After his unexpectedly pleasant talk with William, Sunny returned to the cafeteria.
Nephis and Cassie were waiting for him at their table, there were still a few minutes before the classes started.
While returning Sunny saw also Yuki coming back from her call. Caster, for his part, he will not get to see him again until the next day, but Sunny don't care nothing about him.
Yuki sit back where she was while Sunny before they could even ask him questions -as soon as he approached the table- went directly to Nephis, took her hand and give to her the Memories on William's behalf.
Done this, Sunny could feel like an invisible chain around his soul was immediately broken, vanished into thin air.
The Oath was undone.
He felt free. However, Nephis didn't share his joy.
Yuki and Cassie were also confused by his sudden action: Yuki looked at him with a questioning glance while Cassie, who heard his steps, tilted her head in his direction.
Nephis first looked perplexed at Sunny, then at their joined hands.
What was he doing?
Before she could even ask... the Spell whispered in her mind.
Nephis immediately looked at her runes.
"Where did you get these?" Nephis asked outraged to Sunny, she probably already have a hint.
"Your brother just asked me to give them on his behalf." He answered her.
For an instant, Sunny seemed to see the spark of a white flame in Nephis's eyes who sent a little shiver down on his back.
"I know what you are going to say!" Sunny said to her raising a hand to let him explain, "But I let you know that I just spoke to William for a bit and I must say, your brother is not as bad as you made us believe. I don't understand! You yourself told us yesterday how William had helped you many times in the past, so... why don't you two get along?"
At this, the spark in Nephis's eyes enveloped her entire pupils, Sunny shivered for real this time, he retread his hand, fearing that she would burn it and took a step back.
'I just strike a nerve, didn't I?'
Nephis's rage even if not visible on her face was evident. She immediately stood up and spoke outraged at him in a cold voice:
"Because he is one of them, he is a dick and you too!"
Then she went on his way.
After Nephis stormed away and his shivers had passed away, Sunny blinked perplexed where she was a moment ago.
He understand a bit her rage, but for him, Nephis could have simply took the Memories and then send them all to screw themself.
Why did she have to make it so difficult?
He looked at the other two girls at the table, searching in them the answer.
Sunny saw Yuki and Cassie sighing together, even a little disappointed by his lack of tact.
Cassie put her fingers crossed together on the table, shooking a bit her head.
"You could have ask her differently, Sunny!" She murmured.
"Indeed!" Added Yuki nodding repeatedly.
Sunny blinked again, a little mad for their scolding.
He knows that he had not been very soft toward Nephis, but he did it on purpose to push her to talk. Yuki and Cassie didn't have realized this but Nephis, as her brother confirmed to him a little while ago, had not told them everything.
Nevertheless, he chose to be humble and admit that he had been blunt.
"Ok, ok! I get it!" He said, finally sitting at the table to end his breakfast, "I had not been very polite, but at least help me to understand! Why does Nephis hate her brother so much?"
"She doesn't really hate him, Sunny." Said Yuki at him.
Sunny turned to her, "Then why?"
"You... Don't get it?" Cassie asked.
Sunny crossed his arms and shook his head.
"No, for me Nephis could have simply took the Memories and then send them all to screw themself. Why did she have to make it so difficult?"
There was a short break, Yuki and Cassie looked at each other for a moment, then Cassie answered him:
"Sunny, her family literally sold her to Valor as if she was just a tool to use for their own gain. Even if her brother had help her in the past, he is still on their side. You are also right, I recognize this, she could have just done it like this. But accepting these Memories for Nephis is like show them that she is still the same tool for their disposal."
Hearing this, Sunny fell silent.
He was not very mortified for what had just told to Nephis; to him, her outburst was nothing more than an useless display of pride.
Both Sunny and Nephis knew exatly what they wanted. But while Sunny could accept a small compromise for a gain toward his goal, Nephis wasn't the same.
Nephis wouldn't never betray her principles or bow her head, not even in the name of her dream.
This was her immovable pride.
This was the Nephis that he had came to know.
Sure! It didn't meant that Sunny was ready to be an ass-kisser for a little gain, but something like bowing your head slightly was acceptable if the situation called for it.
Sunny sighed and resume to eat, he will apologized to Nephis later.
Some days later.
The echoes of two training sword clashing was heard from the gym.
Sunny was currently sparring with Yuki. Unlike Nephis, she was not as savage, instead, her battle art was more focused on precision and agility, so for Sunny's style she was the ideal sparring partner.
It was also useful that nobody used this training room after class. The other Sleepers were just wasting their time, spending it more for entertain themself instead to prepare themself for the Solstice. They thought that once in the Dream Realm a scout of the Clan should had came to rescue them.
No wonder no one of them survived outside the main cast, these idiots!
Nephis who was currently watching them in corner of the room, was still a little mad at Sunny for what he said to her some day earlier, although she had already accept his apoligies.
'Come on! Lose the grip princess, I'm still on your side.'
Thought Sunny while looking at Nephis out of the corner of his shadow.
"News here!"
Cassie's voice interrupted the spar between Yuki and Sunny, the blind girl was entering the training room while holding some letters between her delicate hands.
All the three of them turned toward her, Nephis approached her first.
Since Julius provided that enchanting sense Memory, Cassie had become much more indipendent and in these few days had started to walk alone without any aid.
However, the other Sleepers continued to avoid her like a plague.
Idiots! Each one of them, from the first to the last!
Cassie handed them the letters, there were no one for Yuki, instead there was one for each Sunny, Nephis and Cassie.
They opened the letters.
Sunny read his.
Inside, there were some drawings made by the children of an orphanage.
He knows well that orphanage, because there he had left for adoption his sister Rain some years ago.
Sunny had tried to stay there for a couple of years in the hope of being adopted, but nobody wanted him. Except for his Daddy Daemon, of course!
So, he leaved that place alone some time later. From time to time, he came back there to see how that place was doing. A curiosity mixed with regret for not having been wanted, even if it was rare for someone to be adopted in the Outskirts.
When he passes by there, the children always welcome him like a big brother, this because since nobody teach them anything, Sunny took the trouble to read some book for them.
When he did this, the children listened to him in silence with eyes full of wonder, eager to discover new things.
How curious! They really hung on his every word, it gave him some hope to push forward to live in that hellhole.
They were now like a family to him, although he was much more found in spending time to punch some thug with Jet or just spending time with Jet.
Seeing the drawings and the thanks'note written on them, a warm smile appeared on his lips.
'I'm so happy that they are fine! Bad things that I'll not be able to meet them again for a long time.'
He hadn't seen them since he got infected by the Spell, but they still remember him.
Yuki leaned near Sunny, looking at the drawings with some interest. Especially the drawing where there was a note who said: "Come back soon, big brother! We missed you ♡"
Clearly the words were written in disarray and full of typos in a manner that only fit a child who a learn to write a few ago.
But it was still a tender thing.
"Are they your family?" Asked Yuki to Sunny, she was looking at the children that appeared in the drawings next to him.
"A sorts, still! I think that they are the closest to one for me." Answered Sunny to her.
"They truly love you if they did these beautiful drawings for you."
Sunny looked at her well, then he left escape a small laugh.
"Love me? They most do! Because every time I came to the orphanage they cling at me like maniacs and beg me do this and that, so! Yeah! I suppose they love me. In a sense."
Sunny said this last word looking away, he loved them but they were really little devils if they wanted to.
Yuki put the knuckle of a finger on her lips, letting out a soft laugh who cause Sunny to look at her again.
A clinking sound caught their attention: Sunny saw a ring rolling across the floor until it stopped beneath her feet. The ring had fallen out of Cassie's letter as soon as she'd opened it.
Sunny caught the ring and gently put it in Cassie's hand.
"Thank you, Sunny." Said Cassie to him.
'No, wait! I should have putted it in one of her finger instead! GODS!!! I just wasted an heavenly sended opportunity.'
Sunny resisted the urgency to bang repeatly his head on the wall for his lack of initiative. To avoid thinking about it, he asked her:
"This ring, it's an important thing to you?"
Cassie raised her head toward him, she blinked; then she make a large smile. A large dangerous smile. She joined the hands behind her back and leaning slightly her head toward him.
"Oh! My, my! Did you think it was a gift from my boyfriend? Are you jealous, Sunny?"
Sunny blushed a little, this scheming gremlin!
He already knows that Cassie has never had a boyfriend, she just wanted to tease him.
"I never said that, I was just curious. Besides, you don't have a boyfriend! So, I'm not the one who should be teased to."
And crossed his arms in offense.
Cassie giggled a little, this was exactly the reaction that she wanted to, even Yuki was a little amused by this.
Then, she showed them again the ring she was holding in her hand.
"Even if I couldn't see it, I know this ring. It belonged to my grandma, she was called Cassia, too. My mum probably gave it to me as a lucky charm."
Sunny leaned his arms back on his waist and looked at Cassie with a little bit of remorse.
Indeed! Since meeting Cassie and Nephis he had never tried to know them better, even the original Sunless didn't bothered too much about it, but if he had ask them of their past, he should have done the same.
Not now!
When he will feel ready, he will tell them. Even of her.
But not now.
...
Cassie's smile dimmed a little, despite the time spent together and the training, her worries were not undone, and it was normal!
Sunless knows what will potentially happen because he had read the story of this world in his past life; so his concerns were lessen, but to the others... they were not living a very good time.
The percentage of Sleepers who survive in their first expedition to the Dream Realm was always no higher than the 30%. Even with a pair of Sovereigns and Saints now running all across the Dream Realm to escort them home, it wasn't a warranty.
Sunny looked again at Cassie, her blank eyes fixed on the ring.
Since the dead Gods were giving him a second chance, this time Sunny took the ring from Cassie's hand and gently putted it in her ring finger of the left hand.
At this, Cassie blushed deeply then Sunny put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry!" He said to her, "You'll survive! I'll make sure of it. Even if I'll have to turn up and down all the Dream Realm, I'll found you. It's a promise."
Cassie lowed her head, took her now ringed hand with the other and brought them on her chest, right at her heart.
"Hm!" She nodded, unable to stop a smile despite her concerns.
"Me too!" Added Yuki.
Sunny turned to Yuki and he smiled too, then again to Cassie.
"See, Cas! You are not alone. You have me, Yuki and Nephis." He turned to the silver haired girl behind them, "Isn't true Neph-
WHAMMM
As soon as he turned toward her, the sudden glow of a white flame interrupted his talk.
The letter on her hand was instantly pulverized.
The three of them were taken aback by Nephis suddenly outburst.
For a moment, neither Sunny, Yuki or Cassie dare to ask her.
"Is something wrong?" Yuki finally asked her.
A few tears started to fall from Nephis's silver eyes as she was gripping her arms.
"Neph?" Tried to ask her Sunny worried about her state.
Without giving them an answer, Nephis run out of the door. Leaving the three of them unaware of what had caused her so.
'Aaaaand... she left! What a drag! Another mystery in the extraordinary world of Shadow Slave.'
Sunny rolled his eyes in annoyance and take a step forward to follow her, but in the next second, the hand of Yuki on his shoulder interrupted him from doing so.
Whatever she had just read, Nephis needed a bit of solitude to digest the information.
The day after, Sunny tried to ask her while they were alone what had happened.
Nephis dodged his question with a "nothing" and asked them not to worry too much about it.
Between one thing and another, the matter ended up in the oblivion.
After this, the next weeks were uneventful.
Before Sunny knew it, the Winter Solstice was already there.