Shortly after the announcement of the rankings were done, Instructor Rock entered and hushed the crowd down giving the speech - only this time sunny couldn't help but laugh nervously at the part of the speech regarding being transported in front of a cursed nightmare creature when remembering what happened at God Grave
After the bear of a man gave his speech and showed them around - including the Hollows, Sunny kept his shadow sense on Nephis especially how her eyes slightly lowered and sunny had to fight back the urge to go give her a hug
Sunny paid little attention afterwards only looking up when they finished their 360 around the academy. The group of sleepers made their way back to the Hall and were soon dismissed. Sunny in particular was very glad it was over - needing to re-hear all of the rules and instructions was exhausting especially with the looks he was getting
'Damn I know I look good, but this is a bit too much attention'- Sunny was genuinely worried for his safety, He was getting looks from both women and men
As soon as the group were dismissed Sunny focused his resolve and made sure to not pay even an ounce of attention to anyone.
He watched as one of the academy staff came to assist Cassie with getting to her room and quicky intervened
"Can I take her off your hands miss" - initially the guard hesitated, after all even if they believed Cassie was going to die since she was blind, could she allow herself to sleep at night if some boy used her durning her time here - during her few weeks alive?
Before she could retort Cassie smiled and moved her hand towards sunny and she spoke to the assistant - "it's fine he's a friend"
The assistant looked hesitant but seeing Cassie's bright smile decided that it was not her place to intervene and that - the blind girl at least deserved some happiness before she ...
"You can relax Cassia and I are friends - and id have no interest in her romantically or sexually" - sunny whispered to the guard smiling so warmly that the assistant looked at him and instantly had her thoughts dispelled and smiled back
Sunny and Cassie walked through the walkways talking about what food the academy will serve before reaching her room. Sunny opened the door Cassie let go of his hand and used the walls to reach the bed and sat down.
"See you in the morning Sunny -Thank you for bringing me here, I'll see you in the morning" - She spoke softly
"Cassie, I have something I'd like to talk to you about before I go"
Cassie was confused to say the least. At first, she thought he was 'making a move' on her but decided to throw that theory out the window since he clearly treated her as a friend would
"Okay sunny... What's the matter" - she replied extremely confused
"You will survive" - cryptic and hollow his response came
Cassie was stumped - "what do you mean sunny."
"I mean you survive the nightmare" - He replied any hint of the funny brotherly guy disappeared
Cassie's eyes began to tear up. Not bothering to ask the authenticity of what he said she launched herself at him in a hug thankfully she didn't miss - "how... How do you know"
Sunny wrapped his arms around her and held her close his 1 arm under hers which was wrapped around his neck as the other one patted the back her head - honestly Sunny was holding her as if she were a baby
"One of my attributes gives me an affinity to fate so I know a lot of what is to come. I know we will be in the same region and we find each other 3 days or so after the nightmare started. We were with the girl in 2nd place, Nephis"
Now Cassie's tears were flowing freely it was a natural reaction after all - She was going to live, and she would be with her friend sunny in the nightmare
Little did she know sunny lied. Well not really due to the flaw and all. Rather it was a hot pot of truths mixed into a lie
"Cassie, I have an echo of sorts that I want you to keep for me"
"w... What?" - Cassie managed to get out through sobs of happiness wiping her nose
"She is a part of my aspect legacy. It's a serpent. Ascended beast and will bring you to me when we enter the nightmare. She has an affinity for shadows and darkness and is really fast. She can help disguise you and bring you to me faster than what fate planned "
Cassias innocence couldn't bring her to borrow the echo especially since sunny might need it and sunny knew that she was thinking that, so he continued
"I have another while you borrow serpent. So, I'll be okay. So please let me do this for you" -
Cassie nodded silently baffled at his kindness and power. Him having an aspect legacy did not go unnoticed. Was he helping her simply because he sensed kindness she did not know
After transferring serpent to Cassia's shadow sunny tucked her into bed as if she was a child and promised to meet her here tomorrow morning when they head for breakfast.
He didn't plan to change the relationship that Nephis and Cassie originally had but he decided against that not for him but for her. Cassie became close to Neph first and so told her Sunnys true name of which now isn't a problem with the aspect change. But it was that choice that made sunny almost kill her. So now if she is close to sunny. Naturally she won't betray him in any circumstance
On Sunnys way through the halls to his room he saw a particular scion of the Han Li clan enter his room holding a communicator speaking all too quiet to bit be suspicious so sunny did the most natural thing. He sent his shadow to spy
Gloomy attached itself to casters shadow and with the [drop of ichor] and new addition of darkness and Sunnys attributes enhancing his ability over shadows. Gloomy was undetectable. And what sunny heard made him mad. Almost as mad as he was at a certain unholy titan who's power he stole
"I haven't been able to as yet. She knows that someone was sent to dispose of her she just doesn't know who" - Through the phone sunny heard another voice he assumed to be a higher up of Han Li
"Well, it doesn't matter how or when just get the job done soon. Immortal flame must be extinguished this is the will of our sovereign"
Caster responded with understanding and ended the call and when he turned around and disabled the memory keeping his conversation confidential, he failed to notice a particularly hateful shadow leave his and exit the room down the hall.
When Gloomy returned to sunny who by now had entered his room. His blank black self somehow displayed as much anger as his master did. Sunny managed to convince himself not to kill caster yet and allow that part of fate to carry on till he kills him in the forgotten shore at the spire
Now sunny had begun plotting how to weave his life into that of the last heir of immortal flame
Something Sunny made sure to do after was experiment for his abilities and looking down at his shadow he spoke - "It's going to be a long night"
...
The next morning Sunny left his room early greeting the walking by people with a smile - perhaps they were the academy staff like the chefs, instructors and cleaners - He would become their colleague in the future after all
Perhaps the instructors were also intrigued by his kind nature or the fact that while everyone slept, he was already out and about exploring and getting ready for the day - maybe it was that heir of a gentlemen who knew what he was doing that made the staff like him so much
Especially the assistant helping Cassie, she most likely expected to find Sunny in her room after a ... night together. but when she entered and just aw Cassie sleeping there, she knew nothing happened and her thoughts on the boy only raised higher when sunny came to pick her up and go to the Lunch Hall together - especially since Cassie seemed so happy to be in his company
Sunny held Cassias hand and walked into the breakfast hall with his hand guiding the bind girl - it was only natural that everyone thought he was taking advantage of the vulnerable girl some more than others
A certain bastard who may or may not have been named Caster saw the opportunity - an opportunity to make Nephis look at him differently, to get her trust
Sunny watched as the bastard took step after step with his little entourage and prepared for a fight - if he were to kill him here will much change? no one even knew he killed Caster in the past so would it matter if he died right here?
"Sunny. Why do you treat me so... Well so kindly" - The tension in the room seemed to come to a pause, The awakened guards on standby lowered their weapons, The legacy group behind Caster paused, Sunny too unclenched his arm and relaxed his muscles prepared to summon the Blood Blade. He lowered his spoon and looked at her
His words an insult not just to the Sleepers gathered but also the Legacies themselves
"2 reasons Cassie. First you remind me of my sister whom I've lost contact with for a while now"
That would have been enough to deter Anyone from bothering them as clearly their bond was that of siblings but what sunny said next caught them completely off guard
"And second, you're the only person who speaks to me because you want to and not because you want something, you want to be my friend because of who I am not my strength... or my looks, everyone here in this hall, well most only spoke to me after I ranked first"
Everyone was stunned. And embarrassed because we'll it was the truth
And Cassie adding more shock replied
"You... You ranked first... What you.... You said you didn't want to talk about it, I thought you ranked low"
The fact that she didn't know he had first shocked them more and they couldn't help but look at the boy differently again. They looked at him as if he treasured loyalty and friendship above dictatorship and using strength to suppress others but instead to help them. They looked at him as if he were the epitome of the word 'human'
"Hmm oh yeah. I didn't tell you huh. Well, I guess I did rank first"
Cassie was about to question why he chose to spoke to her the remembered what he just said and decided against speaking. All they said was
"Congratulations sunny"
And he replied with a smile. A smile he didn't give to a single other person who congratulated him
"Thank you, Cass"
The nickname made Cassie especially happy
Sunny noticed Caster walk away silently in defeat knowing now he couldn't start a fight for no reason. He also noticed Nephis watching him again. But this time he stopped and looked at her. When she noticed him looking, she held his eyes. Sunny in return glared at Nephis which confused her afterwards he looked away and began to eat quietly
When they parted to go to their respective classes sunny left to wilderness survival. He didn't need the class well in general he didn't need any of these classes, but he went anyway. Sunny this time around chose 2 classes. Combat training and wilderness survival. The first to impress Neph and the second Just to see teacher Julius again
When he arrived at wilderness survival classes he found it as empty as it had been the last time. And again like last time sunny found an overenthusiastic Julius. Julius was especially glad that the first ranked sleeper of he year was in his class and claimed to be an outskirts rat and not know much. He was a tad bit disappointed to find out that the boy sunless was taking combat classes but was happy regardless.
That day teacher Julius taught sunny a lot in those 6 hours sunny being prepared this time brought snacks. After sunny claimed to need to go to his next class much to Julius's sadness he left - after a promise to return tomorrow
Sunny entered the room very much to the dismay of Caster and his gang - but others like instructor Rock seemed very glad to have the talk of the staff in his class
"Sunless you made it just in time for the strength rating come, just punch as hard as possible abilities are allowed" - rock spoke to Sunny gesturing to the machine
"Instructor, may I ask the rankings of this exam so far?" - sunny said whilst stretching his body
Rocks eye widened ever so slightly before responding - "Caster is first with 21 points, Lady Nephis scored 16 and the third place was 12 with many scorings lower"
sunny wrapped Gloomy around his arm and paired with his new blessings and his own recent training walked to the machine and winded hup his punch sending it directly to the center
the machine shook slightly and sunny was given the highest score - 27 points
After some silence, the applause and praise mixed with whispers. The duels were announced\
like last time the duels went on - only this time Sunny was chosen before Nephis and his performance had everyone in the stage wondering if sunny was truly wielding a wooden weapon
Sunny disposed of every sleeper at least within a minute of them stepping into the arena. one by one they fell the only thing they could see was a flash of white skin and black hair before being brought to the floor
That was all everyone with an untrained eye saw - Nephis and Rock saw very different things
'This battle style... no not a battle style - its...it's more like a dance'
By this time all the sleepers were standing back in the crowd and the next opponent was walking up and Sunny was conflicted on to which he should simply wipe the floor with him or if he should toy with the little bastard for a bit
"Caster if Han Li, it's a pleasure to duel with you"
Caster was stunned to say the least. The cold and indomitable Star of Darkness greeting him so kindly, but he returned it in kind
After greetings were done the duel began
The wooden swords clashed with Caster moving around the room faster than the eye could see - with the sole exception of sunless of course
sunny parried every blow not shifting from his spot at all - after he allowed Caster to have lasted longer than everyone sunny shifted. He turned for a moment and slashed at Caster and continued to engage in the sword duel - once Caster got agitated he got reckless and using the opportunity Sunny disarmed him
Maybe the strike got under his skin, but Caster used his ability fully and moved towards sunny his fist shooting Directly towards Sunnys skull
With equal momentum Sunny charged, his speed taking Caster of guard - He moved straight in the fool's direction weaving his head under Casters forward flying fist and brought his fist straight into his face - Breaking his nose and sending him several meters back crashing into the weapons rack
After this show sunny put on as a regal presence, they expected him to gloat rather he walked over and held out his hand to Caster - who was holding his nose with clenched teeth
"It was an enjoyable fight short as it was. Remember it's important to balance your technique with your aspect. Learn that and next time and I may not win"
It stunned everyone present even Caster who shook his hand before leaving to the infirmary
And now it was time to face his Lover
Just as how it took so much effort to speak to Caster kindly and show him sincerity it took him several times as much to be strict and cruel to Nephis
The moment that she stepped into the stage sunny shifted his aura.
The air seemed to grow cold and the shadows in the room seemed to grow deeper as if it were giving a warning of death
Nephis was unsure as to why this boy hated her so much - what did she do to earn this much hostility. That was the main reason that everyone believed but Nephis couldn't help but believe it was that 2nd reason - Sunless was the assassin
When he spoke, his voice seemed to carry a tone of annoyance
"Changing star. I wish you luck"
Nephis was stumped why did this boy dislike her so much
"I don't need it Dark Star. But I thank you"
sunny was confused but showed none of it on his face - " Dark Star? where did that come from did, she just round off my true name?'
Once the duel began swords started striking against each other - Sunny was attacking mildly in truth but he acted like he was giving it his all, but Nephis was giving it her all in truth
Seeing no way out she ignited the wooden sword and sunny wrapped some darkness around his blade - something he toyed around with last night.
The scene in front of everyone standing there was horrifying - a blazing white phoenix and demonic dark dragon attacking each other
The only thing was that neither participant's lost first - rather it was their blades. Nephis wooden sword melted from the heat of her flame while Sunnys remained. Watching as she threw the blade to the ground and took up a fist fighting stance the wit radiance shining in her eyes her fists aflame
But sunny didn't use his aspect and Nephis knew it because she had also noticed how his strongest attacks caused his shadow to leave the ground.
Sunny too disposed of his sword, and they began a fist battle
He quickly caused her to lose balance and brought his knee to her stomach while she was on the floor trying to wake up, he fell to his knees and pinned her in a rather obscure position. That is if she had known about this sort of thing and if that was Sunny's plan
He brought down his hand to punch her face, and she blocked with her hands, but his punches seemed endless and then the fight was announced over after she surrendered
Instructor rock was in disbelief. 1 sleeper setting a new record for the punching machine. And proceeding to destroy more than three quarters of the class. He was glad to be able to call this boy his student
By now all the people were returning to their individual room - possibly they will be licking their wounds for a long time.
Once everything was done and the night came Sunny new that it was time to move
He walked through the halls after going back to his room and now was heading back to the training room
He picked up a sword and begun a few practice swings and slashes while waiting for a particular princess - unfortunately she took longer than usual and so sunny got a bit carried away falling into the shadow dance
as he was busy with his fun Nephis walked into the room - she saw sunny and her first instinct was to run, this boy forced her to use her aspect, swordsmanship and entire strength - perhaps he was just strong and saw her as a rival - but - there was a chance he was the assassin and a very large chance at that
But she couldn't
Was it the strange, enchanting dance - was it that idiotic saying that opposites attract and she was darkness and him light - or was it simply because she too was attracted to him as other girls were - well honestly it probably was not the last one, but she stood there - enthralled and by the time he was done it was already too late
Sunny constantly had his shadow sense extended so he noticed her quickly and allowed her to stay - that was his plan after all
At the moment he stopped he turned his head and made eye contact with her
before Nephis could even react sunny summoned the blood blade and held it in his hand walking towards her
She reacted instantly the dream blade was drawn and that was when she realized
She was only alive because he didn't want her dead yet
The summoned night behind her made her way of escape impossible especially after she tried to strike it with her flames only for it to be snuffed out
she knew she was just a sleeper, so this awakened creature unlike the one in her nightmare was not half asleep - so turning towards Sunny's direction she decided the window behind him was the best option that was before she saw the beast wrapped around sunny in a protective coil
The 'echoes' before her ensured she would die here but would she die without trying to do something - No
but when she tried to strike the echoes master - this boy Sunless, well, making eye contact with him any thoughts of escape were done - She would die by his hand
'Oh, my gods did I go too far shit. No, we have to carry out the plan but maybe [Child of Dread] was too much' - Sunny thought the urge to comfort his former lover crushing his shadowy heart
"Who are you really Nephis" - he asked. Nephis was confused
"You clearly know who I am seeing as you are about to kill me sovereigns' dog "
"I hadn't heard of you before the academy" - 'in this life' sunny thought
"But I'd advise you not to patronize me. If what I saw is true and I'm going to be stuck with you in the nightmare I need to know some things"
Now Nephis was stumped but her calculating mind came to 2 conclusions. 1 the boy was not the assassin or the strange echo behind her would have slit her throat already. And 2 she and him would be together in the dream realm meaning he knows things of the future. A seer possibly
"I'm Nephis. Daughter of smile of heaven and broken sword. Heir to the immortal flame"
"Good. Now can you tell me why there are people here to kill you"
"What... You don't know why, but you seem to know who"
"Why would I tell you. perhaps you have something to offer me?"
Nephis had an odd thought - a bullshit plan she was trying out - "friendship"
Sunny looked at her with a confused expression causing her to explain
"You said that you want true people, and I know you're on the search for people with no ulterior motive. I have one goal one I can tell you of when I can trust you"
Sunny smiled. Anyone bargaining with their life with friendship would have been insane. But he knew that Nephis considering someone a friend was as rare as a divine aspect holder - "deal"
Nephis looked at him. Her facial expressions contorting in a way she had barely remembered.
A smile