Sunny watched, sat on the stairs leading to the throne, as Gunlaug stayed kneeling, motionless. It wasn't like Sunny had something urgent to do; Nephis was taking care of getting the alliance of The Bright Lord's old lieutenants, Kido, leader of the Artisans, Gemma, leader of the Hunters and Pathfinders, Tessai, chief of the Castle's guard, and of course Seishan, who was already on their side. They had managed to avoid the civil war that had followed Gunlaug's murder. Gunlaug was still alive, the other outstanding contenders to the throne, who were going to become assets to humanity, were, too.
Nearly a thousand humans were in the Forgotten Shore. Double what had been. Sunny knew they still had the siege of the Crimson Spire ahead of them, but he hoped.
As the Sun completed his trajectory and began to dive into the horizon, the Dark Sea emerged. The splashing of the Great Titan was so powerful that water splashed right into Gunlaug's face, too.
He jerked, only to find Sunny standing above him, an exquisitely decorated glass bottle in his hands. The Sleeper smiled friendly. "Thought I'd wake you up from."
Gunlaug stared at him for a moment, a strange glint appearing in his glassy blue eyes as they cleared.
"Why did you save me?" He croaked. Sunless' dark gaze pierced him.
"Well, even if it may not seem like it, I've experienced my fair share of leadership and hard decision. Thing is, I understand why you have done what you have done. Stripping someone of their freedom is despicable, but you did it in good faith. That," He paused. "Is not the only reason, but the one that should matter to you. It is up to you what you do from now on."
A black knight borne of darkness appeared from his shadow. Two red embers ignited in her visor.
Sunny patted her on the shoulder. "This is Saint. She'll carry you. Let's get you tidied up."
The stone saint scooped up the ex-king in a princess carry, and followed Sunny into the labyrinthine expanse of castle. Walking with Gunlaug felt strange. Just earlier that day, he had possessed an absolute- actually, it hadn't been absolute since their arrival, but still- hegemony over the human population of the Forgotten Shore. Now, he was being carried by Saint like a distressed princess. Yes, Neph had broken both of his legs, but Sunny wasn't one to dwell on every detail (He knew very well he was).
Sunny used his shadow sense and his shadows to scout ahead and avoid anyone. He wasn't really worried that anything would happen, but any encounter with someone would surely result in an embarrassing situation. Sunny was suffering from second-hand embarrassment only imagining it.
A deposed tyrant being carried by a Stone Saint in a princess scoop, at the orders of the man who killed his lieutenant and one of the very people he had oppressed meet in the safest haven of the Forgotten Shore, where abominations unfathomable for the average Sleeper dwell…
'I mean, it seems one of Jest's jokes.'
Finally, after some minutes of uncomfortable silence, they found themselves in front of the door of one of the most prestigious chambers of the Bright Castle, similar to the one Caster had been renting. Sunny knocked, and Nephis opened, revealing the tastefully decorate insides. Inside there was only Nephis, her face stoic, but Sunny could tell she was tired. They had had a long day.
Gunlaug said nothing as he was lowered on the sofa wrought of some kind of leather. Nephis stood in front of him, the tension growing thick in the air, as her hand touched his forehead. A soft glow effused his skin with warmth as his broken bones mended and his wounds healed. It was a strange sensation to be healed so swiftly and effectively. Gunlaug gathered himself before tentatively speaking. "Thank you… Changing Star." He felt strange thanking someone whom he had tried to kill and that had broken his knees and then healed them.
Her face was impenetrable.
"I was going to kill you…"
Gunlaug blinked.
"… But I was convinced by Sunny not to."
Oh.
Sunny felt like face-palming.
"What she means to say is that we're planning to conquer the Crimson Spire, and that you'll be our spearhead."
-------------------------------------------------
Sunny was perched upon the temple of the Dark City, looking down on the streets. Shadows surrounded him, the area around the cathedral devoid of any living other than himself.
Sunny felt at peace, the starless sky of the Forgotten Shore engulfing everything in his natural element. He stared at the horizon, thinking about what they were about to do in just weeks, on the day of the Winter Solstice, otherwise not-known as his birthday. He had no doubt they would succeed, and that the death toll would be much lower, but Sunny knew never to underestimate the Dream Realm. Anything could go wrong, something unexpected happen. Just like it did then. At the edge of his perception, the shadows shifted. Were there had been something, now was nothing. Essence flooded his body as he threw himself to his left. Pain exploded in his right side. Sunny spinned, uncaring of the pain, manifesting Serpent into an heavy shield. Something hit it with significant might, but Sunny managed to stand his ground.
Sunny scanned the roof in front of him, but it was empty. The air whistled. Sunny ducked, Serpent morphing into the familiar odachi as it was wielded to cut straight into the blow. A chilling scream tore through the night as the cut limb fell. It looked similar to a Spider's, covered in thick, metallic hairs. From the hollow, pointed end oozed a greyish venom. Sunny could only see the black blood sprouting from the invisible wound. He switched his vision, corruption outlined the faint shape of the creature, with four concentrated spheres. So, not only was it a Fallen Devil, but also of his natural enemy, Darkness. Otherwise, even if invisible, Sunny would've sensed its shadow. Sunny leaped over the edges of the roof, gracefully landing on the yard where the Dark Knight had dwelt. The Devil followed, its arrival much less noiseless. Actually, it was pretty stealthy for a creature of its size, but the pavement cracked, splinters flying in all direction. Another shriek, and Sunny found himself facing a slash of True Darkness. Sunny didn't let it catch him off guard, and ducked. At least, he tried to. Suddenly, his vision swam and his knees buckled. His side was burning, waves of pain and somehow numbness at the same time radiating from the wound on his side. Sunny gritted his teeth as the blade of Darkness nicked his shoulder. 'Ahah… at least I fell…'
A hiss in the air, and Sunny saw the undefined shape of the creature's limb descending toward his face.
Clang!
Saint emerged from his shadow, as reliable as ever, and the blow ricocheted off her firm shield. Sparks began to appear in Sunny's hands as Blood Weave rushed to fight the invading substance.
The air stilled as both parties considered their opponents.
Rooarrr!!!
Something roared on the creature's right side and Sunny launched himself forward. The Midnight Shard tore through the creature's body, but it left him vulnerable to its retaliation.
Retaliation that never came. Serpent had appeared behind it and flattened the creature with a swing of its mighty tail. Even if the Devil was caught by surprise, it still managed to survive.
Sunny could see the creature without his weave now, its outline painted by the black blood it oozed from every pore.
They attacked it from three different direction, and the Extraordinary Rock roared again. Sunny hadn't thought he would be attacked, much less by an adversary he couldn't easily handle, but nobody could ever accuse Sunny of not being paranoid enough!
The creature manifested a wall of True Darkness to block Serpent, and one of its couple sane limbs met Sunny's sword.
However, the Devil the failed to stop Saint. Its body was just too battered and slow.
As a final, ear-shattering howl resounded in the Dark City, the Stone Saint's sword sliced cleanly through its neck. Its corpse fell with a thud.
[You have slain a Fallen Devil, Ramban Aramene]
[Your shadow grows stronger.]
The main body was of a brownish colour where it wasn't covered by metal spikes, covered in crack and blood. Its sides were protected by an armour of chitin. And, Saint had actually severed three heads, all sprouting from the same neck and donning a horrible mouth and no eyes.
A river of True Darkness was emerging from the body and flowing towards Saint, seeping into her armour and visor. Soon, she was cradled by a dome. Sunny watched in glee.
'Ah… Finally.'
[Your Shadow has evolved!]
The Spell had never been sweeter in his ear. Saint had Ascended.