(Cassie's POV)
"You can help me shatter fate."
It was a bona fide sales pitch, a recruitment offer colored in dramatic hues.
I had already sort of guessed how this would all unfold, but a part of me was still a tiny bit anxious.
The nature of Audun's existence was shrouded in mystery.
I've never had a vision about his past and only a single vision about his future.
Some of his runes were hidden from my prying eyes, and the only ones visible were just blatant reminders of his inexplicable strength.
The only information I have on this seemingly all-powerful swordsman is superficial at best, but if I knew one thing about him, he would do anything for a friend.
Still, the deafening silence made my confidence waver.
"So, what do you say...?"
There was another bout of silence, one far more tense than the last.
But just as I was starting to lose hope, the swordsman finally responded.
"You want my help to... shatter fate?"
I nodded unconsciously.
An amused laugh echoed in my room.
"Y'know, when you came up to me with that pleading look on your face, I was expecting you to ask me to beat up some goons or execute some Bright Castle spies."
He let out an approving hum.
"Still, my response remains unchanged. As long as you need my help, and it aligns with my beliefs, I'll always lend a hand."
I could feel the air shift subtly, a melancholic reminiscence tinging Audun's voice.
"And... seeking a happy ending, an outcome free of regret... that's a goal I can admire."
His tone became light.
"So, Cassie, what do you need me to do?"
I let out a sigh of relief and steadied my mind.
"You and I are going to be working behind the scenes, more so than now, at least."
I gestured to the left, in the direction of Sunny and Neph's rooms.
"Sunny and Neph have 'heavy' destinies... In fact, I think it'd be fair to think of them as the protagonists of the forgotten shore."
Audun grunted.
"That checks out."
I nodded.
"Tomorrow, something big will happen. Sunny and Neph are going to have an argument, one that'll result in Sunny leaving the cohort for a couple of months."
Audun let out a chuckle.
"A lovers' quarrel, huh?"
I tried to suppress the smile threatening to spill across my face, but I failed.
"I guess you could see it like that... but back to what I was saying. Sunny and Neph are the key to changing the future, and when he leaves, you need to go with him. Our cohort has grown strong enough to stand without you, but Sunny still needs a protector to grow unhindered."
Audun scoffed.
"You're underestimating Sunny. Even without me, he'd be fine. And... wouldn't it be better to stop him from leaving in the first place?"
I shook my head.
"I'm not doubting Sunny's capabilities, but as it is right now, Sunny and Neph need to grow independently of one another. As much as I'd like to defend Neph, I can't deny her goals are... extreme. She'd go to any lengths to achieve her goals, and if Sunny opposes her as he is now, I'm... I'm not sure if either of us would like the outcome."
A sigh broke free of Audun's lips.
"So while Nephis is building up her force, I need to make sure Sunny is strong enough to beat her if things take a turn for the worse?"
I shook my head again.
"Not exactly. Even if we don't interfere, Sunny will get strong enough to defeat Neph. What we have to do is..."
I trailed off.
"I swear, if you say we're doing relationship counselling, I'm out."
I grimaced.
"I'm not exactly eager about it either... but the alternative isn't pleasant-"
"Well, what's the alternative?"
"I... I tell Neph Sunny's true name."
"How... do you know about that?"
I nodded, albeit a bit meekly.
"I-"
"Did Sunny tell you?"
I hesitated.
"No... I saw your conversation with him after he killed Harper in a vision I had a month ago."
I could feel his eyes boring into me.
"Cassie... did you tell anyone? Don't tell me you told Nephis-"
I hesitated for a moment, the answer tasting bitter in my mouth.
"No... I didn't tell Neph. But I almost did."
A self-deprecatory smile spread across my face.
"Sunny's the brother I never knew I needed. He's caring and kind, though he hides it all behind his cynicism, and he's done more for me than he probably realizes... But Neph is my savior. She's the one who saved me when I thought I was destined to die, and... well, I'm indebted to her."
I shook my head lightly.
"They both mean a lot to me, and if selling Sunny's freedom to Neph was the only way to guarantee they both survive... I would've done it without hesitation. But... with you here, that wasn't a choice that I had to make."
There was a pause, a lull in the conversation.
After a bit, Audun murmured something under his breath.
"Well, that's good..."
"But still, Sunny's freedom isn't something to be taken lightly, much less something to be sacrificed without his approval."
I could hear the disapproval in his tone.
"Even if your intentions were just, even if the outcome seemed better... If you ever cross that line, if you ever enslave one of the people I consider a friend- I won't hesitate to turn my blade on you."
A tense silence fell over us as his threat hung in the air, but the silence didn't last long.
Audun shattered the quiet with a tired sigh.
"Hah~ Whatever... So, I'll be training Sunny up to be Nephis' equal while also making sure that... he doesn't hate her?"
There was a slight contemplative pause before he continued.
"And you'll be... helping Neph build her army while making sure that she doesn't get all domestic on Sunny?"
I nodded, still thinking about the threat.
"...Yeah."
"Is it... too late to change my answer?"
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(Sunny's POV)
"Hey Audun, don't you feel like something weird is going on today?"
My question earned an interested hum from the blond swordsman sitting next to me.
"Weird, huh? How so?"
The sun shone directly overhead, a ruined building casting a towering shadow over the two of us.
I shrugged.
"Call it a hunch, but something just doesn't feel right."
Audun gave me a sidelong glance before leaning his head back, his expression contemplative.
The two of us had just finished another training session, though thankfully, this one was far lighter than the one before, and we were taking a quick break.
"Something on your mind? You seem pretty distracted."
I laid down on the ground and sighed, wiping the sweat gathering at my brow.
"I'm just thinking about something that happened earlier today."
Audun nodded his head carefully.
"You wanna talk about it?"
I closed my eyes and let out a groan.
"It's not serious... It's just that Cassie came into my room earlier this morning and she... she gave me a gift."
"Well, that was nice of her."
"I guess so, but the way that she was acting was off."
"How so?"
A frown tugged at the corners of my mouth.
"She seemed a little defensive. Like she was hiding something from me. And the way that she was speaking made it seem like she was sending me off."
I sat up, pulling the [Endless Spring] from my Soul Sea.
"And... she gave me this."
Audun's eyes glimmered with recognition.
"The [Endless Spring]? That uh... seems a little 'grand' for an impromptu gift."
"Yeah, see what I mean? Everyone's acting kind of weird."
Audun let out a tired sigh.
"I dunno man. It just feels like a normal day to me. Er, well... as normal as you can get in this shit hole."
That got a chuckle out of me.
"Maybe I'm just being paranoid..."
Audun gave me a friendly pat on the back.
"Meh, it's probably not worth worrying about."
I shrugged.
"I guess."
The swordsman gave me a quick scan and sighed.
"How about we end a little earlier? You still look a little distracted, and I... I have something I need to do real quick."
Audun got up from the ground, extending a hand towards my lounging form.
Grasping it, he pulled me off the floor gently, helping me to my feet.
"Thanks."
"Nah, don't mention it."
He gave me a quick scan.
"I'm assuming you're going back to the lodge?"
I thought for a moment.
"No... I uh, I wanna do a little more practice."
Audun nodded slowly.
"Alright. Just don't push yourself too hard."
He paused for a moment, his demenour shifting into something I couldn't quite describe.
"Hey Sunny?"
"Yeah?"
"No matter what... just remember I'll always have your back."
I raised a brow.
"...Ok?"
He gave me a complicated look.
"If times get tough or if you need someone to rely on, don't hesitate to come to me."
Looking at the weird look on his face, and feeling the... odd atmosphere that settled over us, I couldn't help but feel a little confused.
"Was that a confession? Yeah dude, I'm not sure if you noticed, but I don't swing that way."
Audun barked out a laugh.
"You wish~"
I scoffed, and turned around, summoning my sword memory and walking back to the center of the small clearing.
I gave him the finger as I began running through my revamped Kata's, but as I did so, a small murmur carried through the air.
"Just look at the rabbits my sweet, oblivious summer child...."
Hearing the random phrase, I turned around with a curious look, but Audun wasn't anywhere in sight.
Not lingering on his disapearance, I continued to swing my tachi, supressing the ominous feeling building in my chest.
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(A/N: Sorry about the delay, I had a pretty shitty day yesterday if you couldn't tell by my previous announcement.
I ended up waking up hella late today cuz my sleep was fragmented so the chapters like an hour late, so I apologize for that too.
I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, and if you're enjoying the story, drop a comment and a review, and if you're feeling generous, perhaps donate a few stones to my cause.
See you guys next time, and thanks for all of you're good will!)