'What revelations…'
Anathan couldn't help but be amazed by Cassie's Seer ability. Truthfully, he wasn't a fan of fate. He remembered a certain character he liked who believed in the saying: "Do what's necessary, not because it is written." Well, in this case, spoken.
Cassie's vision was entirely eerie. If anything, he could already start mixing and matching where he might fit in the prophecy. Familiar lines stirred memories he thought he'd buried.
'A Tree…'
Still, he didn't let that possibility take root. Instead, he turned to Nephis.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"A way out. That's all there is to it," Nephis replied calmly.
'What an obsessive girl. But she's not wrong. There is a way out—humans, a war, a future! Strange how I'm not even involved in the later parts…'
Anathan didn't dwell too much on that specific detail. He'd learned from his favorite character that prophecies had many interpretations. That's what made them dangerous—thinking this must mean that. It was better to act in the moment, without being tied down by vague destinies.
He echoed the thought in his head again:
"Do what's necessary, not because it is written."
Anathan exhaled. "Cassie, treat yourself better. You've seen things none of us could. That's what matters. From now on, leave the hard labor to me... and Nephis."
"As for what you mentioned, I'm naturally skeptical. About... fate. No offense. Not that I don't believe you, but knowledge is a heavy burden. Misinterpreting it could lead to disaster. So, let's not dwell on the future—let's focus on now."
Cassie smiled gently. "It's both a gift and a curse. Thank you."
"Speaking of the moment," Anathan said, turning to both girls, "this moment calls for us to understand each other better. Don't you think? If we're going to travel together, it's best we lay our cards on the table—abilities, Memories, formations, tactics."
Cassie seemed to understand where he was going. Nephis… remained still, statue-like.
"I'll go first," Cassie volunteered. "Since it's not a secret."
She hugged her knees and continued. "I have an affinity for revelations and fate. I can sense people's attributes if they're nearby. My Memories are a Wooden Staff that can create wind, the Endless Spring—which produces water—and the armor I'm wearing. It's Awakened rank, lent by Nephis."
'Oh… so it belongs to her…' Anathan instinctively recalled Nephis's barely clothed figure, burned forever into his memory. He coughed, cleared his throat, and moved on.
"Thanks, Cassie. I'll go next."
"I'm actually decent at surviving, thanks to an overlooked course at the Academy. Shoutout to Teacher Julius—if we make it out of here, you both owe him. Without his class, I wouldn't have served you those delicious meals earlier."
The girls exchanged a look… and oddly, seemed to agree.
"Anyway," Anathan continued, "I have a strong affinity for magic. I can cast spells—ones you've probably never heard of—but they're limited and pretty specific. I've got two Memories: a wand and a sword. Other than that, my greatest asset is my brain. I never forget anything."
"You mean… you made your armor yourself?" Cassie asked.
"Naturally. Oh, and speaking of that—Miss Nephis over here still isn't wearing proper clothes." Anathan grinned. "As a welcoming gift, I'll make you some."
The fire had burned out. The sky above was dark now. It was too dim to see their faces, but… he felt the shift in energy.
'Did I say something wrong…?'
To break the awkwardness, he quickly added, "Okay, uh, now Nephis—your turn."
He heard the rustle of seaweed as Nephis shifted near the entrance, and after a pause, she finally spoke.
"My attributes give me an affinity for light and fire," she said. "I also have a strong alignment with divinity. My two Memories are a rope… and a sword. The rope is durable and can change length. The sword is sharp and provides limited protection from soul-type attacks. My Ability… can be used for healing."
'Fire. A healer! That's… convenient.'
"Are you good with the sword too?" Anathan asked, trying to confirm something he'd heard back at the Academy. There had been rumors that Caster had beaten her in a combat class, but that was just bare-handed.
After another pause, Nephis replied, "I am confident."
Her tone was flat. But for the first time, Anathan realized something about her.
She was awkward.
He recalled earlier encounters today, and those fleeting glimpses back at the Awakened Academy. The way she spoke, moved, answered—everything. She wasn't just stoic. She was painfully awkward.
Anathan nearly laughed—but kept a straight face, mimicking her expression, even if it was hard to see in the dark.
'So the Changing Star... was socially constipated. Huh.'
The three of them continued to share more about themselves and discuss possible strategies. Anathan, in particular, went into detail—sharing his experiences around the statue, his observations, his encounters with the Scavengers, and finally…
"I'll take watch," Nephis announced.
Anathan was surprised. All those nights, he had been used to a state of half-sleep, where his body instinctively reacted to every strange noise. Yet he'd been fortunate—never once encountering one of the great sea monsters, nor receiving an unwelcome visit from a Scavenger. It had been, admittedly, weirdly peaceful.
And now, someone else was taking watch.
For the first time, he could actually sleep—fully sleep—without worry. Comfortably, even.
Though… that would break the habit he'd worked hard to build.
Still, he didn't argue with Nephis. It must've taken a lot for her to say that.
He chuckled to himself.
"Sure. Wake me up if you get tired—I'll take the next. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Nephis. Goodnight, Ana," Cassie whispered with a soft yawn. Anathan could tell—her tone was lighter than before.
Nephis didn't leave the tent. Instead, she positioned herself near the flapping seaweed curtain, keeping watch from within.
Anathan lay comfortably inside, resting on a mesh of dark seaweed that made the floor surprisingly soft.
'Today went well. Just warmth, food, and voices other than mine. It deserved the 'goodnight'.'
With that happy thought, Anathan unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
***
Anathan woke up after a few hours of comfortable sleep. It was his turn to take the watch so Nephis could rest.
The tent was dark, but he was familiar with the layout inside.
"Nephis… my turn now. You can rest," Anathan whispered. Only the sound of waves and the wind brushing against the Scavenger-hide tent answered him, but it was enough to be heard by those inside.
There was no immediate reply, but he caught subtle movement near the entrance. He also glanced in Cassie's direction—her breathing was slow and steady, clearly asleep.
'Good.'
"I'm not… tired," came Nephis's quiet reply.
"Oh…"
'It would be rude to go back to sleep now…' Anathan hesitated, unsure of what to do next. 'People like her really are built different.'
"Then, I guess it's fine to have company for the night," he offered.
Besides, he had an idea for the welcoming gift he'd been planning for her.
"Sleep. Tomorrow, you'll show us what you discovered," Nephis said.
"I'd feel guilty, you know—sleeping while a princess keeps watch." He didn't move from his spot and instead reached for some seaweed and tools nearby to begin crafting. Even in the dark, his memory and sense of touch were enough.
They sat in silence. Anathan wanted to ask questions—he had plenty—but wasn't sure how to begin.
Might as well try.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Hm?"
"Something that's been on my mind since…"
After a few heartbeats, she replied, "Okay."
"I had my assumptions, but I'm still not certain," Anathan began quietly. "You came into the Academy wearing a police jumpsuit like someone from the outskirts."
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"During the induction, no one seemed to recognize you. But later, in the cafeteria, everything changed. Your name and your true name were revealed in the rankings after the interview, and suddenly everyone saw you differently. It wasn't like you were hiding… but that one revelation flipped the way the Legacies looked at you. They started treating you like someone standing above even them."
He leaned forward slightly.
"My question is: which Great Clan are you from?"
His words seemed to drift into the quiet. Then, finally, Nephis answered.
"I'm what's left of the Immortal Flame Clan."
'Immortal Flame… Broken Sword… Smile of Heaven...' A great clan, once celebrated in human history. Now gone.
And the girl before him—their daughter.
'So it was only right that I called her princess…'
Anathan had skimmed many books in the Academy library, testing his attribute to its limit. The history of the Waking World was still fresh in his mind.
"I see… I'm sorry if I touched a sensitive subject," he said, continuing to pin seaweed into the soft lining of a Scavenger shell.
"My turn."
He paused. "Sure."
'I hope it's nothing strange…'
"Do you know the legend of Odysseus?"
He hadn't come across it in any Academy records, but the name rang a bell. A story from the Earth he once knew.
"No. But I'd like to hear it."
After a brief pause, Nephis began softly:
"Odysseus was a hero in an ancient war. In the legends, some humans had powers akin to the Awakened. Achilles had an Aspect of an indestructible body. Diomedes was so ferocious that even the God of War feared him. Ajax was said to be as strong as a giant. But Odysseus—he wasn't the strongest or the bravest. He was the most cunning."
"In the end, it was his cunning that ended the war. He prepared to sail home, but the gods cursed him to wander endlessly across the sea, never returning. Over the years, he survived one horror after another and lost all his companions. Shipwrecked, he ended up on an island where the beautiful fairy Calypso lived."
"Calypso fell in love with Odysseus and brought him to her palace. For years, they lived together in harmony. The island was a paradise, filled with wonders, delicacies, and every comfort. With her, Odysseus even gained immortality. But… as time passed, he spent more and more days sitting on the shore, staring at the sea with bleak eyes."
"In the end, he built a makeshift boat and left, leaving the island, the fairy, and even his immortality behind."
A pause.
"So my question is… why did he leave?"
Anathan sat still, absorbing the story.
'Now I understand… where the obsessiveness comes from.'
His perspective on Nephis shifted. She wasn't just an awkward person. Not just an orphaned legacy. Not just someone who had a heart for the weak—she was someone with indomitable will, carrying mountains of trauma, and maybe… impossible goals.
He also couldn't help but suspect that the fall of her clan, based on the clues he'd gathered, was more than just a tragedy. History, after all, was written by the victors.
"Maybe… he left because he broke the curse," Anathan said quietly, tying off the last stitch. "Or because staying felt worse than going."
"By the way," he added with a smirk, "your storytelling's way better than your small talk. I'd give it… nine out of ten."
He seemed to have triggered some kind of reaction, though he couldn't tell what it was. But then, she spoke—this time, quieter.
"You keep watch. I… need rest."
'Eh?'
"Okay…"
'I didn't even get to know if my answer was correct.'