[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
Sunny stared at the message for a long time.
'My… my Aspect can evolve?'
Sunny began shivering in excitement.
'R-Really? A Divine Aspect can really evolve even further?'
Wasn't something like this a little too insane?
'Then again… I killed a Divine Titan as an Ascended? I think that's deserved? Maybe?'
"Y-"
Sunny's voice cracked.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself.
"Yes."
[Divine Aspect Shadow Slave is evolving…]
Sunny stood there, waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting…
He did not know how long he waited, but time worked strangely here, so he didn't worry too much.
[Your Aspect has evolved.]
Sunny jumped up.
'Oh… oh my gods… it really evolved!'
[Aspect rank: Divine]
'Aw… not unknown or something? Well, that's to be expected.'
[Aspect name: Shadebringer.]
Sunny sucked in a breath.
'Shadebringer…'
Sunny felt his very being change ever-so-slightly, like something he had been waiting a long, long time for had finally returned.
'Is this… Is this the next step for Divine Shadows? Shadebringer?'
He couldn't help but remember the name of Nephis' Aspect, Lightbringer.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Sunny looked at the runes.
Aspect: [Shadebringer.]
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Description: [You are a miraculous shadow left behind by a dead god. As a divine shadow, you possess plenty of strange and wondrous powers. And as a bringer of death and slayer of the divine, you are your own master.]
Sunny felt his heart stop.
"I'm… I'm…"
He read the runes again.
"I'm my own master?"
He felt his knees weaken and buckle, had he been standing instead floating, he'd have fallen over.
Sunny couldn't help but laugh.
"It's… It's a little late, don't you think?"
Everything he had done. Everything he had experienced. Everyone he had killed. Everyone he had left behind. It had all led to this moment.
He had finally overcome the chains of his own Aspect.
Sunny couldn't help but laugh. He couldn't help but cry. He mourned what could've been, had he simply waited in the old world. Would his Aspect have ever evolved again had he not lost his fate?
He had lost everyone in an attempt to break the chains, only to find the chains breaking themselves one day.
'Hah… hahah…'
It was hilarious. It was tragic.
Sunny did not know how long he spent laughing.
After a long, long time, he calmed down.
'This is a good thing.'
Of course it was a good thing. But sometimes good things came a little late.
…Far too late, really.
'Now… What has become of the Bond then?'
Focusing on the runes, Sunny looked at his Innate Ability.
Innate Ability: [All Roads Lead to Shadow].
Ability Description: [As a bringer of death, peace comes to those around you, whether they want it or not. All those who die around you will be welcomed by you, swallowed by you, and find peace within you.]
Sunny swallowed hard.
'I… I can't believe it's truly gone.'
His new ability was decent, but he didn't exactly have a use for it. From his instinctual understanding of his Aspect, this meant that everything that died in the range of his shadow sense would have their shadows enter his Soul Sea. Only he couldn't use the silent shadows yet.
'One day…'
Sunny heaved a deep sigh.
'Now what?'
He had already accepted in his heart that he would never see Changing Star again, but… this felt like it was truly the last time. The very last trace of her existence to him was severed.
'So long…'
Sunny steeled his gaze.
This was his path. He never meant to end up here, but that didn't mean he would stop.
'My Aspect evolved? Good. I can kill some more then.'
Checking the rest of his abilities, none of them seemed to have changed, only slightly increasing in potency.
Sunny shook his head.
'Kill kill kill, that's just all I do, isn't it…'
Sunny sighed.
'Ah… I should really pick up a new hob-'
…But the Spell was not done.
[All power comes at a price.]
Sunny's eyes widened.
[You have received a Flaw.]
Sunny stared. Again.
He stared blankly.
'Wha...'
Sunny rubbed his eyes and looked at it again.
'What?'
And again.
"Spell… please tell me this is a prank?"
The Spell was silent.
Sunny sighed.
"Hey, it's been a really long day, okay? Get this shit out of my sight."
Nothing.
"I'm serious."
[Your Flaw is: –]
"Shut up!"
With a sweep of his hands, Sunny dismissed the runes.
"Come on! Seriously?"
Sunny would've slammed his fist against the wall if there were one.
"Another Flaw?! Another Flaw?! How is that even possible you stupid fu-"
Sunny uttered a continuous litany of curses to no one in particular.
[Your Flaw is: —]
Sunny dismissed the runes again.
"Stop. Just stop."
[Yo-]
"Please…"
Sunny continued to dismiss the message, and the Spell continued to show it again and again.
Eventually, he had to accept reality.
"No…"
The runes silently hovered before him.
[Your Flaw is: Mercy]
Flaw Description: [You cannot kill beings weaker than yourself.]
Sunny read it and refused to believe what he was seeing was real.
'This… This can't be...'
The only reason he wasn't freaking out completely was because, well… it could've been worse. He could've gotten a Flaw that prevented him from killing entirely. That would've ended him.
But looking at his runes, Sunny simply couldn't believe the world would mock him in such a manner.
Flaws: [Clear Conscience], [Mercy].
'Flaws… Flaws… Flaws…'
People had flaws, yes. But Flaws? People only had one of those!
Sunny grasped his face.
'Two Flaws… I…'
Sunny sighed again.
'Whatever. Whatever. Whatever whatever whatever.'
He really felt like hitting something.
[Wake up. —!]
[Your nightmare is over!]
***
In a dark underground chamber, a metal sarcophagus stood shrouded in silence. Darkness shrouded the room, untouched by any light.
Until now.
Suddenly, the sarcophagus came to life, and a scattering of lights ignited on its surface. The pod lid slowly began whirring open, cold vapor escaping through the tiny cra-
BANG!
With a single blow, the lid was sent flying. The force of it was so terrible the lid struck the roof and embedded itself into it.
'Could you open any goddamn slower?'
Sunny climbed out, an angry look on his face.
He was frustrated. Rightfully so.
Who the hell had two Flaws? He didn't even know it was possible!
Sunny tried his best to calm himself as he summoned the Puppeteer's Shroud over himself.
'Calm… calm yourself.'
With expert self-control, Sunny did his best to calm himself.
'Remember why you left the Nightmare in such a hurry… something happened with Nephis.'
Sunny did his best to cope with his frustration as he heard panicked voices coming from upstairs, putting on a small smile.
'The law of imperfection is that Flaws make us stronger, right? Surely having two Flaws will help me grow stronger? Right?'
Sunny had a hard time believing his own words.
"Sunny?!"
A voice echoed from the top of the stairs, one he hadn't heard in a decent while now.
"Jet."
Sunny wiped the frustrated look off his face.
Behind her, another figure emerged.
"Sunny… you're back."
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"Seishan? What are you doing here?"
Just as Seishan was about to answer, Sunny shook his head.
"Nevermind. Jet, where's Nephis?"
"Oh, actually, Thrain-"
"Forget it. We'll talk later."
Sinking into the shadows, Sunny vanished.
***
"Wha…"
Jet and Seishan stared in stunned silence.
"What was that?"
Jet turned to Seishan.
"How the hell would I know?"
Descending into the basement, Jet observed the damage.
'Could be worse…'
The sleeping pod itself had not been damaged, only the lid had been annihilated.
The two women looked up at the same time.
"Damn…"
"Goodness…"
Despite the roof being made from reinforced alloy plates, the lid had slammed into it so hard that the bent metal had been mangled together.
Jet and Seishan looked at each other.
Although neither of them had said it, just now…
Even though Sunny was smiling, he had looked quite terrifying.
***
Stepping straight into the gloomy shadow, Sunny felt a large amount of his essence reserves vanish in an instant.
'...Not as much as I thought it'd take.'
One of the boons of him now being a Shadebringer, no doubt.
Sunny temporarily remained in the shadows, not wanting to suddenly barge in without knowing the situation.
Immediately, he felt someone sit up slightly. Solvane had noticed him almost immediately.
'Calm down, it's just me.'
Sunny felt her relax a moment later, nodding at his return. He could feel the fact she was curious about what happened to her fellow Shadow, but that would have to wait.
Surveying the room, Sunny noticed two things.
Nephis was currently sleeping, and Thrain was hunched over a desk looking extremely stressed.
'Where's Calida?'
Glancing at the window, Sunny also realised it was the evening.
'Why is Nephis asleep? It's not that late yet...'
Seeing that there was no need for caution, Sunny emerged from the shadows, speaking in a low voice.
"Thrain."
Thrain jolted immediately, jumping up and summoning a weapon.
Despite his panicked response, he managed not to shout, no doubt in fear of waking up Nephis.
In a low voice, the man responded:
"Sunless, you are back. Thank… Thank God…"
Thrain looked far, far older than usual. Sunny realised that Thrain was most likely far older than he thought he was, being from the same generation as Calida and Immortal Flame.
'He's old enough to be my grandfather…'
"What happened?"
Sunny took a seat next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder to help calm him down.
"Sunless, I-... I failed. I failed to protect her."
"...What?"
Now, Sunny was panicking slightly.
"What happened?"
Small tears began to emerge from the corners of the old man's eyes.
"Earlier today… one of our vehicles was hit on a short trip."
"And? Were any of you injured?"
Thrain nodded mournfully.
"Yes… I… I should've been in that PTV. It was supposed to be me… supposed to be…"
Placing a hand on both of shoulders, Sunny looked him in the eye.
"Thrain, calm down. What happened?"
Thrain choked on his words slightly.
"Calida… Calida was in it, Sunless."
Sunny's eyes widened.
"Calida? Is she injured?"
Thrain looked at him with hurt.
"No, Sunless. She's dead."
***
Sunny stared at Thrain, dumbfounded.
"...What?"
Calida was dead? The clan leader?
Nephis' grandmother was gone?
Sunny's previous pain and anger vanished.
He looked over to the sleeping Nephis, realising that her cheeks were puffy and the area around her eyes were red.
'She… she's been crying.'
"The crash was… the crash caused our vehicle to explode, and she died before they could reach the hospital. None of our healers could make it either."
Sunny slowly removed his hands from Thrain's shoulders.
"No…"
Calida was not supposed to die until another nine years from now.
She was supposed to teach Nephis, to mold her into the fearsome warrior she would one day become.
She was supposed to lead the Immortal Flame Clan, to prevent it from fading until the day Nephis awakened.
She was… she was dead?
An image of the stern old woman flashed in his head.
"This… I… I'm sorry."
Thrain's shoulders shook.
"It's alright. Everyone… Everyone I once knew is gone now. This is nothing new."
Sunny shook his head.
"No, no… I should've… I should've been here. I was too slow."
Thrain placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't blame yourself, Sunless. We've lived our entire lives knowing something like this could happen. Calida was not your responsibility."
Thrain's grip tightened.
"You are… you are not to blame."
Sunny said nothing.
What Thrain didn't know was… it was his fault, in a way. If he hadn't meddled. If he had never returned. If he had left them be. Everything would've been…
'But would it?'
Everything was not fine. The Immortal Flame Clan was going to die either way. Now, for whatever reason, it was speeding up.
'Nephis… I failed you.'
He had wanted to prevent her tragic upbringing. He had wanted to spare her family from the cruelty of the Great Clans.
He had failed. In his pursuit of power, he had left them behind for two months.
And now, the Immortal Flame was paying the price for it.
Sunny had returned stronger than ever. His Aspect had evolved, he had several new Memories, a new attribute!
But he had failed before he could even try.
"This is the end of the Immortal Flame Clan."
Sunny's eyes widened at Thrain's word.
"But-"
"Sunless. You more than anyone else should know. Calida was the one holding us all together, and now she's gone. It's over for us. Either we split now or die one by one."
Sunny felt lost.
"But what about you? What about Nephis? Valor won't…"
Thrain shook his head.
"Don't worry about me. I… I've lived long enough, Sunless. Everyone I've loved is already gone. If I died today, my only regret would be leaving Nephis behind. As long as Nephis remains, the Immortal Flame will never die."
Sunny turned to Nephis. Although she tried to hide it, Sunny could tell she was awake.
"Then… then what are you going to do? Just abandon everything and run?"
"Thats right. It was worth trying, but without our head, we are just a bunch of fools sticking together for no reason."
Sunny turned back to him.
"Then… What about Nephis?"
Thrain gritted his teeth, then sighed.
"I was with her, you know. When she died."
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"Calida?"
Thrain nodded.
"Although she was unconscious, my Aspect allows me to speak with the mind directly. She left her will with me. She… she asked me to leave Nephis with you."
Sunny froze.
"...What?"
"She said she couldn't trust anyone else with the task but you."
Sunny stared at him in horror.
"Me? Why?"
Thrain let out a pained laugh.
"I don't know either. It hurt, you know? She didn't even consider me for the task… but I guess she was dying. There was no time to worry about hurting my feelings. She said that as long as you returned within a week, that was enough. And to think you returned not even the next day. I… I guess she was right, huh?"
Sunny remained silent.
Him? Take care of Nephis? Was Calida mad? Him? Nobody had ever taken care of him before, how was he supposed to know how to take care of someone else? Even back in his previous life, he had left taking care of his own sister to her new adopted parents.
"But won't they come for me too? This is… this…"
It wasn't just him he had to worry about. Jet lived with him as well. Jet could take care of herself, but…
"Thats for you to figure out, isn't it? If Calida is trusting you over me… then you must know what to do."
Sunny could hear traces of resentment in Thrain's voice.
No, not hear… he could feel it. From his shadow? He ignored it for now.
"I… I don't know."
"Sunless. Can you do it?"
Sunny's mouth hung open.
"Of course I can. I am quite resourceful, you kno-"
"Will you? Will you do it then?"
Sunny's words died upon his lips.
Solvane turned her head slightly as she felt Nephis shift in her bed, turning her head towards the conversation.
Thinking deeply, Sunny remembered what Hope had said to him in the final dream.
"That girl, Nephis. You must take care of her."
'Of course… of course Hope knew. No doubt she saw much more from the dream than I did.'
So why was he hesitating? There was never even a reason to in the first place.
"I will. I promise you, as long as I am alive, no harm will come to her."
Thrain nodded, gripping his shoulder.
"Then do well not to die, Sunless."
He handed Sunny a letter.
"What's this?"
"It's for Nephis, from Calida. Give it to her when she becomes an adult."
Sunny nodded.
"Okay."
Thrain then stood up and began grabbing several things from the desk.
"What are you doing now?"
"Leaving."
Sunny blinked.
"Already?"
"Yes. You are here now, so my work is finished. I'd give you the paperwork that would make you Nephis' guardian, but once our clan vanishes, Valor will probably erase her name from history. There's… there's no point anymore."
Having already finished packing his meager belongings, Thrain bowed slightly to Sunny.
"Farewell, Sunless. I wish you and Nephis well."
Sunny nodded dumbly, feeling as if he were still in a nightmare.
Just as Thrain was about to leave, he turned to Sunny.
"One last thing."
"...What?"
Thrain pointed to his head.
"My Aspect allows me to manipulate minds and information. I'm going to use it to erase my memory of you."
"Wha…"
Thrain took one last mournful look at Nephis before turning back to him.
"That will be all. I… I hope we never meet again, Sunless."
The door shut silently and Sunny felt Thrain leave with brisk steps, going to a PTV outside already on standby mode.
Through his shadow sense, Sunny belatedly realised that the house was empty, people and belongings alike completely gone. A small mark on the door in front indicated that the house had already been sold.
Sunny blinked and then stared at the floor.
"...Gods"
Through his shadow sense, he felt a single tear fall from Nephis' face.
"..."
All the pain, all the hardship he had been through in the past two months vanished from his mind.
His pain meant little. Nephis mattered more right now.
Standing up, Sunny made his way over to her, sitting down on the side of her bed.
The two of them said nothing as Nephis continued to pretend to be asleep.
The gloomy shadow that lay under her bed stared at him nervously for a moment before it slid out from the darkness to rejoin its master.
Sunny glanced at Solvane who had remained uncharacterestically silent. She was looking at him curiously now.
Not in the mood to deal with her, he dismissed her.
'...You did your job just fine, so I won't blame you.'
He had only tasked Solvane with protecting Nephis; he had never mentioned Calida or Thrain to her.
Sunny reached a hand over to Nephis, brushing her hair aside and wiping the tears from her face. Looking around, Sunny saw what little belongings she had.
Clothes, a pair of old school headphones, an educational communicator…
Sunny felt a pang of guilt at the sight of it.
Eventually, he began to softly hum.
Sunny wasn't a proficient singer by any means, but he could never forget the melody to the song Hope had sung to him. Bringing the Dreamcatcher out of his soul, he kept it nearby as he continued to hum softly to the best of his ability.
After a while, Nephis fell asleep.
'Sweet dreams.'
Placing her belongings into the Covetous Coffer, Sunny silently waited until nightfall before picking up the sleeping girl and leaving, placing her on his back as he covered her with a shroud of darkness.
In the cover of the night, he steadily walked home.
Step… Step… Step…
Avoiding the street lights, Sunny made his way across roads and streets, making sure nothing stirred Nephis from her sleep.
The night was silent, with not a sound to disturb them.
Step… Step… Step…
Eventually though, a figure barred his path.
"How curious… to think they'd leave her with you."
The last person he ever wanted to see stood before him.
Asterion.
Sunny stared at him with an unchanging expression.
"What do you want?"
"That charm on your waist, where did you get it from?"
Sunny felt his heart stop.
Swallowing hard, he answered.
"Hope."
The seven shadows at his feet quivered in fear, and he could feel the serpentine tattoos on his torso tense.
There was no hope of defeating the man before him. His soul was still damaged from his battle with Noctis as well.
The Dreamspawn's grin widened.
"Really? Mind if I take a look at it?"
Sunny glowered.
"I do mind."
"Oh? Well then, what will it take for you to show me?"
He tried his best to calm his beating heart but failed miserably.
'Am I going to fail? Am I going to fail again?'
Nephis had only just been entrusted with him, and he had already run into a Sovereign.
"How about you leave me alone? Preferably forever. Then… I'll let you look at it until morning."
Asterion grinned.
"Oh… you don't think that's a little unfair?"
He felt the urge to run, but didn't.
"...Please?"
Sunny's voice was small.
Asterion paused, thinking for a while.
"Twelve hours. Let me see it for twelve hours, and I'll leave you alone until the day that girl awakens."
Sunny gritted his teeth.
'Sorry Hope, but I might lose your gift…'
Asterion's grin widened.
"Do we have a deal?"
Sunny had no choice but to nod.
"We have a deal."
Sunny tossed him the Dreamcatcher, and the man vanished a moment later.
Finally, he let out a long breath, panting as if he had just run a marathon.
'Fuck… fuck!'
Again… again! Asterion had come for him again! How had he known he had returned already?
Sunny heaved a long sigh.
'Well, I guess I can return to the Tower of Longing now…'
Now that they had made that deal, he was safe from one of the Sovereigns. For a while. If he wasn't lying that was.
'Nine years… Can I become a Sovereign in nine years?'
Sunny breathed deeply.
'I guess I'll just have to. I'm curious to hear what Hope asked me anyways.'
Whether Ki Song would allow him to become a Saint or not, he was going to continue his ascension
Then, as if nothing had just happened, Sunny continued his walk home.
A cold chill wafted through the air, as the new year had only just begun. Nephis stirred in her sleep slightly, shivering.
Sunny quickly summoned the Heat Locket before wrapping all seven shadows around himself. Slotting the charm into [Underworld Armament], Sunny activated one of its enchantments and warmed himself up as he pulled Nephis closer.
'Oh Nephis… what am I going to do?'
He was going to have to feed her, cloth her, educate her, take care of her…
Strangely, he didn't dread it.
Because he wasn't alone.
At home, Jet was still waiting for him most likely. Seishan would want to see him soon too, so he could ask Song for help with her education. Had Hope not said to show Ki Song a bit more trust? Aria was still out there somewhere too, she'd probably kill him if he didn't take Nephis in. Solvane and Nephis were fond of each other too, and Solvane was someone he didn't have to worry about at all. Nephis would probably be sad that she never got a chance to ride atop Shrike, but what could he do?
Sunny sighed, his breath turning into mist from the cold.
Looking up, he saw the crescent moon shrouded by pale clouds. Remembering Obel's teachings, he didn't stare at it for long.
'I'll get through this. I always do.'
Life had thrown so many things at him by now. What was one more hardship?
There was still hope. Hope for the unwritten future.
No matter how many times he was beat down, he'd always hold on to the hope that one day things would work out.
'To think I used to believe hope was a poison.'
Sunny would've laughed to himself, but he didn't want to wake up Nephis.
Eventually, he arrived home.
As expected, Jet had been sitting up at the dining table waiting for him. She immediately stood up to ask him something, but was shushed by Sunny as he pointed to Nephis.
Sunny mouthed some words to calm her down:
'We'll talk later.'
Taking slow measured steps upstairs, Sunny picked out the biggest and nicest room for Nephis, the one he had been saving for himself for once he no longer needed a sleeping pod. Placing her on the bed, he carefully tucked her in. He would've given her the Shadow Bed, but he was afraid that mundane humans could experience adverse effects when using a bed made for a daemon. Instead, he just put her on the regular bed made for humans.
Carefully placing her clothes in the closet and belongings on the desk, Sunny sat next to her on the bed, clasping his hands in deep thought.
After a while, he dove into his Soul Sea.
In the center of it lay a new structure.
Although it was forged from shadows, Sunny recognized it easily. A perfect copy of the Ivory Tower floated within his Soul Sea, long chains anchoring it to the dark waters below.
With a faint smile, Sunny began climbing up to it.
Arriving before the pagoda, he saw that the gates were already opened, awaiting him.
He slowly entered, walking towards the ring in the center of the hall. Gazing at the ring, Sunny noted the lack of chains. Shaking his head, he slowly began to climb the tower, taking the same route he had taken with Hope just a few hours ago.
Step… Step… Step…
Eventually, he arrived at the top floor, Hope's quarters.
There, the shadow of Hope stood, its hands clutching the railing of the balcony, staring silently at the seven dark suns shrouded by black clouds.
Sunny slowly walked up and stood beside it.
"Oh Hope, what do I do?"
The shadow said nothing, just as expected. It didn't react even slightly.
Sunny sighed, sitting down instead.
He sat there for a while, staring at the dark sky.
***
[End of Part Two: Hope.]