After the new proposals, and rules were put in place, a semblance of peace, or at least, a quieter tension reappeared in the small human domain of the forgotten shore.
The council, as they decided to call it, was trying their best to smooth the tensions more and more, but it still needed time.
It definitely did not help that there was still ongoing tension in even the council though.
But, for important decisions, they put away their own problems and continued to decide what was best for the people, and for their way home. Though, if anything could not be solved as a group, Ray would be the one having the final say.
He was the bright lord, and just because he shared his power somewhat, did not mean that he wouldn't use his authority, when it mattered.
One example of that, was when then first few mixed hunting groups that had been established from both settlement dwellers, and those from the castle were sent out, and losses occurred.
The first time, they all gave them the benefit of the doubt, but after the third time, all members of the hunting groups, where such things had taken place, were brought before the bright lord, for questioning.
Even if he did not want to do it, at first, Kai was also convinced to take part in it, since his flaw would be the best tool to stop anything like this to happen, and to get rid of any evil among the ones behind the walls.
The results were… conflicting.
From the three groups, only one was able to be declared innocent. In one of them, the culprits were previous members of the host, and in the other, it were those from the settlement.
This made the decision harder for the council, and in the end, Ray took it upon himself to make the decision.
In front of every sleeper, inside of his throne room, he declared them all as guilty, and as sinners.
The punishment for murder was clear; execution.
They had made it very clear that any crime of this magnitude would not be forgiven and forgotten.
Technically, since both groups had people that committed the crime, there could've been an agreement reached, which would help bring better peace, but that was delusional thinking.
After all, they weren't dealing with rational beings, but emotionally driven humans instead.
Following this event, the previously rather rare occasions, in which people would gather for a duel, and even make it a deathmatch, were now a normal occasion. So normal, in fact, that they had to slow down the requests, and declare one day of their week, as the duel day.
On that day, as long as two council members, one from each 'camp', were present, people could fight it out.
For some reason, when that began to happen, the tension in the castle actually started to dim. It seemed like the sleepers merely needed a place and time to completely vent their frustrations, and with clear rules in place that allowed this, they finally could.
It barely took two weeks, before the deathmatches basically became unnecessary.
100 people had died in these two weeks, due to the duels, but that was still a lot less, than what could've happened, had Gunlaug died, that day.
Still, after those two weeks in the castle, Ray felt exhausted. He wasn't one for public places, nor real leadership roles, but this was a necessity. Therefore, he did what needed to be done, while being supported, and advised by Henry and Gunlaug.
Nevertheless, after those two weeks, he needed a change of scenery, and he knew just the right thing.
So, he did not wait any longer, and immediately went to his two closest comrades. When they heard what he had to say, they would've wanted to smack him real good, but kept that impulse under control.
While it seemed that Ray wanted to head out immediately, with just the three of them, Henry made him remember something important, he could not really participate, due to his flaw. Obviously.
Since he could not come along, he would remain in the castle, and keep everything in check, while they were gone. He also recommended that Ray finally made up with the others, and took them with him.
It seemed like the obvious choice, but he was still conflicted about it. In the end, though, reason won, and he went over to their quarters, to ask them.
Surprisingly, his first target, this time, was none other than Nephis. She was currently, probably the one least angry about him, maybe along with Cassie.
She… agreed.
Very quickly.
For some reason.
Along with her, it was a lot easier to make the others agree to it, too.
The second one was Kai. He was still hurt, about his flaw being used like that. It seemed; their charming archer was still too good natured, at least for a place like this, were order and law were constantly on thin ice.
It took Ray a sincere apology, as well as a promise to never put his friend on the spot like that, again.
The third one was Sunny, where Ray took a step back, and let the other two create the wonder.
While they were doing that, he went over to Cassie. She was often forgotten, but had already become a competent and useful addition. Even just her seer senses made navigating basically everything a breeze.
She seemed surprised, by his visit, but also agreed after a few exchanges, and an apology.
With four people of the cohort in agreement, there were technically, only two more left, though, no one said a word about Caster, which resulted in the unspoken agreement that he should remain behind, and also be a detergent against any disorder that might ensue.
Standing before her door, Ray turned to the others, who were also there, "I think, I should do it myself. So, please wait outside, for now."
Receiving nods in return, he did not wait any longer, and without even knocking, went inside.
The sight before him, was comedic in one way, and expected in the other.
Effie was sitting in her room, unceremoniously on the ground, with a pile of meat laid out in front of her. All while the white tunic barely covered anything of her olive-skinned, toned body.
The moment he stepped inside, her gaze immediately snapped upwards, and a frown appeared on her face.
"...what?" she growled in a mirthless tone.
"It's wonderful to see you too, Effie. Been a while, hasn't it? Since we were alone in a room…" he responded in a calm, and comfortable tone.
Effie looked like she wanted to punch him, right out of her room, but in the end, relaxed her previously clenched fists, upon remembering the last time she did.
"So, what do you want…?" she asked, as she already diverted most of her attention from him, and back to her food.
"You remember our first hunt, and what happened on it?" he questioned.
"Sure." she responded with a shrug, "What about it?"
"Do you also remember, how weird it was that the these raptors came in such numbers?" Ray pressed further.
"Yeah, I guess. We nearly died, after all. What are you getting at?" Effie was becoming slightly annoyed, it seemed.
"What would you say, if I told you that there is a tyrant that is close to becoming a fallen. And that that bastard, is the one, who was responsible for the weird behavior of the raptors."
This caused her to lift her gaze again, "That would prove troublesome… Any hunting parties we sent into the dark city, would be in danger. So, you want to go, and hunt it down? Have fun."
Seeing her dismissive attitude towards the end, Ray couldn't help, but roll his eyes at her, "Really? You'd rather endanger others, than forgive me?"
"...you never apologized."
Hearing this, his mask crumbled a bit, metaphorically speaking.
"Listen, Effie. I am sorry, about what happened, and what I did to all of you, but I don't regret it. If you really can't understand this, then maybe it is better you stay here, and we get Caster to join us."
Following this, he turned around again, and walked back to the door. Ray turned around once, before he opened the door, though, "I am genuinely sorry that I hurt you, Effie."
After that, he opened the door, and stepped through, merely leaving one last sentence, as he left the room, "We'll head out in half an hour, if you come along…"
And then, he was gone, and she was alone in her room again. When she wanted to simply start eating again, she realized that the food had lost all its flavor.
"...fuck!"
---
On the other side of the door, Ray reunited with the others, who were still waiting. "I'd say; she'll come along. We'll head out in thirty. Meet me, at the castle gates."
With that said, he left them there, to make their last preparations.
Walking through the hallways, his wings nudged his should once, but he only gave them a look, and for a change, they seemed to understand it.
To be frank, their apparent intelligence made them even weirder, than they already were, but also… better.
With no real preparations to take care of, Ray directly headed towards the main entrance of the castle, receiving many greetings of all kinds, as he walked through the halls.
Five minutes later, he was basically there, but took a small detour, and chose a quiet corner, for the moment. Once in it, he summoned his aspect legacy.
This time, though, it wasn't just one tome that appeared, but two…
'Choices… or destiny, huh…'
The access to his runes had also returned. A while ago, actually. They, certainly made one thing clear; he was by no means a normal awakened, in any meaning of the word.
Name: Raphael
True Name: [Lost Witness]
Rank: Dreamer
Class: Demon
Demon Cores: [3/7]
Demon Core: Dormant
Demon Fragments: 236/3000
Memories: [Oblivion's Thread], [Guardian's Shackles], [Sentinel's Embrace], [Stormpiercer], [Stalker's Spine], [Reaper's Whispers], [Veil of the forsaken], [Drifting Ember], [Second Skin], [Spinner's Weight], [Embrace of the sunken horror]
Echoes: /
Servants: [Puppet]
Attributes: [Traceless], [Nullborn], [Spark of Divinity], [Heir of the demons], [Descender], [Touched by Oblivion], [Sculpted by Destiny]
Aspect: [Herald of -unknown-]
Aspect Rank: Divine/Unholy
Aspect Abilities: [Oblivion], [Choices]
Aspect Legacy: [Demon Diaries]
Innate Ability: [Coming of Oblivion]
When they came back, his runes had changed, quite a bit.
The first thing, he noticed; his name was now clearly set to Raphael, and it made him feel strange. As if something, he had no idea about, had happened.
The next thing, his class had improved, which was a given. This change also brought with it a new attribute… yay.
[Sculpted by Destiny] – Your body and being have changed. You not only carry a legacy, you have become it. A power has seeped into your every bone. A power that should've pulled you apart, spreading you across the possible paths. And yet, you are here.
It was basically similar to his [Touched by Oblivion] attribute, in the way that some power has been imbued into him, and with no actual instructions, it was on him to figure out what that would mean for him.
Following this new attribute, another part of his runes changed; his echo was now called a servant!
Though, this change wasn't too important, ...if one looked at the biggest one, of them all.
He received another aspect ability…
The first time he saw that, it freaked him out, tremendously, since there was nothing that ever spoke for a sleeper having two aspect abilities.
If he could simply gain the abilities, then what was the point of even challenging any nightmares.
That was his first thought, at least, which was very quickly rejected, by none other the TWO beings in his soul!
In their words; "Your soul would be ripped apart, the moment you decide to use both powers simultaneously… so, don't even think about using it. For now, at least."
After that, he completely abandoned the idea of using it.
---
Nevertheless, after enjoying a few minutes of silence in the room, Ray headed out, and towards the entrance hall.
The moment he stepped inside, he was already called out, "Took your sweet time, didn't you?! How come, even I'm here before you, even though I had to finish my meal first…"
This voice was obviously Effie's. The giant huntress had indeed decided to come along.
Next to her, were the other members of Nephis's cohort, besides Caster, and a few more meters to the side, stood Gunlaug. In all of his golden glory.
As Ray stepped closer, there wasn't much to say, "Well, I guess its time to slay our first tyrant…"
And so they all walked out of the castle gate…