The moment the runes ignited, every human inside the special realm stiffened, their bodies taut with unspoken tension, brimming with emotions that wavered across a wide spectrum. Some trembled with excitement, others felt a creeping sense of trepidation, and still others remained utterly impassive, their cold expressions betraying nothing—such was the nature of the Wretch of Swords. Yet, despite the differences in temperament, there was one emotion that lingered among them all, weaving through the air like a shared current—curiosity.
Curiosity about the being they were meant to witness. Speculations spiraled in hushed thoughts, slipping like whispers through their minds. *Was this to be a revelation of some divine entity? A sacred one? Or perhaps an ancient, monstrous horror, lurking in the depths of forgotten history, waiting patiently to devour lost souls?* That curiosity united them, sharp and undeniable.
And so, when the runes flared brighter and a projection shimmered into existence, casting its light into the realm, every gaze was drawn to it. But what they saw left them dumbfounded.
[There was a rustle, and a gentle breeze caressed his face. He awoke slowly, allowing himself to enjoy the sweet moments of comfort and peace that dwelled on the edge between dream and wakefulness]
Disappointment spread through the assembly like a wave. They had expected harrowing secrets, a glimpse into truths of the Dream Realm, or the visage of some unfathomable existence. Instead, before them appeared a seemingly normal human—ordinary, at least at first glance. Yet, even so, there was no denying the quiet beauty of the figure displayed upon the screen.
Effie narrowed her eyes sharply, recognition stirring.
"Is that—" she began, but her words were suddenly cut off by a loud, childish voice that echoed through the grand hall—no, the realm itself.
"Uncle Sunny!" Ling's bright, innocent cry resounded, echoing far more powerfully than its childishness should have allowed.
Instantly, the entire atmosphere shifted. Dozens of intense gazes snapped toward Effie, whose expression tightened at the weight of their stares. Morgan, wearing a sharp, cutting smile, tilted her head.
"Saint Athena, raised by wolves… please, do help us understand why your son seems to know the person shown upon the screen?"
Effie met Morgan's look with a subtle glare of her own, before finally answering with a calm firmness.
"He is Master Sunless—the proprietor of a cafe where we supply ingredients from the beast farm."
Morgan's sharp smile faltered, her voice lowering into a whisper, as though speaking to herself.
"…A master?"
And yet, the whisper carried weight, shaking the gathering to its core. Saints and sovereigns, both living and dead, enemies and allies alike, all sat watching the revelation with shock written across their faces. For such an unassuming figure to be addressed as a master—it seemed absurd, almost insulting. And yet, the weight of the title could not be denied.
All, that is, except for two. Little Ling, who beamed with happiness at seeing her "Uncle Sunny," and Rain—who, from the very moment she laid eyes on him, turned pale as though stricken, her entire body trembling as if she had glimpsed a ghost from the deepest shadows.
[W-why is my idiotic teacher on the screen? More importantly, during this very time he was with me in my shadow… so how is he somewhere else as well?] Rain thought, her mind spiraling.
[His bed was soft, warm, and cozy… today, it was especially hard to abandon its familiar embrace. After a while, he sighed and opened his eyes. The sun was yet to rise, but the sky outside his window had already started to brighten. The wind blowing from the lake made the curtains flutter, filling the modest bedroom with the delightful smell of freshness. Even after all these years, Sunny was still sometimes startled at how clean and pure the air of the Dream Realm was]
Now that they could truly see his face in detail, the collective astonishment only deepened. Sunny's features were breathtaking, his beauty striking in a way that carried both fragility and quiet strength. And then came his smile—a radiant, disarming thing, almost divine.
"Wow… he's very handsome," *Smile of Heaven* admitted with a faint smile of her own, her words sparking more than one ripple of tension. Sunny's image earned a sharp glare from Broken Sword, and another from Nephis—though in her case, the reaction unsettled her. She didn't know why her mother's praise of him stung, only that it did. And, even as she struggled against it, she couldn't deny the truth—he really was beautiful.
"Well, he certainly looks good enough to be a flower boy," Jet remarked with a smirk, earning nods of reluctant agreement from more than a few.
[He took a few deep breaths, rubbed his face, and rose from the bed. His room was not very large and not very luxurious. However, it was very cozy. There was a bed, a nightstand, a case with various books crowding the shelves, a writing desk, and a simple dresser. The furniture was made out of natural wood, crafted with affection and care. There were a few decorations added here and there, as well as plenty of signs of the room being well lived-in.
Well, of course it was. He had been spending his nights here for a long time, after all]
The sight of such a simple, ordinary room tugged at Nephis's heart with unexpected force. *So normal…* she thought, a fleeting pang of longing piercing her. *Would I have had a room like this, had my parents lived?* Her gaze drifted to her mother and father before she shook her head firmly, banishing the thought.
"He is so beautiful… like a porcelain doll," Death Singer mused aloud, her voice tinged with quiet admiration. The comment, however, immediately earned her a glare from Nephis, whose annoyance surprised even herself.
"His appearance is certainly above that of the average Ascended," Ki Song said, her calm tone carrying an undercurrent as she tried to draw her daughters into discussion. They nodded quietly, unable to deny it.
[Putting on simple clothes and summoning the Nebulous Mantle, Sunny yawned, tied his hair back, and left the bedroom.
He splashed some water in his face, then went to the kitchen and brewed himself a large cup of strong, fragrant coffee.
Finally, holding the steaming mug, he left the house and sat down on the porch, intending to enjoy his coffee while watching the sun rise.
It was rather hard to get his hands on coffee beans in the Dream Realm, but today, Sunny wanted to pamper himself. It was his birthday, after all.]
The sight of the mantle caught the attention of Ananke, who noted immediately how similar it was to her own. Meanwhile, ancient saints like Solvane and Noctis stirred with visible surprise at the ease with which such enchanted items were summoned from nothingness. Daeron and Windflower, however, maintained their impassive composure, watching silently.
"When was his birthday?" Rain suddenly asked aloud, her voice almost trembling as the runes flared in answer.
[His birthday is on the day of winter solstice]
Rain blinked, her thoughts spiraling into confusion.
*Winter solstice… he was with me on that day. How could he be in two places at once?*
Seeing her question answered, Morgan quickly followed with her own.
"Is he a master?" she asked, her tone sharp and commanding.
But to her displeasure, the runes did not ignite, and the silence was met with mocking glances from Mordret and the Song sisters.
The silence was broken when Song Seishan asked the same question.
"Is he a master?"
Again, the runes remained unresponsive. Yet the shift in the air was clear—eyes turned, narrowing, toward Rain. The mundane girl. Why had her question been answered, and not theirs?
"How old is he?" Ki Song finally asked, her voice carrying a hidden edge.
The runes remained silent once more. The stare she fixed upon Rain was unmistakable: *you must ask*.
"H-how old is he?" Rain stammered, recoiling slightly beneath the heavy, suffocating gazes of Sovereigns, Saints, alike—gazes that seemed to evaluate her very existence.
This time, the runes flared.
[He is 26 and thousands of years old at the same time… no further questions will be entertained]
The entire realm fell into uneasy silence, all eyes fixed on Rain once more. None could fully understand why the runes responded to her and not to Sovereigns or Saints, but the truth was undeniable. Whatever strange connection existed between her and the man on the screen, it had elevated her, if only for a moment, above those who considered themselves the apex of humanity.
And then, the viewing resumed.
[He was turning twenty-six. …Of course, no one in the world knew that.]
The words sank into the audience like drops of heavy lead. For some, they were mere curiosity, but for others, they confirmed the unspoken—this figure was indeed the Forgotten One, the one they had been summoned to witness.
Broken Sword's voice, low and cutting, broke the silence.
"Is it possible for someone to be completely forgotten… for no one in the world to know of their existence?" His eyes were narrowed, fixed intently on the projection.
"Well," Smile of Heaven replied with calm detachment, "since the advent of the Spell, countless things have come to pass. Perhaps this is simply his flaw."
Her words carried little comfort. Jet, Anvil, and Morgan were living -in case of jet dead- examples. They, too, knew the weight of flaws—each a curse harsh enough to shape their destinies. If his flaw was truly to be forgotten, then it was no less cruel than their own.
[Taking the first sip of his coffee, Sunny smiled slightly and looked up. A few of the brightest stars could still be seen, shining in the pale lavender expanse of the morning sky. Just at that moment, the gentle sun finally crested the dark line of the distant horizon, imbuing the sky with a beautiful golden radiance. The soft twilight of dawn was imbued with a hint of bright daylight.]
The scene shifted into something breathtaking. The dawning sky, painted in hues of lavender and gold, seemed almost too beautiful to be real. For a moment, the entire realm was silent, captivated.
"It looks… so beautiful," Windflower murmured, her voice softened with wonder.
Effie smirked faintly, eyes flicking to the radiant figure.
"And he is quite pleasing to the eye, as well."
Reluctantly, the Song sisters agreed, their usual resistance crumbling beneath the undeniable. It wasn't just women—even the men could not deny that the man named Sunny was striking, almost unearthly in his beauty.
[Despite the beautiful sight, Sunny felt a bit of melancholy. He looked down with a wistful smile. '…I am older than Mom was when she passed now.']
The sudden shift into his thoughts cast a heavy pall over the assembly. A subtle melancholy crept in, threading through their hearts like a quiet poison. Many there had lost parents to the tyranny of the Nightmare Spell, or children, or spouses. Loss was a wound they all shared.
Even Nephis, whose outward expression remained unchanged, could not stop the gloom from settling within her heart. Her gaze slid briefly toward her parents. Gone. Both of them. The weight pressed on her chest, silent yet suffocating.
Sensing her daughter's shift in mood, Smile of Heaven leaned close, wrapping her in a tender embrace, her voice soft yet steady.
"We will always be there for you, dear… whether in life or in the grave."
Broken Sword placed a firm, steadying hand on Nephis's head, silent but resolute. The warmth of their presence contrasted the grief that lingered in the air.
Nearby, Ki Song, though her expression remained impassive, subtly shifted closer to her own daughters. Effie, on the other hand, wasted no restraint, hugging Ling tightly while her nameless husband sat quietly at her side.
[It was a strange feeling. When Sunny was a child, his mother was the definition of an adult to him, and adults were magical creatures who possessed wondrous and incredible powers. But now, he was an adult himself, which was why he was able to realize… that his mother had been a kid herself.]
The weight in the air grew even heavier. The truth was universal—every child once thought their parents were invincible, immortal heroes who could conquer anything. Only with age did one realize that parents, too, had once been fragile children, thrust into a cruel world.
[She was gone, but both her children were alive and doing well. There was precious solace and consolation in that fact, so Sunny did not feel too sad. Well, alive was a given, but he wasn't too sure about doing well. During these last four years, he had gone through a long rough patch… and had even done a few very stupid things. Still, it was looking better now. This peaceful morning he was able to enjoy was proof.]
Kai tilted his head slightly, his voice carrying faint disbelief.
"He doesn't strike me as someone who might do stupid things."
Cassie, Effie, and Jet nodded quietly in agreement, but Morgan's lips pressed into a faint frown.
"So… he has a sibling, then?" Broken Sword muttered softly. His eyes lingered on Sunny with pity that was almost painful to watch. "And yet… one who may not even remember him. Truly, a pitiful existence."
[Sunny watched as sunlight finally reached the lake and reflected on its clear surface. The lake was vast and picturesque, so calm that its surface was like a mirror. A grandiose, magnificent white castle rose from the lake, with vermilion flags fluttering on its many towers. It almost seemed too beautiful to be real, like something from a fairy tale. But, of course, it was truly there. The beautiful castle of white stone was Bastion, the Great Citadel of Clan Valor, where the King of Swords held his court.]
"Bastion…" Morgan muttered, her gaze sliding toward the saints stationed there. Anvil's glanced at her, cold and sharp, as she nodded while looking at the valor saints. "So he resides there, hmm?"
"Hmph!" Broken Sword's venomous voice cut through the air. "So, the bastard dares go about calling himself the King of Swords? You traitorous wretch!" His glare locked onto Anvil, who returned it with fire of his own.
"Says the one who was willing to risk the entire hum—" Anvil's voice was abruptly cut short. His mouth vanished from his face altogether. The viewing froze.
[Everything will be revealed in due time. Do not reveal any sensitive information.]
Anvil stumbled in shock, eyes wide, before his mouth returned. The Sovereigns present exchanged grim looks, the truth dawning in their hearts. Whatever entity orchestrated this viewing, its power was far beyond theirs.
[After the Sovereigns had revealed themselves, most of the remaining civilian population of the Southern Quadrant — around two hundred million people — was evacuated directly to the Dream Realm, divided between Bastion and Ravenheart, and gradually funneled into lesser Citadels. Later, the Dream Gates were opened in the other Quadrants, and even more mundane people received a chance to relocate into the Dream Realm.
Even if few understood the true meaning of these events, the gradual exodus of humanity from the waking world had already begun. For now, most of those who left were from the fringes of society — people who did not possess citizenship, and therefore did not receive their share of the scarce resources needed to live a proper life on the dying Earth. But Sunny knew more than most. He had no doubt that, sooner or later, everyone would leave… if they were given enough time. As the years passed, the situation in the waking world would gradually turn worse and worse.
There would be more Nightmare Gates, more powerful Nightmare Creatures, and less space for humans to exist. Until the entire world was swallowed by the Dream Realm.]
Confusion swept the ancient humans like a storm. Terms like Dream Realm, Southern Quadrant, waking world left them reeling.
"What?" Smile of Heaven's voice broke with shock. "Humanity is being evacuated to the Dream Realm? And Earth itself… swallowed by it?"
Nephis nodded grimly, her tone steady though suspicion clouded her gaze as she looked upon Sunny's image.
"Yes. In the recent years… after Antarctica fell, Nightmare Gates of categories three and four began appearing with alarming frequency. This is not public knowledge. How he knows of it…" She trailed off, her suspicion clear, but deep in her heart, she couldn't shake the belief that he was no villain.
Broken Sword and Smile of Heaven exchanged heavy glances, weighed down by revelations. Even the ancient humans shifted uncomfortably. Antarctica fallen… Category Four Gates opening… the world itself being devoured.
"He knows far too many secrets for a mere master," Anvil said darkly, his gaze colder than ice as it fixed on the figure drinking coffee upon the screen.
His lips were pressed straight in a thin line as he spoke in a dry voice. "Uncle Jest… once we return, you know what must be done."
Jest bowed with a thin, dangerous smile.
[Bastion looked very pretty and picturesque. It was also usually quite lively.
This early in the morning, however, most people were still asleep, which was why Sunny was able to enjoy his coffee surrounded by peaceful silence. …Oh, he owned a house in Bastion as well. More than that, it was a house many would be jealous of.
Although not as prestigious as being able to live in the castle itself, his property was on the very shore of the lake, with its back windows opening straight to the water. It was an elegant one-story cottage, which was seemingly built from brown bricks, with a sloping tiled roof and a tall chimney. There was a small garden in the back and a neat lawn in front of it, with herbs and flowers growing in ceramic pots. Since it was situated at the end of the street, few people ever passed by.]
Cassie smiled softly. "His house looks so nice and cozy…"
"Indeed," Nephis murmured, her tone quieter than usual.
[If they did pass by, however, they would have seen a modest sign hanging above the door of the cottage. It read:
['Sunny's Brilliant Emporium: Café & Memory Boutique.']
"So these memories…" Daeron muttered under his breath, "are they enchanted items?"
"Yes," Julius, the old professor, answered after a pause, his gaze calm upon the screen. "Memories are fragments of enchanted items—whether weapons, armor, or charms. They are given by the spell for defeating nightmare creatures ."
[As the city was slowly waking up, Sunny finished his coffee and leaned back, enjoying his last moments of peace. He did not have a lot of regular customers, but there were some. They were probably going to start arriving soon, which meant that he would be busy for the next few hours. Before that, however…
He glanced at his shadow, his gaze becoming distant for a moment. Then, a familiar voice whispered into his ear:
[You have slain a Great Demon.]
[Your shadow grows stronger.]
The words sent a ripple of shock through the hall. Even the most stoic among them faltered, expressions betraying disbelief.
"What?" Anvil's usually cold mask cracked, his eyes widening ever so slightly as they gained there usual composure along with a glare fixed at sunny
"How…?" Ki Song's voice carried sharp disbelief, her composure fraying as her mind raced. She had killed many great nightmare creatures as well some even above the classes of this creature...yet that was because they were sovereign not masters
"G-Great Nightmare Creatures?" Smile of Heaven's voice quivered as memories surfaced—those towering abominations that had forced retreat after retreat, claiming lives in waves. "Those monsters that we could barely escape from in North America… and he killed one? Effortlessly? Just like that?"
The realization settled like a thunderclap. A simple master could not possibly slay a Corrupted, let alone a Great Demon.
"A master cannot kill even a corrupted demon, much less a Great Nightmare Creature," Morgan said, her sharp eyes narrowing with calculation. Her words were spoken with certainty, yet disbelief lingered beneath them.
*Could he… perhaps be a bearer of a divine Aspect?* Nephis's thoughts twisted like a knife inside her. *But no, even that does not explain this. Killing a Great Demon with nothing but a shadow?* Her gaze sharpened, suspicion cutting at her heart, though strangely, a flicker of something else—fear, awe, recognition—burned beneath it.
"I knew something was wrong with this man," Broken Sword spat, his hostility thick, voice dripping venom. His glare cut at the image on the screen, an animosity that seemed too raw to belong to a stranger. *The infuriating man had earned a compliment from his wife whilst unaware and besides that...he just really really had a bad feeling about him like he was going to steal someone important to him*
"Well… this is certainly intriguing," Seishan murmured, her voice devoid of outward emotion. Yet, within her heart, even she—an exalted saint—felt a tremor. She had faced Great Demons herself. To claim their lives demanded the utmost sacrifice. And here was a man, drinking coffee casually while doing so. The incongruity was staggering.
*I-is he… truly a dark deity?* Rain's thoughts spiraled wildly. Her teacher, the one she had trusted, appeared in two places at once. He was drinking coffee in Bastion, killing Great Demons with shadows, and yet, he had also been with her in Ravenheart. The contradictions frightened her, leaving her uncertain if she should trust or fear him.
[The viewing has ended]
[5 questions have been awarded]
[2 for Valor, 2 for Song, and 1 for Changing Star]
The hall erupted into murmurs as factions huddled together, their voices sharp with urgency. The weight of five questions pressed upon them like a rare treasure—opportunity and danger both. After intense debate, each group settled on their choices, and silence descended once more.
Morgan rose first, her eyes gleaming with cold calculation.
"What is his rank?" she asked, voice steady and sharp as a blade.
The runes ignited.
[Unknown]
Her lips tightened. She had expected as much, but the absence of clarity still stung. No clear answer meant only more danger.
Before anyone else could speak, Mordret's voice cut through the silence, smooth and deliberate.
"Is he one of us?"
Dozens of furious glares were thrown his way, the sovereign and Saints of valor alike bristling with killing intent. Yet violence was forbidden, and so their wrath was contained to eyes alone.
The runes ignited once more.
[Yes, he is]
Shock surged through the assembly. Murmurs erupted instantly, confusion clawing at every heart. About what mordret meant. Meanwhile he himself just looked amused and glanced at changing star who had a dark look
Only Nephis and her cohort remained grimly silent, Cassie's blind eyes clouded with unspoken knowing. Mordret, meanwhile, smiled faintly, amusement glittering in his gaze as though this answer had been nothing more than confirmation of what he already suspected.
Seishan stepped forward next, her expression calm yet intent.
"Is being forgotten his flaw?"
The runes burned in answer.
[No. Being forgotten is merely an outcome of one of his choices]
The revelation struck hard. So, it was not a natural flaw, but something self-inflicted—a choice that carried terrible consequence. He had done something, once, that had condemned him to be erased from memory.
"Then what is his flaw?" she pressed, her voice resonating in the still air. Every ear strained, the importance of weakness—the vulnerability of a variable—unquestionable.
The runes pulsed, hesitated, as though weighing the cost of truth. Then—
[He cannot lie]
The answer was met with silence. Some frowned in confusion, others scoffed. That was no flaw one could utilise as disadvantage in a fight with sword. Yet the more cunning among them understood—such a truth might prove more dangerous than weakness of the body.
Satisfied, Seishan sat back down, her calm mask unwavering.
At last, Nephis rose. Her movements were deliberate, her eyes shifting to Cassie—who had all but begged her to ask this very question. Her voice was steady when she spoke:
"Is he related to the inconsistency in the memory me and my cohort have been experiencing?"
The runes answered without delay.
[Yes]
A heavy silence descended. Nephis's face remained composed, but her heart tightened. Cassie, meanwhile, released a quiet sigh, her hidden fears confirmed. The assembly turned their eyes to Nephis, silent demands for explanation blazing in their gazes.
"We have been experiencing a strange inconsistency in our memories since our third Nightmare… perhaps even longer. The truth is unclear. Cassie was the only one to notice ...the rest of us only thought that since our 3rd nightmare was special since it was in a tomb made by a daemon using the blood and flesh on an unholy titan and time repeated itself we thought it was just a side effect ."
The weight of her words shifted the room, the implications far heavier than any imagined.
Broken Sword lowered his head, his expression heavy with pity.
"So… a close comrade, forgotten by all. Perhaps even by his sibling. Truly, a pitful existence…" His voice carried the weight of tragedy, and the atmosphere grew heavier still, grief and dread weaving together like a shroud.
[Questions have been answered. The next viewing will begin shortly.]
The runes dimmed, leaving the hall bathed in silence as every faction sat with their thoughts, the weight of revelation pressing heavily upon them all.