[Damn…I really did it. 10'000 words. For a single Chapter. I will never do that again.đź«
Now enjoy…or I pull the trigger.]
High Above Bastion the shattered moon drowned the ruined castle beneath it in a beautiful blue hue. The lake that once reflected it's ethereal image appeared black, drowned in countless drops of Blood.
The Battle around the Great Citadel had been raging for months now.
Well…for one of them is has, the rest did not fully know how long they had been losing their life's for.
Only Morgan knew the full scope of just how many horrors they faced and how many times they had succumbed to them.
The weight of that knowledge was crushing.
But Morgan was no one to give up easily and especially not to that deranged monster of a brother she has.
Through all those months she persisted, she learned and studied his moves and schemes. Yet it was never enough.
Every day she and her comrades died only to be reborn the same day.
And through all that time she had lost more than just her life.
She had lost her loyalty. She lost her conviction towards her Father's domain. So much she was sure off now.
Mordret had ultimately Won.
If he, and therefore Ki Song, couldn't have the Citadel, then at least Anvil wouldn't have it.
In hindsight Morgan had no reason to stay any longer.
Only that she has.
'I will kill that thing no matter what.' Her gaze may have looked lost of determination, aimlessly strolling over the ruins while she stirred the soup.
But in her heart the will to kill her brother never wavered. So in the end, she stayed.
For her there just was no way around it, she had been tormented, killed, mocked and lastly… embarrassed by him.
All while wearing that creepy smile. A smile that puts everyone on edge. It made her guts wrench inside of her. Twist in ways that both hurt and creeped her out.
Like she was staring at something that was not even human.
Like the Lord of Shadows.
Only that she was fully convinced that even this guy is more sociable than her brother.
'That says a lot about this Monster.' She mused to herself while mentally preparing for the upcoming battle.
Shortly after Kai landed beside her. 'Like clockwork.' The one thing that never changed.
Through all those repeating days many things had slightly changed. Morgan didn't knew how but it seemed like 3 of her comrades became aware of the time loop.
So their actions had slightly altered.
Not that it made a big difference… they would still die soon…very soon.
But Kai for some reason still held onto his routine. Landing beside her, giving his report, and talking to her leisurely.
She was not sure if she hated it or loved it. But it meant distracting her mind from the dire situation.
So she wasn't going to ignore or dismiss him…for now.
Soon they were eating and Morgan did the only thing that was right. Telling them that it was over.
It took some time to convince them but at least the Saint's of Night realized their situation was hopeless and swallowed their pride and need for revenge.
So they were gone, but to her confusion the 3 government Saints still remained.
"I said the Battle is over…did I stutter?" She asked with annoyance, lacing her words. 'Are they suicidal? The one time I'm trying to be benevolent and they ignore my invitation to leave?'
All 3 of them looked at her with an even look on their faces. All but Kai with his stupid charming smile. Who soon took the word.
"We heard you loud and Clear lady Morgan."His respectful tone was perhaps justified but Morgan couldn't care less about such antics any longer.
"Then why are you still here?"
Her confusion now more evident as it slipped into her tone and expression.
Kai subtly glanced over to Effie and then to Jet, receiving assuring nods from them. Then he turned back to Morgan. His smile never left his lips even though he felt conflicted about what was going to happen.
'If Cassie and Nephis vouch for that guy we can hardly argue against it…let's just hope this works.' He sighed inwardly before giving his voice the needed authority.
"I need you to stand up and stand still lady Morgan." His voice rang through her ears as she found herself unable to resist.
Moments later her body shot up standing with perfect posture. Her mind now racing with thoughts of betrayal.
'So it finally happened. They have had enough of this and want to kill me after all.' She would laugh about her own naivety since she allowed herself to turn a blind eye to the possibility of betrayal.
Now it seems she was going to face the consequences of it.
"So what now?" Effie asked while chewing the last remains of Morgan's delicious soup.
Jet who was standing next to her gave her a slap on the head and growled at her.
"Did you forget to listen when Cassie explained the Plan?" Jet sighed in defeat. "We wait for Mordret, of course."
Before Morgan could more or less even understand their motives for betrayal but that they would go as far as to give her to her brother was beyond her.
'They are trying to make me one of his puppets too? Now they completely lost it.' She was angry and frustrated. Most likely she would be screaming at them by now but Kai's voice held strong.
So all she could do was obey it.
Soon Effie recovered from looking at the empty bowl and the smack from Jet. With a sigh she stood up and faced her.
"You know my brain doesn't work well on a mostly empty stomach." She scoffed with disappointment. "I haven't had something good to eat in a long while. Not everyone can "Survive" on essence alone like you big sis."
Jet took her sarcasm with a smirk, having found joy in Effie's antics over the years. They had grown to be a family indeed.
Something Jet thought she would never have. Especially for someone from the outskirts.
Morgan was struggling, she could barely move a finger when Mordret finally made his entrance.
A tall slim figure strode towards them with a calm expression. If anything he was even a little surprised to come meet them in a situation like this…especially Morgan.
"So your so called "Comrades" have finally turned on you? I must say it is quite amusing to see you in such a vulnerable state sister. It brings me back to the Battle of the Black Skull." He chuckled mischievously. "Only the Blood is still missing, but don't worry I will take care of that." The murderous glee in his voice would have slit her throat right then and there if it was Kai's.
But sadly for Mordret he didn't have such an ability. Though he was sure he could take Nightingale's body one day if he ever wished to obtain it.
For now he was just grateful for the Present. So he bowed subtly showing his gratitude.
"I have to thank you for the Present, Saint Nightingale, Saint Raised by Wolves and lastly The Soulreaper." He glanced at them one by one hiding his bloodlust for the moment.
Jet rolled her eyes feeling bored and disgusted by the show he always tried to play.
"Yeah whatever, sorry that we didn't wrap it for you." She took a deep breath while turning to leave the ruins. "Now just do your thing."
Mordret took the invitation of course. Feeling delighted to have finally come a step closer to his revenge.
A moment later both Effie and Kai followed suit. All while being terribly tense.
Sure they trusted Cassie and Nephis with their lives but that they would propose such an outlandish idea to them was a little too much. But still they followed the Plan.
Only seconds passed before Mordret invaded Morgan's soul. His body fell limp to the ground.
Under normal Circumstances Mordret would have been able to split his Soul and remain active with all vessels. But to his despair he didn't notice a slick shadow putting a very special shackle around Morgan's neck.
The Prince of Nothing was now Trapped in her Soul Sea and cut off from his vessels.
Seconds later a Man Clad in onyx armor and with the mask of a Demon stepped out of her Shadow. His white hair dancing in the wind as he turned to look at his old friends.
"Isn't it nice when a plan just works?" He couldn't hold back a slight chuckle.
With the Black duffle bag in hand he quickly put it over Morgan. Her eyes now wide open. She even managed to utter a silent whisper.
"What in the world is happe…" But her words were cut off when seconds later the Bag was dismissed.
Moments before in her Soul Sea Mordret was holding his speech. One he had trained for, suffered for…waited for.
But suddenly his situation changed.
First he lost his connection to his other vessels. He knew they hadn't been destroyed so quickly so there had to be a different reason.
Soon after his initial confusion both the still immobile Morgan and him felt a tremble in her Soul Sea.
Before it vanished and changed Completely. Now he was in familiar territory.
A place he swore to never step foot in again. Too Great was the fear that has been struck into him.
7 Black Suns stared from above like the eyes of a dead Deity. He felt his pulse rising and cold sweat pouring down his body. All he could think of at that moment was dread.
Because now he stood in Sunny's Soul Sea while Morgan had mysteriously vanished.
But of course he wasn't alone, no, surrounding him in a close Circle stood 3 Lord of Shadows, a towering ogre made Of divine Metal, a Graceful Stone knight seemingly chiseled from living marble and a gigantic serpent.
All of them in black like they belonged to this place and had been born from it.
Because they have.
Mordret looked around. Knowing there was no Escape. He couldn't feel his tethers, nor could he simply leave Morgans Soul Sea any longer. Because he wasn't in her Soul Sea any longer.
Sunny stood in the Basement of the Cafe. The shackle around his neck was specially made by him and just for him.
His Soul Sea was now a prison… even for its owner.
Back on the surface under the Black Suns all of his incantations spoke. Their voices echoing dark and sinister form behind the visor.
"Hello Mordret, I would be saying it's good to see you again but that would be a lie." All 3 of his incarnations summoned a Black Odachi, resting it on their shoulders.
Mordret tried to contain himself. He was furious and confused. A Dangerous combination for a trapped lunatic.
Through slight gritted teeth he addressed him with rage burning inside his heart…or what was left of it. But he still upheld his careless demeanor somehow.
"You planned this? How did you trap me in your Soul Sea? You weren't able of this the last time I visited." He shook his head dismissively. Thinking of a way to escape.
Sunny's vessels just chuckled with all their sinister might.
"Oh you know I thought why not invite you a second time and make you stay. I needed to prepare some accessories first but now you are finally here." Sunny mused in delight knowing that mordret had no way of escape this time.
'This is for trying to kill me bastard. Now let's see if you are able to make a smart choice.'
Still frozen in place Mordret just stared at him. Until Sunny spoke again.
"I'm sure you are thinking the worst right now. But I'm not here to kill you…"A dark chuckle vibrated through his Soul. "At least not just yet."
Sunny summoned one of the Shackles the sisters wore a while back and tossed it over to the Prince of Nothing.
"You have a choice." He pointed to the shackle. "Either you put this on and become my prisoner… or you die, simple as that." Again sunny could barely hold back his amusement as he witnessed the realization settling in mordret's mirror like eyes.
The man in question just stared at the accessory. Suddenly he couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Truly a masterful scheme Lord of Shadows. I expected nothing less from a man like you." Though he wanted to sound content a small amount of his nervousness slipped through.
Mordret knew he had no choice in the matter. But he too wasn't someone to give up easily.
He picked up the shackle and smiled at the Lord of Shadows.
Before ripping It apart.
Outside under the raptured moon Sunny sighed through his visor. "The bastard never learns."
It seems like Sunny will need to convince him otherwise…with force.
Effie chuckled softly, feeling quite happy with how it had turned out. Only the man himself was still putting her on edge. Something about him rubbed her wrong.
Then again that was the opinion of most people. If they weren't outright Terrified of the man they were at least wary of his presence.
"So the Prince is not obliging like you hoped he would?"
Sunny shook his head at her." No, he is fighting to the bitter end. Well…I don't intend to kill him. He just needs a little convincing." His carefree tone was remarkable when one remembers the situation he was in right now.
Jet raised an eyebrow before speaking her mind like she usually does. "You seem quite calm for someone who has a monster raging in his Soul Sea."
Sunny just looked at her calmly while tilting his head to the side. As if he was offended by her words. "Of course, after all…people call me a monster too all the time."
That brought a smile to the Soulreapers lips.
Soon they heard thunderous footsteps approaching. Dozens of them at the same time. So heavy in Fact they thought a house was walking.
When they turned their heads they couldn't believe their eyes. The brilliant Imperium was walking on skinny raven-like legs towards them. Like the house of a witch.
In stunned silence they Watched the house drawing closer before it came to a halt. Lowering its giant frame to the ground it finally stopped all motion.
Effie of course recognized the building. How could she not as a frequent visitor? Before she could say anything though the door swung open. Who greeted them was no other than Master Sunless.
"What a wonderful Night, isn't it?" He waved at them. Effie was still a little stunned.
Jet leaned over whispering to them. "Now I get why Nephis is so much in love with him. He really is quite the attractive man…only a little short."
But Effie was too stunned to listen to her at that moment. Her concentration was held captive by the alluring Cafe owner.
Though Kai was not above himself to agree of course.
"Your Café, master sunless, it…can walk?" Effie stammered torn between disbelief and delight to finally see the place she would easily call a second home again.
In combination with the charming character of Master Sunless under the peril moonlight it was truly a sight to behold.
Sunny gave her a slow nod before addressing them.
"Indeed it can. So now that we cleared that up I do believe we can leave again in short notice." He looked over to the Lord of Shadows with a smirk. "Is the troublemaker contained or are you gonna take your sweet time bastard?"
Sunny in response shouted back at himself. "Who are you calling bastard, bastard? And yes for spell's sake the guy is knocked out cold."
All 3 of them stiffened up for a fraction of a second. Kai spared Effie a worried glance. "Is Nephis boyfriend suicidal?"
She gulped while shaking her head, not fully believing it herself. Though there was no real Tension between the two. It seemed almost like 2 friends were insulting each other.
That...they could understand.
Only that they were sure that those 2 people, who could not be more different from each other, could not really be friends.
"So are you gonna get in now? We need to get back." Sunny shouted, not really knowing how he's gonna fill them in but he would figure something out along the way.
He was sure to have a little fun though.
Kai, Jet and Effie just shared puzzled glances. They didn't know what else to do and from what Cassie had told them they should follow Master Sunless.
So they just shrugged and followed the Lord of Shadows inside.
After closing the door behind them, Sunny looked at the Lord of Shadows offended.
"What are you doing huh? Don't you have a war to win, or have you gotten lazy?"
Once again the 3 government Saints looked at him puzzled. They fully expected having to step in the moment the Lord of Shadows decided he had enough of his big mouth.
Effie stepped between them in a defensive stance shielding Master Sunless.
"I can understand your frustration with that guy master sunless but he's also a very powerful Saint. So you should think about how you approach him." Effie was trying her best sounding as confident and de-escalating as she could.
Not that she was great at it but when the situation demands it even she found it in her heart to act mature and commanding once in a while.
The Lord of Shadows stepped around her in a heartbeat. She could not stop him as he approached Master Sunless with heavy steps.
"You know what? I had it with you and your demands. Just because you are the Original doesn't mean you get to push us all around." He put his finger on Master Sunless' chest to make his point even clearer. Pushing him a couple of steps as a result.
Everyone else just watched the interaction with confusion claiming their minds. But before Effie could step in again Sunny spoke his mind.
And from the expression on his face he was not amused.
"You have to be fucking kidding me. I'm the one doing all the work. You are just an avatar Manifested from one of my Shadows. YOU ARE ME DICKHEAD!" He shouted at himself. For a moment there was nothing but silence and then the two jumped at each other's throat.
A furious battle on the ground exploded between the two.
Effie was about to jump in but got interrupted by another master Sunless wearing the same mantle.
"It's fine, let the two square up a little. They need it sometimes." His calming voice helped her get grounded again for a second.
But when she realized her mistake there was no holding the storm of emotions any longer.
"WHAT IS HAPPENING?" She yelled in response to the situation. Jet and Kai looked at her shrugging their shoulders being just as clueless.
She looked at the incantation next to her. Her eyes tracing over his beautiful face looking for answers. Of course sunny was not gonna leave an old friend hanging.
"Oh did I forget to mention? I'm the Lord of Shadows, Saint Athena." The sheer absurdity of the situation made his words seem to get lost as she just shook her head at him furiously.
"WHAT!?" For a moment she thought she didn't hear him right. Only when Kai looked at him with his mouth Hanging wide open did she realize What just happened.
"No No No No…He must have hit his head or something." She gripped on her own. Feeling her world spinning.
But when she glanced back to where the Lord of Shadows had been fighting her heart sank into her stomach.
There he lay on the ground, his mask ripped from his face, breathing heavily. Revealing the truth she didn't want to accept.
In the next second Sunny claimed his 3rd victim from his outrageous truths.
Effie fell to the Floor…completely unconscious.
Nobody stepped in to help her as they all stared at the scene. Jet and Kai looked at the Sunny next to them.
"Multiple bodies huh? What an interesting ability." Jet, still a little stumped, let out a heavy sigh.
Kai recovered faster having accepted the truth the man in front of him spoke. It wasn't like he had any other choice anyways.
"So you have been playing this whole charade just to mess with us?" He asked, still not really grasping it.
In response, Sunny nodded proudly, before dissolving into the shadows. The speck of black glided over the floor connecting with the now rising Master Sunless.
As the incantation of the Lord of Shadows did the same he dusted himself off and faced them. Calm and collected like nothing had happened he spoke.
"Sure, I didn't know it was going to be that effective but messing with Effie sure is nice." He chuckled softly. "Especially since she is usually the one messing with others."
Kai and Jet let his words sink in for just a moment before the Soulreaper nodded furiously.
"Absolutely, I see you are a master at your crafts Mast…I mean Lord of Shadows. She desperately needed that, I believe." The smile on her lips was unmatched in that moment.
Kai sighed deeply. "You are truly a unique man. I guess nothing else suffices for Nephis." He looked at Effie feeling slightly conflicted. Though in the end even he couldn't hold in a chuckle.
Sunny ordered the shadows in the room to pick up Effie, bringing her to an empty bedroom.
"She's gonna need some time waking up. Silent took a couple hours from what I heard. And call me Sunny, the Lord of Shadows is my persona for Battle and politics." He mused while heading for the Kitchen. Both just nodded in agreement.
Jet quickly followed trying to fish for some answers. "What do you mean "Silent took some hours?" Who's Silent?"
Sunny stopped in his tracks, turning sideways while already holding the door To the kitchen.
"I meant Silent Stalker, who else? I scared her to death and she fell unconscious, simple as that." He shrugged and vanished into the Kitchen a second later.
Leaving the 2 Saints to get their emotions in order. This…was going to be a tough one.
Minutes passed as Kai and Jet just sat around the Table. They were Happy that the long battle of Bastion was now finally over. But now it seemed they Had been thrown into another complicated situation.
Soon Sunny emerged behind them Out of the Shadows carrying a tray of fresh brewed coffee.
Handing each of them one he stepped to the end of the table like usual and sat down.
The whole action took no more than a couple of seconds but still left them a little stumped again. They would need some time to accept that the Lord of Shadows, who they have met only briefly before, is actually the harmless and charming master Effie had been talking about for months now.
Or is it the other way around?
And who is their Cohort leader Partner on top of that.
Someone they thought to have never met before.
"I believe I haven't really introduced myself. At least not that version of me." He put his coffee down crossing his arms on the table. The charming smile illustrated the room a little.
"I'm Master Sunless, the caring and loving Partner of Nephis and of course the owner of this establishment. A place Effie had been visiting often in the past." He leaned back into his chair observing the slowly acclimating faces of both Jet and Kai."Now, I'm also the Lord of Shadows, the dark and sinister Saint of Godgrave, who is allied with Changing Star. An unfriendly fellow, really, but like I told you I use that incantation of me for War and politics."
He summoned the incantation of the Lord of Shadows to his side.
"This is all possible due to my transformation ability of having 8 bodies in total. One each for my Shadows and one original… me." He said calmly with a smug expression. Quickly dismissing the incantation.
Jet leaned forward grabbing at her coffee like it would give her some footing in the world. "So you have been playing both the Sinister Saint of Godgrave and the Charming Master? "She sighed finally feeling like she understood. "My only question is, how did Nephis react to this?"
Kai pointed at her. "What Jet said."
Sunny was momentarily lost in the memories of how he told her and what happened right after. "Ahhh…it was heated to say the least." He chuckled softly. "Well actually she set the lake on fire." Both of them choked on some air trying to suppress laughter.
Kai nodded with a smile in understanding. "That sounds like her. But things worked out great from what we heard."
Sunny met his gaze with a sly smile. "That it did. We talked for a bit and although she was disappointed that I'm not just a harmless Master who runs a Café she was still glad to have found a suitable comrade in the end. We had that talk in NQSC of course."
Kai couldn't hold back his laughter as he listened in on his leisurely speech. Comparing it to the Lord of Shadows at all times.
"That we had. Especially in front of that Gate. I suppose you have played your role perfectly. The crazy and Powerful Saint of Godgrave. A man of few words but when he opens his mouth I have trouble keeping a hold of myself." Sunny could only agree with raising his coffee.
He would have loved to tell them the truth but knew they wouldn't remember any of it. It was painful but for now it is what it is.
He could only hope to be truly reunited with them one day.
"Ahh… but don't be mistaken. The Lord of Shadows is not merely an act. He is just as much a part of me as this version of me is. Both are the truth while only being part of the whole picture. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to imprison Mordret, don't you think?" He raised an eyebrow though the smile on his lips never wavered.
Both Kai and Jet accepted his words without problems. That of course was not only because they trusted him. Cassie held a second conversation with them in the background. Filling them in on details they had more questions about. And of course confirming Sunny's statements.
After all they both knew perfectly well that the man in front of them was capable of lying without being untruthful.
And saying the Truth while filling it with deceit.
It was strange but also remarkable how he managed to achieve this level of treachery. But no less was expected of the perhaps most mysterious man in all the realms.
Though they decided to take him as he is. The man who has conquered the heart of their crazy leader.
Suddenly they heard footsteps coming down the Stairs.
"Effie seemed to have come to her senses again." Jet mused mockingly and yet her eyes widened a little when she noticed that she could not have been more wrong.
Moments later a tall and beautiful woman came into view. Too delicate to be Effie. But that wasn't the only thing that filled them with doubt of course.
The Black hair and eyes of the same nature along with the pale skin created an ethereal image.
Revel had decided to pay them a visit.
She Stood near the stairs, her clothes still the same after all those weeks. It seems like she enjoyed them more than she would accept.
"Oh…I didn't know we had guests. And such prominent ones on top of that. I believe we have never met before." She stepped closer to the table. Feeling the disbelief of her casual entrance settling in.
"I'm Revel, the Lightslayer. It's nice to meet some of Sunnys allies." Her smile surprised them even more. Though they had never met her in person, many have heard legend of the infamous Lightslayer and seen her face on numerous reports. Especially since they are part of the Government.
Kai and Jet both nodded slowly. Yet again they asked Cassie for answers. The seer seems to enjoying the show very much as her amused tone betrayed her.
[Oh I must have forgotten to tell you two. Sunny here has actually captured the Song Sisters and made them allies. They have forsaken Ki Song and are now part of our cause. So cut them all some slack while you are having your small vacation in his Soul Sea.]
Both Jet and Kai looked at each other with disbelief written all over their faces. It seemed like their vacation would be quite the adventure.
A while later, they sat around the table, nursing the coffee Saint had brought over like it was a gift from the heavens.
The silence was strange. After being dragged from what had felt like an endless nightmare, all they could do now was wait, wait for the fated clash between the two Sovereigns.
Their armies would be there, of course. But no one truly believed they'd matter in a battle between Supremes.
Maybe the third one would appear. Maybe not. No one could say if that mysterious being even had the means…or desire to return.
Still, the atmosphere remained tense.
Sharing a roof with all seven of the Transcendent Song Sisters wasn't exactly relaxing.
Even though they'd been told the women no longer belonged to the Great Clan Song, it was difficult to believe. No…impossible, really. But Kai had no reason to doubt Revel. Not when she spoke with such conviction…and his Flaw kept quiet.
So far, they'd only been told how they'd ended up here, and the lengths Sunny had gone to ensure their stay.
And, of course, what he'd done to open their eyes. Even with Kai's Flaw, it still felt like something out of a fever dream.
"So… you're all part of his Clan now?" Jet asked, pointing at the snake tattoo winding up Revel's arm, her voice laced with disbelief.
Revel nodded…almost proudly. The contentment in her eyes was hard to miss.
"Yes. All of us…" She glanced toward Sunny, who just rolled his eyes and turned back to stare out the window. Sighing, she slumped into her chair. "He doesn't like calling it a Clan. It's more about… connection. And the abilities it gives us, like seeing through shadows."
She took another sip of coffee, giving Jet and Kai time to process her words.
Jet, especially, kept glancing between them. She seemed to be waiting for Kai to deny it, to tell her Revel was joking.
But Revel had grown fond of honesty. Especially the kind that sounded ridiculous.
"So he really managed to convince all of you… huh." Jet glanced over to Sunny, the look in her eyes somewhere between wary and amazed. It felt like she'd been dropped into the lair of a charismatic human trafficking leader.
She'd dealt with those before. But this one? This one, she knew she couldn't beat.
Not that she needed to. He had done it for a good cause. And, annoyingly, succeeded with flying colors and nonchalantly demeanor unlike anything she has ever seen…or could remember at least.
'How did Neph even find this guy? Did she summon him from some ritual gone wrong?' Jet had no answers. But she'd be sure to interrogate their enigmatic, occasionally autistic leader the next time they crossed paths.
Whenever that would be.
"So you just… did all that, and act like it's nothing?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at Sunny's ridiculous demeanor.
Was it arrogance? Or just genuine indifference to his own absurd accomplishments? From what she'd seen so far, it seemed to be a mix of both.
Sunny took a sip of coffee, then met her gaze with a charming smile.
"Well, of course. I'm a busy man, after all."
Right then, the door opened, and in stepped the Lord of Shadows.
His hands were soaked in blood, splatters staining his armor.
Without a word, he dismissed his helmet and walked over to the table, grabbing Sunny's mug of coffee from his hands.
He inhaled deeply, clearly exhausted. "It's done," he said simply, tilting his head back and drinking greedily from the mug. Once emptied, he set it down before his original self, Master Sunless.
The room fell silent, everyone staring.
Even Sunny frowned. Though, to be fair, it was mostly because his alternate self had just stolen his coffee.
"I can't believe this," he muttered under his breath. "You bastard! That was my coffee!"
The others just blinked at him.
"You stole your own coffee… and you're complaining about it?" Kai asked, utterly lost. For a moment, he genuinely wondered if this was all just some illusion.
This was Bastion after all. But sadly… or maybe thankfully, it was real.
Sunny just shrugged and stood to pour himself another cup. "Yeah, it happens. Managing eight bodies isn't exactly simple, you know?"
Before Kai could press further, he vanished into the kitchen.
The others turned to the remaining incarnation. Not that this one was likely to be more sane.
"So what's done?" Revel asked, more out of habit than curiosity. She'd long since stopped trying to make sense of Sunny's antics.
"The rest of Mordret's vessels. At least, the ones in Bastion," he said with a sigh. "Doubt that's all of them, though."
Then, before anyone could ask more, he dissolved into shadow.
The Lord of Shadows clearly had a long day.
And really…who could blame him? Capturing the Prince of Nothing and his razor-sharp sister, pummeling him in a soul battle, then destroying a bunch of titanic vessels, and the Transcendent Titan's human body?
All in a day's work.
Now, at least, he'd earned a break.
Even if it wouldn't last long.
And so, it was said and done. There was no reason for them to remain in Bastion any longer.
Sure, Sunny could have just left the Lord of Shadows behind to finish the cleanup, then rejoined his Incarnation in Godgrave later on foot... or rather, on shadow?
But that would've meant wasting an absurd amount of essence to Shadow Step all the way back to Godgrave. Far too inefficient. So he decided to cut his incarnation some slack and wait.
Moments later, Sunny strolled out of the kitchen, coffee in hand, that familiar grin stretched across his face.
"Ready for departure?" he asked brightly, taking a slow sip. The others merely shrugged, none of them had any objection to leaving the dreadful battlefield of Bastion behind.
But instead of the Café rising from its feet, the world around them trembled faintly. Then, the café dissolved into darkness.
The outside vanished, swallowed by an endless ocean of shadows.
In every direction, endless forms of Shadows stood in the gloom. Far ahead, a colossal dark temple loomed at the center of it all, faintly illuminated by the eerie glow of seven black suns suspended in the sky. They hung like silent sentinels, pressing down with a mysterious, suffocating weight.
The temperature dropped. The café grew colder. The shadows so deep they looked like the absence of reality itself, similar to true darkness, they seemed to crawl and stretch with a life of their own.
Jet and Kai gasped quietly, wide eyes scanning the surreal expanse of the Soul Sea. They'd been told where they were going, but being told and being here were two vastly different things.
It was beautiful.
And terrifying.
"Welcome," Sunny said, glancing at them with a casual smile. "Forgive the poor lighting, but it's enough to get around."
He summoned a black duffle bag with a thought.
Shadows slid forward, each one slipping into the bag like mist drawn into a bottle. Once the last passenger had entered, Sunny dismissed the memory with a flick of his hand.
Far away, in the hollows of Godgrave, the Lord of Shadows retrieved the duffle bag again.
He scowled.
"The bastard has the nerve to send me a bunch of exhausted shadows?" he muttered with a sigh, then turned back to watch over the Vanishing Lake, as the King had commanded.
In the Soul Sea, the initial wave of disbelief slowly faded as Kai and Jet settled into their new quarters, situated beside Effie, who remained in a deep, beautiful dreamy sleep, guarded by a nightmarish steed.
She didn't seem to mind taking a long overdue rest.
Revel wandered over to Sunny, who was already preparing dinner. Whether drawn by the scent of food or simply craving a leisurely conversation with a good friend, she wasn't quite sure.
But she suspected Sunny was growing restless too, even if he was living three lives at once.
Especially with Nephis away, tending to her duties.
"So… what now?" Revel leaned against the doorframe with a teasing smile. "Your collection of Saints is complete now, isn't it?"
Sunny couldn't help but chuckle at the jab. He himself had once joked about resembling a human trafficker…though he wasn't in the business of selling people.
Changing them, though? That was up for debate.
He had turned the Song Sisters into loyal allies of his yet unfunctional "Clan" aligned with Nephis' cause to secure humanity's future. And more importantly, they'd joined of their own free will. They remained grateful for the choice.
But now… now he had to figure out what to do with Morgan and Mordret.
Morgan, once the most loyal Blade of the King.
And Mordret… still alive only because he might be useful to humanity. Assuming there was any hope of salvaging him. If not, Sunny would make sure to interrogate him, perhaps with a little help from an old friend.
Who knew what Cassie could extract from that madman's eerie mind?
The thought lingered in the back of his head, among countless others, while he kept the rest of his multiple lifes running smoothly.
Well…he was doing his best at least.
But that could wait. First came introductions.
And for that, the Siblings of Valor needed to wake up.
Which shouldn't take much longer.
After a moment of quiet reflection, Sunny gave Revel a sideways glance and let out a sigh.
"It's complete in theory," he murmured. "But Morgan, and especially Mordret, are going to be a tough nut to crack." A dry laugh followed. "I mean, Mordret's even more insane than I am. Not that anyone believes that."
Revel chuckled, already intrigued by the idea of the two infamous siblings joining the fold. Kai, Jet, and Effie were good company, but watching the Siblings of Valor seethe in quiet rage at their captivity? That would be entertaining.
"You're probably right. I've never met Mordret, but I've crossed paths with Morgan a few times," she said, pouring herself a mug of coffee.
"So… what do we do if the Prince of Nothing doesn't want to play nice?"
Sunny paused, turning to face her.
His smile made her freeze for just a moment. It was a reminder… one they all needed now and then.
They were so used to his calm, charismatic presence as Master Sunless.
But beneath the charm, they should never forget who he also was.
He was the Lord of Shadows.
The heir of Weaver.
And the man capable of unleashing a level of death and destruction the world had never seen.
A few moments of silence passed before Sunny finally answered Revel's question.
"Isn't it simple?" he said, casually. "I beat the shit out of him again and show him just how miserable this place can get if he tries anything."
He paused, a wry glint in his eyes. "Silent wasn't far off when she said Cassie might pay us a visit. I fully intend to make Mordret's life hell…and pry every last secret from that twisted head of his."
He turned back to the stove, leaving Revel briefly stunned.
"But I'll give him a chance first," He added. "Not that it'll change much. That guy walks into every room like he owns it. Time he learns what it feels like to be at someone's mercy."
Revel stared at his back, thoughts racing. 'I should've expected that. He's not exactly human… and he's not really the forgiving type. Poor Shan. There was something going on between her and Mordret, wasn't there?'
Just as she turned to leave, Sunny called after her.
"Would you gather everyone down here? Effie's probably still out cold, but at least check on her, yeah?"
She glanced over her shoulder, smiling faintly.
"How polite of you, asking instead of ordering."
Her teasing laugh made him scowl slightly, though he had no one but himself to blame for not always being taken seriously.
Still, Revel didn't mind doing as asked.
Before long, the dining room filled with people. It was starting to feel crowded now that Kai and Jet were part of the picture, too. Effie remained fast asleep, but Sunny wasn't concerned. She needed the rest.
"So, what's up?" Jet asked, arms crossed. "Revel said you wanted everyone here, it must be something important."
A few heads nodded in agreement. Even Rain couldn't suppress her curiosity, though her nerves flared the moment she noticed Kai only a few seats away.
As always, Sunny sat at the head of the table, coffee in hand, wearing that familiar infuriating yet charming smile. Then, without a word, he stood. The movement didn't make him much taller, but here, in his Soul Sea, his presence was immense.
With a thought, he summoned Ananke's Mantle, not a shadow-crafted replica, but the real thing. Its power dimmed his aura to that of a simple Master, and in an instant, the shadows softened. The warmth of the café returned.
Revel's eyes lit up.
He was really wearing it again.
Which could only mean one thing.
"So they've finally woken up?" Seishan asked, already knowing the answer.
Sunny nodded. "They have. Which means two things." He pointed at himself.
"First, I'm only Master Sunless as long as they don't know the truth. So, to keep up the illusion, I need you all to act like the Lord of Shadows is a separate person."
No one objected. They nodded, some of them already accustomed to playing along.
"Second," he continued, "Rain needs someone to watch over her. I can't assign a shadow to her all the time. Even if Morgan ends up too cautious to try anything… I don't trust Mordret one bit."
Rain shrank in her seat at the sudden attention. She'd started to feel more comfortable around Seishan, and especially Hel, but the rest of the group was still overwhelming.
Then, without hesitation, the Song Sisters stood and gathered behind her chair.
"She's family," Revel said firmly. "Nothing will happen to her."
Rain turned and looked at them all. Still shy, but grateful, she smiled.
"Thank you… I really appreciate it."
Hel blushed slightly, coughing awkwardly as she placed her hands protectively on Rain's shoulders. Then she met Sunny's gaze, voice cold and sharp.
"We'll take shifts. She won't be touched. If Mordret so much as looks at her wrong, I'll slit his throat myself."
Sunny blinked.
For a moment, even he was caught off guard.
He'd expected their support, but Hel's fierce protectiveness? That was unexpected. And oddly comforting.
"…Good," he said simply. "Then I'll excuse myself. I have a nap to take. Under a tree."
And with a single step, he vanished.
Leaving the rest in the Sisters' hands.
Jet and Kai exchanged a look, completely left in the Dark.
Seeing their confusion, Revel stepped forward.
"Judging by your faces, I'm guessing neither of you knows what's going on."
Both Saints shook their heads. Revel took a breath, bracing herself.
"Right. So… when we first woke up here, we climbed out of the Nameless Temple's basement. Sunny was already there, lying under the sanctuary tree. He made us think he was just a Master. Our guard. Our caretaker. Completely fooled us into thinking he wasn't the Lord of Shadows."
Jet frowned. "Why? That seems… inefficient."
Seishan chuckled and turned toward the stairs.
"Oh, it is. But it's also hilarious. Watching them stumble around, trying to figure him out while we know the truth? Priceless! So relax. Enjoy the show. He's quite the actor, you know."
Kai rose from his chair, a small smirk forming. "Nephis really did get her hands on a special Falla."
He moved upstairs, intent on watching from the second floor. With his ability to see through any barrier, he had the perfect vantage point.
One by one, the others followed.
They gathered at the tall window on the upper floor, overlooking the Nameless Temple beyond the veil of Shadows.
And so, Kai assumed a new role: the commentator for the greatest show Sunny's Soul Sea had to offer.
Deep beneath the Nameless Temple, Morgan stirred from unconsciousness.
Strangely enough, she was surprised to be alive. Of all the possible outcomes she'd considered for today, being kidnapped hadn't even made the list.
She had expected to face her brother in a final battle… alone. Whether she lived or died was of little consequence. She would've fought with everything she had.
Foolish, maybe. But her resolve had been unshakable.
Sunny had known that, of course. That's why they'd dragged her away by force. It hadn't taken much, really, Kai's commanding voice alone was enough to do the trick. But they'd come prepared. You don't just pluck a blade like Morgan from the battlefield without proper precautions.
Now, instead of a glorious death at her brother's hands, she found herself alone in pitch-black silence.
"Not the greatest lighting," she muttered, voice flat.
A dozen thoughts spun in her mind.
Why was she still alive?
How had the Lord of Shadows involved himself in the Battle of Bastion without leaving Godgrave's front line?
Surely her father would've noticed!
And… what now?
Inevitably, her thoughts drifted to Mordret. She doubted the Lord of Shadows had any fondness for that lunatic.
Maybe he killed him, she hoped.
A sudden creak broke the silence. The door opened.
Blue light spilled into the room like an invitation. Faint, cold, beckoning.
Morgan didn't hesitate of course. Leaving this cold, dark cell was step one to escape after all!
She stood, stepping into the hallway, and reality hit her with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
She was nearly naked. Only her enchanted undergarments kept her dignity intact.
"What a pervert," she growled. "Did he ogle me while I was unconscious?"
The anger was real, but so was her wariness. She kept her senses sharp.
A shackle circled her neck… thick, rune-etched, and humming with restrained power. Her aspect, her tethers… all suppressed.
She had tried to break it, of course. But nothing had worked. The material defied brute force, and the runes didn't seem to be the source.
"What is this thing?" she muttered bitterly. "Valor could really use some of these…"
She didn't know how it worked. Only that it worked.
But right now, survival mattered more than understanding. She needed to escape.
"I'm done with this cursed Clan. Father can burn with his war." Her voice was low, cold. Regal no longer, Morgan was done being anyone's princess.
She would be her own person. No one, not even the Lord of Shadows, would take that from her.
She found a small table nearby. Folded atop it were clothes.
Unexpected…to say the least. Confusion claimed her mind.
More surprising: she could touch them without shredding the fabric. Even a pair of gloves had been provided.
"How considerate of him," she muttered, a smirk tugging at her lips. Beneath the sarcasm, a sliver of gratitude crept in. Dignity was a rare thing to be gifted in defeat.
She dressed quickly. The outfit was all black… naturally.
"He really has no taste," she said, amused. But at least the clothes were comfortable. Practical. Simple.
A far cry from her usual attire, but fitting, in a way. She wasn't the woman she used to be.
Then came a bang.
A thunderous impact shook one of the vault doors in the corridor. Something… or someone, was behind it.
Morgan froze.
Whatever it was had strength. Enough to make steel tremble. And with her powers sealed, she knew she wouldn't survive a direct fight.
Not today, not now.
Thankfully, whatever had caused the commotion quickly gave up again.
Then she heard footsteps. Two sets. One heavy, deliberate. The other light, uneven… limping.
She stiffened.
That presence, suppressed though it was… was all too familiar.
He was alive.
Of course he was.
Her jaw tightened. But her lips curled into a smile.
'Fine. I'll kill him later,' she thought, determination still burning in her mind.
When the shadows parted and his figure emerged into view, she nearly broke out into laughter.
And then she did.
A deep, genuine, echoing laugh.
Mordret limped toward her, a shackle tight around his throat, matching hers. But unlike her, he looked like he'd crawled through hell.
Bruises marred his skin. His left eye was swollen and nearly shut. A cut split his lip. And his right leg…judging by the limp, had been broken more than once.
Compared to that, Morgan had gotten off easy. The Lord of Shadows had simply pulled her soul into his realm and knocked her out with surgical precision.
No fuss. No mess.
She had no desire to test him after seeing this.
'No point ending up like that monster. Let's see what he wants first.'
She glanced briefly at the silent Onyx Knight nearby, then turned back to Mordret. His agony brought her a quiet satisfaction.
"So. You're alive," she said sweetly. "Can't say I'm happy about that."
Mordret's voice was hoarse, each word a struggle. "Likewise."
She didn't lit up. After all, the sight was putting her in too good of a mood to let him get under her skin.
"I should thank him, really. Beating you into such a lovely state… You've never looked better, bastard."
For her the Lord of Shadows deserved a prize for such outstanding artwork.
Mordret's toes curled against the cold stone. The humiliation was unbearable. Not even during his time imprisoned in the Night Temple had he felt this thoroughly dismantled.
The irony wasn't lost on him.
Nor on Morgan, clearly.
"From one dark temple to another," she teased. "Do you have a thing for being a prisoner in such places?"
Her laughter echoed again, sharp and cruel. A moment of rare relaxation.
He ignored her of course.
He had more pressing concerns, like the shackle around his neck. Try as he might, he couldn't even bend it with his powers.
'Cutting my head off is off the table this time.' he thought bitterly. 'Bastard trapped me inside his Soul Sea. If I die here, that's it.'
A clever prison. Annoyingly clever.
And perhaps deserved.
After all, Mordret had tried to kill the Lord of Shadows once.
He'd even vowed never to return! Yet here he was, tricked back into this place.
Weakened. Isolated. Sealed.
No tethers. No vessels. No exit.
Getting out would take more than a clever traveler with a mirror shard this time.
And whoever that stranger was, Mordret doubted they were coming back.
He was absolutely right about that.
Mordret had no choice but to wait, for the perfect opportunity. One that would let him slip the shackle from his neck and reconnect with a vessel.
For now, his soul was trapped. Fully and completely.
This was worse than the prison his father had so meticulously built for him.
If he weren't so infuriated, he might've admired the deviousness behind the trap. Capturing him, properly, was no small feat.
But that wasn't even the worst part.
If he died here, inside this Soul Sea, he would vanish for good. No escape. No Mirror dimension to return to.
At this moment, Mordret was nothing.
No strength. No plan. No hope.
And he knew it… even worse the Lord of Shadows knew it too.
'I really shouldn't have tried to take over his body.' Mordret thought bitterly. 'I definitely chewed more than I could swallow.'
At least the clothes were comfortable. That was… something.
It didn't change much, but waking up in clean, soft fabric instead of a dark pit chained to a wall had been a surprise. He'd expected torture, maybe even a visit from Song of the Fallen.
What wasn't yet, could be though.
He knew that much.
Suddenly, Saint nudged him forward, just a soft push… for now.
Even through his boiling anger, Mordret understood the silent command. Following it was the best option, and perhaps the only one.
Morgan followed without a word. Like Mordret, she had no doubt about where they were. From the moment her soul had been pulled from her body, she recognized it wasn't her own Soul Sea she now walked within.
She saw the look in Mordret's eyes when their surroundings changed as well. That… told her enough.
'Escape will be nearly impossible.' She thought. 'Not with these shackles. I'll need leverage first.'
Lost in thought, she climbed the stairs just behind Mordret, Saint keeping close to his side. All was silent and uneventful.
Until…
A sudden yelp echoed through the basement, and both of them went flying back down the stairs.
Saint… turned casually, giving a even look to the treacherous shadow hiding behind her.
Sunny had kept the tradition alive.
Moments later, their bodies hit the floor hard.
Morgan groaned, fury rising. She didn't even look to see the cause of their fall… she simply directed her rage straight at Mordret.
"You damn fool! Can't even walk up stairs without falling?" she snapped. "No wonder Father cast you aside. You're useless."
Her voice echoed like a whipcrack.
But Mordret said nothing.
Just the sound of his battered body rising. Steady. Slow. Silent.
When he began to climb again, he finally spoke.
"You know nothing, sister."
His voice wasn't cruel or mocking. Not laced with that usual madness. If anything, it sounded… tired. Wounded.
Maybe it was just the lingering trauma from his one-sided duel with the Lord of Shadows. Morgan couldn't care less. To her, Mordret was a hollow shell of a person. There was no warmth in him. No joy. Only spite and cruelty.
Moments later they finally reached the sanctuary.
The massive tree stood in solemn majesty at the center. Morgan froze.
For a moment, even she couldn't help but admire it. The aura it exuded was peaceful. Powerful. Eternal.
But then she saw him.
Lying beneath the tree.
Mordret had already stepped forward, Saint trailing behind like a shadow with purpose, always guarding, perhaps ready to strike if needed.
Morgan hoped it was the second option.
She caught up quickly and frowned at the figure.
"…What is he doing here? That's the Boyfriend of Nephis." she muttered.
Mordret's ears caught the low voice. He hesitated before speaking.
Even though he hated her…deeply, absolutely, like always, they were both trapped. For now, at least, they were allies in suffering.
"Changing Star has a partner?" he asked, skeptical. "That doesn't sound like her."
Morgan gave him a look sharp enough to draw blood. She'd been just as surprised when she first heard the rumor, but upon seeing him, even she had to admit: the Master in Bastion had his charm.
Annoying charm.
"He's just some pretty boy," she muttered. "Runs a café in Bastion. Nephis keeps him around, probably for appearances. I even made him a Knight of Valor to uphold her image."
She kept her tone cold, but she was already calculating. If Mordret knew something useful about this mysterious situation, she wouldn't hesitate to exploit it.
Mordret said nothing though. Just stared at the man.
Sunny.
"Sleeping" peacefully under the tree.
A living contradiction to the chaos all around.
With a scowl, Mordret raised his foot… and kicked him.
Not with his full strength. Just enough to wake him.
"That he's from Valor is reason enough to kill him," he muttered darkly. "He better have answers."
Morgan didn't respond. Her thoughts were elsewhere.
Mordret might have been a bastard, but even he could play nice when it served him.
Right now, answers were worth more than revenge.
Sunny stirred slowly, stretching as if waking from a genuine Slumber. He had played this role a few times before, and gotten disturbingly good at it.
Neither sibling suspected a thing.
Perhaps because they were still too busy planning how to kill each other.
But Mordret kicking him like that?
That tested his patience.
After everything Sunny had done to keep the bastard alive, this was the thanks he got?
Unbelievable.
'I should have broken both his legs… and arms.'
But for the sake of the mission, he kept his irritation buried.
For now…
When he finally sat up, he looked between the two siblings. Their glares could've skinned a mundane… but he'd expected that.
Honestly, it was probably Saint's presence alone that had kept them from jumping him on the spot.
Even if that would have unknowingly sealed their fate.
"Tell us what's going on," Morgan demanded, folding her arms.
To her, he looked harmless. Ridiculous, even. A stray dog given a nobleman's cloak.
'There's no way anything important is going on in that pretty head. But he's here, so there has to be some reason for that.'
Sunny rose, brushing off his mantle with practiced ease. Then he smiled… slowly, with intent.
Having both Morgan and Mordret here would be a migraine worse than anything Beastmaster had ever thrown at him. But also… endless fun.
"Greetings, Princess Morgan. Prince Mordret." He bowed slightly, voice laced with false courtesy.
Morgan scoffed.
"He's not much of a prince. More like an abomination."
Mordret's fist clenched, but he didn't strike. Not yet. Not with that strange echo to his side, like he was going to be executed immediately if he stepped out of line.
That too was a wise observation.
"What are you doing here?" Morgan asked sharply. "Were you captured too? You're not wearing a shackle though."
Sunny shook his head lazily.
"No. I'm not a prisoner." He stepped next to Saint's side. "I'm your warden. And your caretaker."
For a heartbeat, silence stretched endlessly.
Morgan and Mordret's expressions cracked, just slightly. Their eyes narrowed.
Sunny nearly laughed aloud.
'They would kill me if I pointed out how similar their expressions are right now. Well… they'd try.'
It took them a moment to process what they'd just heard.
Morgan and Mordret stood frozen, caught somewhere between laughter and murder.
If not for Saint's presence, the latter might've been the obvious choice.
Instead, they settled on glaring at Sunny, faces locked in a strange fusion of disbelief and barely contained rage.
"You can't be serious," Mordret said, surprisingly calm.
Sunny had expected more… rage, threats, maybe an attempted dismemberment. But it seemed the Prince of Nothing was exercising restraint.
Then again, it was probably the result of the most brutal beating he'd ever received along with the looming threat of Saint. Sunny had his money on his Shadow.
Morgan, for her part, was disgusted to realize she felt the exact same way.
Sunny offered a pleasant smile and continued, as if giving a casual tour of the grounds.
"The Lord of Shadows has brought you here for the duration of the war. My job is simply to ensure that neither of you… acts out."
At his signal, Saint drew her sword from the Darkness. The blade manifested into existence, seemingly devouring the Light around them.
"There are some rules," Sunny added lightly. "First, no violence unless both parties consent. Second, all basement areas are off-limits. Don't go exploring in those."
He paused just long enough for it to sink in.
"And lastly, if you have questions, requests, or complaints… bring them to me. No one else will listen."
He ended with that infuriating, self-satisfied smile.
Morgan and Mordret both had the same exact thought:
'I want to hurt this man.'
Yet the two knew better than to try anything… for now.
"So the Lord of Shadows put the weakest Master in both realms in charge of two Saints?" Morgan scoffed. She looked around, as if checking to see whether this was all some elaborate joke, or a nightmare they had yet to wake from.
Sunny chuckled, waving his hand as if to dismiss her concerns.
"Oh no, of course not. That would be ridiculous, right?"
For a brief moment, they relaxed, marginally reassured. Maybe he was just some idiot. Maybe he was only trying to make himself look amusing. Maybe this whole act was to avoid getting torn to pieces.
And then he dropped the next bomb.
"No… the Song Sisters and three government Saints are in my care as well."
The silence that followed was deafening.
If Sunny listened closely, he could almost hear the internal machinery in their minds grinding to a halt, gears catching, slipping, cracking under the strain.
Sunny kept smiling.
'This is going to be fun.' he thought.
[I would like to strangle myself for deciding to make this Chapter 10'000 words…10'286 to be exact.]