Cassie woke up with another vision, this one more mundane.
A silver figure was talking plainly with her cohort inside one of the towers atop the Dark City's wall. Specifically, he was chatting with Nephis, the rest of the cohort gathered around a fire and warily watching them.
Today was the day they were going to leave the grand marble arch and trek to one, no doubt spending the night there too, so she didn't bother telling anyone, merely hinting that something would show once they reached the wall so they wouldn't be too surprised.
She had grown detached that way — cold, vague, and fearful of creating a worse event by clueing people into her visions. Sparse information was better. Of course, she made sure to let them know it wouldn't be threatening, and quite possibly human, but they kept their guard up regardless.
It was better that way.
Gunlaug could've been planning an ambush she couldn't see with her foresight, so why would they not be on guard? While Nephis seemed perplexed at the idea of a welcoming party, the others found it only natural.
Time soon flew by. They made their camp inside of the Dark City's ruined tower as planned and idly chatted.
Kai was sharing his experience of singing for people in the real world, Sunny raptly listening. Effie was devouring a piece of roast meat that had been cooking right in front of the flame. Caster and Neph were standing a little bit separated from the others, discussing some fruitless, masqueraded plan together before they briefed the others.
It was just a ploy by Neph to fool the legacy into thinking he had her wrapped around his finger.
And Cassie was alone. She wasn't the most powerful, talkative, or cheerful member of the group. She wasn't the leader like Neph, famous and likeable like Kai, or crazy and stupid like Sunny.
Often times she spent the better half of her time thinking — reviewing her visions, making plans for Neph, and people watching the others. It was boring; it was lonely, and nothing like how cheerful and full her life had been prior to the Forgotten Shore.
After all, while being mundane she hadn't had to see visions of her own friends committing murder. She didn't have to make a choice between two of her closest companions because of it.
Cassie rubbed her eyes, fighting the encroaching exhaustion. The sun was almost down. Inside the tower, sitting on turned over slabs of shattered stone and surrounded by rotten wood, destroyed armaments, and an ever-wanning flame, her cohort was preparing for sleep.
'When is he going to arrive?'
As she thought that, the last light of dawn snuffed out, and everybody soon fell asleep.
Whenever he was to appear, it must've been in the morning…
***
Cassie rose fourth after Neph, Caster, and Sunny. The morning passed by quickly, each member preparing in their own ways. Some riffled through their packs, others ate, and others still simply trained. She found herself simply sitting aside the burned, snuffed out fireplace thinking of last night's visions.
A couple minutes passed. Something faint reached her ears. It was distant yet spine-chilling — the rustle of feathers and gentle scrapping of stone.
Her voice broke the idyllic atmosphere gravely:
"Hey, guys… I hear something."
All eyes turned to her. Instinctively, each member reached for their weapons. They had kept them summoned during the night in the event of something like this — an ambush, attack, or something else entirely unexpected. After all, the Forgotten Shore, if it was anything, was unpredictable and deadly.
Effie groaned.
"So early in the morning? I was hoping not to have to fight anything besides the Devil today…"
Beside her, Sunny scowled, thinking:
'That's the first thing on your mind?!'
Before he could voice his complaint, though, Nephis looked at Cassie, sensed her calm composure, and asked:
"This is the visitor you spoke of earlier?"
She kept her eyes on the open entrance but nodded. The sound was getting closer, turning into a soft, rhythmic patter alongside the familiar scrape of stone.
"Most likely. There's something massive, but I also hear footsteps too."
Everybody tensed.
A dozen seconds passed. Then, framed by the morning sun, Nico entered, wisps of mist trailing down his armor and swirling as his feet, his set of runes glowing in Cassie's lightless vision. This time, the other, blurry one wasn't alongside him.
What he looked like to the others… Cassie could only imagine.
All she could picture when envisioning him was the scene of his death.
Her cohort's reactions were palpable, though. Two of the people who attended the trial — Kai and Sunny — shuddered, gripping their weapons tighter. However, they appeared even more rattled than they should've been. Cassie quickly realized that no one had clued them in to the fact that Nico wasn't actually dead.
Neph, Caster, and Effie, though, had more reserved expressions. The stern leader remained as calm as always, nothing betraying her composure, and same for the legacy. Effie appeared more grave than usual, then sat back down with a huff.
"Just great. Another serious person who's going to tag along."
***
Sunny stared at the figure by the entrance.
'How was it… What did he…'
The thoughts barely formed in his head before flickering out again, replaced with a new one.
But, one thing did stick.
That asshole lieutenant was still alive. Somehow, after being pronounced dead, he appeared again. Gunlaug must've pronounced him dead because he left or disobeyed him, but where did he even go? Did he live in the Dark City like Sunny?
It certainly was possible.
He turned to observe Neph, grimacing when her face appeared just as unbothered and reserved as usual. Was this the seventh seat at the table he had been shown? The spy in Gunlaug's army?
Narrowing his eyes, he lowered his weapon and looked away.
'Whatever Neph's plans are, I don't care…'
***
Observing the group of disheveled Sleepers, Nico luckily managed to recognize each member. There was Night and Caster who he remembered from the castle, Cassia and Sunless from the breakfast before the trial — the latter owning a rather peculiar soul — and then Athena, the huntress who'd brazenly insulted him in the outer settlement.
Last, of course, was Changing Star. His fog-shrouded visor burned into her chest, seeing through the layer of armor and observing her soul. Two bright and purifying cores burned there. She was now a Monster.
He looked back at her face and said:
"Changing Star, step outside. Let's talk."
Eyes flickering with white sparks, she let her hand fall off the hilt of her sheathed sword. The rest of her cohort mimicked her actions. Long silver hair framed her stoic face.
"We'll talk inside."
Nico stared at the woman for a long moment before shrugging.
"Very well. I hope you won't mind if I bring my companion inside, too."
Changing Star's eyes narrowed.
"Bring them."
He nodded, hand gesturing at something unseen. This time, the raking of stone against claws reached everyone's ears, its gritty nature sending shivers down their spines. Unnatural clicking resounded in the archway behind Nico, and he stepped to the side, a massive shadow looming over the spot where he'd once been.
When the architects of the Dark City built these giant towers, they had been expecting large battlements, catapults, heavy barrels and supplies to be shuffled up through it and out onto the wall. That's why, instead of a normal doorway, a wide arch several meters tall and wide had been built to allow ease of access. Even a lift was built at the tower's center, its mechanism long since broken now.
When the giant, pale body of the Spire Messenger entered, sporting a pair of inky black wings and randomly ejected limbs, it took up a sizable portion of the entire frame.
Shudders spread through the six people that had just returned. This was the very thing their entire cohort had struggled against months ago, albeit this one was just a Fallen Beast as opposed to a Monster.
Still… who had a Fallen Beast as an Echo? That would've meant that they had killed it in the first place. More than that… this was no mere Echo. All, excluding Cassie, could see the crimson flames burning in its eyes, studying them with uncanny sentience. Something unnatural was being done to the Beast.
Nico, paying no mind to their bewilderment, began walking towards the cohort, his Beast trailing behind him with every step.
He took a seat on one of broken stones opposite the rest of them. The Cursed Herald splayed on the ground behind him, its massive wings casting a shadow over his silver carapace.
The cohort reluctantly sat down. Grave expression twisted their face, but Nephis kept herself steady.
'So what if he has a Fallen Beast for his bidding? We've killed stronger.'
A realization struck her. Per their agreement with Seishan, Nico was to help them after returning from whatever urgent task needed to be done. No doubt they would discuss the specifics of such a deal here, including the fates of the Bright Castle and its ruler, but there was also a much more recent matter now.
'He could be of good use in the cathedral.'
Her face turned to Sunny. He was the one who wanted the Fallen Devil's — the Black Knight's — head.
Luckily, he was already starring at her, and she got all the confirmation she need from his knowing gaze. They would use him.
Turning back to the man across from them, she stole the first words, asking:
"Why are you here?"
The man merely tilted his head, as if confused by the question.
"To offer my assistance. Gunlaug will be no easy adversary, and even with all the power you've gained — and will continue gaining — your weapons will still be insufficient to break his armor. When the time comes…"
He paused briefly and rose his hand, three wispy tendrils rising from his palm and twisting into a single, shimmering whole.
"…I will give you some strength."