"Don't move a muscle if you wish to live."
Maya's voice was ice itself— calm, unwavering, and absolute.
Sunny obeyed instinctively. His body stiffened, locking in place. His eyes, however, darted around frantically. He scanned for any possible escape. His mind was obviously racing, trying to grasp for options, but none came. Not here. Not now.
He had no advantage. No preparation. No plan. Most importantly, he wasn't completely right in the head, so all his cunning was rendered useless in this peculiar situation.
Caught completely off-guard, he had been brought face-to-face with an alien human being alongside an Awakened Terror. Forcing a confrontation under such conditions was madness— suicidal, even.
And from the way his posture stiffened, Maya could tell that he knew it too.
Good. This is good.
Maya rose fluidly from her position within the Mawshade's coils. She stepped forward with quiet confidence. Behind her, the massive serpent slithered forward as well. Its presence was an undeniable weight pressing against the world.
Above them, the Soul Devourer's crimson leaves rustled, uneasy. It had clearly taken notice of the Awakened Terror within its domain. But after a moment, the rustling stilled. Perhaps it recognized the Mawshade for what it was— merely an Echo of something greater, something long past.
Oh, you'll regret looking down on my buddy, Maya thought darkly, briefly glancing at the crimson canopy overhead before continuing forward undeterred.
Sunny's eyes remained fixed on the approaching serpent, his breath shallow. He was utterly still, save for the slightest twitch of his fingers.
Maya stopped before him. Her ice-clad form stretched over his sprawled one. She bent near him slightly, and extended a hand forward.
"Come on, then," she said, trying her best not to trigger any sudden reactions. "Get up."
Sunny tore his gaze away from the Mawshade. His eyes locked onto hers. He swallowed hard, his throat seemingly dry. His hand imperceptibly twitched toward hers, as if he were expecting to be electrocuted by touching it.
A moment later, his voice came out, hoarse and uncertain.
"W—Who… the hell... are you?"
Maya crouched low and rested her forearms on her knees as she regarded Sunny with quiet scrutiny. Her chin settled on her arms and she tilted her head slightly, taking him in.
Now that she was close, she could see how ragged he truly was. The exhaustion in his posture, the sluggishness in his eyes— there were clear signs of something deeper than mere physical fatigue. Still, she kept her expression unreadable. She was unwilling to let concern creep in at the moment.
A slow smirk curled her lips as she spoke.
"I… am your salvation, Sunless."
Sunny swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. His discomfort was almost palpable, but after a moment, as she made no move to harm him, some of the tension in his shoulders eased. He glanced past her at the enormous serpent.
Vorrakis's gaping maw opened and its forked tongue flickered between the glacial icicles it had for teeth. White mist coiled from inside and the sight of it sent an involuntary chill down Sunny's spine, making him shiver a little.
"And that… thing?" he said, his tone wary. "That abomination is supposed to be my salvation too?"
Maya exhaled a quiet scoff, and rose to her feet. She extended her hand forward again.
"No," she said. "He's just an Echo."
Sunny hesitated for a long moment. He was obviously still wary of the girl who'd all but ambushed him. However, as the Mawshade's presence seemed to grow even more discomforting, he decided to relent. He gazed at Maya once more, before grasping her hand and letting her pull him to his feet.
As he straightened, he brushed the dirt from the Puppeteer's Shroud with slow, deliberate movements. His gaze never strayed too far from the Mawshade. The serpent's glacial body coiled behind Maya as its frozen eyes bore into Sunny's own. Its presence was an ever-looming weight in the air.
"And, uh, what exactly are you supposed to be saving me from?" Sunny asked. His voice was edged with wary curiosity. He stole another glance at Maya from the corner of his eye.
Maya rolled her shoulders in a casual shrug. "What else? That abominable tree, of course." She nodded at the Soul Devourer that loomed behind Sunny.
For a heartbeat, there was silence.
Then, Sunny's expression twisted into something between shock and fury. He took an abrupt step back. The Midnight Shard flashed as he raised it defensively.
"Wha—?!" His voice wavered, but only for a second. His grip on the hilt tightened, turning his knuckles white. "The Soul Tree? Abominable? You're out of your damn mind!"
Maya's gaze hardened into ice. Without dignifying his remark with a response, she gave a sharp tug on the nearly invisible string of the Dreadful Sorrow. She'd wrapped the delicate thread silently around the hilt of the Midnight Shard when she had crouched down earlier. The moment she pulled, the austere tachi was wrenched free from Sunny's grasp and it clattered to the ground unceremoniously.
Sunny moved like a viper. He was already lunging to retrieve his weapon— but Maya was faster. With a mental command from her, Vorrakis let out a low screech and lashed forward with its massive tail. The ice-clad serpent's tail whipped through the air and coiled around Sunny in a crushing grip.
He let out a strangled curse, and thrashed wildly as the icy serpent lifted him from the ground. "Damnation! Let me go! Let me go, you crazy—"
"Lower your voice, idiot!" Maya cut him off. Her tone was sharp and urgent. If Sunny woke Nephis now, everything would spiral into chaos. They were quite far away for Changing Star to hear his cries, but still... Maya didn't want to take any chances.
But Lost from Light was never one to be ordered around. He was stubborn. Unpredictable. And right now, furious. His struggles grew more violent, and then he threw his head back and bellowed at the top of his lungs, "Nephis! Cassie! Run!"
Maya's heart lurched. Shit.
Gritting her teeth, she summoned a Memory and snapped an order at the Mawshade. The serpent obeyed instantly. It lowered its writhing captive closer to the ground. Before Sunny could take another breath to shout again, Maya stepped in and pressed the Venom's Kiss inches from his throat.
His screams cut off like a blade to the wind.
Why, of course they did. Sunless had a cockroach's survival instinct, after all.
Maya leaned in close, her icy-blue eyes locking onto his black. Her voice was a venomous whisper.
"Speak another word, and I swear to the dead Gods, I'll slit your fucking throat open."
Sunny stiffened. His wide eyes flickered with a strange mix of fear, hatred, awe— and something close to admiration. Under different circumstances, Maya might even have laughed at the ridiculous expression on his face.
But at the moment, she had no time for amusement.
With a sigh, she withdrew the quillon dagger from his throat and straightened. She realized that she had formed somewhat of a habit of pushing blades onto the throats of people she met for the first time.
"I know you think this tree is kind and benevolent and all that crap," she said, her tone quieter now, but still razor-sharp. "But I can assure you— it's not."
Sunny let out a disbelieving scoff. "You're crazy. The Soul Tree is merciful. Bountiful. It protects us. If we so wished, we could stay here forever and never want for anything!"
Maya exhaled sharply.
"I knew this wasn't going to be easy," she admitted. "You're in too deep. Its roots have already wrapped around your mind. So I'm not going to waste time arguing." She leaned in slightly, her icy-blue eyes boring into his. "Instead, I'll prove it to you."
Sunny sneered. "How do you prove something that isn't true?"
His voice wavered at the end, just slightly. Maya also noticed that his pupils were dilating, his focus slipping. She could tell— the Soul Devourer's influence was creeping up on him again, a slow, insidious pull drowning him in forgetfulness.
She clenched her jaw. Damn it.
"I really wanted to avoid this, you know..." she muttered under her breath.
Then, without hesitation, she slapped her captive across the face.
"Damnation!" Sunny cursed, glaring at her in disbelief. He recoiled slightly, more offended than actually hurt. "What the hell was that for?!"
"So you can stay in the conversation," Maya said flatly, her tone seemingly indifferent. "And you're going to have to endure a bit more of that before we're done." She tilted her head. "So? Do you remember what we were talking about?"
Sunny scowled, rubbing his cheek with the hand he'd freed from the Mawshade's grasp.
"Of course I do," he snapped, voice laced with bitterness. "You were making the absurd claim that the Soul Tree is evil."
Maya felt a flicker of relief. Good. Pain works as a defense, at least a little. It was a crude solution, but it was something.
"Yeah," she said, nodding, "my absurd claim." Her lips curled slightly. "Which I'm going to prove. But you'll have to work with me for that, okay?"
"What if I don't want to?" Sunny said, his voice defiant despite the situation.
This guy... Maya gritted her teeth. He really is annoying.
Without a word, she shifted to the side and pointed toward the Soul Devourer's upper branches. Amid the crimson leaves, a bright red light pulsed faintly.
"See that?" she said coolly. "That... is my companion. And he's positioned perfectly close to your two precious friends— who, might I remind you, are sleeping right now, utterly defenseless." She looked back at Sunny and continued in a much colder tone. "You see, Sunless, I'm only interested in you. Your friends are dispensable. One signal from me, and my companion will end their lives in an instant."
As Maya said the words, color slowly drained from Sunny's pallid face. Horror twisted his features as his mind raced through the implications. He glanced at Maya and smirked. Or tried to. He wasn't doing a very good job of it. His voice was unsteady as he spoke. "Y-You're... bluffing."
Maya smirked back. But hers was a proper one. "Oh? Am I?"
Lifting the Venom's Kiss, she angled the blade just right, catching a ray of sunlight and reflecting it toward Cade. The red light blinked twice, almost as if asking for confirmation.
She turned back to Sunny, her expression calm.
"Still think I'm bluffing?" she asked. "Should I give him the go signal? Don't worry— I'll make sure he only kills one of them. I'll even let you choose which one dies..."
Sunny stared at her in disbelief, his breath quickening. "No. No. You're insane. Alright, slow down. I'll work with you. Just… just don't hurt them, please."
Maya smiled faintly and sent another signal to Cade, keeping her expression unreadable. Obviously, Sunny was right— they were bluffing. Neither she nor Cade would ever harm Nephis or Cassie. They were here to save them, not destroy them.
The red light blinked three times, then vanished. Cade had moved on to the next part of the plan. She had to complete her task as well.
"Good," Maya said. Turning to Sunny, she continued. "Now, I'm going to need you to do a few things and answer some questions. Can you handle that?"
Sunny scowled but gave a reluctant nod.
"Alright," Maya continued. "Summon your runes and check your number of fragments for me."
Sunny frowned. "What? Why?"
Maya's expression darkened. "Did I ask you to question me? Just do as you're told… or else." Her voice dropped into a low, threatening hiss. At the same time, Vorrakis's enormous head moved close to Sunny's own and its frozen tongue moved past his face, making the distrustful Sleeper shiver.
Sunny clenched his jaw and swallowed. "No, you didn't." He moved his head slightly, keeping an eye on the Mawshade's enormous jaws. "Fine. Wait a minute…" His voice trailed off as his eyes began to lose focus, his mind diving inward.
Maya watched him for half a second, then sighed and struck him across the face again.
Sunny's head snapped to the side, and he let out a sharp breath, his teeth grinding. "I swear, if I ever get the chance, I'll kill you slowly…"
"Yeah, well, you won't be the first to try," Maya said dryly. She gestured impatiently. "Now quit stalling. Summon your runes. Take a look at your fragments."
Sunny let out a sharp breath, frustration clear in his posture, but did as he was told. His gaze moved slightly as if reading the pages of an invisible book suspended in the air. Maya studied his face carefully, waiting for his reaction.
"Well?" she prompted. "How many do you have?"
Sunny's eyes widened slightly. "I… I've got two hundred and three."
Maya nodded. "And how many did you have before you came to this tree?"
Sunny hesitated, his brow furrowing. "I—I don't remember." His expression twisted into a grimace as if he were physically straining against something.
"Let me fill in that gap for you," Maya said coolly. "You had somewhere around ninety-six, right?"
Sunny stiffened. His lips parted slightly as realization set in. "But then… that would mean that…"
"Exactly," Maya said, watching the slow horror creep onto his face. "But that's still not enough. Take a look at your Attributes next."
Sunny shifted his gaze, preparing to read further, but almost immediately, his vision began to blur. His eyelids drooped slightly, as if something was pulling him back into a fog.
Maya didn't hesitate. She struck him across the face once more, snapping him out of the daze.
This time, Sunny didn't even curse her for it. He just exhaled sharply, his eyes clearing as he focused again.
"How many are there?" Maya asked.
"Five," Sunny muttered, his voice low, his eyes straining as if peering through a fog.
"Then name them."
Sunny hesitated. His lips parted slightly, but no words came. A flicker of defiance passed through his expression. Sunny was already a suspicious and paranoid guy. To reveal his Attributes to a stranger— he was obviously reluctant. Rightly so.
Maya exhaled sharply. She didn't have time to convince him. "Fine. Let me help you. Fated, Spark of Divinity, Child of Shadows, and Blood Weave. Right?"
Sunny's eyes snapped to hers, wide with shock. "Yes. But how—"
"That's only four," Maya interrupted. "What's the fifth?"
Sunny turned back to his runes, brows furrowed. His gaze flickered with growing frustration. "I… I can't see it."
"Look harder," Maya pressed. Her voice was sharp, urgent. "It's 'Enthralled', isn't it?"
There was a beat of silence. Then, Sunny's voice came— quiet and shaken, "Yes..."
"Quick! Slap me again!"
Maya didn't hesitate. Her palm cracked against his cheek.
Sunny inhaled sharply, but instead of anger, his eyes burned with newfound clarity. His vision locked onto something unseen, his breath coming faster.
"Can you read its description?" Maya demanded.
Sunny squinted, his entire face tensing with effort. Seconds stretched. Then— his expression darkened. He let out a slow, shuddering breath.
"No," he admitted. "No, I can't."
Maya clenched her fists. "Then listen closely." Her voice dropped, cold as steel.
"You have been mesmerized by the ancient fiend, the Soul Devouring Tree, and are being turned into its thrall. Once the process is complete… there will be no escape."
As soon as the words sank in, Sunny's expression cracked. A sharp breath escaped him. His chest rose and fell in ragged tremors.
Maya exhaled slowly.
He's out.
She quickly signaled the Mawshade to put him down. The serpent uncoiled, lowering him toward the ground. The moment its grip loosened, Sunny collapsed onto all fours, gasping as though he'd been starved of air.
"Damn… Damnation!"
His breath came in desperate gulps, his body trembling. It was as if he'd just surfaced from drowning, as if the weight of something invisible had finally lifted.
Slowly, he lifted his head, locking eyes with Maya. A flicker of something akin to gratitude, or maybe disbelief passed through his gaze.
"Thank… thank you. Whoever you are…"
Maya offered a small, knowing smile. "My name is Maya."
He repeated it, as if cementing it in his mind. "Maya…" His voice steadied. "Thank you, Maya."
Then, his focus shifted. His eyes snapped upward, toward the towering, twisted branches of the Soul Devourer. His breath hitched. His fingers curled into fists, forming grooves in the ash below.
"You… you fucking monster…" he muttered. But before his rage could spiral further, a thought struck him like a bolt of ice. His entire body tensed.
He turned back to Maya, urgency flashing across his face.
"Nephis and Cassie." Sunny's voice was sharp, desperate. "What about them?! We have to help them too."
Maya shook her head. "I can't help them like this. You only managed to break free because of your armor— but even that won't last forever. Stay here too long, and you'll fall right back into the tree's grasp."
Sunny clenched his jaw. Then, without hesitation, he bit down on his own hand. Blood welled up from the wound, only to clot and scab over almost instantly. He exhaled sharply, his body trembling from the pain.
"Pain helps me stay sane," he muttered. "But I don't think I can hold on for long. What the hell am I supposed to do?!"
Maya crouched beside him, her voice calm and steady. "It's alright. Now that you're free, your friends can be saved, too. But first, you need to come with me. We have a plan."
Sunny narrowed his eyes. "We?"
Maya smirked. "Of course. You didn't forget about my companion, did you?"
His gaze flicked up toward the towering branches of the Soul Devourer, his expression dark. "You mean the one who was about to murder my friends in their sleep? That companion?"
Maya waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, please. That was obviously a bluff. Why would we want to kill you?" Her smirk widened slightly. "We're trying to save you…"
Sunny eyed her warily. "So, you weren't the one who attacked us with the Echo of a Centurion back then?"
Maya's body stiffened, as she recalled the stupid stunt Cade had pulled. She rubbed the back of her neck, almost sheepishly. "Well, I didn't. My companion, on the other hand… let's just say he's a little soft in the upper department."
Sunny exhaled sharply and pushed himself to his feet. "I think I have an idea who your companion is..."
Then, as a wave of dizziness crept over him, he bit into his hand again, the sting sharpening his focus. "Alright. I'll come with you. Where are we going?"
Maya quickly climbed onto the Mawshade's back, settling herself between the creature's jagged spines. Extending a hand toward him, she said, "Come on. This guy's faster."
Sunny hesitated, casting a wary glance at the Mawshade. His lips twisted in distaste, but ultimately, he took Maya's hand and pulled himself up onto the serpent's cold, spiny back.
As the Mawshade coiled beneath them, readying itself to move, Sunny muttered under his breath, exasperated, "Gods, why can't anything ever go the way I want it to? Falling prey to ancient monstrosities, riding Terrors across seas of ash…" He let out a bitter chuckle. "That [Fated] Attribute really is a damn curse."
As the Mawshade picked up speed, slicing through the landscape in sinuous motion, Maya let out a sharp breath. "Tell me about it! I've been asking myself the same thing ever since I entered the Dream Realm!"
Sunny shot her a sidelong glance, still gripping the Mawshade's spines for balance. "Who the hell are you, anyway? And how do you know my name? My Attributes?"
Maya smirked. "You'll find out in a minute or two."
Sunny narrowed his eyes. "You're working with Arcadius, aren't you?"
Maya sighed. "That obvious, huh?"
"Yeah..." Sunny muttered, clenching his jaw. That bastard…
He forced himself to breathe, pushing aside the irritation. Later.
Right now, nothing mattered more than getting Nephis and Cassie to safety.
_________________________________________
I know, I know... Sunny is not this trusting. Especially not towards someone he just met for the first time. Still, I felt like since Maya was his best bet of saving Neph and Cassie, this behavior of his would be justified.
In truth, Sunny is a character with such a problematic personality that it is extremely hard to write him properly without straying off course. Especially early in the series when he is such a cynical, distrustful and paranoid person.
But I tried my best. Do tell me where you felt Sunny wasn't behaving like himself. I'd love any suggestions on how to improve my writing of him. I reread the Forgotten Shore recently and I'm trying my best to do all the characters justice. I don't know how it's turning out, but fingers crossed.
Anyway, hope you liked it! Until next time... :]