Greetings everyone. Do you agree? I'm a 6,000-word demon :) You've just received an information bomb. I'm writing this note to clarify a few things. I've written some of my own in some places and added a few details, but I hope you appreciate it. Also, the voting is still ongoing.
I originally planned a chapter dedicated to Sunny's state after the Third Nightmare, so as not to jump straight to aura farming without proper context. Please be patient—the next chapter will be chosen based on the voting results. Judging by your votes, I'm guessing it will be the Colosseum. Get 5 reviews and 50 Power Stones, and I'll start working on the new chapter immediately.
That's all for now. Enjoy reading :)
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[Dear viewers, you have completed your first viewing.]
[You are granted three questions—who asks them and when is your decision.]
[Alternatively…]
[You may summon someone you know.]
After the episode, the viewers sat in silence, trying to process the overwhelming flood of information.Amid the quiet, Professor Julius stood up hesitantly.
"E-excuse me… I know you're all in shock right now, b-but we need to gather everything we've learned and work together if we're going to find a way out of here."
"I agree with the professor," Daeron supported him. "You all need to put aside your rivalries and conflicts. Violence is forbidden in this theatre anyway—and even your Aspects are sealed."
"And how exactly can we be sure this isn't some trap set by those bastards from Dopplestie? That they won't attack us at any moment?" the Beastmaster protested.
"How dare you?! Maybe it was your mother who lured us here while your people attacked our domain!" Sir Gilead shouted.
Crack...
Unable to bear the tension any longer, Daeron crushed the armrest of his chair and thundered in a commanding tone:
"Enough! You're like children who fail to grasp the danger you're in!If even I—a High Sovereign—have no power here, your pitiful minds should have already realized that neither side is behind this."
The room fell silent. No one dared to argue with the monarch.It felt like a group of children being sternly reprimanded.
When both sides backed down—though the tension lingered—Julius continued, receiving a faint nod from Daeron.
"Th-thank you, Daeron. So, we've learned that the so-called 'Forgotten One' is Saint Sunless—the very person we've all been gathered here to learn about. We discovered that Sunless wields an ancient form of magic tied to a Fate Demon—something confirmed by two people, correct?"
"Absolutely," Noctis replied with a hint of enthusiasm, glancing toward Ananke, who gave an approving nod.
"And, as we all saw, he possesses a Divine Aspect, confirmed by other Aspect holders. We also know one of his abilities allows him to create avatars—and that it is somehow connected to shadows. Have I missed anything?"
No one spoke.Satisfied, Julius went on.
"Alright then, we have three questions to ask—or we can summon someone familiar who might help us better understand what's going on. I suggest we vote and make a collective decision."
The vote concluded: it would be best to use the three questions first, to better understand the situation.
Professor Julius stepped forward once again.
"I suggest our first question be whether everything we've seen on the screen is true. Let's confirm the authenticity."He looked around the room. Hearing no objections, he turned to the screen.
"U-um… dear screen, is everything we've seen—and will see—on the screen real?"
The screen flickered.
[Yes. Everything you have seen—and will see—is true.]
Satisfied, Julius turned back to the room.
"Well, that confirms it. It's all real. Now—who would like to suggest the second question?"
One of the Blood Sisters, Seishan, raised her hand to draw attention.
"Ask about the purpose—why we were brought here, and why it's so important for us to remember the so-called Forgotten One."
With that, the professor turned back to the screen and asked:
"Screen, can you explain the purpose behind us all being brought here? And why it's so important that we remember this person?"
The screen flickered again.
[The Forgotten is awakening. You must remember the one who tore fate apart—so that you may unite… and kill the Forgotten.]
As everyone tried to make sense of those cryptic words, a certain Seer clenched the arms of her chair, fingers digging into the fabric.
"A weapon… a weapon against fate…"
Noticing her tension, Nephis asked gently:
"Kass… what's wrong? Did you realize something?"
"N-no… not now…" Cassie mumbled.
They were interrupted by the professor, now asking about the third and final question.
"What should our third question be? Any suggestions?"Seeing a hand raised, Julius brightened.It was Daeron.
"Ask the core of it all: why was he forgotten? How did he become the Forgotten?"
Intrigued, Julius turned again to the screen.
"Can you tell us why this person was forgotten—and how he became the Forgotten?"
[A lonely shadow, searching for freedom, wandered through a tomb.Having survived himself and been released from death,He gained the chance to break the chains that bound him.Upon reaching the river's mouth and learning the secrets of both gods and demons,He discovered the truth.By destroying himself, he appeared before the Bird—a Bird unloved by both gods and demons—and so she became the one who freed him…and the one who cursed him.]
The viewers sat silently, reflecting on the words.
"A shadow that sought freedom? A tomb? Secrets of gods and demons?"
At the same time, Cassie was gripping the armrests so tightly her fingers turned pale.
"So I did it… but why was he forgotten? What have I done…?"Cassie had always had a dream—no, a goal: to shatter fate.But no matter how many times she tried, it was always in vain.And now, in front of her, was proof of success.She had done it.So… why did it hurt so much?Why were tears streaming down her face?"I should be happy… so why..."
Nephis noticed her condition and understood that the Seer had realized something important.
"Kass, what is it? Did you figure something out?"
But before she could answer, someone cut in coldly:
"Dear sister… am I mistaken, or do you know more than the rest of us?It seems not everyone is on equal footing here.Would you care to share your discovery, Saint Cassia?"Morgana's voice cut through the silence, drawing all eyes to her.
Nephis bit her lip, searching for an excuse, but under the weight of their stares, she gave in.
"In our Third Nightmare… we found ourselves in a tomb where the River of Time flowed.We barely made it out alive. But it seems… he was there with us—or at least, we believe so.After the Nightmare, something happened to our memories.We can't recall certain things."
The expressions of those in the cohort darkened, as realization set in.They had forgotten someone.A comrade.A friend.Maybe even something more.
"But it seems the Song of the Fallen knows more than you're telling us," Jest pressed."I hate Seers. They're like snakes—deceitful snakes."
Nephis looked at Cassie, then back at the group.
"I understand your concern, but… she's not in a state to speak. At least not yet."Nephis gently squeezed Cassie's hand to comfort her.
Saint Jest was about to press further, but Daeron interrupted him.
"This tomb… it's the Tomb of Ariel.I led my people there in an attempt to save them.At the very least, we now know what that place was."
A spell priestess stood to clarify.
"That tomb… I lived in it. You could say it was my home.I still don't understand how your Nightmares work—or how you ended up there.But I remember you, Lady Nephis. We met there, didn't we?"Ananke looked at her with quiet sorrow.
"So… you remember," Nephis said, her features softening into a genuine smile.
"As I said, that tomb was my home.But I've never heard of the river's mouth—at least, not outside of fairy tales.My parents used to tell me that at the river's mouth, there was a well,and if you reached it, you could make a wish—and it would come true.But I never thought it was real."
Julius stood and declared:
"From the third question, we've learned that if the Lonely Shadow is Master Sunless,then he must have entered the Nightmare alongside Lady Nephis's cohort—and something happened there that made everyone forget him."
While the others continued their discussion, Raine simply stared at her shadow and whispered:
"Master… where are you? Were your silly jokes true after all?Forgive your student for doubting you…"
The screen flickered again.
[Dear viewers, the intermission is over.][The next episode begins.][Deal Between Shadow and Seer]
"Finally!" Noctis exclaimed with delight, earning a multitude of stares.
"What? I'm just tired of all your bickering. At last, something interesting to watch! I was stuck in my sanctum, bored out of my mind—and this place? It shows so many fascinating things. What a marvel!"
He spoke while munching on popcorn.
…Strangely enough, when had he even managed to get it?
Just before dawn, Sunny once again found himself in the underground hall—face to face with Cassie.
It was time to show her another memory.
Sunny let out a slow breath.
He stood at the edge of an island. Far below, the shattered remnants of a chain that had once connected to the Northern Island clinked quietly in the wind. In the distance, across a great chasm, the massive anchor chain that had once linked the Shackled Isles to the Hollow Mountains was shrouded in mist.
He wasn't alone.
Beside him stood the Saint, the Serpent, the Nightmare, and the Fiend. The somber, eerie, arrogant, mischievous, and mad shadows lingered on the ground nearby. Only the joyful shadow was missing—off somewhere on its own mission.
Sunny exhaled again and cast a glance over his entourage.
"Saint Cassia, you've met him before, haven't you? And why didn't you tell us anything?" Morgan said threateningly.
Caught off guard, Cassie tried to recall such a meeting — but there was nothing. She didn't remember… and then suddenly, she understood.
"I haven't met him. Just like all of you, I'm seeing him for the first time. I suspect… this is the future."
"Are you sure you're not lying to us? Trying to hide something?" Jest interjected. Ah, those seers… always so hard to trust.
"You're free to believe whatever you want," Cassia replied calmly. "But I have never met this man. And I have reason to think that what we're seeing is the future. As stated in the third question — what is shown to you, and what will be shown, is the truth. That was the answer."
Casting one last glance at Jest, she turned away. Meanwhile…
"Bound Isles," Morgan commented.
"Do you know where that is?" Daeron asked. Morgan, brightening at the chance to speak of her clan's greatness, became animated.
"Yes, it's part of the territory of the great Velor Clan, connected to the Death Zone." Daeron, unruffled, turned his gaze back to the screen.
"I just find it strange that it's located before the Hollow Mountains," noted Jet, the Soul Reaper. "Don't tell me he's planning to cross them?"
"Of course not," Effie chuckled. "Even though he bears a divine aspect, he's not foolish enough to wander into the Death Zone."
He remained silent for a moment, then said with a pale smile:
"The smartest move would be to send one of you into the mist first. See what happens."
None of them reacted… except for the Fiend, who tried to hide behind the Saint to avoid drawing attention.Unfortunately, given his current size, hiding behind the Saint wasn't quite as effective as it used to be.
Sunny chuckled.
"…Luckily for you, no one's ever accused me of being smart."
People had occasionally complimented his wit, but never in an accusatory tone.So technically, the statement held true.
Shaking his head, Sunny commanded the shadows to wrap around his body.Then, he recalled the Shades and turned back to face the yawning chasm once more.
'Well then…'
"Alright, I take it back—he's an idiot," Effie muttered, earning a few chuckles.
"Those shadows are… interesting. Are they echoes?" Seishan observed. No one could blame her—everyone had the same question. Ordinary echoes didn't look like that… and some of these seemed alive.
"Of course they're not ordinary shadows," Noctis remarked. When several people turned to stare at him, he frowned. "What, are you all stupid?"
"Alright, you underdeveloped children," he continued with exasperation. "How could they be normal shadows if they're following an independent shadow?"
Solvane's eyes widened in surprise. "Don't tell me—"
"Exactly. I once knew someone—called himself the Shadow. Grim fellow. He had a few followers too. So tell me—what is a shadow?"
"Stop talking in riddles!" Effie shouted.
"Alright, alright, no need to yell," Noctis said, raising his hands. "A shadow is cast by any being, always adapting and changing to match its master."
"Don't tell me they…" Seishan whispered.
"Exactly! They evolve, growing stronger alongside their master. It wouldn't do for a shadow to fall behind its owner!" Noctis leapt up with a triumphant shout, scattering popcorn all over Solvane's hair. He promptly doubled over as the priestess drove an elbow into his stomach.
Everyone sat stunned by the revelation—realizing just how many shadows he had, and the power they represented. This was something they couldn't ignore.
"With every new move, this guy finds a way to surprise us—and his sense of humor isn't half bad either," Jest laughed.
"At least it's better than yours," someone shot back.
"Oh, look who's talking—the one bound by oaths and devotion, trying to lecture me now," Jest retorted defensively.
A sigh slipped from Gilead's lips as he turned his attention back to the screen.
He had already tried to extend his sense of shadows into the mist, hoping to cross the chasm with a Shadow Step, but he couldn't feel a single shadow on the other side. In fact, he couldn't feel anything at all—as if beyond that veil of fog there was nothing but oblivion.
Perhaps… quite literally.
"Well, let's begin."
Sunny dissolved into the shadows and emerged from them as a raven. Beating his wings, he let out a harsh caw and soared toward the Hollow Mountains.
Leaving behind the distant rumble of chains, he rode the wind above the bottomless abyss of the Sky Below. The white wall of flowing mist loomed ever closer, and Sunny's heart pounded faster andfaster.
"An interesting way to use one's abilities," purred the Beast Mistress. "I can already think of a few ways to apply it. Is that his transcendent skill?"
"I have to agree—it's quite fascinating," Julius replied. "There are plenty of potential uses: reconnaissance, constructing barriers or structures… But it's too early to draw conclusions. We've seen too little of his capabilities."
"Oh… I've got a few ideas myself," Effi said, catching Jett's wary glance. She quickly raised her hands in mock defense. "Just kidding."
'What if I really just… disappear?'
Would that be so bad? After all, he had already been almost erased from existence. Being consumed by nothingness seemed only fitting.
'What the hell… of course it's bad!'
Sunny had no intention of disappearing. He still wanted to live… more than that, he wanted to live more fiercely than ever before.
It was a strange trait of his personality — the fewer reasons he had to live, the stronger his desire to survive became, born purely out of spite. Now that the world had completely and irrevocably rejected him, Sunny had to stay alive, no matter the cost.
Cawing once more, Sunny plunged into the white mist.
"Now that's what I call the will to live," Jet said cheerfully.
"I agree, the next generation doesn't disappoint," Saint-Kor agreed.
And then he suddenly felt… strange.
'Ah…'
What… what was that feeling?
Sunny couldn't quite describe it. Yet it was strong enough to make him fall from the sky.
He crashed onto cold stone and tumbled down the slope in a tangle of limbs. The raven shell shattered, and he returned to his human body once more. The rocks cut painfully into his skin, but Sunny didn't notice — couldn't notice.
'What… the hell… is this…'
It was… it was… it felt like a mental attack, and yet completely different. At the same time, it resembled a spiritual attack, but brought no pain. It also felt like a physical blow, but caused no harm to his body.
The best way Sunny could describe it was this: it suddenly seemed as though he were dreaming. Or rather… that he had been dreaming all along.
As if he were nothing more than a fleeting dream, and his entire life was one long, meaningless nightmare. And therefore…
That none of it was real — and neither was he.
His sense of self slowly dissolved beneath the numb indifference of that obvious realization, as if he were being dragged into a state of utter meaninglessness.
Sunny had never existed, and never would exist.
He…
He…
He did not exist.
And the moment he accepted that fact, his soul began to fade.
"Teacher…" Rain clenched her hands so tightly that her fingers turned white. She was worried — more than she ever thought she could be. He had been by her side for so long, protecting her, guiding her, teaching her… how could she not grow attached to him? Before she could gather her thoughts, a warm hand rested gently on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, child. He'll make it," Ananke said reassuringly. Calming down, Rain turned her attention back to the screen."Don't give up, Teacher."
"Gods, why did that fool have to go in there?" Effie muttered. But who could blame her?
Everyone felt chills running down their spines at the sight before them — it was like watching a man slowly die, without realizing he was dying himself.
Nephis's hands twitched. Not understanding her own reaction, she asked herself:"Do I… want to heal him?"
The atmosphere within the cohort was grim. They all understood that their supposed friend was slowly dying before their eyes. Why had he gone there? What was he hoping to achieve in the Burning Mountains?
Each of them had their own questions.
As soon as he acknowledged that fact, his soul began to fade.
His body also started to lose strength.
His thoughts grew slower.
"That's right."
Sunny smiled weakly.
"To arise from nothing. To return to nothing."
He felt the mist flowing around him.
Through him.
Was his body becoming transparent? If so… that was fine. That was how it should be.
Except…
"If I don't exist, if I'm not real… then why does it hurt so much — to never exist?"
Once, he had already experienced being erased from existence. That pain would have been meaningless if he had never existed at all… so the very fact that it hurt so much was a contradiction.
If he were no one, he wouldn't feel anything. But he did feel something — and that meant he had to be someone.
Pain blossomed in his heart like a flower.
And with it, his Transcendent soul ignited with a beautiful radiance — the flame of divinity.
Tenacious blood coursed through his body, filling him with strength.
His mind burned with desire.
The desire to exist.
"It hurts, therefore I exist… wait, what? What nonsense am I even saying?!"
Sunny groaned and focused his formidable mind on a single thought:
"I am!"
He was not nothing.
He was not no one.
He was Sunless — once known, or rather unknown, as the ***************. He was the Devil of Antarctica. Once, he had been the *************, but no longer. He had even been the Lord Mongrel, though he wished otherwise.
He was… Sunny.
"Yeah, that's right! Don't give up — you have to live! Even if you're an idiot!" Effie shouted in support.
All the spectators felt a surge of emotion as they watched Sunny's struggle — his unwavering will to survive. Cries of encouragement echoed through the hall; even those who had been indifferent before could not remain unmoved.
"That's how a shadow should be! Excellent, excellent!" Noctis shouted. "I wonder… could we have become friends?" he mused.
It took all of his focus not to let that thought dissolve into the mist.
Once he managed to prove his own existence, the pressure of nonbeing didn't disappear, nor did its pull weaken. Sunny had to keep concentrating on the fact that he was, is, and will be — without pause. If he were to lose focus on that burning thought for even a few moments, both his soul and body would surely dissolve into flowing mist.
"Damn… it…"
Grimacing, he slowly rose from the cold stone and stared into the white nothingness surrounding him with a dark expression.
"Ah. How insidious."
This… was not going to be easy.
Muttering quiet curses, Sunny brushed the dust off himself and looked around.
He couldn't see anything — the mist muffled all his senses. He didn't even know which direction he should go.
However, determining where north was wasn't too difficult.
All he had to do was pay attention to the ground.
The ground beneath his feet had a certain slope… going down would mean returning to the Shackled Isles, while climbing upward would lead him deeper into the Hollow Mountains.
He rubbed his face, sighed, and began ascending the slope.
"Yeah, that fool actually made it!" Effie shouted. All the spectators cheered — their tense expressions softened, and the suffocating pressure finally eased.
"What incredible will to live!"
"Now that's what I call surviving out of sheer spite — truly praiseworthy!"
Rain, on the other hand, was nearly bursting with joy.
"You stupid teacher, you're not allowed to die! Even if I sometimes wish you would… but you have to come back and give your student a few memories! Renting a shadow isn't cheap these days!"
While everyone was celebrating, the humble professor quietly stood up.
"The place we just saw is without a doubt the Hollow Mountains," Julius said, "but one question remains — why is he crossing them?"
Silence fell as everyone tried to find a logical answer. Yet the cohort shared the same uneasy thought:
"Could he be heading toward the Forgotten Shore? But why?"
Of course, no one dared to say it out loud.
"These symbols trouble me as well," Daeron said thoughtfully. "Does anyone know what they mean?"
"I suspect it's a form of censorship — something preventing us from learning certain information. Some things are too dangerous for humans; even knowing about them could corrupt a person," Cassie explained calmly.
Finding no flaw in her reasoning, the others fell silent, each lost in thought — wondering what those symbols could possibly mean.
"Damn it."
This was going to be exhausting.
He had been walking for several hours, feeling more and more drained. Just a day ago, he had been flying across the Shackled Isles — unstoppable and full of strength… but now, even taking a single step felt like an unbearable burden.
Still, Sunny suspected that, gradually… very slowly… he would grow used to the pressure of nonbeing. If he had been just an ordinary Sleeper, he would have long since faded from existence. But the soul of a Transcendent was far broader and stronger than that of a Sleeper.
Moreover, such a soul was fundamentally different from the souls of Sleepers, Awakened, or Masters. The soul of a Saint was bound to the world itself — and to erase it, nonexistence would have to erase all those connections as well.
That was why Sunny was able to keep fighting to continue existing within the mist.
Over the next few days, he made almost no progress. Sunny didn't dare to move recklessly here, in the Hollow Mountains — especially without knowing what horrors might be lurking within the fog. So, he tried not to draw attention to himself and simply walked, step by step, like an ordinary man.
The slope beneath his feet grew steeper, and the surroundings grew colder. If these were normal mountains, snow would have already covered the ground. But in this eerie place, the hidden expanses of the black mountain remained barren, with only mist flowing over their surface.
Sunny decided that soon he would have to begin a real climb, scaling the towering rocks. Otherwise, he would need to circle around the steepest slopes to find easier paths. The mist concealed everything — no ruins, no signs that living beings had ever been here. No sounds, no traces of danger. Even so, Sunny remained as alert as possible. He didn't believe for a second that no abominations hid within the fog — after all, if he could resist the pull of nonbeing, then far more powerful Nightmare Creatures could as well.
And then, there were the others… those who had been born from the mist.
"That's a pretty creepy place… I still don't understand why he would go there," Effie added.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Over time, he became better at keeping himself from disappearing. It still placed a constant strain on his mind, but at least Sunny no longer swayed like a drunk while walking. Moreover, he could now pay more attention to his surroundings, which was a relief.
He delved deeper into the mountains, left only with his thoughts.
Of course, most of the time, he thought about trivial matters.
Sunny didn't know how Cormac had managed to endure the treacherous mist — perhaps the same way he did, with sheer will, or perhaps with some artifact forged by the King of Swords.
However, he concluded that some people handled this task better than others.
And, strangely enough, Sunny was one of those people.
There were several reasons why he could survive the white mist of the Hollow Mountains better than most.
The first reason was very simple — his Transcendent Ability, Shadow Incarnation. To resist the pull of nonbeing, one had to constantly affirm one's existence, which, among other things, meant that sleep was not an option. To succumb to sleep, even for a few moments, would mean death… and even Saints needed rest from time to time.
Sunny, however, could delegate rest to his absent incarnation. In addition, his avatar could don the Puppeteer's Shroud — he had transferred the [Blessing of the Spirit] enchantment from the Shroud of the Forsaken Twilight into the weave of this armor, which enhanced his ability to endure and recover from mental fatigue.
Cormac did not possess such an ability, which was why his expeditions into the Hollow Mountains never lasted longer than a month or two. Sunny, thanks to his avatar, could theoretically remain there indefinitely.
The second reason was that he had extensive experience maintaining his sense of self through the Dance of Shadows. Sunny had spent years striving not to lose himself in the forms and shapes of the beings he copied, so resisting the terrifying pull of nonbeing was, in a sense, not entirely new to him.
"So, his avatars are part of his Transcendent Ability, but what exactly is the Dance of Shadows?" Daeron wondered aloud.
"Maybe it's his martial art? But I don't understand what it means to 'not lose oneself in the forms of the beings he copies.' I've never heard of such an ability or art before," Julius remarked.
"Well, of course — he is a shadow!" Everyone gave the wizard in the robe a strange look.
"Ba, I did tell you, shadows have the property of changing, of adapting. Honestly, I feel like a wise old man…" Noctis murmured the last part quietly so no one could hear. But on Solvein's lips played a smirk.
Everyone was stunned by the versatility of his abilities. Of course, they had never seen him in combat, but if he could kill great Nightmare Beasts, he would be no less dangerous in battle.
"So, his Transcendent Ability allows him to create avatars that are not limited by distance, and also the ability to assume the forms of beings he copies — it's unclear whether this applies to Sleepers, Awakened, or Ascended, rank" the professor concluded.
"A man full of surprises," Mordred's voice chimed in. Almost everyone had forgotten he was there; it was strange that he had remained silent all this time. "I wonder… have i ever met him before?" he pondered.
Receiving several disdainful glances, Mordred raised his hands in defense and fell silent.
Catching his breath — metaphorically speaking — Sunny sighed and continued on his path. However, this time he took additional precautions. He closed his eyes and moved forward, relying only on his dulled sense of shadows, sticking to them wherever he could.
Nonbeing was oppressive.
Yet, at the same time… it was strangely healing.
Sunny suffered from the loss of destiny. It hurt him that no one remembered him, but here, ironically, his entire life depended on whether he could remember himself — and do so fiercely.
If no one else could affirm his existence, he had to do it himself.
And the more Sunny asserted his existence, the duller his pain became.
"What a perverse situation."
Cautiously making his way through the mist, Sunny gave a crooked smile.
"To be forgotten by everyone... I can't even imagine what it must be like," Ananke said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"I wonder what he did to deserve this?" the professor mused.
At these words, Cassie's chest tightened and her breathing quickened. She realized—it was her. She had done this to him... because of her, everyone had forgotten about him, and all because of that damned weapon...
Nefys squeezed Cassie's hand reassuringly, noticing her state. She didn't know what was going on in the seer's head, but she was deeply worried. Everyone had been worried about Cassie for the past four years, but ever since she came to this theater, she had begun acting strangely.
"I'm your long-lost brother..." the teacher's joke repeated itself over and over in Raine's mind. "Is it really true?..."
Everyone wondered: "What does it feel like to be forgotten by everyone?" — and came to the same conclusion: it's terrible to be forgotten by family, friends, comrades, even loved ones.
…Of course, here in the Hollow Mountains, it wasn't all battles. Most of the time, Sunny spent hiding and sneaking between the jagged peaks. He was tense and on edge most of the time, but occasionally he grew very bored.
There were times when he had to hide for long stretches in a cave or disappear into the dark embrace of shadows, waiting for the danger to pass. Sunny kept himself occupied by working on a project he had started in Ariel's Tomb — trying to turn the Greedy Chest into an Echo.
He progressed steadily, slowly learning how to transform this particular Memory into a vessel for the Shadow of the Sardonic Mimic. Now that Sunny had lost the aid of the Nightmare Spell, he wasn't sure he would succeed at all… but he wanted to try anyway, knowing that he wouldn't have any new Echoes for the same reason.
"Turn an Echo into a Shadow? He can do that too? Will they look like those strange Echoes?" Morgan asked.
"Doesn't it bother you that even the Nightmare Spell seems to have forgotten him? Hello? According to him, he isn't bound to it," Effie pointed out. Her words only raised more questions.
"So, he's cut off from the Path of Power? Could he challenge the Nightmare?" the Holy Kor wondered.
"Why not?" Daeron objected. Everyone puzzled turned their heads toward him, trying to understand what he meant. With a quiet sigh, he spoke.
"I still don't fully understand how this Nightmare Spell works, and yet in my time, it didn't exist. People found ways to rise through the ranks on their own; even Aspect abilities were discovered independently. And I repeat — why shouldn't he be able to do the same?"
"I support Sir Daeron. I, too, ascended without the aid of the spell," Ananke added.
The spectators pondered this: ascending without the spell? Without a seed of the Nightmare? This was a new concept for the people of Yavi.
Nephis, however, felt enlightened. She had long been searching for a way to ascend to supremacy through her own efforts, knowing that no clan would allow another monarch to rise. All the Category 4 seeds were carefully hidden — and now she had proof that it was possible.
Tattered and exhausted, suffering from pain all over his body, Sunny slowly learned to fight and act without the Nightmare Spell.
Tired of working solely on turning the Greedy Chest into an Echo, he tried to imagine a Memory that could replace some of the core functions of the Spell — particularly those related to presenting information in an easily digestible form.
Weaving such a Memory wasn't particularly difficult, but its creation required a creative approach. After all, the source of the information would not be the Nightmare Spell, but Sunny himself — which meant he needed to find a way to automatically convert what he knew or perceived into runes. It was an interesting challenge.
In addition, he tried to learn how to enter his Soul Sea. Some of the things he had learned with the aid of the Nightmare Spell remained with him as muscle memory — for example, actions for moving between realms and establishing tethers to a realm.
But certain things, like visiting the Soul Sea itself, had disappeared entirely. So he had to relearn them from scratch.
The ancient inhabitants of the Dream Realm had been able to enter their Soul Seas long before the creation of the Nightmare Spell, so there was no reason he couldn't do the same. In fact, there probably had never been a Transcendent who didn't know the way to their Soul Sea, which made Sunny feel a little ashamed of himself.
It was simply difficult to find the path without a teacher.
Nevertheless, in the end, he succeeded… although it took him just over a year.
"He couldn't enter his Soul Sea?" Effie asked, voicing the question on everyone's mind.
"Who could blame him? Visiting the Soul Sea is a common ability, gained after awakening with the spell," Jet remarked. "And as you know, he's even cut off from the spell itself."
"I wonder what his Soul Sea looks like," the Beastmaster mused.
And as if answering her question, the screen shifted. Before them unfolded a horrifying sight.
Darkness shrouded everything. Six dark suns hung in the black sky. A vast legion of silent shadows — of all kinds, from humans to colossal beasts — filled his soul, as if waiting for their master's command. Sunless smiled.
"Ah, finally."
At that moment, Cassie's eyes widened as she realized she was standing next to the Shadowlord. The memory abruptly ended, and she looked at the shopkeeper in a new light — for she was about to process an enormous amount of information.
And with that, the screen went dark, signaling the end of the viewing.
"Alright, that was ominous," Effie muttered, and no one even corrected her — Why? because everyone agreed.
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I worked really hard on this chapter, took your advice into account, and made a few conclusions: I started putting dialogue in quotation marks and bolding text on the screen. I hope it's easier to read now.
I hope my writing has improved—I spent about six hours on this chapter. :(
Finally: do you want the chapters to be
shorter and more frequent
or longer and less frequent?