Another 2 weeks went by. By now his preparations were complete. Caster had been moving around the dark city to get more soul cores. He knew his way to the Bright Castle by now, he just didn't go there yet. But now it was time.
Summoning the runes, he checks on his fragments.
Soul Fragments: [66/1000]
"Not bad. Especially considering the fact that i had to store a lot of the cores in my memory."
Caster had already explored a dedcent chunk of the Dark city and killed a lot of awakened nightmare creatures. He had yet to hunt a fallen one, yet, but he bet he could since he had the lightning strike ability stored. Even fallen beasts would take a lot of damage from that.
Upon using the Book of Books, Caster also realised that the potency of the abilities probably depended on the soul fragments stored in it, which in hindsight, was obvious, Caster just didn't think about it like that initially.
Stored Cores: Awakened x19
Looking at the singular soul shard in his hand he continued walking. Didn't store this last one in the book.
'I'd have nearly a hundred soul fragments if I had absorbed those shards as well. I'll stop stacking up on shards now, I have enough saved for a while now.'
Soon he started walking towards the outer settlements, carefully. He could see it from afar, that's how close he was to them. He didn't bother taking in the surroundings that much as his goal was in sight. However he hadn't let his guard down. He was more focused than ever.
'I have it easy, really easy compared to the trio. Sucks for them, but it built their character.'
Caster blinks.
'Damn... I shouldn't think this way. They are basically real for me at this point. Why am i so indifferent to all this though?'
"Well, i know the reason, it's my aspect but still..."
Caster had learnt a new bad habit. Speaking what he was thinking outloud. Just a few weeks of isolation did that.
"I wasn't completely isolated. Just... I had my nightmare creature friends."
Caster chuckled at his own joke. Almost pathetically.
Anyways, soon he reached the outer settlements. However he didn't wait there. He used the soul core he had left to enter the Bright Castle. The guards told him where he should go to register his stay.
Soon enough, he met Harper. The poor guy. It was almost hard for Caster to not look at him with disdain, but he managed. Soon he was towering over Harper, silently.
Harper initiated the talks, not liking the awkward silence.
"Hello there, how can I help?"
"I would like to register for a room."
Caster handed over the soul shard.
And just like that, he had gotten a room. It was a small one, like Sunny and Cassie. He'd need to work harder to get the bigger complexes of the castle.
'However I don't plan to do that obviously.'
After resting for a day Caster got out and explored the place. He didn't really need to find the situation in the castle as he already knew it for the most part. He just needed to get his plan started.
'I need to find Kai as soon as possible. Without his help, I won't be able to do that.'
Caster paced around the castle asking people about him. Soon he found where Kai lived and went to his place. Knocking on his door.
Eventually Kai emerged from behind the door, slightly puzzled and wary.
Seeing that Caster immediately spoke up to ease him.
"At ease, I mean you no harm."
'Wait that came out really cocky!'
"Ahem... I mean, no need to be so wary of me, I'm here to talk."
Despite knowing it was true, Kai still didn't drop his waryness, obviously. However he was a little more trusting off the mysterious man in front of him.
"Okay, are you coming in?"
"Yes, I'd appreciate that, I can't have others eavesdropping on what I'm about to say."
Kai's eyes slightly narrowed but they went back to his normal expression soon. Perhaps due to his experience as an idol, he had good expression control.
'My god he's a beauty, I see why Sunny was so drawn to his beauty.'
"So what do you want to talk about?"
Sitting down, Caster looks at Kai coolly. Thinking how he'll start the sentence.
"Hello Mr. Night. I am Caster of the Han Li Clan. I got to this bright castle just a few days ago. And I happened to find out about your... flaw."
"Yes? What about it?"
"Well you see... I'll need your help with this little thing..."
Kai blinked.
"What do you need my help with? And why do you assume I'll accept it?"
"This deal will be helpful to you, and everyone here that lives in the bright castle or the outer settlements."
"Helpful? As in?"
"I want your help in overturning Gunlaug."
"WHAT?"
"Shuush! Calm down. I have a near surefire way to overthrow him. I need you to join his army and get close to him as his lie detector. I'll go and negotiate with him."
"I respectfully decline."
"No listen to me-"
"I decline."
Caster was flabbergasted. Kai wasn't even listening to him in full.
'What the hell? Kai has more of a backbone than I was expecting.'
"I have information on how to leave the forgotten shore."
Soon, silence overtook the room. Kai was looking at Caster in disbelief. But he knew Caster wasn't lying because of his flaw.
Soon Kai broke the silence and asked.
"How... how certain are you about the information?"
"A hundred percent. It's definitely accurate. However, I won't tell you what I know right now. Only when I have the Castle under my control can I begin to prepare for it."
Kai nodded.
"Then will you kill Gunlaug?"
"If it comes to that."
Kai shook his head.
"But that's impossible."
"No it is not, I have a way."
"Why not convince him to work with us? I mean, he has a transcended armor."
"I plan to try at least."
"You're lying."
"You're right. I need his armor. But not him. Without that armor, the way out will be much harder to reach. However, Gunlaug has been corrupted too much. Corrupted with power I mean. Do you really think he will risk his life for the minusicle chance that they will be able to return? After years of trying and failing? I think he has fully given up. And there is no saving it."
Kai was in deep thought for the next few minutes. Soon he spoke up.
"But if you need that armor, why would you kill him? How is it even possible to get that armor from him. It's not like he'll just give it to you."
"That's why I need your help. I need you to fake your lie detector when I talk to him. Not always, buy whenever it seems necessary. That is why I want you to join the ranks of Gunlaug. To fool him."
"That's too risky."
"We'll have to take risks if we want to escape. I can guarantee you that you'll have a much higher chance at escaping this godforsaken shore with me."
Kai sighed.
"Okay, I'll try."
"Good, We can't be seen together from now on at all. I'll be in the outer settlements for the next few weeks. I'll come back after four to five weeks, okay? Get close to him by then."
Kai nodded again.
"Okay. The deal includes you telling me the information afterwards. Remember that."
"Of course, trust me Kai."
Kai was still looking at Caster with distrust, but he found out enough to trust him to an extent. Especially if it gave him a chance to return.