In the darkness, somber music began to play, reverberating through the entire theatre and sending a shiver through the audience. Everyone was excited, from ordinary humans to Awakened spectators. After all, this was The Song of Light and Darkness.
Many important figures had gathered for the event, yet everyone's attention was drawn to a small group seated in the back row of the crowded theatre.
On the right sat the Lady Changing Star, Nephis. She wore a black suit, her gaze cold and her expression unreadable as she stared at the screen. Beside her was the Song of the Fallen, Lady Cassia, wearing pale blue dress, her soft features framed by the blindfold covering her eyes. Athena, the Awakened raised by wolves, sat nearby. And finally, there was Sunless, watching the screen with complete indifference.
The strange part was that most of the audience kept glancing toward Nephis and Sunny. This surprised Sunny greatly. He had hoped to remain unnoticed, but his rather… remarkable exploration report had made that impossible. He had discovered new gods, uncovered the history of the Forgotten Shore, and built a reputation as a formidable fighter. His versatility and dangerous skill set had earned him considerable fame.
So Sunny's plan to stay out of the spotlight had failed in spectacular fashion.
"Hey, Sunny. Will Mr. Amon and Kai arrive?" A soft, childish voice called from beside him.
Everyone grimaced and glanced at the young girl with raven-black hair and dark eyes who bore a striking resemblance to Sunny.
"I don't know… And we've already talked about this. Amon is dangerous." Sunny muttered with a sigh, unsure how to handle his sister.
Rain pouted, crossing her arms in disappointment. "Oh, come on. Mr. Amon is very gentle and polite. And Mr. Kai is amazing. Don't you know his songs? Ah, they're so pleasing to hear."
Nephis remained silent for a moment before shaking her head faintly. "Listen to your teacher, Rain. While Night isn't dangerous… his boss is. Amon is unpredictable. You never know what he's thinking or what kind of chaos he's going to create. Do you understand?"
Rain nodded, though a hint of sadness lingered on her face.
"They're right, Rain. Try to avoid them," Cassie reassured her. Sunny, however, grew even more annoyed. How could she be listening to Nephis and not him? Damnation.
"Wait a second!" Effie exclaimed, eyes widening. "Don't tell me… Rain, do you like Amon? Or Kai? I mean, I get Kai, he's smoking hot, but that guy? Amon? Seriously?"
Rain's cheeks reddened at Effie's words, and she glared at her in disbelief. "No! I just admire them!"
Effie giggled softly, clearly finding the situation amusing. "Sunny's student has a crush on Amon, hahahaha."
"I don't!" Rain yelled in frustration, then glanced at Sunny. "I really don't, Sunny."
But it was no use. Sunny was already lost in his own thoughts, staring at the screen with bleak, hollow eyes.
Damnation...
In the middle of the back row sat the Blood Son of Heaven, Lord Medici. The moment the girls in the audience noticed him, they erupted into screams, their eyes wide and dreamy like fangirls, which exactly what they were.
Medici himself looked striking despite his casual posture. His hair had grown longer, cascading down his back like a river of blood, and his crimson eyes burned with a cold, unwavering intensity. He was dressed in the standard suit worn by government agents. Beside him sat Rodrick, the Awakened known as Slasher, who had earned quite a reputation of his own. His rise to fame came from how dangerously capable he was. Slasher could cut almost anything now. His Dormant Ability allowed him to slice through physical objects, while his Awakened Ability extended that power to intangible things and creatures.
Someone else sat next to Medici as well. It was Jet, the Soul Reaper. Her icy blue eyes were half-lidded with exhaustion, yet still sharp, and her short raven-black hair gleamed under the theatre lights. Like Medici and Rodrick, she wore the government agent's suit. She watched the screen with a cold, faint smile, her presence quiet but unmistakably intimidating.
"Hmmm… this will be interesting." Jet said with a sly smile, glancing at Medici and Rodrick. "I always wondered how you two were in the dream realm. But eh… knowing you idiots, I'm sure it'll be fun."
Rodrick nodded with a laugh. "It really was fun, not gonna lie… well, mostly it was." His expression softened a little, touched by nostalgia.
"Whatever. As always, I'll be majestic as fuck. No doubt about that." Medici grinned.
"Uh-huh…" Jet stared at him, thoroughly unimpressed. The truth was, her two subordinates were both weirdos and idiots, so she wasn't holding out much hope. Even with all the praise Medici got for how fiercely he fought nightmare creatures in the waking world, Jet couldn't shake the suspicion that he was battling his own social anxiety just as often as actual beasts.
Lastly, on the far left sat the members of [Insert Name Here]. Many people were still confused about the clan's name. Some were baffled. Others were simply annoyed. This small group operated under Rose Redemption, the faction that ruled the entire region of the Forgotten Shore.
What mattered, however, was that this clan was filled with strange but extraordinarily capable individuals.
There was Lord Caster, the Prince of Motion. He leaned forward with his cheek resting lazily on his fist as he devoured popcorn with unbelievable speed, emptying bucket after bucket with no sign of slowing down. He wore a sharp dark brown suit without a tie, his hair pulled back neatly, revealing his handsome features. His green eyes had a lazy, playful glint to them, giving him the air of a mischievous child who had somehow grown into a very dangerous man.
Next to Caster sat Lady Aiko. She wore a simple black dress and seemed completely uninterested in the film. Instead, she kept staring at her communicator, muttering under her breath about contribution points and bank accounts.
There was also Lord Gunlaug, better known as the Bright Lord, the Tyrant of the Dark City, the Golden Demon, or more commonly by his True Name, the Laughing Storm. Despite his terrifying reputation, he did not look intimidating at all. In fact, he looked almost silly. He lounged back in his seat, casually sipping beer, dressed in nothing but shorts, an aloha shirt, sunglasses, and sandals.
There was also Kido, the Blood Flower. Lady Kido wore a lovely green dress adorned with delicate blossoms, each one enhancing her graceful beauty. She sat beside her lover, Lord Gemma, known across the world as the Shield of the Goddess.
But among this small clan, the one who drew the most attention was Kai, the Nightingale. His auburn hair was styled with care, and his warm green eyes shone like polished gems. He wore a formal suit and sat with quiet dignity, occasionally lifting a hand to greet the fans who waved at him. Each gesture was polite, charming, and effortlessly graceful.
And lastly, there was Harus, the Deadlight.
No one dared stare at him for long. It wasn't a lack of curiosity. The problem was that the moment anyone's gaze lingered on him, it felt as if the monstrous man could sense it. He would turn his head and look back with those cold, inhuman eyes, sending chills crawling down their spines. His hunched posture made him even more unsettling, and his dark hair was as wild and disordered as ever.
Out of everyone in the theatre, Harus was the one people feared most. His reputation alone was enough to silence entire rooms. And thanks to Amon's relentless propaganda campaign, some spectators even looked at him with pity, something that irritated him more and more each time he noticed it.
So now I'm the broken hero… he thought, staring bleakly at the screen. Fuck…
At the same time, outside the theatre stood Luna. She was biting her nail, her eyes narrowed as she waited with thinly veiled irritation. She wore a red silky dress that glowed softly, like a crimson moon suspended in the dark. Her scarlet eyes carried a flicker of annoyance, and the crescent-shaped earrings she wore shimmered whenever she moved.
Her snow-white hair had been braided meticulously into a waterfall style, cascading over her shoulder with elegant precision. Resting on her head was a golden wreath that gave her an air of warmth and hospitality. She looked almost like a goddess. She was mesmerizing, alluring, and undeniably motherly, especially now that she was pregnant.
In truth, she wore the wreath mostly because Amon had made them for her back when they were children in Athens.
How ironic, considering that a wreath was a symbol of fertility.
Where is he…? He's late. Don't tell me he's still avoiding responsibility, hmm? No… he wouldn't dare. Although knowing him, there's still a chance. His antics never change.
Luna frowned, not pleased with the direction her thoughts were taking. The movie would start soon, and she needed to make an appearance. And honestly, showing up alone would be embarrassing.
Ugh, this is humiliating. Where is that bastard? Fine, I'll go alone. I don't need you. You hear me!? I don't!
She puffed out her cheeks in frustration, rolling her eyes as annoyance simmered beneath her calm exterior.
She took a deep breath and glanced at the window beside her. After a moment of studying her reflection, she tilted her head and frowned. She observed herself for a few seconds, then touched her chest and adjusted her dress to feel more comfortable because of… the size issue.
Once satisfied, she smiled softly and pushed open the door leading into the theatre. The moment she stepped inside, every pair of eyes turned toward her. She met the attention with a warm smile and began walking down the stairs confidently, heading toward her seat.
But gradually, she noticed something strange. The attention that had been on her just seconds ago began to shift away. People weren't staring at her anymore. Their gazes drifted past her, drawn by something else entirely.
Luna slowed to a stop, resting a hand on her belly with a sigh. As more and more people looked right through her, curiosity replaced her irritation. She turned her head and glanced back.
"My apologies for the delay. Shall we proceed, my lady?"
She heard a gentle, mischievous voice behind her before she could even turn. Luna blinked, then finally looked back at the source of the pleasant sound.
A tall young man stood just a step behind her. His face was slim and finely shaped, his skin pale, his features delicate yet unmistakably sharp. His expression remained calm and slightly aloof, which only added a faint, unsettling edge to his presence.
His dark hair was tousled and wavy, falling in soft, messy layers around his face. A crystal monocle rested over his right eye, giving him an intelligent, calculating, almost scholarly charm. His gaze was cool and unwavering, focusing on jer.
He also wore dark gloves and a ring on his right hand's ring finger, while a single dangling earring shaped like a crescent moon, the same as Luna's, hung from one ear.
His crisp white shirt had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, creating a balance between relaxed and professional. Over it, a fitted black waistcoat hugged his torso perfectly, emphasizing his lean frame. A dark tie was held neatly in place by a sleek tie clip, and a white pocket square peeked out from the vest pocket, making him more gentlemanly.
Before he could take another step forward, he paused. Casually, he pulled out a pocket watch and flipped it open. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting for long."
Luna pursed her lips, meeting his gaze with an expressionless stare, her eyes cold and indifferent. Aww, how adorable... she thought.
Perhaps only she could think that Amon, the Blasphemer, was adorable. Something was definitely wrong with this girl.
"Late enough to make a lady wonder, but not enough to forgive you entirely." she scoffed, crossing her arms haughtily.
Amon's mouth twitched faintly, but he stepped forward regardless. He took Luna's hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
"Had I known a single moment displeased you, I would have stolen time itself to arrive sooner." he murmured softly, his smile widening as he looked up at her.
"Charmed..." Luna's lips curved into a small, approving smile. She gestured for him to take her arm, and he nodded, sliding his arm through hers with a helpless smile. Together, they walked toward her seat, arm in arm, drawing the occasional glance from the audience without either of them seeming to notice.
For some reason, no one said a word when the two of them arrived. Instead, the audience simply stared. They looked different now: more mature, more refined, carrying the kind of elegance that seemed untouched by the horrors of the world and the brutality of the Nightmare Spell.
Sunny glanced at Amon briefly, brow furrowing. Noticing the stare, Amon tilted his head slightly and met Sunny's eyes. Sunny gave a small nod, which Amon returned with calm assurance.
Cassie felt a faint wave of unease at Amon's presence, but she remained silent, her expression unreadable behind the blindfold.
But Rain… well, she was shaking Effie by the shoulders for some reason. "Hey! Do you see this? I told you so many times, Mr. Amon is a gentleman! Look how polite and respectful he was!"
"Geez, I'm not blind, girl. Calm down." Effie muttered absentmindedly. At that, Rain froze, slowly turning to look at Cassie with horror, as if she'd gone too far.
"It's fine…" Cassie sighed, a little awkwarded out by Rain's over-the-top enthusiasm.
"Still, I was right." Rain huffed, then tilted her head at Sunny, genuinely puzzled. "Sunny… why can't you be as gentle and soft as Mr. Amon?"
Sunny's expression soured instantly. His jaw clenched, a vein twitching on his forehead. "Sit down and keep your tongue in check. There are other people here. So silence would be appreciated."
"Yes, yes, of course…" Rain grumbled, sticking her tongue out at him before plopping back in her chair with an annoyed pout.
Meanwhile, Medici grinned to himself and shook his head faintly, amused by his friend's theatrics.
"How are you doing?" Amon asked softly.
On the screen, the interior of a spacious, warmly lit room appeared. A small silver-haired girl played on a soft carpet, while a handsome man with dark circles under his eyes studied a map with quiet exhaustion.
Luna remained still for a moment before releasing a long, tired sigh. "I'm fine. But I think I'm going to give birth soon." She paused, then turned to Amon with a hint of surprise on her face. "What were you doing?"
"Nothing… just cleaning up." Amon replied casually.
"I don't think that was simple cleaning up. And there's blood on your sleeve." She raised an eyebrow and pointed at the faint crimson stain.
Amon blinked, then nodded calmly. With a flick of his wrist, the blood vanished from the fabric. A heartbeat later, several droplets lifted into the air, hovering above his hand as if they had never dried at all.
"Have you murdered anyone?" Luna asked, genuinely intrigued about what had delayed him.
"No. Let's say… I scared them a little. I'm not some barbaric moron who randomly starts killing people." he muttered, resting his chin on his palm.
Luna shrugged, though her lips curled into an amused smile... How cute.
At that moment, Nephis's backstory finished playing on the screen. To Amon's surprise, the next segment was about Luna and Medici. The footage showed the two of them struggling to survive in the outskirts, revealing how harsh and pitiful life there had been.
For some reason… Amon wasn't included.
Now that's intriguing… he thought, brow furrowing. Luna and Medici wore the same baffled expressions.
The scene shifted to their academy days. This time, Amon appeared briefly. It showed the academy itself, the training halls, the Sleepers preparing to face the Dream Realm. The screen displayed Nephis and Medici sparring, then Luna studying with relentless focus.
Amon, however, was quickly pushed to the side again. Understandable, perhaps. He hadn't done much during those days.
But what was shown of him… was trouble.
There he was, messing with his teachers. Annoying Instructor Rock, teasing instructor Elena and messing with Mr. Jacob. The entire montage painted him as the kind of child who existed solely to test the patience of every adult around him.
Hmm… why do I have the feeling I'm being shown as the villain?
At that, Medici burst into laughter, unable to contain himself. Luna quickly turned away, avoiding Amon's gaze while desperately trying to stifle her own giggles.
Then the movie moved on to the Dream Realm. As expected, the story focused mainly on Medici, Luna, and Nephis.
It showed Amon being carried around by Medici like luggage. There was even a scene of them rescuing Luna from the Soul Tree and setting it aflame but once again, Amon's supposed 'contribution' amounted to pulling a few cheap tricks, while Medici handled everything important.
After that, the story transitioned to their arrival in the Dark City. From here, it split into three different perspectives: Medici's, Luna's, and Nephis's.
Nephis began building her faction, leading with courage and unwavering selflessness.
Medici, on the other hand, was charismatic and overwhelming, burning through his enemies like a living wildfire, dominating every battlefield.
Luna's story was gentler. More compassionate. She soothed, comforted and supported sleepers, guiding them calmly.
But things changed quickly.
Nephis disappeared on a relentless journey, hunting for artifacts of great power, tools that might tip the balance in the war that was coming. Medici began gathering an army of his own, absorbing hunters and pathfinders into his rankssecretly . And Luna… Luna prepared with her Handmaidens, the air around her growing colder and stranger.
That was where the second part of the movie ended.
The film had been divided into three parts. The first was Reflection of the Past, a chapter devoted to showing the characters' old lives, who they were before the Dream Realm twisted them. The second was called Fading Purity, a title that emphasized just how monstrous the Forgotten Shore truly was, and how deeply it had reshaped every soul who stepped upon it.
The audience was divided as well.
Some, mostly girls, were obsessed with Medici and his cold, dominating presence. Young boys and girls alike stared at Nephis with bright admiration, drawn to her strength and the fierce hope she represented. But the majority supported Luna, gazing at her with wide, dazzled eyes as though she was goddess of beauty.
Amon frowned faintly at the sight, then sighed and let his expression soften. Honestly, it wasn't surprising. Luna was the feminine side of the universe, the most beautiful woman in existence. It didn't matter whether she stood on a battlefield drenched in blood or dressed in regal dress. It didn't matter if she smiled gently or tore through the flesh of beasts with her teeth.
Her beauty transcended tradition, morality, and ethics. It was conceptual, really.
She was the origin of all sins, after all.
If Amon was honest, he was starting to get irritated with the movie. First of all, he was treated like some background character. Second, every time he appeared on screen, the audience mocked him. They called him a pipsqueak or some other ridiculous insult.
"Heh, the pipsqueak is at it again."
"Can't he die already? He is so annoying."
"I swear he's useless. He is not doing anything besides being depressed, pessimistic, and an annoying little shrimp."
Amon sighed and leaned back, his headache growing worse from this nonsense.
Medici didn't help. He was pointing at him across the row, laughing so hard his shoulders shook.
Clearly, he was still bitter about the date Amon had 'accidentally' ruined. Judging by the way he kept smirking, he wasn't planning on letting that go anytime soon.
He's cute... That's the thought that appeared in Luna's mind.
Than her expression darkened. And what do you mean depressed and pessimistic? He was the most cheerful person in the Dark City. And shrimp? How dare they! He is at the very least Lil Raven, and he is utterly adorable.
Ugh, how could people not see it? She huffed, shaking her head in irritation, even briefly tempted to use Life's Exploitation to absorb all their lifeforce and reduce them to bones.
"That's funny..." Amon smiled, looking at the actor who was playing his role. From the looks of it, both he and Sunless had been treated as a joke in the beginning.
Sunless was mocked mostly for comedic reasons. He was famous for his catchphrase, which was 'Are you crazy!?'
As for Amon, he was famous for a different reason. Everything that was supposed to go wrong somehow did go wrong the moment he appeared, and the movie made sure to emphasize it. By the looks of it, he even had a catchphrase of his own: 'Just trust.'
That was it. That was what the actor would say right before ruining everything.
"What do you mean funny? They are mocking you." Luna glanced at him in a mix of confusion and anger.
Amon waved his hand dismissively and leaned back. "Relax, it is just a movie. Everyone is having fun, so it is fine. Not to mention…" His smile widened as he took Luna's hands and looked at her with sparkling eyes. "Look, Luna. I am a fraud. Ahhh, what an honor it is to be on fraud watch."
"Haaa? That is not good, dipshit." Medici snorted, enjoying the movie with a satisfied smile.
"May I ask why you think it is good to be a fraud, as you called yourself, Mr. Amon?" Jet asked with a cold, curious smile.
"Well, we will see. Nothing is better than beating allegations." Amon grinned, leaving the others stunned. It was not even surprising at this point, considering how much he seemed to enjoy a movie that completely mischaracterized him and practically butchered his role.
"Oh, Miss Jet, I have a favor to ask if you do not mind. I could have asked Medici, but you are his superior, so I thought it would be better to ask you, since you hold more authority in the government." Amon asked with a polite smile.
"Hmm? I wonder what that is." Jet looked slightly confused but nodded nevertheless.
"Gunlaug, here is your chance. Ask whatever you want." Amon turned to him and gestured calmly.
The man in question stared at Amon with wide, astonished eyes. Gratitude filled his expression. "Thanks, Boss. I will not forget what you did."
"Do not worry about it, buddy." Amon replied in a relaxed tone. He then leaned closer to Aiko and whispered in her ear, "Take notes. He will pay for that. He already owes me a lot."
Aiko nodded with a faint smile as she added another sizable debt beside Gunlaug's name.