The smile froze on Hero's face. He lowered his head, as though in shame. After a minute or so passed, shrouded in heavy silence, he finally answered.
"Yes. I thought that if I do it when you sleep, you won't have to suffer."
"I'm so surprised, never saw this one coming." Mordret said, his voice pulling Kai out of his initial surprise at the heroes words and Sunny's before that.
Seishan on the other hand grinned, how would he escape this one...
Noctis on the other hand raised his hands on either side, "absolute cinema."
Unseen to him, a bitter grin appeared on Sunny's face.
"You ain't tuff, doofus." Athena said, her voice traveling across the room to Sunny who was also grinning thinking that the future him might be able to escape till he was awoken by the annoying buzz of athena's voice.
Mo- Jet on the other hand chuckled, her voice reverting in sunny's ears. ('How high?')
A long sigh escaped from the young soldier's lips. He rested his back against the cave's wall, still not looking up.
"I don't expect you to forgive me. This sin, too, will be mine to bear. But, please, if you can… find it in your heart to understand. If things were different, I would have gladly faced that monster to let you escape. But my life… does not belong to me alone. There is an unencompassable duty I am sworn to fulfill. Until it's done, I cannot allow myself to die."
Nephis saw herself in the young Hero, she would kill a men if needed to achieve what she set herself out to do... her life also wasn't her own, she would do it for the clan... her father, mother, grandma...
"See, I told you he is a spy!" Noctis began, "all the warmongers care only for glory, they would beg the war God to die in battle!"
Sunny laughed.
"You people… Look at you! Planning to kill me and still insisting on having a good excuse. How very convenient! I really hate hypocrites like you the most. Why don't you be honest for once? Don't give me that crap... just say it! I'm going to kill you because it's easy. I'm going to kill you because I want to survive."
Cassia shuddered for some reason. Curious!
Kai sighed... would he have done the same? He doubted that... no the killing was unnecessary, even if he bled a bit...
Mordret shrugging, he'd already have done it... not because there was a need for it, just because.
Roan simply sighed, what a shame... such unnecessary killing...
Seishan on the other hand locked her lips, he was a bit out of her preferred age but it was alright. It was just a shame she can't eat him after... well she much rathered eat them alive, she liked the struggle.
Hero closed his eyes, his face full of sadness.
"I'm sorry. I knew you wouldn't be able to understand."
"A shame," tyris thought. "He has potential to become a good assassin... but there is little to no way he can escape from such a small room..."
Caster chuckled darkly in glee, he couldn't wait to see the mongrel from the outskirts bleed out, maybe for once he'll be useful and keep the tyrant away... "worthless homeless rat..."(this ain't me speaking, I'm making sure to say this as I already got the rasict allegations on me from the previous two chapters<3. Its good that i didn't get the sexist allegations for disliking nephis and cassia!)
"What's there to understand?"
Sunny leaned forward, anger coursing through his veins.
"Tell me. Why do I have to die?"
(By the way, i wanted to make jokes with jest this chapter but unfortunately I am too unfunny to even make one, my bad.)
The young soldier finally looked up. Even though he couldn't see in the dark, he turned his face in the direction of Sunny's voice.
"That man was a villain… but he was also right. The scent of blood is too heavy on you. It will attract the beast."
Seishan started to lick each finger one by one...
Jest sighed, "horrendous truly, it reminds me of that time..."
"Yeah, yeah. We know you old, no need to remind us" Morgan rolled her bright red eyes that softly glistened in the dark.
"Such disrespect for your elders!" Jest exclaimed. Anvil gave them the side eye before continuing to watch the screen.
"You can just let me go, you know. We'll part ways. After that whether or not the monster finds me won't be your problem.
Mordret smiled, "dear Sunless, he won't do that... he finds himself too good to let you be, if he didn't... he'd let you go alone all the way back when the tyrant first attacked the caravan..."
Morgan snorted coldly, "speaking from experience, monster?"
"Not at all, in fact I would have already killed them long before... you are the one projecting that's why you would most likely want to defend his actions as a fellow hypocrite, no?"
Morgan just glared from across the room, her vibrant red eyes shining with killing intent as visible as the glow on her alabaster skin... her red cape flowing along her curvy body.(aren't my descriptions top tier? Should I include more?)
Hero shook his head.
"Dying in that creature's maw… is too cruel a fate. It's better if I do it myself. You are my responsibility, after all."
"How noble of you."
Revel shook her head in amusement..."dirty warmonger..." which made seishan near her chuckle... their mother in the middle didn't say anything nor made much of a reaction... she saw more disgusting people and actions that made this nobility pale in comparison, young Anvil was one of such people...
Aiko just looked away... from the screen, bracing herself for the death of the boy couple rows behind... even tho she was used to the bloody and deadly brawls of bright castles goons(heh) in her gambling den she still didn't like the sight of dead bodies.
Sunny sighed... did his future self think of something or was his head empty and only full of Shadows?
Sunny leaned back, dejected. After a short while, he quietly said:
"You know… when I just came here, I was ready to die. After all, in this whole world — two worlds, actually — there's not a single soul who cares whether I live or die. When I'm gone, no one will be sad. No one will even remember that I existed."
Effie, her bronze skin shining from the heat of the dark theater room. Her smile ridiculing, she obviously did not take this seriously at all. "Sunny is so Tuff, boii."
Kai didn't pay effie no attention, his head on his mouth, stopping anyone from seeing his perfect face with his kissable pink mouth, his skin as perfect as ever... his eyes still visible and wide open, adorning his face like shining gems. His beauty comparable to that of a Saint even as a mere dormant...
There was a forlorn look on his face. A moment later, however, it was gone, replaced by mirth.
"But then I changed my mind. Somewhere along the way, I decided to survive. I must survive, no matter what."
Caster smiled... hoping that the rat would not infact survive and he could view the life escaping his worthless homeless eyes...
Sunny seeing that glee could only whisper to himself... disgusting legacy... he hoped that he would die of old age before making anything notable at all... he wanted him to live as long as possible just so he can live and see how utterly worthless he was. Or just kill him on his own... that would be alright too...
Hero gave him a thoughtful look.
"To live a life worth remembering?"
Sunny grinned. A dark gleam appeared in his eyes.
"No. To spite you all."
Sunny grinned... effie on the other hand burst out laughing. What a field day! The smile wiped of Sunny's face instantly as he heard her laughter resound in his ears...
Even Saint tyris snorted...
While hype on first take even the author of this fic, after rereading this moment again and again found this very moment very funny rather than the former opinion.
The young soldier was silent for a few moments, then nodded, accepting this answer. He rose to his feet.
"Don't worry. I'll make it quick."
"Aren't you overly confident? What makes you think you'll be able to kill me? Maybe I'll kill you instead."
Asterion smiled, "do you believe yourself, boy? Even If you poisoned him it doesn't matter...
Morgan froze before looking to the backrow... there mordret sat staring at her as If he foresaw her reaction, near glowering... the berries!? That's what she missed... that what that mordret was talking about...!?
Most in this moment caught on... some still remaining oblivious or uncaring entirely.
Hero shook his head.
"I doubt that."
… But in the next second, he staggered and fell on one knee. The young man's face turned deathly pale, and with a pained groan, he suddenly vomited blood.
"What a surprise!? Who could have seen this coming, I'm in utter shambles by your brilliance Sunny... my genius is no comparison to yours!" Mordret started, his face adorned by that unnatural smile, like a Crack on a mirror...
A satisfied smile appeared on Sunny's face.
"Finally."
***
"Finally."
Hero was standing on his knees, the lower part of his face covered in blood. Astonished, he was staring at his hands, trying to understand what had happened to him.
"What… what magic is this?"
Mordret smirked maliciously, his eyes reflecting the malice that Morgan herself shown towards him and doubling that malice, "it seems I was wrong, there are those more stupid than even you dear sister... oh dear..."
Caster shook his head... "what a shame, I'll do it myself after killing her as a cherry on top..." his voice low, brimming with malice for no reason at all... he was a D1 hater like your dear author<3
With wide eyes and a pale face, he turned to Sunny.
"Was… was that thief right? Did you put the curse of the Shadow God on us?"
Sunny sighed.
"I wish that I had the ability to throw divine curses around, but no. To tell you the truth, I don't have any abilities at all."
"Then.. how?"
"Here it comes," Roan sighed, "the poison for sure did not hurry but somehow struck all at the same time instead of gradually..."
The young slave shrugged.
"That's why I poisoned you all."
Hero flinched, trying to comprehend his words.
"What?"
Kai, his gem like eyes shining "when tho? I don't remember such a scene..."
Effie scowled, "Obviously off screen idiot. When else? There is no point in showing us him getting berries and and putting the juice in the water."
"After the tyrant first attacked, you send me to search for water. While gathering flagons from the dead soldiers, I squeezed Bloodbane juice into each one — except my own, of course. Not enough to taste it, but enough to slowly kill anyone who would drink from them."
Seishan nodded, "here it is. A shame but expected. No reason to watch a dead man otherwise."
Revel shrugged, "thought you liked dead kids?"
Seishan just glared with made the darkness born eternal demoness chuckle darkly...
The soldier gritted his teeth, struggling through pain. A sudden realization appeared on his face.
"So that's why… the other two were in such bad shape."
Sunny nodded.
"Shifty drank the most, so his condition worsened the fastest. Scholar was also not long for this world, but you finished him off before the poison could. Yourself, however… it was as though Bloodbane had no effect on you at all. I was really starting to get worried."
"How malicious," Mordret smiled "not ashamed that we can see how you are?"
Jet looked at mordret, "cut the boy some slack he was trying to survive, that's all..."
Sunny was on the other hand glaring to the screen... even if poisoned... how did he want to get away?
Hero's face darkened.
"I see… I understand."
He thought about something, then looked at Sunny with surprise.
"But… but back then you didn't know… that we will turn on you."
Sunny just laughed.
"Oh, please. It was obvious. Shifty was the kind of man who would kill for a pair of boots. Scholar was like a wolf in sheep's clothing. People are selfish and cruel in the best of situations — was I supposed to believe that those two weren't going to do something terrible to me when faced with certain death?"
"Such a generalization." Mordret smiled "Sunny, I am not like this, in fact I always think about other people and their future first and foremost... particularly that of valor..."
Morgan felt the same...she wanted to see that mirror bastard bleeding on his knees... begging her to spare him...(Morgan valor's personal fanfic.)
Hero spat more blood.
"Then… what about me?"
"You?" A disdainful expression appeared on Sunny's face. "You are the worst of them."
"Why?"
Sunny looked at him and leaned forward.
"I might have not learned much in my short life, but I do know one thing," he said, all traces of humor gone from his voice.
Now there was only cold, callous contempt. Sunny's face hardened as he spat:
"There is nothing more pathetic than a slave who begins to trust his slaver."
Caster smirked, "there is something more pathetic than that... outskirts rats like you... I'd rather be a slave in luxury than a rat in a sewer..."
Sunny felt eternal contempt towards him, his black eyes as dark as the void itself wishing go see his blood gushing out of his throat
Hearing these words, Hero lowered his head.
"I see."
Then, suddenly, he laughed.
"You… you are a wicked little shit, aren't you?"
Sunny rolled his eyes.
"There's no need to be rude."
But Hero wasn't listening to him.
"Good. This is good. My conscience will be clearer."
"A hypocrite, through and through..." Sunny felt even greater hate towards this 'hero' than that bastard..."
The young slave sighed in irritation.
"What are you mumbling about? Just die already."
Hero chuckled and suddenly pierced him with a stare. Somehow, he didn't look so sick anymore.
"Poison isn't that effective against Awakened, dear Sunless!" Mordret's ridiculing words pierced Sunny's ears as the later cursed... what a shame... wouldn't directly killing the bastard make his appraisal skyrocket? Well if he would be dead either way it doesn't matter...
"You see, that plan would have worked if I was a normal human. But, alas, my Soul Core has Awakened long ago. I've slain countless enemies and absorbed their power. Bloodbane poison, unpleasant as it might be, can never kill me."
'Crap!'
Sunny turned around and tried to run away, but it was already too late. Something hit him in the back, sending his body crashing into the rock wall. With a scream, he felt a sharp pain piercing his left side. Rolling out of the cave, Sunny clutched his chest, scrambled back onto his feet and ran, trying to escape the narrow crevice.
Kai gulped, his Adam's apple pulsed softly near hid throat as he gulped. His eyes staring in blatant horror... was the boy gonna actually die!?
Caster grinned, "pathetic" he spat, "like a rat trying to escape a tiger, how futile. Tho fortunately amusing..."
Cassia looked lost, why was she even here? Just to watch people die... just watching felt so... wrong. She wanted... wished to do something and not to just sit and watch...
Aiko felt the small hair on the back of her neck stand up, her posture still and straight, her palms watering with sweat along with from her forehead trailing to her brow and onto h eyes as she looked away...
He managed to reach the old path, finally being able to see the stars and the pale moon shining brightly in the night sky. But it was as far as he was able to get.
"Stop."
As the cold voice sounded behind him, Sunny froze. If Hero really had an Awakened Soul Core, he had no chances of getting away from him. In a fight, he had no chances at all.
"Turn around."
"Why did you stop? Even if you have a plan, some distance won't destroy it... or... you want to give them secret weapon to him..." effie said...
Kai gazed at her, "Why would he want to give his secret weapon to the guy that wants to kill him?"
"You'll understand in a second..."
The young slave obediently turned, holding his hands up. He looked at Hero, who was wiping the blood off his face with a displeased look in his eyes. The two of them stared at each other, shivering in the murderous cold.
"Was it worth it? No matter. Despite it all, I will be true to my promise. I'll make it quick."
The soldier unsheathed his sword.
"Do you have any last words?"
Sunny did not answer.
However, a small silver bell suddenly appeared in his hand.
"Ahhh~~ so that's the plan!" Jet said, her melodious voice resounding in his ears... they felt assaulted, the good kind of assaulted.(don't mind me.)
Hero frowned.
"Where were you hiding that thing?"
Sunny shook the bell. A beautiful, clear ringing sound flowed over the mountain, filling the night with an enchanting melody.
"What are you doing?! Stop!"
Beastmaster, who undoubtedly was here since the very begin(don't bother checking.) smiled her voice sounding like a melodie in this teather filled with monsters. "So you are gonna throw the tyrant at him? How clever! The thing probably does rely on its hearing so it should be good."
The young slave dutifully stopped.
"What was…"
Right under Hero's bewildered eyes, the silver bell disappeared into thin air. He looked at Sunny, stumped and suspicious.
"Tell me! What did you just do?"
But Sunny didn't answer. In fact, he hadn't said a single word ever since escaping the cave. Right now, he wasn't even breathing.
Mordret chuckled, "ahh, so that's how you want to escape. A very particular strategy, I would even call it risky."
Noctis chuckled, "it is indeed very risky, the tyrant will undoubtedly find him..."
Naeve just smiled, "it seems there was no reason to worry at all."
Hero, on the other hand, continued to speak.
"Tell me right now or you will regret it."
He scowled.
"Why are you not saying anything?"
The shivering boy just stared at him, completely silent.
No… he was staring into the darkness behind him.
"Sunless, Sunless! Be careful, some creatures can actually feel the gaze of others so you need to be extremely careful." The always helpful voice of our dear friend noctis was heard... Kai shuddered remembering when he gazed at a Nightmare Creature and than it instantly gazed back... sweat gathering on his brow.
Hero's eyes widened.
"What…"