Beams of light made their way through the shattered and decrepit form of the crimson spire. Standing before it stood the pale and bloodied form of Sunny, his arm was almost entirely mangled by an earlier blow he had received in the battle. However, his blood stubbornly refused to escape his body.
Before him, lay the battered and bloodied form of Nephis. Their fight had been harrowing, Sunny had even considered summoning Saint to end the battle immediately. However, he wasn't interested in hurting Nephis any further. The sight of her mangled form brought a tear to his eye as he contemplated his choices.
Sunny turned around and looked at the gate. He could escape and save his life. But that would mean that Nephis will be left here alone, facing the horrors of the dream realm alone in this desolated land.
Sunny was reluctant, something inside him didn't want him to leave her behind. But a greedy and selfish part of himself also wanted to get back and save himself.
'Come on, Sunless! You left her cohort for a long time, knowing this moment would come! Why are you reluctant!'
Sunny was having internal conflict whether he should leave Nephis her or stay with her. While he was thinking, his body subconsciously started moving towards the gate.
Nephis couldn't stop him now. Although Sunny didn't want to admit it, but the only reason why he was able to defeat Nephis was that she was already too exhausted from the continuous fights.
He felt a bitter taste in his throat. Even after all his training and hardships, he wasn't even as strong as Nephis.
Sunny's eyes snapped out of his train of thoughts as he realized he was just two steps away from the gate. He only needed to take two more steps to get back to safety!
Sunny inhaled deeply, and then he stopped his movements. But just as he was going to turn around and finally deciding to not leave her. Nephis spoke, making his world crumble and shatter.
"Stop! Lost From Light!"
His eyes widened.
Deep within his soul, something moved and rose from slumber, triumphant. Unbreakable, eternal, irresistible, complete, perfect, and sweet.
Before Sunny knew what he was doing, his hand shot forward, the ghostly blade of the Moonlight Shard appearing in it.
"Stop."
His hand froze, the tip of the stiletto mere centimeters away from Neph's eye.
Trembling, he looked at his arm and willed it to move forward.
But it didn't. It didn't move at all. It was as though that hand did not belong to him anymore.
"H... .how..."
A sad smile appeared on her lips.
"How did I know? ...Cassie told me."
Neph sighed and looked away.
"She was the first one to understand the meaning of her vision. She knew that the two of us will end up fighting each other, and that I was going to lose. Maybe even die. She just didn't know how, when, and why. So, Cassie told me your secret, in hopes that it will save my life one day. But I... I hoped that I would never have to use it."
Sunny was too shocked to say anything, nor feel anything. Nephis slowly got up.
"Until I leave, you can't do anything" Nephis ordered in a weak voice and started walking slowly towards the gate.
Step, and then another, and another, and then, she was a step away from the gate.
She turned to look at Sunny. Her expression was filled with pain and sorrow.
"I'm sorry, Sunny. I know you won't forgive me. But I hope deep inside that you survive"
Only then did Sunny's expression change. It was filled with rage, fury, wraith, hatred, and betrayel. He stared at Nephis with threatening killing intent, as if the killing intent was enough to consume her.
"Survive?! Well, you better hope I don't make it! Because the say of my return is the day of your doom!"
With his last words. Nephis had already stepped on the gate, and her body started disappearing. A pained expression was painted all over her face.
Only when she disappeared, Sunny regained all control over his body. Yet he didn't move, he fell to his knees as he stared at the ground with empty eyes.
"WHY!!!!!!!" Sunny slammed his fist on the floor of the crimson spire that was already crumbling.
Betrayel tasted horrible in his mouth. He, an outskirt rat, who never got close to anyone nor trusted anyone. Was brutally betrayed by the closest people to him. Or at least, that's what they were supposed to be.
In that moment, something inside him died. It felt like the time when he knew he couldn't do anything to his sister. That he was a hopeless, weak street rat, and his existence in her life would make her life worse for her.
Trust? Friends? People? All these things disappeared from Sunny.
When even his only closest friends had betrayed him like that. What's stopping other people he knew in his life from betraying him, too? Kai? Effie?
All of them would betray him and stab him in the back, just like what Cassie and Nephis did.
Everyone Sunny had met certainly had lied to him and would betray him too if needed. Everything they said, and everything they did! Was only to deceive him and to make him let his guard down around them. So that when the chance came, they'd betray him.
Sunny then slammed his fist again into the crumbling floor with hatred and anger. His eyes were full with fury and madness. But then, his expression slowly changed to a sinister smile.
Then, he threw his head back and started laughing like an insane guy.
"Of course, it's so obvious! How did I forget it? " Sunny continued laughing.
'No matter how kind they look, no matter what they did. Deep inside, everyone is selfish. They would do anything to survive. Even if it meant betraying their close ones. Sacrifice themselves for the sake of others? What kind of crap is that! In reality, they would kill others to save themselves. Even that blind ungrateful useless girl would betray Changing Star to save herself. Everyone would betray the others if it meant that they would live!'
Sunny continued laughing. But then, his laugh stopped suddenly, and his eyes turned cold and empty.
'Why would I blame them? Everyone is selfish. It's obvious that Cassie and Nephis would betray me if they wanted to live. But, they would need to pay the price for their betrayal.'
Then, the crumbling Crimson Spire finally collapsed.
***
In the Academy, deep underground. There was a room with a pod inside it with medical equipment. Suddenly, the medical equipment started making noises, and the room shined with bright lights. The pod slowly opened, and a girl with silver hair and grey eyes rose from the pod.
Nephis was back, and she was an awakened now. She looked around the room and then she realized she didn't have any clothes on. She quickly summoned her armor. Just then, a woman walked into the room.
"Sle- I mean awakened Changing Star, you're awake! Welcome to the awaking world" the doctor said with a bright smile. Nephis pondered for a while, then said:
"Can you take me to Sunny's room?"
"Pardon me. But, who's Sunny?" The doctor replied awkwardly.
"I meant sleeper Sunless." The doctor's eyes lit up with understanding, but then she said reluctantly:
"I'm sorry awakened Changing Star, but I think we should first check up on you before that"
Nephis' eyes frowned with impatience. "Can you take me to sleeper Sunless room" this time, it was an order.
The doctor nodded quickly in fear and guided the new awakened.
After a while, Nephis entered a room that was small compared to hers. Next to the pod, a figure stood there. Tears cascaded Cassie's eyes as she was staring at the pod.
"I'm sorry, Sunny. I'm really sorry" Cassie gasped as tears continued to fall.
Nephis got closer. Deep in her heart, she felt a lot of pain as she stared at Sunny's sleeping body.
He looked peaceful as ever, unlike when she left him in the forgotten shore. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists in absolute sorrow.
"I'm sorry, Sunny." Nephis felt a lot of pain when she realized the extent of her actions. Not only did she left him alone there in that cursed land. She also betrayed his trust by saying his true name.
Nephis stayed silent as she heard Cassie's weak gasps. She couldn't blame her. She was the first one to know the meaning of the prophecy. She knew that she could only save one of her best friends. She was in a difficult position, having to betray her best friends.
"Neph....what happened there?" Cassie asked in a weak voice.
"I.....I said his true name....and left him behind, Cass. I left Sunny behind in that place! I...I left him to die alone..." Nephis finally broke down as she couldn't hold her tears anymore. She never realized how close Sunny was to her, only after knowing that he's gone did she realize how deeply she cared for him.
She lost all strength on her feet and fell on her knees as she rested her body on the pod while she couldn't hold back her gasps. Cassie, too, started crying as she held Nephis tight.
They were the reason their closest friend was left there. And they'll be the reason why he dies there. Even he made it back somehow he'll only hold deep anger and hatred towards them.
The two girls held on tight, unable to hold their tears.
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Hello there, everyone. The lazy author GiveMeYourMoney is back with another fanfic! Anyways so this will be a short story probably less than 10 chapters and the chapters will be released in turns. So the next chapter will be for chain breaker. The chapter I make after for Light devouring shadow and so on.
Anyway hope y'all enjoy this fanfic too.