Once again, Sunny and Cassie lay side by side. Their naked bodies were pressed intimately together, their discarded clothes serving as a makeshift blanket to shield them from the cool air and veil the aftermath of their passion amidst the ruins.
Not much time had passed; the crisp, pleasant breeze of the early morning still lingered in the air.
"What are you thinking about?" Cassie asked softly.
Her petite, delicate body rested comfortably half-atop him. One hand gently stroked his cheek, while her other rested flat against his chest, listening to the steady, soothing rhythm of his heartbeat. Her soft, round breasts were left brazenly exposed to the cool air—and to his gaze—in all their tantalizing glory, while everything from her waist down remained safely hidden beneath their makeshift covers.
Sunny looked down at her, his arms wrapped securely around her waist as if holding her safe from the world. A brief, quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
"I was just thinking about the future... and how I'm supposed to explain certain things to you."
"Like what?" Cassie asked, her curiosity piqued as she propped herself up slightly on her elbows.
"Well, for starters, Cas... have you checked your runes since this morning?" he replied.
The blind seer blinked, looking utterly perplexed. Then, she raised her unseeing gaze, seemingly focusing inward to summon the Spell's interface.
Cassie read her runes. Silently, she scrolled through the familiar strings of shimmering text. Her Name, her Memories and Echoes, her Aspect, her Abilities, her Flaw. And finally... nothing else.
"There's absolutely nothing different about my runes, Sunny. What exactly should I be looking for?" she reported.
"Huh?" Sunny tilted his head, visibly confused.
He blinked. Once. Twice.
'Is it possible that now only I can see the runes of those bound to me?' he wondered, silently pondering the implications of his altered [Shadow Bond].
"Try looking better. Did you scroll all the way to the very bottom?"
At his urging, Cassie went over her runes once more. Her Name, her Aspect, her Flaw... and right below it, there was indeed something else.
---
Flaw: [Veil of Maya].
Flaw Description: [You are blind.]
Partner: [Lost from Light].
---
Nothing else followed... except for a single, pulsing golden string just below that.
[Do you wish to receive your blessing?]
'Huh?' Now she was the one bewildered.
Without a second thought, guided by pure instinct and absolute trust in him, Cassie nodded. "Yes."
Instantly, a brand-new sense ripped open in her mind.
"Ah!" She immediately brought her hands to her temples with a sharp gasp, struck by a sudden, intense migraine—like a heavy, rusted door violently bursting open inside her head.
"Cassie!" Sunny called out in alarm.
Seeing her sway, he quickly grabbed her by the shoulders, helping her sit up. Cassie now knelt on the stone floor, completely bare, her hands still clutching her forehead as she struggled to adapt to the sensory overload. Sunny knelt in front of her, leaning in close with deep concern.
"What happened?" he asked after a few moments, relieved to see she wasn't harmed.
"I... I don't know, Sunny. It's... it's as if I can suddenly perceive the world through a completely new sense," she breathed, shaking her head lightly to clear the dizziness. "I found another string in my runes, right under my Flaw. It said 'Partner' with your True Name. As soon as I focused on it, the Spell asked me if I wanted to receive a blessing. I said yes, and then... it felt like something unlocked inside my mind."
Cassie paused, slowly lowering her hands and turning her unseeing gaze toward him.
"Sunny... I think I just gained your shadow sense."
'So this is what the new description of [Shadow Bond] meant. And apparently, this time around, only I can see the "Wives" category and full details via the bond,' Sunny concluded. 'I wonder if, as she ranks up over time, she'll unlock even more of my abilities?'
He smiled, immensely satisfied with this new development. Reaching out, he took her hands and squeezed them reassuringly.
"How does it feel?" he asked cautiously.
She tested it for a second before answering, tentatively reopening the door to her new perception after the initial shock. It was like suddenly discovering a third, shadowed eye hidden deep within her soul. For a girl who lived in total darkness, feeling the exact shape, depth, and movement of every shadow around her was revolutionary.
"It's not bad, actually," Cassie admitted softly, a sense of wonder in her voice. "I think it will take me some time to get used to it, but... it's almost like having a new kind of sight. Also... a new Attribute just appeared for me. [Shadow Ring]."
The blind seer suddenly flushed a deep, violent shade of red. She lowered her head in sheer embarrassment, her fingers curling nervously against her bare thighs as she read the description of her new Attribute.
"I t-think... we are officially stuck with each other."
Seeing her suddenly act so unbelievably shy, Sunny couldn't help but grin.
"Hah! After everything we just did, this is what makes you blush? Hahaha!"
He genuinely couldn't hold back his amusement, wrapping his arms around his stomach as he cracked up. Hearing him laugh at her expense, Cassie adopted an offended pout and started playfully hitting his chest with her small fists.
"Ow! Hey, alright, I get it!" He raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Don't you dare laugh at me ever again!" she scolded him haughtily. Then, she crossed her arms beneath her bare breasts and turned her head away in feigned offense.
Sunny rubbed the back of his neck and let out a fond sigh. Reaching out, he pulled her back into a warm, affectionate embrace, his heart soaring at their newly forged bond. Cassie let him, maintaining her facade of a spoiled, easily angered girl.
But secretly, she was immensely happy, burying her face in his shoulder to hide the soft, radiant smile she couldn't keep off her lips.
***
A few minutes later, Sunny and Cassie walked hand in hand through the ruined, desolate streets. He was escorting her back toward the outer camp where Nephis was waiting to begin their daily hunt. At this hour, the surrounding alleys were completely abandoned, as the rest of the settlement's inhabitants were already dispersed across the Dark City.
The blind seer knew Sunny wasn't returning to the cohort, and a part of her felt a quiet twinge of sadness. Yet, knowing she would see him again soon—and carrying the secret of their newfound bond—made her feel a sinful, thrumming warmth in her chest, along with a subtle wave of thrill.
"Sunny?" Cassie called out softly as they walked. "I was thinking... since we're already here, why don't you come say hi to Neph—"
"No!" he cut in sharply, halting in his tracks so abruptly that she stopped alongside him.
Cassie was genuinely startled, blinking her eyes in sheer confusion.
"Sorry, Cas," Sunny quickly softened his voice, looking away. "It's just... the last time Neph and I spoke, we had a bitter argument. We left things on terrible terms, and personally, I haven't forgiven her yet."
In truth, Lost from Light would never truly forgive Changing Star for what she had done to him in the previous timeline. Even if time managed to dull the raw edges of that, he knew he would never look at Nephis the same way again. To avoid saying or doing something cataclysmic, Sunny had no intention of setting eyes on her anytime soon.
"I see," Cassie sighed softly, choosing not to pry any further.
Leaving the unspoken bitterness behind, the two walked the remaining distance in peaceful silence.
When they arrived at Effie's hovel, Cassie turned to him and pulled him into a long, tender kiss. Leaving him with a sweet, radiant smile, she stepped inside and gently closed the wooden door behind her.
Watching her disappear into the building, Sunny felt a grounding sense of reassurance. He knew he could trust Cassie completely to carry out her part in his plan. After all, the task he had asked of her wasn't particularly difficult, nor would it harm Changing Star or anyone she held dear: she simply had to ensure Caster stayed as far away from Nephis as possible, and that Changing Star stopped relying on the legacy bastard entirely.
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