Sunny looked at the eerily creepy eye, confused as to where he was.
"What happened to the void? Where am i?"
Then, he heard a loud bang.
Sunny straightened his posture after a bit of effort, and looked around for the source of the noise.
What he saw.... was breathtaking.
There stood a woman, wearing a captivating black gown that covered her body, with black bracelets on her wrists and a beautiful lunar necklace.
Sunny couldn't help but stare. She was like a goddess in a human body....
"What are you staring at, Sunless?"
Sunny slapped his face, then straightened his posture.
"Uhh, you. More importantly... who are you? Where am I? Where is the void? How did I get here??"
The woman couldn't help but chuckle.
"Easy there, we just met and you're asking all these questions. At least a hello would've been nice."
Sunny stared at her blankly. The woman sighed.
"I am Nyxian Star, or you can call me Nyxian. You are currently in my humble abode, the Obsidian Temple. You got out of the void. You got here because the void was merely a test for your will to survive. You have passed that test, and now you are here. In the Obsidian Temple. There, that should answer all the questions."
Sunny was contemplating what she said.
'Obsidian Temple... seems a bit bland for a temple, no? Well at least it lives up to the "Obsidian" part.'
He fixed his gaze on the woman.
"Well, Nyxian, why am i here and what will i do now that i have passed the test?"
She turned her head to look at him.
"You are here for a very special reason. I am going to train you."
Sunny couldn't help but laugh.
"Why would I need someone to train me? In a place as eerie as this too? You have to be kidding me."
Nyxian continued to stare at him, her gaze unfaltering as he continued laughing.
"Well, I am here because I was intrigued you escaped the void. You see, my goddess, Asteria, has been reduced to that eerie eye looming above us. I need to hone someone with an affinity to the night so that they can channel enough power to free her."
Sunny stared at her, then burst in laughter once again.
"Well, to ruin you're expectations, I don't have an affinity to whatever "night" you talk about."
She tilted her head, seemingly in amusement at his oblivion.
"Oh, but you do. What you call "shadows", become stronger in the night, no? Why do you think you can see in the night? Because shadows bloom in the night. That's what I'm here to do. To nurture these powers. Before you ask what you will gain in return, I will help you unlock the hidden powers of this thing you call your "Aspect". So, it would be beneficial for you to comply."
Sunny looked at her, deep in thought.
'This seems too... normal. This can't be that easy, right? And what even is the conflict of the trial? Do i have to save this "Asteria"? But I could use the help in my Aspect...."
Then, he answered.
"Fine, I will comply. For now."
She smiled at his statement.
"Okay, follow me."
They went deeper into the temple, passing by multiple shrines. Until, they finally reached their destination.
It was an altar.
Like the altar in Sunny's First Nightmare. It was exactly the same.
Sunny felt a shiver run down his spine.
'What?!?! How can this be here?!?! Why did she even bring me here?!?!'
They continued walking to the altar in silence, until Nyxian broke the silence.
"Get on. You will go through a ritual."
Sunny once again laughed.
"Why would I go through this "ritual"? You could be sacrificing me to a dead God or something."
She shook her head .
"Sacrifice you to a dead God? What stupid imbecile would do that?"
Sunny tensed.
"Yeah, I wonder..."
Sunny begrudgingly complied and made his way to the altar, still clad in suspicion.
But to his delight, he didn't have to spit blood on it this time. He simply had to lie down on it.
Again.
Meanwhile, Nyxian was saying some ancient prayer and doing a strange dance that Sunny recognized immediately.
Shadow Dance.
But it was not the same Shadow Dance, it was... more free.
It was literally a dance.
'So there are other versions of Shadow Dance, huh... I wonder who this Asteria is....'
Then, Nyxian stopped.
Sunny felt a deep pain in his chest.
It was unlike anything he ever experienced before. It made him want to flail around in agony.
But he couldn't. His body couldn't move.
After what felt like an eternity, the pain stopped.
And then, a familiar voice whispered into his ear.
[An Attribute has evolved.]
[An Attribute has evolved.]
[You have received a new Attribute.]
Summoning his runes in a hurry, Sunny scrambled to read them.
And then, his gaze fell on his Attributes.
Attributes: [Fated], [Blood Weave], [Master of Shadows], [Ember of Divinity] [Umbral Might]
His [Child of Shadows] attribute evolved, making him more affiliated with shadows. His [Spark of Divinity] evolved, making him more divine.
His new Attribute though....
His gaze focused on it.
Attribute Description: [When the world succumbs to the velvet cloak of night, and the sun's fierce gaze is withdrawn, Umbral Might awakens within.
It is the silent surge of power, drawn from the deepest wells of shadow, a strength that blooms in the absence of light.
This is not mere physical prowess, but a profound, primal connection to the nocturnal realm, a heightened resilience forged in the heart of darkness.
Your senses sharpen, becoming attuned to the subtlest whispers of the night, your strength deepens, drawing from the inexhaustible reserves of the encroaching gloom.
In the embrace of shadows, you become formidable, a force to be reckoned with, where the absence of light is not a weakness, but the very source of your power.]
'Interesting...'
Sunny's thoughts were interrupted by Nyxian's call.
"Sunless, come with me."
He silently followed her, to the outside of the Obsidian Temple, where the night is boundless, unchanging.
Nyxian stopped and then beckoned for Sunny to continue ahead.
"For your first lesson, survive in the Obsidian Forest for a week alone."
Before Sunny could retaliate, she disappeared, leaving him alone in the silent night.
'Ah damn it all! Why did I even follow her? Well, I doubt something would attack me here, right?'
As if answering to his statement, a pack of wolves came rushing in from the obsidian trees.
'Damn you, Fated!!!'
*************
Thanks for reading, tell me if I messed up something. Especially grammar, writing in keyboard I usually don't capitalize or put necessary punctuation. See you next chapter