Saint always had several matters occupying her thoughts.
There was the underground city awaiting them beyond the grand doors. There were the people she and Sunny would eventually encounter upon the Forgotten Shores, each of whom might become an ally, an obstacle, or a threat. There was also the distant future, which demanded preparation despite remaining obscured by a Worldline that had already diverged from the one recorded in Sunny's memories.
Then there was Sunny himself.
Sunny was a marvel. His existence defied many of the principles Saint had once accepted as immutable, although that was not what drew her thoughts toward him so often. Somewhere within the newly awakened heart of the woman she had become, Saint possessed an affection for him that exceeded loyalty.
She had struggled to identify it.
'Ah.'
The word had been love, right?
As a Stone Saint, she had never possessed the capacity to love another being like a human could. She had been capable of loyalty, pride, resentment, and a ruthless devotion to the master who granted her purpose, yet the emotion she now carried belonged to a human existence.
Unfortunately, recognizing its name did not teach her how to express it.
Saint could only hope Sunny perceived something within her actions. She hoped that protecting him, correcting his recklessness, remaining beside him, and offering what comfort she could amounted to loving him properly.
Those thoughts passed through her mind as she held Sunny and Cassie in either arm.
Cassie continued trembling against them, although her broken sobs had gradually diminished. Sunny remained unconscious, his breathing shallow from exhaustion. The three of them were young enough that the scene should have appeared peculiar, yet Saint seemed to be the most mature among them.
Perhaps she truly was.
[Primal Vessel Constraint] had been imposed upon Saint in much the same manner as it had been imposed upon Sunny. Transforming her into a Phantasm while restoring the complete memories she possessed as a Noble Creature and Shadow would have defeated the purpose of the constraint.
Therefore, Saint's memories had been filtered as well.
The restrictions placed upon her were significantly less severe. Nevertheless, it remained strange to know that Sunny, who had been born much later, carried an abundance of memories exceeding her own.
'Viceroy... your craft follows peculiar principles. Regardless...'
A quiet laugh escaped her.
Saint did not know what had inspired it. Perhaps she found the sight in her arms beautiful, or perhaps the unfamiliar happiness demanded some form of expression.
For a moment, she wondered whether jealousy should have troubled her. Cassie held Sunny with desperate intimacy, pressing her cheek against his while refusing to loosen her embrace.
Saint felt nothing of the sort.
The absence of jealousy did not disturb her. Whatever connections Sunny created in this Worldline, he and Saint would remain together until they witnessed its 'Conclusion'. That certainty was enough.
Even so, Saint hoped she would learn jealousy someday.
She wanted to experience the full extent of human emotion, including the parts that brought discomfort. If she intended to love Sunny and receive his love in return, she wished to comprehend everything such affection could demand.
There was also a question she needed to ask him.
'I wonder... who is Amanises?'
The name had drawn Sunny into profound grief. Whoever Amanises had been, their memory possessed enough power to disturb a regressor who had seen the destruction of an entire world.
Saint wished to learn more.
Sunny could not continue living beneath the condemnation of deeds he refused to reveal. At some point, he would have to forgive himself for what he had done, or for what he believed he had failed to prevent.
Until that time, Saint would remain near him.
Without her, Sunny might become the loneliest existence in the world, following the same path once suffered by the Original Sunless.
Saint's gaze lowered toward the two people in her arms, and she felt her expression begin to change.
'Enough. Speculation will accomplish nothing. I can return to this matter later.'
She turned toward the Phoenix.
Its immense body occupied much of the chamber, radiating a subdued orange light through the surrounding feathers. Even while dormant, the creature possessed a majesty few Transcendent Titans could rival.
That such a being had remained hidden beneath the Forgotten Shores was staggering.
The Phoenix was a true Noble Creature, carrying no trace of Corruption. Its affinity belonged unmistakably to the sun, and the flame dwelling within it contained the properties of a blessing. That power differed from the flame of a Nephilim, yet its origin still seemed divine.
The most evident possibility was Sun God, Surya.
Sun God held authority over Creation and Destruction. A being who governed those opposing principles might have created any number of impossible creatures, including one that restored itself through its own annihilation.
A Phoenix was a legendary bird capable of living for centuries before burning into ash and emerging anew. Mortals associated it with rebirth, renewal, and immortality.
Its existence raised several questions, though.
'Could it have been born from the union of Beast God and Sun God?'
The creature's flame carried the sun's divinity, although many of its inherent qualities seemed closer to the domain of Beast God.
Another possibility entered Saint's mind.
'Did the people of Constellia create it? What manner of civilization were they? A Mortal Realm should never have possessed so many descendants of the gods.'
Unfortunately, Saint had witnessed only fragments of Cassie's dream. The rest belonged to the blind girl, who would have to explain what she experienced after recovering.
Saint examined the Phoenix once more.
The creature appeared trapped between perpetual sleep and incomplete awakening. Calling its present condition death would not have been entirely inaccurate. Perhaps its cycle of renewal had been interrupted, preventing its flame from restoring the life hidden within the enormous body.
Eventually, it might blaze again.
Saint returned her attention to Cassie.
The girl had stopped whispering Sunny's name. She continued holding him tightly, occasionally brushing her cheek against his as though reassuring herself that he remained there.
'Adorable.'
However, they could not remain in this position until morning.
Saint had lost track of time after their encounter with the Idol of the Golden Fleece, a Corrupted Devil whose existence had forced both her and Sunny to expend a dangerous amount of strength.
That reminder brought another matter to mind.
'The Transcendent Soul Shards.'
She had yet to tell Sunny about them.
Saint gently shook Cassie's shoulder.
The girl startled, turning her head toward the touch.
"H-huh? Who's there?"
'Did she forget already?'
Amusement entered Saint's expression.
"I did not mean to frighten you. My name is Saint, and I am..."
The remainder of the introduction escaped her.
…What was she to Sunny?
Calling herself his guard would have been accurate, yet incomplete. A friend seemed too ordinary. Comrade described their battles while ignoring everything between them.
Companions in life and death came closer.
Saint considered the matter for several moments before trusting the answer that rose from her heart.
"I am someone dear to Sunny. You may regard me as his ally, if that is more comfortable. I am also yours."
Cassie became conscious of their proximity. Saint was less than a meter away, and one arm remained around her.
'How long have I been this close to her?'
Embarrassment colored Cassie's face.
She had been so relieved to find Sunny that she failed to notice when Saint embraced them both. The realization made her want to withdraw, yet she responded by holding Sunny even closer.
'Ah... how embarrassing!'
Cassie remained quiet for a moment, revealing little beyond the uncertainty crossing her expression.
"Are you the woman I saw in my dream...?"
Saint's answer carried a rare warmth.
"I am. I hope you remembered my face before the dream ended. It would be unfortunate if you did not."
Cassie shook her head with enough force to scatter several strands of blond hair.
"No! I remember. Actually... you are far too beautiful to forget."
She paused as the meaning of her words reached her.
"A-ah. I'm sorry."
Saint raised one eyebrow.
"What are you apologizing for?"
Cassie's ears acquired a faint pink hue, and her answer emerged much faster than necessary.
"I-I don't know!"
Saint tilted her head.
'Her ears are pink. Is she ill?'
She could detect no fever, disrupted breathing, or instability in Cassie's Shadow. So, sickness seemed unlikely.
While Saint considered the strange reaction, Cassie directed her empty gaze toward Sunny.
"So... how did the two of you find me? And is Sunny really alright?"
Saint organized the explanation before answering.
"We were not searching for you specifically. We did not know who awaited us here, although I am grateful that the person we found was you."
She paused to consider the Shadow that guided them.
"A Shadow led us underground. I cannot determine its purpose with certainty, yet I believe it also brought you here. The same being rescued Sunny and me earlier, and our condition would have been considerably worse without its intervention."
Cassie listened without moving, aside from tightening her arms around Sunny whenever Saint mentioned danger.
"The Shadow brought us to the temple outside these doors. We climbed several steps, passed through Runic Sorcery, and found you resting upon the Phoenix. You were unconscious, wounded, and approaching death."
Saint's voice lost some of its composure.
"I warned Sunny against exhausting himself further. He disregarded me and chose to save you regardless. I am… grateful that he did."
'What a fool I was.'
Saint had spoken from fear.
She had witnessed what happened when Sunny surrendered to his Flaw. His identity lost cohesion as borrowed memories invaded his mind, reducing his thoughts to a turbulent mixture of different lives.
[Lonesome Soul] sounded ominous when described through runes, but observing its effects was far worse.
Sunny's reason deteriorated first. His sanity followed soon afterward, leaving instinct and emotion to govern a mind already burdened by countless existences.
Saint suddenly remembered what would happen when he awoke.
'Oh dear.'
The madness would have receded, yet his restraint might remain impaired. Some time before coming here, Sunny had embraced Saint without hesitation as they lay upon the Silvershade's feathers.
Saint did not object to his affection. Sunny, however, had been deeply embarrassed only after regaining rational.
Cassie was present now.
Furthermore, Cassie was a young woman.
Saint was disciplined rather than naive. She knew that Sunny had been a young man with a lively appreciation for beauty during this period of the original Worldline. Calling him a pervert would have been unfair, although his thoughts concerning attractive women sometimes wandered into questionable territory.
Movement disturbed her reflections.
Saint and Cassie looked down simultaneously as Sunny shifted between them.
'Hopefully, most of the Flaw has already receded.'
Cassie's face brightened.
"Sunny! Are you awake? How do you feel?"
Sunny opened his eyes and found Cassie and Saint looking down at him. Orange light illuminated their faces, its source being the enormous Phoenix resting nearby.
He stared for several moments while memory returned.
'Oh. Right.'
He had saved Cassie by entering her dream and channeling the Will of a Supreme through their joined consciousness.
'No wonder I lost consciousness.'
Using the Dream God's Uniqueness through a Dormant mind had been quite unwise. At least the reckless attempt accomplished its purpose.
Sunny slid his left arm around Cassie's waist while Saint helped him sit upright. After shaking his head to clear it, he pushed the disheveled black hair away from his eyes.
"How long was I out?"
Saint was relieved by the coherence of his question.
The arm around Cassie's waist proved that his restraint remained compromised. Cassie released a quiet yelp, yet made no attempt to escape. Instead, the pink color returned to her ears.
'There it is again.'
Saint still could not identify the cause!
"Approximately ten minutes. I examined your soul while you were unconscious, and it suffered no significant damage."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Nevertheless, refrain from invoking that Uniqueness in such a manner unless circumstances leave no alternative."
Sunny released a tired chuckle.
"If nothing this absurd happens again, I won't need to. Although..."
He turned toward Cassie.
She sensed his attention and pressed her lips together, suddenly unsure what she should say. Their separation had lasted two months, yet the words she wanted refused to emerge.
Sunny solved the problem for her.
He pulled Cassie into a careful embrace. His arms tightened across her back, applying enough strength to make his relief clear while remaining mindful of what a Dormant body could endure.
Cassie stiffened.
Then Sunny's voice reached her from beside her shoulder.
"Thank the gods. I thought I had arrived too late."
His breath trembled before gradually calming. Sunny drew her closer and rested his face against her hair, allowing the terror he had concealed during the healing attempt to leave him.
"I was afraid I would lose you before I even had the chance to find you."
Cassie slowly placed her arms around him.
For several breaths, she said nothing. Remaining in his embrace was enough. It had been a long time since she felt this safe.
'When was the last time?'
The answer came from the Dark Sea.
Nephis cared for Cassie, and Cassie loved her deeply. However, Nephis and Sunny provided different forms of comfort. They were different people, each capable of reaching a part of Cassie the other could not.
When Sunny held her, the darkness seemed less absolute.
"T-thank you for saving me. I was terrified that I would die alone…"
Sunny raised one hand and gently ruffled her hair.
"You won't have to fear that again. Wherever you end up, I will come for you."
They eventually separated.
Fresh tears had crossed Cassie's cheeks. Sunny wiped them away with one finger, eliciting a delighted laugh from her.
He had missed that sound.
Then he remembered the third person in the room.
Sunny turned toward Saint with a trace of embarrassment and found her studying them. One hand rested beneath her chin, while her tilted head gave the impression that she was examining an unexpected discovery.
"I... see."
Sunny stared at her.
'See what?'
Her analytical expression opposed the tenderness of the preceding moment so completely that he almost laughed.
Instead, Sunny sighed and ruffled Cassie's hair once more.
He possessed no reason to do it. The impulse had merely appeared, and resisting it seemed unnecessary.
Cassie was far too adorable.
It was hardly his fault!
"I know we just reunited, but how did you end up here? I can't imagine Nephis or the others abandoning you unless they had become physically incapable of helping. Every member of our ragtag group is too stubborn for that."
Cassie's happiness disappeared.
Her brow furrowed, and the unfocused eyes trembled as a terrible memory returned.
'Curse it. I asked too soon.'
Sunny regretted the question at once.
"You can tell us later. Your recovery matters more, and healing the wounds doesn't mean that you are entirely-"
He stopped.
Cassie's unease had transformed into profound dread. Her eyes widened as she focused upon something only she could perceive.
"Sunny... why can't I see your Attributes?"
'Ah. Right.'
Sunny kept his voice casual.
"I acquired something that conceals my existence. Apparently, it also interferes with your Aspect."
He was actively invoking Ariel's Divine Miracle, as he had been for some time. Its primary purpose was to hide him from beings capable of gazing upon his existence, although the concealment extended to his Status.
In Cassie's case, it obscured the Attributes visible to her as a Dormant.
"Do you mind turning it off?"
'Yes, Cassie. I mind very much.'
If Sunny stopped invoking the Miracle, Cassie would perceive some of his runes. The Nightmare Spell would probably conceal [Seraphim] and [Ever-Changing Void], particularly because Sunny possessed [Recorder of Fear].
Those Attributes were not his greatest concern.
'I cannot tell her that I am a Lost.'
Sunny would remain upon the Forgotten Shore after the others escaped through the Gateway. During the original Worldline, Nephis had used his True Name to force him through while she wandered the Dream Realm for two years.
That outcome could no longer occur.
[Shadow Bond] had ceased to exist. The True Name 'Lost from Light' no longer carried the Fate of a Slave, while 'Daemon of Possibility' had overwritten what remained of that Fate.
A Daemon could not be reduced to a mere Slave.
Sunny placed a hand upon Cassie's head and offered a bitter smile she could not see.
"I do mind. I'm sorry, but you shouldn't ask about this again. Trust me when I say that knowing would only give you another burden to carry."
Cassie's frown deepened.
She wanted to question him, although his request carried a weight that silenced her.
"Alright..."
But suddenly, upon checking her runes, she began to see new lines appear.
'Huh?'
Cassie blinked and examined it more closely.
There were three unfamiliar entries….
Name: Cassia
Rank: Dreamer
Class: Beast
Soul Cores: [1/1]
Soul Fragments: [378/1000]
Memories: [Seafoam Pilgrim], [Windspeaker], [Oath of Cold Iron], [Evertwine], [Whispering Saint].
Echoes: —
Attributes: [Revelation], [Harbinger's Mind], [Shadow's Grace], [Dyad of Shadow].
Attribute: [Revelation]
Attribute Description: [You have a natural affinity to fate. Visions of things yet to happen and echoes of the past find their way to you, granting you glimpses into the true state of the world.]
Attribute: [Harbinger's Mind]
Attribute Description: [The burden of your visions requires an unyielding spirit. Your mind is fortified against the pressure of the unknown, allowing you to remain calm while you watch the inevitable unfold.]
Aspect Name: [Aeternae Memori]
Aspect Rank: Sacred
Aspect Description: [You are a guide in the dark, tasked with witnessing the truth that others choose to ignore. Fate is a fickle thing, but to those who can see its weave, the path is always clear. You have been chosen to bear the burden of truth.]
Aspect Abilities: [Piercing Insight], [Shadow Control].
Aspect Ability: [Piercing Insight]
Aspect Ability Description: [You possess the ability to see the inner essence of living beings. By focusing on a soul, you can draw out the knowledge of their being. The world is a book laid open before you, and no truth can remain hidden from your insight.]
She said it out loud, gaining Sunny and Saints attention.
"Shadow's Grace, Dyad of Shadow, and... a new Ability?"
Sunny smiled with pride.
'Ah yes… the fruits of my labor!'
"Go ahead and read them. Wait... what?"
His expression changed.
'Dyad of Shadow is still there…?'
The connection created through his Devil Core should have faded when their Shadows separated. Its survival raised another concern.
Could Cassie withstand it?
While she examined the entries, Sunny studied her runes using 'The Eye of Terror' and focused upon [Harbinger's Mind]. Abaddon, Lethe, and Saint were among the few beings he knew who could withstand his altered Shadow Sense after it had been refined by Shadow Weave.
Perhaps Cassie could join them?
Attribute: [Shadow's Grace]
Attribute Description: [You have been granted the Shadow of a Divine, bathed in the essence of your lord and bearing his mark. As his kindred, the link between you allows for the share of power. Shadows recognize you as one of their own, and the strength of the master is the strength of the shadow.]
Attribute: [Dyad of Shadow]
Attribute Description: [You are of your master and share his gifts. His soul is open to you as you are his. What is felt by one is known by the other, and as long as the master's flame burns, this shadow shall never feel lost.]
Cassie failed to derive a coherent explanation from the description.
'Sunny gave these to me. How?'
Had he acquired an Ability capable of granting power to others? Such changes should have been impossible. An Aspect evolved through Ranks, while its underlying nature remained consistent.
At least, that was what Cassie had believed.
She turned her empty gaze toward Sunny.
"…How did you heal me?"
'Damnation. I can't conceal all of it.'
"I gained several Abilities while we were separated. The explanation is complicated, dangerous, and likely to cause a headache for everyone involved. I'll tell you when I'm ready."
Cassie studied him in silence before giving a slow nod.
"Alright. I'll… trust you."
She returned to the final entry.
Aspect Ability: [Shadow Control].
Aspect Ability Description: [Your shadow is more independent than most. It is an invaluable helper.]
The description belonged unmistakably to Sunny's Dormant Ability. It granted perception through connected shadows, allowing the recipient to augment themself with that same shadow.
Cassie's astonishment deepened.
Saint answered before Sunny could.
"You are seeing Sunny's Blessing. He can grant a portion of his power to those he chooses, and I possess the same gift."
Cassie looked dumbfounded.
"…Sunny, I know you asked me to stop questioning you, so I will. However, you are going to explain all of this someday."
Sunny chuckled.
"Of course."
'May that day remain distant forever.'
He gestured toward the shadows covering the chamber.
"Have you noticed the new sense? It should resemble my Shadow Sense, although you received my version of it. The first attempt might be overwhelming."
Cassie tilted her head.
"Shadow Sense... you used it before, didn't you? Can I really do the same now?"
"Try it. There is enough light in the chamber to create plenty of shadows, so this is probably the best place to learn."
Sunny had forgotten that Saint needed to activate her Shadow Sense manually. His own perception could be suppressed, yet never entirely extinguished.
Apparently, those who received his Blessing could control the Ability more freely.
Saint had kept hers active from the moment she discovered it. Considering Cassie's blindness, she would likely make the same choice.
Cassie activated the Ability—
She yelped and clutched her head, shaking it as an entire world invaded her mind.
"What the hell? Sunny, how do you endure this? Gods... this is just cruel."
He laughed softly.
"The first attempt is always terrible. Give your mind time to separate the impressions, and it will become manageable."
'She is also perceiving it through Shadow Weave.'
Cassie's [Harbinger's Mind] gave him confidence. If anyone could adapt to the burden, it was her.
Over the next five minutes, she asked a rapid succession of questions while making repeated attempts to interpret the shadows. Gradually, their impressions ceased colliding.
Cassie rose to her feet.
Her legs failed almost at once.
Sunny caught her before she fell. His Soul Flame had repaired her injuries, although it could not replenish the stamina she had lost or erase the exhaustion left by prolonged blood loss.
Leaning upon him, Cassie began walking.
Wonder transformed her expression as she perceived the chamber through its shadows. Her hands reached toward nearby objects out of habit, yet her new sense revealed their shapes before her fingers arrived.
Tears threatened to return.
"I can see! Sunny, I can actually see!"
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
He pointed toward the Phoenix.
"What color is that creature?"
"Orange."
'She can perceive colors as well. So it really is just like mine.'
Cassie continued exploring until fatigue forced her to stop. She examined the carvings, the marble, the folds of the [Iron Widow's Cradle], and the immense Phoenix resting beside them.
Questions concerning the Noble Creature followed.
Sunny possessed few answers.
He concealed the Supreme Shadow as well. Explaining Supremes would lead to questions about the true nature of Shadows and Ranks in this world, which was a conversation he preferred to postpone.
Eventually, Cassie's excitement subsided enough for them to sit.
The [Iron Widow's Cradle] covered much of the chamber. Its silk had shaped itself into a broad cushion surrounded by pillows, while another portion formed a blanket across their legs.
Cassie sat between Sunny and Saint. Her smaller stature made the arrangement faintly comical.
After gathering her thoughts, she began explaining the true condition of the Forgotten Shore.
"I'll begin with what happened after you left."
Cassie's voice was quiet. Sunny nodded beside her, while Saint acknowledged the words with a restrained hum.
'Here we go...'
"About two months ago, perhaps a month after your departure, a quake struck the Forgotten Shores. The entire region began to shake, and I received a vision at the same time."
Sunny grimaced. Saint's gaze shifted toward him, carrying the recognition he expected.
He had caused part of it.
The Seed of Nightmare embedded within Weaver's Mask had been Viceroy's dimensional gate rather than a true Seed. It called to Sunny through a concentration of Divinity powerful enough to reach across worlds, even.
However, the call should not have caused the quake.
Something within the Forgotten Shore responded to the Divinity. Sunny had never discovered its identity, although Cassie's vision might finally provide the answer.
"The vision began within a complete void. A glittering light appeared there, carrying the impression of a star. I couldn't learn anything else before the scene changed."
Cassie's hands tightened around the fabric covering her knees.
"Seven figures were sinking into a black deluge. The liquid seemed viscous enough to restrain them, yet those figures eventually emerged together as a single serpent."
She turned toward Sunny.
"You've been absent for too long to know the name that came with them. They were called the Disasters, although the word might have belonged to the people whose era produced the vision."
Cassie paused before approaching the part that remained most difficult for her.
"The creature responsible for me wounding up here was the Disaster of the West. Gunlaug knew that it wielded red lightning and crimson clouds. The title connected to it is 'Silver Wing of the Evil Star'."
Saint's breath caught.
Sunny remained quiet, although his expression became severe.
'I see. Disaster of the West, huh? So that is what they call you, wretch.'
The creature had struck him out of the sky.
Saint's teeth pressed together. She also possessed a debt to collect from the Western Disaster.
"The next impression showed a crowned figure carrying a blade wrapped in crimson cloth. From the dream you entered, I learned that the weapon was called the Wrapped Agony."
Cassie faced them more directly.
"It is one of four Relics required to bring down the Disasters. I don't know which Relic corresponds to each creature, though…"
She recalled the remaining impressions.
"The crowned figure died before using it. A Crimson Light crushed them, and I believe that light belonged to the Western Disaster."
"Afterward, I saw warriors wearing silver armor and crimson bandages scented with sweet oils. They appeared to form a legion from the civilization that existed before the Forgotten Shore became what it is today. I suspect they suffered the same corruption as the man whose memory I experienced."
Cassie's voice weakened.
"The warriors laughed while killing one another."
Sunny considered the implications.
'The Nephilim in her dream must have become one of the Disasters. If it retained the power it possessed during that era, approaching it would be suicide.'
The thought did not withstand scrutiny.
The creature that attacked him was of the Corrupted Rank. The being within Cassie's dream carried a Status approaching that of a true Nephilim, equivalent to a Cursed Nightmare Creature. And at least a Cursed-Terror at that.
Something must have reduced it…
"The next impression showed gauntlets filled with sunlight. Their bearer was killed before releasing their power as well."
Cassie drew a quiet breath.
"After that came the royal figure consuming the heavenly wing."
Sunny raised one hand.
"You can leave that part for later. I saw enough of it while entering your dream."
Cassie scrutinized him through Shadow Sense. She had another question, yet restrained herself from asking how he could invade dreams.
"Alright. The next impression concerned a woman, I think. A spear formed from holy frost pierced her core. Judging by everything else, she probably became a Nightmare Creature as well."
Exhaustion entered Cassie's posture.
"The vision eventually reached an time close to ours. The Forgotten Shore was in chaos, and the Disasters had returned. However, something had changed."
She reached for Sunny's arm and used it to pull him closer, directing her Shadow Sense toward his eyes.
"You were there."
Sunny stared at her.
"Whenever one of the Disasters appeared near the end of the vision, you were the person who brought it down. Black flames covered you, and one of your eyes had become navy blue. There might have been a sigil engraved into it."
Cassie's fingers tightened around his sleeve.
"I cannot determine what happens before those battles. I only know that whenever a Disaster is going to die, you play a part in killing it."
Sunny was astonished for two reasons.
The first was the prospect of fighting four Corrupted Nightmare Creatures of high Classes.
…The second was Cassie's decision to drag his face so close to hers.
'Ah...'
Cassie recognized their proximity and slowly released his arm.
Saint entered the conversation before the resulting embarrassment could grow.
"Then our priority is locating the Relics. However, Milord, are you certain the three of us cannot defeat one Disaster in our present condition?"
Cassie turned toward Saint in disbelief.
"What? Each one is Corrupted. Corrupted! Are you insane?"
Saint offered a restrained shrug.
"I recently killed a Corrupted Beast and several Fallen creatures without assistance. Sunny and I also survived a Corrupted Devil accompanied by Fallen minions."
Cassie's jaw fell open. Sunny struggled not to laugh.
"Saint, I agree that we need the Relics. Cassie, you said the civilization was called Constellia?"
Cassie nodded.
"The people of Constellia would not have devoted their final efforts to creating these weapons unless the Disasters were truly harrowing. Confidence is useful, Saint, although volunteering to test a Corrupted abomination without its designated weakness isn't a very good idea."
Saint accepted the criticism without protest.
Sunny considered the Curse of Devotion and the entity called the Miracle.
"Furthermore, their transformation came from a Nephilim's Curse rather than the Corruption of the Forgotten God. We are dealing with an affliction governed by different principles."
His expression darkened.
"This 'Miracle' concerns me more. Nothing in the memories suggests that it was destroyed or sealed. Its influence merely disappeared after the people of Constellia perished."
Cassie's gaze moved between Sunny and Saint.
"What is the Forgotten God?"
Both of them became motionless.
The question had been directed at either person, allowing Sunny to remain silent.
Saint answered.
"The Forgotten God is the source of the Dream Realm's Corruption. The Dream Realm belongs to that being, and its influence is gradually overwriting the Waking World."
…Cassie's eye twitched.
Saint had presented the revelation with the composure one might use when describing the weather.
Cassie turned toward Sunny, annoyance entering her expression.
"How long have you known this?"
Sunny raised both hands in defense.
"Less than two months! It's new information for me as well."
The statement was true within this lifetime. So he wasn't lying.
Technically, he had known for ages.
Cassie produced an indignant sound and folded her arms.
Their discussion continued until Sunny organized everything into a preliminary plan. His gaze moved toward the closed doors, beyond which an unexplored region waited.
The scale of the structure suggested an underground city.
"That changes our next step, then. I intended to find Nephis and the others after reaching you, but searching for them immediately may be impossible."
Saint inclined her head.
"Too much time has passed for us to predict their location. We also lack a path back to the surface."
Cassie frowned.
"What do you mean? Aren't we beneath the Bright Castle?"
Sunny smiled bitterly.
"We were, until we weren't. Saint and I passed through a Warpgate before reaching this chamber."
He gestured toward the structure around them.
"We are somewhere deep beneath the Forgotten Shore now. The fact that the Dark Sea has not consumed this city is remarkable, although I would rather avoid testing how permanent that protection is."
Cassie paled.
"So... we're lost?"
Saint's quiet laughter carried through the chamber.
"That description is accurate. We are thoroughly lost."
Cassie covered her face and groaned into her hands.
"Why does nothing ever remain easy?"
Sunny already knew the answer.
'Because I am Fated, and fate torments those it favors.'
Saint brought her palms together, producing a sharp sound that drew both their gazes.
"We will rest. The doors should prevent anything outside from entering the chamber, and our condition is unsuitable for exploration. We can investigate the city after recovering."
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"Why wait? I can still-"
Saint struck the top of his head with the edge of her hand.
"Milord, you can barely keep your eyes open. The battle against the Idol exhausted you, and saving Cassia depleted what remained. You are going to sleep."
Sunny stared at her.
"Was that an order?"
Saint's expression became considerably more imposing.
"Yes."
'Since when does she order me around—'
Whatever appeared upon Sunny's face betrayed the thought. Saint's gaze sharpened until arguing seemed more dangerous than anything waiting beyond the doors.
Sunny surrendered. He didn't intend to die today.
"…Tomorrow, then."
Cassie agreed while attempting to suppress a yawn.
"I thought the time I spent unconscious would have rested me. Apparently, it wasn't natural sleep. My body feels heavy, and staying awake is becoming difficult."
Saint gave Sunny a triumphant look.
"Cassia requires sleep as well. I would also benefit from it, since the preceding battle was demanding."
Sunny released a defeated breath.
"Fine, fine. We'll rest. You win."
He rose from the [Iron Widow's Cradle].
The enormous Memory had folded itself into something resembling an oversized cushion, with pillows surrounding the central hollow and silk draped over them as a blanket. Sunny intended to sleep on its opposite side.
Cassie caught his wrist and pulled.
Sunny fell backward.
"Ak-!"
She wrapped both arms around his left arm and nuggled into his neck happily.
"Where are you going?"
Sunny's answer emerged with an embarrassing stammer.
"To sleep by myself. Where else?"
Cassie's grip tightened.
"Why? You helped me sleep while we crossed the Dark Sea, and I see no reason for that arrangement to change now that we're together again."
Spending so much time beside Saint had begun curing Sunny's unnatural shyness. In truth, he had never been especially shy. He was merely attempting to establish reasonable boundaries within his new life.
Cassie showed little respect for those boundaries.
To be fair, Sunny had been the one to ignore the distance expected between a young man and woman while traveling across the Dark Sea.
'Curse my past mind. Why did I make those decisions before regaining my memories?!'
He had sabotaged himself.
The situation worsened when Saint looked down at him from the right side of the cradle.
'…Now wait a moment—'
Sunny had no chance to object before she lay beside him. Cassie occupied his left, while Saint took the right and adjusted the silk around all three of them.
He was trapped between two beautiful women.
'This is a disaster. Shadow God help me.'
Cassie fell asleep within two minutes.
Sunny's fate was sealed by then. Her arms remained around him, their legs had become entangled, and her breath warmed the side of his neck. Escaping would almost certainly wake her.
Saint rested against his other side with equal confidence, tangling her legs with his as well. Her arm came to rest upon his chest.
Sunny gradually relaxed. The position was far too comfortable to justify continued resistance, although embarrassment remained because he could feel the pressure of their bodies, breasts and-
'Shut. Up.'
Before sleep claimed him, Sunny met Saint's violet gaze and saw his reflection within it.
Her expression had become somber. Whatever thoughts occupied her mind carried enough weight to suppress the quiet contentment she displayed earlier.
Sunny wondered what troubled her.
Saint leaned closer, and her enthralling voice reached him as a husky whisper.
"Goodnight, Milord…"
Her eyes closed soon afterward.
Sunny watched her for several breaths before allowing his own eyelids to descend. Surrounded by their warmth, he eventually joined Cassie and Saint in slumber, recovering the strength that the coming journey would demand.
Beyond the grand doors, an underground city waited for them.
Its streets had endured the fall of Constellia, the descent of the Miracle, and the long dominion of the Dark Sea.
And whatever horror still wandered through those buried ruins had survived them as well…