He suddenly sensed a shadow approaching him... It was Seishan of Song...
"Sunless. It is nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Sunny replied, truly thinking that since he had to find a way to join Song clan.
He looked into her soul core and realised she was still an Awakened.
"Reaching Ascendance before turning an Awakened... You truly have my respect, Master Sunless."
Her smile suddenly turned paler.
"...I will be going away to challenge my own Second Nightmare in a few days, as a matter of fact. This ball is the last opportunity I have to experience the wonders of the waking world before that."
"Ah! I hope you enjoy this then." Sunny wanted to ask if he could join but decided against it, he needed to not look interested but a little interested at the same time.
He didn't wish her any luck though...
"I hope that we will be able to deepen our bond Forgotten Shore one day. Of course, whether or not it blossoms into a real friendship depends on our decisions."
'What bond? We didn't have any.' Sunny though coldly.
"Ah! So you wish for me to join your clan?" He replied simply.
"What make you think that?" Seishan asked with a straight voice.
"Your words seem to imply that." Sunny replied, "And I would be lying if I said I didn't wish to join."
"Oh?" Seishan eyes him curiously.
Sunny made his way towards the washroom after their talk, they agreed upon meeting sonewhere owned by Song to discuss their deal... Ofcourse he made sure he could go to Antarctica too.
Inside the washroom, he turned the tap on before suddenly speaking.
"I know you're here... Mordret."
Suddenly his own reflection flinched, grinning in a twisted way.
"How did you know? And who are you."
The world stilled...
'What?'
He literally just bluffed... Did it turn correct? Was the supposed Prince of Nothing actually here?
"A lucky guess, an ex acquaintance of mine told me about you and how you terrorised her." She didn't exactly say terrorised but he didn't care anyways. It was technically true.
"Oh? Are you that confident you could take me?" Mordret's grin widened, "Are you a divine aspect user or are you just that confident?"
He knew.
"Don't you think you should introduce yourself, Sunless?"
How did he know?
Did the news already update his Ascension?
Was it the song clan?
"Both. And no, I don't think I should introduce myself to you." Sunny smiled with glee, "What are you even doing here? This is the stronghold of Clan Valor."
"Why? Can't I visit my own clan's ball?"
Sunny laughed at his response, immediately forcing himsef to calm down, "You truly have some guts..."
"Ah, don't worry so much, Sunless. I am not here to do anything, I just wanted to take a peek at the festivities. No one will notice."
'What? What was he, a psychopath?'
"So do you plan on joinig Valour, Lost From Light?"
'What the hell? How did he know?'
"No, I don't plan on joining valor. As for what I gathered from what Changing Star told me, you were supposed to be smart. I am disappointed." Sunny shook his head with disapproval, "Did you think I stayed there by my choice when you knew my innate ability?" This time—this time Sunny laughed in a slow, maniacal way.
The laugh could send shivers down even Mordret's spine, but alas he was a psychopath and wouldn't have any...
"In any case, chose your allied carefully. Sunless."
He noticed something now... Did Mordret know he didn't have any friends? He, surprisingly, still didn't get a threat.
"I think you should be the one who is careful, Mordret. Think long... and think hard... before making me your enemy, or you will learn to fear the Shadows."
He paused. Dramatically.
He didn't necessarily have to, but sometimes he... Now he missed all the times Alex used to be like this... It was something he did to fill the emtpiniess...
"In any case, I am joining Song."
"Better, then let's not become enemies." With that Mordret disappeared, as if he was never there...
He left the ball soon after, especially after catching Nephis' eyes before they both looked away. Looked away with regrets reflecting on her mesmerizing eyes.
She, after all, looked truly breathtaking today, reminding him of what he once felt. Her silver dress flowed like countless rivers made by heavens merging into a single beautiful dress. He NEEDED to remember what she did. To remember it all.
All the sacrifices.
All the sleepers who died.
But most importantly...
The things stolen from him.
His freedom. His sister.
His humanity.
He sighed and left, without turning back. This was the moment the Shadow rebeled against the light...
Sunny put his tether at Chained Isles after Master Jet helped him out, and it was much easier since no one knew he joined Song Clan... Not yet anyways.
Now he would finally collect the next piece of his lineage... [Bone Weave].
He reached the Tear and looked down, before letting out a hoarse sigh. He was exhausted... All those things dumped upon him recently would break a normal person, which isn't to say he wasn't broken.
He was hurt. Broken, beaten and bruised. He still meant it when he told Changing Star death would be a mercy. It would be a mercy. It was the easy way out of pain.
Even losing his memories was the same.
Alas he had to do it. He needed to have revenge.
He needed to go back.
He needed to save Rain.
The last part was the important part.
'I really should sleep soon...' he sighed once again, before screaming in frustration.
Why did people always take from him?
Why couldn't they leave him alone?
He deserved something... Anything good. Atleast once.
Maybe having the chance to hear her voice again?
He only heard it once... Once.
Ever since she was adapted, 17 years ago... He only heard her once.
And that one time was filled with regrets, only saving grace being Rain's melodious laughter.
She didn't remember him.
She didn't care.
Couldn't.
'Move those thoughts away... Just... Just push them away. Focus Lo- No! Don't remember it right now.'
True names could, after all, remind people of things they would rather forget.
A lone drop of tear fell from his eyes, before he breathed in and jumped.
Shadows rushed towards him, forming a pair of dark wings on his back as he fell.
He emptied his mind and fell, using his wings to fall quicker with precision, until he reached the divine flames. Quickly he shifted to the small opening and fell...
He made his way through the ebony tower but something felt off... It felt occupied...
'W-what? Don't tell me... Don't tell me I lost my lineage too!'
What was he supposed to do?
Give up?
Give up his revenge?
He finally found the damn hand Weaver left behind... It was time to get [Bone Weave] now.
He ate the damn bone... And started to regret every life decision that brought him here.
It had to be done.
A painful shriek escaped his mouth and bit his lips to stop himself. It lasted for what seemed like an eternity until [Blood Weave] converted it to the [Bone Weave] attribute.
'I need to leave before anyone came.'
He made his way to the gate and poured some escense in, and what he saw next made him flinch in surprise...
It was Effie. Raised by Wolves.
"Doofus? What are you doing here? Are you... Are you joining us?"
Sunny flinched once again...
"Yes it is me... I simply came here for the next piece of my lineage and no I'm NEVER joining you."
He paused, a heavy, suffocating silence enveloped the room before Sunny continued...
"Leave the cohort. Tell Kai the same."
Another pause.
"My revenge doesn't lie with you..."
He spoke the words in a way he never would... It showed that he broke the friendship.
The very friendship that was build upon a lot of hardships shared by them.
Hardships they all went through.
"Doofus... Do you really have to?"
"Yes. I do... For my freedom. For my sister."
Him adding his sister was what he told himself... He knew deep down that she wouldn't want it but so what? He could still convince himself it was for her... For this one time.
The only time.
Even if he didn't it was still true. He needed to make sure Nephis remembered her mistakes right now... So they could save her together.
'Together huh? Do I still have feelings for her...'
It was sad really.
Pathetic, even more.
How could he still love her? He knew damn well what she took... So why?
'WHY DAMMIT!'
Why could he never be free?
Love itself was a chain...
"I'm sorry for what happened to her... But is she really to blame for her death?" Effie asked.
How could she ask it?
Wasn't it obvious why?
So... So why did she ask it?
"Isn't it obvious? I blame myself more than I blam her." he laughed... But the laugh looked pathetic.
Just like he was.
Just like—just like he always was.
"If I was here... If I was here she would be alive." He continued, "BUT I WASN'T... All because of me being naive."
"All because I trusted her and Cassie..." He continued in an almost inaudible whisper...
"And I trusted her to actually protect Rain... Hope truly was a poison back on Forgotten Shore, wasn't it?"
Another pause.
"For most people, anyways." He said, looking at Effie...
"You're right, Sunny..." Effie replied, "But will revenge bring her back? Do you really think it can?"
"And what if it can?" Sunny responded to her question with another, "Would you help me?"
Before she could reply Sunny used [Shadow Step] and left...
And just like that a seed of doubt was planted into Effie's mind, especially since she knew his flaw.
Ofcourse, he could mean that it wouldn't... He managed to trick them all, for the most part, earlier so what was one more time?
Would she let one of her fiends kill another just for this?
Would she see them fight?
How could she help Sunny while having Nephis and Cassie live...