Nephis let out a deep sigh. The days she had spent with Sunny had been comforting; it had been so long since she felt that way.
But she knew all good things came to an end. Valor's ball was approaching, and with it came a far greater significance.
She still remembered the arrival of the invitation. It had been a stark reminder that her days of peace were coming to an end. Two days ago, a letter made of fine, elegant red paper had been delivered to her doorstep.
The letter didn't have much written in it, but the cold aura it exuded was palpable, as if it had come from the frozen depths of hell itself. The words were simple yet carried a tremendous weight: "You are invited to the Clan Valor Ball."
Sure, who wouldn't want to attend a ball? But Nephis knew the true intention behind this invitation was far darker. This wasn't just an event to display the power of Clan Valor, nor a simple dance. It was an opportunity to negotiate—one that involved Princess Morgan herself. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought. What was she supposed to do?
The great clans wanted all members of her cohort to join them. Each clan had become famous in its own way. But Nephis wouldn't let that happen.
A surge of determination overtook her. It didn't matter if she had to join the bastard clan that had once hunted her and tried to kill her. That no longer mattered. If it meant saving him—the one person who had kept her sane in this twisted, chaotic world, the person she loved—Sunny, she would do it.
The last week had been filled with warm days spent with him, from sparring sessions to a simple, quiet outing. To her, those moments were unforgettable.
But she knew those moments were hers alone. After all, the shadow bond wouldn't allow her to have the relationship she desired. Who would fall in love with someone who had stolen their freedom? Even though Sunny had forgiven her, there was a vast chasm between the forgiveness of a friend and the love of a partner.
That was why she couldn't let Valor take Sunny from her, even if he wasn't truly hers. She would fight tooth and nail, until her last breath, even if her sanity unraveled. Because she loved him. Even if it wasn't mutual, that didn't matter to her.
She had to prepare herself. Her fraught mind clung to the belief that this was the best course of action, even if it meant she could never have the relationship she dreamed of with Sunny. Even if her heart burned seeing him with someone else, she would endure it. Because that was love.
No matter how painful, her chaotic, fragile mind—still scarred from her second nightmare—couldn't recover in just one week.
The traumas she carried, the complex feeling that her goals were foolish and worthless, haunted her. But soon, she convinced herself none of that mattered.
Still, deep down, she knew—something was going to break.
She donned an elegant red dress that reflected her resolve and mirrored the internal war raging within her.
Her cohort waited for her downstairs. With firm steps, she descended into the living room. Her presence exuded calm and serenity, but within, she was anything but.
And so, they began their journey in a PTV driven by Kai.
The cold, dark night was heavy. The moonlight, ever a witness to all, seemed withdrawn, illuminating less than it should. It was as if the world knew Nephis' mind was on the verge of collapse.
But she would keep fighting, even though she didn't know how much longer her mind could endure.
When they arrived at the Clan Valor Ball, hundreds of Ascended masters were engaged in trivial discussions about travels or unimportant topics. None of this interested Nephis. Her mind had only one goal: to prevent Valor from laying their dirty hands on Sunny.
The castle hosting the event was magnificent, and the attendees were the elite of the Ascended, including Saints. In the midst of them stood Morgan, the Princess of Valor, the legitimate heir to the throne—if Alivil were to die. Her jet-black hair remained perfectly still despite the wind, and a confident smile played at the corners of her lips.
"Changing Star, welcome. We need to talk."
Thus began Nephis' torturous night, with only one objective on her mind: to stop Valor from taking Sunny.
She fought with all her might during an intense negotiation, which eventually reached a stalemate. In the end, two options were presented: either Sunny joined Valor with her, or the entire cohort joined Valor, except for Sunny.
She couldn't speak for the others, nor did she want to. But the second option was dangerously tempting.
Her chaotic mind began to feel as though her goal was slipping further and further away. A cold sensation crept into her thoughts. She was nearing her breaking point, just as she had in her second nightmare.
She still had one last ace up her sleeve, one she hated to use but saw no other choice.
However, what happened next left her utterly stunned. Sunny appeared at her side, bowing elegantly to Morgan and speaking in a calm, cold voice:
"Princess, if that's truly the only option, then I'd be honored to join Valor... with Nephis."
Nephis broke. What in the world was Sunny doing? She had spent weeks rethinking this negotiation with Morgan, prepared to use her ace to go to Valor alone, without Cassie.
Why? Sunny! What was he doing? Nephis wanted to scream, to kick, to cry. Why was he doing this?
With a meticulous, pleased smile, Morgan accepted without hesitation. "Then it's a deal, Master Sunless."
And just like that, Nephis' carefully constructed plan crumbled. Her mind descended into utter chaos, her emotions reaching a breaking point.
Grabbing Sunny's arm in anger, she leaned close and whispered through gritted teeth, "We need to talk... now."
Sunny, using the last of his essence, shadow-stepped back to his house. He stumbled slightly, then steadied himself, his calm expression betraying none of his exhaustion. A faint, almost indifferent smile lingered on his lips as he met Nephis' fiery gaze.
"What's the matter, Nep?" he asked, but before he could finish saying her name, Nephis grabbed his hands tightly. Her eyes, wild and desperate, bore into his with a mix of fury and despair.
"Why?" Her voice trembled, broken. "I had a plan, Sunny. Why did you do it?"
Sunny raised an eyebrow, his usual calm undisturbed. "Oh, I know. The worst plan ever: reveal your divine aspect," he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Nephis inhaled sharply, her mind spiraling into chaos. The burning frustration of seeing all her effort undone consumed her. "Then why?" she demanded again, her voice rising as she struggled to contain her emotions. "You knew it would work. Why did you do it? Why?"
Sunny met her gaze in silence, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Despite the tension, despite her anger, his face remained composed, his demeanor unshaken. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he stepped closer to her and whispered:
"Because I love you."
Those words struck Nephis like a bolt of lightning, sending a cold shiver through her entire body. Yet, at the same time, it was as if her entire being was set alight, her chest tightening as the weight she'd been carrying for so long began to lift.
And just like that, her carefully constructed world came crashing down. The boy she had loved for so long stood before her, his heart laid bare. The chaos in her mind intensified, her thoughts spinning out of control. She couldn't process it, couldn't understand.
Tears welled in her eyes, and she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sunny... you're everything to me. You're the anchor that kept me alive. Without you... without you, I would've given up a long time ago. You're my reason to keep going."
Her words were halting, tangled with emotion. "I... I love you, too, but..." Her voice broke, unable to continue.
Sunny watched her, his calm expression unwavering as he listened. But Nephis knew there was something in the way, a shadow that loomed between them. She knew the shadow bond, that cursed link binding them, would never allow her to have the relationship she wanted. The guilt and fear of losing everything she had fought for suffocated her.
"The bond... it won't let us..." Her words faltered as tears spilled down her cheeks. "I can't..."
Sunny stepped closer, gently cupping her face in his hands. His touch was soft, grounding her as his steady gaze pierced through the storm in her mind.
"That stupid bond? Who cares about that now?" His voice was firm, his tone filled with quiet conviction. "Don't you get it, Nephis? That bond doesn't matter. You're holding something far more important in your hands."
Nephis looked at him, her confusion evident. "What... what do you mean?"
Sunny's lips curled into a small, gentle smile. "You're holding something infinitely more valuable than any curse. Our hearts. You have the power to decide what happens to them. You can crush them, shatter them, leave them to rot. Or you can care for them, protect them."
His voice softened, though his words carried undeniable weight. "And I already know what I want to do with yours."
"What... what will you do with mine?" Nephis asked, her voice trembling with both fear and fragile hope.
Sunny's gaze didn't waver as he spoke, his tone filled with unwavering tenderness. "I'll protect it. Cherish it. Treat it like the most precious thing in the world."
Those words sent Nephis' heart into a frenzy, the storm within her quieting ever so slightly. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she wasn't drowning in her pain and fear.
She didn't know what compelled her, but in that moment, she closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to him, her body trembling.
And when their lips met in a soft, desperate kiss, it was as if the entire world melted away. For that fleeting moment, Nephis found the peace she had been searching for.
Sunny's arms encircled her, pulling her closer, his embrace firm yet gentle. The weight of her torment, her doubts, her fears—it all faded in his warmth. Even though the world around them remained uncertain, even though the challenges ahead loomed large, this was enough for Nephis.
Sunny had given her the strength to keep going, to face whatever came next.
Together, they stood in the quiet, the chaos of the night fading into nothingness. In Sunny's arms, Nephis realized she wasn't alone—and perhaps she never had been