Conmoción, Confusion, Joy, Anger, and Sadness.
All these emotions passed through Sunny's mind as he sat in a chair in the waiting room, in front of a reinforced door, still reeling from what had happened, what was happening, and what would happen.
Out of the corner of his eye, Sunny glanced at Nephis, sitting in silence. Though she wasn't as expressive as he was, he knew Changing Star well enough to sense that a sea of emotions was swirling in her mind.
On his other side sat Cassie, gripping his hand so tightly that his bones, enhanced by Weaver's bone weave, had some trouble withstanding the tension.
The memory from almost two years ago on the Forgotten Shore, inside the Crimson Spire, was fresh in his mind, impossible to forget.
Sunny clenched his teeth.
Sunny often wondered if Uriel was still alive, traversing the desolate Forgotten Shore to find a way back as a Sleeper.
Even Cassie knew nothing, as according to her, for her, Uriel was like a large black stain that prevented her from seeing him, but she knew he was alive.
If all the Sleepers knew one thing for certain, it was that the Dream Realm wouldn't kill a monster like the Lord of Darkness. It was only a matter of time before his return.
Even when he did return... Sunny shuddered a little. Fourteen Awakened, including a Master, had been defeated in moments like insects before devastating power.
In their brief encounter during the fight, if it hadn't been for Nephis, he would have been crushed. Even his Transcendent Memory had been significantly dented by the pressure of those tendrils of true darkness.
Sunny looked at Cassie, giving the girl a pat on the shoulder.
"Cass... my hand," said Sunny.
Cassie turned toward Sunny before shivering slightly and releasing his hand.
"...I'm sorry," said Cassie. "It's just..." Cassie didn't even have words at that moment.
The same was true for Sunny. Although he was still furious with Cassie for telling Nephis his True Name in the second nightmare, he had understood it to a certain extent.
If she hadn't, he would be the slave of a madman like Mordret, and that would undoubtedly be terribly bad for him.
He hated the idea of being a powerless slave, following someone else's orders. That's why Sunny made a promise: no matter what, he would be free. He would break the Shadow bond with Nephis, and if she tried to give him an order, he would kill her. It wasn't a threat; it was a resolution, and Nephis knew it.
Sunny sighed. They weren't alone. A small group of people was with them: medics, teachers, some government agents, disheveled academy administrators... all were waiting for news with great anticipation. Their faces were pale, in shock, and very, very excited.
Sunny saw Morgan of Valor writing something on his communicator. It seemed the talk about Mordret's escape and the events surrounding the death of a Valor Saint would have to wait.
They waited impatiently.
Sunny observed in the small crowd Effie, who easily pushed her way through the line of people. The hunter approached them.
"Sunny, Cassie, Princess!" said Effie. "Is it true? Has Little Uriel come back?"
Sunny didn't respond. Instead, it was Nephis.
"Yes. He has returned," said Nephis in a calm voice.
Effie blinked before looking at Sunny. Nephis wasn't one to give many details when speaking or explaining something.
"Yes. I saw him with my own eyes... we fought a little before Neph saved me, and then he fainted, so when the healer arrived, I handed him over."
Upon hearing the answer, Effie gave a wide smile.
"Hell yeah!" she shouted, causing several glances to fall on her, but she didn't care at all. "I never doubted that Little Uriel would return from that hell. There's no creature more terrifying than him!"
Sunny smiled a little; even Cassie did the same at Effie's comment.
Shortly after Effie's shout, Kai arrived. He seemed relieved to hear what Sunny had said.
"Gods... thank the gods," said Kai. He apparently still blamed himself for leaving Uriel behind to defend the portal, ensuring everyone could leave the Forgotten Shore.
After a few moments, the reinforced door finally opened, and one of the Awakened healers came out of the room.
Soon, a government worker asked about the Lord of Darkness.
"Yes. His physical condition is good... even better than good; it's perfect. As for his mental state, we'll know when he wakes up. Lord Uriel is currently resting."
"Asleep? You mean he returned to the Dream Realm?"
The healer shook his head.
"No," he said in a voice filled with deep surprise yet maintaining a professional tone. "Lord Uriel seems to have... Ascended. So he's simply sleeping."
For a moment, the crowd seemed to forget how to speak or breathe, and then, half a second later, everything exploded.
Soon, the news of Uriel's return spread throughout the world like wildfire. The Prafrie network exploded with endless discussions.
Everyone spread the news about the Sleeper who had achieved the unthinkable not just once but even twice, accomplishing things no Sleeper had ever done.
It was clear to everyone that Uriel would become a pillar of humanity, alongside Changing Star, Raised by Wolves, and Nightingale.