At first, it was only a feeling of unease.
Nephis stirred awake.
In the deathly silence of the night, even the faintest sound of movement was enough to pull her from sleep.
Her gaze shifted to Sunny.
In the dim red glow of her armour, she could see him tossing and turning in his sleep, his body shifting against the jagged stone with rough, uneven thuds. His face was twisted, contorted in some unseen torment.
A frown settled on her lips.
'Is Sunny having a nightmare?'
The thought barely surfaced before she dismissed it. Sleepers didn't dream in the Dream Realm. They were already asleep.
So why… did he look like he was trapped in a harrowing nightmare? Like he was witnessing something unbearable?
She sighed.
The Dark Sea…
Fighting against endless horrors for an entire night must have leave scars. This… it must have been the lingering effects of that battle. Perhaps this was the result of his mind struggling to process the trauma.
Her gaze flickered to his shadow. It was still out there, moving, scouting the island for threats.
For a brief moment, she considered communicating with it. If anyone—or anything—knew what was happening to Sunny, it would be his own shadow.
But no matter what she tried, it remained mute. The only response she received was a simple shake of the head, followed by an odd nod—almost as if it were watching a strange animal perform ridiculous acrobatics.
Nephis's eyebrow twitched. A quiet irritation settled in her chest, though her face remained impassive.
'Stupid shadow...'
Her gaze returned to Sunny.
His expression had darkened even further. His breath came in short, erratic bursts. His body writhed as though bound by invisible chains, his features contorted with the desperate agony of someone trying—and failing—to break free.
Then, his hand rose to his chest, as if something had finally caught him, as if something had pierced through his heart.
A single tear slid from the corner of his eye, glistening in the dim light, before falling silently onto the cold stone below.
Nephis watched, her fingers twitching.
As the moments dragged on, his suffering only deepened. His movements became more frantic—running, struggling, fighting, sweating, crying.
Her hands clenched into fists.
'What kind of nightmare is he facing…?'
And more importantly—
'Is there truly nothing I can do?'
Something stirred within her, a memory. It rose from the depths of her past like a ghost, slipping through the cracks of her mind.
The time when she had lived in constant fear. The nights when she had suffered countless nightmares. The quiet sobs in the darkness. The suffocating weight of terror.
Her lips parted slightly. Then, a small smile ghosted her face.
Because in those nights, there was always something that brought her comfort. A simple gesture. One that had given her strength to endure. Her grandmother's hand, soft and reassuring, brushing against her forehead.
Nephis let out a quiet breath.
Carefully, she slid her hands beneath Sunny's head and pulled him closer, resting his head gently in her lap.
Then, with deliberate tenderness, she raised a hand and placed it on his forehead, fingers gliding in slow, comforting strokes.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"It's okay," she murmured. "At the end of every nightmare… there lies a happy dream."
For a moment, his writhing body stilled.
The tension in Sunny's face faded, his pained grimace easing into something softer—something almost peaceful. The change was subtle, but unmistakable. His breathing, once ragged and uneven, grew steadier. The sharp lines of agony smoothed away, leaving behind a rare, fragile calm.
Nephis watched in silence.
The warmth of his body brushed against her legs, stirring something strange within her chest. It was the same feeling she had experienced while they were travelling to the headless statue.
A quiet, unwarranted smile crept onto her lips. And for a brief moment, her breath hitched.
She didn't understand it. This warmth, this giddiness—it only surfaced under certain conditions.
She wanted to know more about it, to grasp it, to understand it. But before she could dwell on it further, a voice cut through the silence.
"Nephis… what's happening?"
Cassie's whisper was barely audible, tinged with drowsiness. She must have woken up from her words.
Nephis exhaled softly. She cast one last glance at Sunny's peaceful expression before answering.
"He looked like he was in pain," she murmured. "So I tried to comfort him."
"What?"
Cassie shook her head, confused. She strained her ears, then shifted closer. Gently, she pressed her ear against Sunny's chest, listening. After a moment, she grabbed his wrist, feeling for his pulse.
A frown formed on her face.
"...His heartbeat is unstable. His pulse is rising and falling erratically." She hesitated. "It might be a seizure or a panic attack, maybe due to lingering mental fatigue and trauma."
Nephis felt a sharp sting in her chest.
Cassie remained silent for a moment, observing him. Then, slowly, her expression softened.
"He doesn't seem to be in immediate danger now," she continued. "His condition is stabilizing." A quiet smile tugged at her lips. "What you did… seems to be working."
A subtle wave of relief washed over Nephis. She continued running her fingers through his hair, her touch light and rhythmic.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Then Cassie broke the silence again.
"You should get some rest," she said softly. "You both fought all day. You deserve a good night's sleep."
She glanced at Sunny's sleeping form and continued.
"I'll take care of him." A small, determined smile formed on her lips. "This is the least I can do after relying on you both for everything else."
Nephis studied her for a moment, then looked down at Sunny. His breathing was steady now. His face was calm.
She hesitated, then carefully eased his head off her lap, placing him onto the ground with deliberate gentleness.
"Alright, let me—"
"I'll call you if anything happens," Cassie interrupted, crawling closer. She offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Whatever nightmare he was facing… it's gone now."
Something in her words soothed the lingering tension in Nephis's chest. She was just about to stand and walk away when Cassie added, almost playfully—
"In fact… after what you did, I'm sure he must be dreaming of you and blushing like a happy child."
A subtle heat crept across Nephis's cheeks. She turned away, her expression unreadable.
"I… see."
Without another word, she returned to her spot and lay down.
She didn't understand her actions today. Nor did she understand the strange emotions that surfaced with them.
All she knew was that she had to do something, anything, to ease the pain Sunny seemed to be in. Because watching him struggle reminded her of the darkest nights of her own childhood.
A faint smile crept onto her face as she recalled the strange feeling from earlier.
It was the second time she had experienced it… yet she still had no grasp of what it was or what triggered it.
It was different from the cold exhilaration of slaughtering Nightmare Creatures. Different from the bittersweet warmth of reminiscing about her grandmother... or her parents.
This feeling was something else entirely. Something strangely pleasant. Something soft, yet vast.
Like a gentle breeze rolling over an endless grassland. Like the brief warmth of a current in the midst of a freezing river.
She wasn't sure if those were the right words to describe it—or if the right words even existed. But perhaps, with time, she would figure it out.
And even if she didn't… it wouldn't matter.
Understanding this feeling was unnecessary. It wouldn't bring her closer to her goal. It was nothing more than a fleeting reprieve in the long and arduous journey of destroying the Spell. That was all.
Nephis exhaled softly, glancing toward Sunny and Cassie one last time before closing her eyes.
A thought crossed her mind.
'Did Sunny feel the same?'
Should she ask him when he woke up?
She hesitated… then sighed.
No.
She could see it in his eyes—the same desperation that burned in her own.
Sunny was chasing something. Just like her. A distant, unreachable goal that consumed him, the same way her own path consumed her. His desperation, his struggle—it was a reflection of her own.
And in such a journey, there was no place for distractions. Both of them had no room for anything else. Not now.
Bringing up something so meaningless, so unnecessary… it would only divert him from his goal. It would only slow them both down.
With another quiet sigh, she pushed the thoughts away.
Right now, survival was all that mattered. Surviving this harrowing place. Surviving this nightmare. And maybe—just maybe—when they finally make it back to the waking world, there would be a moment. A small window of reprieve.
If that happened... she would ask him then.
A quiet warmth settled in her chest as she let her eyes drift shut, surrendering to sleep.
Unaware that this would be the last peaceful night she would have for a long, long time. That this was merely the calm before an endless storm.
...
"…Sunny! Are you alright?"
Cassie's panicked voice jolted Nephis awake.
The first rays of dawn stretched across the sky, casting long shadows over the island. The dark sea had begun its slow retreat… but she had no time to admire its eerie beauty.
Her gaze snapped to Cassie, who clung desperately to Sunny's trembling hand, her face twisted with fear.
Beside her, Sunny's body convulsed violently. His limbs thrashed against the jagged stone, fresh cuts blooming across his arms and legs. His skin was drenched in sweat, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps—like he was drowning in air itself.
A jolt of alarm coursed through Nephis.
"Nephis, Sunny is awake!" Cassie's voice wavered. "And something's happening to him!"
But Nephis was already moving.
In an instant, she was beside them, grabbing hold of Sunny's writhing body to keep him from harming himself further.
"Cassie, now!"
Cassie reacted instantly, summoning the Endless Spring. A cascade of cold, clear water spilled over Sunny's head, soaking his hair, washing away the sweat and blood.
For a long, harrowing moment, his body resisted—twitching, trembling, fighting. Then, at last... the struggle ceased.
Sunny went still.
His breathing slowed, though it remained uneven. His unfocused eyes fluttered open, staring at nothing in particular—dazed, lost.
And then, soundlessly, quiet tears welled in them. They trailed down his face, burning like embers, carrying with them an unbearable weight.
The kind of grief that only came from losing something precious. Something irreplaceable.
...
"Sunny, how are you feeling?"
Nephis's voice was calm, measured. But beneath the surface, there was a thread of something else.
He remained silent for a moment, staring down at the jagged stone beneath him. His gaze was blank, empty.
But the pain of his flaw wouldn't let him stay silent for long.
"...I am almost fine now," he finally said, exhaling slowly. His voice was hoarse, as if he had been screaming. "I just had a nightmare."
Nephis and Cassie exchanged a glance.
A nightmare.
Cassie hesitated, then extended the Endless Spring. "Here. Drink some water."
Sunny lingered for a moment before accepting the bottle. He drank greedily, letting the cool liquid wash away the raw dryness in his throat.
His breathing steadied. His eyes flickered, scanning his surroundings. Cassie sat close, her usual warmth laced with quiet concern. Nephis, however, was even closer—her arm wrapped tightly around his back, as if she were afraid he'd collapse again.
"Let us know if you need anything," she said simply. "Or when you feel like talking."
Sunny grimaced.
A nightmare... absurd.
Sleepers didn't dream inside the Dream Realm. That was a simple fact. What disturbed him more, however, was not the impossibility of it—but the effect it had left on him.
No nightmare, no matter how harrowing, should have been enough to shake him. Not after what he had already faced. Not after his Shadow Nightmare's army of a thousand horrors.
And yet, here he was.
Unless… maybe it wasn't a nightmare at all?
His fingers curled slightly.
'Is this another one of the Mad Prince's doings?'
The thought sent a wave of unease through him. The idea of the Mad Prince messing with him in his sleep did not sit well.
But there was no point dwelling on it now.
"...I'm alright now," he said finally, handing the bottle back to Cassie. "I'm sorry for worrying you both." He took a breath, then forced himself to move. "Let's go. We have work to do."
"But, Sunny—"
Cassie's voice was hesitant, but he cut her off.
"I don't want to talk about it."
His words were firm, making her flinch slightly. Then, seeing their faces, he sighed and softened his tone.
"...I didn't mean to startle you," he admitted. "It's just that I can't talk about it. I don't remember what happened myself. So there's no point wasting time on it."
Nephis studied him with quiet concern. Cassie looked like she was on the verge of tears.
Sunny ran a hand through his damp hair.
He barely remembered what had happened—only vague impressions of pain, of thrashing against the stone, of their voices calling out to him. They must have had to hold him down, stop him from hurting himself.
It must have been difficult to watch.
With a quiet exhale, he leaned forward and pulled them both into a hug.
"...Thank you," he murmured. "For looking after me."
For a moment, neither of them reacted. Then, Cassie let out a soft, tearful laugh and hugged him back. Nephis, too, slowly relaxed in his embrace.
"You had us worried, you know?" Cassie said, almost choking on the words.
"I know." Sunny let go of them and rose to his feet. "And I'm sorry for that."
With everything settled, the three of them returned to their routine.
Nephis prepared breakfast from the leftover scavenger meat they had collected the previous day, while Sunny sent Gloomy to scout out their next vantage point. Cassie, however, sat in a corner with a deep frown.
"I wish I could contribute to something too," she muttered.
Nephis glanced away from the grilling meat and sighed.
"You stayed up all night looking after Sunny, remember?" she said with a small smile. "You're already contributing in your own way."
But Cassie wasn't satisfied.
"That's nothing compared to you risking your life for me, or helping with every little thing," she murmured, shaking her head.
She closed her sightless eyes, frustration tightening her expression.
"I wonder if I can force myself to get a useful vision."
She went silent for a moment, her fingers curling slightly. Then, as if reaching a decision, she stood up abruptly.
"No, I have to. Otherwise… what am I even here for?"
Without another word, she walked toward her sleeping spot and lay down, forcing herself to sleep.
"Don't wake me before we're ready to move," she added. "I'm not hungry. You two can eat without me."
Nephis sighed. She didn't know what to say. In the end, she simply nodded and turned her attention back to the cooking meat.
The fire crackled softly as the rich scent of cooked flesh filled the air. After a few minutes, she broke off a strip of meat and tasted it. The flavor melted instantly on her tongue, rich and smoky.
She smiled. It was perfectly cooked.
With one last glance at Cassie, she turned and walked toward Sunny. He was standing near the edge of the platform, staring intently into the distance.
"Sunny, breakfast is ready," she called out, expecting him to turn toward her with his usual enthusiasm.
But he didn't react. It was as if he hadn't even heard her.
A strange feeling crept up Nephis's spine. Sunny was always eager when it came to mealtime.
She reached out and gently tapped his shoulder.
"Sunny...?"
He flinched. Then, blinking as if waking from a trance, he let out a breath.
"Ah. It's just you."
The way he said it… like he had been expecting something far worse.
Nephis narrowed her eyes. "And who else did you think I was?"
Sunny exhaled and pointed silently into the distance. Nephis followed his finger, her brow furrowed—then froze. Her eyes widened. Her breath hitched.
Not far from them, a grotesque corpse of a massive abomination lay half-intact. Its twisted, nightmarish form was already being swarmed by an army of scavengers, their sharp mandibles grinding and tearing through flesh with merciless hunger. The sight alone was disturbing, almost hypnotic in its brutality.
But that wasn't what had unsettled Sunny. No.
It was the dozens of elongated shadows emerging from a large passageway in the stone. And then, a moment later, the creatures casting those shadows appeared. Marching in eerie synchrony, they moved together like a procession.
Larger. Stronger. Their carapaces thick and chitinous, their bodies rippling with unnatural power. Unlike the common scavengers, these ones bore no pincers—instead, long, curved, gleaming bone scythes extended from their limbs.
A cold weight settled in Nephis's stomach. "Monsters…" she murmured. "Awakened Monsters."
So many of them. Sunny nodded grimly.
"The excess food… the transcendental soul shards scattered everywhere…" He sighed. "It must have caused a lot of them to evolve."
He clenched his jaw.
"Our journey moving forward," he muttered, "might not be as seamless as it's been until now."
Author's note: I am back yay! Do leave your thoughts in the comments and let me know if you liked this chapter.
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