A few moments later, a graceful figure rose from the darkness, ascending into the air with an effortless motion before landing softly on the stone courtyard.
Sunny's eye twitched.
So, the owner of that charming voice *was* human, after all. A young man clad in a sleek set of lamellar armor, his every movement smooth and poised, like someone born into the art of elegance. He had long, dark auburn hair that caught even the faintest light with a subtle sheen, and vivid green eyes that almost glowed—bright, electric, and just a bit unfair.
Sunny stared at him for a second too long.
Honestly… he kind of wished the guy had turned out to be a demon.
Because it wasn't enough that Kai had a voice like honeyed wine—no, he had to be *devastatingly attractive*, too.
The bastard was tall, slender, and stupidly handsome. His armor was perfectly fitted over lean muscle, crafted from rich brown leather and lined with royal blue embroidery that matched the regal hue of his eyes. His features were maddeningly symmetrical—high cheekbones, smooth ivory skin, and a mouth that was just *a little too full and soft* to look at without developing a complex. Sunny's jaw clenched.
'Seriously? Lips like that? What the hell is this guy—some kind of male siren?'
Worse still, Kai had *that* kind of charm. The warm, approachable kind that made people want to be around him. The kind that made people smile without knowing why. Sunny could already imagine entire flocks of swooning girls—and more than a few guys—stumbling after him like dazed cultists just because he happened to walk down the street.
And to top it all off… the man looked genuinely *nice*.
No arrogance. No pretension. Just this frustrating softness to his smile, a glimmer of humor in his eyes, and yes—*dimples*. Dimples, for gods' sake.
Even two weeks in a dark pit hadn't managed to ruin his glow.
Sunny glanced at himself, then at Kai again. Then down at his own dusty clothes, mussed hair, and generally haunted aura.
'This is… this is a cosmic injustice.'
Kai, meanwhile, noticed the glowing red eyes of the Shadow Saint watching from the shadows. His expression shifted into one of immediate horror.
"Oh no! It's a demon after all!"
Sunny blinked. Pulled out of his internal suffering, he found a small sliver of relief in the distraction. And then, feeling a bit spiteful, muttered:
"I'm behind you, idiot."
Kai froze. Slowly, he turned around, one hand already extended in preparation to summon a weapon.
Of course, he couldn't see anything in the pitch dark.
'Good,' Sunny thought. 'Let him stew in uncertainty a little longer. I'll take what petty victories I can get.'
With as much aloof composure as he could fake, Sunny said:
"How do you not know about Saint? I never go anywhere without her."
Kai hesitated, voice more wary now:
"I… didn't recognize her. But… you really are human?"
Until now, both of them had only been voices in the dark. Sunny had already confirmed that Kai wasn't some ancient horror in disguise—or at least didn't *look* like one—but Kai hadn't had the same opportunity.
"Last time I checked, yeah," Sunny said dryly. "If you've got a Memory that makes light, go ahead and use it. See for yourself."
Kai lingered.
"Won't that attract the monsters?"
Smart. Cautious. Sunny approved.
"Nah. This courtyard is pretty secluded. Not many abominations wandering through here. That's probably why they picked it for your little prison cell."
Reassured, Kai summoned a delicate paper lantern. A soft yellow glow bloomed across the stones.
Sunny immediately flinched and hissed in exaggerated pain.
"Agh! Damn it!"
Shielding his eyes, he turned his head away. He'd expected the sting—his eyes were adjusted to the black—but overreacting a little helped sell the act. Let Kai think he was just a sensitive, brooding rescuer with mysterious habits. Or something.
"Oh! Sorry!"
Kai quickly lowered the lantern and finally looked up to see his rescuer.
And then… down.
*Just a little bit down*.
Sunny winced.
'Fantastic. As if this couldn't get any worse.'
Kai stared at him for a beat, then smiled—an annoyingly beautiful, heart-melting smile, complete with those smug dimples.
"Well… what a surprise! I was almost certain you were some sort of cursed monstrosity. But you're not. You're a human. And such a *cutie*, too!"
Sunny coughed violently.
'Wha—excuse me? Did he just call me a—?!'
He bristled.
"You do *remember* who you're talking to, right?" he asked with icy dignity. "I'll let that slide because clearly you're suffering the effects of confinement and questionable nutrition."
Turning quickly, he began to walk—face burning—and tossed a sharp, over-the-shoulder command:
"Come on. We've got things to do."
Kai trailed behind him, tentative at first, then summoned up enough nerve to ask:
"…Where exactly are we going, sir? The castle's the other way."
Sunny groaned.
"First of all, drop the 'sir' when we're alone. It's obnoxious. Second, we're headed to my base. There's some materials I need to pick up for the artisans."
He didn't bother with pretenses. Not for someone who worked with Alice. That woman tried to hug him *every single time* he came by for intel.
"Oh… I get it!" Kai chirped. "You're a *method actor*, aren't you?"
Sunny nearly tripped. That remark opened the floodgates.
On the way to the soul-devouring tree, Kai launched into a long-winded, cheerful ramble—talking about his first few days in the castle, his strange but oddly useful Flaw (apparently, he could always tell when a *human* was lying), and a dozen other things.
Sunny, listening in silence, didn't understand how the hell that was considered a *flaw*. That was a gods-damned *cheat code*.
He grew even more jealous.
So instead of responding, he hummed a wordless tune under his breath.
The pollen from Prince was so thick by this point that only he could navigate the haze properly. That was why he reached back and took Kai's hand without a word, guiding him through the golden mist.
"Wait here," he said once they reached the clearing. "I'm getting the stuff."
He didn't need Kai witnessing the full scale of the monstrous arsenal hidden within the tree's domain.
When Sunny returned, he was hauling one massive sack full of Soul Shards and four slightly smaller bags filled with dismembered pieces of Fallen abominations.
Kai stared at the gruesome load, wide-eyed.
…And, of course, he wasn't helping with any of the bodies. Just the bag of shards.
Saint would've carried all five without blinking.
Sunny rolled his eyes and sighed.
'Beautiful, charming, useful powers… but apparently allergic to manual labor. Of course he is.'
'*'
Sunny had chosen a circuitous route to the castle—an elaborate dance around danger rather than through it. Twisting alleys, broken bridges, and the hushed remnants of ancient streets guided their feet. He moved with calculated caution, avoiding known hunting grounds where the more horrifying denizens of the cursed city prowled. Behind him, Kai followed silently, graceful and alert, his bow in hand, emerald eyes scanning their surroundings. Though unfamiliar with the terrain, the young archer moved like someone used to danger… even if Sunny suspected he was mostly bluffing.
Eventually, Sunny lifted a hand, halting them with a sharp gesture. He narrowed his eyes at something far ahead, a subtle tension settling into his shoulders.
Kai leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper.
"…What is it?"
Sunny didn't respond immediately. He raised a finger to his lips.
Then, they both heard it—soft at first, but growing clearer as it drifted through the mist. A sound that clawed at the nerves: muffled, broken weeping. A woman's sobs, trembling with despair, echoing faintly in the fog. The mournful sound bled into the silence, brittle and wrong.
Kai's face paled slightly.
"…What are the odds that's actually a human girl?"
Sunny gave him a crooked, humorless grin.
"Low."
Without another word, they both slid behind a collapsed wall of debris. Cold stone pressed against Sunny's back as he crouched low, eyes tracking the fog. Quietly, he sent his shadow crawling up the remains of a nearby building, letting it slither across ancient stones like a silent sentinel. Beside him, Kai blinked at the eerie, liquid movement of the living shadow—but said nothing.
After a few moments, Sunny glanced over.
"Where are your arrows?"
Kai hesitated. His expression turned sheepish.
"I normally carry a specially made quiver—handcrafted arrows from one of the best blacksmiths in the castle. But, uh… the gentlemen who tossed me down that well weren't exactly concerned about preserving my combat potential."
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"So that fancy bow is basically for show, then?"
Kai flushed, glancing aside.
"…I have two arrow-type Memories."
A long pause.
"…Two?"
"…Yes?"
Sunny stared at him, deadpan.
"That's not going to be enough. Here—take these."
He extended his hand. Kai accepted it carefully, and Sunny transferred a few extra arrow Memories with a faint pulse of energy. As they sat in silence, Sunny's shadow finished its climb and sent him the image of the creature responsible for the sobbing.
It wasn't a woman. Not even close.
Lumbering through the fog was a nightmarish beast—four-legged, massive, and grotesque. Its flesh hung in sagging ribbons from an emaciated frame, bone and sinew exposed to the open air. The curve of ribs peeked through torn hide, and behind them glimmered an unnatural darkness that devoured light. The creature's skull—elongated and canine—was mostly bare, filled with rows of jagged fangs. From that broken maw, another human-like wail escaped, long and desolate. It echoed through the air like a cruel mimicry of grief… and then, silence. The creature stilled, head tilted, listening.
Sunny held his breath.
It turned… then slowly began to move again, continuing its aimless patrol. Their hiding spot, while dangerously close, lay just out of the monster's path.
He exhaled quietly.
"…We'll be here a while. Ten minutes at least. Try to get comfortable."
Kai gave a quiet nod and settled beside him without protest. There was a quiet steadiness to him—whether from his Flaw or from experience, Sunny couldn't tell. But the absence of annoying questions was a welcome blessing.
Pulling out a small waterskin, Sunny took a drink of cool, sweet water, then noticed Kai watching him with undisguised thirst. With a quiet grunt, he handed the skin over.
Kai drank like someone who hadn't touched water in days. Which, come to think of it…
"…When was the last time they let you drink?" Sunny asked.
Kai wiped his mouth, eyes bright.
"Two, maybe three days ago? Hard to keep track. Either way—thanks a million."
He passed the water back and gave Sunny a smile so sincere and dazzling it practically radiated gratitude. Sunny looked away, muttering something under his breath, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward against his will.
Then, Kai tilted his head.
"Hey, Sunny. Mind if I ask something?"
Sunny narrowed his eyes.
"You can."
His tone made it clear the better option was not to.
But Kai either didn't notice the warning or simply didn't care.
"You arrived on the Forgotten Shore during the last solstice, right?"
Sunny tensed, a flicker of cold dread passing through his gut. Here it was. The questions that could unravel everything. The Labyrinth. The castle. The ruins. He braced for impact.
Kai leaned in eagerly.
"…So… what's the top music video on the charts right now?"
Sunny blinked.
"…Huh?"
The unexpected question knocked him entirely off-balance. He stared at Kai like he'd grown antlers.
"I… I have no idea."
Kai let out a disappointed sigh.
"Damn."
But then, almost immediately, his face lit up again. That smile—so wide and infuriatingly bright—returned.
"…Can I ask another one?"
In the span of the next ten minutes, the foundation of Sunny's worldview didn't just shift—it cracked. Splintered. Shattered like glass beneath a hammer.
Because Kai… Kai *talked*.
And not about anything remotely important.
No—what spilled from the charming archer's lips was a relentless barrage of absurdly trivial questions, delivered with the genuine curiosity of someone starved for pop culture instead of food. He wanted to know what kinds of shoes were in fashion. Which celebrities had strutted down the red carpet in what ridiculous outfits. Who had kissed who, who had cheated, who had cried under stage lights and then made a dramatic social media comeback.
He asked about scandals, memes, viral dance crazes. He wanted to know if anyone had made a comeback after that *one* unfortunate eyebrow shaving incident on live TV.
Not once—not once—did he inquire about Labyrinths, horrors, Ascended, or Sunny's dark and complicated past. He didn't care about ancient ruins or massacre survival rates. He didn't even flinch at Sunny's more threatening scowls, or when the answers he got were no more than stony silence.
It was, frankly, insulting.
Even worse… Sunny found himself completely useless.
He didn't know the answers. Not a single one. He couldn't name the current pop idol whose music video had set the internet on fire. He didn't know what platform people used for trendsetting anymore. He didn't even know what the latest fashion *was*, let alone who had "won" the last awards season. What did he know about style, social movements, or celebrity meltdowns?
Nothing.
He felt like an idiot. A prehistoric relic. Some hermit from a cave trying to survive in a world run by neon-clad influencers and fashion bloggers.
Eventually, Kai's enthusiasm began to wane. His smile dimmed. His bright green eyes, so animated moments ago, now looked at Sunny with exaggerated dismay—as though the young man had just learned puppies weren't real.
Then he sighed and asked, softly, like he was treading on delicate ground:
"…Sunny, tell me honestly. Were you a *Chūnibyō* in the real world, too?"
Sunny blinked slowly.
'What in the world is this fool talking about?'
"…A Chūn… a what now?"
Kai coughed lightly and gave him a sheepish grin.
"You know? One of those overly dramatic types. Like, someone who talks about 'darkness within' and 'hidden power' unironically. An edge lord."
Sunny stared at him for a moment—just *stared*, as though waiting for the rest of the joke to land. It didn't. The world had officially stopped making sense the moment he'd met this lunatic.
"Why would I act like that?" he asked flatly. "Being dramatic gets in the way of *everything*."
Kai sighed again, this time much heavier, and turned away like a prince lamenting the dullness of his kingdom.
"I see. Well… sorry to bother you. It's just… I've been stuck here for about two and a half years now. Life gets so *monotone*, you know?"
His tone was whimsical, but his expression… there was a sliver of genuine loneliness beneath the theatrics. His posture, so straight and poised, now bent slightly under the weight of something harder to name. That beautiful profile was painted in shades of melancholy, as if mourning something far more serious than missed fashion seasons.
*Two and a half years.*
Sunny narrowed his eyes.
That was surprising. He'd assumed Kai was just another clueless Sleeper—a delightful distraction at best, a liability at worst. But surviving on the Forgotten Shore for that long required more than charm. Either he'd vastly underestimated the archer… or there was another, simpler explanation.
There *was* a certain group known for unusually long survival times.
Sunny's gaze darkened.
"Are you part of Nephis's group?"
Kai looked at him, visibly startled. Then, suddenly, he laughed. Not nervously, but freely—bright and amused.
"Gods, no! I've never had the personal pleasure of meeting Saint Changing Star myself!"
He grinned—then paused. The mirth faded. After a moment, his voice grew quieter, touched by something more somber.
"…But I do work with Lady Alice from time to time. As you already know."
That explained a lot.
Sunny's estimation of him shifted again. Working alongside *Alice*—and living to tell the tale—was no small feat. Perhaps Kai wasn't so useless after all.
*Interesting.*
The distant sobs of the beast had grown faint. Sunny turned his attention to the shadow perched above them, confirming that the grotesque creature had wandered far from their position. He dismissed the water skin and rose to his feet with practiced ease.
"We're safe now," he said. "Time to move."
Kai stood as well, adjusting the elegant lines of his armor. As Sunny summoned his shadow back and prepared to move forward, something tugged at the edge of his mind. He hesitated, casting a glance over his shoulder.
"…Hey, Kai. Can I ask you something, too?"
The older Sleeper brightened instantly.
"Of course!"
Sunny was quiet for a few seconds. When he finally spoke, his voice was oddly hesitant.
"That armor of yours… do you wear it because it's the best one you could find? Or because it looks good?"
Kai blinked at him, puzzled. Then, lifting one perfectly shaped eyebrow, he gave Sunny a look that somehow managed to be confused and pitying at once.
"…I don't understand the question. Is there a difference?"
Sunny stared at him. Then sighed, long and weary.
"Never mind. Let's go."
As the pale morning light spilled through the ruined streets, the two of them moved deeper into the heart of the Forgotten Shore—one guided by shadows, the other by style.
'*'
The castle squatted on the highest hill in the cursed city, looming like some ancient predator over the crumbling remains below. Even now—half-choked in ash and shadow—it was magnificent, a jagged crown of towers piercing the colorless sky. Dozens of spires clawed upward, held aloft by elegant arches and decaying columns. Stone gargoyles leered from the eaves, their hollow eyes tracking the dead streets like sentries that had long since given up caring.
The road leading up to it wasn't any less dramatic. Narrow, fortified, and cruelly efficient—it spiraled up the hill in tight coils, each curve designed to bleed an invading army dry. The whole path was a death trap, tailor-made for archers to rain down hell on anyone dumb enough to try their luck.
At the end of the spiral, a massive staircase led up to the gates. Below it, there had once been a military platform—wide enough for a legion to gather and make its last stand. That had been the idea, anyway. A final line of defense before the gates fell.
Now?
Now it was a slum.
Stone, wood, scrap metal—whatever could be scavenged had been stacked and nailed together into lopsided shelters. Chimneys made from broken pipes coughed smoke into the air. Rags served as doors. The narrow alleys between the shacks were crooked and tight, with the claustrophobic feel of a maze built by desperation. It stank of soot, old oil, and too many people trying to live on top of each other.
It didn't *look* like the outskirts Sunny had grown up in. But the feeling? That was the same. Misery soaked into the stones. That quiet, slow dread you carried in your chest every day. The constant buzz of hunger, exhaustion, and knowing nobody was coming to help.
As he and Kai moved toward the edge of the settlement, a few of the locals called out.
"Hey, Night! Glad to see you, man. Where've you been hiding?"
Kai gave a sheepish little wave, like a kid caught sneaking in past curfew.
"Ah, you know. Flying around."
One of them laughed. "Same old Night!"
Sunny stayed quiet, watching from the corner of his eye. Kai had always been good with people—easy smile, easy voice. He slid into conversations like he belonged in them. Like he *wanted* to belong.
Sunny preferred shadows. Silence. Things that didn't expect anything from him.
Still… something had changed. The buildings were mostly the same, but the people? Not quite. They looked sharper. A little cleaner. Less hollow. Less like they were waiting to die. There was a nervous energy to them now—like maybe, for once, they thought they had a future.
He narrowed his eyes.
*She's been busy these last three months.*
Kai finally managed to peel himself away from his fan club and gave an apologetic grin.
"Sorry about that."
Sunny frowned. Something tickled the back of his brain. Then he grabbed Kai's arm.
"…Why are they calling you Night?"
Kai blinked. Looked sheepish again.
"Oh. Right. You didn't know. Well… it's a nickname. Nightingale. That's what they call me around here."
Sunny's eye twitched. *Four months.* Four entire months wasted—waiting for some guy named *Night* to show up and claim a reward that had been sitting and gathering dust.
"You're telling me I sent word for you—and you just didn't come?! Where the hell have you been?"
Kai looked properly ashamed this time.
"Well… I thought you were, uh… gonna kill me. You don't have the *best* reputation, my friend."
Sunny exhaled sharply. "Right. Of course. Perfect."
He waved the rest off, not wanting to dig into it. Not now.
"At least you got your reward. Arrows. You're welcome."
Kai rubbed the back of his neck, mumbling something noncommittal.
Sunny looked away, already done with the conversation.
"Anyway. Since we're here—time to make good on your promise."
Kai nodded. "Sure. What do you need me to do?"
Sunny glanced around again, dropped his voice to a whisper.
"Go up to the castle. Find Kido. Tell her I've delivered the package. And if you can, pass word to Alice or Harus—I've got the tournament rewards."
Kai blinked. Twice. Then shrugged.
"No problem. Might take a little time."
Sunny made a face. "Fine. Do what you can. I'll be waiting… over there."
He pointed to a shadowed alley between two broken structures. Kai gave him a final grin, then turned and melted into the crowd.
Sunny slipped into the alley, leaned his back against the cool stone wall, and let himself disappear into the background. A shadow among shadows. The way he liked it.
This place made his skin crawl. Too loud. Too exposed. Too many old ghosts drifting around.
Maybe he should've walked away. Stayed gone.
But the Host had poured months into this operation. They'd collected shards, Memories, artifacts—everything they could get their hands on. They were close. So close.
Over five hundred Sleepers, waiting for someone to bring them home.
You didn't just walk away from that.
Time crept forward. One hour. Then another.
Kai was taking his sweet time. But nothing bad had happened. Yet.
Sunny almost let himself believe it was fine. That the nerves had been for nothing.
Then, of course… it wasn't.
A voice. Smooth. Familiar. Heavy with unspoken things.
"Hi, Sunny."
He froze.
Muscles locked. Mind sharpened. Like a trap had just snapped shut around him.
Slowly, he turned.
There she was. Nephis.
Tall. Silver hair drifting like smoke in the dim light. Calm. Serene. Terrifying in the way a sleeping blade is terrifying.
Sunny looked at her, expression unreadable. His throat felt tight.
He forced out a dry, crooked smile.
"…Hey, Neph. Long time no see."