The trek to the tall, jagged hill was far more efficient than their previous aimless wandering. With Blaze and Nephis leading the vanguard—moving with a strange, synchronized certainty—they navigated the labyrinthine coral ribs without backtracking once. It was as if they possessed an internal compass for this dead world, finding the right turns at every juncture. Curiously, the Scavengers that usually plagued the Labyrinth were nowhere to be seen, as if the area had been vacuumed of its predators.
The pale sun was dipping toward the horizon, casting long, bruised shadows across the calcified earth, when they finally reached the base of the hill. At its summit stood a massive growth of coral, towering like a petrified cathedral.
Blaze reached for the golden rope. With a flicker of light, he dismissed the Memory and immediately summoned it again. The tangled mess of the climb disappeared, replaced by a neat, shimmering bundle in his hands. He worked with practiced ease, tying the ends into secure loops. With a fluid, athletic toss, he sent one end coiling around a prominent protrusion near the coral pillar's peak.
After testing the tension with a sharp tug, Blaze ascended with the grace of a mountain cat. Reaching the top, he peered over the edge and waved—a silent signal for Sunny and the others to follow.
The top of the coral mound was a revelation. It was significantly larger than the circular stone platform where they had previously rested; in fact, it felt like a small, isolated island floating above the coral sea. Nestled behind a cluster of jagged coral blades at the highest point was a makeshift campsite.
Sunny's eyes immediately fell upon the blackened firepit in the center. He pointed at it, his voice hushed. "Was it you two nights ago? I saw an orange light flickering in the distance."
Cassie's face, usually serene despite her blindness, darkened with a trace of lingering fear. "Yes. That was the first time we dared to make a fire. It turned out to be a terrible mistake."
"Why?" Sunny asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
Blaze chimed in, his voice low and gritty. "In this place, At night, any spark will attract monsters from miles away. We were swarmed by Scavengers first... and then things much worse."
Nephis, who had been staring out at the gray horizon, finally spoke. "It should be fine for now. We still have time before the sun sets completely."
Sunny adjusted his rucksack, the weight shifting. "I have fresh meat in here—scavenged from a kill earlier. Do you have water?"
Cassie smiled, a genuine spark of warmth returning to her expression. "Yes!" She leaned over, proceeding to share her supply with him. As they settled in, Sunny began to describe the patrol patterns of the Scavenger groups he had spotted near the massive statue to the west.
*****
After the tension of the day had bled away into the quiet of the evening, Cassie spoke up in a bright, hopeful voice.
"How about we formally introduce ourselves? I'm Cassie."
Nephis glanced in her direction, her expression unreadable. She gave a short, non-committal shrug. "Neph."
Sunny offered a wry smile. "I'm Sunless. But please... just call me Sunny."
Blaze looked at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering on the flickering embers of their small, controlled fire. "Blaze."
As the true night descended—a darkness so thick it felt tangible—the four of them lay down. Blaze found himself positioned near Sunny, the two "outskirt rats" sharing a unspoken bond of shared background.
The silence lasted for several minutes before Sunny broke it. "Since we're going to be depending on each other to see another sunrise, should we share what Abilities and Memories we have at our disposal?"
Without waiting for an answer, Sunny began his tactical disclosure. "I'll start. My Attributes give me an affinity for shadows. I also have a slight affiliation with divinity. Lastly... the Spell says I am prone to finding myself in 'unlikely situations.'"
Cassie listened with rapt attention, her head tilted. She lowered her gaze, looking almost embarrassed. "Uh... he is telling the truth. Not that we doubted your honesty, Sunny!"
Sunny blinked, his dark eyes narrowing. "Really? That's good to know. But... why are you so sure I'm being honest?"
The blind girl shifted slightly, her fingers tracing the patterns on her armor. "Oh! That's my Ability. I can 'see' people's Attributes. Sometimes, I also receive... visions. They can be about the past or the future. At least, I think that's what they are. It's only happened a few times."
Sunny swallowed hard, his mind clearly racing at the implications of a living lie detector. "That's... a powerful Ability. Speaking of which, you've seen a bit of mine. My shadow can move independently and explore. It can't affect the physical world, but we share sight and hearing. It's fast and stealthy—almost impossible to notice. Oh, and I can see in total darkness."
At this, Nephis slowly turned her head in his direction. Cassie's face went pale, and she instinctively raised her hands to cover her chest.
Blaze let out a sudden, sharp bark of a laugh. Sunny looked at him, utterly confused. "Uh... what?"
Nephis frowned, her voice dropping into a flat, dangerous tone. "Have you ever used your Ability in the Academy?"
Blaze interrupted her with a smirk. "What she's asking, Sunny, is whether you used your invisible, silent shadow to peek into the girls' private quarters."
Sunny looked at him, his face turning a shade of red that was visible even in the dim light. He was flabbergasted. "I have never used it for anything improper! You have to believe me!"
Despite his protest, both Nephis and Cassie looked deeply skeptical. Sunny gritted his teeth, his frustration boiling over. "I had more important things to do than... than whatever you're thinking about! I spent almost every waking hour learning how to survive!"
Blaze nodded, his laughter subsiding. "Yeah, he's telling the truth there. He attended the Wilderness Survival class with me. I can vouch for his dedication."
Nephis blinked, looking completely bewildered. "Wilderness... what? There is such a course?"
Cassie seemed equally puzzled. Sunny sighed. "Yes, there is. Most people treat it like an afterthought, but for an outskirts kid like me who never had a fancy tutor, learning how to survive is the difference between life and death. Without that class, I would have drowned the moment we arrived in the Dream Realm."
"Same here," Blaze added.
Nephis rubbed her wrists, staring thoughtfully at the two of them. "I see. I didn't know."
Sunny continued his inventory. "Anyway, that's my Ability. As for Memories, I have three: an armor, a sword, and a really loud bell."
It was Nephis's turn next. "My Attributes give me an affinity for light and fire, as well as a strong affiliation with divinity. I have three Memories: a rope, a sword, and armor. The rope is sturdy and can change its length. The sword is sharp and can protect the wielder against soul attacks to a degree. My Ability... can be used to heal."
Sunny's eyes widened. "You're a Healer? That's incredible! Having a Healer in the group is a massive stroke of luck."
Finally, Cassie spoke. "My turn? My Attributes are nothing special. I have an affinity for revelations and fate. My Ability is what I told you—it's not very useful for fighting. As for Memories, I have three: the bottomless bottle, a wooden staff that can create wind, and this armor. It's actually... Transcendent rank. Blaze gave it to me when we met. It has a powerful charm."
Nephis and Sunny both snapped their heads toward Blaze. Blaze felt the weight of their gaze and winced.
'Gods, I should have told her to keep the rank a secret'.
Cassie continued, her voice trailing off into sadness. "I used to be a decent fencer... before I lost my sight. Now, I can't really fight."
Blaze cleared his throat, sensing the shift in mood. "My turn. My Attributes lean toward divinity and... emotions, I suppose. As for Memories, I currently only have my sword. My Ability is the production and manipulation of fire. Just a heads-up: when I use it, I look... different. Don't be alarmed ."
*****
After a long silence, Sunny spoke. "Good. That's a solid foundation. I think we have the tools to survive, provided we're smart about it. I guess it's time for sleep?"
In the heavy darkness, Nephis tilted her head, her eyes fixed on something distant. "Alright. I'll take the first watch."
Sunny, trying to be helpful, chimed in. "Actually, my shadow doesn't sleep. It can keep watch and wake us if something approaches."
The Changing Star offered a rare, slow smile. "I'll take the first watch."
Blaze stared at her, then slowly raised his right hand, extending his middle finger toward her. Sunny visibly straightened, sensing the sudden tension.
"Nephis," Blaze said, his voice flat. "How many fingers am I holding up?"
Nephis stared at him for a long, uncomfortable beat. "Two," she answered confidently.
Blaze lowered his hand. "I showed you my middle finger, Neph. If you couldn't see that from five feet away, how the hell are you going to keep watch in this darkness? Stop being paranoid and let the shadow do its job."
Nephis kept staring at him, her pale eyes shimmering. Finally, the tension broke. She laid down in a highly secure, guarded posture, her hand never straying far from her blade. Blaze lay back, gazing up at the starless, empty sky.
This life, he thought, I will live it without a single regret.