Secluded in the changing room, the shadows quietly listened as a lamp above briefly flickered—warping the shadows below. Strangely….Cassie's shadow did not bend. Nephis only stared at her. She continued to do so for an uncomfortable minute before glancing side to side and stepping forward.
"Who do you seek?"
By the door Cassie shifted, tapping the floor with her cane as she adjusted her direction, tilting her head up to the sound of the voice. Although she was more on the smaller side, it was a pleasant surprise of how tall the girl was. She had been steadily adjusting to her….predicament, finding it easier to navigate and adjust her posture to match the eye level of the speaker.
She wasn't able to do so with her mysterious friend as he spoke directly in her mind
But she could somewhat outline his appearance from the height of his arm, though she couldn't quite get an image down considering the contrasting claims of beauty and secluded appearance.
So…he was just a very blurry shadow, and a glossy one at that.
"You may or may not have heard of him, but his name is Sunny, he's important to me."
Nephis frowned.
"Sunny?"
Cassie nodded, smiling more as she continued to talk.
"Funny but hypocritical, goes around boasting about the heroic deeds in his trial, he doesn't sound hard to miss but…precariously enough, I doubt you have seen him."
Nephis's mind worked as she tried to put a name to the face although she hardly conversed or remembered anyone. In the end she could only shake her head as she opened her mouth to speak—but she was cut off before she could.
"Cassie by the way, that's my name"
Nephis did not reply, prompting her smile to falter.
"It's polite to introduce yourself."
This time it was Nephis who was slightly taken aback, replying in a lowered tone.
"...Nephis"
The blind seer's shoulders trembled, her lips quivering as she failed to hide her shock.
"Nephis? The scion of the Immortal Flame who got a True Name in her first trial?"
Her words echoed around the room as she unconsciously leaned forward. Nephis only watched, her tone as placant as ever.
"Yes"
….
The room grew quiet as the two of them stood awkwardly across from each other, though one could hardly tell from Nephis's indifferent face. Cassie gave in as she let out a sigh, tapping her cane as she turned back to the door, her voice now quieter and trailing over her shoulders.
"Sorry for wasting your time, I'll just ask next time..."
Her hand pulled on the handle as she opened the door, pausing as Nephis's voice sounded from behind her.
"Wait."
She turned, frowning beneath her blindfold.
"What did he say about his trial?"
Cassie stood silent….before a carefree grin crept on her face. She turned around giggling as she mockingly rubbed her chin.
"Hmmm…let's see. Well first, survived a horde of Nightmare creatures, killed a Tyrant on his own, then he braved a long abandoned mountain where he beseeched the Gods and was blessed by them—conquering his trial."
She paused, her giggling cutting off as her tone became quieter and sombre.
"Seems he had to pay a price…."
…..
"....nobody remembers or recognizes him"
Across the room Nephis listened keenly, her eyes slightly widening. Her final words echoed in the hollow room as they were once again engulfed by silence—only this time, Nephis's voice soon sounded, and with a strange anticipation.
"How did you come to know this person?"
She watched as the blind seer paused, shaking her head as a helpless smile curled on her lips.
"Funny enough….it was more like he found me."
"Found you?.."
Cassie nodded, shrugging as she jokingly flailed her arms.
"Really he's quite special, introducing himself all of a sudden and then disappearing like he never existed, he found me—so why all of a sudden are the roles reversed?! Especially with someone who's blind, he has no honour!"
She paused, something flashing in her mind as a giggle sounded.
"Ah well, he did say he wasn't an honourable person. I should have expected as much."
Her smile only grew as the obsolete voice responded.
"You can't believe such lies"
It was Nephis's turned to be pleasantly startled as melodical laughter rang out from the girl, her arms moving up to adjust her sagging blindfold.
"Of course not, but…."
"....his stories feel much more real than these last few days"
A bell chime in the distance sounded, slightly startling Cassie. She bit her lip, nodding in the direction of Nephis as she turned back to the door, passing through. Her voice trailed through the gap as it slowly closed.
"Sorry, I really can't miss my chance to meet them at dinner, bye!"
The locks clicked.
Alone Nephis in the room, Nephis blankly stared at the door. Turning around as she pulled her belongings from her locker—frowning at the words.
'Killed a horde of Nightmare creature'
'Slayed a Tyrant'
'Conversed with the gods'
It was blatant that the unknown figure had been boasting fibs, things one would possibly only hear from the trials of a Saint. But….
Her face lowered as her hand rested on the door handle.
Nobody survived alone in the Dream Realm; this was something Nephis had come to terms with. She had feigned ignorance by revealing her True Name to the advisors, creating a bait for the hidden infiltrators from the bastard sovereigns. However, there were lots of secrets she still hid….
Most importantly, she was the first person with a Divine Aspect.
But that wouldn't be enough….
She was still one person going against three demi-gods, two of which held the world in their palms. Allies were vital. And this person who boasted of his accomplishments….
What if he was in fact telling the truth?
Everyone had their secrets, but maybe some were more open about them than others. The thought of having a potential reliable comrade wasn't disheartening to Nephis. It's just that she didn't truly understand emotions, communication and expressions were an innate flaw she lived with before even being infected. Thus she hadn't attempted to approach or establish a pact with other students. It didn't help that the people who were willing, were likely informants to their aligned clans.
Her footsteps reverberated in the empty hallway as she approached her dorm. The sound lessened as her walking pace slowed, until she stopped, standing still in the hall.
"Sunny…."
…..
Why did the name feel strangely familiar?
Just a few more steps and she would be back to her room, timely to resume her routine sword practice while everyone else socialised in the cafeteria. This is how things were. This is how things should be.
…..
So why was she all of a sudden walking back towards the cafeteria?
Her footsteps slightly hastened, her face blank as usual—but strangely a shifting spark in her eyes.
'Sunny'
She had to meet this person.
**********
Following the distant echoes of voices, Cassie trailed next to the wall as she passed through the entrance, making her way towards the tables without even grabbing a plate. Tapping her cane, she weaved between the hunched over students—some of them pausing to look at her with disgusted glares albeit a mixture of a few inquisitive glances.
Compared to how she usually was….
The useless Seer had an unusual warm smile on her face.
Eventually she found a table which no noise sounded from, pulling the hems of her robe as she sat down. A second later her hushed whisper escaped her lips.
"You're here aren't you?"
Although it had happened before, she slightly jumped again as the voice sounded in her mind.
[Of course I am! I'm a shadow after all, well I guess you could also say i'm your shadow.]
She brought her hand up, muffling a giggle.
Sunny pleasantly watched in the depths of her shadow. It was his goal to be there for Cassie so she didn't close herself off compared to how he knew her….although maybe his efforts bore results too fruitful. It was honestly quite alien to him. Yes, she was a teenager right now and much more naïve, but her true expressions and nature were a stark contrast to her cold meticulous setting in the future. Honestly, he felt quite at fault for tearing down the foundation for possibly the best schemer second to him in both worlds. The way she didn't shy from conversations and wore a hopeful smile….
A side of Cassie that was nurtured instead of buried in grief.
It kindled his Souls and made the world in her shadow much less dark.
'That's right, I'll be there for her this time'
And if things went differently accordingly, she wouldn't have to take such a massive role in the future at all.
Sadly, Nephis didn't have that decision, which greatly tore Sunny with guilt. He didn't like publicity but he would bear the consequences just to deal with the sovereigns and create a path for this future—preventing any burden for any of the people he knew.
But….
With the complication of his relation to this Forgotten God and the Forbidden Lineage, the risk was unknown, something he would test in a bit.
And more importantly.
It was as if Nephis was born to rule humanity.
The nature of her domain, her goals, the overall development he witnessed in her journey. Though he was the only person [Fated], he sometimes thought whether Nephis was in her own twisted way. Well….
If he couldn't be the best ruler for humanity….
He could still be the best teacher for the future ruler of humanity!
Unnoticed, Cassie's shadow shifted as Sunny laughed in secrecy, a jovial grin on his face.
"Oh yeah, I can already imagine it….that's going to be a lot of fun."
Her shadow retained its appearance as Cassie's shoulders stopped shuddering, her voice now questioningly echoing in his mind.
[I know for certain reasons people don't notice you…but come on! I crawled across the entire academy to find you, even showing up early to the class you recommended.]
[How was it?]
Behind the blindfold, her eyebrows aggressively creased as her lips twitched.
[Don't dodge the question! I asked everywhere and still not a trace!]
[Gosh, I thought I already told you, from unwanted developments people can't remember or notice me.]
Cassie lowered her head, pausing as her voice responded.
[...I understand]
She fiddled with her hands, crossing her legs as she leaned forward. Her mouth quivered, opening to say something but then closing as she quietly spoke in her mind.
[It just feels like you're avoiding me after we just met.]
…..
[I don't want to lose my only friend]
Inside her shadow Sunny grimaced in pain, the words physically piercing him. He was already constantly reinforcing his Will around his body and suppressing his presence, but now he had to further restrain himself from comforting her.
'Gods I also really want to be here with you, but the time isn't right yet!'
Her lips slightly curled as the usual hearty laugh sounded in her mind.
[Lose me? It's more like you're stuck with me! And with the Winter Solstice coming up, we won't have any obstacles. It'll just be you and me!]
The smile on Cassie's lips continued to grow as the tension in her shoulders lessened.
[...You promise?]
[Of course!]
A sigh escaped her lips as she adjusted her posture, pausing as a worrying thought grew in her mind. Sweat forming on her neck and palms as stressed breaths of panic escaped her lips-
[B-But we'll be dropped around the Dream Realm at random, and t-then we'll have to find each other, survive a-all the abominations to get to a gate and t-the whole time I'll be useless. And that's even i-if we surviv-]
[Hey]
Her fingers stopped twitching from the stress, his voice booming in her mind, overpowering the other thoughts like an anchor.
[Didn't I tell you? I'm super strong! I'll find you before you touch the ground and protect you from all the nasty beasties.]
The sound of his voice washed over her body as her trembles slowly ceased, her muscles relaxing as her rhythm of breath returned. Her voice quietly sounding in his mind
[Y-You promise?]
The voice scoffed.
[Wow aren't you greedy, making me promise two thin-]
[You promise?]
All around the room, the shadows slightly wavered, morphing with the twilight rays from the setting sunlight. The chattering slowed as more people began to rise and leave. Although alone, Cassie's face dropped at the response she heard.
[No]
Her mouth dropped as her shoulders stiffened, her response rushed with panic.
[N-No? Why not!?]
To this, the voice sighed.
[I've made a lot of promises, some better than others, some more painful and regretting.. But a promise in itself is hope. It's a fleeting belief and a step towards the future you desire—however desire in itself and one's pursuit in fulfilling it are different things. Promises can be made, yet not fulfilled.]
…..
[Which is why I won't promise you. I'm declaring it. You will survive. You will get to go home and see your family, with the future ahead. That is my declaration to you Cassie]
A sniffle sounded as Cassie brough up her sleeve, wiping the skin under her eyes, muttering something too quiet for even Sunny to hear.
[You talk big for a liar]
Her shadow convulsed as the voice whined in her head, causing her smile to grow.
[What is it with everyone calling me a liar! I am anything but a liar!]
Cassie's giggling grew.
[And saying you're so strong yet you didn't partake in the training course like the others?]
[Huh! I have no qualms with such weaklings, I could beat them all with the flick of my finger!]
The hall, now empty, was filled with her laughter as the shadows all around loomed over her—watching in silence. Eventually her laughter quieted.
[By the way, when I was asking for you, some person took an interest]
[Oh really, who?]
Cassie shifted, jokingly stroking her chin as she hummed.
[Nephis, the one with the True Name. She was weirdly inter-]
She was abruptly cut off as the voice sounded again. This time strangely distracted, and…..stressed?
[...Uh-oh]
Cassie frowned with concern, abruptly rising.
[What's wro-]
[Sorry! Got to go fight a horde of troublesome Nightmare Creatures, bye!]
Before Cassie could even complain, the sound of doors opening echoed in the room as she turned in the direction of the Cafeteria entrance. Worriedly, she grabbed her cane as her voice rose.
"H-Hello?"
At the entrance, Nephis scanned the room before locking onto the lone figure of Cassie near the end at an empty table. Her footsteps sounded as she hastened her approach towards her.
"The person you mentioned, I thought they were here with you."
She arrived on the other side of the table, placing her palms down as she leaned forward. On the other side Cassie stood dazed before slowly turning to face, her blindfold hiding an expression of utter bewilderment.
"He…just left?"
A sigh escaped from the other side, as Cassie lowered herself back into her seat.
"I can't imagine how you didn't notice him–" she paused, also letting out a defeated sigh, "Right, right…how could I forget?"
Awkwardly the two sat across from each other.
Cassie then smiled, shrugging as she leaned forward.
"He said had to go fight a horde of terrible Nightmare Creatures."
On the other side, Nephis stared at her blankly prompting Cassie's smile to grow.
"Wanna hear more about his stories?"
Glancing across the shoulder towards the top of the entrance, the clock continued to click, showing half past six. She looked back at Cassie. Then back at the clock. Eventually, her shoulders dropped as she took a deep breath, looking up at the blind seer
"Please tell me about him"
Cassie beamed as her arms waved, her voice droning on as the minutes passed, her shadow listening quietly as it did.
**********
Icy waves roared, crashing into the shape of fortified steel as it cut through the water, cleaving chunks of ice. The sky was matte grey as usual with tiny flakes of snowing blurring as the wind howled, violently whipping them like soft bullets. It was one of the main governmental naval vessels. Spanning over a dozen meters in length and height, every inch fortified with tempered steel, angry plumes of scorching smoke trailing behind in its wake—comparable to an aquatic tank.
Usually such a vessel was purposed and used for transporting or evacuating citizens in the event of natural disaster risk, impending Nightmare Gates and more harrowing—evacuation of lost humanity strongholds.
However this vessel had no such refugees, nor any citizens at all, instead armed to the teeth with workers both mundane, dreamer, ascended and…. a Saint, of House Night. Across the deck they scrambled like rats, yelling orders and positioning themselves along the edges. Alone and unmoving Bloodwaves imposing figure stood at the front of the ship. His cape violently billowed in the wind over his black armour, his hands rested on a greatsword memory.
The cold bit him, yet he showed no signs of being affected.
His eyes narrowed with intensity as he scanned the horizon of the waters.
The ship was not heading on the usual secured paths between mainland and Antarctica, instead patrolling the passageway around the outskirts. He had been delegated to investigate the area after numerous reports of….corpses. Nightmare creature corpses
Though the information should have been joyous, it was in reality quite the opposite.
Underneath the water there were unknown numbers of hidden horrors, but quality always triumphed over quantity in such scenarios. Just how there was always a bigger fish….it seemed that some greater and even more harrowing creature had entered these waters.
Slaughtering everything it came across.
Such a word was only fit for the sight that lay strewn before them, coming into view as the visibility cleared. All along the decks, soldiers' eyes widened as their shoulders and hands trembled from something other than the cold. Even Bloodwave betrayed a look of shock before his usual mask took over, the whispers creeping over his shoulders.
"G-Gods! What kind of creature could have d-done this?.."
"Ascended, Great….c-could it even be a Cursed?!?"
"It's like death itself passed through here!!"
Stretching as far as the eye could see before the ship….were the mangled corpses and remains of thousands of Nightmare creatures. Torn tentacle-like appendages ripped into pieces, floating claws and fangs—a litany of members including the morphed heads of creatures that resembled eels, sharks, squid, crustaceans and other twisted aquatic creatures. All of them ripped from their bodies, their eyes blank and glazed speaking only in death of the horror they came across.
All before them, they bobbed and floated, the sea now a dirtied dark red.
An absolute slaughter.
"This…it's like an army passed through here"
Bloodwave turned around, giving a nod up to the captain's booth as he dismissed his sword. Taking a step forward, his figure plunged off the side towards the water—morphing into his Transcended form as he crashed into the waves.
Searching through the waters, he surged forward—chasing after the culprit deeper in the lightless abyss. Light fading as ominous shadows grew and loomed, watching silently as the intruder approached.
Far away, an army of shades marched along the sea-bed, a colossal shadow serpent drifting above them. It lurched, turning to look in a direction before moving deeper into an aquatic crevice filled with hidden creatures.
Silenced by the water, shockwaves traveled out as crunches and screeches went unheard, more and more pieces floating up towards the surface….
********
"Fuck! Why did they have to go so hard on us…"
"I get it's training, but these bruises won't be going away for a while!"
Together, two sleeper girls limped on a dirt path, entering a worn down cemetery. In the distance the sun dipped on the horizon a blur of iridescent flares both orange, red and purple streaking across the sky as stars became visible and twinkled like jewels above. Numerous old and worn down tombstones rested, unchecked grass furling the edges as their shadows stretched—watching the two walk further in.
Their pace slowed as bottles clanked in a bag, the one without looking at her friend.
"We really had to come all the way out here to drink? Why couldn't we just sneak it into your room?"
The other scoffed, handing a bottle over.
"Wake up dumbass! The teachers are Dreamers and above! You think they don't have abilities or memories to check if students are doing stuff like sneaking drinks?"
"Fair"
She lifted the bottle up—before turning to her friend.
"Claire, did you forget the bottle opener?"
She paused, looking at her own bottle before grinning.
"Nuh-uh"
With an effortless motion, she flicked the top off—a clink sounding as it bounced on the ground, not a splinter of glass showing. Her friend grinned, lifting her own bottle up as she tried to imitate the move….Only she flicked not just the top, but the entire neck off. Foam splattered, causing Claire to scowl.
"Fuck you! No wonder they're calling you Grace the Gorilla."
Grace turned, menacingly pointing the bottle at her friend.
"It's not my fault that my flaw makes it hard for me to control my strength!"
"Shsshsh! Don't go saying info like that in public…"
Grace stared at her, before dramatically glancing side to side and spreading her arms.
"If there were people here. You said to yourself that you checked for any vibrations with your Aspect," she chortled, earning a scowl from Claire. Looking at the piece of shattered glass she reached out, before stopping—looking at the bin in the distance as she rose, grinning at Claire..
"You know what? This actually isn't too bad, we don't have to clean up after ourselves."
They both slightly jumped, as to their horror…..a quiet voice sounded from behind a tree not too far away.
"It would be polite if you clean up after yourself, I hate people who litter…."
Both of the girls spun around, arms up as they looked in the direction of the tree where the noise came from. Strangely, the shadow seemed to obscure the figure that lay against it. How had they not noticed him? Nervously looking at each other, they nodded, slowly approaching the side. Shivers crept their spine as all around them it weirdly became darker, the shadows now surrounding and looming above them menacingly. But that tension disappeared as they rounded the tree and saw who lay there.
Infact, the darkness itself seemed to be dismissed in his presence.
The bag of bottles fell to the ground with a clank as both of them stared with wide eyes, their mouths hanging open.
Resting against a marked tree…was the most beautiful person they had ever seen in their lives. His skin was glossy, flawless pale with a strange allure—starkly contrasting with his onyx dark hair which was gathered in a knot, loose strands cascading over their shoulders. And his eyes….Bewitching was the only appropriate word. Like whirlpools of darkness, the longer one looked the more they felt themselves being swept up. His attire was also black and traditional, a long mantle covering his whole body. He sat with his legs crossed, back rested against the tree. In his lap lay a fearsome mask—chips of dark wood strewn around him evident that he had just finished his craft although no tools were visible.
Except for a single golden needle.
To their confusion….his hands danced in the air, as if sewing something unseen around it. They found themselves watching his movements aimlessly in a hypnotic manner before his arms dropped and he turned to look at them.
He smiled before brushing his cheek, "Is there something on my face?"
Both Claire and Grace recoiled, a blush growing on their cheeks as they waved their arms.
"N-No! There is nothing wrong with you—nothing on your face!"
"Y-Yeah, it's perfectly flawless!"
The stranger blinked, before shooting a killer smile that made both their hearts skip a beat.
Their knees swayed slightly as Claire grabbed Grace's shoulder and pulled her around, her face inches from her, a hiss sounding from her mouth.
"I-I'm not seeing things r-right?"
Grace stared back with an equally lost gaze.
"You mean the fact that the most gorgeous person in the world is right before us?"
"...C-could we be in a Nightmare?"
Both of their eyes narrowed with concern, glancing over their shoulders. The man still lay there, slightly smiling at them, causing them to move back into huddle formation.
"Assuming that this is in fact real, we've just found the next best thing after NightinGale disappeared... .No! Scratch that! He's so much hotter!"
Grace's head vigorously bobbed up and down in agreement, her voice hushed but slightly panicked.
"T-This is s-surely my chance right? I've never dated before and people say always start slow…but screw that! I'm charging in!"
Across from her, Claire frowned.
'Who said he was yours!?'
Her mouth opened to retort, but both of them jolted as his melodious voice sounded from behind them, causing them to turn.
"Ahem, I'm still here."
Both of them awkwardly straightened their postures as they nervously coughed. Claire moved a strand of hair behind her ear as she pulled her best smile.
"No! No! Nothing wrong at all….it's just…..could we get your number?"
The man blinked at them, rubbing his head slightly as he coughed.
"I don't have a number."
From her side Grace shot forward, leaning forward as her eyes glinted with a strange hunger.
"Name! Do you have a name!?"
The man once again blinked.
"Funny enough…I technically don't, just alias-"
"Aliases, address, identity, stage-name…whatever! Just give me something!"
A hand descended from above onto her, gripping her skull as she yelped in pain, Claire stepping to her side as she shot daggers before turning back—her voice quiet and soppy as she handed him a notepad and a pen.
"Uhmm….sir? Could you please give us your contact information, we would love to arrange something and meet you again sometime."
To her delight the man smiled, grabbing the pen before pointing to an ordinary rock by their feet…which they strangely had no recollection of.
"Before that, could you pick up my rock? It's very special to me."
Without a second thought, both the girls darted down, scrabbling to grab it from the other in the dirt. Grace rose victorious with her enhanced strength. She beamed lifting her palm out as she smiled….only to falter.
Because to her horror….
He was gone!
In the split moment he vanished, like a ghost! The chips of wood all gone with him. Both of them stared with wide eyes at the empty spot as Grace looked at her palm….only to find it empty.
She opened and closed her stretched out palm, gripping empty air, turning to her friend on the ground with a shaky voice.
"A-Am I hallucinating?"
Claire stared at her with confused eyes, before slowly lifting her left arm up which held a notepad—pointing energetically with her empty one.
"Look! Look! My pen is gone! He's real, of Gods he's actually real!"
Squeals echoed in the cemetery as both of them rushed back towards the dorms, the bottles of beer rolling on the ground left in their wake. Quietly, a sleek shadow arm rose from the ground, picking up the bottles before gently placing them in the bin far away—before dissipating. In the shadow above the marked tree, Sunny watched them run off into the distance.
"Well I think that sort of worked."
Tilting his head he slightly frowned.
'Arrange something and meet you again sometime?'
"Did they just try to offer me a business proposition…?"
He spread his shadow sense to the dorms, absorbing a growing number of excited squeals and whispers from the girl's quarters.
"Actually maybe it worked too well."
A minute passed as he replayed the events before shrugging, dissipating into the shadows as he returned to Cassie's shadow as one more shadow broke off from him and moved across the city with the one from the training hall.
Lights flickered out one by one across the academy dorms…except for a few. And those few spread as others began to lit up in unison. All across the student dorm, figures of girls sneaked into others' rooms as others gathered in hallways, giggling and whispering in hushed excited voices….the birth and worship of a new rumour.
The rumour of the Nameless Ghost of Desire.