Sunny sat on the ledge of the great wall as he waited for his 2 shadows to near. After a few minutes they had arrived and scaled the wall they hopped down and stood their eyes shifting from sunny to the bird that rested on their master's lap. Sunny looked at them as his legs were folded 1 over the other as he patted the head of his latest shadow which laid its head on his lap.
As shadow knight leapt of the ledge and serpent slithered his way right behind her. Birdy suddenly spouted up and looked at the duo and began squawking loudly and ascended in order to dispose of the nightmare creatures it believed where attacking his master
"Calm down would you. They're practically your siblings" - Sunny said looking at the interaction with humor
Birdy now confused stopped flapping and landed on the ground it's head tilting to the left as it looked at the knight and serpent duo. Serpents eyes seemed to be full of rage towards the bird that was on her master's lap a few moments ago, and then decided to rudely attack her and shadow knight
After the bird heard Sunnys revelation it seemed to show sadness. It waddled up to serpents' great size and nuzzled against her scales looking up into her bright purple eyes with his own sickly green ones.
Looking down at the bird serpent seemed to have a change of heart towards the bird as she saw its sadness and so she shrunk down and laid on Birdy's head and birdy had a happy smile. Or that's what he thought it was as the great tyrant waved its hand wings around happily chirping.
Sunny who was looking at the interaction between his shadows couldn't help but sigh at their childish behavior even if he did it with a bit of a smile.
"it's almost reminding me of fiend trying to impress saint, just a little cuter though. Just a little"
Turning towards knighty who was currently handing sunny a crude looking bag.
A bag that within rested more than 1000 soul shards. Sunny took the bag and dismissed it to rest amongst his cores knowing exactly what he would be doing with it.
"I'll worry about my wealth in a few moments"
Serpent who was resting on Birdy's head looked at sunny and lowered her head bowing and shadow knight in turn lowered to one knee with his hand ok his chest showing his grateful return.
Sunny looked at them with a kind gaze - 'they've worked hard'
"Rest now. You've done well"
Dismissing all 3 shadows to his soul sea sunny knew that with his full lineage of shadow god as well as the darkness in his soul sea his shadows will completely heal in at least 2 days.
During these few days sunny had thought everything through. He had multiple plans and knew exactly how to accomplish it. And today was the day that he decided to set it in motion.
Sunny woke up of the ledge and jumped down.
With his shadows in his soul sea sunny was just a sleeper. It was not that he was not confident in his abilities to deal with the nightmare creatures. It was simply that being able to assume the formless shape of a shadow and simply move past the nightmare creatures was a much easier choice. And so sunny made his way to their little lodging in the ruined cathedral his eyes seeing into the entrance where the fallen knight stood.
Sunny passed a glance at it and moved on. Climbing the walls sunny made it to their entrance and walked in as he saw Nephis and Cassie talking about something he could not hear.
"we're going to meet someone today" - he spoke.
Both girls jumped in surprise at his sudden arrival Nephis summoning the dream blade in a stance ready to stab. After a few moments of awkward silence, the words that he spoke seemed to sink in
"Meet someone?" Cassie, who was on the bed, asked
Sunny sighed - "Yeah... I can't tell you much but one thing I will say is that from today a lot of things will change but we will be fine."
The weight of his words set in. Sunny after all was someone who knew of the future in their eyes, a prophet of weaver, an oracle. They did not know how, but they knew it was true. They also knew of his warning that he could not tell them of their fate as something worse may take its place
Nephis looked at him - "okay let's go"
...
Sunny guided the trio through the streets of the dark city making sure to avoid any nightmare creatures. They were everywhere as if they somehow came from somewhere no-one knew even after sunny killed a lot. But sunny was able to avoid them perfectly with shadow sense.
Soon they had stopped outside a particular building its main frames intact, yet it was obvious there were battles that occurred here. Destructive ones.
Sunny looked at the girls his voice carrying a tinge of annoyance - "try not to attack her okay and don't mind her... Eccentric personality "
That was all sunny said before walking into the fractured building, leaving Cassie and Nephis in confusion. Once they had entered the building, they noticed a sole moving figure surrounded by corpses.
The moving figure was that of a woman her body tall and muscular despite being lean and balanced. Her curves accentuated even through the muscular outlines. Her hair was an auburn brown braided neatly. Her skin a perfect tan.
The corpses of Nightmare creatures decorated the surrounding area giving of the feeling of a Goddess that had slain devils for justice even if the creatures seemed to be either ripped apart by her strong arms or spear through by a spear
But sunny knew better - 'this glutton ...'
Silence plagued for a few moments until Cassie who hadn't seen a stone on the ground had accidently hit it with the bud of her walking staff causing the silent hall to have a sudden sound.
The movement had caused Effie to jump in surprise standing at her giant height summoning her spear her movement fluid showing her skill as a Hunter
Effie stood her spear at the ready
Upon seeing the people who entered as humans she lowered her spear but still held it in a lower grip. Ready for a jab to the gut just in case
"Who are you? Hunters from the castle? Get lost "
Sunny didn't want his flaw to get in the way so instead he had asked Nephis beforehand to be the one to speak to her.
Effie looked at the girl who now stood in the light falling from the hole in the roof. Her curiosity peaked - "haven't seen you around... Are you newbies?"
Nephis looked at her face plain - "Yeah, we arrived here recently - we are this year's sleepers"
"Well pleasure to make your acquaintance. You girls Mind sharing your tale while we eat" she said whilst removing the piece of meat from the flame already placing another.
Neither of them was hungry since sunny had made sure to provide more than enough food so they were full
"We have eaten you can keep your spoils. You earned that meal"
Effie upon hearing they didn't want to eat was secretly happy. After all she was a glutton at heart and was always hungry
Nephis walked and sat on a broken slate of stone sunny guiding Cassie right behind her. Sunny looked at the trio, and she could tell instantly as a hunter herself - 'these girls are dangerous Especially the one with the black hair'
After sitting down sunny had already asked Cassie for the endless spring - "here you can wash down the meat with this"
"Thanks cutie" - Effie spoke, her voice happy at the gesture
Sunny had noticed how Nephis eyes narrowed ever so slightly but she began their tale once sunny had returned.
Nephis spoke of their journey. The large scores of scavengers that they slayed. How they traveled the labyrinth. How they fought the demon for trapped by the tree and finally their journey here
Effie whistled - "so you 3 girls actually survived 2 months in the labyrinth huh. Congratulations i don't think I know of anyone who survived out there that long"
Sunny head snapped in her direction his anger flaring - "Sorry miss I get that we interrupted you, but I'd appreciate if you'd stop calling me a girl"
Effie paused, her face flushing an embarrassed red - "You... You mean that you aren't a girl"
Effie had begun laughing while Sunny's pale skin turned red too
"of course, not what part of this says girl to you" - Sunny said exasperated while pointing at his body especially at his flat chest and his body in general
"You have such long silky hair and good skin, and you have such a petite body so I... Hahaha oh my gods I can't believe it I really thought you were a girl... "
Sunny slapped his forehead - 'of course, how did I forget what this girl was like'
"She does have a point sunny. You're really pretty"
Nephis spoke causing Cassie who was holding her laughter to let it burst out. Both her and Effie were holding onto the nearest thing to not fall over
The laughter and blushing played for a few more moments before Effie who was holding her sides began to speak
"So, girls..."
She paused there enjoying Sunnys irritated look - " ... And guy how about I give you the basic rundown of things here"
Sunny let out a huff of contentment whilst grumbling under his breath slightly
With a happy smile Effie spoke - "first if you have any hopes of getting out of here. You should know there's no citadel"
Effie paused looking at the trio. To her surprise non of them looked surprised. That was natural of course sunny had already told them that the citadel is here it's just that they can't get to it right now. From that they had realized that getting out of here would take a bit longer than expected
Just before Effie could speak her surprise at their bland reaction Nephis spoke - "we know that"
Her tone expressed understanding and such Effie continued. She spoke of the city and it's dangers and eventually she got to speaking about the bright castle and it's fees as well as the tyrant ruling stopping in between to make sure she had called Gunlaug a bastard multiple times.
Nephis had spoken next
"we don't have any shards in us right now but we could go hunting and get some"
Looking at sunny for approval at her plan his response caused her to pause
"it's fine I'll take care of the shards"
Effie realizing something had quickly asked - "you guys haven't introduced yourselves yet"
The trio looked at each other. Well, Nephis and Sunny did. A silent agreement was reached and so they spoke the truth
"I'm Cassie. No true name or anything like these 2"
Effie stopped eating the piece of meat she was holding and looked at them. She was obviously shocked a true name this early she looked at the 2
" I'm Nephis, changing star of the Immortal flame clan."
"Sunless, Star of Darkness. My friends just call me sunny though"
Effie seeing opportunities charged her shock and amazement into a cleverly made joke even though she still was a bit in awe - "2 stars you two clearly were made for each other"
The 2 stars in question held in their blush and unknown to them Cassie had a cheeky smile on her face.
"Anyway, sunny how are you going to pay for the 3 of you " - Effie looked at the boy curiously
"Huh? What do you mean"
"I mean where you are going to get the shards. Most sleepers would have absorbed them already, no?"
"Oh, I didn't use most of the shards I got. I have about 1200 on me right now"
All the girls in the room looked at him their eyes wide
" ONE THOUSANT TWO HUNDERED?!?!" - Effie screamed standing up
Sunny held his ears - "Yeah, can you stop yelling now it's making my ears hurt"
But this time it wasn't Effie that spoke tater it was Nephis - "Sunny how do you have that many weren't you making memories with them and absorbing "
"Did you forget I can hunt in the sea. I got a lot from my hunts "
Nephis and Cassie eyes flashed with understanding whilst Effie's eyes opened wide - "... You were hunting in the dark sea"
Popping the p sunny simple replied - "yup"
"How in the hell is that even possible"
"it's pretty easy when you have a transcendent Armor"
"You have a transcendent Armor" - Effie asked happily. Obviously, that would put him on part with that Bastard Gunlaug, so she was naturally happy
"Yeah, unfortunately it only works in water a shame really but it's still some help. "
She sighed grumbling about thinking he would have been able to shift the power in this place
After a while of walking Effie led them to the castle outskirts. Upon seeing the suffering people and knowing about the tyrant she would possibly need to overthrow to leave this place sunny saw the glint in Nephis eyes
'She started her plan this early huh'
"Sorry but I ain't going in there with you guys so just pay the fees and go in okay"
"Miss Effie why aren't you coming in with us" - Cassie asked
"Ah I'm not allowed Cassie, and you can drop the miss. I'm not that old " - Effie smiled
Cassie was about to question but with Sunny's hand reaching her shoulder. She realized that Effie must have her reasons and decided not to push further smiling at Effie all she said - "Thank you for everything"
Effie smiled - "you're welcome"
And like that she left to her little tent somewhere off in the outskirts whilst her trio looked at the castle gates that had the skulls of both beast and man lining them. And so, they began to walk