With that brief, awkward interlude passing, Caster cleared his throat and continued.
"Sasrir's Aspect is exceptionally versatile—almost to an abnormal degree for a Dormant. He can dissolve into a shadow and conceal himself within others, rendering him immune to physical damage while doing so. In that state, he can observe freely, spying on enemies without detection."
Caster's voice remained steady as he listed the capabilities, as though reciting inventory rather than describing a person.
"He can also forge weapons from shadows at will. Blades, spears, constructs—whatever the situation requires. More troubling is the nature of his attacks. Those struck by his weapons report not only physical harm, but an impact on the soul itself. Survivors describe a lingering cold, heightened fear, and an increase in violent or extreme impulses after encountering his blade."
Cassie's brows knitted together faintly.
"His Flaw," Caster went on, "is unknown. However, some believe it is tied to his dependency on Adam. Adam himself claims that Sasrir is compelled to wear a shadow veil—some form of restriction imposed upon him. Most dismiss this as metaphor or religious language, but the rumor persists."
At that, Sunny's expression darkened, his thoughts dropping like a stone into deep water. His soul felt suddenly heavy.
Sasrir's Flaw.
He kept his face carefully neutral, but inside, a cold suspicion took shape. While not his Flaw directly, the caveat of Sunny's own Divine Aspect was absolute and merciless: anyone who knew his True Name could enslave him completely, bending his will to theirs. According to the Spell, even a Divine Shadow required a master.
And Sasrir… Sasrir seemed even more deeply intertwined with shadows than Sunny himself, despite Sunny bearing the Legacy of the Shadow God. If that was the case, then perhaps Sasrir was bound by an even harsher condition. Perhaps he did not require a True Name at all. Perhaps the chains binding him were far simpler—and far crueler.
It was only conjecture. Pure speculation. Sunny would not know the truth unless he met the man himself.
Still, unbidden, a trace of pity crept into his chest. Alongside it came a strange sense of familiarity, as though he were hearing about a distorted reflection of his own fate. Kindred spirits, bound by different shadows.
While Sunny sank deeper into his thoughts, Caster continued speaking, unaware.
"Adam's Aspect," he said, "is no less troublesome in its own way. He can read emotions and surface thoughts to predict an opponent's next action. His perception borders on precognition. All of his senses are enhanced, but his awareness of intent is the most dangerous part."
Caster's mouth tightened slightly.
"Lying to him is extraordinarily difficult. Deception, likewise. Gunlaug uses him as a personal lie detector, and from what I have seen, the Bright Lord has rarely been disappointed by the results."
"And his Flaw?" Nephis asked quietly.
Caster shook his head. "Unknown as well. However, Adam's most pronounced traits are his piety and his absolute intolerance of injustice. If I were to speculate, I would assume his Flaw is tied to one—or both—of those extremes."
"Can you arrange a meeting with them?"
The question cut cleanly through the lingering silence.
For a brief moment, no one spoke. Sunny, Cassie, and Caster all turned to Nephis at once, surprise written plainly on their faces. Sunny recovered first.
"Neph, are you serious?" he blurted out, incredulity sharp in his voice. "We just got here. Don't you think trying to meet the two most clearly abnormal Sleepers in this place is a terrible idea? What if Gunlaug takes notice?"
Nephis shifted her gaze to him, her grey eyes calm and utterly unreadable.
"He would take notice eventually anyway," she replied evenly.
The words were simple, but Sunny felt their weight immediately. It was not an argument—it was a reminder.
They were not here to coexist. They were here to overturn the Bright Lord's rule. Hostility was not a possibility looming on the horizon; it was an inevitability. If Gunlaug's greatest instability lay within arm's reach, then delaying only served him.
Why hesitate, when time itself was the enemy?
Sunny grimaced, unable to refute the logic, even as every instinct told him this was moving far too fast.
Caster cleared his throat softly and shook his head, his expression apologetic.
"My apologies, Lady Changing Star," he said, inclining his head. "But I am afraid that arranging such a meeting is beyond my capabilities. Adam and Sasrir do not answer to me, nor do they make themselves easily accessible."
He paused briefly, then added, "Lady Seishan may be able to assist you in that regard. She has… channels I do not."
Caster then gestured vaguely toward the direction of the Castle gates.
"Alternatively, you could wait in the Outer Settlement. Adam typically visits once a week to deliver aid. Sasrir is almost always present, acting as his escort."
Sunny exhaled slowly through his nose. Of course it wouldn't be simple. Of course the path forward involved either entangling themselves with Seishan Song or waiting exposed among hundreds of desperate eyes in the Settlement.
Nephis absorbed the information without comment, her expression unchanged. But Sunny had known her long enough to recognize the subtle stillness that meant she had already made up her mind for her next move.
And so, they found themselves in the Outer Settlement close to a week later.
They had made full use of their time in the Bright Castle. For several days, Sunny almost forgot what it meant to be hungry. The meals were hearty, filling in a way that bordered on indulgent—thick cuts of roasted meat, proper broth, real bread. Even more precious than the food were the beds. Solid frames, real mattresses, and walls that kept the wind and damp at bay. It was the first time in weeks that Sunny had slept without one eye half-open, listening for danger.
Though he would never admit it out loud, sleeping apart from Cassie and Nephis felt… strange.
He had grown accustomed to their quiet presence at night: Cassie's steady breathing, Nephis sitting awake longer than anyone, a silent sentinel in the dark. Alone, the room felt larger and emptier, and Sunny found himself staring at the ceiling longer than necessary before finally drifting off.
When morning came and the time to leave arrived, there was no ceremony to it. They packed what little they had and descended back into the Outer Settlement, trading stone walls and guarded gates for crooked shacks and weary faces.
Nephis immediately fell into a routine.
Several times a day, she went out alone to hunt, returning hours later with the bodies of slain monsters. The meat was rougher and less refined than what the Castle offered, but there was far more of it. What surprised Sunny wasn't her efficiency—he expected that—but what she did afterward.
She shared it.
Without hesitation, without calculation, Nephis butchered the monsters in the open and distributed the meat to anyone who asked. Beggars, families, lone Sleepers with hollow eyes—it didn't matter. Sunny watched as she knelt in the dirt, methodically carving clean portions and placing them into outstretched hands.
One man stared at the meat as though it might vanish, tears cutting pale lines through the grime on his face.
With each meal, Nephis would smile, wuld gently hold their shoulders or hands and bathe themin silver flames, healing their bodies and soothing their souls. Many did break down into tears, heaping thanks and praise upon her.
Sunny stood nearby, keeping watch. His expression was neutral, but something tight and uneasy coiled in his chest. He could not explain it. The scene unsettled him more than violence ever had.
For the first three days, life continued like that.
In some ways, it was better than before. The Dark Sea was gone, no longer looming behind them like an inevitable death sentence. But it had been replaced by something Sunny had never expected to fear.
Nephis herself.
On the fourth day, when she dragged another massive corpse back into the Settlement, a small crowd gathered before she even set it down. This time, the people weren't just desperate—they were familiar. They knew her now.
Nephis had never hidden who she was. She stated her True Name openly. She never denied her lineage.
And word had spread.
Sunny watched the shift ripple through the crowd as understanding dawned. Whispers rose, then hushed gasps. Eyes widened. Some people stepped back instinctively, as if unsure whether they were allowed to stand so close.
The Daughter of the Immortal Flame.
Broken Sword's only child.
Sunny knew the names well. Everyone did. Clan Immortal Flame and the legacy of Broken Sword were etched into the collective consciousness of the world. Still, seeing the reaction firsthand took him by surprise. Reverence, disbelief, awe—it was all there, laid bare.
Nephis seemed entirely unbothered.
She moved among them as naturally as ever, as if she had been born into crowds like this. Like a fish in water. Sunny swallowed his questions and said nothing, focusing instead on driving off a few opportunists who tried to muscle in on the weaker recipients of the food.
His unease deepened with every passing day, and he found himself watching the group in white robeswho held crosses more closesly. They did not interfere with Nephis' chariy, and even offered to help. Nephis did not reject them: they organized lines, cut the meat into portions, brought out their own ingredients to improve the flavour-it was all very harmonious, and despite his best efforts Sunny could find not a single malicious or ulterior motive behind them.
And then, on the sixth day, Adam arrived.
Sunny, or rather Gloom Shadow, noticed him before anyone else did.
The crowd shifted subtly, not from fear, but from attention, as if something had drawn their eyes without them realizing why. A man was walking through the Settlement at an unhurried pace, dressed plainly in white, carrying himself without any sign of arrogance or submission.
People looked at him—and then looked again.
Some straightened unconsciously. Others lowered their voices. The few with wooden crosses around their necks smiled faintly when they saw him, stepping forward to greet him.
Sunny's stomach tightened.
Adam had come.
___________
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