Cassie determinedly paved the way forward, her shadow scouting each and every corner of the place, searching for any possible threat. At times, she would turn around and check up on Sunny — he was blind, which made it harder to navigate in the tough terrain.
But… She was shocked, to say the least. Yes, Cassie did know of Sunny's strange adaptability to his blindness back in the Academy. He walked like he knew where to go; he talked while looking at her straight in the eyes, even if those very eyes were blank without any possible colour; his smile was natural, and everything about him felt like how he would be if he still had his sight.
It was uncanny, but she could live with it.
Then, there were the more normal reactions of a blinded person. He didn't know how to eat, how to taste, and know which foods were which; he didn't know the most useful tips about surviving, like he never took those mandatory courses back in NQSC; he didn't know how to live with it at times. The city seemed so unfamiliar in his eyes.
And yet, in the Dream Realm they were cursed into. Cassie didn't know how to describe it — it was like Sunny was born into being an Awakened. Just like how legacies were, how Changing Star was.
She knew what she had seen before was right — he killed a Carapace Scavenger, an Awakened Beast. Not just as a mere Sleeper, but one who was blind.
Crazy. Yes, that was the correct word to describe him.
And now? He was walking steadily without any help in the sticky mud, only relying on the stick that he had with him.
Occasionally, his eyes would turn deeper — more abyssal. He would stop for a while, lifting his head and staring straight into the sun of wherever this place was, his face filled with an unreadable longing.
Every time she turned through a twist in the crimson labyrinth, his pupils would follow the path ahead, shining with the gift of knowledge, as if he knew where the route ahead was.
But how? Wasn't the Sunny she knew the blind, hopeless boy who was ranked last? The one who needed her help in Teacher Julius' course?
'I guess looks can really be deceiving…' Cassie thought, 'Yeah right. But— maybe that was the reason he didn't take the combat course, because he could manage himself well enough.'
Cassie must have been right, there was no other reasonable explanation after all.
'He can't possibly achieve the impossible!'
—-
Sunny was pleasantly surprised as they reached the bottom of the hill — the rope memory they had with them was fascinating. If only his First Nightmare had given him anything half as useful… the trek down the headless statue wouldn't be as hard and terrifying as before.
With that said, he was currently being lifted off the ground, and up towards the top of the hill. It was effortless, he only had to grip the rope, and Nephis would pull him up, Cassie silently giving words of encouragement from down below him.
It was decided that Nephis would be the one to let down the rope — he and Cassie weren't all that great in climbing. And… they weren't proven wrong. She was practically a master in climbing, ascending the steep hill with short, concise steps, taking the best route to the very top.
Yet, he couldn't help thinking that this would be the perfect opportunity to cut his head off. He was helpless here while being lifted from the ground.
'Stop being paranoid!' Sunny thought, trying to calm himself down, 'Cassie will stop her if she ever does think of it!'
But… Didn't Nephis threaten Cassie as well?
However, he was sure of one thing which led him to believe in his survival — if Nephis really wanted to kill him, why hadn't she done so yet?
Deciding to believe in her, he tried to think of more pleasant memories for the rest of the journey upwards.
'I guess I should enjoy this for as long as it can take.'
After a while, the haul up to the statue was finished, and Sunny comfortably found a place to sit. He lifted his head, staring at the abyssal darkness in front of him. According to wisdom's rod, it was where the sun lay.
If only he could see how it looked.
With that thought in mind, he almost didn't notice how fast time passed, and soon, Cassie was also on top of the hill, pulling him up by his hand, and guiding him to wherever their camp was.
He 'looked' at the place and was pleasantly surprised: the camp at the highest part of the hill was tiny, but cozy to him, better than whatever he had before. Piles of seaweed lay there — bedding for sleep, some strips of scavenger meat drying under the sun, and a firepit.
…So he was right, they were really the Sleepers who had lit the fire that night, the Sleepers that fate kept pushing him towards.
Was sloth or whoever it was behind his dreams trying to persuade him to join them?
Sunny was about to ask about the firepit, but then realized he was supposed to be completely blind. He shouldn't have been able to see it, or know it, and he had to act that way.
"Where… where is this?" He instead asked, trying to pry any information from them at all.
"This is where we live in — a coral mount I suppose if I'm trying to be technical." Cassie hesitantly said, "We used seaweed as bedding, and dried some scavenger meat."
"How? I thought meat needed to be cooked in order to be dried?"
Cassie laughed, "Yes, trust me, I'll know. We lit a fire a few nights before, turns out, it was the worst mistake we could have made here."
She turned her head toward Nephis, as if inviting her to say something.
"The light attracts monsters. We were attacked."
She indifferently said, like those things… they don't bother her at all.
"I see," Sunny said, before hurriedly adding for the sake of Nephis, "Not that I can see of course! It's a term, a figure of speech?"
Cassie was staring at him strangely, "...You didn't have to say that."
As for Nephis, She was looking into the sky, seemingly indifferent to whatever he had just that.
She cleared her throat.
"It should be fine now. We still have time before the sun sets."
After that, she got busy making the fire, Cassie helping her at times. Not knowing what to do, Sunny lowered himself to the ground and let his tired, bruised, and still somewhat bleeding body rest.
After a while, he asked:
"I… I'm ashamed to ask for more of your help, but do you have water?"
Cassie got up from whatever she was doing, and smiled, walking towards him. White sparks started to appear from her hand, and a second later, a beautiful bottle made of patterned blue glass shimmered into existence.
"Don't worry, it'll always be full."
Sunny took the glass bottle gratefully.
'An endless supply of water, huh? Sure beats my super loud bell!'
"Thank you."
Bringing the bottle towards his lips, Sunny greedily drank the cool, delicious water. Yet, no matter how much he drank, the water never seemed to run out.
"Is it really endless?"
"Uh… not really. But it's good enough for us!"
Sunny agreed with her, water was a precious resource, something extremely hard to obtain in the outskirts. An endless supply of water was even his dream back then!
Soon, Nephis was done making the fire, and the rich smell of roasting meat started to permeate the air. At the same time, the sun was beginning to approach the horizon; a loud rumble came from somewhere beneath and the first traces of black water began to appear between the crimson walls of the labyrinth.
The thought of danger spiraled into his mind.
"Can the Nightmare Creatures come all the way up here?"
Nephis turned the meat and nodded, her eyes never leaving the firepit.
"Yes. But only at night. During the day, most of them seem to disappear."
Sunny grinned, finally knowing where all the Scavengers and Creatures had disappeared to — they were consuming the flesh of the Corrupted creature he had seen a few days ago.
"I know where they are. I saw a vision not too long ago — at a tall cliff west of here, those creatures have been feasting on an enormous carcass!"
Nephis nodded.
"That would explain the lack of Nightmare Creatures in the day. How long?"
Sunny blinked, "How long what?"
"How long… until they are done devouring the carcass?"
"Oh. I'm not really sure since the time period of my visions… well, they aren't stable, but one day more I suppose, two at most."
Nephis turned away, took the meat away from the fire, and then quickly extinguished it.
Strange… she was definitely strange. Or something was just seriously wrong with her.
The three of them ate silently in the dimming light of twilight. The meat was juicy, tender and indescribably delicious. From time to time, they would pass the water to each other, he and Cassie chatting at times, while Nephis would silently stare at the encroaching abyssal sea.
When they were finished with their meal, the dark sea was back, and the night was upon them. Everything was consumed by absolute darkness, darkness that was eerily similar to his blind state.
As he silently looked onwards, he was soon interrupted by a voice — Cassie.
"How about we formally introduce ourselves? Not that it would help much… but, is there anything else we could be doing? I'm Cassie."
"Neph."
Sunny smiled.
"I'm Sunless. But you can call me Sunny."
He stayed silent for a few moments, and then said:
"Since we're doing this anyways, how about sharing what abilities and Memories we have at our disposal? Not that I'm forcing you to do it. I'm sure you already know some of mine, but… it's always better to be clear."
With that, Sunny began. He told them of his Aspect, of his dreams and of his visions. He told them of his Flaw, even if they had already known it. Turns out, Cassie's shadow could really move independently — scouting the way. While Nephis? Her flames could heal.
But what was interesting was the kinds of Memories they had. Nephis had an armor and a sword, also the magical rope that could change its length.
While Cassie had an endless bottle of water — something he already knew, and a sharp dagger of azure blue.
It reminded him of his own Memory — Azure Blade — which he hadn't checked out yet. He was busy all they long after all.
Summoning his runes, he took in the sight of them.
Even though most of the ecstasy from killing the Scavenger had long past, Sunny was still quite proud of himself.
He survived. He won. The blade was only proof of that.
Name: [Azure Blade].
Description: [In this Forgotten Shore, only steel remembers.]
He didn't really get what it meant, but it was a sword, a weapon. It would serve to protect him.
But… he couldn't possibly use it like that.
Nephis and Cassie can never know.
They wouldn't trust him.
He had to keep its existence a secret.
Silence passed through them.
After a while, tilted her head, seemingly indifferent to the conversation's end.
"Alright, since we're done, I'll… take watch first."
"Then I'll take second watch."
Sunny felt a bit ashamed, he could only sleep as they sacrificed their own for the sake of survival. But he couldn't tell them of his rod, or the fact he had killed the scavenger — he must be the blind, powerless boy they know.
He could only silently hope that they would never betray him, and wouldn't force his secrets out of him.
With that said, he walked over to one of the seaweed beds and laid down there, dismissing his dear rod, and drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
—
Flames.
He dreamt of being burned by the brightest of flames — silver ones.
As his consciousness gripped for any semblance of sanity, he gritted his teeth, and endured every of the illusory pain his dream gave him.
Soon, a shadow ascended from the ground below, surrounding him, aiding him, battling against the flames.
An invisible force pushed him out from wherever he had been just now, and as he opened his eyes, a tall, magnificent tree greeted him, with fruits as big and round as his head. He began walking towards it, as if pulled and guided by someone, his will being overtaken as he grabbed a fallen fruit, and bit into it.
After that, the dream was of fragments.
He saw a fallen angel, her face ablaze with fury as she soared onwards, towards the far away tower in the east. She resembled Changing Star.
He saw a demon, tears burning down its eyes, as it roared out loud, creating a symphony of song among the battlefield.
He saw a distant sky, with rain pouring down, seeping onto the scorched earth of wherever that was.
He saw fragmented memories that never belonged to him, each one more haunting than the last.
As the sounds of broken glass traveled throughout the void, he saw a perfect mirror in front of him, and before it layed ruins. All encompassing ruins.
Soon, his vision shifted, and he dreamt of flying in the air, as the setting sun travelled over it, burning him with its haunting rays. West. It laid to the west.
Below him laid a castle, on top of a hill — humongous, firm, everstanding. There was something uncanny about it, such a grand place with absolutely no signs of any life.
The great walls surrounding the hell must had been protecting the castle from the throttle of the sea in the distant past, but now? Various creatures of different sizes were roaming around the gaps, feasting upon those who were weaker, and unlucky enough to meet them.
Vines populated every corner of the ruins, snaking through shattered windows, trees growing into abandoned buildings. A reminder of the loss of something that was once great.
Yet, throughout this, there was still life in the city — chatter could be heard even from where Sunny laid — signs of people, signs of life, signs of salvation.
But… where was this?
His dream soon changed.
Sunny ascended the skies, and took in the city and its surroundings in full view.
There were red, crimson corals all around the hill, as if mocking him that they had to go for such lengths in order to ensure their survival in this damned world.
Could the gateway be there?
….His dream showed him the way to salvation.
He had to tell the others!
He had to wake up!
A boom registered in his head, and in the distant shore of a forgotten land, a young boy opened his blank, blank eyes.
—
Sunny sat up with a gasp, panting as his mind reeled with what he had just learned — A castle with people. It could possibly be a gateway leading to the waking world. It wasn't much, but it was still something, a clue was better than nothing at all.
He had to tell Cassie, and Nephis of course.
But… was it morning or not?
Really, the dream must be affecting him! His head felt dizzy, and his vision blurry — not like he had any in the first place.
What he knew was that he wasn't thinking straight. It was always like this on the days he didn't get enough sleep, or when he was forced out of a nightmare.
Lifting his hand, he used it to support his head, leaning on it slightly. Never had he experienced such a spike in his Aspect, it usually wouldn't hurt him that much! At most there was only fatigue…
'Is it because it revealed such vital information? Or something entirely different?'
Whatever, it didn't matter all that much — he needed to know what was happening.
In a silent voice, he called out towards the darkness, "Is anyone there?"
Not expecting anything, he was soon proven right as he shifted back onto his seaweed bed, and closed his eyes.
Yet after a while, he heard the sound of something moving, and a low whisper.
"I'm here." Someone said — Nephis.
Was it still night?
Why was Nephis still on watch?
"What… what time is it?"
He heard the sound of slight movement, and in the next seconds, the voice replied to him again.
"It's only been a few hours."
After a while it added:
"Why are you awake?"
Sunny could almost imagine the frown on Nephis face as she stared straight at him, confusion imminent in her silvery eyes.
Should he tell her the truth? He did have to tell them anyways — they have to get to the city no matter what. And… there was no harm telling her that.
"I had a dream. A dream of a castle with people in it. It lies towards the west— wherever that is."
"...That's where the carapace of the creature you talked about lies. Anything else?"
"It… it looked abandoned at first glance, like a set of ruins on this shore. I mean, it wouldn't be strange. But soon, I saw groups of people in it — the castle that is."
"It was a city of ruined stone. Vast, impregnable walls surrounded it, with countless monsters roaming inside. Yet, on top of the hill in its very center, lay a strikingly beautiful castle, with groups of people living inside."
After a while, he added:
"It tasted like salvation, a song of hope."
Changing Star was silent for a while, as if processing the heftiness of what he had just told her — this unknown death zone wasn't all that unpopulated. There were people in this place.
As moments passed, she eventually said in reply:
"West. We have to go west."
Sunny nodded, before shifting slightly, sitting up on the bed he was on. The night wasn't over, and he felt a sudden urge to say something more.
It couldn't possibly harm him?
"It… it wasn't all about that. I saw fragmented pieces of a falling angel and a devil made out of shadows. I was burned by a silver flame, and enthralled by a humongous tree. It was quite the nightmare… Do you know what they could possibly mean?"
He received no reply, and minutes passed, until any semblance of speech left Nephis' mouth.
"It could be of the foes we have to face."
Sunny nodded as he thought of whatever she had just said. If it were true, they would have to start preparing for what was to come — having a plan was always better than storming recklessly into the unknown.
Time passed, and no one said anymore, yet Sunny wasn't quite grasping at the feeling of sleep. It was avoiding him for some unknown reason. Perhaps the excitement from the revelation had just been that much.
Sunny sighed, perhaps it would be a good idea to get to know Nephis more. He could foresee them being together for quite some time.
It would help with getting him back to sleep he supposed, and it wouldn't harm him that much to try.
"You know, in those webtoons of Awakened, this would usually be the part where the cohort exchanges wishes together — as they look up into the shimmering stars. Not that there are any stars here."
He wistfully said, as he lifted up his head, and stared at what he presumed to be the sky.
He was met with silence for a while, until a confused voice echoed beside him.
"What are webtoons?" Nephis asked.
…What? She didn't know?
"You don't know!? What about comics? Or mangas?"
…
"No I do not."
Sunny wanted to sigh, the renowned Changing Star not knowing what webtoons were? Now that was a surprise, Nephis seemed to know everything about surviving the Dream Realm, he would have expected her to know a lot more about life than him.
Scratching his head, he thought for a moment on how to explain this.
"What about stories? What stories do you know?"
Nephis didn't answer, and Sunny was almost prepared to be replied with a sharp no.
Instead, she replied with this:
"The Saga of Odysseus? Does that count as a story?"
Of course, Sunny was from the outskirts, so even if knew of the glorious existence of webtoons, he wouldn't be cultured enough to know what this 'Odysseus' was. But, it sounded like a story, a story of a random dude that is.
"I suppose it counts, not that I know what this Odysseus is," He eventually replied, "A webtoon is kind of like that I suppose. But it's a story told through pictures, and tiny bits of words here and there."
Nephis didn't answer, only staying still in the bed near him, her presence warm and steady in this dark world.
…He almost wished he could actually see her.
'Wait, if I summon my rod, it could be possible! But… she'll see it, with those white sparks appearing in the dark.'
Yeah, that's right he shouldn't bother with it.
"I suppose webtoons would picture something like this — A Sleeper staring deeply into the night sky. And maybe that Odysseus guy would be doing something like this too, thinking of his home perhaps?"
He was met with a stark reply.
"But you're looking at a piece of coral."
Sunny's face rapidly warmed, turning into a mess of red.
'There was no way I've been talking to a piece of rock for who knows how long!'
Too embarrassed to speak, Sunny immediately whipped his head towards the other direction, where he was sure that a piece of stone did not lie.
Coughing into his hand, he immediately tried to think of something else to say.
"Can you tell me of the legend of Odysseus then? I'm from the outskirts… I wouldn't know of anything about him."
Changing Star took a breath, and whispered to him in an almost ethereal voice of the story she knew so well.
It was eloquent, so unlike how she would usually answer with short, precise sentences, yet it was fitting in a sense — telling a story wasn't a major part of communication.
She told him of the saga of Odysseus, of how he conquered the war with his cunning, but was forced to 10 years in sea, lost and abandoned. Of how a beautiful fairy enchanted him with her unending love and immortality, yet he chose to abandon her for home.
After a while, she took a breath, her voice shifting slightly.
"So, my question is… why did he leave?"
Sunny blinked, he didn't know what to answer.
"Perhaps… he was far away from home? Or… the island was actually a mirage, a trap to stop him from reaching his real goal?"
"I suppose so," Nephis said, her voice with a tone of seriousness and longing.
He couldn't help but imagine her then, what she would have looked like ethereally staring into the far distance.
A question laid in his mind.
"So, did he make it back home?"
"Yes, he returned to his family, and they lived happily forever."
After that, she said no words, and Sunny couldn't find anything else to talk about.
Snuggling back into his bed, he prepared to sleep, his mind still thinking about what Nephis had told him.
Odysseus defied his fate.
Soon, he drifted back into sleep. And unbeknownst to him, Changing Star still had something to say.
"Odysseus was the first human to break the will of the gods."