Four months had passed since Changing Star and her cohort embarked on their perilous expedition into the Underworld.
When they returned, they were no longer the same. Each member had changed—their auras sharper, movements heavier with power, and their eyes haunted by the memories of what they had seen in this hostile realm. They absorbed many soul shards and gained many powerful memories.
The objective of their expedition had been a successful. They had recovered the Dawn Shard from the eternally grinning skeleton of the first Bright Lord, and seized the Dusk Shard from the forgotten statue in the depths. With those, they now held five of the seven Shard Memories.
Next they took out ancient guardian of the ruined cathedral, the Forsaken Knight, a powerful Fallen Devil.
Their strength was undeniable, their accomplishments impressive. But they knew the cost. The tension between their faction and the Night Lords was already at point of turning into open hostility.
And now, back in the bleak ruins of the dark city, they were immediately met with the summons— from the sovereign of the Bright Castle himself.
Marvin of Valor, the youngest son of Saint Madoc and a company commander in the Night Lord's legion, had delivered the message personally. The formal summons bore the seal of the Night Lord—Konrad of Night, also known as Night Haunter.
With her faction gathered, Nephis of Immortal Flame led them through the ravaged outer settlements and up the ancient, cracked stone road to the Bright Castle. Towering ancient spires loomed like watchers of death as they approached the fortress. The walls still bore the scars of countless battles. But the banners of the Night Lord flew proudly in the storm-kissed sky.
They entered through the front gate, escorted by the Seventh Company— Harus the Bloody Hand of the Night Lord. These were soldiers who had earned their reputation in blood and fire. Their expressions were stoic, their discipline flawless. No words were exchanged. None were needed.
Inside the throne room, the Night Lord sat tall on the obsidian throne, flanked by his captains. Izanami, Sevatar, Tessai, Gunlaug, Talos, Seishan, Marvin and Gemma stood like an honor guard— each one a legend in their own right. The room was quiet, the only sound the rhythmic steps of Changing Star and her people as they approached.
Konrad's gaze was unreadable. His black eyes, deep as the void, fixed on Nephis with the weight of years spent ruling in this crumbling bastion. He leaned slightly forward, his voice calm but cutting.
"Welcome to my humble home, Nephis of Immortal Flame, Changing Star."
There was no mockery in his tone, only a sense of grim amusement and a touch of admiration.
He stood slowly, his red cape flowing behind him like a dying flame.
"I am Konrad of Night, Night Haunter. I arrived at the Forgotten Shore seven years ago. That time, the Second Bright Lord had just perished. Order had broken down. Anarchy ruled. People died every day. Humanity was one breath away from extinction."
He paused, letting the weight of those words settle.
"I took the throne then. I brought order to chaos. And for years, I've held this fractured sanctuary together. But we are bleeding. Every year, fewer and fewer of us remain. This solstice, only seven new Sleepers arrived. Next year... there will be none. Fate has closed its gate for us."
He stepped down from the dais, approaching slowly. "I have been preparing. My legion has trained, hunted, bled. We are strong. But we are not enough. Not to breach the Crimson Spire. Not to claim our freedom."
Konrad looked around at everyone in the hall, his voice growing firm.
"We need everyone. Every shard. Every blade. Every drop of blood. That is why I've called you. We need you all."
He turned back to Nephis, his tone softening slightly.
"Changing Star, will you join us? Will you lead? Will you help us break this nightmare? Will you help us conquer the Crimson Spire? Will you save what's left of us?"
The room was silent. Then, Nephis stepped forward. Her silver eyes were burning with resolve.
"I will lead us all to lay siege on the crimson spire. I won't promise victory or success. I only promise that if you follow me you shall never be a slave, not to the dream realm, not to nightmare spell, not to fate. You will die as humans, not cowering beasts. I will do it even without you. So, will you follow me?"
Konrad stared at her for a long moment, then laughed. Not mockingly, but with something like amusement.
"Well said! Well said! This is what I expected of Immortal Flame.. No, Changing Star! Very well! Very well! Lead us to success! Lead us to victory! Lead us to death! Lead us to Freedom! Changing Star."
He stepped down from the throne and extended his hand.
"Every dying star lets out its brightest light before it fades. So be it. Let this be our supernova. Lead us, Bright Lady. I promise the Night Lord's Legion will be your sharpest talons."
Nephis hesitated for a moment, then grasped his hand.
"Very well, Night Lord. I will not become the Bright Lady. But I will lead us through the darkness."
With that handshake, the alliance was sealed.
The room breathed again. For the first time in years, perhaps in decades, hope glimmered in the darkness of the Forgotten Shore.
***
Bright Castle finally opened its doors to all. No tolls, no soul shards, just a sanctuary. The outer settlement, long plagued by scarcity, fear, and the creeping dread of the dark city, flooded into the stronghold. Sleepers, ragged and weary, crossed the threshold with disbelief in their eyes. They had spent years outside those walls, clinging to a dying hope, about will they ever return to waking world. Now, they were taking their first step towards it. The bastion that had once only housed the elite of the Night Lord's chosen was now alive with the chaos of integration.
The host—Konrad's command structure—worked tirelessly through the day, guiding newcomers to chambers, setting up food distribution, organizing medical relief. It took hours to settle everyone, but the fortress, for all its age, held strong. Within its cold, bright alloy walls, the future of the Forgotten Shore's humanity was shifting.
As the last fires of the day burned low, deeper within the castle, the war council was in session. The air was dense with expectation. Around the long stone table sat the architects of this uneasy alliance.
On one side: Konrad, the Night Lord himself, with Izanami to his right—ever silent, ever sharp. Sevatar stood behind Konrad, his expression carved from stone, and Talos leaned back in his seat, arms crossed and always watching. Seishan and Marvin, middle parties, played the role of diplomatic bridges.
On the other side: Changing Star, Nephis of the Immortal Flame, sat composed. Her cohort flanked her—Caster, ever analytical; Effie, who radiated barely restrained aggression; Kai, the charismatic archer; Sunless, the enigmatic shadow stood leaning against the wall; and Cassie, whose blind eyes seemed to have seen too much.
The negotiations began sharp, cold, and formal. They spoke of the command hierarchies, the security issues of the bright castle and the resource demand of all these people. But slowly, as the hours wore on and the meeting was finished. After that the meal was brought in, the edges softened. Bread was broken. Wine was poured. Laughter was scarce, but words flowed.
Later, after the tables had been cleared, small groups formed across the hall. Sunless and Sevatar shared a quiet corner, speaking in clipped tones. Looks like their similar past gave them common ground.
Talos, Marvin, and Caster discussed battle strategies, their voices low and deliberate. Kai was rizzing up Seishan without knowing it, while Effie kept her eyes on everyone.
Konrad moved through it like a prowling wolf. Izanami by his side, he approached Nephis and Cassie standing behind. His shadow loomed over them. Despite his towering form and air of brutal command, Nephis remained composed, her gaze meeting his without flinching.
"Changing Star," Konrad said, his voice even, almost pleasant. "You hold yourself like a torch of hope, burning brightly even here. It must be exhausting and painful."
Cassie tensed behind Nephis, but the latter gave no sign of alarm.
"Some lights don't choose to burn. They just do," she replied calmly.
They exchanged a few more lines, curt and layered with double meaning. Then Nephis' tone shifted.
"You don't deserve salvation. You are utterly irremediable. You disgust me."
The air froze. Voices fell. Eyes turned. Every conversation halted as if a knife had cut the room in half.
Konrad's face went blank. The suffocating weight of his aura pressed into the chamber like a storm front.
"Everyone leave!" he said. The tone was not a request.
Silence followed.
Then: "Leave," Nephis echoed, colder than frost.
Chairs scraped. Weapons were subtly palmed, but no one dared to draw them. One by one, the room emptied until only Konrad and Nephis remained.
Nephis spoke, "You wait for salvation, instead of seeking it. So you don't deserve it."
Konrad moved, stepping forward slowly.
"Oh? Why do you think I don't deserve salvation? What about me is so repulsive to you, princess of Immortal Flame?"
Nephis didn't flinch.
"You have done many despicable things. But I won't judge you for those. Who knows if any of us would have done any better? Keeping a thousand hopeless people alive in this hell is the kind of task that can turn a saint into a demon. No... there is only one crime you committed that I can never forgive."
She took a breath.
"You gave up."
"You joined us because you are forced to. Otherwise we will kill you."
Konrad laughed. Not the mocking kind. The kind laced with bitter irony and madness. It echoed through the chamber.
"Oh ho! Do you think I gave up? No! I did not give up. I am stuck in this hell for seven years now! Do you really think I can't collect the seven shard memories? Can't kill that crimson terror? I can do it. I would have done it, if I could... But I can't. Instead I have to wait for for some star that will fall from the sky one day, lighting a blaze this dark city while trying to keep as many souls as possible alive."
He stepped closer, his eyes crackling with lightning.
"And do you think you can kill me?... Me? What gives you that confidence? You... I also deteste you. Your self righteous attitude. You are so full of yourself! Do you think the world only revolves your ambition and vendetta against those three mongrels? Do you really think having experience pain and lose, gives you the right to judge others? To judge other's resolves and ambition. Who are you to judge me?"
"While you danced your little war with your father's best friends, I bled in the Underworld, surrounded by darkness so deep it makes this place look like dawn. I clawed my way back, bearing the screams of dead horrors and the wails of unborn terrors. I am plagued by visions of nightmare beyond your comprehension."
He pointed at her, his eyes black as the abyss. It was heavy, oppressive, tired and old.
"I know many things. Some you know, some you don't. I know Sunless. I know the blind girl. I know those three mongrels. I even know about Broken Sword. About Smile of Heaven. And I know you, Star of Ruin."
Konrad's gaze was very intense as Changing Star felt exposed from that gaze.
"I know your nature. The only reason I am alive because I am strong. You can't kill me. Only you are alive because the third mongrel vito your death. Do you really think a mere girl would survive if two Sovereign target them? So, do not think you're alive because you're strong. You're at their mercy. I know a lot more. But knowledge can't be shared so freely."
His voice dropped.
"I am Night Haunter, one haunted by their own visions. I do not seek forgiveness, nor I seek salvation. And I offer none. But none can judge me. Not you. Not anyone. Only I can judge myself. I am nothing more than a specter. And nothing less than a disaster."
He moved, in an instant his mouth was inches from ear's of Nephis. He stood behind her even without her realizing it. He spoke, his voice low and cold.
"Neither am I a ruinous star of change, nor someone exiled from light. I am Night Haunter, a wraith born of despair. Remember that."
With that, Konrad turned, his cape snapping behind him. He paused at the edge of the hall, glancing toward the shadows.
Then he was gone.
Nephis remained, staring at where he had stood. Her lips were tight. Her eyes did not burn. They hardened. Like steel tempered in fire, sharpened by fury.
"I see." She muttered.