As dawn's golden rays pierced through the brooding clouds, they obliterated a Great Beast in a heartbeat, only for the clouds to regroup, swallowing the sunlight whole once more. The remnants of the unfortunate creature were reduced to a mere heap of ash, which the winds began to scatter. In the realm of Godgrave, the clouds typically loomed thick and dark, resembling a tempestuous ocean, particularly in the morning. Yet today, fortune had turned its back, especially on a young man with raven-black hair and alabaster skin, alongside his stunning silver-haired girlfriend, who was desperately trying to suppress her mortification from the earlier breakfast debacle with their friends.
**Twenty Minutes Earlier:**
After rising with the sun, Sunny and Nephis indulged in a leisurely stretch, lingering in bed as they reminisced about the previous day's escapades.
"The mattress is still a bit damp; I suppose I'll need to replace it," Sunny sighed, flashing a playful grin at Nephis.
She giggled, playfully punching him in the shoulder. "And whose fault is that?"
Sunny chuckled, feigning innocence. "Guilty on all counts, your Honor."
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Nephis climbed atop Sunny, pinning his hands against the bed frame as she leaned in close, whispering in his ear, "Oh, so you're a criminal now? You know what I do with bad boys like you?"
Sunny's lips curled into a smirk as he whispered back, "Waterboarding?"
Nephis blushed, her cheeks blooming like roses, before conjuring a golden rope to bind Sunny's hands to the bed frame.
Sunny relaxed, watching her deftly tie the knot before she playfully tugged his pants down to his knees. "Oh, so you're putting me behind bars, huh?"
Nephis locked eyes with him momentarily, then leaned in for a kiss, her fingers teasingly brushing against him before she stood up. "I'm off to the bathroom. When I return, you better be ready to confess your sins, or I'll have to resort to some... creative interrogation."
Sunny chuckled, already feeling the heat of anticipation. 'I'm in deep trouble. Did she learn this online? I didn't expect roleplay so early in the day.'
Time slipped away, and Sunny lay there, his body betraying him as his excitement grew with each passing moment. Suddenly, a knock echoed through the room.
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry! I'm ready to confess! I promise I'll be a good boy!" he called out, grinning as the door creaked open. But his smile froze, morphing into horror as he realized it wasn't Nephis who stood there, but Effie, framed in the doorway.
In a panic, Sunny yanked his hands free from the golden rope, shattering the memory, and hastily pulled up his shorts, but it was too late—Effie's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Oh, I see how it is! So this is what you two have been up to while we were off on our little adventure. Sunny, you've got quite the package! No wonder Nephis sometimes walks with a limp!"
Sunny's mind raced, searching for a way to salvage the situation, but he quickly resigned himself to defeat. "Could you please pretend you didn't see anything?"
Effie leaned against the doorframe, a grin plastered on her face. "Not a chance."
With a long sigh, Sunny fell back onto the bed, muttering, "Why did I even ask?"
Effie chuckled, but her laughter was cut short by a yelp as Nephis stormed in, delivering a swift kick to Effie's lower back.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Effie exclaimed, rubbing her back as Nephis towered over her, eyes blazing.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
"Jeez, Neph! Chill! We just got back from our trip, and I wanted to know when breakfast was. I didn't expect to find Sunny tied up with his—"
Nephis's expression was a mix of shock and fury, her gaze darting between Effie and Sunny.
"I'm sorry it turned out this way," she stammered, her face flushed. "When the spell told me my memory was gone, I rushed back, but I guess I was too late."
Sunny offered her a reassuring smile. "It's alright. I can weave you a new memory—one that's tougher."
Nephis pouted, mumbling, "I can't believe he's only thinking about the memory."
Effie, now standing, patted Nephis on the shoulder, beaming. "You're one lucky girl, you know that?"
Nephis shot her a glare, ready to retaliate, but Jet and Kai appeared outside the room, confusion etched on their faces.
"What's taking you so long, Effie?" Jet asked, irritation lacing her tone.
"Yeah, we were waiting in the main hall, but when you didn't come back, we asked Cassie, and she just covered her face with her hands and mumbled to herself, so we came to check," Kai added, still bewildered.
Effie grinned, gesturing toward Sunny. "Oh, it's nothing. I just knocked on the door, and when I opened it, I found Sunny tied to the bed with his—"
"Ouch! Neph, what the hell?" Effie yelped, as Nephis stomped on her foot to silence her.
Nephis turned to Kai and Jet, her smile brightening. "It's nothing. Let's just go eat breakfast."
Kai exchanged a glance with Jet, who was waiting patiently. "She's lying, as expected."
Nephis blushed, caught off guard by Kai's betrayal, but before she could retort, Sunny jumped up from the bed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and gesturing toward the door.
"Let's go! I'll whip up something delicious after I hit the bathroom. Waffles, perhaps?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, and they made their way to the main hall. Along the way, Effie wore a sly grin that Jet couldn't help but notice.
"What's on your mind, Effie?" Jet asked, curiosity piqued.
"Didn't you notice something about Sunny's hair?" Effie replied, mischief dancing in her eyes.
Jet paused, then gasped. "You're right! It's a bit bleached around his face. Oh my, Neph, you really had a wonderful night, didn't you?" Jet teased, a smug grin spreading across her face.
Nephis froze, scrambling for words. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Kai let out an awkward cough, a sound that hung in the air like a clumsy note in a symphony.
Effie, ever the light-hearted spirit, flashed a grin and chuckled, "No need to spill the beans, we're all in the loop!"
Nephis, usually so composed, seemed to quicken her steps, a hint of urgency in her demeanor.
When Sunny emerged from the bathroom, a chorus of curious glances met him. Well, almost everyone—Cassie was still wrestling with her embarrassment, having witnessed the scene through Effie's eyes when the door swung open. Regret nipped at her thoughts, but did she truly wish to rewind the clock?
'How can I even face him? Sure, I can't see, but confronting him feels like scaling a mountain,' she pondered.
Sunny caught the flicker of Cassie's conflicted expression, even beneath her blindfold, but shrugged it off. After all, some things were beyond his control.
"What's done is done, Cassie. Pull yourself together! Didn't you boast about being the belle of the ball? I thought you'd be unshakeable, but I stand corrected."
Cassie's cheeks flushed as she shot back, "I WAS A TEENAGER BACK THEN! I'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANYTHING LIKE THAT!!!"
Laughter erupted around the room, a symphony of amusement at her expense.
After a moment, Sunny turned to her with a casual shrug. "Well, now you have. No use crying over spilled milk."
Nephis shot him a teasing smirk. "I'm surprised you're taking it all in stride."
Sunny shrugged again, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips. "I'd have preferred to dodge it, but what's the point in being angry? I should've checked who was knocking before I let Effie open the door, to be honest."
Effie leaned toward Jet, a playful glint in her eye as she whispered a secret meant only for her ear.
Kai coughed awkwardly, trying to diffuse the tension.
Effie chuckled, leaning closer to Jet and whispering, "No wonder he's so confident; it was quite the view, especially for someone of his stature."
Nephis's cheeks flamed, realizing Effie's attempt at discretion had failed spectacularly.
Sunny chuckled, setting the food on the table before joining everyone. "Dig in! We have a long day ahead."
No one hesitated, diving into the meal with gusto. Once everyone had eaten their fill and helped clean up, they reconvened at the table.
"Let's get serious now," Sunny said, his tone shifting to one of determination. "Jet, please summon the Hourglass."
Jet nodded, and moments later, she held the shimmering artifact in her hands.
"Good. Here's the plan: I'll use the Hourglass to freeze time, summon the Weaver's mask again, and activate the enchantment that lets me see the strings of fate. I want to connect Kai, Jet, and Effie with at least one shadow string each. If all goes well, you'll be able to retain information about my past life from the end of my third nightmare onward, and we can finally have a proper discussion. Any questions?"
Silence enveloped the group as they shook their heads, and with a nod from Sunny, Jet activated the Hourglass's enchantment. Suddenly, the world around them shimmered, an invisible barrier forming with a gentle ripple that marked a ten-meter radius around them.
Under the golden rays of sunlight, Sunny conjured the Weavers Mask and initiated the "Where is my Eye?" enchantment. With a determined grit, he pushed through the searing pain, rising to his feet. His first destination was Jet, who sat nearest to him. He raised his hands, weaving a string of shadow essence that connected him to Jet, elongating with each breath. In that moment, his eyes burst open behind the mask; the magic was alive. Unlike previous attempts where the essence would unravel, this time, it held firm. He crafted multiple connections, then moved to Kai and Effie, repeating the intricate dance. As he finished, the sand in the hourglass trickled almost entirely to the bottom, but that was inconsequential—he had succeeded. Sinking back down, he exhaled a long sigh and dismissed the Weavers Mask.
"It's done. Now, we wait for the hourglass's magic to fade, and then we'll test our theory."
Just then, the last grain of sand fell, and with a spectacular shatter, the memory dissolved into a cascade of twinkling lights.
"It's gone! Let's see what we've got!" Jet exclaimed, brimming with impatience.
Sunny's heart raced with trepidation as he replied, "I hope it worked."
He pondered his words carefully, crafting a statement sure to ignite their shared memories.
"When I first crossed paths with Jet, she gave me a solid smack; when I met Effie, she labeled me a lunatic, and when I encountered Kai, he thought I was a nightmare creature."
The trio stared at him, confusion painting their faces. A flicker of dread danced in Sunny's chest, fearing failure. But after a heartbeat, they exchanged bewildered glances before speaking in unison.
"Why did I smack you?"
"Why would I call you a lunatic?"
"Why would I think you were a nightmare creature?"
Joy surged through Sunny as he leapt up, releasing a triumphant howl, only to quickly sit back down as the pressure of his flaw began to swell.
"The short answers, in order: Because I was staring at your chest. Because that was my plan at the moment. Because you were trapped in a cage no Sleeper could lift alone."
He pointed at each of them as he delivered his responses. Their expressions shifted from shock to amusement, a shared happiness blooming at the realization that the magic had worked.
Nephis shot him a dark look, her voice laced with sincerity. "Care to elaborate? Especially on the answer you gave Jet?"
Sunny coughed awkwardly, realizing he needed to tread carefully. He didn't want to provoke Nephis, who hadn't even known him back then. "Right after my first nightmare, Jet was sent to welcome me back and congratulate me on becoming a Sleeper. I was just 16, and coming from the outskirts, I hadn't encountered many Awakened before. So, when I found myself in the presence of a Female Master, I was completely taken aback. Like any 16-year-old boy, I couldn't help but stare. When she caught me, I blurted out the truth, and thanks for holding back, by the way—I wouldn't have survived otherwise."
Nephis's demeanor softened, and Jet smiled at him. "You're welcome. So, it's been ten years now?"
"Technically, you were the first I met here, but we parted ways after you brought me to the Academy. Your advice to take wilderness survival training was probably the best you ever gave me; it saved my life countless times. We only crossed paths again after I escaped the Forgotten Shore."
Jet sighed, understanding dawning. "That explains the familiarity I felt when we met in the café."
Sunny turned to Effie, who still looked puzzled. "As for why you called me a lunatic, it's simple. I was trying to appear as weak as possible so no one would suspect I had a true name, which I received right after my first nightmare. You were surprised that someone like me survived the treacherous journey through the Forgotten Shore and then lived alone in the Dark City."
Effie pondered for a moment before exhaling deeply. "Yeah, that makes sense. Living alone in the Dark City as a Sleeper is practically a death sentence, so I was right."
"Indeed. Although my sense of self-preservation has never quite normalized, considering I now reside in a Deathzone—well, at least part of me does."
Laughter erupted among them, and Kai chimed in. "So, you were the one who lifted the cage from that well?"
"Sort of. By the time I found you, I had already defeated Saint and turned her into a shadow, so she did the heavy lifting for me."
"Right, you mentioned that by the gate. Now it makes sense why you called me your best friend, given our long history."
"Exactly. I had to do a lot of convincing to get you out of that well. Even though you knew I wasn't lying because of your flaw, you hesitated. I had to threaten to put the cage back on before you finally came out."
Kai chuckled. "Yeah, that sounds about right. I was a bundle of nerves back then, trusting no one—even my own flaw."
"Exactly! We became friends because you thought I was the most honest person in existence—two worlds even—and you were right… technically. After you revealed your flaw, I made it my mission to make you spit out whatever you were drinking every time we met by telling you outrageous truths disguised as lies."
"That sounds just like you," Nephis giggled.
"Like the story you told me about the custody dispute with a Cursed Terror?" Kai asked.
"Correct."
"Oh my god. I thought you were completely insane, believing your own fabrications. What were you even talking about?"
"It's complicated—a long story. But since we have time, I'd be glad to explain."
Sunny took a deep breath, launching into the tale of how he lost his fate, just as he had with Nephis. With Nephis and Cassie's help, the recounting became easier, though it took longer with three people peppering him with questions. In the end, they spent twelve hours covering the vast expanse of their shared history.
"That's… a lot, to say the least," Jet remarked, exhaling a long sigh.
"Yeah, it was. You know, I want to thank you all for sticking with me through the years. As a kid from the outskirts, I never imagined I'd have real friends, let alone a girlfriend. I'm grateful for everything that happened, even through the hardships and suffering. The bonds I forged made it all worthwhile."
Silence enveloped them for a moment, each of them gazing at Sunny, even Cassie, who had removed her blindfold to assist in recounting his past. Sensing their stares, Sunny frowned, puzzled.
"What? Did I have something on my face?"
Effie opened her mouth to speak, but Jet beat her to it. Looking down at her hands, she sighed, sadness lacing her voice. "But we abandoned you, Sunny. You were alone for four years, pretending you didn't know us because you knew we wouldn't remember you. Don't brush it off; Cassie showed us those memories, so we know how much you suffered."
Effie nodded, echoing Jet's sentiment. "What she said."
Sunny contemplated their words, then replied, "You're right; it was hard, and it broke my heart every time I spoke to you because there was no glimmer of recognition. But you're not to blame—I am."
Nephis reached for his hand, ready to speak, but Cassie broke the silence first. "No, actually, it's my fault. If I hadn't shared your true name with Nephis back then, all of this could have been avoided. I'm the one to blame. I'm so sorry, Sunny. It's all my fault."
As Cassie spoke, her body trembled, tears cascading down her cheeks. Sunny moved to embrace her, surprised by her words. He understood that her choice had been logical at the time; he would have done the same. Though he had felt betrayed, he had long since forgiven her, especially after she had given him his freedom back at the end of their third nightmare.
"Shhh… please don't cry. It's okay, Cassie. I've long forgiven you. Deep down, I never hated you or blamed you for anything. You've become like a little sister to me, so I could never harbor hatred."
As he spoke, Cassie tightened her grip around him, the sobs subsiding as she took a shaky breath. "Thank you, Sunny… thank you for not hating me."
"Of course. Now, let's wrap up this conversation so we can all unwind a bit. It's been a long day for all of us."
With a gentle pat on her back, he finally released her, returning to his seat beside Nephis, who was clearly fighting back tears of her own.
"Oh no, not you too... If this keeps up, I might just join the crying club," Sunny sighed, a hint of humor in his voice.
Nephis quickly wiped her eyes and flashed him a bright smile. "These are tears of joy, you silly! I'm just so relieved everything turned out alright, given the circumstances."
Sunny scanned the room, and it was clear everyone wore expressions of relief, their eyes glistening with tears. Though their memories were still shrouded in mystery, they were united once more with the one who anchored those memories.
As he took in the sight, a tear slipped from Sunny's eye. In a burst of affection, he conjured four extra bodies to envelop each member of the Cohort in a warm embrace. Effie protested, her mouth full of a burger Sunny had grilled for them, but eventually, she too rose to join the group hug. Perhaps her tears were also for the last burger, a bittersweet farewell to the fleeting joy of good food until Sunny could whip up more.
"Let's just say it's because she missed me," Sunny mused to himself.
Once the emotional tide receded, Sunny returned to Nephis's side, holding her hand tightly. He leaned back, exhaling deeply. "What a day... I can hardly believe we pulled it off."
Nephis chuckled softly before planting a gentle kiss on his lips. "None of this would have happened without you."
Sunny beamed at her, straightening up to address the group. "Anything else on your minds?"
Most shook their heads, but Jet raised her hand. "Actually, I do have something. When we were in the Hollows, we spotted a Black steed just lounging around. That's Nightmare, right?"
Sunny shrugged, a grin forming. "Most likely. I can't think of anything else that fits the bill."
"Good, but what's it doing down there?" Jet pressed.
"It's busy putting a Creature of the Cursed Rank to sleep. A little surprise for the Sovereign when they arrive in Godgrave."
Jet's eyes widened, and Kai and Effie mirrored her shock. "Wait... a Cursed Nightmare creature? Those exist here?"
Sunny's smile widened. "Absolutely! To be precise, it's a Cursed Tyrant named Condemnation. Nephis and I encountered it when she first visited my Citadel. At one point, Saint showed up with a human slung over her shoulder, the poor guy screaming for dear life. Turns out he was a sleeper who got whisked away to Godgrave during the Winter Solstice. But he wasn't alone—two more sleepers were hiding in the Hollows, and of course, Nephis wanted to rescue them. So we did. But when we thought we were in the clear... the big guy woke up, and we had to run for our lives."
Jet's jaw dropped. "You survived an encounter with a Cursed Tyrant?"
Sunny shrugged again, a nonchalant grin on his face. "Barely, but yes."
Jet let out a long sigh, palm meeting her forehead. "Unbelievable."
Sunny chuckled and stood, stretching. "Alright, I guess that wraps things up. We're leaving tomorrow, right?"
Cassie turned to him, smiling. "Yes, we'll head back to Bastion so Jet can report to Saint Wake of Ruin about our stay."
Sunny glanced at Jet, curiosity piqued. "What are you going to tell him?"
"I'll say the mighty Lord of Shadows bested us in combat, so we couldn't strike a deal, and that he allied with Valor instead."
Sunny laughed. "Sounds good. The old man will be furious, but he'll get over it."
Jet chuckled and nodded.
"Then we'll head out tomorrow morning. I'll bring us all back to the Chainbreaker after we wake up."
As everyone rose, Nephis sighed, "This place may be a Death Zone, but it's far more peaceful than Bastion."
Sunny laughed heartily, shrugging. "You were the one who decided to join Valor at that Ball."
"Right, because someone had to join so they'd leave us alone," she retorted.
"I know, I was pretty mad at you for that decision—it was dangerous. That's why I headed to Antarctica, by the way."
Nephis chuckled, leaning in for a lingering kiss. "Well, maybe you can show me later just how frustrated you were back then?"
Sunny smiled, leaning closer to whisper, "You know everyone is still here, right?"
Nephis froze, glancing around and catching Effie's amused expression. She cursed under her breath. 'Damn it, I got carried away.'
"I think the fact that I interrupted them both this morning and she failed to let off some steam finally got to her head," Effie chuckled.
Nephis cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she shouted, "EFFIE!"
Effie laughed, a smug grin on her face. "Hahaha, don't act like I'm not right. It's okay, Neph, I won't barge into your room and interrupt you two again. I swear."
Nephis flashed a mischievous smile. "Good, because if you do, I'll have to toss you into the Hollows with Condemnation."
Effie's face paled, laughter turning into nervous chuckles. "You... you wouldn't, right?"
Taking Sunny's hand, Nephis began walking toward their bedroom. Before shutting the door behind them, she shot Effie a steely glance and said in a calm voice, "Try me."
Needless to say, Effie was mortified, behaving herself and heading to bed like everyone else. But, unsurprisingly, sleep eluded her that night—not just because of the terrifying thought of a Cursed Tyrant, but also due to the fact that Nephis wasn't exactly quiet when it came to studying passion.