After eavesdropping on the private conversation between Nephis and her brother through his shadow, Gloomy, Sunny quietly slipped back into the bustling cafeteria. Reclaiming his usual spot at the table with Cassie and Yuki, he tried his best to maintain a calm facade. The sheer magnitude of information he had just acquired weighed heavily on his mind—a bitter pill that proved exceptionally hostile to digest. Yet, the morning was still young, and the comforting, warm presence of his companions did wonders to cushion his initial psychological shock.
Right beside him, the blind seer was currently shivering, helplessly trapped in the vice-like, freezing embrace of the ice beauty. Yuki seemed dead-set on turning Cassie into a literal block of ice, presumably to preserve her sheer cuteness for future generations to admire.
Sunny was busy resuming his breakfast, forcing down another bite of his food, when his survival instincts suddenly flared. His sharp senses detected the unmistakable approach of an impending storm, and his head snapped up faster than lightning.
'Oh, oh!' His eyes widened as the half-chewed food got stuck in his throat.
Lifting his gaze, he spotted Nephis. Having returned from the administration's reception room, she stood dead center in the middle of the cafeteria with her breakfast tray in hand, her piercing silver eyes slowly sweeping across the lively mess hall.
A violent shiver ran straight down Sunny's spine when those molten silver orbs abruptly locked onto his own pitch-black eyes. To make matters worse, a dangerous, subtle smile curled her lips.
'Noo! No, no,' Sunny thought, giving his head a subtle, warning shake.
Without breaking eye contact for even a fraction of a second, Nephis began marching toward their table with firm, unyielding strides. He was entirely convinced that if a solid brick wall were to spontaneously manifest in her path, she would have shattered it to pieces simply by moving forward with the sheer force of her undying stubbornness.
'No, no, no, no, no.' Sunny began shaking his head more energetically, desperately hoping against hope that he was just misinterpreting the situation. Maybe she was actually glaring at the group sitting at the table to their left. Yes, that had to be it.
Changing Star was now only a few paces away from them.
'No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!' Sunny was now shaking his head so violently that the features of his face were practically blurring into a frantic smear.
Finally, without uttering a single word of introduction, Nephis pulled out a chair and sat down at their table, directly opposite the three of them, instantly commanding the entire space. It took every ounce of Sunny's mental fortitude not to slam his forehead directly into the wooden table and cause a massive public scene. His right eye twitched violently.
Nephis rested her elbows on the table and crossed her hands under her chin, her eyes burning with an intense, quiet passion. Summoning every bit of her legendary communication skills, she looked straight at the three of them and said:
"Fight with me."
Sunny's jaw dropped, leaving him utterly speechless. What the— He was completely flabbergasted by the sheer richness of the Nephilim's vocabulary and her breathtaking command of rhetoric.
On his shoulder, the Jiminy Cricket slapped its own forehead in utter disbelief before collapsing backward. <
An awkward, suffocating silence descended upon their table, leaving them completely isolated from the lively chatter echoing through the rest of the cafeteria. A feeling of heavy, suffocating tension hung in the air—one that Nephis seemed entirely oblivious to as she calmly scanned the three Sleepers sitting across from her, patiently awaiting a response.
But how could there even be an answer when her statement hadn't been a question to begin with?
'Aaaaaaaah!' Sunny screamed internally, feeling the agonizing weight of each passing second drag out like an eternity.
"Cough, cough—" Cassie placed a small, clenched fist in front of her mouth, clearing her throat to break the ice. "Um... hello. My name is Cassia, but my friends call me Cassie. What's yours?" she offered, giving the newcomer one of her bright, radiant smiles.
Sunny closed his eyes, exhaling a slow, meditative breath as if absorbing a wave of heavy tranquilizers. 'May the dead gods bless you, Cassie.' The blind seer's clear, gentle voice was like a blade of pure light cutting through the thick darkness.
"Nephis," Changing Star replied flatly, without expanding any further. Unfortunately, the darkness was putting up a stubborn resistance.
Sunny had to violently bite his lower lip to keep a barrage of profanities from escaping his mouth.
"Yukino..." Yuki tried from Cassie's right, making a brave attempt to contribute. However, the words caught in her throat at the last second, freezing solid.
She quickly lowered her head, a deep crimson blush spreading across her cheeks—a rare flash of heat melting her usually perpetual ice-queen demeanor. She instantly regretted making the situation ten times more awkward than it already was.
Sunny slowly turned his gaze toward Yuki, his eyes wide and completely hallucinatory.
'Damnit, if I hadn't known that Yuki's Flaw gives her communication issues, I would have thought that she and Nephis shared the same lonely brain cell,' Sunny commented internally, watching their brief, awkward interaction.
Finally, he dropped his forehead into his hands, resting his elbows heavily on the tray in front of him. Lifting his head to face those piercing silver eyes, Sunny looked straight at Nephis and asked, "What do you want now?"
Changing Star tilted her head slightly, her expression unchanged. "I want you to fight with me."
Sunny leaned all the way back into his chair, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. "Perhaps... what you actually mean to say is that you want to be our friend?" He raised an eyebrow, desperately trying to decode the profound social mystery that was Nephis.
Changing Star blinked. Then, she gave a single, firm nod.
Seeing that Sunny was somehow managing to find a light at the end of this abyssal tunnel, Cassie and Yuki happily stepped back and let him steer the conversation.
"Right," Sunny said, nodding along to gauge her answer. Nephis was entirely sincere. "In that case, let me handle the proper introductions."
Sunny placed a dramatic hand over his heart. "In case it slipped your mind, I am Sunless. But you can call me Sunny if you want," he said with a faint, charming smile before gesturing to his right. "This is Yukino. She is gorgeous and might seem a little cold at first, but she's a dear friend."
"Nice to meet you," Yuki murmured with a polite little bow, still feeling a lingering pinch of embarrassment over her failed attempt from earlier.
"Nice to meet you," Nephis replied smoothly.
Turning his attention back to his left, Sunny affectionately placed a hand on Cassie's head, smoothing her golden hair in calm, circular motions. The blind girl closed her eyes, leaning into the pleasant, reassuring weight of his palm.
"And this little sweetheart full of love is named Cassie," Sunny announced playfully. "If you hug her, all your anxieties and worries will instantly vanish. And if you squeeze her cheeks, you'll never have to experience hunger or thirst ever again."
And that was precisely how Everlasting Gloom earned another sharp bite to the side of his neck from the blind seer.
Nephis looked at Yuki for a moment, watching as the ice beauty nodded repeatedly in solemn confirmation of the shadow's words.
"So, what about you?" Sunny asked, pulling a napkin to wipe the trace of saliva from the bite on his neck as Cassie pouted, crossing her arms and turning her face away in deep offense.
Nephis shifted her gaze from Sunny to Cassie and back a few times, studying their curious interaction with genuine, analytical interest. 'So... people usually bite their friends as a form of greeting,' she noted internally, seeing how casually Sunny reacted to the act, as if it were a perfectly normal daily occurrence.
'Should I bite him too?' she wondered, staring at Sunny from across the table while tapping a thoughtful finger against her chin.
Yuki, on the other hand, watched her with a quiet, amused smile, apparently finding a new form of entertainment. She had instantly caught on to the way Changing Star was observing them, looking exactly like a bewildered foreigner trying to learn the customs of a local tribe.
"I am Nephis, Changing Star of the Immortal Flame Clan," she finally announced, introducing herself formally from her seat.
"Wait!" Cassie interjected, raising her hands as a flash of recognition washed over her face. "You're the second-ranked Sleeper, Changing Star? The girl who has been badgering Sunny for a duel the past day?"
Nephis was about to give a firm nod. But then, noticing Sunny subtly gesturing toward his own eyes with his chin, she suddenly remembered the blind girl's condition. "Oh... yes."
Cassie was completely awestruck. She had recently discovered that Yuki, just like her, possessed a Sacred-rank Aspect and held the third spot on the leaderboard. A wave of pure euphoria swept across her face; every single Sleeper on this year's podium was currently sitting at her table. 'I feel like a popular girl all of a sudden,' she thought, a bright smile gracing her lips. 'Though... I wonder if I should have revealed my own Aspect rank, just so I wouldn't feel completely out of place among them.'
Turning her face toward Sunny in wonder, Cassie tilted her head. "Sunny, why did you keep rejecting her requests before, anyway?"
"Because she treated me like garbage," Sunny replied instantly.
Nephis blinked, looking thoroughly confused. "When?"
"You don't remember?" Sunny snapped, crossing his arms over his chest as an annoyed expression settled on his face. "The very first time we met outside the academy gates. I politely introduced myself, and you treated me like a piece of worthless trash smeared across the pavement."
Nephis lowered her head, her silver eyes gazing down as she desperately tried to dredge up the memory. Not finding it, she looked back up with a rare, softened expression. "I'm sorry."
Sunny stared at her for a long moment, evaluating the sincerity of her apology. "Hm," he grunted, giving a tight nod of acceptance.
"Do you want to fight me now?" Nephis tried again, her confidence instantly returning as her momentary mortification vanished without a trace.
Sunny ran a hand over his face, completely exasperated by her inescapable stubbornness. "Look," he sighed, raising a hand to halt her. "Let's make a deal. I am willing to accept your challenge under a few specific conditions. If you agree to my terms, I promise I will stop saying no whenever you ask to spar outside of regular classes. Deal?"
"Really?" At his words, Nephis's face instantly lit up, a brilliant spark igniting in her eyes.
Sunny nodded with an air of smug satisfaction. "Of course. After all, I am the most honest person in the world—two worlds, even."
Yuki and Cassie immediately pressed their hands over their mouths, trying to stifle their laughter at his spectacularly bold declaration.
"What are the conditions?" Nephis asked eagerly.
Using his raised hand, Sunny extended his index finger. "First of all, if you really want to be our friend, you have to sit with us here at this table. And that applies to all three meals of the day."
Sunny hadn't forgotten his main objective: he absolutely needed to forge unbreakable bonds with the main cast before they were inevitably dragged into the meat grinder of the Dream Realm. This was his top priority.
Nephis nodded, silently agreeing to the terms.
Sunny then extended his thumb alongside his finger. "Second, I want you to drop your other classes and join us in Professor Julius's Wilderness Survival course."
"Wilderness Survival?" Nephis repeated, the name sounding entirely foreign to her.
"Had you... never heard of it?" Yuki asked from across the table, her words stumbling slightly on the ice before smoothing out.
Nephis shook her head.
"Oh... well!" Sunny continued, not at all surprised. "It's not exactly a popular course. But I highly recommend it; the professor really knows his stuff."
Nephis looked up at the ceiling for a brief moment, carefully weighing the pros and cons. "Very well," she said firmly.
"And finally." Sunny raised his middle finger alongside the others, completing the gesture. "You see this treasure of a girl right here?" he asked, pointing his finger straight toward Cassie.
Feeling herself dragged into the spotlight against her will, the blind seer snapped her head in his direction. "Sunny, what on earth are you—"
She tried to protest, but was cut off halfway by Nephis, who locked her silver eyes onto her and asked, "What about her?"
"Don't you think she's adorable?" Sunny asked with an audacious grin and a glint of pure mischief in his eyes.
"I... think so," Nephis replied slowly, internally wondering what kind of convoluted tactical play he was making.
Cassie blushed furiously, her fingers tightly clutching the fabric of her skirt in sheer embarrassment. She subtly ran her tongue over her teeth, silently sharpening them—ready to give him another proper, sharp bite to the neck if necessary.
"Excellent!" Sunny clapped his hands together against the wooden table, sealing the unwritten contract. "That's all I needed to know."
Nephis blinked, staring at him in utter confusion. Yuki wore the exact same bewildered expression, completely failing to see where he was going with this last question.
Meanwhile, deep down, Sunny was mentally doing a victory lap, thoroughly satisfied with the outcome.
"Well then," he continued, taking advantage of the lack of opposition. "If you're so eager, we can head to the dojo right now. Oh! And feel free to call me Sunny," he paused for a fraction of a millisecond, a smirk spreading across his face as he added, "Burning Star."
Nephis began to nod enthusiastically. "Accep—" She cut herself off, finally processing the mockery. "What? Why Burning Star?"
Yuki and Cassie both snorted simultaneously.
Sunny's smile was an absolute insult to her dignity. "Why not?" he shrugged.
Nephis practically fumed, clenching her teeth. How dare he mock her True Name—her ultimate symbol of pride and heritage?
'Quick, Neph, think! Return fire! What can I say to put him in his place?' Nephis asked herself, glaring at the boy named Sunless as he quietly chuckled into his sleeve. 'Mh... he dresses entirely in black, and his skin is so pale it looks like he's never been touched by daylight. So... Lost from Light? No. That name sounds way too cool to be an insult. Let's try...'
Pointing a triumphant finger directly at his face, Nephis launched her counter-offensive with a smug expression. "Oh yeah? Very well then, Everlasting Gloom. Or should I say... Everlasting Black?"
'BOOYAH!' she cheered mentally. Vengeance was hers.
Sunny froze for a second, staring at her deadpan. Then, he raised his hands, his face turning entirely blank. "Everlasting Black? Wow, princess. You counter a harmless joke with casual racism? Tsk! Tsk!" He shook his head repeatedly, looking profoundly disappointed. "Honestly, I expected much better from you."
Nephis's pointing finger instantly deflated. 'What? No!' Her expression collapsed into one of absolute, horrified dismay.
Sunny burst into laughter again, pushing his chair back as he stood up and headed toward the training grounds. "Come on, let's go, Fumbling Star," he called back, gesturing for her to follow.
Watching him walk away, Nephis pouted, her face flushing crimson from the sheer humiliation. 'Maybe I should start biting him too,' she thought, clenching her fists as her eyes tracked Everlasting Gloom across the cafeteria.
***
A few minutes later, Sunny and Nephis stood inside the Academy dojo.
The two of them were completely alone. At his strict command, Myriad Shade had returned to his dark Soul Sea. Initially, Thene had thrown a quiet tantrum because she wanted to stay and watch over him, but Sunny didn't want to risk her stepping in if Changing Star pushed too hard. Furthermore, he preferred to keep her existence hidden for as long as possible. After all, since when did a regular Sleeper walk around with an Ascended Echo constantly tethered to his shadow?
Sunny and Nephis took their places in the center of the ring, facing one another.
Raising her hand, a longsword with a flawless silver blade materialized in a brilliant cascade of white sparks—the [Dream Blade]. Opposite her, a swirl of dark, crimson sparks condensed within Sunny's palm, forming a black dagger with a serpentine blade, its hilt wrapped in scarlet bandages—the [Deplorable Dagger].
'I wonder,' Sunny thought, watching her assume a flawless stance, lifting her weapon to shoulder height. 'With my current capabilities, just how wide is the gap between us?'
He looked down at the dagger gripped tightly in his right hand, slicing the air twice to measure its weight before looking back at Nephis's longsword. For safety, Sunny commanded Gloomy to wrap around his body. A dark, ethereal shroud enveloped his frame, and his pale skin faintly darkened as his physical attributes spiked.
Ever since their very first meeting, Sunny had felt a distinct, primal pulling toward Changing Star. It wasn't a romantic sentiment. His attribute, [Child of War], was actively demanding that he cross blades with her, challenge her, and test his mettle in single combat. It had been incredibly difficult to ignore so far.
His palms itched. The blade, though devoid of a life of its own, seemed to hum in perfect resonance with his rising battle intent.
"Ready?" Sunny asked, shifting his weight, planting his feet firmly, and holding the dagger in a reverse grip.
Nephis nodded. Her eyes burned with the intensity of someone who had waited an eternity for this exact moment. She lowered her stance, her silver blade held perfectly horizontal at shoulder level. "Ready."
<
In the next instant, both of them lunged forward.
Here, in the absolute privacy of the Academy dojo, witnessed only by silent shadows and nothingness, Changing Star and Everlasting Gloom crossed blades for the very first time.