…It was three months after that fateful day, that Nephis saw him again.
During her trip to the Bright Castle, they met.
Even from far, far away, her eyes still knew that raven black hair— it was him.
Sunny, in all his cowardly glory, stood inside an alley, his onyx eyes staring deeply into the horizon.
Nephis… Well… her heart thumped in her chest, as the shock of who laid in front of her registered into her mind.
Sunny. He was there.
For real this time.
Unconsciously, her hands started to tremble, as her usual facade shattered into a million pieces. Her eyes widened, and Nephis had to do everything she can to stop herself running towards him.
She couldn't show how much she looked forward to this day! How much she wanted to see him again!
Her footsteps grew quicker, as she trembled in anticipation.
She had to reach him.
She couldn't lose him.
Not once, not twice, but during the time he wasn't here, she felt… strange.
Her heart would ache, and her sword would dull… And it was only through burying herself in so much room that she had no way to think about him, could she be herself. Be that calm leader everyone needed.
So…
When had she been so swallowed up by emotions? When had she ever stopped to think for someone else?
Nephis… she cast it all away— hid it deep, deep inside of her. So that she would never have to face the implications of acknowledging them. And it was a success. This was the only way after all.
That was what she had always done.
No matter how fearsome the foe in front of her was, no matter how her emotions would rampage like any other person would— she locked it all away.
This was all a challenge for her.
It must be!
That's right. All this, would just be a challenge she'll have to overcome.
She'll make him realize it, like how she made everyone else recognise her— that it was the only way to escape this hellhole.
And… He'll stand by her side, just like everyone else, eventually.
But she would be a fool to lose such an opportunity.
Eventually was too long for her. If she could act now… then she will.
This was Changing Star's way of doing things after all.
As she once again stood before him, Nephis banished every grain of doubt in her, her face plastered with the indifference she had long perfected.
"Sunny," She said, as calm as she could ever be.
And yet, everything seemed to go awry as long as it was him— all her plans, all her masks, all her wishes…
It was like he could see every single imperfection in her that others could not. Like she was a prisoner standing in front of a judge.
Yes. Those onyx eyes would never let a single detail go— they would suck everything into it, deep into that abyss with no light in sight, so deep that she could get lost in it and—
"Hey, Neph," He said, a slight smile upon his lips—a lie, she knew perfectly well that he still… they weren't done with that conversation yet. "Long time no see."
Yes, it has been a long time— was what she wanted to say. And yet, and yet… she couldn't bear to do so. Just like how she couldn't say anything three months ago.
Sunny… standing in front of her… he seemed all the more different.
He was stronger now, incomparably stronger.
His hair was covered in grime, eyes sunken beyond belief. And during the time he was gone, he seemed to have lost even more weight, his cheeks sunken. The armor he had always worn clinged to his body, covered with scratches of Awakened, or even Fallen abominations.
Sunny had seen better days, and yet, Nephis found herself admiring this version of him as well— all of this was a testament to the hours of work he had put in, of the determination that small frame of his held.
And—
"Why did she have to be here…"
What?
Nephis must be dreaming right?
How could he, how could Sunny— why would he say such a thing?
"You do realize that you said that out loud, do you?" She said, her eyes staring in confusion— this wasn't some ploy for her to let down her guard right?.
He stared at her in shock, and somehow, someway, or perhaps the responsibility of everything was catching up to her— it reminded her of that day again. At least this time, those eyes didn't hold that fierce resentment she had experienced firsthand; at least this time, it wasn't the cruel, desperate Sunny she had seen.
He looked at her… like she was still his friend, like he was glad for her presence.
But if he really were glad, then why didn't he go along with her? Why didn't he realize that everything she will do was for all their sakes.
"Huh…" He blinked, "What?"
She smiled.
Yes, this was the Sunny she knew. The one who had asked to be taught the sword.
"You zoned out and mumbled 'why did she have to be here' under your breath," She said, before adding, "That wasn't very polite."
Sunny… he grinned.
"Yeah, well… I meant it."
Yet, Nephis couldn't bring herself to agree with such a lie, even if his Flaw would always force him to tell the truth. He wanted to see her. It must be! There couldn't be any other explanation, could there?
Outwardly, she sighed.
"I'm glad to see you too, Sunny,"—Yes, she meant it this time—"It's good that you're alive."
It's good that he's here, that he's back, that they'll be together again and everything in the world would be alright—nothing would go awry—Nephis would always choose the best, fastest path.
After all, the sovereigns would never wait for her to grow strong enough. They would strike her down while she was still weak, powerless. And she could never allow that.
He had to understand!
Sunny shrugged, "What," He said, "You didn't expect me to survive without you?"
Yes, she wanted to say, it was safer to be with her, she would definitely strike down whatever adversity lay before them. For him. So Sunny, come back, so that everything can be perfect again.
And yet, words she had never thought of tumbled out of her mouth. "No. On the contrary, I knew that you would be fine."
He would be fine. But she wasn't— it was only him who could make her heart ache, make her scream in the depths of her mind.
Like how she is now.
Before him, she couldn't control her voice, her words. And… those were a weapon, a brutal one— they can hold the greatest of hope, and the deepest of despair. After all, it wasn't combat that had shaped the world, it was words.
Sure, the strong were the ones to rule now. But before that? It was the ones who held the utmost control over themselves, the ones who had a tongue dyed with silver.
And so, for her to lose control over herself, would be the gravest mistake in front of him. Sunless was a master of words—who else could so despicably turn the truth into a lie?
Stop, Nephis. She could think about it later. Right now, something greater was waiting, something more important. She could review her performance later, not now, not yet.
"After all," She said, once again praying that he wouldn't notice what was wrong, "A cockroach like you is not easy to kill."
Sunny, he… there was no way he could ever be prey, no way he would ever be killed. In fact, the Nightmare Creatures should fear him. His sword… it was brutal, desperate—and yet, she couldn't help but be entranced by it.
Though she was his teacher, and his sword followed after hers— it dyed the world with its own colour. A deep, abyssal black.
She could see it, see all the countless possibilities that laid before him, how his sword could evolve. For never in her life had she seen someone who could wield it so naturally, never had she seen anyone who could compare with the speed he was growing.
She shuddered at the thought of his future. For by then, she'll have him by her side. Someone reliable, someone she can leave her back to, someone who she trusted wholeheartedly besides Cassie.
Yes. Soon, Nephis will fix this. She'll have him voluntarily following her.
No one could resist the light that was right before their eyes.
In front of her, he scoffed.
"Now who's being impolite?"
Now this, this was the Sunny she knew, the Sunny she wanted to be right behind her.
Chuckling, she smiled.
"Oh, sorry. I meant it as a compliment…"
After all, the only lie she told was the fact that he was a cockroach— Sunny would always be something more than that, something bigger, something stronger.
He was a survivor.