Nephis tensed 'he knows about the sovereigns'
Nephis knew the existence of the sovereigns was information that only members of the great clans possessed. In fact, not even all members of the clan would know. But how did he know?
It was true she no longer suspected sunny of being the killer. He had too many opportunities to do so but didn't. She had even begun to think of the boy as a friend. So, when she heard is statement, she felt glad. A happy feeling she had lost. The feeling of friendship. Of companionship. Someone who can share her 'unreasonable' goal.
A person who understood her. Thinking it couldn't possibly get better sunny spoke again
"I will help you. So will Cass I think. She is out friend after all . And honestly speaking I'm doing it for my own reasons. The sovereigns aren't people my morals agree with"
"I see so then... You wish to kill them too"
"yes. To hold power and become a tyrant rather than grow humanity. It is not something I can accept"
Nephis felt it. He truly was her other piece. Someone she could relate too. Someone with he same goal. Someone she can trust and someone strong to lean on.
"I understand your reasons. I feel the same though my reasons are a bit more personal"
"There is another reason I wish to help you Nephis"
"What is it"
"poetry"
Nephis looked at sunny. Confusion evident on her beautiful face - "poetry".
"of course. Blame my mother if you must but I inherited it from her" - Sunny paused, a tinge of sadness could be sensed but then he masked it and continued
"don't you think it would be the most poetic thing. Beast god also known as moon god, her heir, slain by you, the heir of sun God"
Nephis eyes flashed with understanding and even slight shock but thinking about it she believed that it was not that surprising since he did say that he knew of the future to an extent - "And you the heir of Shadow God. The heir of peace slaying the heir of war"
Sunny smiled evilly - "bingo" - pausing momentary his eyes gained a mischievous smirk - "Pray tell Nephis how did you know I have Shadow Gods lineage"
"Divine aspect, Shadow powers, I put 2 and 2 together"
Sunny nodded admiring how Nephis seemed to blush ever so slightly as his teasing and then he said in a louder tone for Cassie who was wobbling over with serpent's help could hear
" Oh, Cassie there's some stuff you should know about the world we live in"
"What...?"
Nephis had intervened before sunny could continue - "this isn't information that many can take easily sunny especially someone as fragile as Cassie"
Sunny scoffed and giggled a bit - "Please, Seers are probably the most dangerous people in the dream realm. She can literally tell the future. She'll be fine"
Nephis had paused and Cassie did too honestly speak she had never thought of herself like that
"Anyway, as I was saying. Cassie. You know how there is few saints in the world. And how people think they are the pinnacle of humanity"
"yeah..."
"well there's 3 people who already went a step ahead"
"... Supremes ??"
"yep. Only they are selfish people who only care about enriching themselves"
Cassie couldn't say anything. At first, she was glad that humanity had Supremes on their side. After all that would make us a lot safer. But after what sunny had said clearly it was just a stupid thought. Stupefied she had asked
"Who are the three Supremes"
Before sunny could reply Nephis did. - "Aster. Song. Vale"
Cassie was confused 'were those their names' she hadn't planned on asking for clarification since Nephis voice seemed cold when she spoke so when Nephis clarified it was welcome
"The first is Anvil of the Valor clan the king of swords. The second is Ki Song of the song clan the queen of worms. and the third is Asterion someone I don't even know much about"
"Nephis I heard why Nunny wanted them dead... But what's your reason if you don't mind me asking"
"they killed my father"
Cassie was silent. As was sunny but he already knew he just didn't like seeing Nephis in such a vulnerable position
Clapping his hands in attempt to move away from the depressing atmosphere sunny had directed his next few words to Cassie
"Oh Cass the reason she doesn't like caster is because she suspects he is the person sent to kill her I told you about"
Cassie was stunned. She had forgotten about the fact that Nephis had assassins after her which now she puzzled together given the Supremes killed her father. They would have wanted her gone too. So, she had asked
"Well, is he?"
"yup" - sunny said popping the p
Nephis froze - "So, I was correct"
No one had seemed to realize that their oracle seemed to be oddly silent
"Yeah, all that attempts to be your friend was to get close to you and both literally and figuratively stab you in your back"
Nephis was curious as to how he knew, so simply she asked - "How did you find out he was the assassin"
"He was behaving suspiciously so I sent my shadow to spy on him. Guess what I heard?"
"he was talking with his clan about killing me"
"Duh. I didn't actually mean for you to guess"
Nephis looked away - "I see"
Silence plagued the again. And it continued for a bit until Cassie who was silent spoke. The joy in her voice garnering attention from her friends
The vision she had telling her to go west had come
After explaining that she had seen a castle with people inside away from the sea she had waited for their responses
Before Nephis could speak sunny did first - "we leave in a few minutes take note of everything make sure you're ready "
"no we should leave later there is still time for us to discuss our course of action of the next few days while we're safe on this statue we should not risk it until we're ready "
Sunny shook his head at Nephis. He didn't leave room for elaboration. Instead, he told Cassie and Nephis to rest now. Collect themselves and prepare.
As he began walking away, he turned around and spoke
"I'm going to check how much our food will last. Train or rest. Personally, I suggest you rest"
And in a hushed tone he finished the rest - "you're going to need it"
Looking down at his shadow. Or rather his new second shadow sunny smiled at it. The chipper happy shadow waved back at his master only to slow his eccentric movements as of reading Sunny's mind
'Today is the day of the storm'
...
Nephis was confused. It was true that they had would have been able to reach the other statue and with a lot of time to spare the sun was out for a bit and would continue to stay out for a long while. And besides that, sunny had become a monster and the transformation clearly took a lot out of him. He had fully fainted, and she had been worried. And on top of all that. They had just got Cassie's vision. It would be best to analyze its meanings and benefits especially when it comes to the fact that there is a citadel which they didn't know how far away was. So being able to plan for the long run. Possibly a month would be necessary and now would be the best time to do it
Cassie was also confused. She thought sunny would be happy to know where the people are. Where the citadel is. But he seemed all serious. 'Was he mad because I said to go west and he planned to go east'
Sunny who was oblivious to the girls questions and thoughts. Sat down and began to think
He looked up at the cloudless sky. - 'the storm really came out of nowhere last time didn't it' with a sigh he stood
He understood that it would be best to stay on their current statue. But he knew that once all the nightmare creatures in the area realize the soon coming storm they wouldn't worry about the teenagers running to the tall statue and they'd be safe. But he had a little doubt in his plan. Something that could make it go terribly wrong for themselves
"girls come on we can make it to the statue I was left at"
Sunny had added the last bit quickly after
"We can't use my shadows only 1 at best. Using them as we move to the statue will alert Nightmare creatures to our presence as a group. We will use the rope to go down"
Nephis had began walking to the end removing her rope. Sunnys unease making her uneasy too
She turned her head and saw his face serious as he held Cassie and moved towards the edge of the platform. Upon reaching it he nodded giving Cassie to Nephis and then he moved down and bit by bit he Neph and Cassie made their way down
"We move to the next statue as fast as possible. The carrapace ech..."
He was interrupted my Cassie - "Shelly"
Bot Nephis and sunny responded with equal confusion - "Shelly?"
"Yeah, Shelly. Serpent has her name. Knighty has his so I didn't want to leave Shelly out"
Nephis looked at the girl as if she had 3 heads while sunny just smiled and nodded - "Good name. Shelly it is"
After Cassie mounted Shelly, they began to sprint through the coral forest.
In their journey a group of scavengers numbering about 15, appeared but sunny summoned serpent in her beast form and yelled at the group to keep running as serpent dealt with them. And they continued
Once more towards the statue with serpent far behind another group had appeared this time about 11 but this time Nephis noticed this group seemed to be frantic as if trying to find cover.
Without stopping sunny dispatched Knighty to deal with them and they continued. Once the statue was in sight about 400m away Nephis felt it.
The cold seemed to grow as winds picked up. The sun seemed to be blocked by something looking up she saw the storm approaching. Every part of her body said to run faster. To get off the ground.
And then the ground trembled somewhere far in the distance the trio heard it. They felt the ground beneath the moisten.
The dark sea was approaching
"Run now!"
Sunnys frantic voice was coming. He knew coming here early was a risk as most creatures would be looking for a hiding spot they would be in the open. That's why he was uneasy but it was another reason
The last time the storm approached. The monster was atop the statue with them. With the dead scavengers about 10 corpses. So this time. How many would be Alive and fighting the monster in the frenzy for land to survive on and more importantly
Would they have to deal with them
All those thoughts disappeared once the roar of the approaching sea grew closer. Quickly they approached the statue stunning as fast as the wind. And they began to climb.
Half way up the sea came crashing down. And then they began to speed up Cassie being given a piggy back by sunny and Nephis on the top.
After a few minutes they reached the peak but before the darkness had fully set. Nephis saw the horror on Sunnys face. The fear before she could turn to look at what he was looking at
the darkness consumed the world
The storm raging blocked out noise and sight only the salty smell of the Sea permeating the air and then Cassie and Nephis heard sunny whisper
"it's worse than I thought"
That statement made the girls shiver. Cassie finding it in her to ask
But didn't get the chance
"2 monsters. 10 scavengers all moving"
Sunny was shocked. It seems that last time around the monster had killed the beasts and managed to get the other monster off the statue. Which explained why it was wounded. But now the 2 who were in a battle stance hadn't even begun and neither did the beasts
"Nephis Cassie. You must stay still. You can't see in the dark I can. I will try to dispose of them in the dark where I'm invisible. They still don't know we're up here"
Nephis responded - "no it's too dangerous you don't have your strongest shadows here and it's just us. They haven't seen us we should hide it out"
"no. You know better than I do that they will find us eventually. Maybe when lighting lights up the area. But we can't risk it."
He was right and Nephis realized but she didn't understand why she couldn't help her flames could illuminate this entire place
"I need you to keep Cassie safe Nephis. Please"
Nephis was taken aback. Of course. He was protecting them
"fine... But sunny"
"yes?"
"be safe"
Sunny didn't respond. And Nephis knew
he had moved in for the kill