Longing/Shadow Room
As the viewing ended, the audience fell into discussion.
"So, let's see what we've learned in this viewing. Sunless ended up in the Forgotten Shore, killed a Scavenger, and met up with Nephis and Cassia." Morgan listed.
"Then, Cassia had a vision that lead them west." Eunbin continued.
"Which is the direction of the Dark City." Seishan completed.
"Then, the other viewings are..."
"Most likely their journey there, although I don't really get the third one."
They all looked towards the screen, where the last two viewings were being displayed so they could vote.
[ Journey to the West ] : [ A shadow, a nephilim, and an oracle make their journey amidst a labyrinth of blood. ]
Accompanying the description of the viewing was now an image for context. It was the image of a short black-haired figure in dark armor, a white-haired female figure wearing white armor, and a tall crab-like creature carrying a blond girl on its back.
[ Ashen Burrow ] : [ There is no reason to leave, flee, run, or escape. Your life is perfect here, isn't it? ]
This viewing was now paired with an image as well. The image depicted a tall tree with red leaves, towering over a sea of ash.
Looking at the images, Nephis and Cassie stiffened for a split second. The image of the Soul Devouring Tree sent them to a very displeasing trip down memory lane.
Thankfully, the knowledge that the damn thing had been killed by Sunny served as some comfort, at least.
As far as she knew, he had killed it when visiting the Forgotten Shore after crossing the Hollow Mountains, she was unsure why he had done so but was glad he had.
Cassie looked at that image, the memory of its evolved form burning as Sunny sipped some coffee, crossing her mind. It was that vision that had proven to her just how close he was to them.
She felt conflicted about all of this. She was seeing the journey of how they met, how they fought together, and how they survived together. Those were memories that she deeply cherished with Nephis, and she was glad that she would be able to see what she was missing from their memories.
She was glad to see the three of them.
But how could one enjoy such things when each good memory was accompanied with the weight of her future actions? Each step they took, for every laugh they shared, she would only be able to see her mistakes.
She wasn't sure if it was her visions she should blame or her own actions.
Perhaps it was both.
"So, should we keep going the chronological way?" Effie asked.
"I don't see why not, this voting stuff only delays things. It would be better if we could just see things in order from the start." Revel grumbled.
Hearing the topic of conversation, Cassie decided to speak up, drowning her worries in advance.
"Our actions can influence The Mask's behavior. Proof of that is that we no longer have to go on a challenge at the end of every theme. If we keep picking the chronological order, eventually, The Mask will shift into a no-vote system."
"Then, we keep picking the chronological option, huh?" Kai pondered.
"That would be [ Journey to the West ], huh?" Rain said.
"That is our vote." Nephis proclaimed.
Nightmare Room
"I have to say... my dear friend needs some socializing lessons." Noctis commented.
The other inhabitants of the room turned towards him.
"Is that all you have to say about what we saw, fool?" Solvane asked, a disgusted expression on her face.
Seeing her face, Noctis chuckled, amused by her demeanor.
"Am I wrong? Seriously, I had that impression when we met, but it's like he is completely unaware of how to speak with someone else, let alone a lady."
"I believe she meant that it was not the biggest topic of discussion." Daeron proposed.
Noctis looked confused for a moment, of course he really wasn't, he was just pretending to do so, even if everyone could tell.
"Like what?" He asked.
"The region that he was summoned to? Or the power imbalance between him and the creatures that live there? Or maybe the situation with them having to go west?" Windflower listed, exasperated that the mad sorcerer was so... relaxed.
The Forgotten Shore was a breeze to any of them, with the exception of Elyas and Ananke if she was in her old form. Still, the dangers that lurked in there and the possibility of death were very close to someone like Sunny, who was just a Sleeper.
A Dormant rank! Someone in between the mundane people and the fabled awakened. People with their aspects but without the capability of making their essence flow.
In their journey through the nightmares, Sunny had become a form of comfort in a way.
Saving someone from their chains, even if their life ended not long after. Elyas.
Becoming a true friend amidst conflict. Noctis.
Becoming relief in front of eternal and unglorious suffering. Solvane.
Releasing a king from their madness. Daeron.
Providing closure to a fighter of a realm. Windflower.
And holding a child amidst a storm. Ananke.
All of them had something to thank Sunny for, some more than others, and some more willing than others too.
So amidst that worry, seeing Noctis being so carefree, as if Sunny's fate was not that important, it clicked badly with some of them. Although Solvane was mostly annoyed by the sorcerer in general, then this occasion in particular.
"The region? Looks like a place of great adventure, who knows, maybe my real self visited this place once? The power imbalance? Ah! I know just how deviously stubborn Sunless is. He tore through three Ascended champions with decades of training in a single night, as an Awakened! Fought alongside me against Immortal Transcedents! As if an awakened beast was all that much compared to that."
He shrugged as if he couldn't get their worry.
"Besides, we know he survives to at least become an Ascended and challenge the Third Nightmare and become fateless in it as well, don't we?"
He then straightned.
"I'm more perplexed at your lack of faith in him than you are for my lack of worry. As far as I am concerned, there is no way someone that I, the Crimson Beast of Twilight, have recognized as a friend, could die in such a place."
Alter Room | Mundane Cassie POV
She looked at the screen, slightly anxious. Her leg could not stay still, and her hands were trying to mangle the fingers of the opposite hand.
"Wouldn't you?"
"No."
It hurt, so badly.
Even if she was not as much of a burden as the one on screen, considering that she still had her eyesight. But it still hurt.
Since meeting Sunny and Nephis, her life became... brighter.
She couldn't imagine leaving in a world without them, and thankfully, it seemed like she wasn't separated from them on other worlds.
Cassie had been so glad at the time.
She had true friends that she valued as much, if not more even, than her parents. She... loved them.
But she noticed how they looked at each other, at the chemistry that existed in between them, and understood that she was a third wheel on a bike.
And now, in another world, she was once again the extra in the trio, the burden and the one who would only get in the way. She didn't have to think that much about it, that Sunny had already deemed her as a burden he would throw away.
'No, don't think like that. The narrator said, remember? It said Sunny felt bad about it, it's just that he can't endanger his life for yours, Cassia. He... My Sunny won't abandon me... right?'
She felt a hand touch her shoulder, prompting her to flinch.
She looked beside her, meeting Nephis' gray eyes.
"Do you want to go talk to him?" She asked.
Cassie stayed silent, unsure of what to do.
'Should I? What should I even say? Should I demand an apology, but he never did anything, and... I can't really blame him, can I?'
"I don't know what I would even say..." She confessed weakly.
"You just need some support, besides... I think he would like to make sure you are alright as well."
Cassie wondered if Nephis was right. She looked towards where the various Sunnys of the Alter Room had sat together. The Sunny from their world was talking to the others, they were seemingly explaining him something.
As if sensing a gaze, he lifted his head in her direction.
Cassie wanted to turn her head away and pretend she hadn't looked at him, but her head couldn't move. He then lifted his hands.
Her eyes widened slightly.
It was a code. A code they both had invented once he had moved to her neighborhood. They used to talk in this way while looking out their windows after walking each other from school.
It was a private thing between him and her. Just like she had something with Nephis that he didn't know.
He was saying...
"Let's talk later. Hope you are alright."
A small smile crossed her face, and she raised her own hands.
"Promise?"
"Yeah."
Mad Cassie POV
She looked silently at the screen, evaluating the images shown for the next viewings. She recognized the Soul Devouring Tree immediately, as well as Sunny's first echo, the Carapace Scavanger.
She was trying to feel her mind with as many thoughts as she could to not bring up that painful memory. Her efforts would be for naught, however.
"Say~... Was it at that moment?"
The Mad Prince's voice sounded beside her.
"What?"
She looked at him, confused by his question, or maybe she was just pretending to be. He looked... normal, as normal as Sunny could be with a face full of scars and ragged hair. There was no sign of the usual maddening smile, instead, his face was impassive and seemingly patient.
What it seemed to be a normal expression was like a weapon aimed directly at the vulnerability of her tired heart.
"Was it at this moment you made your decision?" He asked again.
She felt the familiar pain of that particularly sharp memory surface into her mind. She maintained her expression, not letting any sign of her feelings be seen through the mask she called a face.
"No. It simply was the moment when a seed of doubt was planted. Perhaps, if I hadn't heard anything, if you were able to lie or if I wasn't such a burden, things could've been different."
As she said that, a ghastly smile appeared on his face, his madness bleeding out of every detail of his expression.
"Oh, Torment~... Do you want me to believe things would be different? In any world where you have power, I end up chained. Can you call that a coincidence?"
"Your argument makes no sense, Sunny."
"Perhaps so, Torment. But have you ever wondered why, in so many worlds, the only ones who aren't slaves are those who live in a world without the awakened or have never met you? Could it be... that you are the problem, my dear Torment~."
She decided that it was better to ignore the mad shadow.
Voting Results:
[ Journey to the West ] - I I I I
[ Ashen Burrow ] - ____
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A/N: Another chapter! Next one the viewings continue, this viewing will go until the start of the Soul Devouring Tree Arc,as you might've guess, which means there are a lot of chapters in between, which also means that I will have to cut some content. I'm actually a bit nervous, believe it or not.
Check Out my other Fanfics:
Cursed Shadow (JJK/JJK Modulo x Shadow Slave Fic)
Trailblazing Shadow (HSR x Shadow Slave Fic)