Soon enough, both of them were where they were supposed to be. Professor Julius' classroom. Today, it was going to be a lesson regarding swimming. It was a much needed lesson for Sunny, however Caster had no use for it. He was a really good swimmer after all. But under the pretense of a 'revision' he attended the lesson regardless.
My true motive is to build a natural connection with Sunny. It would be much easier for him to trust me in the forgotten shore this way.
After a few hours of training, it was time for self-practice.
The two sleepers continued training in silence, almost awkward. However, Caster noticed Sunny perform with wrong form. Moving over to him, quietly but not quiet enough to go unnoticed by Sunny, he calmy gave him advice.
"I've noticed your hips sink, Sunny. Letting the hips and legs drop, increases the drag by water. Keep your head in line with your spine, look straight down, and engage your core to stay level on the water. Looking forward while swimming can cause your hips to sink. Which is why i said to look straight down earlier... or you can maintain a neutral spine and horizontal body position. Works the same way."
Sunny, surprised by the advice, but chose to trust the fellow sleeper in this and follow the advice. Unexpectedly, it almost immediately showed results. He was seemingly happy with that, proud even.
"Uh... thanks?"
"No problems, just get better at this okay?"
Hearing that, Sunny felt irked. He gazed at Caster, his gaze filled with questions.
"What? Do you not have something to say?"
Sunny shook his head.
"No... I do."
Tilting his head sideways, Caster waited for Sunny to ask the question. There's no frustration, just a stillness charged with silent anticipation. Time moves slowly, but he doesn't mind, or well, at least he tried not to show it. The reply will come when it comes.
Or will it? This is Sunny after all.
Seemingly noticing Caster's anticipation, or perhaps just simply continuing this statement earlier, Sunny spoke up. His voice hesitant, almost as if he didn't want to ask the question. As if he was embarrassed by the question.
"Why are you helping me?"
They were just five words, but it felt as if Sunny had gotten too vulnerable with a stranger. Or at least that's what Caster imagine Sunny to be feeling. As a reader, he knew too much about Sunny, which if Sunny found out, he might just break the fourth wall and kill guilty three and Caster himself.
"I just... I don't want you to die."
The reply seemed to have caught Sunny off guard.
Easy to read, aren't you Sunny?
"But why do you want me to live?"
Why? That's a great question, Sunny. Is it because I just like Sunny? Or is it because he is necessary for the future of humanity and hence, necessary for my survival? No... no it's nothing that deep.
Caster hesitated. He had a lot to say, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to say it. Or if Sunny was ready to hear it. None-the-less he overcame his fear and opened up. Sunny felt both the closest person to him and the most 'stranger' a person has ever felt to him perhaps due to the fourth wall's influence. He still didn't know how the ability works.
After a slight pause, Caster continued.
"Because i want to. Not some noble will, but something closer to a whim. I can see that you've suffered, probably more than i can imagine. And i bet your suffering won't just end now. Perhaps you will be tortured with things many times more excruciating than what you have previously went through, perhaps you will become a history defining gem. Who knows? But what i know is that i don't want the child in front of me to die, because that would be a cruel end to someone that has suffered their entire life."
Sunny blinked in doubt.
"That sounds... rather contradicting."
Caster slowly tilted his head towards the right.
"How so?"
Without missing a beat Sunny instantly began speaking.
"You say its a whim, but you also say that you can imagine what I've been through. You say it's not a noble will but then say that dying would be a cruel end for someone like me. If that is not contradicting, then what is?"
Caster was surprised. He hadn't seen his thoughts that way. Perhaps it was contradictory of him, perhaps even hypocritical. Yet he still stood by his thoughts.
"I understand, i won't argue with that. But just, just don't die on me. Okay? I want you to get back from the dream realm like a warrior."
"But, why? What is it to you? It just seems stupid to invest so much of your precious time over someone else who has no relation to you. You must have your own preparations for the dream realm."
Oh Sunny, creating a connection to you is a very important preparation for the dream realm. Let me give you some advice though.
"I am already as ready as I can be for the Dream Realm. Now i just want to relax and keep my mind calm. There is no point in having strength if you are not calm enough to exercise it. Combat training is necessary to not lose your touch, and physical training is necessary to not lose your overall capabilities and maintaining your mentality. But the time we spend doing simpler things... they matter the most. If I act like the human I strive to be, I will have a better command over my mental state. And this... is perhaps even more important than a dozen soul shards to empower my body."
Sunny, however, was calmly listening. He seemed to take Caster's words seriously and apply to himself.
At least that's what i hope. I didn't act this way so much, only for him to not learn. Sigh, he very well might not learn, he's rather bratty right now.
Caster again continued.
"Mastery over body is necessary. But mastery over mind is the most important part. Do not forget that."
With that Caster turned away, letting Sunny have a chance to think back on the things he said, and hopefully improve in the direction he wants Sunny too. He continued swimming, enjoying the sensation of water softly hitting his light, smooth skin.
I wonder how long until I'll begin to hate water, I'm going to the forgotten shore after all... I wonder where I will be put down. Maybe near the dark city where the previous Caster was likely sent to? In the novel I mean. Hopefully not in the labyrinth. That would suck. I'd rather try sneaking past fallen creatures than be subjected to trauma by the great titan, gigantic black sea that's trying to eat you every day and is filled with corrupted nightmare creatures. Actually, I don't remember if there's corrupted abominations in the dark city... That's not good. If only i reread shadow slave!
Eventually, Sunny got back to practice as well, and the long awkward silence continued despite all of Caster's efforts to get closer.
Sigh, it will take time i suppose. Sunny is not the easiest to befriend. But i suppose I've gained some trust.