"Sunny?" Nephis asked as she looked around the cabinets that had recently been made into their small room in the cathedral. It had been two weeks since the sun burnt out and every day since, they've been resting and eating food they had scavenged from local monsters that decided to make residence in their church. Sadly for them, they aren't open to hosting guests.
"Yes, Neph?" Sunny responded by lying down on their royal and soft bed. Sunny was studying one of his memories, a silver bell, but most of the time he was dazzled by the weave. He had been trying to understand how the weaves work and their patterns but hadn't gone further than knowing that they are a mystery.
"Where the hell is the salt we gathered yesterday from the castle?"
"Should be in the upper cabinet next to the metals cabinet."
"Oh, thank you."
Nephis reached for the salt and sprayed it sparingly over the meat that was cooking above the fireplace on the ground. Nephis made sure to cook each side diligently and precisely to perfect temperatures; after all, nothing less than perfect would suffice for Sunny—and herself included. Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to the meat.
Recently their meat supply has gotten rather low and so has the local population of remaining food sources. Today Sunny was traveling out further than they had ever gone to get more meat, which also meant leaving the safety of the church. So Nephis wanted him to leave on a full stomach for his journey so he wouldn't be distracted by hunger. Yeah, that was definitely the reason why she cooked each meat to perfection for him...
"Is it done yet Neph?" Sunny asked looking up from the weave.
"Yes, come and eat before you head out," Nephis said with a slight grin on her face.
Cooking has been one of her favorite hobbies and things to do. Whenever she wasn't practicing her swordsmanship she was learning how to cook with different ingredients her teachers were able to gather from the dream realm. She had learned many forms and techniques to not starve in her journey which she's now grateful for learning. Sunny himself wasn't a bad cook and often during their journey through the labyrinth, she let him take a turn to cook so he would have some degree of experience. Now though it was her sole job to cook for both of them since there wasn't much he could do due to her being unable to see without a light source.
In the now dark world lighting up a torch is just asking to be eaten by any nightmare creature that can see it.
Sunny came over as Nephis set a plate for him and a slice of meat on it too, an especially juicy and fat meat just how he likes it. Taking a bite, Sunny seemed more energetic as he took quick bites and savored the taste with each bite. Nephis smiled a bit that she hadn't gotten rusty and ate along with him. They chatted about mundane things and the topic of the cohort was brought up by Sunny.
"Honestly I feel like if it was just me stuck here everyone would forget about me immediately, even you," Sunny said chalontly before taking another bite.
"What makes you say that?" nephis asked questionably.
"Well, it's just that other than maybe you, I hadn't made much of an impression on the cohort. Effie will probably spend the rest of her life hunting like a huntress and eating her fill, and Cassie has been avoiding me and keeping her distance from me. Kai although I have talked to him often and all we basically live in different realms, hell the first time we met he was still dazzling for someone who was stuck in a pit while I looked like a cockroach. Caster is dead and not like I wanted to make an impression on his noble ass and you will probably move on with your big plan on destroying the spell and all, with or without me."
Nephis wanted to object but his reasoning was solid. After all, he was nothing but a mercenary to her cohort on paper. But still... she had considered him in her cohort even if he didn't want to. But he was right about the last part, if that was past Nephis of course.
Nephis leaned towards him and gave Sunny a warm hug, which was awkward since she was much taller than he was. She could feel him heat up under her so she moved away as quickly as she came and both of them turned around as their faces burned bright red.
"W-what was that for?"
"Sunny... we all would miss you if you weren't there. You may be crazy but you're still part of my cohort, our cohort."
Sunny stayed quiet for a second, but Nephis could tell he was blushing under the shadows.
"Well, thanks then..."
***
Sunny had on his Mantle of the Underworld as Nephis was finishing cleaning the dishes with [Endless Spring]. He carried his tachi on his shoulder —which looked badass, but she wasn't going to say that— and was done preparing to go out. Under normal circumstances, they shouldn't be worried at all, but that was soon changed when creatures started working together in groups to survive their new environment. Monsters with nighthvision stick together and strike in the shadows like Sunny while monsters that can cast light work with others who can't.
They started noticing this change during their first week when a group of stragglers, two Carapace Demons and a monster that the spell called "light of greed" from what she could recall, entered the main hall of the cathedral. It was a rough fight because the light producer was of the fallen rank and a monster. Luckily Sunny, Saint, and she were able to dispose of them and had a feast that night. After that the pattern became more apparent and more and more groups of monsters fought to eat, so fewer and fewer of them appeared but they were stronger and more cunning.
As Sunny was about to leave Neph hugged him from behind. There was a real possibility that Sunny could encounter an enemy he cannot overcome and die before he can escape. Although they were the strongest sleepers to ever exist and could even prove to kill the average awakened human, all it took was one precise stab to kill them. Getting off him, Sunny was about to take off when he stopped.
"Actually I'm going to leave you Seperent so you don't get too lonely," Sunny said not looking back as the black tattoo on his wrist slid off and slithered towards the corner.
Nephis didn't know why he just did that since Sunny should know better than anyone how much power he'll need to survive and the dark city and by leaving Serpent he was leaving some of his power. Nephis guessed that since Serpent was only a dormant beast it wouldn't be much help in a fight but still...
'Protect Neph at all costs,' Sunny commanded Serpent who nodded its head before Sunny nodded back as he slid into the shadows
***
Nephis was sitting on her — their — bed and laying down stared at her runes, with Serpent in the corner.
Name: Nephis.
True Name: Freaky Star.
Nephis blinked and looked more closely to her rune.
True Name: Changing Star
'I must be seeing things,' Nephis thought rubbing her eyes.
Rank: Dreamer
Class: Demon
Soul Cores: [3/7]
Soul Fragments: [2749/3000]
Memories: [Dream Blade], [Evertwine], [Starlight Legion Armor], [Dawn Shard], [Dark Wing], [Nameless Sun]...
And a few other utility memories she owned.
Echoes: —
Attributes: [Dreamspawn], [Nephilim], [Flame of Divinity], [The Fire]
Aspect: [Light Bringer].
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Description: [You are a creature of light that was banished and doomed to exist in the darkness. You bring radiance and warmth to wherever you go, but with it comes indescribable longing.]
Innate Ability: [Halfbreed].
Ability Descriptions: [You can directly absorb a portion of the soul essence of any Nightmare Creature destroyed by your flames, as well as of any human.]
Aspect Ability: [Soul Flame].
Ability Description: [Your soul burns with the purest of flames. That flame can both restore and destroy, and is both a blessing and a curse.]
Flaw: [Pristine Soul]
Flaw Description: [You must suffer to use your power.]
Dismissing her runes she put her head down and idly started lightly kicking her feet on the bed in slow motion. It wasn't something she normally did but it came naturally like whenever she did something "because she wanted to". Of course, she would never have done it if Sunny were here, but being alone sucks, even if it's temporarily. She idly wondered what Sunny was up to. After all with his [Fated] attribute, something big was bound to happen. She could already see Fate acting up like a teenage girl choosing what to dress up her doll, whatever she chose was bound to be bad.
She wished she could talk to him telepathically, after all [Shadow Bond] had to have more abilities than just augmenting each other. Nephis decided to try and look deeper into herself if maybe she could unlock something hidden. Although she knew it was probably pointless and nothing would come out of it she would at least try then die out of boredom. Even she was starting to go crazy a bit with the lack of new human interaction, she might even say she missed it although in her mind she always seemed to mess whenever she talked to someone.
Times like these are when she can appreciate Sunny staying with her. Without him, she most likely would've gone insane from the lack of human interaction. It's not like she didn't want Sunny to be with her in the beginning, she knew how strong he was after all as no one has been able to survive in the Dark City before. But she knew the way back will be a dangerous and hostile path that could kill him. Nephis surely would've survived on her own with her healing and indomitable will but if Sunny stayed there was a real chance he would've died
Nephis sat upright and got into a meditating pose. She didn't really know how to try and look deeper in herself, but when she spoke Sunny's true name she felt, no knew, something fundamental changed inside her. Plus Sunny had shared with her the very short story of how he discovered shadow sense so following his steps then maybe she'll find something.
Nephis sat there cross-legged for about an hour and felt completely nothing. She was actually starting to get a bit embarrassed from the whole ordeal from the lack of progress, if any, on finding anything.
"Sunny makes it look easy," Nephis grumbled, trying to concentrate but failing from her frustration. She was the Changing Star of the immortal flame, and yet she couldn't even find what had changed in herself.
Getting up Nephis went to drink out of the [Endless Spring]. While doing so she wondered what he was up to and wished she could sense him. She opened her runes and was glad to see she could still see his. She didn't have much trust in the spell being able to tell her if he's still alive or not but for now she decided to trust it this time. She hated how powerless she was at the moment but found it ironic that the tables had turned as before Sunny had relied on her and her alone. Now, she relied on him for everything, even her peace of mind.
She had even realized that maybe she even...loved him, even if it was just a bit she felt at peace whenever with him. It was weird since her aspect stated that she would always have a longing and she even felt it. But now she didn't long for anything, she felt at peace... complete.
Nephis suddenly felt something now deep within her. Like when you finally have a conscious as a kid or when you learn how to ride a bike for the first time. Either way, she felt a strange tugging feeling that pointed east-west, where Sunny had said he was going hunting. She didn't know how but she knew that what she was feeling was a pull towards Sunny, like a built-in gps people from the dark ages used before everything went to shit. Nephis sat there for a moment just existing before she lay back down, intent on a day's work.
Sunny came back after another hour, injured and badly beaten, but alive nonetheless. He even came back with an abundance of meat!
"Hey Neph," Sunny said as he entered their lair, looking even more battered than during their initial stay here.
"Hey, Sunny... what happened?" Neph said straightforwardly.
"Well let's see, after I got out I was immediately chased by a fallen one and had to hide in a building. Only, that building had a damn Awakened Devil Carapace that I was forced to fight with Saint. Luckily I came out glorious and had enough time to gather enough meat to last us a while."
Sunny told her all this while storing their meat in a cupboard that reeked of blood and old meat.
"But," Sunny continued, "I think we should go hunting together soon. The population is getting smaller and so is our chance of growing our strength for the long journey ahead of us. I think the risk of using your flame to see is worth the risk."
Nephis thought to herself for a second, revealing nothing on her emotionless face to Sunny. After a while, she responded,
"I think so too, we'll have to do that another time."
Sunny nodded as he dismissed his armor and replaced it with the smooth cloth of [Pupperteer's Shroud]. Nephis walked over to him and placed her hand on her cheek. The warm embrace of her flames enveloped Sunny's figure, drowning him in relief as his pain and wounds started to fade and heal. Nephis endured the pain of her flaw, although it seemed to be less than before, possibly due to their bond, but she wasn't sure.
Nephis wanted to tell him about her discovery but seeing him so distraught and tired she decided to tell him after he rested. Sunny sluggishly walked over to the bed and collapsed on it like a sack and fell into the deep embrace of sleep. Nephis sat beside him and flowed her hands through his long hair. It had grown considerably large but neither of them minded it, even if it did make him look feminine and more doll-like.
"Sleep tight Sunny." nephis whispered as she lay down beside him and fell asleep, her hands still wrapped around his hair.
Nephis had forgotten to tell him about her discovery the next day since they started hunting together...
***
My bad for the late post I sorta forgot to post this 2 days ago... lol