The steady rhythm of regular breathing, not too far away, gently filled the space, signaling that Cassie had drifted into an easy slumber, leaving Nephis and him alone in the darkness.
It was in this quiet moment that Sunny saw an opening—a rare chance to ask the question that had been gnawing at him for what felt like an eternity.
"Hey, Nephis, can I ask you something?"
Nephis' gaze flicked toward him, her silver eyes gleaming faintly in the dim light.
"Can I ask you something in return?"
"Yeah, no problem," he replied, the words coming a little too easily.
Nephis nodded slowly, her silent understanding of his ability to see in the dark hanging between them like an unspoken truth.
Sighing, Sunny broke the silence, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Why do you keep Cassie around? Most people would just leave a blind girl behind."
The words felt wrong the moment they left his mouth, but the weight of his curiosity made it necessary. He knew Cassie was the closest thing he had to a friend, but he needed to understand what drove Nephis to make this choice.
A subtle smile tugged at the corner of Changing Star's mouth.
"Why? Wouldn't you?" she asked, her voice barely more than a murmur.
Sunny gritted his teeth, the Flaw urging the truth out of him whether he liked it or not.
"I'd like to think so, but I don't know."
Deep down, he desperately wanted to believe that his answer would be a definitive "yes," that he would always act out of kindness. But since the Nightmare, Sunny had found it increasingly difficult to lie to himself. The truth, he had learned, had a cruel, unforgiving nature.
Nephis didn't seem to judge him, though. Her expression remained impassive, giving nothing away. After a long pause, she simply answered:
"Because I want to."
*Because... she wants to?*
The words struck him like a jolt of lightning. He had expected something more—perhaps a lecture on compassion, or some convoluted reason that would make Cassie's presence seem vital, even strategic.
But Nephis gave him nothing of the sort. She expected him to accept that she was risking her life, that she had sacrificed an awakened armor-type Memory, all for a blind girl, just because she *wanted* to.
*Ridiculous!*
At first, he dismissed her response as an empty, unconvincing answer, but the more he dwelled on it, the more it troubled him. Because, maybe, it wasn't an answer at all—it was the truth.
In his life, Sunny had never really done things simply because he *wanted* to. Most of the time, his actions were driven by necessity. It was never about what he desired—it was always a matter of what he *must* do.
But Nephis… Nephis had something that he had long since lost. A spark of untainted desire, a freedom to act without being shackled by necessity, by obligation. It was a kind of thinking that Sunny couldn't even begin to grasp.
Perhaps that was her greatest advantage of all. A mentality that defied reason, and an ego that thrived on instinct.
His thoughts spun in circles, but before he could make sense of them, Nephis spoke again.
"My turn."
*Wait... Does she mean it's her turn to ask a question?*
"Do you know the legend of Odysseus?" she asked, her voice surprisingly soft yet sharp with intent.
*A what... who? Where did that come from?*
Sunny blinked, utterly bewildered, and shook his head in confusion. Realizing that she couldn't see him, he spoke aloud:
"Kinda... wasn't he that Greek myth guy who went on some big world tour?"
Nephis sighed, a sound of mild frustration, then turned away for a moment before continuing.
"Odysseus was a hero in an ancient war. In the legends, some humans back then had powers similar to the Awakened. Achilles had the Aspect of an indestructible body, Diomedes was so fierce that even the God of War feared him, and Ajax had strength that rivaled giants. Odysseus, though, was neither the strongest nor the bravest. But he was the most cunning."
Sunny blinked again, his mind racing.
'What? Where is this coming from? Why is she speaking so... eloquently?'
Nephis didn't seem to notice his confusion, continuing with ease.
"In the end, Odysseus's cunning won the war for his people, and he prepared to sail home. But the gods, jealous and vengeful, cursed him to wander the seas forever, unable to return. He faced one danger after another and watched as his comrades fell around him. Then, shipwrecked and lost, he found himself on an island where the beautiful fairy Calypso resided."
Her voice took on an almost ethereal, wistful quality, weaving an enchantment around the air. Sunny couldn't help but listen, entranced by her tone.
"Calypso fell in love with Odysseus and welcomed him into her palace. For many years, they lived in peace, surrounded by wonders and delights. The island was like a paradise, offering pleasures beyond imagining. As long as Calypso was by his side, Odysseus was even immortal. But... the longer he stayed, the more he found himself gazing at the horizon, his eyes filled with longing for something beyond the island's beauty."
Nephis's smile was small, almost imperceptible.
"In the end, Odysseus built a makeshift boat and abandoned the island, leaving behind its treasures, its fairy goddess, and even his immortality. So... my question is, why did he leave?"
"Because it was fake. It had no real meaning," Sunny answered quickly, his thoughts racing. It was like a drug trip—sweet but hollow.
Nephis smiled faintly.
"Fake... Hm. Alright."
And just like that, she turned away again, her gaze distant, as though lost in her own thoughts. The conversation had ended, leaving Sunny to stew in his own discomfort.
Grumbling to himself, Sunny settled down and tried to sleep, but the image of Odysseus, his eyes empty with longing, wouldn't leave his mind. After a long stretch of silence, he whispered,
"Well? Did he make it back home?"
Nephis's voice was soft, barely a whisper in the night.
"Yes. He returned to his wife and son, and they lived happily ever after."
Sunny smiled in satisfaction, rolling onto his side, finally drifting toward sleep. But as the darkness closed in, Nephis's quiet voice pierced the stillness once again, almost as if it were meant for no one in particular.
"Odysseus was the first human to break the will of gods."
"Wait wasn't that Prometheus? The fire guy."
"Not a human."
"Oh."
'*'
In the soft light of the morning, the sound of waves retreating from the shore accompanied the stillness. Sunny and Nephis were the first to wake, though it was more accurate to say Nephis had gotten up, while Sunny was stuck beneath a sleeping Cassie, who had unknowingly claimed him as her personal mattress.
It took far longer than Sunny would have liked to untangle himself from the web of limbs and blankets that had ensnared him. He had to gently nudge Cassie aside without waking her, wiping away the drool that had pooled on his shirt. As the sun began to rise and the world around them slowly stirred, Nephis had already started a fire, the flickering flames casting long shadows over the trio.
Cassie remained blissfully asleep, wrapped in her dreams, and with her, the quiet of the morning seemed to stretch on without a word between the two of them. It felt like the conversation from last night—the one that had hung heavy between them, unspoken but undeniable—had never happened at all. Yet, despite the silence, they somehow found themselves discussing the next steps of their journey after some time. Nephis, as usual, seemed to have a clear idea of what should be done.
"Given what you said about the scavengers to the west," Nephis began, her voice as flat and unfeeling as ever, "the logical move is to head east. We should start as soon as possible. North or south would also work, but those directions won't put enough distance between us and them."
Sunny nodded, his thoughts turning to their next course of action. "We've explored a bit to the east already. But not enough to be confident we can make it to the next high point in one day. The best move is to scout the path toward that group of cliffs over there today and move the camp tomorrow."
He sighed, eyes trailing over the horizon. It felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on him, even though he didn't show it. He glanced at Nephis, knowing there was something more he needed to say, something that had been weighing on him for longer than he cared to admit.
"Hey, Neph?"
She didn't answer right away, just turned her head and fixed her unreadable gaze on him. It was the kind of look that made Sunny feel like she was analyzing him, peeling back his layers, even if she didn't show it. It was enough, though. He didn't need words, just her attention.
"Do you want to make a deal?" he continued, his voice softer, almost hesitant. "You fix my eye, and in exchange, I give you the soul shard."
Nephis didn't respond immediately. She looked thoughtful for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly as she assessed him. Then, her tone, as always, was blunt. "What's wrong with it?"
Sunny shifted uncomfortably, trying to keep his tone as casual as possible. "No clue. It's been injured for a while, though. That kind of thing... it makes me less useful than I should be."
He knew he had to appeal to her, to give her a reason that not only made logical sense but one that fit the way she saw the world—pragmatic, detached, and very self-interested. He needed her to see this as a way to build some kind of rapport between them, to gain his favor for future needs, not realizing that this would be his proverbial foot in the door.
Nephis gave a single nod, as if satisfied with his reasoning. "Close your eyes," she instructed.
Sunny did as he was told, his mind swirling with uncertainty about what to expect. He could feel the weight of Nephis' presence beside him, her proximity almost palpable. Slowly, an odd warmth began to spread through his left eye, seeping into his very being. He waited in tense silence, the seconds stretching out like an eternity. Then, everything went still. For a brief, almost unbearable moment, he felt nothing at all.
"It's not healed," Nephis said flatly, her voice distant and almost clinical.
A heavy disappointment settled in his chest, weighing him down as though it had physically crushed him. He opened his eyes, bracing for the familiar darkness that had been his world for so long, but to his surprise, his vision had returned. He blinked a few times, testing the clarity of his sight. The world around him came into focus, clear and sharp.
Nephis had been wrong.
His left eye worked again—he could see.
There was no joy on her face, no sign of satisfaction or acknowledgment for the minor miracle she had just performed. It was as though she hadn't done anything at all. But for Sunny, this small victory felt monumental. His heart, though heavy with confusion, felt a spark of something—maybe hope, maybe relief. He didn't understand the depth of her indifference, but something had shifted inside him. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, like the first crack in a wall that was slowly beginning to break down. The deal had been made, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of hope that hadn't been there before.
He handed her the soul shard.
"Why?" Nephis asked, her gaze unreadable.
"It worked, and that was our deal," Sunny replied, his voice steady but laced with an unspoken question—why did she seem so indifferent?
With Cassia still asleep, the atmosphere between them was strangely quiet. It was as though the conversation they had shared the night before had never happened at all. They didn't speak much, and the silence between them grew heavier as time passed. Yet, eventually, their discussion turned back to the plan for the days ahead. Nephis, despite her lack of outward expression, had a sharp mind and some thoughts to offer.
"From what you told us about the scavengers crowding to the west, the logical step would be to start moving east as soon as we can. Of course, north and south are also options, but they won't put as much distance between us and the enemy."
Sunny nodded, agreeing with the logic, though his mind was still drifting a little. He was glad for the direction, at least. They needed space, and they needed it quickly.
"We've explored to the east a little," he added, "but not enough to confidently reach the next high point in a day. That's why I think the best course of action is to spend today scouting a path to those cliffs over there and move the camp tomorrow."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as the weight of their situation hit him again. He could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating.
"Do you have any idea where we are?" he asked, trying to shake the unease off. "I tried looking for some information on this place, but didn't find anything. Do you think there might be a human citadel to the east?"
Nephis shook her head, the faintest furrow appearing on her brow. "I've never heard of a region that fits the characteristics of this place. But one thing's certain: we'll have to move to find out more. We'll either find a citadel, stumble upon an unconquered gateway... or die. East seems as good a direction as any. It's the safest route for now, especially since there's a horde of monsters to the west."
As if on cue, Cassia suddenly sat up straight. Her eyes shot wide open, her face pale but alive with something else—nervous energy mixed with the gleam of excitement. She looked as though she had been awakened from some deep slumber, her expression a mix of shock and exhilaration.
Nephis frowned, clearly concerned. "Cassie? What's the matter?"
The blind girl turned toward them, her smile both enigmatic and bright. "A... a vision! I had a vision!"
Sunny's heart skipped a beat. *A vision?* He tried to wrap his mind around the idea, the possibility that someone could actually see the future—or perhaps even the past. His thoughts were a tangled mess as he struggled to accept this strange new reality.
Meanwhile, Changing Star shifted, her hand instinctively reaching for her sword as if preparing for any immediate danger. "Are we in danger?"
But Cassia shook her head energetically, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "No, it's not that! I saw people... I saw a castle full of people!"
Her hands fluttered as she pointed toward the horizon, her gaze unseeing, yet still so certain. "I don't know how far it is, but I'm sure it's in that direction!"
Sunny and Nephis exchanged a long, uncertain glance. They should be elated by the news, after all they were not alone in this cursed land. But there was one problem.
Cassie's small, delicate finger was confidently pointing west.