Against the silhouette of Bastion, the sun slowly climbed, painting the sky in sweeping hues of orange and lavender. The wind stirred gently, ushering clouds across the heavens as dawn unfurled its warmth across the land.
Its light eventually found a lone figure, seated in a modest chair on a familiar beach beyond Bastion's borders. The water's whispers echoed softly as waves lapped against the shore in a steady rhythm.
Sunny sat still, basking in the morning warmth.
On the hem of his lap, a beaded bracelet rested, slightly quivering every few moments. His hands elegantly danced in the air, a golden needle catching the sunlight as it moved gracefully. Invisible strings flowed like water, overlapping and connecting—breaking and being rebuilt in some places. Finally, it all tied together as he connected the adjusted tapestry to the nexus of the bracelet. A content smile tugged at his lips as he watched the essence flow across the strings lighting up the weave, as it faintly pulsed.
It seemed his adjustment had been a success.
His hands slowly fell as he let out a content sigh, closing his eyes. On his back, an unusually long shadow arm emerged as it reached over, picking up a pot that rested on a low fire. Opening the lid, it poured the steaming contents into a porcelain mug before delivering it to Sunny.
Warm coffee washed in his mouth as his eyes began to lighten.
Placing the mug on the armrest, he picked up the bracelet. He looked it all over, before twirling it on his finger, a mumble escaping his lips.
"It should work just fine, just a bit sad I don't have anyone I can test it on….."
A new rune had been added to the bracelet, one that would be vital in his plans. It was the convenient [Blessing of Dusk] enchantment from the Shroud of Graceless Dusk, that allowed the wearer to establish mental links with targets.
He had intended to finish and utilize it quickly yesterday when Cassie and Nephis had just arrived at the academy. Sadly, he had overestimated the complexity of the Weave, as it put a strain on the integrity of the whole tapestry—causing the artificial voice to malfunction and squawk like a voice-cracking teenager. Thus, he had to send one of his shadows to the edge of GodGrave to slay and retrieve a Soul Shard from a Great Beast. Once he got his hands on it, he was able to effortlessly replace the Nexus of the Weave, allowing it to take a greater strain and subsequently more enchantments.
So now, the bracelet also acted as a communication device and could also be used for more in the future.
There were more than enough reserves of essence in the weave for other enchantments. Maybe he would make more appropriate one's in the future….but for now, he had achieved what was on his mind.
"Should be about time now"
Slowly rising from the seat with his cup, he cleaned up the beach as he walked to the water's edge. The shadowy soles of his shoes dissolved as the cold water gently tickled his feet. Sunny looked around with a warm smile, memories of the past flashing across his eyes, as he looked at the scenery.
A patch of sand where they once shared a picnic.
A branch where their boat had once moored.
A shallow where laughter had once echoed, wild and free.
Then he paused, slightly shuddering.
'I am merely a shadow, nothing more or less. I am not some deplorable pervert!'
It was strange, as someone who was technically thousands of years old and only a few at the same time, the person he was infatuated with was also….thousands of years old. Technically. Hence, he had absolutely no intentions to become attached to this Nephis, it would just be too weird!
What would happen to the image of the Lord of Shadows if people learned that he was ogling a younger version of the one he loved?
Absolutely not! He would rather find peace in the Shadow Realm than let the dreadful information meet Effie's ears.
Thus in this world, it was time for the student and teacher to switch roles. Sunny slightly smiled. Just as Nephis had brought him into the world of combat, he had indirectly brought her into the social world of emotions and manipulation.
But now…it seemed he was going to fulfill both roles.
Though it would be a while before that happened.
One last time, he looked around before closing his eyes as he lightly shook his head, a chuckle escaping his lips, "Nostalgia, such a dreadfully perspicacious thing"
Behind him the air tore apart as a Dream Gate opened. Taking one last look before turning around and stepping through, arriving next to a familiar tree as the Gate closed behind him. Feeling the grooves, he looked down at the roots.
"Hey mom, or…..other mom."
His voice was quiet, tender.
"Things are becoming complicated as always when I think they'll calm down. I came here for a vacation, but another—me, took that place instead of me…"
He paused, the context of the sentence floating in his mind for a brief second.
"I've got a lot on my plate now. Getting my army ready, making new memories, visiting the past, creating connections, taking in….disciples. Ah! And of course I'll look after Rain."
A hearty chuckle escaped his lips.
"It's honestly a bit overwhelming for a Supreme even with seven bodies."
In the distance, a recognizable academy bell chimed as Sunny let out a silent curse, now slightly against schedule. Taking a step back, he looked at the tree one last time.
"I'll come visit soon."
His shadow sense spread, finding his target as he began to slowly sink into the shadows, his voice drifting away.
"But I'm very lonely….so I thought I'd go make some friends"
************
A crowd of people moved down the hallway towards the cafeteria. Yells of excitement and social banter sounded in the air as the room began to fill up, the hallway now empty.
As the doors swung closed, a figure slowly turned the corner.
Alone and cautiously, she walked next to the wall as her fingers trailed the bricks—tense and anxious that she would slip away. In her arm, she moved a stick back and forth, tapping the edges as she found her way and moved towards the source of the noise. She slowed down as noises sounded from behind her.
"And that's when I woke up! I didn't even get a chance to breathe before my parents tackled me…"
A legacy group from Aegis, two boys and a girl strolled down the hallway, voicing their experiences and things they earned after their first trial. They were so engrossed in the conversation that they bumped into Cassie's shoulder, knocking her stick on the ground.
The boy looked her up and down before opening his mouth to speak, but a hiss from the girl cut him off.
"Hey! It's the useless blind seer…..don't bother!"
The other smirked, as the boy turned back to Cassie straightening his back as he walked past her. His voice trailing as the other followed him.
"Watch yourself"
Snickers sounded as the doors swung closed behind them. In the hallway, Cassie remained stiff and alone, a quiet whisper sounding from her lips.
"....I'm sorry"
She pressed her hand against the wall, carefully kneeling as she crawled around, waving her arms as she tried to find her stick. Ahead of her, a tiny shadow arm raised from the ground—pushing the staff towards her as her fingers finally found it. Straightening herself, she continued.
Grabbing a plate with random foods she could reach, she navigated around the tables. All around, the cliques of dreamers watched her, sometimes whispering silent murmurs. Cassie silently listened, before arriving next to a table.
Clearing her throat, her quiet voice sounded out.
"May I sit here?"
On the other side of the table, a trio looked at her as they exchanged looks, before silently grabbing their plates and moving away. Cassie listened to their footsteps fade away, before finding herself a seat.
Alone, she sat there with her face blank, not a word from her mouth. She grabbed a loaf of bread, lifting to her mouth—only stopping as she suddenly shuddered. A voice calmly sounding in her mind.
[Hello]
The loaf of bread fell onto her plate as her shoulders slightly shrunk in, her lips quivering as she spoke.
"H-Hello? Who's there?" she said in a startled tone.
Adjacent to her table, a group slightly turned their heads. They stared at the blonde girl who sat alone at the table, now openly talking as if someone was next to her. In her mind, the voice sounded again, this time slightly more cheery.
[Nice to meet you! I'm talking in your mind by the way, a cool little memory I have! You don't have to speak out loud, just think what you want to say]
Cassie remained still, before her voice finally replied.
[...Nice to meet you too]
Without pause, the unknown person continued talking to her.
[Sorry if I scared you, I just wanted to talk. I'm quite lonely you see, so when I saw you sitting quietly at the table I couldn't help but want to talk]
Cassie shifted,
[W-Why are you talking in my mind? Can't you just speak to me normally?]
She shivered as a chuckle sounded in her mind.
[Aahh….I'm not very social you see. An unwanted development that I experienced, I'm kind of like a ghost—no, a shadow. People rarely notice me, and nobody remembers me. ]
It paused, before continuing.
[Thus, i'm very lonely. So...seeing you sit alone at the table, I couldn't help but sympathize and want to talk to you! What's the phrase…..birds of a color flock together?]
Cassie listened, a light smile forming on her lips.
[I think you mean birds of a feather flock together]
She paused.
[But that still doesn't explain why you can't talk to me]
Silently she waited, as the voice spoke again, their tone now slightly quieter and sheepish.
[Well…..I also wanted to show off the memory. I think it's pretty cool]
In her shadow, Sunny silently listened as a giggle escaped Cassie's lips. The air in the cafeteria is slightly less chilly.
[Your name? Sorry, you never told me]
[Well…if you really want to know. It's Sunny….but now I mostly call myself Shadow since, you know, I exist as a shadow]
Cassie's giggle sounded a little louder as her shoulders trembled slightly.
[Tragically poetic….I'm Cassie]
A hearty laugh sounded in her head, causing a warm feeling to wash over her body as she became less tense.
[Funny you say that! My family is known for having poetic souls, what a great lineage I have!]
The voice went silent for a few moments, before quietly speaking up again.
[I think this is the start of something great, don't you think?]
Cassie tilted her head,
[We've just met]
…..
[I guess you can say it's fate], the voice replied.
At the mention of the word, Cassie's shoulders tensed as she went quiet. After a few seconds, she finally responded.
[.....you know about fate?]
The voice scoffed.
[Know fate? It's like my cousin! Although I don't know if I have any cousins….]
On the table, Cassie knuckles clenched.
[D-Did you also have something related to fate in your trial?]
In her mind she tried to create a mental image of the person before her. It crossed its arms, shaking its head as his voice sounded a little louder.
[No…I merely had to kill a Tyrant and sacrifice myself to the gods]
The air became still as still as Cassie slightly shuddered, her lips quivering as the voice continued.
[That's how that went. It wasn't too bad though….]
Cassie's breath became heavy as she leaned forward.
[Y-You went through all that in your trial? How c-come nobody is talking about you!?!]
Tsks sounded in her head.
[I know right! They should have given me a medal! But instead they called me a liar and ignored me, even calling me crazy!]
....
[....Well I am a little crazy]
In her shadow, Sunny watched as she remained still like a statue. He was pleasantly taken aback when laughter sounded out, catching him and a few people on other table's off guard.
[W-Wow….you really are something. Got any more amazing secrets?]
The voice proudly replied.
[I do! For one, I am a certified Jade beauty! Maybe that's why nobody seems to remember or know about my existence. If they did….they'd faint with a nosebleed!]
Sunny continued to smile in the shadows as Cassie's plate trembled, a few tears escaping from under her blue blindfold as she lurched forward uncontrollably from laughter.
Her voice speaking to him in a teasing manner.
[And you say all this to someone who's blind? You're quite the coward in contradiction….]
Sunny chuckled.
[Yes I am! Hero? Noble? I never said such things! I pride myself on being a coward, all the selfless acts of sacrifice in legends is not really cut out for me. Especially how they become legends! Dying? Too painful and scarry, I'll gladly run away and stay alive.]
He paused, now slightly quieter,
[Well…recently I've been trying to change that a bit]
Cassie laughed harder, her arms smacking the table, causing the contents on her plate to fly up and slightly splatter her attire unknown to her. Sunny's voice quickly reprimanded her actions:
[Hey! That's good stuff, don't go wasting it!]
Cassie tilted her head, tone now cheerful and slightly conniving.
[Oh? I never took someone so accomplished to be such an appreciator of food]
Sunny scoffed,
[I'll have you know that I was my own chef at one point!]
Cassie chuckled through a mouth stuffed with bread and meat, eventually replying.
[What's your speciality?]
The air in the cafeteria became less and less chilly by the second, as the shadows became lighter and lighter—now welcoming and blending with the light leaking through the skylight.
[Pancakes and waffles! Let me tell you, they're are absolutely to die for]
Cassie shook her head, her smile growing.
[I'll have to object, the only pancakes to die for are my moms.]
The voice listened.
And it laughed.
[Do tell me about it!]
And they did. Hidden and unknown to all, they continued to converse. Cassie voicing her thoughts and ideas, as her friend listened and told his own ridiculous stories, never ceasing to spark a laugh from her.
All around the cafeteria, students began to rise with their empty trays, making their way to the exit. Some slowed slightly, turning to look in a direction. At one particular table, a blonde haired girl sat alone. There was nobody and nothing around her, but her shoulders trembled as she convulsed, giggling and laughing out loud.
Some clicked their tongues in annoyance, mutters sounding out.
"The failure has lost it"
"I guess her mind was corrupted in her trial"
"How sad and pitiful"
Most went unheard, but some purposefully loud comments made it to her ears. But they didn't affect her. The anxiety of being a useless burden drifted away in her mind, as she honestly laughed, light tears streaming down her face.
Eventually, everyone left the cafeteria leaving her alone. All around, the shadows shifted—watching and listening as the girl conversed with their lord. Humans were meant to be afraid of being alone and in the dark.
She wasn't alone.
She hadn't felt this happy since… before the trial.
The light from the skylight grew softer, darkness growing. But she remained at her table, smiling through laughter and light tears, completely absorbed in a conversation no one else could hear.
The shadows around her stirred gently—not to frighten, but to listen.
Because for the first time…
Two souls who had always been alone were not.
And in each other's quiet company—
They had never felt more whole.
[Gods! It's getting quite late, I have to be on time for my class tomorrow.]
Cassie slowly rose, grabbing her tray as her cane met the floor. She began to navigate as she replied.
[What classes are you taking?]
A her feet, the shadow trailed behind her.
[None, but I have an interest in the Wilderness Survival course by professor Julius. I'm quite fond of his work, I'd recommend you visit it a bit.]
Cassie dumped her tray in the bin, tapping her cane as she adjusted herself in the direction of the door before pausing.
[I'll keep that in mind.]
Her lips quivered as she looked down, before speaking up.
[C-Can I ask you something?]
Sunny calmly replied.
[Of course]
...
[Can I hold your hand?]
Her shadow slightly trembled, the silence deafening as Sunny remained dazed. Realizing her actions, Cassie's mouth fell open as she waved her free arm erratically, her voice uncomposed.
[Not in a weird way or anything, I just met you and I don't even know what you look like!]
The shadows in the room became lighter, as Sunny let out a breath, relieved that his social behaviour had not steered their relationship in that direction. He only saw her as a little sister…
Cassie slightly tapped her foot, as she smiled.
[It's just…]
….
[You're the only person who's wanted to talk to me since I came here. I was all alone, yet you barged in and treated me equally and kind. Although I'm blind, it's was like a guiding light]
She chuckled.
[Sorry, that kind of destroys the whole shadow persona you're going for.]
Her hands slightly fidgeted, as she inhaled.
[T-That's why I would just like to know you're real….it's all seems too good, like a blissful dream.]
Cassie stood silent waiting for an answer. Without noise, a figure rose from her shadow, as Sunny quietly stepped before her. He looked at her hand, hesitantly reaching out before gingerly lifting it. Cassie slightly flinched, but then relaxed as she warmly smiled, her fingers tracing his palm.
She paused, frowning a bit behind her blindfold.
'Why is his skin smoother than mine?'
Shaking her head, she looked up to where she presumed his face was. Smiling warmly.
[You have the hands of a flower-boy]
The hand in her palm slightly flinched, as a grumble sounded in her head.
[.....I really hate being called that]
Cassie tilted her head, playfully smiling.
[You're been called that before?]
The hand pulled away as Cassie's arm returned to her sides. Her face slightly dropped in response, but not too deeply saddened. The voice drifted away in her mind…
[Maybe next time I'll tell you]
Her grip on the cane tightened as she brought it close.
[W-We'll see each other again, right?]
He laughed soundlessly in her head.
[Of course, it's a promise! Don't stress, you can trust me!]
His voice continued to grow fainter, now trailing off as one final remark sounded in her head.
[Afterall, I'm the most honest person in two worlds!]
With that, her shadow shifted and returned to normal as Cassie stood silently by the exit. She passed through, guiding against the wall as she made her way to her room.
Except, the path was not too dark this time.
And on her face.
Was a warm and hopeful smile.
********
Morning light poured through the windows, scattering across a messy classroom and desk full of notes. In a reclined chair, an old man sat while reading an article. His eyes glinted, as his moustache lifted from a smile.
"You've really grown Beth"
The paper was lowered as a knock resounded on the door. Julius frowned, glancing at the clock in confusion, his mellow voice sounding.
"Module is supposed to start in 30 minutes"
Behind the door the figure paused, a voice coming through.
"Sorry, I was just so eager to arrive before everyone else did….I have such revolutionary ideas and theories I'd like to share regarding the future progression potential with integration into the Dream Realm"
Julius stared blankly.
Glancing at the clock, he looked back and forth between the door. Eventually letting out a defeated sigh as he chuckled.
"Then come on in! I always welcome bright aspiring minds!"
The shadowy figure behind the glass obliged, as the door creaked open.