"Aria."
Seishan nodded, greeting her with a small smile.
In the final days before their siege on the Crimson Spire, Seishan and Aria had been acquainted, as they were likely the strongest two Sleepers within the army.
Of course, their relationship had been somewhat strained now that Aria had joined Valor, but it remained nonetheless. The tensions between Song and Valor were nowhere near as high as they would become in the future, with them currently being more like rivals rather than war camps.
But still, their friendship had remained. Perhaps it was because of Aria's mundane origin, rather than one of a Great Clan or a fallen one.
"How have you been?"
Although Aria was now looking at Seishan, she continued to glance over at Sunny, as if not believing what she was seeing.
Sunny could feel his ears burning as he nonchalantly looked away, sipping on his drink.
[Please... Please tell me that's not you, Sunny.]
'No!'
As he thought, Aria could feel the oath connecting them, and putting the dots together she had guessed his identity.
'Damnation! Damn it all! Gahhh!'
***
'Haaa. I hope something fun happens.'
Aria walked across the red carpet, ignoring the stares of the people surrounding her.
After entering the grand hall, it did not get any better. The pressure she felt the moment her name was announced was… quite heavy.
Still, she did her best to remain impassive. She was only here for business, after all. No matter how inane that was.
After entering the hall, she scanned the crowd, looking for Song Suming.
But when their eyes met, she felt something a little strange.
'Huh?'
She was supposedly someone found in the far reaches of the lands surrounding Ravenheart. A young, somewhat-feral, yet strong individual that Ki Song had recently picked up. Saint Madoc had asked her to attempt to befriend, and to find out any information she could on her.
Only… she seemed to be under her oath already?
'Who on earth…'
She had never seen someone like her in her entire life, and yet they were seemingly connected.
She wanted to approach her immediately to question who she was.
But sadly, she was swarmed by many people almost immediately, countless people trying to become her friend.
She did her best, conversing politely as she could with the people she found… gross.
Slimy businessman, arrogant Legacies, politicians…
'Dull. So dull!'
She had wanted to meet Saints and Masters! Not these old bums!
Thankfully, she had arrived fashionably late, so Madoc's speech started only a few minutes after she had entered.
She only half listened to the speech, slightly happy that a new Saint had emerged.
'Great! Less work for me!'
Perhaps Saint Hearth would be freed up now, able to take over the grueling expeditions she had gone through.
After Madoc's speech had ended, the people bothering her had finally left, instead heading to the center for a dance.
'Now's my chance…'
Splitting away from her cohort of bores, Aria approached the two Song Sisters.
She smiled slightly, seeing the familiar face of Seishan, but that was not at all where her attention was placed.
'No… No way, right?'
The presence of Song Suming was completely subdued and hidden.
But she no doubt felt it for a moment… the sense of power and mystery she had only felt from someone else.
Song Suming, the girl she had come to befriend… wasn't a girl at all.
It was Sunny. In a… a disguise?
It took all her self control not to immediately burst out laughing.
She had no idea Sunny was that sort of person!
'I can't wait to hear the explanation for this.'
Greeting Seishan, they conversed slightly as Aria focused on the oath, communicating through it.
[...Please. Please tell me that's not you, Sunny.]
Although it was hilarious, she really did hope that Sunny wasn't Song Suming.
Things may get more complicated after that… which meant she'd have more work to do!
Song Suming turned away, the tips of her ears burning red.
[...It is.]
'Gaaa! I knew it!'
Aria choked on her own saliva, struggling not to laugh, earning her a glare from Sunny and a strange look from Seishan.
[Please. Please don't say anything else. Just know that this wasn't my choice.]
Sunny seemed to be struggling not to show any emotion on his face.
[...We'll talk later.]
Aria ended their short interaction, instead focusing on her conversation with Seishan.
"So life back with Song had been treating you pretty good then?"
"It has."
Seishan smiled amicably.
"And who is this?"
Aria pointed her head towards Sunny in a questioning manner.
"Ah, this is Suming. One of our new bloods."
"...Hi."
Sunny gave her a small wave, his expression slightly faltering.
Aria took her chance to embarrass him further.
'This for all those times you scared me on the Forgotten Shore, bastard!'
"My my, such a pretty girl! Please, may I have this dance, fair lady?"
Seishan froze at her words, slowly turning to Sunny.
Aria held out her hand beckoning for Sunny to take it.
"...You may."
Sunny did not meet her gaze, taking her hand with his own gloved one.
As the two moved towards the center of the hall to dance, Seishan stood completely still, her mouth agape.
"Wha… What just happened?"
***
Making it to the center of the hall, Sunny felt many eyes on them.
'Why… Why!!'
This day simply couldn't get any worse.
Aria put a hand on his waist as he reluctantly placed his on her shoulder.
And thus, they began to dance.
[So? What do you want from Suming?]
Sunny questioned Aria, who seemed to be struggling. It seemed that despite her bravado, Aria had never actually danced in her life. So Sunny, as a practitioner of the Shadow Dance, had to lead her through it.
"Wow! Uh, this is a lot harder than I thought it would be…"
Aria was suddenly embarrassed, realising what she had done to herself.
[Madoc asked me to get as much information on you as possible while befriending you if possible.]
[...Consider me befriended then, I guess.]
Their dance continued, swaying to the rhythm of the music.
"Please just relax, Lady Radiant Dawn, I am actually a proficient dancer, you see."
[So, you gonna give me any information or should I make something up?]
[Tell them my story of being found within the far reaches of the Song Domain seems dubious. And… tell them I bear a resemblance to Broken Sword.]
Sunny felt Aria's steps falter ever so slightly.
[...I can do that. But how am I supposed to explain how I would know someone seemed like Broken Sword?]
[I… I don't know? Make something up. You got this!]
Sunny sent her an image of himself giving her a thumbs up as they continued to dance.
[Okay then… Well he also told me to ask you lots of questions if possible, what are you willing to answer?]
[Spell if I know, what were you told to ask me?]
Sunny felt a couple powerful gazes on him, which he dared not meet.
[Oh you know, where you're from, how life as an Awakened has been for you, your origins, why you always wear a coat… Classic spying.]
[I see… Well, try asking me some personal questions, but phrase the question in a way that lets my answer be somewhat dubious.]
[I'll try.]
Aria leaned in as they continued to dance.
"You're called Suming, right?"
"Correct, my lady."
"Please, please! No need to be so formal. Just Aria is enough."
"Of course, Lady Aria."
Aria let out an exaggerated sigh as Sunny put on a helpless smile.
"Tell me, how's life been treating you? Seishan hasn't been bullying you, has she? She can be really mean sometimes…"
"It has been fine, Lady Aria. Although I don't really fit in…"
"You? Don't fit in?"
Aria seemed a bit confused, her steps quickening as the music sped up slightly.
Sunny sighed.
"Correct. Outside of training, people rarely ever speak to me… it might be because… nevermind."
Sunny threw Aria a bone.
"No one speaks to you? Can you… tell me why? You can trust me! I'd never betray a pretty girl!"
Sunny nearly stepped on her foot out of annoyance.
"She… Miss Song says I resemble someone from her old cohort. It seems to be a sore topic for her."
Aria's gaze hardened.
"...You don't have to say anymore, I believe I know what you're talking about."
Sunny felt the powerful gazes on him sharpen.
Their conversation was being listened to.
'Just how dumb do you think I am?'
They continued to dance for a while, soft smiles on their faces.
[You know… They've been asking about you quite a lot.]
[They? You mean Valor?]
[Yeah. And not about Song Suming. About my mysterious helper with the strong Echo, and the one who opened the gates to the spire.]
Sunny felt the song they were dancing to reach its crescendo. It was nearing its end.
"Suming… Life hasn't been easy for you, has it?"
"It hasn't, Lady Aria."
[And what have you told them?]
[I only told them you were a man, and that I never actually met you.]
[...I see.]
Aria's hand was on his back now, pulling him closer.
…And yet despite their closeness, Sunny felt nothing.
"What was… life like before you Awakened? I don't know about you… but I sort of miss mine."
"Hah… I'd have to disagree with you there, Lady Aria. I much prefer my life now, I get to experience all these incredible things…"
Meeting Aria's eyes, he continued:
"Meet so many wonderful people…"
Aria seemed slightly stunned by his words, her face reddening.
"You-"
[You should attempt your Second Nightmare soon.]
Sunny interrupted Aria's question as he contemplated deeply.
[...Actually, my cohort in Valor have already begun preparing for it. Why do you say that though?]
[Let me guess, Madoc asked you questions about your relation to me? While you were in his office?]
[Yeah, why?]
[Those rooms have incredibly sophisticated lie detecting technology built into its walls. They most likely have sorcery to detect lies as well. They probably know that you know who I am. Don't visit me in my home from now on. If you want to talk, tell me. I'll come find you.]
[...Ah. And what does that have to do with the Second Nightmare?]
[I don't know why they're letting you lie to their faces, but I doubt it's for a good reason. Ascend quickly so they can't pin you down easily, but make sure you watch your back, especially in the Nightmare. I'm sure you know this… but a lot of the times, when people die in Nightmares, it's to their own companions. You know what I'm trying to say.]
There was a soft smile on Aria's face, not all showing the tension beneath.
"Suming…"
"Yes?"
The song playing was coming to an end, and so was their dance.
"There's no need for you to answer all my questions so honestly, you know?"
"Of course I know, Lady Aria."
Aria pulled him closer, almost whispering into his ear.
"So, why then?"
Sunny leaned back, allowing Aria to wrap her arms around him as the dance ended.
"I just feel like I can trust you, my lady."
After holding their position for a few seconds, Aria pulled away.
"Thank you for the dance, Suming."
Aria lifted his gloved hand, planting a kiss on the back of it, winking at him in the process.
'...'
"...You're welcome."
Sunny's mouth trembled slightly as they parted.
He felt many of the gazes on him look away, perhaps in shame.
'Wha…''
What had they just done?! Sunny was juggling their two conversations while also leading her in the dance, so he had not paid too much attention to it and went with the flow. But he had not expected it to go in such a direction!
[That was… a little intense.]
Aria also seemed to agree.
[I uh… I don't know what just happened. Sorry?]
[Sunless... Do you even know how much of a charmer you are? Even if you're not my type…]
Sunny not at all expected their dance and conversation to end with such closeness... Aria was a friend and ally, sure, but their relationship wasn't like that. If anything, she was more like his empl- Coworker! She was more like his coworker.
[Don't kid yourself. You're too old for me! I'm not even eighteen, you-!]
Sunny felt the telepathic connection between them vanish before he could finish his sentence.
'That was weird! Totally weird! Never doing that again! Ever!'
He felt a strange wrongness bloom in his heart as he slowly made his way back to Seishan.
***
Aria arrived back to her cohort, her face burning slightly.
'Why the hell did I do all that?'
It was a spur of the moment thing, led along by the fact that she just wanted to mess with Sunny.
But to play along with a straight face… Was he insane?!
'I hope he doesn't think I like him after that.'
Besides, there was already somebody else she liked…
Her cohort met her with strange stares.
"I uh, didn't know you swung that way Aria."
Gilead coughed slightly as he spoke.
"Not that I am judging or anything… But, don't you think she's a little young for you?"
Aria glared at him.
"...Bastard. What kind of person do you think I am?"
***
Seishan stared at him incredulously.
"Suming… What the hell was that?"
As she spoke, she kicked his shin lightly several times.
"Are you insane? What was that? Huh?"
Sunny raised his hands in surrender.
"Come on, lower your voice, people are staring…"
Lowering her voice, Seishan leaned in.
"Well?! Are you gonna tell me?"
If Sunny didn't know any better, he would've thought she sounded jealous.
"I uh, don't know either? It kinda just happened."
"Gah! You are insane! You know Madoc and Jest were watching that entire thing?! What were you thinking?!"
"...I did know. And I wasn't thinking much."
Sunny brought his drink to his lips, looking to the side, not intending on meeting Seishan's heated gaze.
"You..! What did you say to her?"
"She just asked me a few questions, and I answered them. Nothing major."
Although Seishan didn't say it, Sunny knew what she was trying to ask. She was of course trying to ascertain whether or not Aria knew Suming was Sunny.
Making sure no one was paying attention, nor were there cameras pointed at him, Sunny mouthed:
'She already knew.'
Seishan went silent for a moment.
"...Damn it all."
"It'll be fine. She was a very nice lady!"
Sunny beamed, straining to maintain his smile.
***
The ball was mostly uneventful after that, with Sunny remaining alongside Seishan for the rest of it. Some people Ki Song knew in the past had come to speak to them, alongside people who knew Seishan in her youth, but that was about it. Sunny was nervous for nothing, as Song Suming garnered little interest.
Perhaps they had been scared away by his interaction with Aria, or perhaps most people simply didn't know him.
And for that, Sunny was grateful.
It saved him a lot of trouble, both now and in the future.
'I just need to keep it this way.'
As the ball neared its conclusion, Sunny found himself feeling strangely bored.
He had done nothing but stare at random things and enjoy the free food.
Asterion had done nothing, no Saints had started fighting, and no disasters occurred.
It was a peaceful evening.
…Or so he thought.
Sunny noticed it before it happened, as several Saints and government agents suddenly checked their communicators, scowling.
The peaceful evening was going to be bathed in blood.
…Because all at once, everyone's communicator went off.
'Hell…'
EMERGENCY ALERT
EMERGENCY ALERT
GATE ACTIVITY DETECTED IN YOUR PROXIMITY
ETA: 2 MINUTES
EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!
"You've gotta be…"
2 minutes?!
They didn't even have enough time to evacuate the civilians!
ATTENTION ALL AWAKENED
REQUEST IMMEDIATE ACTION
ATTENTION ALL AWAKENED
REQUEST IMMEDIATE ACTION
HIGH PROBABILITY OF CATEGORY 3 DETECTED
Gate Category: 2 (31% probability), 3 (68% probability), HIGHER (undefined).
Strike Force ETA: TBA.
'How… how is this possible?'
Another Category Three Gate? Near him? Again?
Although Gates did constantly open all across the world, the world was a big place. The chances of a Gate opening so close to him several times across a time period of only half a year… something had to be wrong!
'Is… is it the Chain of Nightmares?'
Cold sweat dripped down Sunny's back.
'Could it be that… traveling through time didn't change anything?'
Sunny began to panic.
'But… but… it wasn't reversed or anything? Only I was sent into the past… Why would the Chain of Nightmares start now? It doesn't make sense!'
…Unless it wasn't the Chain of Nightmares at all.
There was only one reason Sunny could think of.
Fate.
He had changed fate too much. Perhaps the gates were simply a result of something he had done in the future. Perhaps some chain of events led to far more people awakening, leading to more nightmare gates opening in the past.
After all, fate encompassed the past and the future.
'Wait…'
Past and the future?
Something clicked in Sunny's mind.
Did his jump through time… also affect the past?
In the past, Nephis had told him the first attempt on her life had happened when she was six years old. But in Sunny's present time, it had happened only when she was seven years old.
Somehow… Sunny's changing of the future had also changed the past. He wasn't certain whether or not Nephis had simply remembered wrong, or if his theory was true.
He had no idea what events had truly led to his regression, as he had only woken up once it had already ended.
He'd have to test it, but the timing of things happening was inaccurate. He had never heard of a disaster like this happening in the midst of Valor's Annual Ball either.
Sunny had no idea just how many things might have changed, as he had not been in the habit of remembering arbitrary dates and numbers. After all, why would he? Those things had already happened.
Sunny's heartbeat pounded in his ears.
'Just… just what have I done?'
"...Suming."
Just what sort of terrible consequences would his actions have?
"Suming…!"
Was… was he making a mistake? Should he really have just stood by and done nothing?
"Suming!!"
"H-huh?"
Sunny snapped out of stupor, realising Seishan was grabbing his arm and yelling his name.
"Come on! What are you waiting for?!"
"R-Right."
The grand hall had exploded into motion, screams of panic and fright echoed throughout the hall. Sunny and Seishan rushed forward, aiming to establish a perimeter around the location of the gate, ensuring the evacuation went smoothly.
'It… should be fine. Right?'
There were multiple Saints present, as well as a Sovereign. Of course, Asterion didn't seem to be someone who could be counted on, but Sunny hoped he wouldn't just stand by and let abominations pour into the world like this.
'Wait…'
Why would a Sovereign even need to step in? Four Saints were present, as well as several dozen Masters! He should be worried about the Gate, not the people!
Shaking his head, Sunny continued to rush forward.
Moving to the largest gathering of Awakened, Sunny saw it.
Above the roof of the grand hall, a vile mass of darkness was worming its way into the world.
Sunny could already feel the call as well as the pressure from the forming Gate.
'How did this go undetected?'
A Gate opening within the very heart of Valor's stronghold in the Waking World… Even the Great Clans were helpless against the nature of the Nightmares.
'Or are they?'
Was it a coincidence that the ball had been scheduled for this very day? After all, the ball was an event that happened early in the year, only a few weeks after the winter solstice.
Sunny saw the Saints circling the gate, their powerful memories already summoned.
'This…'
Had Valor only done this to show off the power of their new Transcendent?
'...Is insane.'
They would risk the lives of so many civilians just to show off? How stupid did they think the people were? It was a damn Nightmare Gate! Who the hell knew what would come out of it?!
The last of the civilians ran out of the grand hall as Awakened personnel seemed to be creating a barrier surrounding the gate.
A transparent film seemed to be raised in the surrounding area, separating the fighting from the civilians. And less than half a minute later, the gate opened.
A loud screech echoed throughout the world, a hideous beak emerging from the vile darkness.
The first nightmare creature had emerged.
A vulture covered in red feathers resembling sharp bones shot out, flapping its wings as it bellowed.
…And almost immediately, it was torn apart.
The second nightmare creature emerged, alongside the third.
…And once again, they were torn apart.
Sunny blinked.
'...Yeah. I should've expected this.'
A massive part of humanity's forces were gathered here currently. A mere Category Three Gate didn't stand a chance.
Sunny relaxed slightly, awaiting for the Gate Guardian to emerge before truly relaxing.
Remaining vigilant, he turned to Seishan.
"You don't think Valor moved the ball to today on purpose, do you?"
Seishan sighed.
"...They probably did."
Sunny also sighed.
"Ridiculous. Well, at least we don't have to fight this time."
"At least."
The pair watched in silence as every single nightmare creature that emerged was mercilessly slaughtered.
'Just what were they even hoping to show off with this?'
This was simply a massacre!
As the gate ramped up in pressure, Sunny saw many Awakened back up.
The Gate Guardian was about to come out.
…Sunny felt it before it even emerged.
The nightmare creatures that had managed to leave the gate without being immediately slaughtered turned back towards it, screeching in servitude.
The winds around them kicked up, sending shivers down Sunny's spine. An echo of a terrifying power brushed against his soul.
He grabbed Seishan's forearm.
"We need to leave."
Seishan turned to him for a moment, but seeing the genuine look of fear in his eye, did not protest.
"...Alright."
They immediately began their retreat, running towards where the civilians had been evacuated out of earlier.
And just as they were about to cross the transparent film separating the outside world from the gate…
"KREEEEEEEEEEEEEI!"
…An apocalyptic screech echoed across the world, halting their steps.
Sunny turned his head ever so slightly, his heart pounding.
Wings covered the sky, blocking out the moon and clouds.
Primal fear gripped Sunny and Seishan's hearts.
A colossal vulture had emerged, wreathed in black winds that crowned its four massive wings.
In Sunny's vision, he saw that within the body of the colossal vulture, seven vile masses lay, bathing the world in darkness.
…A Corrupted Titan had emerged from the Gate.