Sunny stood before Seishan in a private room. Cassie sat next to him. Despite Seishan's unwillingness of bringing her with them, Sunny insisted to not leave her side and didn't budge without her.
A slight smile was playing at Sunny's lips. It was hard for him to restraint himself and not blow up at her, but after analyzing the situation from an objective standpoint, Seishan's presence in the forgotten shores was a boon. With her as one of Gunlaug's lieutenants, finding a way out of this place would be much easier.
That was what she wanted too.
"It has been a while," he spoke first, breaking the tense silence.
Seishan nodded.
"Fifteen years. You have grown a lot since then. I'm relieved that you're alright. I hope little Nephi is fine, as well."
Sunny furrowed his brows. He scoffed.
"Are you really?"
"Why not? Do you believe me to be a heartless person wishing misfortune on my little nieces and nephews?" she spoke in an honest tone, almost as if she believed her own words.
"Yes."
Seishan shook her head.
"Is that so? Then you'd be wrong. There are a lot of people who want you dead, but my family isn't one of them. Believe it or not, that doesn't concern me." Seishan had already summoned a memory to stop people from overhearing their conversations. It was a small, crimson dice with a small dot drawn on it's face. The silencing sphere wasn't big, only encompassing Seishan and he, leaving Cassie out of their conversation.
Sunny trusted Cassie. He did, ever since that night they left the ashen barrow. But Seishan didn't, especially when it came to topics about the great clans.
"I'll believe you for now. You want to get out of here just as much as we do, don't you?" Sunny said, raising a brow.
"Of course. Why would I want to stay in this place any longer? I didn't have my hopes up before, but with you being here I'm sure we can do something."
Sunny nodded.
"I guess that settles it then. Nephis is still in the outer settlement. I'll have to speak to her about this, but I'm sure there won't be any objections from her. Before that, I want anything you know about Gunlaug and the bright castle."
Hearing this, Seishan's eyes widened.
"Nephis is here? On the forgotten shores."
"Yeah, she is, and you know as long as she's alive, she won't stop trying to get out of here. And I intend to follow her to the ends of the earth if I have to. Staying here isn't an option for either of us," Sunny said.
"Great, then that must mean she's safe and sound. I'm really glad to know both of you made it through. I'll be waiting to see what you two do together."
Seishan didn't keep the two of them occupied after that. She told him everything he needed to know about the bright castle and it's lord, also pardoning him of any "crimes" he might have been charged with. In this place, power spoke, and as it turned out, the power of a lieutenant was much higher than that of a pathfinder.
Sunny was left with a sly grin playing on his face. It was his first day in the bright castle, and he already knew Gunlaug's most deeply guarded secrets. Like his echo — a mass of liquid gold that could give itself any form — it was how he had been able to take over the bright castle from its previous ruler.
The echo was transcendent. Beyond anything a sleeper could dream of having. Sunny and Nephis wouldn't be able to overcome its might. Even with Seishan, they stood no chance. However, he and Nephis had something unheard of in the history of the nightmare spell — divine aspects.
They could saturate their cores beyond others, able to raise their class unlike any other human. Sunny's progress was slow, but due to Neph's innate ability, accumulating fragments was easier for her than anyone else. If she were to become a titan, who was to say how strong she would be.
If Gunlaug had to face a titan — one as skilled and cunning as Nephis — would the transcendent echo be able to protect him?
Sunny chuckled. He could almost feel the strings of fate unfold the story of the forgotten shores. The lone star would shine bright in the dark sky and bring with it blood and change.
The peaceful castle would eventually fall to ruin. And it would be by their hands. It was fate, after all. However, that didn't make it right. Would Sunny and Nephis be any different from the sovereigns if they were willing to throw away so many innocent people for the salvation of those few who would remain? The ghouls were cruel, but they had to care about humanity, as well. Or at least those close to them.
Or perhaps they were no longer human, only caring about themselves and their own survival.
Sunny didn't want to be anything like them. He refused to carve the way out on a mountain of corpses.
Even if he had to oppose fate.
Sunny and Cassie spent the rest of the week inside the castle. He didn't need to gather more information, as he had everything he needed, but he wouldn't refuse free shelter and food. When the time came to leave, it was the friendly sleeper, Harper, who escorted them out.
The contrast between the outer settlement and the bright castle was almost overwhelming. People lived in makeshift shelters — made from any materials they could stumble upon — and their clothes were tattered and worn. Unlike in the castle, Armor memories were rare in the settlement; the sleepers were forced to wear torn clothing..
The people here were tired and malnourished, reminding Sunny of the time he spent in the outskirts. He felt a sudden melancholy; people of the outer settlement weren't less deserving of food or shelter; however, they were forced to live in these conditions while the bright lord hoarded everything.
It was sickening.