Nephis POV
Light seeped in through the cracks in my eyelids.
My body felt hollow, empty… almost like it was starting to feel for the first time in ages.
As if I didn't belong in this world.
Then my memories slowly returned: the battle with the monster, the sudden appearance of the giant obsidian lizard, Sunny getting struck…
And the pain.
I looked around. I was covered in a clumsily made blanket of seaweed and moss. It was coarse, damp, and uncomfortable.
But it kept me warm enough.
I turned my gaze to the sky. It was clear, the sun high above, with not a single cloud in sight… as if the storm had only existed in my mind.
Beside me, Cassie was dozing off, her head tilting forward as fatigue weighed on her.
I shifted slightly, trying to sit up.
That small motion was enough to wake her. Her head snapped up, relief flooding her face.
"...Neph!" Her voice cracked as she clutched her staff tighter. "You're awake."
I sat up weakly. My head felt light, my throat parched.
"I am," I said quietly, my voice raspy.
Cassie blinked rapidly, tears welling at the corners of her blind eyes. She swallowed them back and managed a small smile.
She summoned the [Endless Spring] and handed it to me.
I raised it to my lips and drank greedily. The water slid down my throat, cool and refreshing, like a sensation I had forgotten.
"How long?" I asked.
Her voice was soft, hesitant, full of concern. "A day… we thought it would be longer."
A day. My jaw tightened.
"Sunny?" I asked. There were no signs of him around the makeshift camp… but I knew he hadn't left. Cassie couldn't have built it alone.
"Sunny said he would explore the island and scout possible paths." Her expression turned thoughtful. "Though that was about an hour ago…"
I nodded and told her to get some sleep while I went to find him.
Cassie didn't resist. She was exhausted. She gave a small nod, settled back down on the moss blanket, and within moments, was asleep.
I rose slowly, steadied myself, and drew a long breath before walking toward the far side of the island.
The coral forest stretched out below, and for a moment, I simply stared.
It was… beautiful.
Jagged peaks of crimson coral twisted and spiralled into strange, breathtaking shapes.
From up here, the Forgotten Shore looked divine, as though it had been sculpted by the hands of gods.
…But beneath its beauty hid unimaginable horrors.
The scavengers. The abominations lurking in the depths. Even the sea itself.
That was the Forgotten Shore, equally deadly as it was beautiful.
Shaking off the trance, I continued on to find Sunny.
It didn't take long.
He was at the far end of the island, practising his sword swings.
The first time I'd seen him at the academy dojo, I'd been suspicious, almost certain he was an assassin. But when I watched his swordplay, I understood. He had some basic training, but lacked technique, experience, and clarity.
No true Legacy would be missing all three.
He was no assassin, nor an experienced Legacy. There were rumours that he'd been adopted by some obscure minor clan that had taken pity on him.
But I never trusted rumours. I ignored them.
Sunny noticed me. He froze mid-swing, tensed, then smiled slowly.
"You're awake, I see," he said. "Feeling better, I hope?"
I nodded.
For a moment, silence stretched between us. His eyes lingered on me with an intent I couldn't place.
Then, unexpectedly, he spoke.
"It's your Flaw, isn't it? The pain you feel when you use your Ability?"
I was silent for a long moment. His words hung heavy in the air. Finally, I gave a small nod.
"Yes."
Sunny studied me. His expression was unreadable, but I kept my gaze fixed on the horizon. The wind tugged at my hair, carrying with it the salty scent of a sea that wasn't there, not right now at least.
"What does it feel like?" he asked at last.
I exhaled slowly.
"Like burning alive."
He went quiet for a while. When he finally spoke, his voice was low.
"I'm sorry."
My lips pressed into a thin line. I shook my head, still watching the endless expanse of sky and coral.
"It's just pain."
There was no need for pity. Pain was pain. Nothing more.
From the corner of my eye, I saw him turn away, as though hiding something in his expression.
Then his voice cut through the quiet.
"Anyway. I have a present for you."
I blinked, uncertain I'd heard right.
"A… present?" I asked cautiously.
He smiled, faintly amused.
"Yeah. I couldn't tell you, I received a Memory after we finished off the Centurion. Guess what type it is?"
I stared at him. Guess? Was this supposed to be a game? My expression stayed neutral. I didn't answer. I had no idea what he expected.
After a moment, his smile faltered. He looked away.
"Uh, It's an armour. So… give me your hand."
Understanding, I slowly placed my hand in his and waited.
His skin was dry, faintly coarse—the touch unfamiliar against my own.
A strange sensation, like a spark, passed between us.
I pulled my hand back quickly as the spell whispered to me:
[You have received a Memory: Starlight Legion Armour]
Taking a few steps back, I summoned the new armour.
Spinning sparks of light formed around me.
A moment later, they covered my body, turning into a black, skintight bodysuit made of some unknown, durable material. It looked almost like the rubbery seaweed that grew all around us.
Then, pristine white plates materialised over it—greaves and vambraces, then articulated pauldrons and rerebraces, cuisses and sabatons. Finally, a breastplate engraved with seven shining stars appeared over my torso, short enough not to hinder my movements. A helmet with a white plume followed.
…But the helmet blocked my sight, so I dismissed it. Perhaps I would use it in some situations, but most of the time it would only limit me.
To test it, I summoned my sword and performed a few strikes.
No hindrance.
The weight was perfect as well.
Satisfied, I dismissed my sword and turned to Sunny.
"Well? How is it?"
A smile tugged at my lips. happiness was a sensation i had almost forgotten, I hesitated, then admitted with a touch of embarrassment:
"Much better."
He looked at me expectantly. I frowned slightly—then realized what he was waiting for.
The cape.
"…The cape was destroyed during the battle," I admitted.
It had been damaged when I landed on the monster's back. Its spikes kept tearing at it as I prepared to ignite it.
The final blow came when it threw me off, nearly impaling me—if not for the cape.
Sunny's face fell slightly, then he sighed.
"You owe me a Memory," he grumbled.
I nodded. It was only fair.
Finally, I voiced the question that had gnawed at me since I'd woken.
"What was that lizard?"