The three of them reconvened precisely as agreed, at the same nondescript corner of the Outer Settlement. No one had followed them. No one lingered nearby long enough to draw suspicion. If anyone had been watching, they were subtle enough that even Sunny hadn't noticed—and that, at least, was reassuring.
Sunny spoke first.
He summarized what he had learned from the first five people he questioned: the broad consensus on Gunlaug's rule, the fear surrounding the Lieutenants, the quiet resentment simmering among those barred from the Host. Then he moved on to Gilligan and, with considerably more detail, recounted the drunkard's stories. He made no mention of Gilligan's appraisal of his own soul, but he repeated the man's claims about Adam and Sasrir without omission.
As expected, Nephis did not treat the words of a drunken Sleeper as gospel. Her expression remained composed, her gaze distant as she processed the information.
"Soulless?" she repeated quietly, more to herself than to Sunny.
"Right," Sunny nodded. "Still, there could be any number of reasons why Gilligan couldn't perceive Sasrir's soul. Assuming he was even telling the truth. His Aspect might have limits, or Sasrir might have some kind of concealment."
"I agree," Nephis said without hesitation.
Sunny hesitated, then frowned slightly. "Wait. Aren't you more curious about Adam's soul?" he asked. "If Gilligan was right, then Adam's… inconsistent. Way more complex than we assumed. He might not be easy to deal with."
Nephis turned her head to look at him directly.
"I am no stranger to mindweavers and charlatans," she said bluntly. "I may not be able to create their tricks myself, but I am confident I can cut through any web someone tries to spin around me. No matter how intelligent or malicious this Adam is, I doubt he can exert more pressure than entire Legacy Clans."
Sunny clicked his tongue inwardly.
"Fine," he muttered. "Then I guess we'll rely on your skill."
The words came out flatter than he intended. The irritation beneath them lingered, unspoken. Why was Nephis always so confident—no, so certain? Bordering on conceit. Yes, she had endured a lifetime of persecution and survived the attention of Legacies, but surely she didn't believe she had done so purely on her own merit. She had been a child for most of it.
Before he could dwell on the thought any further, Cassie finally spoke.
"So… are we going in now?" she asked softly. She had been fidgeting with her sleeve the entire time, patiently waiting for the exchange of information to conclude.
"Yes," Sunny replied, glad for the interruption. "I couldn't find Athena or Kai. From what I heard, they're probably already inside the Castle. People say they're close with Sasrir and Adam—and that they're the strongest so-called neutrals on the Forgotten Shore. No idea about their personalities, but they seem well-liked."
"We'll keep an eye out," Nephis said.
With that, she turned and began walking toward the gates of Bright Castle, her posture straight and unhesitating.
Sunny and Cassie followed close behind.
Nephis led them steadily up to the gate, her presence commanding despite the unease that radiated from Sunny and Cassie. The three Guards on duty immediately turned their attention toward them, their expressions a mixture of disdain and curiosity. All three were imposing, standing tall and muscular, each radiating the dangerous confidence of someone trained to wield the weapons strapped across their bodies. Spears, short swords, and three dirks crisscrossed over each of their chests, signaling they were prepared for both close-quarters combat and ranged defense. Their armor was utilitarian yet reinforced, practical for both intimidation and battle.
"Halt, newbie. If you want it, pay the tax," the Guard on the left barked, his voice dripping with authority—or perhaps just arrogance.
Nephis tilted her head slightly, regarding him like a predator might an insect. "You know we're new here?" she asked casually, her tone deceptively light.
The Guard chuckled, a sound that carried equal parts mockery and amusement. "We might not recall every face that passes through these doors," he said, glancing at her, "but we'd certainly remember a beauty like you." His eyes flicked to Cassie behind her, and his tone darkened to something lewd. "Or the pretty little miss behind you."
Sunny immediately frowned, stepping forward and placing a protective hand on Cassie's shoulder, guiding her behind him. He could feel her trembling against him, and his jaw tightened. The Guard on the left scoffed at the display, turning his attention back to Nephis. His grin widened, arrogance dripping from every word. "Hey, doll, why don't you ditch the shorty over there and join us? I promise you'll get to experience a real 'tall man.' We can even waive the bill for certain… amenities in the Castle. Not a bad deal, wouldn't you say?"
"Not interested," Nephis replied, her voice cold and final, cutting through the Guard's words like steel through silk.
The man's expression twisted into a scowl, his patience snapping. He stepped closer, his gauntleted fist raised, his voice rough with irritation. "Hey hey, don't be such a bitch! I made you a good offer, you know? Dolls like you are rare, and silver hair just so happens to suit my tastes. I'll ask nicely one more time—let me show you how to pass the time in this place."
Nephis' eyes, stormy grey and unflinching, settled on him like a glacier. The Guard's bravado faltered slightly, but he still lunged forward. Her reaction was instantaneous. Her arm shot up with blinding speed, her hand intercepting the raised gauntlet. Silver flames flickered to life along her arm, wrapping the Guard's fist in searing, ethereal heat.
The man screamed, trying to pull back, but Nephis' grip was absolute. Crisping flesh and the sharp scent of burning metal filled the air. A sickening snap echoed as one of the Guard's knuckles fractured, a sound that made Sunny wince despite the distance. Cassie trembled violently, her imagination painting the scene with unnerving clarity despite her blindness.
The remaining two Guards froze, their hands tightening around their weapons, but they hesitated. Nephis, undeterred, maintained her iron grip until she assessed the others' intentions. Only then did she release the first Guard. He staggered backward, clutching his ruined hand. The metal of his gauntlet had practically melted into the cracks of his skin, flowing into the fissures like molten silver. Sunny could see the bone of his knuckles peeking through the torn, molten flesh. Unless Bright Castle had a healer of extraordinary skill, that man had effectively lost his hand.
Nephis' expression remained calm, detached even, as she turned her gaze to the remaining Guards. Their weapons were still raised, but their stance was wary now, uncertainty and fear creeping into their rigid posture. Even from a distance, Sunny could feel the lethal precision radiating from her, a silent warning that resistance would not end well.
"Here" Nephis took six Soul Shards from a pouch hanging around her waist and tossed them over, the two Guards too slow to catch them, so they rolled along the ground. Without looking back, Nephis walked ahead, and Sunny and Cassie followed. Together, the three marched onwards.
Into the maw of the beast