[It's been a while… a long while.
Actually, it's been my longest break from writing fanfiction since I started.
I have some issues with mental health… but that's old news… I've had those for years! 🫠
But one thing kept me going through all those years: finishing something I started!
So I won't drop anything… trust me. Even if there's a long, unexpected break sometimes… it's never forever.
Unless I get hit by a car and leave this world. Ahhhh… sweet thoughts. 🤤
Ahem… I mean, how terrible!
So I guess I'm back? Well… you'll see. And I… to be honest…will have to see too.
I got some meds, but finding a psychiatrist is harder than I thought!
Now, I think we should move on to the chapter… shall we?]
Night came, and most of the residents finally put their busy minds to rest.
Naturally, "night" was the same as "day" in Sunny's Soul Sea. From that perspective, his inner sanctuary was no different from the Forgotten Shore. Well… at least until Nephis decided to vanquish the sun and drown that entire section of the Dream Realm in eternal darkness.
But that was of little concern to anyone residing in his Soul Sea. They had better things to do…like sleep.
Even Mordret had, to everyone's shock, accepted that he might benefit from doing something as mundane as what normal humans do regularly.
That alone put many minds at ease. At least there would be no reason to wander the halls, wondering how to avoid the Prince of Nothing.
Sunny too had found a moment to breathe.
Not Saint, though.
She still guarded the door to Mordret's room like it was the gate to the Void.
Maybe that Gate should've had a proper guard like her… but that was a problem for later.
Rain, despite being safely guarded and warmly entertained by her new sisters, hadn't gotten a second of rest.
But she wasn't alone in that fate.
A vermilion-eyed blade kept her company.
And not just her, Revel had taken up the role of her current bodyguard.
The Lightslayer never really had a proper sleep schedule to begin with, so she didn't mind spending time with Sunny's sister and the ex-Princess of War.
To everyone's surprise, even the workaholic Soul Reaper had decided to join them.
And so, the Council of the Sleepless began.
"Is it just me, or does our so called Caretaker have a death wish from time to time?" Morgan sighed after finishing the last drop of coffee she'd been savoring for the night.
No matter how much she tried to deny it, Sunny made the best coffee she'd ever tasted.
Not even the baristas in Bastion could rival his skill!
That annoyed her more than she cared to admit, but learning to forgive was something she'd set as her new personal goal.
Everyone else around the couch table stayed silent.
A little too absent-minded, as it turned out.
Morgan looked around, half-wondering if the caffeine had finally pushed her into hallucinating the question.
But then Revel blinked like she'd just snapped out of a trance and turned to Morgan, her elegant face tilted in curiosity.
"I don't quite understand what you mean, Morgan," she said gently. "He doesn't seem particularly suicidal to me."
Then she smiled sheepishly. "Or… did he say something that made your blood boil?"
Morgan exhaled deeply, her tired gaze locked on Revel. Her expression made it clear: the Lightslayer had either made a very lucky guess… or an educated one.
After all, the Song Sisters had been here far longer than Morgan.
She could only imagine how much they'd been tormented… only to be left helpless with an echo of the Lord of Shadows constantly looming.
After a pause, Morgan nodded, her tone slightly irritated.
"Yes. He made several comments that would've gotten him executed if I wasn't restricted." She turned to face the window again, her voice quieter now.
"But what infuriates me more is that he was right. Like he was insulting me… with the truth."
Revel had to stifle a laugh. Laughing now would only ruin the mood… and expose their secret!
She glanced at Rain, who was clearly going through the same struggle.
'He really does have a talent for pissing people off. Calling him an evil genius of mischief would be more accurate,' she thought, but said nothing. They all still had to keep that particular truth under wraps.
Instead, she leaned back and beckoned Morgan to speak freely.
"But you wouldn't let some Master get the better of you, would you? The Morgan I knew never lost her cool."
That subtle laugh at the end, a reminder of the past when they would've fought without holding back, brought a faint smile to Morgan's lips.
"I guess I lost some of my temper. But he hit a wound that's been gnawing at me since I got my Flaw. I can't just ignore something that insidious. He exposed me… completely. And the worst part? That bastard had the audacity to laugh afterward."
A sigh slipped from her lips. "Truth or not… he got me good."
Morgan's Flaw wasn't something visible to the naked eye, like most Flaws. But it wasn't exactly a secret, either.
There was no way to exploit it, after all. No matter what, her Flaw couldn't be used against her. It was simply… too insidious.
The real question was: how did she end up with such a Flaw?
Was it her longing for a warm, loving father? One who'd pick her up, hold her, and protect her from anything?
Or maybe it was her desire to wear fashionable clothes, clothes her Flaw now made impossible.
Everything she wore had to be crafted from high-tier leather and silk. She refused to run around in full armor all the time.
Whatever led her to this curse, she hated it… just like a Flaw was meant to be.
In the past, it hadn't been much of a problem.
She hadn't had time for romance anyway… even if there was an instance that could be counted as one.
A political marriage, true… but she didn't hate the Man completely.
But now… now that she'd escaped her perilous life…
She noticed how cruel her Flaw truly was.
Even simple gestures, like holding hands, let alone kissing… were impossible.
The warmth she had longed for all her life was being denied.
Fighting off the image of a "lonely blade" was proving much harder than she'd ever imagined.
After a long pause, Revel recalled something Sunny had once said.
'That madman can create memories… high-quality ones at that. Surely, he could come up with something.'
But the real question was: would he?
He hadn't even created a memory for any of his new clan members yet!
So it was hard to believe he'd go the extra mile for Morgan.
'If only there was something she could do for him.'
But what could Morgan possibly offer that Sunny couldn't do himself?
'Something involving her father?
Sure… but the man didn't even care about his daughter.'
He'd sent her to die in Bastion. If not for Jet's memory and Morgan's Aspect, they'd all be long gone.
There just… wasn't anything.
With a sigh, Revel looked at Morgan.
Even a faint trace of pity crept into her usually controlled gaze.
"You know," she said carefully, "Master Sunless is a great artisan. Maybe he could create something to help with your Flaw."
Morgan's eyes briefly lit up with hope… only to grow cold again as she realized who she'd be depending on.
"That guy?" she scoffed. "I doubt he could fix it, even if he wanted to. And it's not like we're on good terms."
Revel chuckled. "But wouldn't Kai appreciate it? I know there's something going on between you two."
Morgan recoiled slightly.
"How do you… "
She was cut off by a cold voice.
"Kai? Wait… her and Kai?" Jet blinked, shocked. "Did I miss something?"
Revel nodded and pointed at Morgan while subtly scanning the room for the charming archer.
"They've gotten suspiciously close since arriving here. I bet they bonded during those months in Bastion."
She leaned back with a grin. "Even if Morgan's the only one who remembers it all, I'm sure Kai caught on eventually."
Jet slowly nodded as the 'revel'ation sank in. Then she leaned toward Morgan, her expression suddenly colder.
A ghostly mist began to creep into the hallway, the air turning frigid.
"I hope you realize you don't deserve Kai," she said, voice low and icy. "He's the kindest, purest man I've ever met. If you ever hurt him, I won't be the only one you'll have to deal with."
She crossed her arms, meeting Morgan's stunned gaze with her icy blue eyes.
"We will protect him. He's not helpless, but he is naïve. So I suggest you think twice. The Lord of Shadows too… is very protective when it comes to his allies."
Morgan held her breath, eyes wide.
Message received. Loud and clear.
She slowly nodded.
Then, finding her voice, she replied,
"I… I have no intention of hurting him."
She looked away, ashamed.
"I know I don't deserve him. He's too kind. Too honest. And most of all… too good of a person for someone like me."
But then her voice grew firmer.
"But I can't control how I feel. And Kai, he said he cares about me. And I feel the same."
She looked back at Jet, her voice strong now.
"So don't think I'm the same person I was in Antarctica."
The air thickened. A silent tension filled the room as Morgan and Jet stared each other down.
Rain, watching from the side, was focused on the staring contest more than anything else.
Revel leaned toward her and whispered,
"Who do you think will win? I've got my money on the Soul Reaper."
Rain tilted her head, still watching.
"I don't know… I'm betting on fresh love. They seemed really happy together."
She whispered it just a bit too loud.
Both Morgan and Jet turned toward them at once.
"What are you two whispering about?" Jet asked suspiciously, faking ignorance, though her amused smile betrayed her stern tone.
Revel feigned innocence and shook her head.
Rain, meanwhile, seemed to have inherited a bit of Sunny's Flaw.
Without hesitation, she answered.
"Just enjoying the teenage drama. I've only seen stuff like this in movies and web comics before."
Silence.
Then Jet coughed awkwardly and slumped back in her chair.
"Not entirely wrong," she muttered. "Sometimes, reality and fiction aren't so different."
"I will take you by your word, Morgan. There is little anyone out there could do for you if you decide to go back on it."
Morgan visibly relaxed.
"Good," she said at last. "Because when I get out of here… I plan to live a life very different from the past."
Suddenly, a wave of frustration washed over Rain and Revel.
They didn't let it show, but deep down, they were both unsatisfied.
'Damn it, now we'll never know who won.' they thought in unison, disappointed by the anticlimactic end of the staring contest.
Still, the world kept spinning.
Having set aside their little fuss, Jet and Morgan shifted into something resembling friendly conversation.
They weren't going to be best friends anytime soon… but it was a start.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the staircase.
A figure emerged, draped in a nebulous, dark mantle, a cup of steaming coffee in hand. The Warden of this prison was making his rounds.
Not that Sunny needed to. He could sense every shadow in the Soul Sea if he wanted. This was just a way to kill his boredom.
The sight of him made Morgan's eyebrow twitch.
Interrupted mid-thought by the sudden appearance of the crazy Master himself, she felt frustration surge back like a punch to the ribs.
His entire existence reminded her of everything infuriating over the last few days.
'And that smile…gods, that smile.'
She loathed every second of being in his presence.
He had officially become her new archnemesis.
Right after Mordret.
Sunny strolled over with the casual confidence of someone who knew exactly how annoying he was, then stopped beside Rain.
He offered them all a polite nod, as if he were a waiter addressing a table of retired noblewomen.
"Good evening, ladies. I hope everyone is getting along just fine," he said, voice dipped in insufferable charm.
That bastard was playing with them!
Morgan looked like a vein on her temple was about to burst.
But she held it in… barely.
Not even Saint's absence could justify breaking the rules.
And Revel would definitely stop her. They were apparently good friends.
'How in all the Realms is that even possible?' Morgan thought, gritting her teeth.
But it was true. She couldn't deny the connection between the two.
"Everything's just as it should be, Sunny," Rain said, glancing up at her brother with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Did you get bored again, or why are you here?"
Sunny chuckled softly and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"No, I have news for you," he replied, "your teacher is on her way. She's finishing up a few errands and will have time to resume your training soon. I just wanted to check if you're in good condition to continue shaping."
Rain's eyes lit up like stars.
At first, she'd been nervous about being taught by Nephis, but over time, she had grown used to the legendary Changing Star.
She had even accidentally called her sister-in-law once!
That moment had frozen the Nameless Temple in stunned silence. But Rain had sensed something rare radiating from Nephis that day.
Embarrassment!
Since then, the Saint had worn a small, almost secretive smile whenever Rain was near.
Rain was convinced, it was only a matter of time now!
"How long do I have before she gets here?" she asked, practically bouncing with excitement.
Sunny tilted his head thoughtfully.
"She'll be here in about ten minutes," he said. "So get ready."
Rain shot up from the couch and excused herself, racing toward her room with godspeed.
The rest were left in quiet wonder.
Except Revel, who was already used to Sunny's antics, and Rain's unfiltered energy.
Morgan, meanwhile, narrowed her eyes.
'Who did he mean by "teacher"?' She could count the number of true Shapers she knew on one hand.
And then it hit her.
'No…'
The Nameless Shaper… was Nephis.
Her stomach twisted at the thought.
There was no doubt Nephis was aware of her situation.
But to face her now… as a prisoner?
That was more humiliating than anything Morgan had been prepared for.
So, silently, she began to hope. Hope that her so-called sister-in-law wouldn't show up in front of her.
But that fragile hope was shattered as two figures began ascending the staircase.