"And that is why I am known as the throat goat!" Gunlaug slammed his cup on the table with complete conviction, his arm draped over Sunny's shoulder. Sunny nodded awkwardly, still unsure what to do with him.
"I see..." If Sunny was honest, he still didn't know how to react to these new versions of his former enemies. First there was Harus who was… a gentleman? He wasn't sure. Harus often visited his mother when she was taking care of Rain's younger siblings whenever their parents were absent.
From what Sunny heard from Rain, Harus was soft-spoken and calm around children. He often played with them and let them do whatever they wanted, saying that kids should enjoy their childhood without someone constantly telling them what to do and killing their excitement and innocence.
That surprised Sunny a great deal. But perhaps Harus spoke from experience.
Another matter was Amon. He saved Rain… Sunny still had no idea how to handle that information. And the fact that Rain was Amon's fan made him even more conflicted. Thankfully she wasn't in love or anything ridiculous like that. It was simple admiration, and Sunny was grateful it didn't go any further.
What truly depressed him, though, was that Rain liked Gunlaug. How?! Why would anyone like this idiot who was currently sitting beside him, drunk as hell, talking to him as if they were old friends? Sunny was baffled.
Then there was Caster. Sunny expected him to assassinate Nephis, but nothing happened. Caster didn't even looked at her, as if he had thrown his mission into a fire and decided to warm his hands instead.
Kido was… honestly, Sunny had no complaints about her. She was the reason people didn't starve in the Forgotten Shore.
Another thing that bothered him was Aiko. The shameless girl was scamming people… and even Sunny was scammed, embarrassingly. He only realized it after his shadow noticed her joyful expression when she believed no one was watching.
And then there was Kai. Sunny enjoyed talking to him. He was funny, and his flaw made their conversations even more entertaining and ridiculous.
"Listen, boy. I know being short is depressing and all, but don't be so gloomy all the time. I think some women like feminine and soft guys like you." Gunlaug grunted, clearly displeased with Sunny's serious behavior.
… Pardon? Sunny remained motionless, his onyx eyes hiding his exasperation. "Thanks, I guess..."
He exhaled softly, his thoughts drifting back to his friends. Nephis was in the Valor Clan now, and Cassie was with her. Effie remained neutral and was currently living in his house.
Nephis had changed, Sunny could admit that. She wasn't as intense as she used to be, while Cassie had grown noticeably more confident.
Sunny himself had changed too, or so he believed. He was still spiteful and petty, but he was trying to be better. Spite was useful, but he no longer allowed it to cloud his judgement. His loss against Amon had been an enlightening experience, let's say. It showed him that, at times, his strength was not enough and his own behaviour could easily turn against him.
Not to mention… if he had stayed the way he used to be, obsessively determined to kill Amon, then Rain would have died. Amon saved her, and Sunny hadn't been there.
If Sunny had succeeded in killing him back in the Forgotten Shore, then what would have happened to Rain? She would have died without shadow of doubt.
That thought alone gave him plenty to consider, so he decided to change for the better, little by little. It wasn't easy, but at least he was trying.
Thinking about the past made him realise how right Luna had been and how senseless they all were back then.
Well, they were children who had found themselves in a living hell, so it wasn't surprising that many of them simply broke.
Even so, he still disliked Amon. That bastard had traumatized him. It was embarrassing to admit, but Sunny was afraid of Amon. However, he also found himself thinking about Amon's words, and about what others had said as well. Was his approach to life truly wrong? Once he asked himself that question, he realised that it indeed was.
He began to understand Amon's perspective too. Shadows were shapeless and could take any shape. Sunny would have been ashamed if he couldn't even understand the shapes of others.
This led to another question. How would he react if someone abandoned Nephis to die? Or worse, Rain? Just as he had abandoned Luna.
He tried to argue with himself and insisted that he would remain reasonable, but Sunny was an honest man, the most honest in two worlds. So the answer he came up with was simple. He would have done worse than Amon, far worse.
He shook his head, a deep sigh escaping his lips as he took a sip of juice. Looking around, he was still stunned by the sight. The Forgotten Shore had changed beyond recognition. The dark city was gone, burned to the ground by Amon, and from its ashes Moirai had been born.
"I still cannot believe I lost…" He shuddered, remembering the arena and how he had been defeated by Gunlaug's son. That had been an unexpected situation indeed.
Who could have thought something so disgusting could be so lethal? He had almost choked to death.
"Heh, you just got Ah Chu'ed, that's all." Gunlaug grinned as he gulped down his wine.
Sunny grimaced, licked his lips, and turned back to his drink, deciding to at least enjoy the apple juice.
"Hey, Gunlaug. What are you… Oh, Sunny? What a surprise!" Luna exclaimed when she noticed Gunlaug and Sunny drinking together. It was a strange sight to behold.
"Hello… Luna." Sunny greeted awkwardly, feeling a twinge of guilt over how he had treated her in the past, whether through his cynical words or during their confrontation.
Luna laughed and slapped his back with a cheerful smile. "Don't worry about the past. It is part of what makes us who we are today, but it isn't our present or something we should fear in the future."
Sunny nodded with a small smile. "Thanks… Are you sure you should be running around like that?" He pointed at her belly. It was strange seeing a pregnant woman so unbothered by it.
"Yes, it's nothing for me." Luna nodded with confidence, sat down beside him, and raised her hand. "Harus, can you make three big shawarmas? With tomatoes and no onions. Also add some pepper."
"I refuse." Harus shook his head. "I have to take care of my nephew's health since his irresponsible parents don't care." His tone was serious. Everything for my nephews, I have to protect them! he thought, thinking about Ah Chu and now Evangelo.
"Aww, come on. I already said it is nothing. I can protect the baby with my abilities. He will be the healthiest." Luna glared at him, irritation rising, only for Harus to throw cucumbers at her.
"You are only allowed to eat vegetables and fruits at night." he said. His bleak eyes were menacing and cold.
"And what if I don't?" Luna stood up, huffing.
"What? Nothing. You will simply be banned from my restaurant." Harus blinked and stated it plainly.
Luna's eyes widened in disbelief. Her body trembled and she slowly sat down, chewing cucumbers with a pitiful expression.
Harus nodded in satisfaction, finished Sunny's shawarma, and handed it to him. Sunny accepted it with a strange look, still baffled that his old enemy was serving him food.
"I hope you enjoy it." Harus said simply. He crossed his arms and returned to the kitchen, muttering something about teaching Evangelo how to cook.
"Hehe, you are so awkward, Sunny. Like frightened bunny. It's actually quite adorable." Luna giggled softly as she patted his shoulder.
"That's what I am saying. A true bond is created by beating each other. Look at us. I, Harus, the Boss and Medici nearly killed each other, and now we are friends, so what is his problem?" Gunlaug muttered while leaning back in his chair.
"Oh, shut up. Not everyone is like you weirdos." Luna shouted at Gunlaug, defending Sunny. Deep down, she still wanted to restore her friendship with others.
"How come you guys don't hate me?" Sunny finally asked, genuinely intrigued by their behaviour and by what they thought.
"Huh? Well, if people hate for no reason, then why not become someone who loves for no reason?" Luna said with a warm smile.
"That's why I love you. Even if you are forcing nightmare creatures to reproduce endlessly and turning them into potions." a gentle voice was heard from behind.
A young man with a crystal monocle on his right eye wrapped his arms around Luna's neck and kissed her cheek. Then he glanced at Sunny and offered his hand. Sunny shook it awkwardly. "As for your question, Sunless, every person will have a different answer."
Sunny nodded, understanding that everyone had a different approach to life. Then, with genuine curiosity, he asked. "Then… what is life?"
Luna touched her chin and thought for a moment before answering thoughtfully. "Life is love, of course. Without love, what is the point of living? Perhaps each person loves differently. There might be those who love killing and destruction and those who love peace and the world. But the point remains that love is vital for existence. It brings colour to a bleak life."
"Hmm… life, I think, is pleasure. It is doing whatever a person wants without restraint. I do what I want, I kill, I eat, I drink, I have fun, I sail across the dark sea or stay here to cheer for my son. At the end of the day, my life is nothing but fulfilling my desires." Gunlaug replied with a yawn, not really taking things seriously. Or at least that was how it appeared.
His eyes carried a faint hint of regret, and a determination to live without one.
"Life is struggle. Every time a person wakes up, even the most successful and joyful, they will face struggle. It is our nature to face those challenges and overcome them. It is an endless cycle where the human is the challenger and life is the challenge." Harus said calmly from the kitchen.
Then they glanced at Amon. He remained still for a few seconds before a soft smile appeared on his face. "Life is... Life. There is no deeper meaning to it, just as there is no meaning to the existence of bacteria, for example. But while it is meaningless, it also means that every individual can forge their own meaning. Possibilities are endless in this ridiculous, absurd life."
Sunny nodded, but then his expression darkened. He clenched his fists as he looked down, feeling bitter. "Then what's the point of all of that if our fates are already determined? If we have no choice…"
Amon sighed. Fate was making Sunny's life a living hell. He knew this and was no longer his past self who judged others easily. How could he be, having realized that he was as imperfect as everyone else? As for Sunny's question, it was difficult to answer. Fate was cruel and sometimes merciful, but it still caused misfortune at some point in everyone's life.
Thinking like this, a gentle smile appeared on Amon's face as he spoke. "You cannot add days to your life, Sunless. Time is even more cruel than fate. But it also gives you the opportunity to add life to your days. The destination may already be written, but I do not think the journey is. Fate may be ruthless, but destiny is not. Choice, not chance, determines your destiny. And, the only person you are destined to become is who you choose to be…" His dark eyes shifted for a moment, replaced with a different golden light, like a stardust. "That is my gift."
Sunny nodded but then frowned, glancing at him as his eyes returned to normal. "Your gift?"
Amon blinked, snapping out of whatever trance he had been in. "My what?"
"You said it is your gift, what do you mean?" Sunny confirmed, his expression growing confused.
"I see… forget it. I wanted to say the gift of destiny and instead said something else." he said, waving his hand dismissively.
Sunny nodded, still curious about his words. Destiny and fate… Fate is the destination while destiny is what guides it, huh?
***
[A/N: Well, I promised you guys that Sunny would change and grow, so here it is. I may have forgotten about him for a while, but don't blame me for that, XDD.
Anyway, we have this conversation between our characters, and something happened to Amon. Curious what it is? I'm sure you guys can figure it out.
Also, after this volume, I might take a long break. I don't want to mess up the second nightmare by writing almost every day. I need to plan how it will go.
Lastly, what do you think about how the second nightmare should unfold? Should it happen when the seven heroes have already built the spire, or during the dark times when the sun did not exist and the seven heroes were young?
If you have any advice, I'd happily take it.
Oh? And, check Shadow Slave: Hollow Knight. It's author is meme_stealer. There's only one chapter for now but it's pretty good.
That's it for now. Enjoy, guys, and luv you!]
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