Walking out, he was greeted by the afternoon sun.
It's strange. The Forgotten Shore has shorter days and longer nights, even though the winter solstice ended three months ago.
A moment later, he headed in the direction Cassie and Nephis had taken.
During daylight, the area around Cassie's and Adam's quarters was relatively safe. It lacked the constant tension of night vigilance, but caution was still the wiser habit, especially in a death zone like the Forgotten Shore.
Even so…
Thinking back… the sun of the Forgotten Shore isn't a real sun at all but an artificial one. Its daylight is shorter than its night. Could it be a symbolic hint? That the being—Nameless Sun—responsible for giving light to this place is growing weaker against the darkness?
But how did they actually manage to get the idea of an artificial sun to begin with? And what caused the people on this shore to attack the figure of light that fell from the sky?
This expedition should yield an answer to that…
He glanced at the apparition walking ahead of him. Another thought began to form,
"HEY #####!"
A word so profane it should never be uttered, pierced his thoughts like a meteoric arrow, sending a cold shiver down his spine.
He looked forward again and saw a girl with light-brown skin and wavy black hair glinting in the soft afternoon light approach with her graceful swagger.
"Reena. Back so soon?"
Pulling himself together, he straightened, his golden eyes catching the sun.
"I never had anything to do in this forsaken zone other than survive—that was until you came along…" Reena muttered.
Her eyes swept the surroundings. "You found a good spot for yourself and… uhh, ####."
"Cassia. Her name is Cassia," Adam corrected.
"Ah! Yes, Cassia…" she echoed.
Adam's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?"
"Come on, don't look at me like that, you $#^$%. I saw you heading this way, and I saw Lady Nephis and Miss Cassia walk out of this neighbourhood. Wasn't exactly hard to figure it out," she said, meeting his gaze.
They stared at each other for several moments.
"What is it, #$%$? Is my enchanting beauty leaving you speechless?" she blustered.
He finally gave in, closed his eyes, and sighed.
"Regardless… What are you doing here? I don't recall asking for anything this time."
Reena crossed her arms with her usual disdain. "What, I can't give you a visit? Do I need to make an appointment, you #$%#?"
"I didn't say that. You're putting words in my mouth. I was simply curious why you came here. Am I not allowed to ask? Or do I need to speak to a receptionist first?" Adam shot back with a smirk.
Reena blinked at him, stunned by the sudden joke. As it sank in, her face flushed red.
"Y-you—WHY YOU—!"
But before she could finish, Adam laughed.
"Hahaha. Joking. Just joking. Now back to the question, why are you here?"
Reena exhaled heavily before speaking.
"It's about Lady Nephis's expedition to search for the Dawn Shard. I came to ask if you're going along or not."
"The expedition…" Adam rubbed his chin, then nodded.
"Yes. I'm joining… Well, I don't exactly have a choice when The Changing Star herself requests my participation."
Reena arched an eyebrow, lips curling slyly. "Really?"
Adam mirrored her expression. "What? Don't believe me?"
"It's just #$%# hard to believe The Changing Star would personally request someone as #%@% as you."
A tiny shiver ran down his spine. What a sharp tongue…
Without pausing, Reena continued, "Plus, you're not the type to jump into dangerous missions without a reason."
"Hm? What do you mean?" Adam asked, a nudge of suspicion rising.
"Hmph! What else could I mean? You joined because Miss Cassia is joining."
She pressed on mercilessly. "Your little residence is so far from the main camp… all alone… the two of you like a pair of #%#^. Oh!, and the two #$^& who just happened to turn up dead a day after your arrival."
Adam stared at her, blank.
"Uhhh… can you repeat that?" he said flatly.
Now she stared blankly before bursting out, mildly irritated.
"@%#^! Just admit it! You're going because your sweetheart is going! Your #%^^$& is tagging along to make sure she's alright!"
Adam rubbed his chin, slowly. "Ohhhhhh…"
He paused.
Then paused again.
"What is this #@% even doing…" she muttered under her breath.
"Yes…" Adam answered simply.
Reena blinked at him, baffled. What has gotten into this #%#^& today? Why is he acting like this?
Cautiously, she asked, "So you really did kill those two nameless ^$$& for ogling Miss Cassia? How did you not get caught?!"
Adam's brows knit. "No! Of course not! I really am joining because of Cassie, but I didn't kill those two. I heard they were taken out by a nightmare creature that slipped in. Otherwise the Brightlord would've started an investigation."
Reena stared, then shrugged. "Meh. That makes sense."
Adam rolled his eyes and started walking past her.
Reena, still playfully shrugging, noticed him leaving and hurried after him.
"HEY! #%^ WAIT UP!"
When she caught up, she huffed lightly. "Soooo, #%3@… since you didn't deny it, does that mean you and Miss Cassie are a thing?" she cooed, waggling her eyebrows like a shady merchant.
Adam turned his head as he walked and simply smiled, offering no answer.
Reena snorted. "Not denying it, #%^… so it's true! Hahahahaha!"
She fell into step beside him, laughing.
Adam only smiled, half pleased, half wary.
He glanced to his side, where the apparition had been moments ago… now vanished without a trace.
"Say… why are you joining the expedition? And didn't you say you had a hard time getting into cohorts? How did you end up joining the Changing Star's expedition?" Adam asked absent-mindedly.
Reena shot him a brief glance before looking away. "So many questions… haaa, $@%^&… Firstly, I'm joining because I have something to gain from this expedition. As for how I got in, that was simple, my Aspect is suited for navigating the Dark Sea."
She kept her explanation short, almost dismissive.
Adam tilted his head with a flicker of curiosity. "What exactly do you gain from this?"
At that, Reena finally looked back. Her eyes were unusually serious, stripped of her usual indignant spark. Then, a slow smirk curled across her lips as she murmured a single word.
"Guess."
With that, she let out a light giggle and moved ahead, leaving him behind.
Adam watched her figure retreat, as a dry thought rose in his mind.
Did I just get the Gehrman Sparrow treatment…?