"Used to be?" Sunny asked, his tone sharp with curiosity.
The man glanced at him briefly before nodding. "Yes. Used to be. Tessai was killed a little under two years ago. So now, either Seishan or Gunlaug would be the oldest Sleepers still alive. And among the most powerful, without a doubt."
Sunny found that easy to believe. Spending nearly a decade in the Forgotten Shore—surviving its horrors, fighting Awakened and Fallen creatures, scavenging Memories and Echoes from countless battles—would give anyone obscene strength. Enough time to fill multiple Soul Cores. Enough time to become something far removed from an ordinary Sleeper.
A knot tightened in Sunny's stomach. His unease had nothing to do with logic or evidence; it came straight from his gut. And his instincts, unfortunately, had an impeccable track record. Bright Castle felt wrong.
"Excuse me," Cassie suddenly spoke, her quiet voice cutting through the tension. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I don't think we got your name?"
The man froze for a heartbeat, then his eyes widened. He slapped his forehead in an almost comical display of embarrassment. "Ah! Of course. My apologies. Please forgive my forgetfulness—I meant no offense."
"None taken," Nephis replied smoothly.
"Ahem." He straightened, clearing his throat. "My name is Giorlanio. And these—" he jerked a thumb over his shoulder "—are my protection. Please, pay them no mind."
Easier said than done, Sunny thought darkly.
One of the guards was staring at him with thinly veiled hostility, eyes narrowed, jaw tight. Sunny glared back just as fiercely, fingers clenching at his side.
What are you looking at, bastard? he thought, pouring the challenge straight into his gaze.
The guard grimaced, clearly catching the intent, but did not look away. They locked eyes in a silent contest, neither willing to yield.
"Changing Star," Nephis said calmly, introducing herself.
Her True Name rang out clearly, echoing through the air like a struck bell.
Giorlanio tilted his head, confusion written plainly on his face. It took him a few seconds to process what he had heard. Then his eyes widened in shock, and he took an unconscious step forward.
Sunny tensed instantly, raising an arm as if to intercept him, but a subtle gesture from Nephis stopped him cold. He hesitated, then reluctantly relaxed.
"Changing Star?" Giorlanio whispered. "Is that… is that your True Name?!"
Sunny understood his reaction all too well. For a Dormant to possess a True Name was exceedingly rare. Historically, those who received one so early were destined for greatness, assuming they survived long enough. Many Saints of legend had once stood exactly where Nephis stood now.
While a True Name was no guarantee of the future, it was as close as one could get.
"Yes," Nephis replied simply.
Just as she had done back at the Academy, she showed no hesitation in revealing it.
Giorlanio visibly trembled. He struggled to compose himself, then turned to Sunny and Cassie with a newfound respect in his eyes. "And… and you two are?"
"Cassia," Cassie said gently. "But please, call me Cassie."
"Sunless," Sunny answered, despite himself. "But I prefer Sunny."
He grimaced inwardly. He had never intended to reveal his full name—but his Flaw had other ideas, forcing the truth from his lips.
Hearing that neither of them possessed—or at least revealed—a True Name, Giorlanio's expression faltered for just a moment before he recovered with impressive speed.
"Well," he said, straightening his robe, "Lady Changing Star, on behalf of the Bright Lord and the Host, I welcome you to Bright Castle. If you have the time, I can introduce you to the rules of this place. It is best to learn them as soon as possible, to avoid… mishaps."
Nephis gave the three guards a brief, cool once-over
, her expression flat and unreadable.
"Reveal away."
The rules, as Sunny had expected, were simple enough.
To enter the Castle required two Soul Shards, with an additional shard due every twenty-four hours thereafter. Bedding was provided—assuming one could find an unclaimed spot—but food, tools, and other comforts all required further payment. Large sections of the Castle were strictly off-limits, their boundaries clearly marked and aggressively enforced. As for social hubs, most interaction took place in the Cafeteria and the Memory Market, where Memories, Echoes, and information changed hands with equal frequency.
Giorlanio also provided a concise overview of the power structure governing Bright Castle: the Host.
Artisans formed the backbone of this improvised society, responsible for crafting equipment, maintaining infrastructure, and ensuring that the Castle continued to function at a basic level. Handmaidens handled miscellaneous labor, but Sunny quickly realized they were anything but ordinary workers. They were trained personally by someone named Seishan, whose name was spoken with an equal mix of fear and reverence. Whatever their duties entailed, Sunny doubted they were soft targets.
The bulk of the Castle's fighting force consisted of the Guards. According to Giorlanio, they relied more on raw strength than discipline or refined skill. Above them stood the Hunters and Pathfinders—elite combatants tasked with mapping viable routes through the surrounding hellscape and hunting down the monsters that sustained the rest of the Castle. They answered to a man named Gemma.
Each of these groups had its own leader, all of whom reported directly to Gunlaug. In theory, they were equals. In practice, Giorlanio admitted, subtle power struggles simmered constantly beneath the surface.
As Sunny listened, a detail began to gnaw at him.
Giorlanio had named the leaders of the Artisans, the Handmaidens, and the Hunters—but he had conspicuously skipped over whoever commanded the Guards. He had also neglected to mention his own affiliation.
Sunny frowned, studying the man more closely.
Nephis had noticed as well.
For the briefest instant, silver fire flickered in her eyes. Then, once Giorlanio finished his explanation, she spoke, her tone calm but unmistakably probing.
"And what about you?" she asked. "Which faction do you belong to?"