***
An unknown amount of time ago...
At the shore of a great river, a boat with a tree on its deck sailed near the land.
Six individuals stood on it, one of the women with hair like molten gold, sitting near the tree while wearing a blindfold.
"What did you say?" A woman with silvery hair asked the blind seer.
Cassie looked at Nephis and the rest of the cohort beside the Prince of Nothing, who looked quite amused at the situation.
"Tell me what you mean, Cassie!" Nephis asked again, her voice having a touch of anger and desperation.
"He...Sunny left us. He got the chance to pursue his freedom, to get rid of the [Shadow Bond], so he left." Cassie tried to explain.
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I AM ASKING!! What do you mean by US! Forgetting HIM!?" Nephis yelled, catching other members off guard.
But even then, they also needed to answer. They didn't mind Sunny following his freedom, but how does that have anything to do with them forgetting him?
"F-Fate also carries our information in this world, to make us of the people we connected by fate."
"And how does that explain this 'situation' you speak of?"
"T-There was no way to get rid of [Shadow Bond], so, so, So What I saw was most likely him losing his true name."
At that, everyone understood. They all knew that True Name was none other than their anchor on the tapestry of fate.
So, losing the True Name also meant losing the connection with Fate. And since the Condition for [Shadow Bond] was none other than his True Name.
Losing it will also free him from the shackles.
"I am going for the first seeker," Nephis announced. She got prepared and took out her sword, about to get off the chain breaker.
"W-Wait! Neph! You can't go right now! We need to wait for one more hour before we begin!" Cassie tried to stop her.
"I AM GOING! If you want to come with me, follow, or else, stay here for as much time as you want." She declared and got off the chain breaker.
Suddenly, the space began to shift, as if an earthquake happened in the sea. They couldn't understand how it was possible when suddenly the Amused prince looked at the sky with a pale expression, mostly scared as he said
"Fuck..."
They all looked over. Cassie also witnessed the scene from their point of view, making her jump with fear and terror.
Behind them, Nephis also looked at the scene with a shocked and troubled gaze.
What they saw can only be described as a horrifying, or you can also say majestic, event.
They all saw a black dragon, a huge black dragon the size of the seven sun combined, flying over there, its hungry maw mercilessly devouring what might be the Titan Core of the Unholy creature Ariel killed.
After devouring, the Fearsome Dragon deformed and vanished into the void, leaving now only six shimmering suns above the great river.
Watching the dreadful scene, only one thought screamed in their minds, 'We need to leave immediately!'
Preparing themselves, they all got out of the chain breaker and followed Nephis towards the first seeker.
*
An unknown amount of time went by; no matter the amount, it was still one hour earlier than what she wanted it to be.
Not to mention that it was as if Nephis was desperate for something, she didn't care how injured she got, she used her flames to heal despite overdoing herself many times.
'Does she really want to enslave him forever?' Cassie could only think this, as there was no other explanation.
Similar to herself, everyone else also thought that Nephis wasn't the type of person to enslave Sunny against his will, but even then, they could hardly think of any other explanation for her current desperation.
After slaying another one of the abominations, Nephis again felt the pain of her flaw. But it felt numb, like there was something more important than that.
She knew and realized that quickening to kill the first seeker might make Sunny miss the opportunity. But there was something, something that refused to forget him.
A desire...desire not to forget the person she loved.
She had already fallen for Sunny back in the forgotten shore.
It felt like her whole being was changing due to his existence back then. But roaming the dream realm alone for all that time made her realize her feelings.
At that time, through countless tiresome and traumatic encounters, aside from wanting to survive, another desire that kept her will to survive alive welled up.
She just wanted to see him again.
That desire alone kept her going. She didn't have any family left; she had once become tired, and her desire for revenge was nonexistent.
Only the memories of him were her solace, like she had found another anchor. another home to return to.
Coming back from the dream realm, she saw him in the dream. It was just like the countless times she dreamt of him, so she wasn't surprised.
She had thought he would disappear again when she woke up. But he didn't.
It was not clear in the dream, but waking up made it clear.
The person she wanted to survive for didn't want her to survive.
His face showed a strange mixture of smile and disappointment.
Disappointed, maybe because his slaver had survived, smiled, maybe he expected it.
At present, right at this moment, she knew most of her emotions had numbed, leaving only a desire and desperation.
She needed to be quick, and she couldn't let the world, or simply herself, forget him.
Finally, after an unknown amount of time, she plunged her sword, burning with her flame, into the grotesque figure of the first seeker.
Her mind only had one thought, 'I need to tell him. I can't forget him no matter what.'
As if listening to her desperation, the spell didn't delay anymore. As her vision began to fade, she heard the spell's whisper.
[You have slain a Great Beast: Aletheia of the Nine]
[Your flame grows stronger]
[Wake up, Nephis! Your Nightmare is over!]
Vision fading into darkness, she had only one hope, 'Please...please don't do it, Sunny....'
***
To be continued....