The three ladies stared at him for a moment, before Nephis' and Seishan's gazes fell upon Kai, who was staring at them wide eyed. Specifically at Seishan, who he knew was the feared and respected leader of the Handmaids. He did not recognize the other two girls, but a gut feeling was telling him he should.
"Greetings, Lady Seishan. I did not expect to see you there."
Before the addressed Sleeper could answer, Cassie giggled nervously.
"Hey Sunny, I must've heard wrong. I thought it's Night's voice for a second there. Who is this, Sunny?"
Kai scrunched his eyebrows, Sunny evenly stated.
"Oh, you are not wrong, Cassie. It's really him. Apparently, he's been stuck here for two years and a half."
Cassie gasped and paled at the terrible revelation. She weakly protested:
"But- But there have been songs published last year!"
Kai sighed gracefully.
"They must've published my more unrefined songs. Sunny says the truth. I'm Kai, also known as Night, nice to meet you."
Cassie took a deep breath and steadied herself with the armchairs.
"Nice- " she inspired though her nose. "Nice to meet you. I'm Cassia, but you can call me Cassie."
Nephis was about to speak when another voice interrupted her. Seishan's gaze pierced them, then she turned towards Nephis.
"Would you mind explaining, Changing Star? Who is this and what is Night doing here?" She looked at the charming singer, then added. "Not that it isn't a pleasure to have you there."
Kai nodded, not at all offended by her question. He was wondering the same, really.
Sunny smiled.
"I am Sunless, but you can call me Sunny. It is a pleasure to meet you. The reason Kai is here is to let us have a honest conversation. He is going to tell whenever someone lies."
The princess of Song assessed him, before her mouth curved up slightly, showing her pristine canines.
"I've heard of you. You have been training Changing Star's… little army."
Sunny made his way to one of the six chairs, beckoning for Kai to sit beside him, and took his place next to Nephis.
"I wouldn't call it an army just yet." He fished out three crystals from his bag, and handed one to each of the ladies.
Nephis seemed unfazed, but Seishan was staring at the object in stupor along with Kai.
"This- this is a-"
"An Ascended Soul Shard." Sunny was enjoying their shock, but he knew it wouldn't last long. "For your troubles. I was late because of this vile Demon, so it is only fair that my spoils go to you, who suffered my lateness."
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Seishan didn't miss her mother. Well, sometimes she did, if only briefly. What truly made her hearth ache were her sisters. Bin, Revel and the others.
She had been thrust into a chaotic bloodbath that had been the Bright Castle before Gunlaug had managed to conquer and force himself upon the others. She was a princess of Song, daughter of her mother, and wasn't born to submit. Still, she did.
Gunlaug and his golden armour were an unstoppable force, an unmovable mountain. Unlike her mother, Seishan couldn't crush mountains and stop the unstoppable.
The tyrant reigned with an iron fist, cruel and merciless. His oppressive regime might've starved the weaks, but it brought order. A cruel, unhuman order, but still order. He had organized hunting parties, given protection and food to those he believed deserved it.
Seishan wasn't happy, but it was all she had.
The Gateway was unreachable, defended by unknown horrors. Was it really the right choice to abandon all hopes, she sometimes mused in her lightless quarters during the darkest hours of the night.
No one would've let a chance to help or please a daughter of Song go in the waking world, or even in the known regions of the Dream Realm.
In the Forgotten Shore, her family was nearly meaningless. It was who she was that mattered, not which Clan she was part of.
So what? If her family was meaningless, she would just build a new one.
And so she did. The handmaidens were her family. It was different from the cold bonds she had with her mother, and from the warm ones with her closest sisters. They became an heterogenic group, but they cared for each other. However, in the end, the handmaidens were still Seishan's responsibility.
She gained her position as one of Gunlaug's lieutenants in no time.
Harus might've slaughtered Gunlaug's enemies like a silent wraith.
Gemma might've led the hunters, providing 'food and safety'.
But it was her who silently ran the castle from the shadows.
Thus, she was the first to learn of the ripples caused by Changing Star arrival.
The name of Song might've been inherited, but a True Name could only be earnt.
The daughter of the Immortal Flame spread hope and safety and food. She had disrupted the unchanging flow of the Forgotten Shore, had made the lightless eyes of the inhabitants of the slums bright again.
Seishan knew she wouldn't go unnoticed by Gunlaug, but the king hadn't attempted anything yet. The Lost Princess kept her eyes on her and her cohort, wondering when Harus would be unleashed upon them.
She had been surprised when Felise, one of her Handmaidens, had brought her a message delivered by Caster of the Han Li Clan, requesting of her a meeting with Changing Star.
Seishan was tired of the Forgotten Shore, and it was written in her True Name that things would change, regardless of her participation.
She accepted.
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Seishan could navigate the labyrinthine corridors of the castle better than anyone else. She knew every hidden passage like the back of her hand. It was nothing compared to Ravenhearth, after all.
Cassia, the blind oracle, had welcomed her, somehow unaffected by her disguising Memories, and led her into a secret room.
Changing Star was waiting for her there, but had declared they were missing a member.
Seishan thought the missing member was the Scion of the Han Li Clan, but she couldn't have been more wrong.
The princess was surprised to see Night and a pale kid, but didn't think too much of it. The handsome archer was there to impose the truth, and when the black haired Sleeper introduced himself she recognized him from her subordinates' reports as the companion who had been at Changing Star's side since she was thrown into the Forgotten Shore, so it wasn't too strange. He must be a good fighter, probably not at Caster's level, but still capable.
She changed her mind very quickly when he gave her an Ascended Soul Shard as a casual apology.
'What the hell?'