Nephis, who had been quietly listening to Miguel's rambling, gave him an indecipherable look and finally spoke:
"Tell us more about the castle."
A shadow of excitement returned to Cassie's eyes. With a serious nod, she began to describe her vision.
"I dreamt of a vast, ruined city made of weathered stone. It was surrounded by tall, impregnable walls. Monsters wandered the narrow streets... but in the center of the city, there was a hill. And on that hill stood a magnificent castle."
She smiled, her voice growing brighter.
"But there were no monsters in the castle. Instead, it was full of people. I think... no, I'm sure they were Awakened. Some guarded the walls, others went about their lives without a care in the world. There was food, safety... laughter."
'What a convenient way to move the story forward...' Miguel thought.
But he didn't mind. At least now he wouldn't be wandering aimlessly.
Sunny cleared his throat.
"Did you see anything else?"
Cassie frowned in concentration, then suddenly lit up.
"Yes! I saw Sunny leading me through the castle gates. And... Miguel tearing someone's face off."
She blinked. "So that means we make it!"
Miguel narrowed his eyes, dumbfounded.
"What the hell? I'd never do something like that... probably."
Sunny laughed awkwardly.
Changing Star, of course, remained unreadable. After a moment of thought, she slowly nodded.
"Okay. Then we go west."
A while later, Miguel sat on the ground, watching Sunny slowly grow more comfortable around Nephis. It was subtle, but noticeable. Over time, Miguel noticed something else: Nephis wasn't cold or indifferent by nature — she was simply awkward. She wore that aloofness like armor, a shield to keep others at bay.
Sunny didn't seem all that interested in getting to know Cassie...
But Miguel did.
Cassie, in all her fragility, was someone who still radiated determination. Because of her Flaw, which left her blind, she often remained quiet — but before that, she had been social, open, even charismatic. Beneath her soft demeanor, though, was a girl who regretted being powerless. That's why she had been so overjoyed to have a vision — finally, something she could contribute.
Sure, Miguel found her useful. But he also liked people like her — people who were honest about their limitations but didn't let those limitations define them.
Miguel, for his part, carried a quiet sadness. No matter how much he tried to bury it, it always came back to the surface. Sometimes in sleep. Sometimes when he was alone. But especially on his birthday. That's when the loneliness hit hardest. That's when he cried — wishing, more than anything, that he'd never been born.
(Maybe someday he would explain why.)
His thoughts were interrupted.
Nephis, who had been silent until now, suddenly noticed Sunny was staring at her. She turned her head slightly and, after a pause, asked in her usual emotionless tone:
"...What?"
Sunny blinked, caught off guard by his own train of thought, and quickly cleared his throat.
"Uh, nothing. I was just going to ask when we're setting off."
Nephis looked like she was thinking. Then, she turned away.
"Soon."
Sunny forced a smile, masking whatever he felt.
"Ah. Alright then."
In the gray light of morning, they left the tall hill and ventured west, retracing yesterday's path. Knowing the way now, they made quick progress.
Nephis led the way, sword at the ready. Just behind her was Sunny, guiding Cassie with the golden rope. Cassie walked slowly but steadily. Behind her was Miguel, odachi sheathed, eyes unfocused — lost in thought.
Of course, the real leader of the expedition was Sunny's shadow, sliding silently ahead, scouting for danger.
The labyrinth hadn't changed. The crimson coral still jutted out from the mud like blades, the twisted forest stretching endlessly in every direction. And yet... today, something felt different.
Miguel felt it.
There was a presence up ahead. A mass of mindless fury and hunger.
Something lurking.
Something big.
Scavengers, longing to eat, to tear apart, to crush something between their maws...