Sun was confused. His jaw hung, and his lips parted.
"Seniors? What do you mean he doesn't exist? But you say that he died a long time ago?"
"Do you swear to uphold the secrecy of this discussion?"
"..."
Sun quietly met the gaze of his Seniors.
The situation was completely unexpected. He would never have guessed that something so serious would be shared with him.
There was also confusion as to why this was being shared with him.
An intense pressure was surrounding him; the seriousness of the conversation was apparent, so he did not hesitate any longer.
Watching Sun give an uneasy nod, Call of Winter continues.
"As the four seasons of the world cycle, so do the positions of the Four Seasons' Cultivators. Naturally, I was not the first, nor was Brother Spring or Sister Autumn."
"It is like a line of succession?"
"Indeed. That also means that the position of Summer, Herald of Summer, was previously held by another man. He was not like us, the current Four Seasons' Cultivators, who had grown up together."
"So... he was from the previous generation of the Four Seasons' Cultivators, and you were simply the newest successors."
"Yes. It is delightful that you catch on quickly."
Sun scratched the back of his neck, a gesture of unease, for he was trying to guess Call of Winter's next words and her intentions behind revealing this information.
"Senior... You said that the position of Summer... that Herald of Summer is dead, right? But there are tales of his greatness within Veiled Forest Settlement, no? Does this mean you have someone acting in his place? No. That couldn't be true..."
"Worry not, I will explain it now."
Closing his mouth, Sun shifted his body forward, paying his full attention to listening to Call of Winter's explanation.
"The previous Herald of Summer died thirteen years ago, that was when I had just recently advanced to the First State of Cultivation, and Brother Spring was just recently taking his first steps towards the First State of Cultivation."
"At the time, Veiled Forest Settlement was facing intense disagreement with a Demonic Faction who wished to snuff our lives and take the succession of the Four Seasons."
"Herald of Summer died, leaving our delicate power balance tilted. Should the news have been revealed, we would be attacked without hesitation and overwhelmed."
A heavy weight seemed to be lifted off of Call of Winter and Warrior of Spring's shoulders.
Warrior of Spring continued, reminiscing on the events of those bygone years.
"It was a rough time, struggling to maintain morale and uphold the delicate balance between our Settlement and that Demonic Faction."
"Herald of Summer dying was the last thing we needed. However..."
"It was a fact that the world did not need to know."
Call of Winter spoke up, finishing Spring's words for him.
"The fact that Summer's Cultivator had died was something we could hide incredibly well. He rarely made an appearance in public, mostly to the Cultivators who fought by our side."
"But his death could not be hidden from most of our Settlement, which is when Veiled Forest Settlement's inner population unanimously agreed to keep this fact a secret, and to continue building the visage of Summer's Cultivator."
This revelation astonished Sun.
"So it was all fake?! You continued to uphold his prestige for the sake of your Settlement... and know you are revealing this secret to me..."
Sun's brow was slightly furrowed as he grabbed the arms of his chair with unease.
"Calm down, Sun. There are no harmful intentions behind us revealing this information to you."
"But it was a nice burden taken off our shoulders."
Warrior of Spring joked, slightly easing Sun as he leaned back in his seat.
Call of Winter reached out her hand, her palm facing the ceiling, and a faint blue light coalesced in the centre of her palm.
"As the Four Seasons' Cultivators, we succeed our position by becoming the inheritors of the Seasons' Spirits."
As she spoke those words, the sheer visage of a bunny appeared from Winter's hand.
"These Spirits are expressions of the world itself, expressions of the four seasons, and grant us our respective, albeit minor, authorities over our respective seasons."
"I am Winter's Spirit, but you may refer to me as Don, for Winter is the name borrowed by my Heir."
"Each of us Four Seasons' Cultivators has a Season's Spirit, although only mine own Don is present. These Spirits are where we derive our strength."
The small bunny's voice was gentle, and with a cute appearance, unbefitting the sternness of its Heir, Call of Winter.
"So... Senior Spring and Autumn are also Heirs of their own Spirits? That being Spring and Autumn, but Summer's Spirit is without an Heir."
"Currently. It is currently without an Heir, which has troubled us for the longest time. However... You could help us with that, Sun. We wish to offer you the position of Summer's Heir."
"...!"
Silent but full of shock, Sun's surprise was gradual, not one that expressed itself through his voice, but widened his eyes and hung his jaw open.
Summer ignored Sun's shock and continued to explain their offer.
"The position of Herald of Summer, the position as Heir of Summer, that is the position we wish to offer you, Sun. To become one of the Four Seasons' Cultivators and a vital Cultivator to Veiled Forest Settlement."
"But why? If this position is so important, why have you not found anyone else to fill this position?"
"'Who' is the problem. Naturally, not everyone can inherit this position. It depends on Who is chosen, what they believe, their Way, and... other qualities. But, it just so happens that you fit most of those qualities, most of the requirements to inherit the Spirit of Summer, which no other Cultivator could."
"But..."
"I understand, it is an immense responsibility to handle. Living up to the thirteen years of prestige that we built on such a frail foundation. To inherit the heights of Summer, capable of surmounting the greatest of mountains or the tallest of waterfalls. But... it is something we believe that you can achieve."
"..."
Sun went silent at those reassuring words.
He leaned back in his chair, gaze lifted to the ceiling, his attention lost elsewhere, not to the ceiling or the matter at hand, but to the reminiscence of a bygone time.
Something that was lodged in the far back of his memories.
And... At this very moment, a voice unheard by anyone was whispered by a person unseen.
"Now this is getting interesting~..."