Chapter 14: Goals and Choices
[This re-write is going to give Sunphis enjoyers PTSD.]
~*~
The cohort lounged in comfortable sofas, each made from high quality fabric, and some, unknown cushion. The lush velvet fabric felt both soft and supporting as each of them found their seat of choice.
They were joined by Rain, and the Black-Crimson haired woman, whose name was Serana.
They had finished the meeting not long ago, all the members dispersing before the cohort retreated into the underground levels of the building, which was apparently where Sunny had been living.
"Damn Sunny, where did you get all this stuff?"
Sunny shrugged, walking to the far side of the room.
"I made most of it, turns out, when you put your mind to it, you can make a lot of things in a month."
Effie just raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for more.
"That's it, you aren't going to mention the thousand of Awakened outside? The Masters? The saint standing literally right there."
She pointed to Serana, who seemed entirely unconcerned with the attention.
Nephis stepped forward.
"Alright Sunny, I think it's about time you explain what all of this is and, more importantly, who that girl is."
Everyone blinked, then again.
'What does the saint have anything to do with it?'
This was what everyone thought. Effie, however, was much more in tune with things like these.
She smiled, a horrid expression for anyone that knew her well.
"Aww, is our Princess worried about her Prince getting stolen by the pretty, tall, cool, probably powerful saint girl?"
Nephis flinched, then, with rigid movements, her head turned, shotting the huntress a scorching look.
"Ahh, ahaha. I was only joking Princess, just a joke..."
Nephis released Effie from her searing glare, instead, she chose to stare daggers into the crimson haired woman.
Was it just her, or were they standing a bit to close?
As Nephis scrutinized the distance between Sunny and the girl slightly behind him, the crimson haired girl took a tiny step forward, getting just a bit closer to him.
Flames bloomed in her heart.
'No, I know it. That woman is bad news... She's gotta go.'
Sunny had observed this entire interaction with passive eyes.
Sunny was a composite of both his past or present version, and his future Supreme self.
In effect, it made him have a sort of split personality. On one side, he was both the powerful sovereign in the future, and the Sunless that was not yet even eighteen.
So, how exactly did he feel about Nephis?
Well, his Supreme self had been her lover, while even before the Crimson Spire, Sunny was sure he had felt that way.
However...
Outwardly, nothing changed. But deep inside his eyes, the shadows swirled.
Was that still the case?
When his two minds had collided, it was not a prefect merger, it was more like the creation of a third.
A third that simply did not know how he felt.
He neither was the Supreme lover, nor the Sleeper with a crush, yet he was both?
It made Sunny more confused every time he truly thought about how he felt, something he seemed to be doing a lot over the past month.
Realizing he was falling into a hole again, Sunny shook his head, removing the cobweb of thoughts he had been pondering.
"Do you want the short version, or the long version?"
Nephis seemed to weight her choices before answering:
"Short first."
Sunny smiled.
"Well then, I have assembled the foundation for the Shadow Clan, then I went to the dream realm for a few days, using my extreme expertise, in where I mean I abused shadow step to travel south into Valor's lands, where I anchored to my old Citadel, however, I cannot claim it yet."
He raised a hand, rubbing his chin in a thoughtful way.
"I also killed my first Great Nightmare creature as an Ascended, it was difficult, however, now that I am Ascended, my inherit Will has become vastly more powerful, Spirit weave making it even stronger."
He shot the slack jawed Kai a grin.
"Other than that, I created a few thousand memories—which I didn't even think was possible—managed to start Rain's natural Awakening, infected most of the Great Clans with my shadow mark, and umm, I think that's about it."
Effie coughed.
"You have umm, been busy, huh?"
Sunny sighed, nodding gravely.
"I truly miss being seven people, being one person is so pedestrian!"
Kai seemed to wither in his seat, every truth sapping his soul of more and more reason.
Which was exactly as Sunny wanted.
In his mind, he laughed maniacally at the state of his friend.
However, it was time for him to get serious.
"Sunny, could you tell us more."
Sunny mulled over his words before speaking.
"It is like you heard, soon, Antarctica will be plagued with nightmare gates between category two and three. Its cities will be besieged by an ocean of Nightmare Creatures while titans wreak havoc across the central region."
Sunny snarled, his face reminiscent of the mask he wore.
"And where will those supposed, "Great Clans" be? They will be waiting, biding their time until it becomes profitable. And once they do step foot into the Southern Quadrant?"
He laughed.
"They start a war between themselves! Like children fighting over a toy, they compete for Supremacy, each trying to expand their domain more than the other."
His laugh faded, his face becoming cold and harsh.
"While they bide their time, others will be taken by a Terror, drowned by its enthrallment. Some will be crushed, others burned by a terrifying Goliath. And in the end, everyone who didn't escape will be frozen still, turned to cold statues, reminders of what happened that day."
Hearing the grim fate that awaited those of the Antarctic Center, the mood turned solemn.
Kai, however, asked in a gentle voice.
"Ahh, Sunny. Did you, perhaps, participate in the campaign in the past, or future?"
Each of them still remembered the description of that attribute.
[Forbidden Holder] Attribute Description: [You have lived as a Supreme and recall all you learned, thus you possess forbidden knowledge of the future and the –unknown-.]
The moment he asked the question, they didn't need to hear the answer.
All it took was one look at the pained smile on his face.
"Yes, Kai. And I will be the first to tell you, we cannot let that happen again. It is not an option."
He scanned them, then said:
"You asked what this was all about, what I have been up to the past month. Well, this is it. I am preparing to save as many of the people of Antarctica as I can. I am preparing the shadow clan to take on the many horrors of this world, to be its silent guardians."
His voice wasn't loud, wasn't boasting. It was calm, filled with nothing but certainty.
"I am going to overthrow the Sovereigns who can only see through their own ignorant lenses. I will be the Killer and Destroyer I was Fated to be."
He grabbed rain by the shoulder, pulling her close.
"Then, builders like Rain, Beth, Julius, Obel. They can make a better world, one fertilized with the ashes of the last."
He gestured to them.
"I have chosen that path, it is what I have strived for ever since gaining memories of the future. It is the first step in changing the fate I have seen."
He seemed to hesitate, he looked directly to each one of them.
"Will you follow the original path laid before you? Join Valor, infiltrate them, trying to get closer to your goals?"
"Will you follow Her no matter her choice, or will you make your own choice?"
He smiled.
"Will you answer the call again, maybe a bit early?" Glancing to kai, he continued.
"What about you? How about joining early?"
A second passed, one, awkward second after his monologue.
'Oh no, did my super cool, heroic, edgy monologue not hit the mark!'
Then, as if on que.
Effie beamed.
"You best believe it! Visiting another Quadrant sounds fun, getting to crush some nightmare creatures in the meantime is a big bonus too!"
Then, she laughed. The same laugh she always had.
Kai nodded beside her.
"Like she said, it might be fun to visit another Quadrant... Although I am not quite sure about the crushing part, I would prefer to use my bow thank you."
Sunny smiled, something in his eyes not quite right.
"Yeah buddy..."
Unfortunately for Kai, Sunny was not just bringing them along. If they followed him, then he would make them train just the same as the other shadow clan members.
Only, with one difference.
'They are all future Saints, it's not like Saint can't be a bit rougher with them... You know, toughen them up bit.'
Sunny turned to Nephis and Cassie, both of them seeming to contemplate something.
Sunny sighed.
'Looks like it's just four...'
And just as he expected.
"If you know about my intentions, then how could you ask me not to? Out of everyone in the world, you should know best."
Seeing his premonition come true, Sunny could only sigh.
'It seems, even nearly a decade in the past, she still is unwilling to compromise her goal...'
Somewhere in Sunny's heart, he felt a small pain.
"I see. Well, I would appreciate it if you kept the existence of my clan a secret from them."
Nephis nodded.
"Of course."
A moment of Awkward silence passed between them before Nephis stood.
"Well, it seems there is much for you to talk about. I think I will take my leave."
With that, she turned, walking from the room.
Sunny didn't even look as Cassie stood, following her out the door.
Only once they were both gone, their shadows both far above did Sunny speak.
"Was it too much? Expecting her to change?"
Kai and Effie turned to him to answer, however, they noticed he had turned to the saint.
For the first time since they had met her, the woman named Serana didn't seem like a Statue made flesh.
Her face was soft, her eyes filled with care as she looked at the wonderous boy in front of her.
"No... She is not like you, she is a slave to her desires and longing. That is that path of the flame. She blazes like the sun, however, blazes are often hard to stop and easily get out of control."
She sighed.
"Not everyone can leave behind their wants and needs for greater good. A feature I find most attractive in you."
Sunny laughed.
"You think I care about the greater good? Gods no! I am only interested in righting my wrongs, fixing the score, and evening the odds, that's all."
The Saint raised an eyebrow.
"Surely you jest? I have watched you do that strange sorcery for days on end without sleep, all to protect the members of your clan with the highest quality memories. Yet you only care for yourself?"
She hadn't heard such a blatant lie from him before.
Sunny, however, regarded her with a blank face.
"You know I can't jest, also, don't mention that terrible guy, his jokes haunt me to this day... And I haven't even met him yet."
Serana covered her mouth with a hand, giggling.
"Ah, the joker of Valor. I have faced him a few times, he was powerful."
Sunny shrugged.
"Never fought him, but his jokes were enough to wound me, so I will take your word for it."
Watching this interaction, Effie and Kai looked to each other, then back at the scene in front of her.
"Did she say she finds him attractive?"
Kai nodded, his face flat.
"Yeah, she was telling the truth too."
Effie glanced at him, then back.
"Wha-"
Rain, the girl that Nephis had been tutoring as well as who they now knew as Sunny's sister was standing beside them.
She was elbowing the tall huntress in the side, her face covered with a hand as she whispered in their direction.
"Don't they look good together! I think she likes him a lot, but I can't tell if he likes her back!"
Her whispers were quiet, yet very forced.
"You guys have known him for a long time right, even though he's my brother, we were split up as kids..."
She scratched the back of her head, the action showing the large snake tattoo on her arm.
"Anyways! Look! They are so cute together!"
Kai smiled, opening his mouth. However, Effie cut him off with a furious whisper to the girl.
"No! This cannot happen! Doofus is supposed to be with Princess, I have already mapped it out in my head. This is wrong!"
Hearing her partake in the childish action with Rain, Kai sighed.
"What!? How can you say that? She just left! Were you actually Raised by Wolves?"
Effie scoffed.
"You will see, you Brat!"
The sound of the door stopped their conversation as Jet walked in.
Sunny turned to her, smiling.
"Just in time."
Shortly after the meeting ended, Jet had been called for some government work, which she had left to complete.
Thankfully, it had only been a category two gate, something she cleared with ease.
Now, she stood before them, her hair bit disheveled, but her appearance entirely unchanged.
"Well, it was only a Demon, so it ended pretty fast. The main problem was the residential buildings in the area. A lot of people needed help."
Sunny nodded.
"You did what you could, that is enough."
Jet already knew that, but hearing still brought a smile to her face.
"You are becoming one smooth talker."
He waved her off.
"Yeah yeah, tell it to crow crow."
Jet laughed and took a seat on one of the sofas.
Sunny let the moment fade, the mood becoming a bit calmer.
Then, he spoke to Effie and Kai.
"As you already know, we are leaving for Antarctica. However, we will not be playing the roll of normal soldiers. The shadow clan will assimilate into the armies forces during transportation but will become a separate force once we make landfall."
He took a breath before continuing.
"The three of us as well as Jet will be part of the Irregulars, a special force of Masters leading awakened cohorts. Our job will be to move from battlefield to battlefield, striking hardpoints and supporting weak points."
The shadows boiled up from the ground forming an intricate, topographic map in between the two sofas.
"This is the Antarctic Center, the place we, as well as the rest of the shadows will be sent. The initial goal suggested by the Government was to fortify the Siege Capitals, using them to hold out. That, however, will only lead to their deaths."
He smiled.
"Thankfully, we happen to have a high ranking and well-connected Government master on our side."
He gestured to Jet.
"With her help, we managed to alter their plan to something much more accomplishable. We will simply evacuate the entire Central Antarctica to a single Siege Capital, then hold that."
The mood was a bit solemn.
Everyone knew just how hard a task like that would be. Moving hundreds of millions of people across a continent ruled by nightmare creatures was something inconceivable.
Yet, as they saw Sunny's face, the calm smile, the utmost confidence. They knew he wasn't joking.
"But Sunny, how will we even defend the one Siege Capital? Won't it just draw all the most nightmare creatures? Even as we evacuate more towards the city, it could be destroyed at any point."
Sunny smirked, pointing at the woman behind him.
"During the first few months the gates will release Awakened, Fallen, and Corrupted Nightmare Creatures, however, these are not the true issue. Thoasands of weaker creatures mean nothing in the face of true strength."
He frowned.
"It is the Titans that will appear. They will single-handedly turn the tables on the Evacuation Army... Well, they did."
Kai tilted his head.
"What changed?"
Sunny laughed.
"Everything Kai, everything changed. Serana is powerful, but her strong suit is fighting. You have met Tyris before, she is a powerful fighter, but her abilities are centered around weather."
Sunny smiled.
"The other Saint, he will defend Falcon Scott with his Aspect like his life depends on it. Serana and Tyris will back him up as well."
"While the three of them defend the Siege Capital, the rest of the Shadow Clan will be tasked with relocating and evacuating everyone there. That is our mission first and foremost."
Kai smiled.
"I have to agree with... Serana? You are special Sunny."
Sunny blinked.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Kai coughed.
"Uhm, how should I put it. It feels like the people matter more than the clans. As a person myself... that makes me feel much safer."
Sunny regarded his friend with confusion, but eventually he simply let it go.
"Anyways, the Irregulars will form the Roster in a week. I expect to see you here."
Kai smiled.
"Yeah, we will meet you here."
Effie sighed.
"A week is all we get? That is not even enough time for a good nap."
Sunny gave her an unamused look.
"What are you, a bear? Wait, what's a- Oh never mind! Come here."
Sunny held out a hand waiting for them to take it.
He transferred them two memories each, an armor and mask. After receiving the memories, they wasted no time summoning them.
Dark threads wove themselves into existence as dark armor formed across their body.
To his right, Kai stood in his tight-fitting armor, its looks like that of soul serpent.
Black metal scales rolled in the light as the scarves and hanging strips of
shadow silk flowed in some invisible wind. Each piece of cloth wrapped his body, both tight and loose, giving him freedom, yet keeping the fabric secure.
On his face rested a black mask, the image of a fearsome dragon carved into the wood.
Effie stood to his left, she was dressed in similarly dark armor, the
armor hugging tight to her frame, supporting her where needed while
remaining entirely flexible in other places.
Dark metal covered her chest and shoulders, dark plates extending over the backs of her arms like steel fur, while strips of dark cloth wrapped around the hard metal, giving a rouge look.
The same dark metal covered her legs up to middle thigh, only giving space for her joints. Dark silk hung around her neck and hips, giving the armor plenty of extra fabrics.
A mask much like the others rested on her face, its dark surface engraved with circling wolves.
Both of them felt powerful, incredibly so.
"The armors are Transcendent memories of the Fifth Tier. They have two enchantments. One grants a static boost to the wearer, improving all of their basic strengths. The other grants vastly increased Mind and Soul protection."
He pointed to his face.
"The mask is Awakened. It only has one enchantment, one that hides its user's identity quite faithfully..."
They dismissed the memories, offering him a smile.
"Thank you, Sunny. I will use it well... but."
Sunny frowned.
"But what?"
Kai suddenly looked embarrassed.
"Did it have to be black?"