The door burst open, letting a gust of air rush into the room. Three figures stepped inside, illuminated by the dim hallway light: Effie, Kai, and Cassie. Each of them wore a unique expression on their face, yet all of them carried a shared sense of amusement.
Kai had his signature charming smile, one that almost felt like a thumbs-up without the gesture. Still, there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.
Effie, on the other hand, had that mischievous look that promised endless teasing as she approached with slow, deliberate steps, like a predator stalking its prey.
Finally, Cassie let out a small giggle, soft but clearly entertained by the scene before them.
—"Well, you two don't waste any time, do you?" —Effie said, her voice laced with playful mockery as she moved closer.
The question wasn't directed at him, so Sunny didn't feel obligated to answer. However, he couldn't ignore how uncomfortable Nephis seemed. Her usual stoic expression was gone, replaced by a deep blush that made it clear she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
With a grin that barely masked his own discomfort, Sunny reluctantly moved his hand away from Nephis's hair. She, realizing she was still lying in Sunny's lap, jumped up quickly, attempting to salvage her dignity.
She sat upright with her back perfectly straight, trying to appear calm and collected. But for anyone paying attention, her pink-tinted ears—barely hidden under her hair—betrayed her true feelings. Well, "nobody noticed," or so she hoped.
The room remained silent for a few moments, until Effie spoke again, clearly unable to hold back:
—"So, did we interrupt something?"
No one answered. Sunny avoided her gaze, and Nephis maintained her neutral demeanor. But that only seemed to fuel Effie's grin, as she clearly wasn't done yet.
—"Come on, guys, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. You're both adults, right? So, princess, clearly one kiss from four months ago wasn't enough for you... What else did you two get up to?"
Sunny felt a bead of sweat slide down his temple. For a brief moment, he considered using Shadow Step to vanish from the room, but the problem was he had nowhere to escape to.
—"Couple stuff," —Nephis said suddenly, her voice steady and calm, catching everyone off guard.
Effie narrowed her eyes, clearly unsatisfied. But if there was one thing she wasn't, it was a quitter.
—"Oh, really? So, how does that work, princess?" ¿You Both already did that?
"What the hell is wrong with her?" Sunny thought, as the idea of summoning Imp and Saint to teach Effie a lesson became more and more tempting.
The worst part was that Nephis remained utterly unbothered.
—"Yes, obviously," —she replied with her usual serene confidence.
Sunny stared at her in disbelief. "What the hell, Nephis? Are you out of your mind?"
Effie, however, turned her attention to Kai. His innate ability—the cursed gift of knowing when someone was lying—was her perfect tool for confirmation. Kai, visibly surprised, raised both eyebrows. That was all Effie needed to know it was true.
Cassie, noticing Kai's reaction, turned bright red as she looked away. She was probably thinking something along the lines of, "Seriously? Those two? How fast are they?"
But Effie didn't seem ready to stop just yet. She leaned forward, even closer to Nephis, and asked the ultimate question:
—"So, how many times have you two had sex?"
That was the final straw for Sunny. He was already on the verge of summoning Saint, but it turned out he didn't need to.
An instant later, the small room was filled with white flames that flared dangerously close to Effie. Nephis, without uttering a single word, had decided to take matters into her own hands—or rather, into her own fire.
Effie, taking a step back with raised eyebrows, let out a nervous laugh. But her mischievous smile remained firmly in place.
Kai let out a deep sigh. Sunny absolutely loved toying with him and his defect. After all, they complemented each other perfectly: someone who couldn't lie and someone who could detect every lie.
It made sense that they had become best friends, didn't it?
People often romanticized defects, seeing them as blessings in disguise. And in certain cases, they could be. But Kai knew all too well how devastating they could be. Cassie's and Nephis's defects were prime examples. One was trapped in eternal darkness, and the other endured unimaginable pain every time she used her Aspect.
Kai, on the other hand, had gotten off easy... or so it seemed. His defect looked simple, even useful, at first glance, but in reality, it had been a heavy burden. From the moment he awakened from his first Nightmare, his life changed—though not for the better.
He remembered it as if it had happened yesterday. He had woken up at home, surrounded by his family and manager. His father's first words were warm and comforting: "Kai, we've missed you so much." His defect confirmed those words were true, filling him with joy.
But then it was his mother's turn. "We love you, son. Don't ever forget that." Her sweet smile filled him with hope—until his defect shattered it. Her words were a lie.
That was the beginning of his downfall.
He discovered his family had long since stopped loving him. To them, he was just a source of income, a tool to maintain their lifestyle. His manager, someone he once trusted implicitly, had been stealing from him and using his name for things Kai preferred not to think about.
The world of fame was riddled with deceit, and his defect exposed every lie like a cruel slap to the face.
Eventually, he ended up in the Forgotten Shore. Three years trapped in that hopeless wasteland, where any remnants of optimism had long since died. Gulang, a ruthless tyrant, crushed any sparks of hope that might have flickered. If someone as powerful as Gulang couldn't escape, what chance did anyone else have?
Kai had lost hope. Until they arrived.
Nephis, Cassie... and Sunny.
Nephis was a beacon of light, a natural leader. Her impressive lineage as the daughter of the Immortal Flame Clan and her unyielding determination brought a flicker of hope to a place that had forgotten what it meant to dream. Although... Kai knew even she wasn't above lying. Like that time she promised to get everyone out of the Forgotten Shore. He didn't blame her. Tough decisions were inevitable in a place like that.
And then there was Sunny.
Their first interaction had been at the well, and Kai still chuckled when he remembered it. That scrawny kid had an innate ability to make people smile. He was charming, yet also baffling—especially once Kai discovered his defect.
"It's not that hard, relax. I've already killed a Fallen Demon in one strike. That Caer Terror doesn't know what's coming. I'm basically a god's kid, idiot."
Every word he said was true. Kai didn't know whether to feel reassured or terrified.
Over time, he learned more about Sunny, and every story was more incredible than the last.
"I only died once—thanks to a Fallen Titan—but since I'm a vengeful bastard, I killed it the next time I saw it. Then I killed a Corrupted Terror underwater while riding a Saint. Oh, and finally, I had a trip with a girl who was dying for me."
He said it so casually, as if he were talking about the weather. But that last sentence immediately grabbed everyone's attention.
—"A girl who was dying for you?" —Nephis asked in her calm, serene tone. To anyone else, her expression might have seemed neutral, but Kai knew better. That question wasn't as innocent as it sounded.
Sunny stiffened instantly, and Kai couldn't help but laugh internally.
—"Okay, it wasn't a big deal... we almost got killed a hundred times, and the girl dying for me was Master Jet. She was barely alive and just wanted to steal my food."*
Effie, of course, couldn't resist bursting into laughter.
—"Isn't it amazing? A boyfriend who can't lie! All you have to do is ask him: Sunny, would you ever cheat on Nephis?"*
The room fell silent.
Kai thought Effie really needed to think before she spoke. Even if it was just a joke, Sunny had to answer, and that could put him in a very uncomfortable position.
Sunny furrowed his brow, clearly confused.
—"Eh... never?"* —he said with genuine curiosity, turning to look at Nephis, who seemed as impassive as ever. But for those who knew her well—like Kai—there was a faint curve at the corner of her lips.
Kai sighed. Why does she have to be so antisocial?, he thought, watching how the peculiar dynamic between Sunny and Nephis continued to unfold in the most extraordinary way.
The conversation had taken a serious turn, and for once, Kai was at a loss.
He had been in Antarctica too, enlisting in the second evacuation army alongside Effie. The horrors he had seen there haunted him still. But nothing could compare to Sunny's experiences.
Over ninety million civilians and thousands of awakened had perished in the fall of Falcon Scott. Of all those lives, only two had survived.
Sunny's stories of slaying a titan and dying to come back weren't epic tales of heroism. They were raw accounts of desperation and unbearable loss.
That idiot, Kai thought. He always carried too much.
Even Effie, with her endless supply of jokes and sarcasm, was quiet now. The usual spark in her eyes was gone.
Sunny had changed—how could he not? He'd watched countless people die, taken responsibility for decisions that would have crushed anyone else, and somehow he'd made it out alive. But at what cost?
Kai wanted to help, to say something, but even as Sunny's best friend, there was a wall between them. Just like there was between every member of their cohort. Effie's laughter masked her fears. Cassie's silence hid her pain. And Nephis? She buried everything beneath her stoic composure.
And then, Kai saw it.
Nephis reached out with a gentleness that was almost shocking, guiding Sunny's head onto her shoulder. Her fingers moved to his hair, stroking it softly, offering him a warmth that words couldn't convey.
Kai couldn't help but smile.
That couple, he thought, was good for each other. Seeing Nephis, the untouchable Star of Changing Light, reveal such tenderness was... unexpected. But it was also something Kai realized he'd have to get used to.
With a nod, he stood up and gestured for Effie to follow him. "Let's give them some space," he murmured, helping Cassie navigate her way out of the room without stumbling.
Nephis silently thanked her cohort for leaving. Finally, she could talk to Sunny freely.
She glanced down at him, his head still resting on her shoulder. His eyes were closed, his breathing steady. He seemed at peace, as though he were soaking in the warmth she offered.
Then, to her surprise, he shifted. Before she could say anything, Sunny moved off her shoulder and lay down, resting his head in her lap.
Nephis froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat as his dark, onyx eyes locked onto hers. He studied her, his gaze intense, as if memorizing every detail of her face.
Then, a warm smile spread across his lips—a genuine one, not the polite facade he often wore.
But just as quickly as he smiled, he frowned.
"Nephis, why are you so tall? It's unfair," he grumbled, his tone playful but tinged with mock irritation.
Before she could respond, Sunny's hands reached up, cupping her face with a tenderness that sent a shiver down her spine. His thumbs brushed lightly against her jawline, then moved to her cheeks, tracing delicate patterns.
Nephis raised an eyebrow, feigning annoyance, though the corners of her lips twitched into a small smile.
"Why does it bother you?" she asked, her calm voice betraying none of the warmth spreading through her chest.
Sunny sighed dramatically, his lips curving into a mischievous grin.
"I don't know. You should be grateful, though. You're the only one who gets to say that about me."
The affection in his voice, the way he looked at her as if she were the only person in the world, made her heart flutter.
Sunny leaned forward slightly, lifting his head just enough to close the distance between them. His lips met hers in a kiss that was both tender and deep.
Nephis lost herself in the moment, feeling the warmth of his touch and the weight of his emotions. Time seemed to slow as they shared the kiss, neither wanting to let go.
When they finally parted, she was breathless, her chest rising and falling as she tried to steady her heartbeat. Sunny, however, simply collapsed back into her lap, his eyes never leaving hers.
For a while, they sat in comfortable silence, the air between them charged with unspoken words.
Then Sunny broke the stillness, his voice low and filled with emotion.
"I love you."
There was no need for further explanation. The sincerity in his tone, the weight behind those three words, was enough to say everything he felt.
Nephis leaned forward, her face so close to his that their breaths mingled. Her gray eyes, soft yet unwavering, held his gaze.
"I love you too."
And in that quiet, intimate moment, they found solace in each other's arms, the warmth of their connection banishing any lingering shadows.