Chapter 2 — Master Sunless
A bell chimed softly as the door gently swung open.
"Who's Master Sunless?" Nephis asked.
Morning light slipped through a narrow gap between dark curtains, falling across a young man sleeping beneath the blankets with long black hair scattered messily across his pillow.
"I haven't gathered much about him yet," Cassie's voice answered. "But apparently several of our Fire Keepers are regulars at his café."
His eyes slowly opened.
"Master Sunless? He's pretty cool. Really warm."
The young man stared blankly at the ceiling for a few seconds before slowly sitting up, his hair falling messily across his face.
"His café is basically my safe spot whenever I'm tired. It's quiet, warm, and he never bothers you if you just want to sit there."
He pushed the strands away from his eyes and climbed out of bed.
"The food is amazing too. His waffles are to die for."
Water poured over him a short while later as he stood beneath a shower, running one hand through his long black hair.
"And his Memories are ridiculously good."
The young man stepped out sometime later, dressed simply as he gathered his damp hair behind his head.
"Honestly, I'm still not sure if his specialty is cooking or Memory-making."
A few amused voices agreed.
Cassie's voice returned.
"There's something else. Apparently he's recently become friends with Effie's husband, he's the main buyer from their family farm too."
The young man sat on his porch as he enjoyed the morning along the lake.
"I haven't heard whether Effie herself has actually met him yet, but Ling certainly has."
"Several of the regulars have heard Ling Ling calling him 'Uncle Sunless.'"
Nephis's voice followed.
"Uncle?"
"Apparently."
Eventually, he got up to begin his day.
Cassie sounded faintly amused.
"Though from what I've gathered, Ling seems to become attached to people rather quickly."
Morning light poured through the windows as the young man looked across the quiet café.
...
Several days later, the bell above the entrance chimed.
A young woman stepped inside.
Her hair was black.
Her features were subtly different from their usual appearance, altered by a Memory specifically designed to prevent casual recognition.
There was nothing particularly dramatic about the disguise.
That was the point.
Most people would simply see a beautiful young woman.
Not Saint Nephis.
Not Changing Star.
Not the last daughter of the Immortal Flame clan.
Nephis quietly surveyed the café.
'I wasn't planning to come myself.'
Initially, Cassie had intended to investigate Master Sunless further before Nephis ever became involved.
There were more important things demanding her attention.
Valor.
Song.
Godgrave.
The coming war.
And, most recently—
the Lord of Shadows.
However, the more Cassie had learned about the Memory-maker, the more peculiar he seemed.
Not dangerous.
Simply normal.
Eventually, Nephis had decided that seeing his work personally would be faster than relying on secondhand information.
There were several people scattered throughout the café.
A few faces were vaguely familiar.
Fire Keepers.
Veterans.
Awakened who had crossed paths with her before.
None recognized her.
Good.
Nephis stepped farther inside.
Then her gaze reached the counter.
Aiko was there.
Beside her stood a young man.
Nephis stopped.
He was arranging several cups behind the counter when he seemed to sense her attention.
The young man turned.
Their eyes met.
And for one moment—
Nephis forgot why she had come.
He was handsome.
Not handsome in the rough manner of many warriors.
Handsome.
Beautiful.
Pale skin, refined features, dark eyes and long black hair tied loosely behind his head.
His appearance possessed an almost ethereal quality that contrasted strangely with the simple clothes he wore and the mundane task he had been performing.
But that was not what caught Nephis off guard.
It was what she felt from him.
Passion.
Her Transcendent Ability reacted naturally, allowing her to sense the emotion directed toward her.
Nephis had long since become accustomed to it.
Fear.
Admiration.
Envy.
Desire.
Lust.
All desires of the malicious kind.
There had been more than enough of the latter.
Ever since becoming a Saint, it had become painfully easy to distinguish between people who admired Changing Star, people who desired her appearance, and people who wanted something from the last daughter of the Immortal Flame clan.
Few emotions directed toward her were simple anymore.
This one was.
The passion coming from Master Sunless was intense enough to briefly surprise her.
Yet there was nothing vulgar within it.
No hunger.
No possessiveness.
No lust.
It was warm.
Tender.
Almost painfully sincere.
Nephis remained still for a moment.
'Why?'
They had never met.
There was no reason for a complete stranger to look at her with such pure affection.
The young man seemed to realize that he had been staring.
He blinked.
Nephis tilted her head slightly.
"Is there something on my face?"
His eyes widened faintly.
"Oh."
A small, almost embarrassed smile appeared.
"My apologies. I was simply surprised."
"By what?"
For the briefest moment, something strange passed through his expression.
Then his smile became warmer.
"I wasn't expecting someone so beautiful to walk through my door this morning."
Nephis blinked.
Again.
For some reason, another voice surfaced in her memory.
Deep.
Distorted.
Hidden behind a demonic mask.
'I would say you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.'
'What an odd coincidence.' She paused, her eyes narrowed slightly.
'is he a flirt too?' she wondered.
Nephis glanced toward Aiko.
The young woman had stopped what she was doing.
She was staring at Master Sunless with undisguised surprise.
Noticing Nephis's questioning look, Aiko lowered her voice.
"I've never heard him compliment a woman before."
Nephis looked back at Sunny.
That was unexpected.
Aiko added, "Like... ever."
"Aiko." Master Sunless sighed.
"What?"
"You make me sound socially defective."
Aiko stared at him.
"You kind of are."
"I speak to people every day."
"Customers don't count."
"They absolutely count."
Aiko rolled her eyes and returned to her work.
Nephis studied the young man again.
So he wasn't simply a habitual flirt.
Master Sunless seemed to notice where her thoughts had gone.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"Besides, I wouldn't call someone beautiful if I didn't think they were beautiful."
His dark eyes remained on her.
"After all, I don't lie."
There was something oddly amused about the final statement.
Nephis could not determine why.
Before she could ask, Master Sunless gestured toward one of the quieter areas facing the lake.
"You came about a Memory, didn't you?"
Nephis's attention sharpened.
"How did you know?"
He smiled. "This is half of a Memory boutique." A pause.
"And you walked straight to me instead of seeing the menu."
Nephis looked toward the display of pastries.
Then back at him.
"Fair."
"Come. We can discuss your commission outdoors if you like."
...
Master Sunless leaned back slightly.
"So, what can I do for you today?"
"I need a weapon. A sword," Nephis said.
He quirked an eyebrow. "A sword, huh? That's doable. Do you need anything specific?"
Nephis nodded and began explaining what she wanted. The weapon needed to be durable enough to survive her flames, balanced properly for her style of swordsmanship, and possess several enchantments she had been considering for some time.
Master Sunless listened carefully without interrupting.
Once she finished, he remained silent for a short while before simply nodding.
"Possible."
Nephis's brow furrowed.
"All of it?"
"Most likely."
Nephis frowned internally. "Most Memory-makers would require compromises."
"Most Memory-makers are limited by their Aspect."
She looked at him more carefully.
"And you aren't?"
"Not exactly."
He placed his cup down.
"I can forge weapons from raw materials, enchant existing objects, create Memories from scratch, reproduce enchantments I've already studied and, given enough time, create entirely new ones."
Nephis stared at him.
That was a bold claim.
An absurdly bold one.
Most Memory artisans could create objects because their Aspect granted them a particular method of doing so. Their enchantments were usually restricted by the nature of that Aspect, specific affinities, or systems they had painstakingly developed over the years.
What Master Sunless was describing sounded dangerously close to unrestricted craftsmanship.
"What kind of Aspect allows someone to do that?"
He smiled in amusement.
"I don't know."
Nephis blinked.
Master Sunless calmly took another sip of his drink.
"My craftsmanship is supported by my Attributes far more than my Aspect."
Nephis slowly nodded, although her curiosity only grew.
"Then how do you create enchantments that aren't part of your Aspect?"
"An Attribute."
That surprised her.
"I've had it since I was a Sleeper. It allows me to perceive the structure of Memories in a way most people can't."
"Structure?"
He considered the question for a moment.
"Threads."
Nephis frowned slightly.
"That's simply what I call them. Imagine countless threads of essence woven together into patterns. Some form the foundation of a Memory, while others form enchantments, connections, anchors, and various other structures."
His fingers moved slowly through the air as he explained.
"Originally, I could only see them. Eventually, I learned to understand them."
"And then?"
"I learned to reproduce them."
Nephis's eyes narrowed.
"With essence?"
"My own, yes."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"It took years to learn, and even now I'm still mastering and refining my art."
That answer caught Nephis's attention more than any of his previous claims.
It wasn't simply an ability that had been handed to him fully formed.
It was a skill.
Something he had spent years developing and refining through his own effort.
Nephis understood devotion to a craft.
Master Sunless reached toward the ceramic cup resting beside him.
"Here."
He hovered his hand over it and moved his fingers in a skillful dance, like creating a web, then held it between his fingers.
For several seconds, nothing seemed to happen. His expression merely became more focused as his fingers moved gently across the surface of the cup.
Nephis could sense essence moving.
But she could not understand what he was doing with it.
Then—
the cup disappeared.
Her eyes widened faintly.
Master Sunless opened his empty hand and, a heartbeat later, the same cup appeared again.
Summoned.
Like a Memory.
Nephis stared at it.
He calmly placed the cup back on the table before raising one finger to his lips, closing one eye and smiling.
"Secret."
Then—
the cup disappeared.
Nephis's eyes widened faintly.
Master Sunless opened his empty hand and, a heartbeat later, the same cup appeared again.
Summoned.
Like a Memory.
Nephis stared at it for several seconds before looking back at him.
Master Sunless calmly placed the cup on the table, then raised one finger to his lips and smiled.
"Secret."
Nephis slowly composed herself.
So that was what he meant.
He had taken an ordinary object and transformed it into a Memory before her eyes.
More importantly, judging by the ease with which he had done so, it did not seem particularly difficult for him.
Master Sunless leaned back in his chair. "There are limitations, naturally. Complexity matters, as does the material I'm working with. Enchanting an ordinary cup is considerably easier than creating a weapon meant to withstand the power of a Saint."
Nephis nodded.
That made considerably more sense.
"But the principle remains the same," he continued. "If I understand the structure well enough, I can reproduce it. Weapons, armor, garments, utility Memories... the form itself matters less than whether I can devise the threads necessary to make it function."
Nephis studied him more carefully.
This ability—
No.
This skill was far more valuable than she had initially imagined.
Potentially game-changing.
And strangely, as she watched him speak about his craft, she felt something else through her Aspect.
Passion.
Different from the strange warmth she had sensed from him when they first met, but no less genuine.
He loved this.
Not merely the usefulness of Memories or the profit he could earn from making them.
The craft itself.
Learning.
Experimenting.
Creating something that had not existed before.
Nephis understood that kind of devotion better than most.
Master Sunless picked up his drink again. "As for your sword, what you've described is possible. The difficult part will be making something that doesn't become useless to you in a few years."
Nephis's gaze sharpened.
He smiled faintly.
"You're clearly not someone who intends to remain where you are."
That much was obvious enough that Nephis did not consider it an intrusion.
"No."
"I thought so."
His gaze drifted toward her hands for a moment, perhaps imagining the weapon that would eventually rest within them.
"A sword made for an ordinary Awakened only needs to serve its purpose. A sword made for someone who will continue growing is more troublesome."
"Can you do it?"
Master Sunless considered the question seriously rather than answering immediately.
"Yes."
The certainty in his voice caught her attention.
"But I'll need more information eventually. Not your secrets," he added before she could respond. "Whatever you don't wish to share remains your business."
Nephis relaxed slightly.
"I'll need to understand how you actually use the weapon. Your preferred balance, length, weight, the stresses you place on the blade, how your essence interacts with it, and anything else you're comfortable showing me."
He smiled.
"A sword should be made for the person holding it. Otherwise, I'm simply making a sharp piece of metal and decorating it with enchantments."
Nephis found herself agreeing with the sentiment.
It was not so different from swordsmanship itself.
A battle art constructed without understanding the person using it could never truly belong to them.
"i can show yoy my sweordmenship." she offered.
"taht would be helpful." he said leaning forward.
Nepshis was a excited... and a little confused.
"I can show you my swordsmanship," Nephis offered.
"That would be helpful."
Master Sunless leaned forward slightly, clearly interested by the prospect.
Nephis was pleased by his answer... and a little confused.
"Master Sunless."
"Hm?"
"Do you always go to such lengths for your customers?"
He blinked.
Then he laughed.
"Oh, no. Not at all."
Nephis watched him carefully.
"Actually, I don't think I've gone this far for anyone since opening the café."
That only made her confusion grow.
Until now, he had spoken about creating her weapon as though the difficulty itself excited him. He wanted to study her swordsmanship, understand how she moved, how she used a weapon, how her essence interacted with it, and then design something specifically around her.
That was considerably more effort than a normal commission required.
"Then why me?"
Master Sunless paused.
Nephis felt something stir through her Aspect.
Passion.
Warm.
Sincere.
And unmistakably directed toward her.
For the briefest moment, an uncomfortable possibility entered her mind.
'Is he trying to impress me?'
Perhaps his earlier compliment had been more significant than she assumed.
Master Sunless smiled.
"Well... why wouldn't I?"
Nephis waited.
He spread one hand almost innocently.
"It's not every day a humble café owner such as myself receives the opportunity to make a sword for Lady Nephis."
Nephis froze.
His smile widened.
"Saint Nephis."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Changing Star."
Silence.
Master Sunless calmly took another sip of his drink.
Nephis stared at him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then she slowly asked, "You know who I am."
"I would hope so."
Her disguise was still active.
Black hair.
Altered features.
Nothing about her appearance resembled the face known throughout humanity.
"How?"
Master Sunless lowered his cup.
For once, his usual easy confidence seemed to falter slightly.
"Well..."
Another wave of emotion reached her.
Warmth.
Affection.
Something almost nostalgic.
Nephis's confusion deepened.
Master Sunless looked at her for a moment before smiling somewhat sheepishly.
"I've encountered quite a few beautiful women over the course of my Nightmares and my life as an Awakened."
Nephis remained silent.
"But when I first saw you..."
He hesitated.
Then continued sincerely.
"I couldn't help thinking that you were the most beautiful of them all."
Nephis blinked.
The passion she felt from him intensified.
There was no lust behind the words.
No hunger.
No desire to possess her.
Just an almost embarrassingly sincere appreciation.
Master Sunless gestured vaguely toward her disguised appearance.
"So changing your hair color and altering your features with a Memory wasn't really enough to stop me from recognizing you."
Nephis stared at him.
That...
was not the explanation she had expected.
He had recognized her simply because he remembered her face that well?
Master Sunless's confidence finally seemed to crack.
He rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled awkwardly.
"That sounded significantly less strange in my head."
Nephis said nothing.
"I do hope I'm not coming across as creepy."
His smile became slightly nervous.
"That wasn't my intention. Nor was I trying to be inappropriate."
Nephis continued studying him.
Through her Aspect, she could feel his embarrassment now mixing with the same warm passion from before.
He was telling the truth.
At least emotionally.
There was no malicious intent.
No hidden amusement at her expense.
He genuinely seemed worried that he had crossed a boundary.
"You remembered me that clearly?"
Master Sunless looked at her.
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
That somehow made it stranger.
Nephis considered asking where exactly he had seen her before, but stopped herself.
He had mentioned his Nightmares and his life as an Awakened.
There were countless possibilities.
Her image had been spread across the world for years. He could have seen her during any number of public appearances, broadcasts, ceremonies, or events.
Perhaps they had even crossed paths without her noticing.
Whatever the reason, demanding an explanation felt unnecessary.
He had respected her secrets.
She could respect his.
Still...
Nephis found herself looking at him differently.
"So you knew from the beginning."
"From the moment you walked through the door."
"And you pretended otherwise."
Master Sunless looked mildly offended.
"I never pretended anything."
"You allowed me to believe you didn't recognize me."
"That is very different."
Nephis stared at him.
He managed to maintain a perfectly serious expression for perhaps two seconds.
Then he smiled.
She almost sighed.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"You came here disguised."
His answer became more straightforward.
"I assumed you had a reason. It wasn't my place to announce your identity."
That—
Nephis could appreciate.
Her expression softened slightly.
Master Sunless seemed relieved.
"So I'm forgiven?"
"I haven't decided whether there is anything to forgive."
"I'll take that as promising."
Nephis ignored the comment and glanced toward the notes resting beside him.
"So all of this..."
She gestured toward them.
"The additional work."
Master Sunless followed her gaze.
"Ah."
His expression softened again.
Then he smiled.
"Like I said, Lady Nephis. Opportunities like this don't come very often."
His fingers rested lightly against the notes.
"If I'm going to make a sword for Changing Star..."
The passion within him rose once more.
"...I might as well make something worth placing in her hands."
Nephis went quiet.
For some reason, that compliment affected her considerably more than being called beautiful.
She understood pride in one's craft.
She understood the desire to create something worthy of another person's skill.
And Master Sunless seemed to understand that language as well.
Nephis looked toward him.
"I'll show you my swordsmanship."
His eyes brightened immediately.
"Excellent."
A faint smile touched her lips.
Perhaps Cassie had been right.
Master Sunless was considerably more interesting than he first appeared.
Some more time had passed after they finished their conversation.
Afternoon had arrived, and Aiko had gone on her break. Silence settled over the café with the morning crowd long gone and the next wave of customers still a few hours away.
Nephis walked toward the door, about to leave, when—
"Excuse me."
Master Sunless called out to her.
Nephis looked back in confusion.
Before she could ask anything, Sunny held out a bag.
Blinking, she accepted it.
"What is this?" she asked, peeking inside.
"A cake."
Nephis confirmed as much from the shape of the box inside the bag.
She looked back up questioningly.
Sunny took a step back, placing his hands behind his back.
A kind smile appeared on his face.
"You finished the slice I gave you earlier. I assumed you liked it, so I wanted to give you more."
Nephis blinked.
She had liked the slice.
Very much, in fact.
But in the flow of their conversation, she hadn't found it appropriate to ask for more. By the time they finished talking, she had already spent too much time here and needed to leave.
But it seemed Master Sunless had somehow heard her unspoken predicament.
A childish joy entered her heart at the thought of having more of the delicious cake.
And to top it off, it had been made by this kind Master—
The first person whose feelings toward her seemed so strangely pure and passionate.
'I wonder why?'
She couldn't help but wonder.
Nephis had many admirers.
Some respected her. Some worshiped her. Some feared her.
Even among her closest allies, there was always something.
Cassie's feelings were perhaps the closest, filled with something resembling sisterly love. The others held great respect for her, but even they possessed a certain hesitation when getting too close.
Master Sunless was different.
He did not seem intimidated by her.
Nor overwhelmed by her presence.
He simply...
Treated her normally.
Nephis cleared her throat and snapped herself out of her thoughts.
"Thank you. I'll make sure to try some more."
Sunny's smile brightened.
"I'm glad."
Nephis turned to leave.
"Lady Nephis."
She stopped.
'Hmm?'
"If you can, please try some more of our dishes here. Everyone says I'm great in the kitchen."
Nephis blinked at the offer.
"I don't have many customers. Just some regulars who drop by every day."
Sunny gestured vaguely toward the outside.
"You can come whenever you like. The outdoor tables are nearly always empty. No one will bother you."
Nephis stared at him.
This time, genuinely confused.
She quietly reached out with her senses, searching through what she could perceive of his emotions and desires.
There were no hidden motives.
No scheme.
No attempt to gain her favor.
Was Master Sunless...
'Is he offering me a place to relax?'
Her gaze wandered around the establishment.
The café was situated far outside the great cities, in what could almost qualify as the countryside. A peaceful lake stretched out before it, untouched by the noise and crowds she had grown accustomed to.
Honestly...
It was a relaxing place.
Quiet.
Secluded.
And if Master Sunless was offering her somewhere private to spend some time, accompanied by his cooking...
She wouldn't mind taking him up on the offer.
'It would also help with the swordsmanship,' she added to herself.
And, of course, the Fire Keeper had been right.
Master Sunless was indeed very handsome.
She would like to see Sunny again.
Some quiet time, good food, and his delicious sweets were simply additional benefits.
Nephis paused.
Then blinked.
'What am I thinking?'
The tips of her ears turned faintly red as her eyes inadvertently settled on Master Sunless's handsome face.
Sunny tilted his head at the blank look she was giving him.
He didn't seem particularly confused, though. His lips remained faintly curved upward.
Nephis lightly exhaled.
"I'll see if I can make use of that offer."
She paused.
"Thank you for your effort today. We'll meet soon, Master Sunless."
Sunny's smile widened.
"My pleasure."
Nephis politely left the café.
The door closed behind her.
...
Several minutes passed.
Master Sunless remained rooted to the same spot, seemingly lost in thought.
"Oh well."
His voice echoed through the now-empty café, unheard by anyone.
"I haven't really done this before."
He smiled to himself.
"If it's for you, I can push myself higher."
Plans and blueprints began forming in his mind.
"Yes... for someone like you, a Transcendent or Supreme Memory isn't enough. You'll simply outclass that piece of junk in no time."
He sighed.
Then Master Sunless smiled.
His next words came with the same casualness one might use when deciding what cake to bake tomorrow.
"For my Lady Changing Star..."
His smile deepened.
"I must make a Soul-Bound Memory."