The night had been long and full of whispers, but now Sunny awoke wit
"Nephis?" he called out softly into the silence.
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There was no answer.
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The room was dark, and the usual sound of the city outsdie seemed to have stopped.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
Sunny tried to calm himself, forcing slow, steady breaths.
Something was wrong.
He reached deep inside himself, attempting to activate his shadow sense, hoping to sense Nephis or anyone near him.
But to his greatest relief, there was people outside. It seemed as if he was just in a nightmare.
But. That didn't explain this: His runes, were also silent. As if fate were playing a prank on him.
Where am I? Where is Nephis? Did she run away?
Why are my thoughts so loud…
That didn't make sense. Why would she?
There wasn't gonna be a week untill she fully left for valor… so where has she gone?
Was he lost? Away? Forgotten, even?
That last thought sent a shiver down his spine.
That didn't make sense.. him? Forgotten? Why would anyone forget the great Master Sunless?
He slightly chuckled at that thought admist the atmosphere.
Not wasting any time, he moved to the window and pulled aside the curtain.
Outside, the city seemed to be doing perfectly fine. If that was the most accurate description.
Cars passed by. There was people chattering amongst them.
The city was full of people aswell.
But one thing that creeped him to all his cores.
It was silent.
The silence was too loud.
"Where am I?" he murmured to himself.
The world outside seemed almost… broken.
Before he could think further, the very fabric of his surroundings began to crumble. The walls of his room, the city, the world even - all of it started to dissolve into another space.
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He found himself floating in a vast, infinite void.
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'What?!'
It felt as if a second had passed, but at the same time he felt as if he was there for too long.
Wherever this place was, it was very confusing and most of didn't make sense.
He took a look around his surroundings.
The darkness seemed to be infinite, illuminated only by a familiar view of the myriad of stars.
Threads of silver light weaved through the stars, forming indescribable patterns that danced around him.
He took a look at himself and.. felt himself becoming transparent.
He brought his fingers and tried to poke himself but it went through.
'…huh?' What? He was clearly standing on something. He can- No he can't.
He can't feel his feet standing on the nothingness below him. But he was standing, and was capable of movement.
'Am I.. floating?'
It was like he was a Hollow. As if he had died the in the Dream Realm.
For a moment, fear had spread throughout his body.
This was not a dream - he could not summon Nightmare, his fierce, black steed.
If he couldn't call forth his shadow now, then this was something far beyond a simple nightmare.
But what?
A vision?
Then, as he floated in that boundless blackness, he saw something.
There, emerging from the dark like a ghost from a memory, stood another figure.
The figure had a dark-grey garment (clad in grey fabric and lusterless leather) that covered his/her body and came with pair of high, soft-soled leather boots.
Why did that.. look so familiar?
'Isn't that-'
"Curse it! Curse it all! Curse all of you!"
The figure spat out with pure spite.The sound echoed through the void that shook Sunny in his many cores.
Why did he feel like he's said that before?
Why is that figure wearing the same armor I previously had?
Then, as if a switch had been flipped, he froze.
"That's.."
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"Me."
The figure turned slowly, his eyes locking onto Sunny with a mixture of scorn and amusement.
"Wow… Look who decided to join us!" He clapped, with a grin spread across his face.
The figure slowly started approaching him since he was in fully visible.
What stood in front of him.. was most definitely him, after the Forgotten Shore.
Why is he here? Why was he brought back?
"Look at you," he taunted, circling him slowly, "all handsome and strong, thinking you've escaped your past." His tone was mocking, bitter.
"You really think you can just move on, huh?"
He stopped circling and stood in front of him, leaning him and spitting out.
"You're nothing but a treacherous slave."
The words hit Sunny like a punch to the gut. He had long forgotten of the bond, because he didn't want to think of it. He knew it seperated Sunny and Nephis from truly
being together.
The old self's mocking laughter filled the space, echoing endlessly in the void.
"Pathetic."
Sunny fell to his knees, covering his ears as the old version's voice grew louder, repeating the bitter refrain over and over:
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"A slave beginning to trust his slaver.
A slave beginning to trust his slaver.
A slave beginning to trust his slaver.
A slave beginning to trust his slaver.
A slave beginning to trust his slaver.
A slave beginning to trust his slaver.
A slave beginning to trust his slaver."
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"SHUT UP!" Sunny screamed, his voice raw and desperate.
He banged his fists against the emptiness, trying to silence the relentless taunts.
The void itself seemed to pulsate with the intensity of his outburst.
For a long moment, everything was silent except for his heavy breathing and the distant twinkling of starry lights.
Then the voice softened, as if almost pitying the new version.
"Without that bond, you'll be free,"
Sunny looked up at himself.
'H-he's right. If I… How..?'
It was impossible, how is he supposed to break his bond?
He just wanted to be free.
And that was the logical conclusion he came to. If he was free, he wouldn't have to worry about the wall between him and Nephis.
The figure then whispered again:
"A slave beginning to trust his slav-"
"SHUT UP!" he screamed again, louder this time, his voice echoing off the walls of the void.
He could feel his anger building, a surge of raw emotion that he could barely contain.
He clawed at the emptiness, his heart pounding.
And then, as suddenly as it had all begun, the void and the old self vanished.
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Sunny's eyes snapped open.
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He was back in his bed.
He gasped, heart racing, as he realized that he was truly awake.
Nephis was there, shaking him vigorously, her eyes wide with worry.
"Sunny, are you alright?!" she demanded, her voice frantic as she shook him more forcefully.
But then he saw her.
Nephis's pale face was above him, her usually nonchalant expression broken by fear and concern.
Her silver eyes flickered with an emotion he rarely saw from her.
And for the first time since he had opened his eyes, he was certain.
He was awake.
His voice came out hoarse, like he had been screaming for hours. "I… I saw him."
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Nephis stilled. "Who?"
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"Me."
Her grip on his shoulders tightened.
The memory of that wretched voice still echoed in his skull.
The old Sunny, circling him and whispering poison to him.
"I was there again," he said, struggling to put the nightmare into words.
"It was… empty. Just me and him." He swallowed.
"He told me to seek freedom. To follow the path I was meant to."
Nephis didn't move for a long moment. He could see the tension in her jaw, the way her breath hitched ever so slightly.
Then, before he could react, she pushed him back down onto the bed and wrapped her arms around him.
Sunny barely had time to process the sudden warmth of her body pressing into his before he felt something even more shocking.
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She was shaking.
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And then, so softly that he almost didn't believe it, he heard her voice:
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"I'm sorry."
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For a second, he couldn't breathe.
She tightened her grip that was around Sunny's back, not wanting to let go. His arms moved before he could think, wrapping around her, pulling her closer.
"It's okay," he murmured, his voice quieter now, steadier.
"As long as you're here with me… that's all I need."
She nodded against his chest, her grip tightening, her breath warm against his bare skin.
'I'm still naked..' He felt his cheeks get slightly warm, before dispelling that thought.
They stayed like that for a while, the room silent except for the faint sound of their breathing.
Nephis moved slightly, her forehead pressing against his collarbone as she nestled closer, and he felt the cool strands of her hair brush against his skin. It sorta.. tickled.
He let out a small breath, his fingers absently running along her back.
Then, without thinking, he muttered, "Cutie."
Nephis froze.
A second later, he felt her hand press against his bare chest.
"Shut up."
Her voice was muffled, but he could hear the heat behind it.
He laughed - an honest, genuine laugh. He's glad that the Nephis with him is the real Nephis.
She didn't move, just stayed there, pressed against him, as if she were afraid to let go.
And as the warmth of her presence seeped into him, as he held her close, Sunny made a silent decision.
He was going to be free.
He was going to break this stupid bond.
And then-
Then, he would be with Nephis once and for all.
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Be careful for what you wish for, Sunny.