Aiko was floating around the emporium, taking inventory while talking to Kai, who was again visiting and floating in the air alongside Aiko, watching her do her task with a light smile on his handsome face him being here had also brought a large crowd of women and men to the Emporium which Sunny didn't mind in the slightest since they all ordered something to have as an excuse to be there longer to see the former idol turned Saint government. Still, that crowd had long died out hours ago, mainly due to Aiko chasing them out. Now, the Emporium was occupied by his regulars, who reveled in the silent cafe while occasionally sneaking glances at Kai. Sitting comfortably in the Shadow chair behind the counter in the dining area of the emporium, watching the two converse, Sunny was thinking about what had happened several days ago, becoming the purveyor of the Blood And Song sisters and, more specifically, what Sunny had discovered during his conversations with the Queen.
He secretly met with the Blind Seer, and they discussed how Ki Song was a corpse like Jet. He knew this when he talked to her as the Lord of Shadows because Sunny sensed she had no shadow. They also speculated how she could communicate through other corpses like the ones standing to her left and right. They didn't know since she spoke through herself, but it was still safe to assume she could. Cassie was the one who pointed that out, and Sunny completely overlooked it. They did this while searching for the piece of Weaver's lineage in what Sunny now dubbed "the Others' Maze of Mirrors" of the real Bastion. Cassie was helping him due to the agreement they had made when Cassie visited him for the first time in four years after being forgotten while Sunny was still in Bastion.
Still deep in his thoughts, he got up, went to the kitchen, and made himself a cup of coffee. 'Hey, Gloomy, why was the shadow mad at the light? Because he stole his lime, ha! Get it, Limelight? I'm too good at jokes. Well? What do you think of that? No? Well then, how about another one? You came digging for copper and struck gold instead!' Or however that saying goes. 'Okay, last one, you struck gold alright, Comedy gold! Get it? Ha! I'm on a roll!' He stared at Gloomy with a smile, looking for a reaction. After a long minute, his shadow shook his head with disdain and pointed at him, practically saying, 'You are the joke, but you're not funny, not in the slightest.'
Joke? Who was he calling a joke?! And Sunny was funny, hilarious, even! He dismissively waved off his dull shadow, accompanied by an eye roll. He left the kitchen, retaking a seat behind the counter, and saw that Aiko and Kai were no longer in the air and on the ground again. The handsome archer heard the kitchen door open and looked over, only to spot Sunny holding his coffee mug and staring in his general direction. Sunny locked eyes with Kai, sending a polite smile along with what would have been a bow, but since he had coffee in his mug and didn't want to take any chances in exposing his identity by trying to talk his way out of how he managed to bow without spilling a drop of coffee especially as Master Sunless, he instead gave a nod. Kai flashed a friendly smile in return, his way, nodded back, and then started walking over to him. Stopping before him, Kai's smile widened a bit.
"Master Sunless! I hope you don't mind me being here once again!
Sunny shook his head. "Not at all! So long as you order something, I still have a business to run after all! I'm surprised Lady Eunbin isn't here as well." He was curious to know where she was, but not because he wanted to speak with her or anything! Why would he want to do that? Sunny could now admit that he enjoyed his conversations with her, but that was it, and only because he was bored most of the time! If anything, he just wanted her to commission another memory, that was all! Upon hearing that, Gloomy stared at him, indicating that he didn't believe a single word, though oddly enough, now and then, Gloomy would glance past him while subtly pointing at the door for whatever reason. He finally listened to his shadow following where he had been telling and looked at the door, spotting a feminine figure, her features slightly obscured, but he knew who she was.
"My sister Bin is busy with work outside of Ravenheart, but do not worry, Master Sunless, your friend will be coming back sometime today, and Bin will most likely visit here." Seishan stood in the doorway entrance, nodding at Kai as she stepped inside, sat at a table, and then calmly stared at Sunny. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't hear the Bell ring. And what did she mean by friend? They weren't friends, just acquainted at best.
"Oh! Lady Seishan, it's been a while! How have you been?
"I have been swamped with work in the waking world, but overall decent. I suppose it could be a lot worse than it is now. Thank you for asking. How has Ravenheart been treating you?" She sat straight and spoke elegantly like a true Princess.
Sunny went into the kitchen and returned with two glasses of water. "It has been good!"
Seishan gave a hint of a smile. "Oh, I'm sure it has, but I am glad to hear it. I hear that Bin made you the Blood Sisters' purveyor and ours, should the occasion arise. The more experienced enchanters will likely be jealous that someone so inexperienced, who just recently moved here and is so young, has already caught the attention of my prominent sister and was personally hired by her, no less."
Confusion was evident on his face. "Personally? Do you mean she doesn't do that often?" Sunny couldn't help but ask her to elaborate.
Seishan shook her head."No, unless someone did something that caught her curiosity, she usually sends a Blood sister to hire them. The fact that she recruited you herself is worth praise. You did not hear it from me. Eunbin will deny this to her last breath, but she has a very selective taste in everything. So if anyone gives you trouble over that, you will let me know, young man, and they will have to answer me." He could have been imagining it, but she seemed to have an oddly protective tone. Sunny wondered what that was about.
"I will keep that in mind, Lady Seishan."
Seishan turned in her chair to look at Kai. "Nightingale, while I came here to check on Master Sunless, I also came to give you information. We are to meet with my mother in the castle; she requires the presence of all saints in Ravenheart, including you."
Kai's expression became slightly serious. Sunny wondered if the archer would aid him and Cassie in convincing Nephis that Sunny was trustworthy to include in her uprising against the current rulers of humanity. But to do that, he must tell Kai he was the Lord of Shadows. It was something to think about for the future.
He looked at Kai, who had already made his way to Seishan, and gave Aiko an apologetic glance.
"When will we depart?"
Seishan stood up, handed Sunny a few coins, and went to the door. "We leave now." Sunny was about to open his mouth, his hand extending to tell her that water was free, when he felt a stare. Turning his head slightly, Sunny was greeted with Aiko's icy glare. Sunny closed his mouth and retracted his hand, getting a warm smile from the greedy woman.
Kai was momentarily surprised by the interaction, but quickly composed himself and bowed to Sunny. "I will see you later, Master Sunless." He left with Seishan and ventured towards the castle, only to be met with Sunny, who shifted his focus to the Lord of Shadows incarnation, leaning on a wall a few meters away.
Sunny started walking along with them. "It took you long enough."
Kai hesitated."Lord Shadow, it's uh nice to see you again."
"Likewise, Nightingale, hmmm Nightingale, like the bird, correct?" Sunny turned his head to look at Kai thoroughly.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
Sunny lingered a moment, looking as if he was thinking of his answer, but in reality, it was to keep himself from laughing. "Ah, it's just I'm not a big fan of birds; I hate them, you know?"
Kai paled a bit. "Oh? Is- is that so?"
Sunny nodded. "Yes, but you are an exception and the only exception because we are best friends."
Seishan tilted her head, raising an eyebrow, and tuned in to the conversation. "You are?"
Sunny nodded stoically. "Yes, we have been through many experiences. I can go as far as to say he is like a brother to me."
Sunny watched Kai's eyes tremble the more he went on. Kai opened his mouth to say something, then closed it, and a moment later opened it again, yet no words came out.
He took advantage of this opportunity to tease his friend more. "Ah, but I digress, the reason I don't like birds is because some time ago I got into a custody dispute with a bird to my inconvenience it just so happened to be a cursed terror, it then took its child from me along with everything I held to my name and left me with nothing, vile thing."
Kai had a look of utter disbelief and horror on his face. He swayed, almost hitting the ground, but caught himself and stood upright, staring at the sky. The color was drained from Kai's face. "A-A-a cursed terror, and a custody dispute, I-I see, um, how awful Lord Shadow, you uh-you have my sympathies." Kai looked forward again, showing visible relief on his obnoxiously handsome face that the castle was before them. Seishan silently watched the two with a confused yet amused expression, but she didn't bother to question it.
Sunny suppressed a smile and followed Seishan to the council room where they were supposed to meet the queen. "Yes, very terrible indeed."
Upon reaching the doors and opening them, Sunny was met by dozens of Saints, many of whom he didn't recognize, standing around a large, oval, polished wooden table, conversing. Many gave him weary glances and nods to Kai and Seishan, which he ignored, choosing to sit down instead of standing. Secretly looking around the room, he immediately noticed Eunbin, who had returned from her duties. Standing beside her was Mordret, who locked eyes with Sunny and sent a bright, friendly smile accompanied by a wave towards Sunny. Mordret was standing along with the other Song sisters. Sunny also noticed he was the only one who had taken a seat while everyone else stood waiting for the queen.
'This chair is uncomfortable and pathetic, but the Shadow chair is much better and superior in every way!'
If only he could summon it, but it would be problematic. The Brilliant Emporium was very popular now, and many people had already seen the Shadow chair. Sunny did not have the patience to explain what the Lord of Shadows was doing with a now relatively well-known Master's chair.
Eunbin looked at Sunny and rolled her eyes, mumbling about preferring something else. Before Sunny had time to think about what she said, the room ceased talking, because they all felt an overbearing presence; the doors opened. Ki Song walked in with two corpses. The puppets left the room, closing the doors behind them, and she spared a glance at Sunny, who was still the only one sitting down. Walking towards the table, she passed dozens of seats lined up side by side and, to his dismay, stopped right where Sunny was sitting, staring down at him with an unreadable expression. What? What could she have possibly wanted from him in this situation?!
She spoke in a tone so soft that he almost didn't register, even though she was standing before him.
"That is my seat you are in."
Sunny froze. He discreetly looked around the table, taking in the dozens of seats available, then looked at Ki Song again, looking for any signs of deceit or jesting. To his horror, there were none, not in the slightest. Thankfully, she did not seem to be mad yet. So what he was about to do may have been his last day in this realm.
Speaking in the most emotionless tone he could muster without his voice wavering, "I was here first, I'm afraid you will have to find another seat, your majesty. My apologies for the inconvenience.
The entire room was still. Sunny felt the Saints look at him in shock as if he had just slapped Ki Song, while Mordret smiled gleefully like a child who had just gotten money on his birthday.
'Why do I do this to myself? I truly must have gone mad somewhere along the way. She'll kill me and turn me into one of her puppets! I'll be a dead man walking!'
Maybe the Shadow god was helping him from wherever he slumbered in the shadow realm because Ki Song released a tired sigh, as if he were a child, and in Ki Song's eyes, he likely was. She had decided she did not have time for his nonsense and moved away, taking a seat a few spots away to his right. The moment she did, the rest of the saints moved to sit down. The Song sisters stared at him with murderous intent, daring him to try anything with their mother, not that he could blame them.
His attention was pulled away when Sunny heard Ki Song speak. She was similar to Eunbin in that they were both soft-spoken, which made it even more prevalent that the room was so silent, not only because she was a supreme being but also because even in the silence, one had to strain to listen because she spoke so softly.
"Vale will do anything to achieve victory; it doesn't matter who or what he has to sacrifice to do so. Just understand that he will do it. He is the most intelligent person I know when it comes to battle. He already has counters for any strategies we have devised. We will have to use everything at our disposal. If there is sand nearby, throw it in the enemy's eyes. If you see a weak point in their body, exploit it. Whoever told you there is honor in war lied to you. Ah, War, war is one of humanity's most significant failures. How I despise it. We strive for victory, yet humanity lost when this war began.
Nevertheless, even if our numbers overwhelm Valors, do not think we have the upper hand, not even for a moment. Even if victory is within our very fingertips, you are not to underestimate Clan Valor; to do so would be fatally foolish. The only true advantage, if we can even call it that, is that neither of us knows Godgrave. But, someone does, Lord Shadow, if you will." Ki Song turned her head to the left, staring at him calmly as if he hadn't just stolen her spot. He stared at Ki Song.
Sunny turned his attention back to the table and subtly moved his hand. The shadows flowed onto the table, forming a replica of Godgrave that occupied the entire area. Prompting whispers from the saints around the table, Ki Song seemed intrigued, giving Sunny a curious glance. She put a hand that instantly silenced the whispers, then gestured to Sunny.
"Of course, let's see, Godgrave is filled with all kinds of unspeakable horrors and even more so beneath the bone where red moss lies as the sun does not reach there. It is evident that Godgrave itself not only because of its name, is a fallen deity but from what I have observed, it is a deity that is constantly trying to regenerate itself that is what the red moss is, Blood, muscle tissue, the things that make up the fundamental anatomy of any living creature and the power of the fallen sun god is there to stop it. At least that is my theory. Right before I forget, an unholy nightmare creature lurks in the skull of Godgrave. I know because there are no nightmare creatures in that area, at least from what I have seen, even someone like myself is not brave enough to go into the skull."
Sunny moved to dismiss the shadow replica of Godgrave, but a glance from Ki Song stopped him. She stared intently at a particular area, then stood up. "You are all free to go. Your insight into Godgrave is very appreciated, Lord Shadow." The Queen of Worms left the room in silence.
Sunny dismissed the replica, and Shadow stepped outside the palace to be met with a bright sky and cool air hitting his body. A few minutes later, he was leaning on a manifested shadow wall and saw the Song sisters, along with Kai and Mordret, walking towards him. They reached him, and Hel moved closer to stare at the wall with wide, curious eyes while the other sisters looked like they were about to jump him.
'Oh boy.'
He ignored their stares and instead turned his attention to Kai. "You know Nightingale, when I was a sleeper, I once killed a great devil in one blow with just my sword." Kai's eyes became bigger than a plate.
"There was another time when I spoke to Hope, the demon of desire. I guess she didn't enjoy my company because she ran away from me when she got the chance."
"I also glanced at a great titan, and it was immediately erased from existence."
The Song sisters and the Prince of Nothing watched Kai become increasingly anxious, losing balance with each sentence. The handsome archer leaned against a nearby wall and lifted a trembling finger at Sunny, wondering why his flaw hadn't gone off once.
Sunny smiled beneath his helmet. He had missed this