N: I will cook. Sunny, could you prepare the meat?
Sunny nodded and got ready to portion up the demon they killed. The rest of it he left to his serpent to consume. After which, he wanted him to spit out the bones. The process would take a couple of hours, so they just waited. After they built their ship, they started their sale towards the City.
S: Right, let's see what I got.
Sunny looked at his runes and skipped to the important part.
Memory: don't hate me too much.
Sunny's expression widened, and he consumed the memory without much thought. The pain was severe, but because his eyes were closed and he was concentrating, he didn't know how bad it was on his body from the external point of view.
You have received ???
Sunny looked at the ??? and concentrated on it. Memory,
Type: item - ring
Grade: divine.
Tier: 4
Description. This ring can transform into 4 different weapons. Sword, Bow, Spear and the Ring.
S: That's insane. But why does my body feel different? It feels sturdier, but I didn't receive a warning about getting something.
Sunny shrugged and seemingly forgot about the last string of runes below his new item.
Most probably because he was too excited.
Nonetheless, he was very excited.
When he opened his eyes, however, he was no longer in the boat he was in on the shore but for some reason surface under his head was soft and comfortable. He opened his eyes and saw Nephis with a tired expression on her face.
S: What happened?
N: Morning to you, too.
S: Sorry. Morning.
He outstretched his hand, which was grabbed by Nephis, and she placed it on her cheek.
S: Cute.
N: Well, at first everything was fine, but suddenly it wasn't. You started to bleed from your mouth, but no matter how much I tried to heal you, my flames did nothing. I felt useless. So dreadfully useless. You were probably in pain, right?
S: It is hard to describe since I was so focused. I did feel pain, but I didn't know how my physical body was holding up.
He continued to stare at Nephis and said while sitting up and hugging her.
S: I am sorry.
N: No, don't apologise, this was my fault.
Ca: Her trying to heal you was almost a terrible mistake, you know. I tried covering her with some of the robe we had left, but she had to stop eventually because the monsters in the water felt very dreadful.
S: Thank you.
Sunny breathed it in slowly and looked up at the city.
S: We made it.
N: Yes, we did.
Sunny looked at Cassia and asked.
S: Hey, Cass, could you gather info from in front of the castle? Neph and I will look for a good place for our base and clear it out.
Ca: sure. But where will I stay?
S: Don't worry, I will handle it.
As they entered the city walls, they spotted Effie like last time, but instead of climbing down slowly, Sunny summoned his Serpent, and as they all stepped on its scaly body, it slowly and quietly lowered itself. Instead of dissolving into shadows, Sunny made a rotation sign with his finger, making his Serpent slither across one of the trees and stayed hidden unless given a command.
Sunny and the rest stepped out to the clearing, and at first their conversation went as in the past, but now, after Nephis introduced herself, Sunny asked. Despite her still recovering from her shock.
S: Effie, our friend over here. Cassia needs a place to stay for a couple of days. Would you accommodate her in your place?
E: What's in it for me or no, how are you planning to sway me, Doofus?
Sunny outstretched his palm, and a long black spear manifested in his palm.
S: I will beat you in the duel.
E: Oh ho?
She picked up her spear and towered over him with a hint of amusement.
E: And if you lose?
S: I will belong to you. Kill me, discard me, use me as a slave, I don't care.
His offer stunned not just Effie, but mainly Nephis and Cassia as well were shocked by his decision.
Effie laughed but turned serious.
E: Alright. I accept. Sho…
Before she could finish her word world around her suddenly got significantly heavier. It was suffocating. As she performed a dreadful stab at Sunny Sunny's image, she stabbed and dissolved into shadows.
S: Your stance is rough.
Effie turned around where Sunny was already singing his spear.
She managed to block but got sent back a couple of steps, but before she could recover, Sunny plunged the Spear into the ground in front of her and with incredible momentum, he kicked her in her stomach, sending her crashing into the forest behind her. Sunny pulled out his spear and lifted it up her's with his foot, right after which he kicked he dull part of it in her direction, cutting down one of the trees in the process.
E: You are strong. Very strong.
She sighed and dismissed her spear.
E: Fine. I will let your friend stay with me for a couple of days. Where will you go, tho?
Sunny pointed down into the ruined city.
Effie shook her head in disgust and said.
E: crazy, you really are crazy, but oh well, l there is no way I can stop you anyway.
After some time, Effie and Cassia departed to where Effie lived, while Nephis and Sunny headed down.
As they were walking, Nephis asked.
N: Is there any particular place you have in mind?
S: Yes. You will like it there, I promise.
They reached the ruined cathedral and headed inside. In the past, Sunny was gutted here by the fallen Devil, but now it stood motionless the moment Sunny stepped inside the cathedral.
N: Why is it not attacking?
S: I am not sure, but I feel something. Like a connection.
He walked up to the guard who was now on his one knee, his sword with his right hand stuck in the ground.
N: Be careful, this might be a trap.
Sunny, despite her warning, approached the guard and touched his head. He still had to reach above him because the guard was so tall. As he did something strange happened.
Sy: You have received a shadow, your shadow grows stronger.
S: What?
As he said, that large amount of shadow essence poured into Sunny, filling up his 3rd core. And giving him slightly above.
S: oh crap.
As he said, the pain of his getting a new soul core arrived. Sunny fell to the ground in pain. Nephis caught him before he could fall on the ground and held his hand and played with his hair.
N: It's fine, you are fine.
Sunny's pain got replaced by happiness and calmness after feeling Neph's touch. His breathing slowed down to how it was, and he fell asleep. Nephis just sat there with him lying on her lap. Unfortunately, Sunny's scream made other monsters from outside the cathedral know where he is, and so they tried to attack. This was pretty much their death sentence since the moment they entered, they were cut down by a knight in pitch black armour. After Sunny woke up, it was night time already, and so when he moved, he woke up Nephis, who had fallen asleep while looking at him.
S: I am sorry for waking you up.
N: not for me, seeing you in pain and not being able to heal you?
S: I can't change it, nor can I do anything about it. I was getting a new soul core. How is it for you? Aren't you in pain?
N: No, not at all, actually I feel my pain subside actually so this form of getting new cores is very painful to see.
Despite that, I don't like it. How many more times do I need to see you suffer and not be able to do anything about it?
S: Probably till I become a Titan?
Neph looked at Sunny with an empty expression.
S: I am sorry. What should I do to make you forgive me?
N: is this the catedral?
S: Well, yeah, why?
N: Why can't we marry now, at least unofficially?
S: We could, I don't see a reason why not.
And so they swore to each other to stay together forever. With that, Sunny took Neph's hand and headed into a hidden bedroom.
Neph's eyes lit up as she looked at Sunny.
She pushed him onto the bed and said.
N: I am sorry, Sunny, but I don't think I will be able to wait any longer. Dismiss your armour, Sunny.
S: So you don't want to wait?
Both dismissed their armour, and as Nephis was climbing into the bed, making Sunny's lust for her overflow, she explained.
N: We don't need to count this one.
S: How so?
N: Well, this is a dream realm, and so this is just our souls meeting each other. Our physical bodies are in the sleeping pods far from each other. So in other words.
She sat on him and continued.
N: Nothing will happen.
Sunny could not argue and said.
S: I did not think of that at all. I am such an idiot.
N: I did, so do you want to do it now?
S: Yes.
She lay on his bare chest and kissed him. He returned it and hugged her tightly while trying to turn around.
N: No, you are not allowed to move.
Sunny looked up and saw white flames in her eyes, not just dancing sparks, it was more like a raging inferno.
N: And here I thought you said I can do anything I want if you want my forgiveness.
S: Fine, you win, but remember. You wanted this.
N: Why do you sound like I will regret it? I won't.
S: Okay.
With that, their first Wild night started.
As Sunny lay, his silver hair covered his shoulder as they both drifted into sleep.
Sunny stretched and looked for Thene.
S: What will we do today, Thene?
Th: When are you gonna call me, Mom? She smiled.
Sunny blushed and said.
S: Stop that, please, it's been weeks now.
Th: Well, I told you to land a blow on me, and I will stop.
S: So never. Even Auro can't touch you, how am I supposed to achieve that?
Th: So, you are giving up?
S: No, never. I will …. become strong, at least strong enough to protect those I care about and are important to me.
Th: Alright, now I will teach you how to be nimble and quite like a cat.
S: A what?
Th: cat.
S: I heard you the first time. I just don't know what it is.
Then burst out laughing, almost making tears come out.
Th: Here, I will show you.
She said the name of her cat, which was: Dark.
S: Dark? Cool name.
Al: No, it's not. If you really think it is a cool name, you might as well be mother and son because her naming sense is terrible. Still, since only the Heir of Shadow God can have that cat, I can't really say much.
S: it it that powerful?
Al: I don't know. What I can tell you is that I can't see anything when she summons it. Normally, I would be able to see their class type rank, but with this creature, I can't see anything at all. So, just know that if you utter the name of your cat, if you are the heir of the Shadow God, you've got yourself a very special companion.
Thene looked at Sunny with a smile as she saw Dark walk up to Sunny instead of her.
At first, Sunny was just looking at it, but then he asked.
S: How do I…what do I do now?
Thene instructed him how to hold a cat, but Dark ignored it and jumped into Sunny's hands.
Th: Never mind, I guess. Still, what would you call him?
S: Is it him? How do I know?
Th: give it a name, and if it is be correct gender, it will react nicely. Since Dark is neutral, I guess it couldn't decide.
S: Luna.
Al: Do you know what that name means?
S: No, not at all.
Al: Why did you say it then?
S: I just felt it when I was looking at it.
Thene and Alain exchanged a look and smiled.
Al: That's a nice name.
Sunny opened his eyes and saw a small cat with galaxy blue eyes and black, almost shadow-like fur sitting on his pillow, licking its paws and staring at Sunny. When it looked like Nephis was about to wake up, it jumped into his shadow and disappeared.
After both Sunny and Nephis woke up and dressed up. They equipped their armour and started to head out. Nephis was leaving first so she could look around the cellar to find something of use.
Sunny meanwhile, stared at his shadow and asked.
S: Luna?
She jumped from his shadow and landed in his lap, purring happily.