It was the middle of the night in the desolate realm of the Forgotten Shore.
Within the ruins of a similarly forgotten city, perched atop a massive hill and its grand keep, the Sleepers of the Bright Castle slept soundly. Not all, of course, but most.
Seishan was among those resting. Her status as a lieutenant had garnered her one of the most luxurious chambers available — perhaps the best.
Kings and queens must've slept in this room, but now it was completely hers. The polished walls of white marble, the gorgeous fresco that covered every inch of the ceiling, and even the dangerously comfortable bed that her head was currently buried in — all of it, and every bit of it, was hers.
Except it wasn't.
While the Bright Lord ruled, everything that was hers was his, and even this suite was just a mere testament to his graciousness.
For now, anyway.
Unaffected by the battles to come and her current subordination the royal woman slept, her gray skin buried in white silk. Then, a noise disturbed the silent atmosphere. A grating sound, like nails scratching into stone, that permeated the entire chamber.
Her mind instantly roused. Rising suspiciously, she blinked through the impenetrable darkness for any disruptions, a scattering of white sparks surrounding her torso as she called upon her red dress Memory. Another cluster also formed around her risen hand, calling upon a lantern.
When its light finally spilled across the room and created a small circle of visibility, she still saw nothing.
'It must be entering through the balcony.'
By now, the disgusting sound had ceased, replaced by a distant buzzing and the pitter-patter of light footsteps. Seishan was standing at the foot of her bed ready to activate her Dormant Ability and transform in a heartbeat.
Then, she finally connected the dots just as Nico stepped into the ring of light, his ragged body covered in a similarly ragged beige tunic and pants.
"Sister," he greeted, his voice cold, dispassionate, and ultimately casual.
Sitting back on the edge of the bed, Seishan prepared to retort with something antagonistic — perhaps a snide remark at his sudden arrival or meager words — but paused when she saw his miserable face.
Her jaw worked silently.
Disheveled was an understatement to describe him. Corpse-like would be more accurate, and not only because he was covered in dirt and dried blood like one, but because there was something missing in his eyes now. They were dull and lifeless. What had happened to him? She knew that before he left there was some injury he had attained to his spirit, but this…
Seishan sighed, placing the lantern on her nightstand and turning back to him.
"You're still hurt, aren't you, little brother?"
The words that finally escaped her were more a statement than a question.
Nico found himself a chair and dragged it over to face her.
"Yes," he replied, absently scanning the surroundings as he took a seat.
A long moment passed. He finally looked at the woman, her subtly unnerved expression not escaping him. The shadows cast by the hand lantern were long and deep.
"How, then?"
"By strengthening my soul. Due to my Attribute."
"The one that makes your blood blue?"
He nodded, though it seemed an inapt description of its true effects.
Seishan's eyes took on a darker hue as she no doubt reevaluated their situation. It was a perilous one, but Nico wasn't too troubled. There had been plenty time for him to assess it, and he knew one thing for sure: Changing Star would be his catalyst. A powerful young woman bearing the lineage of Sun God was capable enough to slay Gunlaug with a little bit of help on his end.
In these long months she had no doubt either grown stronger than ever or cold and dead. Before he could ask to confirm which, Seishan spoke.
"Much has changed in the months since your departure. I hope you've accomplished your task."
His three cores pulsed dimly in his soul sense, ever-present and soothing.
"I have."
Her lips curled into a small, approving smile. Then, she recounted:
"Perfect. First, then, Gunlaug shouldn't be checking that you've arrived. He often requests reports, but his most recent one was just two days ago, so at least a week's time remains until he grows impatient again."
She paused, and her eyes had a gained a wry hint of pleasure.
"It also appears that your decision to introduce me to Changing Star before departing was wise. She accepted our offer of aide, and through her we were able to acquire several of the seven required Memories. In fact, all but the last three remain, and due to Athena being accused of murder, her cohort, in response, left to acquire both the Bright Lord's and one he was searching for."
She shrugged.
"Kido is working on something for the Fallen Tyrant, though she knows not what its true purpose is. Regardless, all that's left is for them to return and challenge Gunlaug. What comes of it we shall see."
Nico leaned back and peered up at the ceiling. Above, there was a harrowing battle waged between monsters of darkness and soldiers of men. For every combatant that died on one side, another rose on the other — on the monster's side.
'How ironic. Right now, instead of fighting the beasts of this land, humans are killing between themselves instead.'
Such were aspirations of men.
"Should I stay hidden, then? Until the cohort returns?"
Seishan smirked.
"Yes. In fact, hide that horrid face of yours behind your armor even after you decide to appear."
Cocking a brow, Nico observed the would-be irritable expression on her face. His sister wasn't one for meaningless insults, so that meant…
"Worse than I thought?"
She nodded gravely.
"It wouldn't be much of a show if everyone saw you the way you are now."
There was a point to what Seishan had said. After all, it was the first thing she noticed, and she barely ever saw him.
He was clearly sick. Plagued, even.
While nobody would know what sort of ailment really afflicted him, it made him look weak all the same. Covering himself beneath a veil of silver and mist like he did at the execution would do much better for appearances.
"Where should I stay in the meantime?"
"You can laze around here, little brother. Nobody will come up the staircase to bother but keep watch anyway. I'll inform you of the next time Gunlaug requests our seer be counseled."
Nodding, Nico rose from his seat and walked back towards the balcony.
"Tomorrow night I will leave to take care of a few other things."
Before he left the circle of light conjured by his sister's Memory, though, he stopped and said over his shoulder:
"As well as receive our chosen champions, of course. I have a few gifts to give them."
Retreating into the darkness once more, Nico brushed aside a curtain veiling the room and sat against the railing.
The cool breeze caressed his skin. There wasn't much to do at the moment besides wait, but he could at least relax in his Soul Sea and meditate.
Somehow, that action seemed to have become a welcome pass-time in the last two weeks that he waited after becoming a Demon.
Not long after that the conjured lantern vanished, leaving only complete darkness inside the entire chamber.
***
Seishan procured Nico all that he needed in the morning. First was a large bucket to clean himself, which was a welcome surprise. Smelling like blood and gore was something he had long grown used to, but that did nothing to dull the urge for cleanliness retained from once being a civilized human.
After that she gave him a fresh pair of linen clothes to replace his tattered ones and several strips of dried meat to ensure he wouldn't go hungry while waiting or travelling. Both were a welcome surprise. Lounging around in a palace chamber with soft clothes definitely seemed more appealing then, but now that he had recovered enough of his cleanliness and allowed the [Silver Wraith] to fully restore overnight he truly needed to depart soon.
The first thing he need to do was both urgent and menial.
That, of course, was acquire himself another honorable Spire Messenger to be Shaman's servant. With three soul roots it wouldn't be much of an issue to simply loose Shaman to get one itself, but it would unmistakably take some time, and he didn't want to risk any of the castle's residents discovering him.
Seishan had guaranteed no one would be able to, but in truth, it was an empty promise. With each Sleeper having unique Aspects, Attributes, Abilities, and Memories — each with unnatural powers that no one could anticipate — leaving it to chance would be foolish.
After all, Nico's mere existence in the Bright Castle allowed him to sense every single soul within around two and a half kilometers.
Nothing — not an Echo, Memory, person, or Nightmare Creature could hide from him here.
So, he left that night, using the cover of darkness to escape above the clouds. Shaman's Awakened Monster flew them out into the city. A thick veil of mist smothered its bright eyes. Then, they quickly descended into an open plaza, wary of flying abominations, and killed the mount.
Nico gave the soul shards to Shaman.
They hid themselves and waited soon after.
Of course, an open body was usually an invitation for unnatural beings to feast, but in the darkness of night, when most abominations slept, it was rare to spot.
For all except the Cursed Heralds of the Crimson Spire, anyway. From Shaman, Nico had learned they had superb night vision. It was no doubt from hunting during the cover of darkness, where they had the potential to swoop down and deliver a swift death to anything unlucky enough to be its target.
Still… they were carrion birds.
The Spire Messengers preferred to feast upon the dead.
***
Hours passed under a starless sky.
This endeavor had taken no less than a week the last time he attempted it, but he knew it would not be much longer before it succeeded tonight.
After all, before he had been a Monster, and Shaman, with two soul roots, struggled to enthrall the chimeras before they flew off into the night. After quadrupling its soul's strength, though, breaching a Fallen Beast's mind quickly — at least enough to keep it from flying away until it gained more control — would be, if not easy, then at least manageable.
Before long a dark blur descended from the sky, entering the vast plaza.
Nico, completely encased in a fresh suit of regenerated silver, dark cloth, and bleak chainmail, became a statue beneath the cover of a dilapidated wall.
Shaman's mist wept from the cracks of his armor and visor. Its twin flames remained shrouded especially deep under the breastplate to make sure no light escaped.
Though he couldn't see it, Nico knew what was happening due to his enhanced soul sense.
The Beast was digging into the body, its sharp beak easily peeling off layers of rotten flesh to devour. Several misshapen claws pinned the carcass down. Two massive wings folded asymmetrically at its side, black blood stained into each feather.
It collected its limbs to scoop up the corpse — to take it away back to its home.
Then, it paused.
Why leave now? It was dark, peaceful, and nothing was around. The corpse would only wither during the long flight back to the spire.
Stifled caws gurgled wetly in its throat as it continued feasting. Flesh squelched as it openly tore into the dead insectoid, minutes passing like seconds as the carcass slowly disappeared within its bottomless stomach.
But, even still, it was hungry.
So, so hungry.
And it could do nothing but keep eating until the body was gone.
Until, eventually, voraciousness replaced even its sense of self, and something vast and pure slithered into its corrupted mind.
Two flames burned out the sockets where the beast's beady eyes once were.
Nico leapt from behind the building quickly as he felt the Devil's soul house itself within the Cursed Herald's. Already, since Shaman couldn't get close enough to obscure the eyes before initiating the possession, the sleeping Fallen were attracted by Shaman's dispelled light.
Dashing across the square would've taken some time — possibly more than he was willing to expend — but Shaman acted just as fast, using its possessed body to bound the distance in a few short leaps and beats of its wings.
Swiftly saddling atop the Beast, Nico and Shaman disappeared into the sky.