"It has been a long time, little Nephie."
The voice carried over the wind with a smooth, almost musical cadence, but Nephis felt nothing but a smoldering wrath reigniting in her chest.
She dared…
She dared.
SHE DARED CALL HER THAT?!
AFTER WHAT SHE HAD DONE?!
Her fingers itched; her entire body screamed to move, to strike, to make Ki Song regret opening her mouth.
Nephis had trained for years, dedicating countless hours to mastering her body and emotions so that she could control them, not the other way around. All of that careful training and restraint had almost been shattered by a single sentence.
"To what do we owe the pleasure?" Sunny asked, smiling brightly.
He had stepped forward, stopping right by her side while the others stayed behind.
Looking at him now, no one would have guessed that he had tensed just moments ago. The sharp readiness in his posture had vanished, replaced by an easy, almost lazy composure. His shoulders were relaxed, his expression open and unbothered. It was a perfect mask, one that almost fooled her.
He stood there like a lighthouse amidst a raging sea, steady and unwavering, a point of clarity in the chaos threatening to drag her under. His presence anchored her, giving her something to hold onto that wasn't rage, hatred, or the desperate urge to destroy.
She drew in a slow, measured breath, and when that wasn't enough, she drew another. Nephis forced the inferno back, shoving it deep inside where it belonged, locking it away behind walls built through years of pain and discipline.
If he could stand around her, if he could face her without drawing his weapon…
Then the least she could do was not lose control in front of this… thing.
Ki Song had been watching her the whole time, her smile never faltering. If anything, it seemed to deepen just slightly, as though she found Nephis' internal struggle amusing. She offered a small wave, like those she would give her when Nephis was a little child hiding behind her father.
Then her gaze drifted toward Sunny, whom she studied with clear, naked desire.
It wasn't a desire of the romantic or carnal kind, but a calculating one, like she was a collector appraising a work of art.
Her just-recovered control almost shattered again.
"How could I miss the chance to meet humanity's newest star?" she asked calmly. "Besides, it has been far too long since I have visited dear Nephis. I couldn't miss the chance to kill two birds with one stone."
Sunny's smile strained visibly, and behind his eyes, Nephis could spot rage at the way she was staring at him.
"You shouldn't have." He laughed, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't make for a good star."
He had found out about the title given by the government just the day before. The world around him had turned darker than a night in the Forgotten Shore.
"I beg to differ," she replied pleasantly. "Humanity is in dire need of more champions, and you might very well be the brightest among them all."
"Also among the most eye-catching," Beastmaster added, smiling teasingly. "Once this is over, I would like to present you to my sister Hel. She is rather taken with you."
Nephis' rage spiked further.
"But let's not have a conversation here. There are too many ears, after all," Ki Song continued, as if her daughter had said nothing.
"Let's," Nephis replied more curtly than she intended. "Follow me, if you want."
She turned around without waiting for an answer and started walking toward her manor.
-------------------------------------------
"I must say that I expected… more," Beastmaster commented idly, her eyes tracing the almost bare walls.
"My clan wasn't in the best financial situation before I awakened. It made sense to sell useless trinkets," she answered calmly, pointedly not looking at the one responsible for it.
Ki Song hummed quietly. "I bought a few of them myself."
She stopped and turned to stare at the woman, not having expected that piece of information.
"Why the surprised face, little Nephie? The family of my dear friends was in dire straits. How could I, in good conscience, not help?" She shook her head sadly. "If only your grandmother had allowed me to do more."
The sheer hypocrisy on display was so astounding that Nephis couldn't even feel anger. The… monster before her was the one behind that very same misfortune, and here she was, acting like a concerned friend.
She had thought herself unable to hate Ki Song any more than she already did. Only now did she realize just how wrong she was.
"Thank you," Nephis said, instead of the scathing words she had in mind.
She wanted to; gods, she wanted to. To forego all reason and just burn until nothing but ash remained of the Song women. The fact that she couldn't only made things worse.
No matter how much she wanted to, fighting Ki Song was not an option.
She was a Master against a Supreme; it would be a miracle if she so much as tickled her.
Walking beside her was the one closest to being a menace to the head of the Song Clan. But given his reaction when he first saw her, Nephis could tell that the gap between a Saint and a Supreme was just as big, if not bigger, than the one between Saint and Master.
Even if it weren't, she would never ask nor force him into fighting that battle for her.
Nephis resumed walking, still wrestling with herself to keep the roaring rage in her chest contained.
A few seconds passed before someone chose to speak.
"Tell me, Sir Sunless, would you mind sharing your skincare routine?" Beastmaster asked, looking him up and down with more interest than was polite. "I must say it has some amazing results."
"Careful, Princess bites," Effie warned playfully.
She was going to cut Effie's food budget down to a third.
"Oh, I don't. It's actually quite simple, really," he smirked faintly. "You only have to acquire one of the legendary armors crafted by the Daemon of Choice and kill a few thousand Nightmare Creatures."
The worst part was the fact that Nephis knew he was being completely sincere.
"My, and where could I find such an armor?" the Saint asked, laughing in delight.
"Easy, down in a normal memory shop. It barely cost me a few shards, if you can believe it." He turned to look at Kai, whose face had transformed into a rictus of pain. "Right, buddy?"
Kai sighed, and in that single motion expressed a pain beyond words.
"He's telling the truth."
The archer's suffering only seemed to amuse Ki Song, her laughter soft and melodic, echoing faintly through the corridor as they walked.
"You have such interesting companions, little Nephie," she said lightly. "I can see why you've managed to survive this long."
Nephis did not respond.
There was nothing to say that wouldn't betray too much of her thoughts, her anger, the fragile control she was still clinging to. Instead, she focused on the steady rhythm of her steps, on the quiet presence at her side.
Sunny walked just half a pace behind her now.
It was subtle, something most would not notice, but she did. It placed him right between her, the cohort, and Ki Song, just enough to react first if something happened, just enough to shield them without making it obvious.
Even now…
Even like this…
The storm inside her stirred again, but this time it wasn't only rage.
She drew another deep breath to stave off the dangerous thoughts and glanced back to assess the situation.
Her cohort was tense, expressions seemingly at ease while their bodies were coiled and ready to burst into violence.
Behind them, Seishan walked with measured grace, her gaze drifting lazily across the walls as if she were merely touring a gallery. But there was tension in her shoulders, ready to react at the slightest sign of danger.
Beastmaster, on the other hand, looked delighted. An amused smile played on her lips, as if all of this were incredibly entertaining. Despite the apparent amusement, Nephis saw that she too was ready.
Sunny's expression remained relaxed, almost bored, but there was readiness there. If a fight broke out, he wouldn't hesitate to make them regret it.
Last came Ki Song, still exuding the same overwhelming pressure without effort, her face perfectly placid and body language screaming of complete lack of concern. And why would she be? She was the apex predator here, capable of killing everyone present without effort.
For her, this might as well be an entertaining game.
Nephis exhaled slowly, straining to rein herself in. The tension was getting to her, a dangerous mix when combined with the smoldering inferno in her chest.
She forced herself to relax, unclench her fists, and discard the idea of summoning her weapon.
Whatever this was -whatever Ki Song wanted- she wouldn't give her the pleasure of giving in before it even started.
The familiar halls passed by quickly, completely deserted. Sunny had already evacuated the manor, which meant that her cohort and Ki Song's were the only ones currently residing within the walls. It made for poor comfort. If things came to blows, she knew her chances of survival were abysmally low.
"We are here," she said calmly, gesturing to the door of her office.
Nephis took a step forward, opening the door so that they could enter, but the Song women stopped.
"Mother only needs to speak with you and Sir Sunless," Seishan said evenly. "I would rather use this chance to catch up with my colleagues. We didn't have the chance to speak since the fall of the Crimson Spire, after all."
"Oh my, you have friends and didn't tell me?" Beastmaster chided her sister. "I hope you won't mind if I join you, then. It seems like a more interesting conversation."
Nephis stilled, the subtle shift in the atmosphere immediately confirming what she had already suspected the moment Seishan spoke.
It was clean, simple, a trap as obvious as it was difficult to evade without breaking the fragile truce between the two groups.
They were trying to separate them.
Her grip on the door tightened almost imperceptibly as she turned her head, her eyes sharpening with quiet intensity while a firm, immediate refusal rose to her lips, driven by instinct almost as much as by reason.
"N—"
"Gladly." Cassie's calm, even voice cut through her words with effortless precision. "We would only be in the way, after all."
Nephis blinked, the refusal dying in her throat as she turned to stare at the blind girl, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden interjection.
Cassie stood there with her usual composed demeanor, her hands loosely clasped in front of her as though nothing unusual had happened, as though she had not just overridden Nephis' decision without so much as a warning.
Nephis drew a slow breath, steadying herself as she prepared to refuse anyway. She couldn't allow them to be in so much danger.
"Sounds good to me," Sunny's voice came lightly, almost lazily, as if oblivious to the tension hanging in the air.
Nephis turned to look at him, genuine surprise breaking through her carefully maintained composure as her eyes locked onto his smiling face.
"Go on," he added casually, lifting a hand in a relaxed gesture toward Seishan and Beastmaster, as though encouraging a group of friends rather than allowing a potentially dangerous separation. "Have fun. Try not to do anything I would."
Effie let out an amused snort almost immediately.
Kai, in contrast, released a quiet, long-suffering groan, like a man who had just been informed of his inevitable demise and had chosen to accept it with dignity.
Nephis, however, paid neither of them any attention. She was still staring at Sunny.
Why?
Then she saw it. It was subtle, so subtle that even she, accustomed to watching his shadow just as much as she watched him, almost missed it.
One of Sunny's shadows detached itself from his feet and, in less than a blink, reached Kai's own, merging seamlessly with his shadow. It was so fast she almost missed it despite paying direct attention. Nobody else had even noticed.
Ah, of course. How could she forget?
They might be separated, but Sunny could easily keep an eye on them. If they wanted to turn this into a hostage situation, they would have to defeat him first. And as powerful as Beastmaster was, she wasn't a direct fighter herself.
Sunny met her gaze then, his expression unchanged, still wearing that same easy smile, but there was something else behind it. Theirs was a fractured relationship, filled with pain and uncertainty, but if there was something she did not doubt, it was his commitment to keeping the others safe.
Nephis exhaled softly, the last remnants of her hesitation fading away.
"…No complaints here," she said at last. "Don't wander too far," her voice was calm once more as she glanced toward her cohort, the words carrying more meaning than they seemed.
Effie grinned immediately, entirely unfazed. "No promises."
Kai simply sighed again, the sound heavy with resignation, as though he had already accepted whatever chaos awaited him in the near future.
Cassie inclined her head slightly, a small, almost imperceptible gesture that was both agreement and apology for the suddenness of her decision.
Seishan gestured gracefully down the corridor, her movements smooth and composed. "Shall we?"
Beastmaster's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with clear anticipation. "Oh, I am certain this will be delightful."
-------------------------------------------
The door closed behind them with a soft, final click that seemed far louder than it should have been, sealing the three of them inside the quiet confines of Nephis' office.
The room itself was simple, almost austere.
There were no decorations, no personal mementos, no indulgent displays of wealth or status, only the bare essentials arranged with precise intent: a sturdy desk, a few chairs, shelves lined with neatly organized documents and records, and a single window that allowed pale light to spill into the otherwise restrained space. It was a place meant for work and nothing else, a reflection of herself in both purpose and design.
Ki Song stepped forward without waiting for an invitation, her gaze sweeping across the room with quiet interest, as though she were walking through a memory, her fingers lightly brushing the surface of the desk as she passed.
Was she reliving moments of the past, perhaps? It had been her parents' office before it became hers, after all.
"I remember this place," Ki Song muttered quietly, smiling faintly to herself. "We would spend hours here. Smile of Heaven, Broken Sword, Anvil, and I. Even that demon at times. From idle chatter to all kinds of outlandish plans. We were an ambitious bunch, fully intent on conquering the world or die trying."
"My parents did," Nephis said bitterly.
Ki Song nodded calmly. "And what a tragedy that was. Broken Sword was our leader, but Smile... Smile was the glue that held us together, the one who always knew what to do and what to say." The pressure around the Supreme faltered for a moment. "The day she died, a part of us died with her."
"How was she?" Nephis asked, looking her in the eyes.
She had heard thousands of versions. From her grandmother, from retainers, from the Awakened of her generation, and many more sources. She was still curious about how one of the ghouls would describe her.
Ki Song met her stare evenly and smiled fondly. "Ambitious, kind, bossy, and far too lenient. You should have seen the things your father did to draw her attention, and she forgave him for."
"Like what?" Sunny asked curiously, taking a seat on one of the chairs.
The smile on Ki Song's face deepened, amusement overtaking her expression as she took a seat of her own.
"He got it into his head that he could conquer her with a heartfelt song." She shuddered visibly. "I have no idea where he found a guitar, but he did, and proceeded to hound her for days, playing terribly and singing so poorly that Teacher Orum thought he was under a mind hex."
Sunny laughed, and despite herself, Nephis' lips twitched upward.
She knew the story. Her grandmother had told it many times. Once, she did it right in front of her father, whose grim countenance had cracked for once to reveal a proud sort of embarrassment.
"If it works, it's not stupid," he had said defensively, ignoring the way Grandmother was barely containing her laughter.
It was one of her most cherished memories.
"What happened to my father?" Nephis asked, her voice composed, fighting to keep her emotions at bay. "How did he meet his end?"
It was a question that had plagued her for as long as she could remember. Along with others.
Could she have done anything to prevent it?
Say or do something that would have saved him?
What would Ki Song answer? Deny knowing? Justify her role in his death? Pretend it was a noble act? Perhaps admit the truth and taunt her about her inability to do anything?
Nephis wanted to know, no, she needed to know.
Ki Song sighed deeply, her face a perfect mask of regret. "Your father died valiantly. We were deep in a death zone, facing impossible odds. When the time came, he had to choose between his life and ours, and he did not hesitate for a second." Ki Song's expression became one of conviction. "That day, we vowed not to let his sacrifice be in vain. We vowed to conquer the Dream Realm and tame it so that no one would ever meet his end."
Nephis could scarcely believe it.
Here she was, listening to Ki Song speak about the murder she and the other Ghouls had committed as if it were a noble act of sacrifice. As if her current actions were nothing but an altruistic desire to save the world. As if she hadn't sent countless assassins after her family and Nephis herself. As if she couldn't recognize her hand behind the downfall of her clan. As if even now, she weren't crushing under her heel thousands whose only crime was not to bow to her.
Faced with such sheer hypocrisy, the rage inside her reached a new peak.
"You are still working on that, aren't you?"
Fortunately, before she could do something she would regret, Sunny chose to intervene, peering curiously at Ki Song even as a safebox appeared over the desk in a shower of sparks.
The moment it took shape, Sunny opened its door and began searching for something.
Nephis sat down beside him, if only because standing would make it impossible to resist lunging at the thing before her.
"Oh, we are," Ki Song agreed easily, watching him rummage. "Every day, the edges of my domain grow farther and farther. It's hard to believe sometimes just how much can change in a decade or two."
Sunny hummed in agreement, still searching through the safebox.
"I agree. Here I am, a Saint, one of humanity's most exalted champions, when just three years ago, the only thing on my mind was whether I would find something to eat before starvation killed me."
When Sunny withdrew his arm, he held a bottle of expensive-looking wine.
"I didn't take you for a wine enthusiast," Ki Song commented, studying the bottle. "With rather exquisite tastes, too. I don't think there are more than five bottles of that particular vintage left in the world."
"I am not," he replied, placing it on the desk with a mischievous smile. "But Valor is."
Ki Song smiled just as mischievously. "Did you steal it from them?"
"I had to deliver something to them, and since I was already there, why not take a look around? They have all of this fancy stuff lying around, practically asking to be stolen." His smile widened. "My pride as an outskirt rat would not let me leave without taking something."
From inside the safebox, he retrieved three glasses as elegant as the bottle. He also withdrew what looked like a bottle of orange juice. Right, Sunny hated alcohol.
Ki Song laughed in delight. "How bold of you. Dear Anvil will be positively furious when he finds out."
"Should have thought twice before sending spies, then."
"To think he would fall so low," she said recriminatingly, accepting the offered glass and pouring herself a generous amount of wine.
Looking at her, one couldn't tell that Ki Song had sent just as many, if not more, agents than the other Supreme. She could act like the more amiable and reasonable one all she wanted, but Nephis knew her to be just as cold and heartless.
Ki Song turned to her, something akin to concern passing across her expression even as she sipped her wine. "Speaking of Valor, are you well, little Nephie? You took many injuries during the attack."
"I am," she replied curtly, taking a glass of her own and pouring some wine.
Nephis hadn't yet recovered from what Ki Song's previous words had done, and she feared what would come out of her mouth if she spoke any more.
The Supreme nodded, playing the role of a caring relative perfectly. "Don't be afraid to ask your auntie Song if you need anything."
Her glass cracked faintly.
"What led him to this point?" Sunny asked, drawing attention away from her, which Nephis deeply appreciated. "From the way you tell it, all of you were inseparable at one point. So why would he go so far as to try to murder the daughter of his friends?"
Ki Song shrugged faintly. "Exactly what usually happens in situations like these. Power got to him. Anvil is as strong as he is paranoid, and he is very strong. To him, our dear Nephis here isn't the daughter of friends, but a future rival, a menace to his power he cannot tolerate."
Sunny smiled faintly, sipping his juice. "And you don't think the same?"
A sharp smile tugged at her lips.
"Why would I?" Her eyes drifted to meet Nephis'. "There is no bad blood between us."
The temperature in the room increased almost imperceptibly.
"In fact, I'm rather happy about all she has achieved so far. Your parents would be proud, little Nephie." The temperature spiked further. "I must admit being a little hurt when you refused my generous offer to join my clan, but a few hiccups are not enough to affect a bond such as ours, isn't that right?"
"You are right," she replied evenly.
After all, nothing in this world could change her mind about reducing the woman before her to ashes.
"You've always been a sweet girl, Nephis. I'm happy to see that hasn't changed." The pressure she emitted increased faintly, pressing on Nephis' shoulders almost like a taunt.
Ki Song turned to Sunny, and that same desire she had seen before returned to her eyes. "I must say I'm very curious about you. Tell me, Sunless, are you enjoying your return to the Waking World?"
Sunny let out a quiet hum, leaning back slightly in his chair as though considering the question with meticulous care, sipping his drink slowly.
"Enjoying might be a strong word," he said after a moment, his tone light but threaded with something sharper underneath. "It's… familiar. Comforting, but also unfortunate."
Ki Song's lips curved faintly, amused. "Unfortunate?"
"Well," he gestured vaguely, "I wake up, there's an attack against my friends. I take a walk, and countless eyes are watching me. I try to have a quiet meal, but someone's plotting to recruit or kill me. Sometimes both." He sighed theatrically. "It really does feel like I never left the Dream Realm."
That earned him a soft, melodic laugh.
Nephis said nothing, but she watched him closely. The ease in his voice was practiced, the humor deliberate. Only someone who knew him well would notice the slight tension in his shoulders, the almost imperceptible pause before he answered.
Ki Song noticed nonetheless.
"How troublesome," she said lightly, swirling the wine in her glass. "And here I thought the Waking World would offer at least a brief respite to someone of your accomplishments."
Sunny smiled. "Oh, it does. I get to sleep without worrying about waking up being eaten by some abomination." His lips arched further. "That's certainly a small improvement."
"Only that?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"It is for now," he replied easily. "Though I'm sure things will escalate soon enough."
They held each other's gaze for a brief moment, a swift duel starting and ending within that single glance.
Ki Song smiled faintly, pleased with whatever she saw.
"How humble," she murmured. "A Saint who downplays his own legend. Do you know what people are saying about you, Sunless?"
"I try not to," he replied immediately, smiling sardonically. "If they are to be believed, I might as well be the son of God."
"You should try to listen to them more often. It's quite fascinating." She set her glass down with a soft click. "A Sleeper who conquered a Third Nightmare. A man who became a Saint in a single step. If anything, calling you the son of God is an understatement."
Sunny snorted, amused despite himself. "Those people clearly don't know me."
Ki Song studied him in silence for a second. "I can tell you are a very dangerous man, Sunless. The rumors certainly don't do you justice."
The smile tugging at her lips widened, carrying a dangerous edge. "Yes," she said softly. "I can see that."
The room fell quiet for a heartbeat.
"That is precisely why I am here."
Nephis' gaze sharpened immediately. Ki Song was finally going to reveal her hand.
Sunny didn't move, but something in the air around him seemed to grow sharper, the world just a fraction dimmer than it had been before.
She looked between the two of them, her smile widening just a fraction. "I am here to extend an invitation to both of you."
Nephis opened her mouth, but before she could voice anything, Ki Song raised a hand lightly, cutting her off with effortless authority.
"Now, now," she said, her tone still pleasant, but carrying an undercurrent that made the air feel heavier. "At least hear me out, little Nephie."
Nephis' jaw tightened, straining against the oppressive weight that the simple request carried.
Ki Song's attention shifted back to Sunny. "I want you both to join my clan."
Sunny blinked and then leaned forward, glancing at Nephis from the corner of his eye.
"Can't say I didn't expect it, but that's certainly more straightforward than I thought you would be."
"It is," Ki Song agreed. "I find that honesty is often the most efficient approach."
He nodded in silent agreement, studying her slowly, taking another sip to earn himself more time.
"What do we get in return?" he asked, tone casual, as though discussing a simple business deal.
"Everything," Ki Song replied without hesitation.
Nephis' eyes narrowed dangerously. She didn't believe it even for a second.
Ki Song refilled her glass and drank slowly. "Protection. Resources. Authority. Freedom to grow without worrying about Valor's hostility."
Sunny hummed softly. "That does sound tempting."
"That's not all," Ki Song continued smoothly, her smile deepening, eyes gleaming with unmistakable intent. "You would not join as mere members, but as royalty. The first prince of Song, and the newest princess."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop, the pressure exuded by the Supreme increasing twofold.
"And more than that," Ki Song added slowly, as if only now remembering, "If you join, I intend to name you both as my heirs."
Silence fell completely over the room.
Sunny didn't speak.
Neither did Nephis, but her mind was already racing.
It was a generous offer, extraordinarily so.
She could forget most of her current problems if she accepted.
Safety? Valor wouldn't dare strike with a Supreme guarding their backs.
Power? Song had plenty, and it would only increase if they joined.
Wealth? All that they could ever want.
No longer would she have to worry about knives in the dark, from Valor or Song. No longer would she have to watch her back constantly in the Dream Realm. Her star among the people would rise even further.
It was an incredibly generous offer, but also a leash.
Their freedom would not disappear all at once. That would be crude, blunt, and Ki Song was anything but.
No, it would erode slowly and methodically, until obligation became habit and habit became dependence. A favor here, a responsibility there, a quiet expectation wrapped in honeyed words. Until one day, they would wake and realize every path available to them led back to her.
She was promising many things, but just as easily as she could give, she could take away.
Nephis saw it all with painful clarity. Protection, authority, legitimacy, it was everything she needed to secure her position and shield those under her command. It would solve problems she had no immediate answer to, silence enemies who would otherwise hound her steps, and elevate her to a place where few would dare threaten her. But it would also place her exactly where Ki Song wanted her: within reach, within sight, within control.
It was a perfect trap.
Her decision was formed without hesitation. There was no version of this situation where she accepted. To do so would be to surrender to the woman who had destroyed her family and now dared to play the part of a benevolent benefactor.
If it led to violence, then so be it. Better now, than when the leash was so tight against her throat she couldn't even breathe.
She opened her mouth to refuse.
"I accept."
The words did not register at first. For a fraction of a second, she failed to parse them, failed to understand what had been said. Then they settled heavily in her stomach, and Nephis turned her head slowly, her thoughts stalling as she looked at Sunny.
He stood there as if nothing had happened, posture loose, expression calm, as though he had just agreed to a minor inconvenience rather than stepping into the jaws of a beast. There was no visible tension, no trace of doubt or second-guessing. If anything, he looked faintly amused as he sipped from his drink.
Ki Song's satisfaction was immediate and unconcealed, but Nephis barely registered it. Her attention narrowed entirely on Sunny, her mind racing to catch up with what he had just said.
Why?
He knew. Of that, she had no doubt. Sunny was many things, but oblivious was not one of them. He had seen through Ki Song from the very beginning, matching her tone and intent with unsettling precision. He understood the weight of this offer, the implications buried beneath it.
Most of all, he understood the danger.
So why accept?
Possibilities unfolded rapidly, each more troubling than the last. He was ambitious, but not like this, not at this cost. Survival, perhaps, but even then, the risks were too great, the loss of autonomy too severe. He valued his freedom far too much to ever accept such a thing.
He had a plan, that was for sure. But what was it? How could he be so sure as to risk it?
And then another thought surfaced, colder and far more difficult to dismiss.
What if this was not about Ki Song at all?
What if it was about her?
Nephis felt her chest tighten slightly as that possibility took shape. She could not ignore the chain she had placed on him, the choices she had taken from him, the pain she had caused.
She had wronged him deeply. That was undeniable.
What if this was his way of taking revenge? Of chaining her just as she had chained him?
The thought lingered, heavy and uncomfortable, but it did not take root, because even as it formed, she was already looking at him.
Sunny had met her gaze the moment she turned, as though he had been expecting it. His expression had not changed, but there was something in his eyes that cut cleanly through the noise of her thoughts. There was no triumph, no resentment, no hidden edge of cruelty waiting to reveal itself. Only a question, simple and unspoken, yet unmistakable in its intent.
Do you trust me?
Nephis stilled, mind overtaken by that simple question.
The weight of the situation pressed down on her from all sides. The danger of Ki Song, the implications of this decision, and the lives of those who depended on her. They all demanded caution, demanded skepticism, demanded that she see every possible angle before taking a step. Trust had no place in such calculations. Trust was vulnerability, a risk she could not afford.
And yet…
Her thoughts slowed, drawn inward despite herself. She thought of the countless times Sunny had stood beside her, facing impossible odds without flinching. She thought of the way he had protected her and the others without hesitation, of the way he had anchored her just moments ago when her control had nearly slipped. She thought of the fact that, even now, with every reason to turn away from her, he had not.
He was many things -cunning, secretive, often infuriating- but he had never once betrayed her.
If this were a trap, then stepping into it would be a risk. If this were a game, then she was walking onto the board without knowing the rules. If this was his way of turning the tables, then she was placing herself within his reach.
But none of that changed the simple truth that settled, quiet and immovable, at the center of her thoughts.
She trusted him.
Nephis drew a slow breath, the last remnants of hesitation dissolving as her decision solidified. She grabbed her untouched glass and drank it all in one go, slamming it against the desk when she finished.
When she spoke, her voice was steady, carrying neither doubt nor reluctance. "I accept too."