Nephis could barely understand what the hell just happened.
She just moments ago thought that she was going to die and now she was sitting beside the boy, drinking from those juice boxes they serve in the lunch hall
Not only that but he came here - turns out he isn't a legacy, and has not 1 but 2 echoes and a weapon memory
'So then did he have an awakened creature in his first nightmare too'
Nephis couldn't help but wonder of his origin - his backing - his strange swordsmanship - him in general
While her mind was whirring with all these thoughts her eyes boring holes into him
"Is there something on my face?" - He asked with an oddly endearing smirk
"No there isn't, i was just curious as to why you not only seem to hate me, tried to kill me and for whatever reason gave me a juice box and is now sitting next to me - oh also I'm quite curious about the rest of the things you said"
" Ooh the princess speaks quite a lot huh" - Sunny smirked raising an eyebrow
"I'm still human sunless" - she retorted trying to snap back
"Hmm are you sure? you usually stare at me from a distance"
Nephis paused allowing a slight blush of embarrassment highlighting her face for a few seconds before she shifted her expression to that of a stoic warrior
'She really hasn't mastered her expressions and abilities to lie yet, huh' - Sunny couldn't help but smile, this time - before they were fighting gods almost every other day
"So, how do you know we will be in the nightmare together"
"My aspect gives me an affinity to fate. I know what will happen in the near future"
While he also knew the far to come future - saying he knew the near future was not untrue and his new aspect did involve fate
Nephis looked at him seeming to scrutinize his response before accepting it - She asked him a question that took him by slight surprise at how unrelated it was
"Why did you decide to spend Time with the blind girl I'm sure you know she's most likely of us all to die, was it pity?"
Sunny looked at her. The familiarity of the situation nostalgic and slightly odd since now - he was on the opposite side of this question
"Because I wanted to"
The answer floated in the air until sunny spoke again - "Every day till the nightmare. We spar here at night when it's empty is that okay?"
"Sure..." - Neph replied plainly in order to avoid the smile - 'a chance to learn his battle style'
Sunny looked at her and did something she didn't understand. He laid his hand on her head and patted it. He turned around and walked towards the door turning around for a final message
"You're strong Neph. And now you have people to help you. Remember that"
When sunny left he left gloomy to hide in the room and see her reaction. And once more he felt the urge to walk in and comfort the crying teenager
Nephis found the beautiful boy odd. He was kind yet cold. He seemed to have great aspirations just like she did and that was what caused her to develop a fondness for him. Not romantic as yet. Just as though she had a true friend
Sunny walked of smiling to himself
The next morning when sunny went to fetch Cassie on his usual routine. And after her sadly complaining about him not picking her up from class last night he explained the situation to Cassie.
Everything including that Nephis was to be assassinated and that he had befriended her. Cassie was shocked. The innocent little girl Hadn't expected someone to have the heart to kill a kid, but she quickly got rid of her thoughts.
When they got to the hall, they went to their usual seat only to find a beautiful girl already there, many eyes looking at her
"Good morning Nephis" - sunny said plainly the shift in how he spoke to Cassie and Nephis evident
"Good morning sunless, Cassia"
Cassie was stunned. The second place sitting right here. "Good morning, lady Nephis it's a pleasure to meet you"
Nephis nodded and continued to focus on her mean. And Sunnys next words embarrassed her thoroughly not that she didn't conceal it masterfully
"She nodded Cass" - Sunny smiled cheekily
"Ah I see I thought she had ignored me..." - She let out a happy sigh
"Cass is blind Nephis as you know" - Sunny looked at her
"I see, my apologies i forgot" - was her response
Cassie taking the chance to tease her decided to say - "you see huh.... How mean" - she spoke with a pout
Nephis rushed to fix her mistake - "That was not my intention, I apologize"
Sunny ever the perfect person when it comes to timing decided to laugh along with Cassie - "I'm just joking lady Nephis don't worry about it"
"I se... Understand" was her reply looking back at her food she spoke again, much softer - "You can just call me Nephis"
The trio sat and ate their food. Nephis listening intently when Cassie and sunny spoke and chipping in lightly when they spoke to her
...
And that became the routine for the next 3 weeks. Speaking at breakfast with Cass and Neph. Going to class with Julius then rock. Training with Neph in the evenings and weaving threads of his new essence to form memories.
Turned out that the [Last Weaver] attribute allowed him to do many things including grasp and form essence strings even if they were flimsy and took 7 times longer than usual, but serpents [Shadow Guide] made it easier.
He always called back serpent night after night to weave memories and returned her to Cassie's shadow. He could feel serpent get slightly annoyed and confused as to why he didn't just keep Her and send her to Cassie on the day of the solstice - and honestly, he could, it was just with making memories, plans, training and classes he didn't want to risk forgetting
He used the strings to form memories. To which he borrowed one of the academy outfits that fitted Cassie and turned it into a memory garment. He came to the assumption that the weave memories will enhance his weaver attributes and give him a stronger version of his old ones back which would be very helpful. Especially blood weave helping his battle and bone weave strengthening his skeletal structure as well as soul weave making his already potent essence multiple times stronger.
At the thought of soul weave sunny remembered a particular vile bird in the tomb of Ariel and felt a shiver. He could very well abandon soul weave as his essence had become significantly stronger and more concentrated as a result of [Hybrid] and his innate ability amongst other things as well as having the full lineage of shadow god as well as a result of the power, he had absorbed from a certain corrupted God but sunny wanted soul weave.
It was part of his lineage and no overgrown bird, cursed terror or not will stop him. He was a very greedy person at heart after all. Sunny shifted his thought back to the memory he had just finished.
"can't have them practically naked in the forgotten shore. Distractions" and this way Nephis can keep her armor improving their fighting capabilities in the first few days
On the day of the solstice after bidding teacher Julius goodbye and instructor rock showed them the pods. Sunny, Nephis and Cassie had their pods set side by side as they entered, Sunny's suggestion of course.
"See you on the other side Cass, Neph. Remember what I told you Nephis. Travel to the statue you see and climb atop it and a word of advice Do not make a fire at all"
Nephis was confused as to why sunny would say such odd things but figured she'd trust him
"And Cassie. upon entering serpent will bring you to me. There is an ocean of sorts so it will be cold just hang in there"
Cassie agreed happily despite her tiredness
And then upon entering their respective pods they were asleep. Sunny heard the voice once more
[Aspirant. Prepare for your trial]
And then sunny was plummeting into the cold waters of the forgotten shore.
again