(I've changed the time of the meeting. It's at sunset now.)
Kai's day has started as bad as it could: when he had prepared his outfit, already perfectly planned out in his mind, he had discovered that the shirt was stained. And he'd had to change his plans.
Just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, he'd been kidnapped.
He had been on his way to Aiko's gambling den. Of course, he wasn't going there to bet or gamble, but to spend some time with a… friend. Yes, a friend. Aiko was just a friend of his.
Anyways, that was when he noticed a man following him. He wasn't sure at first, but years of dealing with love-struck fans stalking him had made him difficult to follow unnoticed.
Kai half-considered activating his Aspect to escape, but the corridors he was in were far too inadequate for flying.
He started running, the man behind following suit. Kai looked over his shoulder as he was turning a corner; he was gaining terrain, leaving the aggressor behind.
He barely saw the bat waiting for him as he turned, and couldn't avoid being hit on the face.
It was a bit disheartening, really, being captured in the Dream Realm. There had been many unsuccessful attempts at kidnapping him when he was still a music star, so it was a bit ironic, that it had happened as a Dreamer.
His muscles and bones hurt, bound by a robust string. He opened his eyes, but could see nothing but darkness. Leather pressed tightly on his body, restraining him. He was in kind of bag, he realised. He tried to move a little bit, but froze when he heard voices. Blue light suddenly flooded his eyes as the bag was opened. He could do nothing before something hit him on the exact same point on his forehead, and he fell unconscious again.
Kai woke up with a start as cold water hit his face. He gasped, looking around. There was nothing but darkness, but he could feel something soft under him. Where had the water come from?
Just as he had started to theorise where he could be, the same blue light that he had seen when in the bag illuminated his surroundings.
He was in a spacious room, lying on an elegant bed. It seemed as if someone was living there, or, at least, had once. The lack of dust made him lean towards the former, though.
"Looks like you're awake, sleeping beauty."
Kai turned with a start towards the voice.
A man of modest stature was standing there, donning a leather black armour. Completely black. Like, why all black? At least the colour complemented his onyx eyes and hair, Kai acknowledged.
He wasn't wearing any visible weapon, but Kai didn't let his guard down.
There were all kinds of aspects out there, and although he wasn't a feared warrior, Kai knew not to make any careless assumptions.
It was closed space: it was restraining him from using both his flying Aspect and his archery skills. That was, if he had the time to summon any weapon.
"Who are you?"
The man amiably smiled. However, appearances could deceive. The man must be one of his captors. The lantern cast the same blue light.
"I'm Sunless, but you can call me Sunny."
Kai decided it was best not to comment, given his predicament.
"Why did you kidnap me?"
Kai couldn't think of any reason he would be targeted other than to get his riches. He had more than 30 hardly earnt shards! And a couple of Memories.
"I didn't kidnap you. In fact, you should thank me. I'm your saviour!"
Kai blinked. His Flaw stayed silent.
"How do you have that Memory, then?"
He pointed at the lantern.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I, uh, received it."
Kai narrowed his eyes. He said he hadn't kidnapped him, but that he had received the Memory. Consequently, he was complicit with those who had. How could he be his saviour, then?
"Where are my kidnappers?"
"Oh, they are dead. I told you I saved you, didn't I?"
Kai waited for his Flaw to flare up and confirm that he was joking, but that moment never came. A feeling of dread came up his spine, but the man didn't seem to have hostile feelings toward him. He hesitated for a moment.
"Uh, thank you."
Kai had never killed a man before, and dreaded the deplorable action. He knew that slaughter was the norm for most Awakened, but he didn't want the blood of another fellow human to stain his hands. He condemned the action of taking another's life.
However, the Forgotten Shore had shown him how ugly humans could be. He felt ashamed of not intervening to protect the innocent, but he was weak, so he buried his head in the sand.
Kai was often reminded of a poet of the ancient times, who had written a novel about Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. Even though Kai didn't believe in God, a particular part had resonated deep within him.
The poet despised those who hadn't taken a position, who hadn't chosen anything, nor good nor evil, the Ignavi.
Sometimes Kai felt he was of the same category, only even worse. He believed he was good, that he wasn't like Gunlaug's men, who perpetrated abuse and evil. That he was kind and generous. However, he had never acted when it really mattered.
When he'd arrived at the Forgotten Shore, he was lucky enough to land near the Bright Castle and find a Shard to gain access to the castle. He was appalled by the starving outskirts and the injustice that reigned supreme.
In his time there, he had been witness to horrors that made his heart tremble from rage. But one of Gunlaug's ruthless execution left him devoid of any strength to act. He had never raised his head since.
Sunless had killed men that were not innocent by any point of view. He had helped him, and Kai surely didn't have the right to judge.
"Huh, are you okay?"
Sunless waived a hand in front of his eyes.
Embarrassed, Kai realised he had spaced out, lost in his thoughts.
"Uh, yes, sorry." He hesitated. "You must be very strong, if you managed to kill the men who kidnapped me."
It came out more like a question than a statement, but Kai was fairly sure.
After all, the two were members of Gunlaug's guards; beating them was bound to be difficult.
The poor archer had no idea the two he had seen weren't the only ones slaughtered that night.
Sunny smiled. "Yeah, you could say that."
"How come I've never heard of you, then? I know everyone of notice in the Bright Castle. Erm, not to say you aren't important, of course!"
Sunless didn't seem to be offended.
"It must be because I don't live in the castle, then. I've also come here only a few months ago."
"A few months ago?" He exclaimed. "Can I ask you a question, then?"
Sunless sighed, like he had been expecting this. The excited archer didn't seem to notice.
"You can."
Kai was impatient to receive unvaluable information about the waking word, but he restrained himself.
"I must tell you something. My Flaw is that I can perceive lies. Oh, my Aspect is flying."
"Who goes around giving out Flaw and Aspect like candies? Anyways, go on."
All of his questions were of a fundamental importance. Who won last year's Grammies? Who won the Avatar tournament? Had the group Binrambin managed to make a comeback against their rivals, the pinrampins?
However, it seemed as if his new acquaintance was awfully unaware of all those world-changing matters.
The charming archer sighed, before tactfully saying:
"I must ask, Sunless. Did you live under a rock?"
Sunless glanced at his confused.
"No, of course! At most, I lived on the streets."
"On the streets?" Echoed the handsome singer.
"I'm from the outskirts."
Oh. Oh.
His stomach growled, breaking the silence. Kai didn't now whether to be thankful or not, but he shifted on his feet, his face turning uncomfortable.
Sunny snickered and summoned a skilfully made glass bottle.
Kai admired it for a second. It was really stylish. The sight made him realise how thirsty he was.
Sunless held it out, Kai eagerly took and drank like a starved animal. Somehow, he still managed to look graceful.
"Thank you, Sunless."
Sunless began to walk out the room, stopping at the entrance to wait for him.
"It's nothing. Also, call me Sunny. I've decided to be your friend. Now, follow me to get something to eat."
Kai felt a warm feeling inside. When he heard that he wanted to be his friend, his Flaw hadn't raised its ugly head. It was one of the first times since his Nightmare.
---------------------------------------------------
Kai stretched on the chair, satisfied with the meal.
"Thank you, Sunny."
Sunny waved his hand.
"It's not a problem."
Kai nodded.
"It might not be, for you. However, I feel the need to repay you. What can I do?"
Sunny remained silent for a couple of moments.
"A couple of things, if you must. I need you to buy an armour from Stev. It is ruined and rumoured to have been the First Lord's. Invent an excuse, like it looks awesome or something like that. I'll give you the Shards, don't worry. Then meet me in the outskirts. Make sure you aren't recognised."
Even if he found the request strange, Kai didn't let it be shown on his face.
After chatting for a little bit- "It's not only because I didn't have time to keep myself informed about all this music groups, but I also didn't care about it. I have much more important matters to involve myself in, such as the waking world being absorbed by a Dream dude!" His Flaw was telling him Sunny genuinely believed in what he was saying. Was his new friend a bit crazy, perhaps?- they were about to go out of the quarters.
"Oh, by the way, we are in the middle of the Dark City, and there's a Fallen Devil outside. Be sure to quietly fly away."
Kai only regained his bearing after a few seconds.