwards. Sunny looked at the back and asked:
"You are not coming up?"
Wren stared at him dumbfounded.
"You want to come down here."
Sunny didn't replied and just moved upper and upper till he was like a small Shadow and disappeared.
Sighing, as the strain on his brain became less, only to be increased again as he used the darkness to send him upwards at the top of the coral mound.
While everyone stared at him, Nephis had the most furious gaze. Sweating a bit he said:
"Ahh... Well, Sorry."
The silence was now more awkward, which Wren hated the most. He stared at them for a few moments than just sighed. Sunny tried to break the silence.
"Was it you two nights ago? We've seen an orange light in distance."
Soon their conversation started, while the silent ones were staring at each other, their grey eyes were watching every movement. One was filled with eternal darkness while the other had intense white flames burning in them.
***
As Sunny and Cassie finished their conversation, they finally noticed the awkward silence and staring between the True Name holders.
"Why didn't you used your Aspect ability before or is it related to healing?"
The Changing Star broke the silence with a awkward yet an interesting question. Everyone were looking at Wren for answers.
"You guys would have died, If I had used my Aspect and I don't want that."
This was something unexpected, everyone were in a dark mood. Sunny didn't knew what kind of Aspect Wren had, all he knew it has an affinity to darkness. While Nephis was getting more interested in questioning.
"Is it uncontrollable or something else?"
Wren didn't reply immediately, but gave a different answer something anyone would or should do.
"You don't need know that."
His voice cold, Sunny felt chills when he heard that voice. Nephis face didn't show any emotions but the flames in her eyes were burning more furiously.
'Even if you don't tell me, I will make you say it.'
Cassie on other hand felt something dark gripping her throat tightly, of course it wasn't affecting her but she still understood the message.
"Don't pry into me."
Sunny had his own thoughts, but he dismissed them instead he asked something he noticed in the fight between the other two True Name holders.
"Wren I noticed you attacked at the wrist of Nephis right hand's wrist. Any reasons for it?"
Wren smirked and said in a playful manner.
"Use your brain, I have taught you something related to that."
While Sunny was racking his brain for answers, the Changing Star asked a question:
"You taught him? Why?"
Wren looked at her, lingered for a moment then said with a smirk:
"Yes I did, he has more potential than some useless legacies that think they are something."
"Is that so? What about you?"
Nephis asked him another question in hopes to make him a bit frustrated. But what Wren said next made everyone shock.
"Me? I am no Legacy afterall I was an orphan before getting adopted by the Valor Clan."
"What?"
This time Sunny asked him, forgetting his previous task. Nephis was now drowned in her own thoughts.
'He is adopted by Valor? This is not possible. He is lying, I am sure now. He was sent to kill me. And even if he was adopted there is no way that Valor would send him to the Academy.'
"It's a long story, will tell you one day."
Wren then asked him something else:
"Anyways did you kill that beast? Oh did you find the answer?"
"I did and it was the radiocarpal joint isn't it, you dislocated it to weaken her grip but it looks like that didn't happen."
Sunny gave his answer while waving the makeshift pouch stuffed with meat.
"Good. As expected from my student."
Wren didn't explain the last part of Sunny's explanation, as he knew Sunny would have understood what happened.
'An Aspect similar to mine just different affinity. Interesting.'
The sun had already settled and everyone was hungry but they can't make fire to cook the meat.
"What you guys are waiting for? Light some fire, I want to eat."
"You didn't hear Cassie? Light from the flames attracts the beasts lurking in this Dark Sea."
Sunny asked Wren, who just shrugged it off and replied:
"You don't have to worry about the light as my ability will take care of it, I need someone to cook food because I am not a very good chef."
Wren formed a box of darkness closed from all sides but had a little opening. He then gestured Sunny to light a fire, using the dry seaweed a fire was started but it wasn't visible as the darkness hungrily devoured it.
"Uh anyone? Just place the meat on top of it, the heat will cook it."
Nephis grabbed the rucksack from Sunny's hand and placed the meat on the hot dark box. A soul shard rolled out of it but Wren immediately took it and said:
"We have a deal remember?"
Sunny didn't say anything and just nodded, Nephis and Cassie were just listening their talk. The meat was cooked and looked delicious.
Savoring the delicious meat everyone were having their meal, while exchanging the flask memory with each other. They had made a circle around the box of darkness using it as method to warm themselves.
As they finished their meal, Wren extinguished the flame. Both Wren and Sunny could see the two girls, Nephis had her usually neutral face while Cassie was trying to resist something... and suddenly said in a bright voice:
"How about we formally introduce ourselves? I'm Cassie."
Nephis glanced in her direction and shrugged.
"Neph."
Next, it was Sunny's turn. He exhaled, glad that they didn't ask his name directly. Most likely, he would still have been able to provide his human name however, it also might have depended on the wording of the question.
Relieved, he smiled and answered:
"I'm Sunless. But you can call me Sunny."
Wren was just staring at the starless void, everyone was staring at him for his introduction not that he needed to do it. He smiled and said:
"I'm Wren."
***
Sunny was slowly growing fond of having conversations in the dark. Without the burden of light, people were more relaxed and honest. It reminded him of the frequent blackouts that used to sweep through the city when he was a little kid. His family had no choice but to huddle together and spend a few hours doing nothing but talking to each other.
Now, these dark hours had become some of his most precious memories.
He was silent for a few moments and then said:
"Since we're going to be depending on each other, should we share what abilities and Memories we have at our disposal?"
This was a logical suggestion. If they were going to fight side by side, knowing each other's strengths was more or less vital. Still, he noticed Nephis glancing in his direction with a guarded look on her face.
Luckily, he was obscured by darkness.
"I'll start," Sunny said, both to show his sincerity and to reveal information about himself in a controlled manner.
If he took the initiative to talk, he still had to tell the truth, but how much and to what extent was still for him to decide. If they were to ask and he had to answer, however... things would become unpredictable.
"My attributes give me an affinity to shadows. I also have a slight affiliation to divinity. Lastly, I am prone to finding myself in unlikely situations."
Cassie listened carefully, and then lowered her head, as though embarrassed.
"Uh... he is telling the truth. Not that we doubted your honesty!"
'Why not? I spent so much time earning the reputation of a pathological liar!"
Sunny cleared his throat and smiled, hiding his nervousness:
"Really? That's good to know. But... why are you so sure that I am being honest?"
The blind girl shifted a little.
"Oh! That's my Ability. I can "see" people's Attributes. Sometimes, I also receive, uh, "visions". They can be about the future or the past. I mean, that's what I think... it only happened a couple of times."
Sunny swallowed, but then relaxed.
'So, she is an oracle of sorts. Luckily, her insight is limited to Attributes... otherwise, I'd be in real trouble. Still, I'll have to be careful around her'
He finally realized how the blind girl had known about his birthday. The question was whether she had seen it in a vision of the future or in a vision of the past. If it was the former, was it safe to assume that he would certainly be able to celebrate at least one more birthday?
Or did knowing the future actually affected and changed it? For example, after learning that he was definitely going to survive, Sunny might have naturally relaxed and lowered his guard. Then, he would die as the result of it. It surely seemed possible, right? That's assuming that the future could be changed. But maybe it wasn't? Then...
Feeling his head hurting, Sunny decided to to avoid this line of thought for now. Instead, he hid his inner turmoil and said in a friendly tone:
"That's a good Ability. Speaking of Abilities: you have already seen mine. My shadow can move independently and explore. It can't affect the material world, but we share sight and hearing. That way, I can spot danger before encountering it. The shadow is fast and stealthy: it can go anywhere and is almost impossible to notice. Oh, I can also see in the dark."
He smiled, expecting the girls to understand and appreciate the utility of his Shadow Scout. Their reaction, however, was a bit strange: Nephis slowly turned her head in his direction, while Cassie became a bit pale and raised her hands to cover her chest.
"Uh... what?"
Nephis frowned and said in a flat tone:
"Have you ever used your Ability in the Academy?"
Sunny blinked.
'What a strange question!"
"In the Academy? Sure, of course. Why?"
Oh, right... they think that I'm a pervert...
Crap!
Before the girls could say anything, Wren calmly said :
"I vouch for him, that he didn't do whatever wild thoughts running in your brains."
Fortunately, it was the honest truth. However, both Nephis and Cassie looked skeptical. Sunny gritted his teeth.
"I had more important things to do than... than whatever you're thinking about! I spent almost every waking hour learning how to survive!"
Nephis raised an eyebrow.
"I haven't seen you in class... even once."
Sunny chuckled.
"Of course, you didn't. While you were busy wiping the floor with other Sleepers, I was studying Wilderness Survival"
It was Changing Star's turn to blink.
"Wilderness... what? There is such a course?"
Cassie seemed equally puzzled.
"Yes, there is. It might seem like an afterthought for most people, but for an outskirts kid like me, who never went to a fancy school or saw a private tutor, learning how to survive in the wilderness is the difference between life and death. Without it, I would have drowned the moment we were sent to the Dream Realm."
On a rare occasion, Nephis looked completely bewildered. She rubbed her wrists and stared thoughtfully in his direction.
"I see. I didn't know."
Sunny grimaced and struggled to keep the venom from seeping into his voice. When he finally spoke, his tone was light and amiable.
"That's okay. It's natural for someone of your status not to know..."
When he mentioned her status, a strange smile appeared on the Changing Star's face. But in the end, she didn't reply.
Sunny continued:
"Anyway, that's my Ability. As for Memories, I have three. One is an armor, one is a sword, and the last one is a really loud bell."
Now it was their turn to share. After a short pause, Nephis spoke:
"My attributes give me an affinity to light and fire, as well as a strong affiliation to divinity. I have two Memories: a rope..."
While she was speaking, Sunny was looking at Cassie, trying to read her expression. From what he saw, Nephis was telling the truth but also, not the whole truth. And judging by how hard the blind girl was trying to hide her true feelings, the secret hiding among Changing Star's Attributes was not at all trivial.
'Interesting."
"...and a sword. The rope is very sturdy and can change its length. The sword is very sharp and can protect its wielder against souls attacks, to a certain extent. My Ability... can be used to heal."
Sunny didn't miss the wording of the last part. "Can be used to heal"... does this mean that its main purpose was something else? He was pretty sure that Nephis would not reveal all of her cards, just like him. However, healing abilities were extremely rare. Having one that could heal, but was not limited to healing that would be simply unheard of.
But then again, she was Changing Star one of the few people in history to receive a True Name in the First Nightmare. If Sunny were to consider his own Aspect Ability, nothing seemed impossible.
'I wonder what her Aspect rank is.'
Outwardly, he pretended to be excited.
"You're a Healer? That's great! Having a Healer among us is incredible luck!"
Cassie nodded and smiled.
"Neph is also an amazing fighter! You should have seen her dealing with those scavengers. Well... I also did not actually see it. But it sounded very scary."
Sunny didn't need anyone to tell him how formidable of a warrior Nephis was. He had seen it with his own two eyes. Sort of. Actually, they were his shadow's eyes. Well... whatever it had instead of eyes.
Meanwhile, Cassie sighed.
"It's my turn? Uh... my attributes are nothing special. I guess I have an affinity to revelations and fate. My Ability is like I told you before. It's not very useful. About my Memories, I have three: the bottle, the wooden staff and this armor. You already know about the bottle. The staff can create wind. The armor is actually of the Awakened rank... uh, Neph gave it to me when we met. It has a very powerful protective charm."
While they were discussing the information about their Aspect, Wren was collecting information to use the [Wanderer's Eye] attribute of his. This is one of the mysterious attributes he had.
"..en? WREN!?"
Sunny voice echoed, Wren noticed that he was lost too much in his thoughts and looked at the pale young boy.
"My turn?"
Sunny nodded in darkness, Wren sighed and started giving information about his attributes.
"Uhm... where should I start? Yeah, my attributes gives me affinity to the darkness, my soul is a curse to other divinities and my Aspect can be used like Nephis for healing. I have eight memories: Two swords, Three armors, Two charms and One storage item."
Everyone were silent for a moment, of course they would be a soul that is curse to other divinities was something unheard but then again it is not like the whole group didn't consist of strange attributes and Aspects.
"That is... incredible."
Cassie broke the silence, her voice was a bit shaky but it was sweet, almost like she was appreciating the explanation Wren had gave. But what Wren had something next, made Cassie loose her cheerful mood while Nephis and Sunny didn't understood why Wren had said that.
"Is that so? I don't like my Aspect, you know."
"May we know why?"
Sunny asked voicing the Changing Star thoughts. Wren just smiled while staring the starless void. His voice filled with sadness:
"My Flaw, of course every power has cost but this Flaw of mine just make my Aspect more dangerous for anyone, Nightmare Creatures, other Human beings and especially my loved ones."
No one asked anything after that, everyone were in dark mood. Sunny and Cassie didn't think much about Wren's reason but still agreed with it. While the Changing Star was lost in her thoughts.
'A Flaw that makes your Aspect more dangerous, if it had been me this would be blessing. Maybe just maybe there is a little chance that this guy is not here to kill me.'
Wren left the circle and went near to a coral blade protruding from the ground, he sat in a lotus position and started to meditate. Turning his gaze to the two girls, he said calmly:
"Good. That's good. I think we have enough tools to survive, provided we use them right. I guess it's time to sleep?"
In the darkness, Nephis tilted her head, listening to his words with a distant look.
"Alright. I'll... take watch first."
Sunny decided to be helpful and said:
"Actually, my shadow doesn't sleep. It can wake us up if something happens."
Changing Star slowly smiled.
"I'll take watch first."
Feeling a bit of coldness in her voice, Sunny sighed and shrugged.
'Suit yourself. What are you going to watch, huh? You can't even see anything! Whatever. Just don't blame me when something giant swallows us in the middle of the night...'
Then he suddenly shuddered.
'Wait... that was not a death flag, right? Right, of course not. No way...'
***
Sleep was avoiding Sunny. For a while, he sat silently in the darkness, listening to the calming rumbling of the waves. In this rare moment of respite, memories of the past few days came flooding into his mind. However, he was too tired to seriously think about anything. He was warm, full, and relatively safe. For now, that was more than enough.
Soon, the rhythm of Cassia's breathing changed, indicating that she fell asleep. Nephis was guarding the camp, motionless and, as always, a bit distant. With her silver hair and fair skin, she looked like an alabaster statue.
Sunny sighed. He struggled for a bit, and then said quietly:
"Hey. Can I ask you a question?"
Nephis glanced at him and shrugged. The lack of an audible response clearly indicated that she remembered about his ability to see in the dark.
"Sure."
'Would it be too personal?' Sunny hesitated.
"I thought you Legacies come into the Spell with a whole inherited arsenal of Memories. I mean, that's supposed to be your main advantage. How come you only had three?"
Nephis was silent for a few moments.
"Actually, I only had two. The rope came from Cassie."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Oh. I see."
Realizing that her answer wasn't really an answer, Nephis thought for a while and added:
"We lost most of our Memories when my father passed away. The ones that remained were sold one by one over the years, to keep the family afloat. This sword and armor came from my First Nightmare."
So that's how it was. Sunny realized that the fall of the Immortal Flame clan might have been more thorough than he had thought. Still, something about it didn't make sense.
"Surely, with your clan's reputation and standing, there were other ways to make money."
Without any strong reaction, Nephis simply said:
"There were other reasons."
Then, she unexpectedly turned her head in his direction.
"Can I ask you a question in return?" Sunny swallowed.
"Yeah, go ahead."
Nephis tilted her head.
"Do you believe in Wren?"
"I do not, he said it himself that even your loved ones can turn their back on you, then how can I believe a stranger I met four weeks ago in the Academy."
Wren who was listening their conversation very intently, felt a bit sense of proud.
'I am glad Sunny that you listened that part very carefully, however it hurts a bit when you say that. I wonder what would teacher would think if I say this.'
"Can I ask you another question?" Sunny hesitantly asked.
Nephis nodded.
"Do you believe in Wren?"
"No."
Her voice indifferent and colder than before, making Sunny flinch. He sighed and closed his eye, drowned in his thoughts.
'She definitely have some issues with Wren, but is he even aware of that?'
"My turn."
'Huh?'
'Uh... does she mean it's her turn to ask a question?'
Indeed, that was what she meant. Changing Star once again turned to Sunny and, after a long pause, suddenly asked:
"Do you know the legend of Odysseus?"
'A what... who? What sort of a weird question is that?!'
Bewildered, Sunny shook his head. Then, remembering that she couldn't see him, he said:
"No."
Nephis sighed and turned away. But before she could start the story, Wren interrupted her:
"Can I hear the story too?"
Sunny thought he hallucinated when he saw an irritated expression on Nephis face. A few moments later, she softly said:
"Odysseus was a hero in an ancient war. In the legends, some humans back then had powers akin to the Awakened. Achilles with an Aspect of indestructible body, Diomedes that was so ferocious even the God of War was wary of him, Ajax who was as strong as a giant. Odysseus was not the strongest, and not the bravest. However, he was the most cunning."
Sunny blinked, staring at the silver-haired girl.
'What? Where did this come from? Why is she suddenly so eloquent? It is very unrelated to our situation right now.'
Meanwhile, Nephis continued:
"In the end, Odysseus's cunning ended the war, and he prepared to sail home. However, the gods cursed him to endlessly wander the seas, never to return. Over the years, he survived one horror after another and lost all of his companions. Then, shipwrecked, he found himself on an island where the beautiful fairy, Calypso, lived."
Changing Star's ethereal, strangely wistful voice resounded in the darkness, creating an enthralling atmosphere. Sunny couldn't help but listen with the utmost attention.
"Calypso fell in love with Odysseus and invited him to her palace. For many years, they lived together in harmony. The island was like a paradise, filled with all kinds of wonders, delicacies and delights. As long as loving Calypso was by his side, Odysseus was even immortal. But... the longer he stayed, the more time he spent sitting on the shore, looking at the sea with bleak eyes."
Nephis smiled.
"In the end, Odysseus built a makeshift boat and abandoned the island, leaving all its delights, the beautiful fairy, and even his immortality behind. So, my question is... why did he leave?"
Sunny blinked.
'What?'
What kind of a mind game was that? He even considered that Nephis was mocking him, but it didn't seem to be the case. It looked like she was sincerely interested in the answer.
'Weirdo!'
He thought for a bit, and then said without too much conviction:
"Maybe it was because he was far away from home?"
A fleeting smile appeared on Nephis's face.
"Far away... from home. Hm. Alright."
After that, she turned away and lowered her head, becoming like a statue again. It seemed like their conversation was over. Grumbling internally, Sunny lay down and tried to fall asleep. However, the image of bleak-eyed Odysseus kept appearing in his mind.
After a while, he whispered:
"Well? Did he make it back home?"
Soon, Nephis replied.
"Yes. He returned to his wife and son, and they lived happily ever after."
Satisfied, Sunny smiled and turned on his side.
When he was already half-asleep, he heard Changing Star's quiet voice once again. This time, it was barely audible and aimless, as though not directed at anyone.
"Odysseus was the first human to break the will of gods."
Everything was silent now, Nephis was guarding the place and Sunny was half asleep while Cassie was seeing her divine revelation. Meanwhile, Wren had been thinking about the story he had heard from the Changing Star.
'Maybe a family is something I desperately need no, I always wanted it. Yeah this is it.'
This was the last thought Wren had before...