The dark Liquid flowed from the Tip of The Feather without aim. The Paper in front of her has been laying on her Office Desk among others of the Same Nature for Months.
'Who even is that guy? He's from one of the Vassal Clans not too far away from Bastion. 28 Years old, Rich, handsome and a Powerful Aspect allowing him to Control Fire. He's a Saint too.'
She kept reading with a disinterested look on her Face.
'If the King asks, I at least have to be able to give him a reason why I reject this Marriage Proposal too.'
The Silver Haired woman with Striking Gray eyes was Nephis of course. Like every other day for the past 3 years she was missing something or rather someone.
'It has been 3 Years now. Where are you Sunny?'
She didn't even know if he was still alive, the runes that dwelled below her own had Vanished after their 3rd Nightmare. But if someone would be able to get out of Dreads Tomb It would be Sunny.
In the beginning of those 3 Years she searched of course. Not only she but everyone who knew Sunny began to turn the Dream Realm and the Waking world Upside down. But it was all for Nothing.
'He wouldn't Challenge the 4th. Nightmare without us! Where would he even find a Seed?'
It would be hard to find a seed of Nightmare of the 4th Tier that hasn't already been found and contained by The Sovereign. But Sunny is probably the best scout in 2 worlds after All so who knows what this Crazy Bastard has done?
In those 3 years she hasn't been Idle herself of course, every day she flew with incredible speed through the Sky in search for Something that could give her a Hint of where Sunny could be. But never did she find even the smallest of Hints. No dead Abomination, no Footprints of his, hell not even a hue of Shadow essence left behind anywhere in the world.
[Hey Neph, can I speak to you for a Second?]
'Yeah sure, have you found Something?'
It was Cassie of course. The Blind seer hasn't gotten a Transformation as her Transcendent Ability, but something that suits her way better instead. Allowing her To communicate with people she has Marked with her Ability along with her Authority over Memories. Whoever dared to look into her eyes was bound to get all their well kept secrets and deepest Of Memories Stolen.
But that's not where her Ability stopped of course. Before Cassie had to rely on her ability of foresight to navigate the World as a Blind Girl. Now she could use the Senses of everyone she has Marked allowing her to see the world through the eyes Of Dozens of people at the same time. The information network she had created after becoming a Saint was the best in 2 worlds. But if even she wasn't able to find him, who was?
[Not really, it's just that Mongrel has appeared in the Dreamscape again.]
'And? There are Thousands of Awakened who use his name. What's so special about this one?'
Nephis was right, since Sunny appeared in the Dreamscape for the first time there were countless People using the name 'Mongrel' now and after his heroic acts in Antarctica the Name 'Devil Of Antarctica' could be found in countless variations as well.
[You are right, but this one is special because he's wearing the same Mask as sunny. At least it looks identical. I know the Chance is slim but it might be him.]
Upon hearing that Nephis broke out in excitement, a Spark of hope Ignited in her Heart.
'OK CASS THAT'S…THAT'S WONDERFUL. Where is he? We need to go find this guy immediately.'
[Calm down Neph, I have located the guy with the Mask. He lives in NQSC near a Dreamscape Arcade. I will be waiting for you in the Waking world.]
Immediately Nephis grabbed her Communicator and disappeared into a whirlwind of Sparks. Soon she was standing in a Living Room with a Big couch, and a broken Projector while the house was lit with designer Lamps. The Refrigerator didn't match the Rest of the Kitchen, clearly it had been replaced at one point and the Person living here didn't care about whether it fit the rest of the Design or not.
"Why did I hope to find Him sitting here? It's not like I have visited almost every day since hoping for that to happen."
The house she had her Anchor for the Waking world in was Sunny's. She placed it here hoping to just bump into him at one point. But sadly he never came back to his own home. Only a young Girl with Ravenblack hair and Onyx eyes visited from time to time. Having the same hopes as Nephis.
Rain and Neph have spent many evenings sitting on the Couch or even Training in his Dojo. Old habits die hard after all so Rain continued to train in Sunny's house while Nephis decided to take on the Role of her Teacher for the time of Sunny's absence.
Nephis Walked through the house for who knows how many Times now? At some point she had lost count. When she reached the Master Bedroom she laid down in his bed, looking at the plain white Ceiling with a sad expression.
'It feels…lonely.'
"I…feel Lonely."
The feeling of loneliness was something That only became part Of her Emotions in the last 3 Years. Not even when she was stuck in the Dream Realm for 2 years did she feel that way.
'Back then I at least had his Runes. Now I have nothing.'
She almost fell asleep on his bed when suddenly the Bell rang and She was pulled back to reality. She was confused for a second.
"Who would be ringing the Bell? Rain would just come inside and Cassie has her Anchor in the Living Room."
She knew Chance was slim but still she jumped from the bed and ran down the stairs. When she reached the Front Door she ripped It open, her eyes glistening with hope only to dim again when she realized it was Jet.
The Soulreaper looked at her with an apologetic look and laid a hand on Nephis shoulder.
"I'm sorry, it's just me. I shouldn't have rang the Bell but Text you instead."
Nephis gave her a forced smile. Not that she didn't like Jet. They have become good friends actually, but it was hard showing her happiness when her heart was Aching with Pain.
"I'm sorry, it's just…I thought you were Sunny for a Second. I know it's silly thinking he would just be Standing there all of a Sudden, ringing his own Bell on top of that. But of course that won't Happen."
Jet pulled her into a hug. A much Needed one as it turns out because Nephis had trouble fighting her tears.
"It's ok Nephis. We all miss him. It's just important that we don't give up and keep looking for him. If there is one thing I know about Sunny then that he's a Fighter. That unkillable Cockroach surely is out there performing miracles again. Now let's wait for Cassie. She told me you guys found a lead on Sunny's whereabouts."
Jet's little speech seemed To have helped because she wasn't on the verge of Tears anymore.
"Yes she found a Guy who calls himself Mongrel in The Dreamscape. That alone wouldn't be much but the Guy was wearing Sunny's Mask. So there is a Chance that it's him or at least is connected to Sunny Somehow."
A smile crept up Jet's lips. It was the Closest they have ever been in those 3 Years. If it wasn't Sunny himself then at least someone connected to him. Weavers Mask is something everyone could buy in numerous Fan shops, but turning it into a Memory to be used in the Dreamscape is something only one Person could do.
After Cassie appeared in Sunnys Living Room they drove off with Jet's PTV. The House where Cassie has Located the Person in was Close to the City's Center.
"By the way, where are Effie and Kai?"
Nephis asked. She hasn't seen these two in Months either. They were always on some missions along with Jet and when they had time they used it to look for Sunny. Cassie knew exactly where they were so she answered.
"They are both in Antarctica looking for him. Since it's the last place in the Waking world where he was seen. They haven't found much though except for the Winter Beast of course. The weird thing though is that they found it dead beneath Erebus Field. It makes sense actually since beneath Erebus Field is a Giant Volcano. They couldn't figure out how it got there though. If not for Kai's ability to see through walls they wouldn't have found it in the first Place. The rest of the Area was Completely destroyed though. As if something had attacked the Titan and then Teleported it into the Volcano."
Cassie's implication was clear. Someone had Killed the Winter Beast by Teleporting it into the Volcano Therefore using the Environment to their Advantage.
"Could It have been Sunny? I mean he couldn't Teleport anyone with him before except for me which was only possible due to [Shadow Bond] but maybe his ability [Shadow Step] evolved."
Nephis brought up a Good point. There Was only one Problem and Jet was ready to point it out.
"I doubt It was Sunny. The Winter Beast was a Corrupted Titan after all. Saint Tyris could only Stall it but didn't Kill it, even though her Aspect countered the Winter Beast Powers perfectly. Sunny's affinity is with Shadow's so I doubt it was him, but for the Small Chance that it was…then he has become even more of a Monster after our 3rd. Nightmare."
There was silence again. She was right of course. The Chance of Sunny killing the Winter Beast on his own were slim but seeing Nephis so Defeated made her worry about her. Neph hasn't been the same since Sunny left, so she tried to keep her morals up somehow. Jet Sighed and added.
"On second thought…it was probably him. Nonne else has claimed the Kill as their own and Sunny had a personal vendetta against the Winter Beast. The only thing that doesn't add up is why in the World he wouldn't have Contacted us. That would only make sense if he's stuck somewhere."
Like she had expected she could see the Corners of Nephis Lips curl a little upwards.
Soon they reached Their Destination. 3 very Popular Saints were bound to cause excitement in the Population when appearing In Public. They couldn't do that now that they had something important to do so they chose to disguise themselves with Memories.
All of them had at least One of those Memories to alter their Appearances. Nephis Hair became pitch black while Jets got longer and Grey. Cassie took a different approach though. Since she didn't need her eyes to see she could cover her Face with a Plain white Mask. Her hair Vanished under a Hood from her Blue Jacket.
It looked a bit comical actually. If someone would lay their eyes on them they would think that they are a group of people that didn't Match at all. Jet and Nephis still looked Beautiful of course, having basically switched Hair and Eye color but Cassie looked a little bit like a naughty teenager who was trying to cover her Face because of her Acne.
"Here we are. That is where he should live. The name on the Bell should be Helis."
Cassie said Evenly. There wasn't a connection to be drawn between Sunny and that name at all which didn't give them a lot of hope. Jet who was the Closest to the Door ringed the Bell. Together they were waiting Patiently for someone to open and to their Surprise it did. Nephis and the others were terribly nervous of course.
When the door opened a person appeared in the Doorframe. In front of them stood a Man around Nephis and Cassie's age from the looks of it. With his Raven Black Hair and pale skin he looked rather Handsome, he was a bit taller than Sunny had been before becoming a Saint though. But that wasn't the reason why they immediately knew that it couldn't be him. On top of the fact that the Man had totally different eyes and clearly wasn't a Saint he was also eating a slice of Bread…with honey. That's When they knew that it could never be Sunny.
"What? Who are you guys? I ordered Pizza."
The Man said while still chewing his Honey bread. The 3 Saints looked at him for a Second before letting out a sigh.
"It's not him. But maybe he knows something because of that Mask."
Cassie said disappointed while Jet got closer to the Guy and stretched out a hand.
"Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Maya. I'm a huge fan of the Dreamscape Player 'Mongrel69' and wanted to ask where he got the Mask. Is he living here?"
She was smiling brightly. She could have just pulled out her Government Agent ID but for now she was going to take the soft approach.
'No need to get physical from the very beginning. This Fool looks like he will tell me the Password to his Bank Account if I ask nicely anyways.'
Like she had expected the Man took her hand and grinned from one ear to the other. He was clearly nervous while doing so. Jet may look different from her usual Appearance but no less Beautiful as all Saints were.
"H…hi, nice to meet you Maya. My name is Finn. Wow, I'm glad that such a beauty is one of my Fans. Although I didn't win my last Match I will surely put in much more effort in my training from now on so I don't disappoint You next Time. Why don't you 3 come inside and I…"
Jet interrupted Him by raising her hand. She didn't wanna listen to his useless blabbering. They had more important things to do. She put on a fake smile and tilted Her head slightly.
"Since you're the Man I'm looking for, why don't you tell me where you got that Mask from right here and now? We noticed that it has to be a Memory and we're curious as to how you obtained it."
"I bought It from one of the Fan Shops. How it got turned into a Memory is a Secret though."
Jet was about to lose her Patience but had one last trick up her Sleeve. She got a little closer to him while gripping his arm and biting her lower Lip. She Looked him deep into his eyes and got closer to his ear, then she whispered.
"Why don't we make a deal? I spent the Night with You and in Return you tell me who turned this Mask into a Memory. How does that sound?"
Finn gulped and was getting More nervous with each second passing. He began to sweat and froze not knowing what To do. Eventually he got a hold of himself and shook his head.
"I…I'm sorry, As much as…as I would …like that. I can't tell y…you. He… he will kill me if I talk."
Jet turned around to the others and they gave each other a nod. Then She turned back to Finn and gripped his arm much tighter.
"I really didn't Want to do this But you left us no Choice."
Before he could realize what Jet had meant he was pushed inside his Apartment. All Of them got inside and Neph closed the Door Behind them. Luckily for the Neighbors they had Memories that could muffle sounds, because what would follow was nothing A normal Human could withstand without losing his mind while Screaming his lungs out.
They wouldn't simply Torture him to get an answer. No, they had Cassie, and therefore a much simpler Method that was no less traumatizing though. With her Transcendent Ability she could invade People's minds to get the Information she wanted. With or without their Cooperation. If they choose to cooperate there was nothing more than a weird feeling during the procedure. If they choose to stay stubborn though… Let's just say most Stubborn people choose to Cooperate very quickly after Cassie begins her work.
A couple Minutes later they had their Answers. Finn withstood Cassie's Ability for no more than 10 Seconds, which was not that bad actually. Most people would break down the Moment it started but Finn has been too scared for his life to immediately start talking.
After witnessing what he saw Cassie knew why he was so scared, because she felt the same.