Nephis and Cassie moved through the gloom, heading toward a hidden meeting chamber. Nephis was clad in her Starlight Armor, the spectral luminescence making her seem both powerful and dangerously cold. Cassie followed, her blindness an unnerving sign of focus in the surrounding darkness.
"Cass, we need to launch the expedition immediately, before Kane returns," Nephis stated, her voice tight with controlled urgency. "You understand this, right? We must solidify our position."
Cassie, cradling a her staff, responded with measured calm. "I understand that we need to strengthen our authority here first. If we find Kane, he will rejoin us naturally. But we still need a scout, and the best way to leverage a resource without ceding power is to outsource from Shakti's group."
Nephis's expression hardened. "We need absolute authority. Yet, the power here has fractured into a shared command. Even with Kane's absence, Shakti has made sure her faction sustains itself. She's capitalizing on his legacy, twisting his idealism."
Their discussion ended as they reached the meeting spot, a small, heavily shielded room inside the castle's core. Shakti and Seishan were already waiting, their postures defensive. Nephis and Cassie offered clipped greetings.
Nephis got straight to the point. "I summoned you because we are initiating an expedition for the shards very soon. I require a scout from your group."
Shakti and Seishan frowned, the atmosphere instantly turning frigid. Seishan, ever the formalist, spoke first. "What about Kane? Our deal was struck on the promise that Kane would be found through your efforts, and I would cooperate with him."
"We have exhausted our immediate search methods," Nephis lied smoothly, though her eyes betrayed a hidden guilt. "We have postponed the search for him. This shard is required for the escape from this wretched place."
Cassie stepped forward, her blind eyes seeming to pierce Seishan's reserve. "Look, I want to find Kane as much as you do, if not more. But this expedition is necessary to secure everyone's safety."
Shakti looked at both girls, her rage simmering just beneath the surface. "Fine. I will send you some trusted personnel from the scouting division."
After a tense, protracted argument, Seishan reluctantly agreed. Nephis, Cassie, and Shakti exited the chamber to finalize the arrangement.
As they walked in silence through a decaying courtyard, Nephis finally confronted her. "Shakti, why did you join him?"
Shakti stopped, her eyes blazing with furious conviction. "When you killed Andel, and Kane decided not to give his share of food—a life-saving resource—I talked to him. His reasoning was not selfish; it was brutal, necessary logic, and I decided to support his idea of self-reliance."
Cassie tried to inject reason. "But to save more lives, we need to be under a single, strong lead..."
Shakti exploded, the controlled rage finally escaping. "Don't try to manipulate me! I already know your true colors!" The air crackled with hostility.
Nephis and Cassie were genuinely stunned by the venom. Nephis took a moment, then spoke with forced authority. "Look, Kane has left this group for you to lead in your own way. You and he may have formed this Academy to train others for the hunt, but he left. Whatever the reason, you need to take the decision alone now."
Shakti fixed Nephis with a devastating look. "And who is the reason he left?" The question was a poisoned dagger. "Anyway, I will send your people for your expedition." She turned and left them in the cold shadow of the castle wall.
"What do you think will happen now?" Nephis murmured, watching Shakti's retreating figure.
Cassie's expression remained unsettlingly calm. "I hope she joins us at least. Then we can convince Kane and clear the misunderstanding, and we can escape from here. Everything will fall into its place, exactly as we planned."
Nephis shook her head, a deep paranoia taking root. "Still, we don't know who told Seishan about it, but my doubts point to Shakti."
They walked on, their alliance crumbling under the weight of Kane's absence and the pressure the Bright Lord. After some distance, Nephis and Cassie parted ways. Nephis took the market route, which, fatefully, would lead her to an accidental, and heavily-charged, meeting with Sunny
********
Shakti was walking near her camp, her thoughts a tumultuous storm. Nephis's words had cut deep, forcing her to confront the grim choice: forsake one person (Kane) or forsake the majority (the camp). But the sheer thought of replacing Kane felt like a moral betrayal she could not stomach. 'Unless he comes back, my situation will look like this—a constant battle for control,' she mumbled, frustration mounting.
As she reached the camp, she heard a collective gasp of shock.
"What happened?" Shakti yelled, sensing immediate danger.
One of her people, Barry, stumbled out. "Shakti, you need to come inside!"
Shakti rushed into the tent to find a figure sitting there—a man in black clothes, his auburn hair dishevelled. His face was a patchwork of fresh scars, and a thick, unsettling black tattoo—covered his hand.
It was Kane.
He looked up, a faint, almost chilling smile touching his lips. "How have you been?"
Shakti was stunned into momentary silence. "I am fine. How are you? Are you back completely?"
Kane's smile tightened, a painful expression. "Yeah, I have abandoned this for too much. I acted selfishly and pushed this burden to you. I am sorry for that."
Shakti, the pragmatist, immediately observed the terrifying shift in his demeanor. The eyes were older, colder, and beneath the surface bravado, she could see a flicker of overwhelming sorrow and a desperate, hunted quality. 'Something is making him sad, worried. I can clearly see the horror in him.'
"Is everything okay?"
"Let me tell you a way to escape from here," Kane said, launching into the desperate truth about Thrain's message and the shards.
Shakti frowned. "Nephis also got some of the shards. So you came for this?"
"Well, for that too, and do you have some disease healing plants?"
Shakti was immediately confused. "Disease healing? What happened?"
Kane quickly explained Philanias's life-threatening situation. Shakti was stunned, but the survivalist in her took over. "Okay, I can try some, but I can't guarantee things."
Kane stood up. "It's okay. I am meeting Nephis and Cassie. Apparently, they can help me with the other solution I have in my mind."
Shakti nodded, already thinking tactically. "Drop Philanias here. I want to meet the girl. By the way, Nephis asked for a scout for her expedition. Look into it and see whether you can go. For more details, go and meet them."
Kane nodded, his mission now twofold: healing and the Dawn Shard. He left immediately to confront Nephis.
*****
The council was assembled in a large room overlooking a wide window that presented an eerily breathtaking view of the decaying Dark City. A massive map, littered with strategic markings, hung beside it.
Around a large wooden table sat the core members. Effie was there, her feet resting unceremoniously on the table, looking utterly relaxed. Next to her was Cassie, the beautiful blind girl, holding a cup in her delicate hands, her composure unnerving. Nephis and Caster stood near the map, discussing the strategy. Sunny and Kai were also present, sitting at the table.
Sunny, tired of the hushed tones, broke the silence. "So... what did you guys want to discuss?"
Caster paused, looking nervous. "Uh, Lady Nephis, shouldn't we wait for the Shakti group member to arrive?"
Nephis glanced sharply at Sunny. "No need. We already have the person we need."
A hoarse, world-weary voice cut across the room, demanding attention. "Oh, I see. So, care to explain why it is not needed?"
The entire group spun around, a collective wave of disbelief washing over them. Kane was standing in the doorway, his presence a shocking return from the ruins. He looked like a wild thing—scarred, and radiating a menance energy.
Sunny observed the reactions: Cassie was delighted, a flicker of joy crossing her cold face; Nephis was stunned, her composure completely shattered; even the unflappable Effie and Caster were frozen by the unexpected return.
"What did I miss?" Sunny asked, genuinely perplexed.
Kane walked close to him, his eyes carrying the weight of a thousand deaths. "You missed a lot, Sunny."
He surveyed the others. Nephis was clearly stronger. Sunny was stronger, too, but seemed constantly alarmed. Effie and Caster were unchanged. But the most significant change was in Cassie—she had turned much colder, a deep, frightening stillness surrounding her. 'Well, people change too,' Kane thought, acknowledging the cost of survival in this nightmarish world.
He saw the new person. "And who might you be?"
The man smiled easily. "I am Kai, Night of the Nightingale."
Kane's lips curled in a chilling, mad smile. "Nope. Never heard of it."
Kai's smile remained fixed.
Cassie broke the tension. "You returned after all."
"Yeah, I did," Kane replied, then fixed his hateful gaze on Nephis. "Just get to the point, Star."
Nephis, recovering her poise, said, "Nice for you to come, Kane."
The hatred in his eyes was visible enough for everyone to sense. Cassie quickly interjected, trying to save the meeting. "Let's start the meeting."
Nephis and Caster exchanged glances. Caster walked over and closed the door, then summoned a Memory that looked like a bone flute and placed it on the table. Immediately, something in the room imperceptibly changed, the air growing thick and isolated.
"What is that thing?" Sunny asked.
Caster answered. "This Memory has an enchantment that creates a cone of silence. No one outside this room will be able to hear what we're talking about now."
Kane understood: the topic was about the escalating war with the Bright Lord, Gunlaug.
Sunny sighed. "So, the Bright Lord is finally ready to obliterate you all? Can't say that I'm surprised. If anything, it's strange that he didn't make a move much earlier."
Effie giggled nervously. "Oh, did he ever…"
Nephis silenced her with a look and turned to Sunny. "You are right. The Bright Lord is indeed about to make a move. We and Shakti have withstood his previous attacks, but they were just a rehearsal. A few provocations to test our strength. Now, he is ready to act in earnest. And that's why I need both of your help."
Kane scoffed. "It seems my absence affected Shakti a lot. Well, now I am here, I can see through it."
Sunny raised an eyebrow at Kane's arrogance. "How can a cockroach like me help the great and mighty Changing Star of the Immortal Flame clan?"
Effie gave Kane, Sunny, and Nephis a strange look, then cleared her throat. "Don't take it to heart, princess, but I sort of agree with Sunny. What can this little imp… uh, no offense, Sunny… do that we can't? I mean, he is a decent scout, but..." She turned her critical gaze on Kane. "I saw Kane fight against you. He almost killed you. But don't we already have front-line fighters? Don't take it to heart, Monto-Maniac."
Kane looked at her seriously, his eyes sharp. Sunny was genuinely shocked to hear that Kane and Nephis had fought and that Kane had almost killed her. Even Kai was surprised. Sunny looked at Kane, confused. 'I need to explain this guy,' Kane thought, knowing the secrets he held.
Sunny spoke, glaring at Effie. "Hey! Offense taken!"
Changing Star smiled faintly, then looked at Sunny. "Don't be misled by his act, Effie. Sunny might behave like a cowardly weakling, but in fact, he's the last person in the Dark City I would want to face in combat. He is far more dangerous than anyone thinks he is. Isn't it right, Sunny?"
The smile froze on Sunny's face. After a few silent, tense moments, Sunny sighed. "Oh well. I guess the secret is out of the box. Surprise, everybody! I am actually not a weakling. Who could have thought?"
He glared at Effie and added in a mocking, low tone: "Oh. My mistake. Actually, everyone except for you already knew. It seems that you are…"
Nephis interrupted him. "That's why he was able to survive three months in the ruins, just like he had survived two in the Labyrinth. Sunny is an extremely formidable fighter." She paused, her voice hardening. "...He's just a bit of a devious asshole. But that's exactly what makes him so dangerous."
Looking at Effie, Sunny shrugged and smirked. "If you don't believe her, just ask Night."
Suddenly dragged into the conversation, Kai coughed, hesitated, and then said: "Uh… yes, I can confirm. He is indeed a bit of an asshole."
Sunny's face twitched. "Not that! Tell them how I saved you!"
Kai fluttered his eyelashes with an innocent look, then added: "Oh, right. Indeed, Sunny saved me in the ruins last night. He is a very exceptional and resourceful individual."
Sunny glanced at Effie. "See, Night has known me for just one night, but even he was able to see how fearsome I am. You and I, on the other hand, had hunted together for an entire month. How come you're so dense?"
Nephis looked at Kane. "As for Kane..."
Kane cut her off, raising a hand. The movement was sharp, aggressive. He pointed at a marked location on the map of the ruins. "You must know what is here, right?"
Effie looked at the point, confusion turning to disgust. "It was the camp of the Blood Growlers. Nasty piece of work, usually dangerous. For some reason, they vanished. We were planning to attack."
Kane's terrifying, maniacal smile returned, the look of a man who had ripped flesh with his teeth. "You are looking at the reason."
Everyone in the cone of silence shuddered. The Blood Growlers were known to be a vicious, organized, thousand-strong cult of murderous creatures.
Effie stared at him, her usual bravado gone. "How? Those are nasty pieces of shit. How many guys helped you?"
Kane's eyes were cold, feral. "None. In a sense."
The stunned silence of the assembled group was the only answer he needed. He had returned, not as their lost leader, but as a savage, two-cored Monster capable of erasing entire campd.
"Let's start the meeting already," Kane commanded, his voice dark, ending the discussion with terrifying finality.
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