Standing on the crescent dome of the Bright Castle, he took in the state of the dark city through the shadows, a forlorn look on his face.
He had come great lengths with restoring and improving it during his time as its ruler after the Domain war, so he had become slightly attached—even prideful of its development into a real city.
It had no real residents apart from a few shadow clan members.
Maybe that would change in the future.
His proposition of opportunities of colonialism to Aiko was a very real promise. And a greedy one at that.
So although it didn't reflect the effort in his reality, he was still hurt to see it in its original state—tattered, riddled with cobwebs and lurking Nightmare creatures.
'Managing two cities in separate realities? That's a bit too overachieving even for me.'
Blinking through the shadows, he manifested on a particular worn out bed that welcomed him as he sat down.
A pang of nostalgia grew in his heart.
The roof was a litany of rotting oakboards, held together by rusted nails and weaves of cobwebs. Surrounding it all in a stoney barrier was a collection of irregularly shaped rocks, miraculously grafted together to form a wall that could be mistaken for a cracked cliff-face. Stationed against the walls were various antique furniture including a closet, low leather couch, dusty desk and the very bed he sat on.
It was his room…
His first home.
Except….it was not truly his. Walking towards the wall, he quietly traced his hand against the untouched stones, no carefully carved tallies greeting his fingers. His face remained unreadable, unsure whether to feel joy or pain at the lack of evidence to his struggle. Eventually his palm landed on a particular stone.
Hesitating, he opened the gates to his soul ever so slightly, letting a single shadow out.
The shadow of his younger self stood beside him, blankly tilting his head up to look at him.
"You know I—we, originally made that mark on the tree assuming we would die in the real world. But we didn't. For a brief while I felt strong for once, and that maybe things could change even more for the better in the Dream realm….."
He paused, looking carefully at the rock.
"I was wrong. I found myself once again carving a mark in the world, hoping maybe someone would see it and remember me. This was the spot."
Tracing a line on the particular stone, Sunny glanced at himself.
His shade looked at the spot silently.
Raising his palm, he manifested a small shadow knife. Placing it in the shade's palm, he leaned forward, carefully pulling its arms—guiding them to carve a rune in the untouched stone.
'Sun-less'
As the last bit of chipped stone sprinkled onto the floor, Sunny smiled, pointing at the marking.
"Now you've left a mark in both worlds. Be proud, you've made it farther than our younger self could have ever imagined!"
The shade listened, but did not respond as always.
Sunny looked at his hollow self, before dismissing it back to its resting place in his soul. Standing alone in the room, he walked back to the bed, collapsing down as grumble echoed in the room..
"I was just having a great time with Cas and Neph..."
Tilting his head down, he looked down, remaining quiet.
'Ah.'
Then his lips twisted in a wicked grin of delight as he slowly rose from the bed, disappearing from the room.
*********
In the abandoned chapel hall everything was still. Rows of withered prayer benches lined up towards a forlorn altar, an ancient depiction of seven heroes barely visible on a stained glass mosaic above.
Nothing living made a move nor noise.
Only the shadows were alive, their forms stretched and covering the interior. Despite such an abandoned setting, they strangely churned, shivering in fear—from something even more devoid of light than them.
From behind a pillar, a knight bleached in pure darkness lay waiting.
Its body perfectly camouflage, blending seamlessly—a perfect ambush predator, waiting for its next unsuspecting victim.
But as it lay in silence, it suddenly looked up, observing the area.
The shadows on the ceiling and walls that were usually shivering and bereft of its presence now….laughed. They neared closer than they had ever dared before, daring to touch his domain, shifting as to express their scorn.
How….how dare they?
How can ones so weak and helpless show such pride before him? Had they forgotten that True Darkness ruled over the shadows?
It picked up its sword, taking a step-forward…only to suddenly be sent flying from an unseen blow. Crashing into a wall, rubble rained from above as it rose from the ground.
All it was met with as it looked up, was the face of a terrible demon carved into wood.
Sunny's six arms moved, crushing its limbs—slowly raising it from the ground. He watched as it struggled to free itself, his voice mirthful filling the hall.
"I missed you," Sunny crooned, voice thick with venomous joy. "Last time you died after just a little taste of pain. Don't worry…"
His grin widened.
"…We've got time now."
Effortlessly he tightened his grip. The carapace of its inky armour gave away with a deafening crack, limbs twisting unnaturally as it roared a mixture of pain and rage.
Sunny only laughed, pulling it closer.
"Did that hurt? I hope it did you bastard. Let me help you."
He swung around, sending its body flying too fast for the eye to see into a pillar on the other side of the room. The impact shattered it, the knight's body folding around it like brittle metal as a cloud of dust rose
Sunny strolled forward, humming an upbeat tone under the sound of cascading rubble.
He found the knight still twitching beneath rubble, limbs twisting as it struggled to prop itself up—reforging itself whole.
His smile grew impossibly wide.
"I really hated that ability of yours." he said with reverence, grabbing the knight again. "That pathetic little blessing. Watching you knit yourself whole, smug, unkillable while I rotted in the dark."
His fingers dug into the knight's chestplate, cracking ribs with surgical glee.
"But now….I can't help but be grateful."
His lips curled, the surroundings shadows shivering as he spoke again, his tone impossibly filled with malice, on the border between human and monster.
"Able to take any wound, as long as you have the grace of the darkness to heal you. Do you know what it feels like to be gutted? To have your head cut off, your heart ripped out, crushed by a mountain, engulfed in flames, to have your very existence tormented by something so untouchable and absolute? You've lived such a comfortable life. Don't worry…"
His ears were once again washed over with the delightful sound of limbs snapping and angry roars, the knight's body now even more impossibly contorted in his grasp.
Only for them to once again snap back into place.
Sunny's laugh filled the room, ripping off its arms.
"I'll show you all of it!"
Everything around them became a blur. The shadows surrounding sneered with glee as the knight's wail-like roars filled the hall, drowned by the Sunny's mad unrestrained laughter.
He did it all with glee.
Ripping it apart bit by bit as it struggled to fight back. Limbs piling up, inky blood spilling. The room dedicated to prayer and worship now no different from a slaughterhouse.
Sunny found himself consumed by the primal violence, unfortunately having to restrain his will to avoid accidentally killing it.
That was the real challenge.
Soon, the indomitable knight's rage turned to fear, desperately trying to crawl away with its emaciated body. Sunny simply dragged it back with chains—swinging it repeatedly against the floor before letting go and sending it crashing through the walls.
A trail of destruction followed, buildings groaning and toppling behind.
Standing above a crater, Sunny looked down with contempt at its twitching disfigured corpse, now unable to heal.
Wrapping a chain around its neck, he yanked it towards his feet, dragging it behind as he snarled.
"How can you be this weak before me? Don't you dare die yet."
He truly wanted to kill it, however he couldn't. Despite its wretched existence, it still served a valuable purpose….
As a gift!
His malice had begun to quell, now replaced by a giddy anticipation as he skipped down the cleared street, dragging the knight behind as it crashed into buildings.
Creatures lurking rushed out, only immediately pulled into the shadows as he continued down the bloodied empty road, his voice trailing:
"Saint, wait for me! I've got the best gift for you!"
After having gotten a second Slayer, the possibility plagued Sunny the month he had been at the academy, even tempting him to breach the dark city.
There was a possibility he could have another.
Another invaluable employee, commander and companion!
Saint held a special place in his heart. She was his first shadow, the very reason he survived the forgotten shore, who also served as his first loyal soldier, personal trainer and more. Truly she put merit to the possibility of something being priceless, even if Aiko had argued with him otherwise.
His face beamed as he entered a familiar clearing.
And there in the center she stood.
Broadsword dug into the ground, marble armour cracked and covered in battle scars—crimson eyes burning with unwavering determination. She exuded presence even to Sunny despite their difference in rank.
Walking carefree towards her, he was slightly shook when she abruptly launched at him. Having become so used to her company, it slightly slipped his mind that she was at one point a relentless butcher.
However, chains shot up from the ground, binding her movements to a single twitch.
Looking at her more closely, Sunny frowned in dismay.
It was quite heartwrenching to see her again as she was in the beginning, flawed, covered with cracks and chips—nothing close to the onyx beauty he knew.
And thus it pained him even more as he whispered a silent plea, before targeting her shadow.
"I'm sorry."
As he did with Slayer, he began to enforce his Will onto her shadow, commanding it to submit to him. It did so without much effort, but still Sunny didn't relent. He continued to do so for some time until her thrashing completely ceased. Manifesting a blade, he swiftly stabbed through her chest—infusing his Will with as much lethality as possible to make it quick.
The marble saint staggered, looking up at him as the crimson fire in her visor finally dimmed.
He felt genuinely pained to kill her.
His heart was even more torn by the few seconds of dreadful silence that followed.
But then…..he heard it
[You have received a Shadow]
Sunny collapsed to his knees letting out a shaky breath.
"Y-Yes, oh gods, yes!"
Without wasting a moment he called both of them, as they rose before him. To his right was the Saint he knew, and too the left….was a fresh marble Saint.
Sunny took a step forward, stopping himself from hugging her as he noticed the older Saint stare at him.
He stared back, looking between the two, coughing as he grinned sheepishly.
"I got you a younger sister."
Saint looked at him before turning to face her younger self. Taking a step-forward, she looked down at the young shadow. They both stared, possibly speaking something in silence.
Then, she raised her arm, lightly poking her marble counterpart.
The other did the same, as the two quietly poked each other's helmets.
Sunny grinned at the scene.
'That's a great sign.'
Then he frowned.
"Wait. What am I supposed to call them now? They're both Saint, hmmm…..little and big Saint? No, the new one will catch up soon. But they are sisters. Siblings of the Underworld? Twins of darkness? Both of them have nice rings to it….. "
He was distracted by a slight tug on the chain in his palm, the dark knight convulsing slightly.
The action caused both Saints to cease their poking, crimson flames igniting behind their visors as they both picked up their swords.
"Woah! Woah! This is for the fresh meat, you already got your own."
The older Saint paused before reluctantly sheathing her blade, glancing at her younger counterpart, who walked forward—dragging her sword on he floor behind.
She towered above it, crushing its chest with her heel as she brought her blade up. Only to stop as a voice spoke from behind her.
"Wait."
Walking forward, Sunny pulled a long odachi from the ground. Standing above the knight, he slowly dragged the edge across its stomach causing inky liquid and whatever amalgamation of innards it had to spill out.
The same wound he had endured from it all those years ago.
Looking at the scene, Sunny grinned with satisfaction.
"Now you can die."
At that command, the marble knight swung, cleaving the battered corpse clean in half on the ground. From its remains—a familiar pulsing orb of darkness began to coagulate—spurring his new shadow to clasp it, shattering with her hand.
Her body convulsed right after, returning to his soul, having already begun the evolution process.
Sunny looked the scene over, letting out a long sigh as he turned to Saint.
"Sorry, True Darkness creatures are hard to come by and I still haven't found a way to properly kill the damn ocean. Make sure to watch over and greet her when she wakes up, okay? I better not find the place trashed from Imp's excitement."
Saint nodded, walking into his shadow looking over her shoulder for a moment before disappearing. Was it his imagination, or did he sense a feeling of….happiness, from the emotionless stalwart?
She seemed to be genuinely content with a sister.
Sunny smiled understandingly.
She was the sole surviving child of Nether, fighting, surviving all this time alone. As someone who had been a fellow orphan all his life, the prospect of having a loving sibling to protect and confide with was….too emotional to explain.
He looked forward to their future and his future together with them.
Alone in the street, two more incarnations rose from the ground.
"It's starting to feel like a real family now."
"I feel bad. Nightmare won't be able to get a sibling."
Looking at each other, one of them broke away, waving behind its back as it walked away.
"I'm off to get Kai. Fortunately it seems like he wasn't willing to cooperate with whatever Gunlang proposed to the veterans so he got tossed into the well earlier than usual. You two have fun with the others."
One of the incarnations yelled back in outrage.
"How come you get to grab Kai! Why do we have to deal with the glutton?"
The one beside it scoffed, beginning to walk off in another direction.
"We? I'm dealing with the Bright Castle. We're on a schedule here. The pork cuts in the oven are about to reach that critical moment where the rendered fat mixes with the moisture and is absorbed back into the meat. You know how terrible it is to eat pork which hasn't had time to properly render? Do you want to serve them that stuff?"
"Of course not you bastard!" he yelled, but got no response.
The last incarnation was left standing in silence.
Letting out a loud curse, it walked off into the shadows.
*******
In a sectioned off room shrouded in rubble, a restless figure shifted beneath a dirtied tarp. The room was empty apart from a pile of soul shards in a corner next to an oversized breastplate and spear.
Her snoring didn't reach the outside, however it caused slight tremors in the withered walls. Adjusting to switch sides to sleep on, her rustling abruptly stopped.
Effie bolted upright, eyes wide in disbelief.
'No way.'
Pinching herself, she winced—now reassured that she was in fact awake and not in dream.
But how could she believe it? She wiped the corner of her mouth which had begun to uncontrollably drool. In the hellish ruins of the dark city infested with abominations, there was a wafting smell…..of waffles?
She blinked.
Glancing at her armour, she reached over and suited it onto her body, cracking her shoulders—spear propped onto her shoulder as she opened the barred entrance.
Her eyes glistened with excitement, voice trailing as she bounded outside.
'I've been blessed with a miracle after surviving so long or some nightmare creature is about to pay for creating such a delicious illusion.'
Carefully scouting the entrance, she traced the smell down the street to an open section, possibly a public square of sorts in the past.
Her face darkened as she stealthily navigated through the alleys.
'Open space. Can't be human.'
Fingers tightened with inhuman strength around the handle of her spear as she turned round the corner.
"You stupid nightmare creature. How dare you tempt me with the idea of…!"
She momentarily froze.
Effie's face widened to unnatural proportions, a mix of joy and disbelief at what she was seeing.
In the middle of the square…a small fire was lit, and placed on top was a pan sizzling with a batch of the most delectable looking waffles she had ever laid her eyes on. What made her heart drop was that a demonic figure sat on the opposite side, holding the ladle of the pan in the grasp of one of its six arms. Its body was shrouded in a mantle that looked like it was made from shadows themselves. Impossibly dark hair fell from a loose knot, blending indifferent with the clothing. Where its face should be was instead covered by a terrible visage of a demon carved into a wood mask—perhaps hiding something even more horrifying.
Effie couldn't believe it.
A….A nightmare creature was making waffles!
Despite its appearance, she felt more uneasy by its scarily human display of intelligence. And more so what would happen to the most divine looking food she had seen in years since she arrived here.
Her instincts screamed at her to run away.
But the waffles whispered to come closer.
Her face twisted with conflict. But it was a nightmare creature. And that meant if she killed it…
The food would be all hers with nobody to complain.
Something changed in her eyes.
Ahead, the figure paused, looking up as it began to speak:
"Would you like so—"
It was, however, abruptly cut off as a spear barrelled towards its body with great speed. Without reacting it remained seated. The tip of the spear was about to make contact with its chest…but simply passed through and exited the other side, crashing into a building behind.
"...waffles"
Effie was already closing the distance, drawing a short from a scabbard on her thigh as she yelled.
"Get away from those waffles!"
The figure looked at her. Something must have changed on its dastardly hidden face, causing a shiver to run down Effie's back.
Carefree it shifted the pan off the flame, tilting it at an angle barely allowing them to stick.
"One more step and I'll drop them."
Effie's heels dug into the road creating deep trails in the stone as she skidded to a stop. Panting with a frazzled expression, she pushed her hair back, pointing at him as she hesitantly spoke.
"Y-You can talk!?"
The figure didn't move, slightly tilting the pan back as Effie watched it with scary focus.
"Yes. I can also cook as you see."
Effie's eyes shifted, her primal desires and consciousness fighting between focusing on the food and the talking nightmare creature. Seeing as it didn't have clear hostile intentions—she took a step forward—carefull to see if the threat still applied.
It didn't drop the pancakes, instead skillfully flipping with a single motion, causing them to seductively splatter on the pan.
"You're awfully focused on these pancakes."
Effie swallowed, taking another step forward.
"I haven't had any real food in over a year. C-Could I possibly get a…."
"Stop."
Effie abruptly stopped mid step, bringing her blade up as she tenseed. His tone was not the same as earlier, now commanding and ominous.
'Idiot! Idiot! It's still a nightmare creature, all it wants to do is kill!"
Tensing she leaped back as one of its other arms pointed at the ground. Yet nothing happened.
"Sit over there. Don't come closer."
Effie stared at him. Lowering her stance she looked back and forth with confusion, now completely lost.
"Why?"
It tilted its head up, staring at her like it was the most obvious reason in the world.
"Because you stink."
Her jaw dropped.
A damn nightmare creature….was telling her she reeked!?
Well. It was true that she hadn't had what could be called a shower in a few weeks. Most residents of the dark city didn't shower at all. Who would care about such a task when they risk being pulled screaming into the dark everyday?
Looking at her armour, she did also notice it was pretty dirty and dried with various blood and monster innards.
Begruddingly, she accepted that she might smell a little, just a little. Seating herself down where it had pointed.
'For the waffles. All for the waffles.'
Crossing her arms, she scowled.
"Since when do nightmare creatures kill people with insults? I bet you smell worse than me."
Pulling the pan off, it looked the waffles over, giving a slight nod of what looked like acknowledgement, before turning to her and making a noise that sounded like a dejected huff.
"I smell wonderful for your information. Maybe if you had asked first before trying to put a hole through my body, you would have realised I'm not a nightmare creature."
At that remark, she leaned forward, an astonished look on her face.
"You're human?"
The figure fell silent for a moment before responding:
"Well not fully. But nothing like a damn nightmare creature. Now you can apologise."
"I'm sorry."
The figure remained still, now definitely frowning behind its mask.
"Apologise without food on your mind."
"Just give me a bite!" Effie whined, cutting him off as she threatened to come close to him.
She watched as it cursed something under its breath before somehow transporting the pan right before her. Effie had not seen him do it nor did she have any idea how he did so. But her body unconsciously began to shovel the carbs of eden into her mouth before she realized.
Her face softened in bliss as she forced herself to slowly chew, making sure her tastebuds were completely drowned,
I-It…It was the most delicious thing she had ever eaten.
A tear nearly formed as her empty hands twitched, the pan before her empty.
The figure watched quietly, propping its head with one of its hands as it looked with satisfaction, oozing an aura similar to a snobby chef.
She looked down with dismay at the empty pan before her, lips widening into a sheepish grin as she batted her eyelashes.
"Do you have anymore kind demo—sir?"
Another scoff sounded from the mask.
"You haven't even asked me what my name is."
Effie's face changed to a look of genuine bewilderment, tilting her head.
"You have a name?"
It nodded, interlocking its fingers, voice a bit quieter.
"Sunny."
….
Effie didn't respond.
Then her cheeks puffed as she exploded in a howling fit of laughter, falling back, rolling side to side as her legs flailed.
Her actions seemed to press its buttons as it barked back.
"What's so funny?"
Effie pulled herself up, wiping away a tear as she spoke through wheezes:
"Sunny. Hahah! How the hell can you have such a softy name! Walking around looking like a nightmare creature….and your name is Sunny! Hahaa!"
"Laugh one more time and I'll leave."
At those words, her body snapped into a formal kneeled seating, her face like a monolith as she spoke in a monotone voice.
"I'm always serious."
The figure stared at her for an uncomfortable amount of silence, mumbling something indiscernible before replying.
"Yes my name is Sunny. I'm about to have a banquet. The people attending it have the opportunity to join a clan in the making, one that will become the foundation for the future. I see you as a candidate for various reasons and have overlooked your….flaws. I guess you could say these waffles were my way of bringing you here on your own accord. Accept and I'll take you there now. Decline and, well, you can live out your days just as they were before. Scouring and living off smelly, gammy, nightmare creature meat."
Effie listened now with a serious look on her face.
Her brows furrowed as she contemplated for a few minutes before looking up.
"Where is this banquet?"
"Outside the city. I've cleared all the surrounding creatures in the area there. Wonder why you weren't attacked as you mindlessly gorged yourself?"
Her shoulders stiffened.
Glancing around, she realized it was in fact quiet, was too quiet. Her heart sank a little as she began to notice small piles of blood. Yet there were no corpses. The idea of how it made them soundlessly disappear made her stomach drop.
"Only a Saint would be capable of this. If you are a Saint that has somehow made it here, take me home!"
It shook its head in objection.
"I could. I will. But not now."
Effie glared with a dangerous look.
"Oh and what's stopping me from refusing and ruining your whole scheme?"
In response, it lightly shrugged, sighing in annoyance.
"I could also just drag you there and set rations."
"I knew it! You really are just a demon!"
The figure laughed causing the flames to flicker as a sudden wind swept the area.
"When did I say I would play nice?"
Not giving it a response, she kept silent as it continued.
"It's quite far. Distance is not an issue for me. And yes, in the future you and the other selected will return here and to the real world. This doesn't mean we will be abandoning the Bright Castle residents. I'm actually the reason so many people made it this year. I'll give more details when we arrive."
Effie nodded in acceptance, her consciousness more at ease. Rubbing her hands together, a hungry glint sparked in the corner of her eyes.
"So what kind of banquet are we talking about? A normal one won't cut it for me you kn—"
"Enough for twenty people."
"Alright lets go."
Turning slightly, it beckoned towards the impact of destruction where her spear had landed.
"Don't you need to get some stuff before we leave?"
Effie paused. Walking over to the rubble she pulled her spear out as she sheathed her blade, making sure to not anger the thing and keep some distance.
"Done."
"You're not at all alarmed by the fact that I'm taking you somewhere else?"
Effie frowned in confusion.
"Why would I be alarmed by free food?"
The figure once again mumbled something before rising from the ground, pulling the pan into its robes. Effie was caught off guard by how it towered over her. Despite her staggering height of two meters, it quite literally looked down on her.
Nervously swallowing she spread her arms in anticipation.
Looking her up and down, it tilted its head, speaking in an annoyed tone:
"What are you doing?"
Effie waved her arms up and down, shrugging.
"You said we have to go there. Are we flying, traveling some way….maybe you'll even carry me like a princess." she said while grinning.
"I am not taking another step closer, you…..you curly haired baboon! You're not allowed to eat until people can't stand next to you without holding their breath."
Before she could retort in outrage, something yanked her from behind, pulling her down into the dark.
*******
Inside a lightless hole, a stone clattered against a wall, rebounding and landing at a pair of feet.
Leaning against a wall, Kai grabbed the stone, tossing it against the wall as he grumbled in dejection.
'"Crazy. They're all crazy! Throwing me down here just because I didn't agree with their barbaric proposition. Those poor newcomers ...."
"I know right?" a voice responded from the darkness, "Such a worthless greedy lot."
Kai nodded solemnly.
"Tell me ab—who's there!?!" he yelped.
Pushing himself against the wall he frantically looked around, unable to spot anything in the dark space. The width was so minimal that he was unable to summon any weapon, nor would he be able to wield it properly. Still, desperate for light he summoned an arrow, the swirling sparks briefly illuminating the space.
To his unease there was nothing there apart from his shadow stretched on the ground.
The brief light now dimming, he slumped to the ground in dismay, cradling his head.
"Oh Gods…I'm actually starting to go insane."
His shoulders jumped as a voice once again responded.
"We all go a little crazy. Oh, don't worry. I'm not some ugly nightmare creature playing tricks. It's me, your shadow talking."
Kai's eyes widened in dismay.
After a long pause, he let out a weak laugh which slowly grew louder.
"...I'm crazy."
Sitting in silence, the back of his head rested against the wall as he looked up. Taking a deep breath he asked in a depressed tone:
"So how are you doing my shadow? You must feel very comfortable in this miserable dark space."
A laugh sounded in response.
"I think it's quite cosy actually. There are far more terrible cramped places to be trapped in. Like the corpse of a dead god, or the carcass of prey belonging to a frenzied Great beast. As for how I'm doing….pretty good! I'm soon going to have a big feast with all my friends."
Listening, Kai weakly smiled.
"That sounds nice."
Another chuckle sounded in the dark.
"It is! Want to join me?"
Kai blinked. Shrugging in a hopeless manner, he scoffed.
"Sure."
"Alright lets go!" the voice said in a cheery tone.
He was very alarmed as something suddenly grabbed his leg. A startled scream rang out as he was abruptly sucked into the ground.
*******
Resting his head on the counter, Harper yawned as he read over the new transcript of sleepers. His eyes scrolled down with increasing concern at the startling number. Never had there been so many survivors to make it to the castle.
It would be assumed to be a good thing. More people meant more workers, which meant larger hunting groups to pull in more food and resources.
That was if they were properly trained in survival on the Forgotten shore.
What was worrying was that there were too many to manage the resources they already had.
'Oh jeez..'
Painfully he continued to mark down the list. Marks meant possible candidates, based on appearance, emotional stability, adaptability and what was known about their Aspect.
Every person which wasn't marked….
"Damn it." he mumbled.
He rubbed his face in agitation, glancing at the looming visage of the castle, his gaze dark.
'It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault.'
Shaking his head, he turned to get back to the list only to freeze.
Resting next to his cliff of papers…was a sealed bottle of whiskey.
He blinked. Then rubbed his eyes. Grabbing the bottle, he turned it around in astonishment, picking at the sealed cap in disbelief.
"Wha…What the hell!? How—"
A movement in the corner of his left eye made him stop, as something or someone moved in the direction of the entrance. Scrambling to the door, he pulled of the latches, swinging it open as he leaned out and yelled:
"Sir?! D-Did you put this on my table? How do you hav…!"
The words died in his mouth.
What walked towards the castle was not human. It towered well over two meters with six arms, body hidden in a nebulous cloak of darkness. Hearing his voice it stopped. Tilting its head, the mask of a terrible demon glanced over its shoulder, looking at him.
Harper paled, falling backwards onto the ground as he pushed himself back.
The creature did not seem too interested—holding its gaze on him before turning back to face the entrance, spreading its arms.
He was stricken with fear, but his body moved.
A whirl of light began to condense next to Harper, a rare communication memory entrusted to him, resembling a green conch shell.
Smacking it against his face in a panic, he screamed into it:
"A-Attack! The gateway has been breached! I repeat the gateway has been breached! One entity approaching the entrance, send everyone! Now!!"
The conch shuddered, signaling the message had been sent.
His duty filled, shakily his hand dropped, waiting for it to attack.
But the creature's figure shuddered, becoming hazy before abruptly collapsing onto the ground like water. In the next moment a large shadow surged up. It consumed everything, engulfing the walls, extinguishing the lights, continuing to climb—threatening to swallow the whole castle.
Harper could only mumble a single shaky sentence.
"W-What the h-hell did they b-bring bac-ck…?"
******
Inside the throne room, everyone was gathered.
Distinctive groups huddled around. Veterans who had long lived on the Forgotten shore held the walls, silently glaring at the newcomers who were huddled in familiar circles in the middle.
Torches on the walls above, flickered as hushed whispers sounded.
"Why did they call everyone here?"
"What's happening?"
"D-Did you hear? The guards came rushing back. I overheard them yelling about something arriving outside the city!"
"S-Shit! What is gonna happen to us?"
"Why the hell are they glaring at us!? We're stuck here just like all of you?"
"I still don't understand how I appeared near the castle as t-that thing nearly killed me."
All of them continued to voice their suspicions and concerns. Shooting worried glances between comrades they knew, the others carefully snuck glances at the main figures standing at the end near the empty throne.
They were the captains, the people with the second command of authority apart from the mysterious Bright Lord they hadn't seen.
There was the alluring Seishan who controlled the handmaidens, grey skin and red dress causing the majority of men to sneak poorly hidden glances. Standing a bit off was the giant Tessai, a dual axe wielding barbarian who's worn out face spoke of experience. To his left Gemma a normal sized archer who looked well kept. On the other side of the throne on the far end was a girl wearing a brown robe called Kido who was in charge of food and other resources.
And lastly and most intimidating was Harus.
Compared to the rest, Harus looked like a true ghoul. His skin was unhealthily pale, face withered with wrinkles and a pair of impossibly glassy eyes. Hunched over, it wasn't hard to tell that he was slightly disfigured, hunchback hidden by a robe adorned with various strange trinkets.
All of them avoided looking at him.
If his appearance was unappealing enough, the aura he gave off was like the grim reaper itself. Hence nobody dared to speak to him.
The whispers reached a conclusion as one person dared to speak up for the rest.
"Why have we all gathered here? I thought if we paid the entrance fee there would be no issue."
Nobody on the walls responded, and the captains only looked at the speaker silently, prompting them to slink awkwardly back into the crowd.
Their attention was shifted when a metal thud sounded from behind.
Heads turned towards the entrance hall filled with torches. Heavy footsteps echoing with approach somewhere down.
'Thud…..Thud.'
People stepped back forming a path towards the throne as a figure finally came into focus.
Immediately all the newcomers winced, some falling to their knees clutching their temples as groans sounded. Those by the walls turned their heads, avoiding looking.
Glistening under the figuring torches a knight covered in swirling golden armour approached the empty throne.
Every step he took, someone fell, every moment a groan of pain sounded.
The miserable cacophony died down as he sat on the throne, the mystical migraine subsiding to an annoying headache. From within the golden armour, a powerful voice spoke:
"Welcome newcomers, to the Bright Castle. I am Gunlang the Bright Lord, ruler and commander of the sleepers of the dark city."
His voice echoed in the crowded hall, exuding an authority of power and presence.
All eyes fell on his imposing figure, nobody daring to speak.
"I understand that all of you are confused. But firstly…let me congratulate you for having made it to the Bright Castle. Though there is confusion on how so many Sleepers made it all at once, it is something to be proud of. On this Forgotten Shore, only the strong survive. And although there are some promising faces, we face a minor problem.."
An eerie chill fell on the room at those words, emphasized by the rapping of his metallic gauntlet on the handrest.
"So many faces, and so many mouths to feed…If we continue at these numbers our resources will be stretched, and our hunters will be starved and weak. Our stomachs will grow bigger as our bodies grow smaller. And greed and envy will begin to fester inside this sanctuary."
….
"We can't have that now can we?"
Faces paled in realization as heads began to look around in a panic at those against the walls. But they offered no reaction.
The uncomfortable silence was broken by the burning question.
"Y-You….You want to kill us?"
A chill swept around as eyes looked with horror at the kneeled king. Gunlang remained silent for a moment before speaking in a more reassuring, lighter tone.
"We are not barbarians."
….
Suddenly various lights began to flicker around the newcomers. Stepping away from the walls, different people began walking towards the middle—various swords, spears, bows, daggers and other weapons in their hands—tossing them into a pile on the ground before walking back.
Eventually a large pile stood in the center of the room as Gunlang once again spoke.
"All of us want to survive. But only the strong survive. And those willing to prove themselves here now will survive. You will kill each other until an acceptable amount remains. Those standing will be allowed to stay for a month and will be allocated to designated groups for work."
The statement echoed like a terrible verdict.
Heads turned to the entrance in panic. But a line of mercenaries armed to the tooth had already placed themselves in front.
Breathing became audibly panicked as a raspy voice yelled from somewhere in the crowd.
"T-This…this is insane! We're all humans. Why the hell are we fighting when they are nightmare creatures outside!? How can any of you agree to this!?"
Those against the wall looked with grim expressions, some turning away while others looked at the ground. The captains remained indifferent, Gunlang's voice booming.
"The veterans agreed through the majority that this was the most fair way to address the issue. If you object to this decision, you may follow our tradition of proposing a duel. As the one who made this choice, I will fight anyone who wishes so. All is just in steel and blood."
Glancing with weak gazes at the imposing king, the thought of rejection became a death sentence.
The pool of newcomers paled, clutching their temples as the intensity of the migraine began to increase, those stationed at the walls averting their gazes.
Senses became dull and warped. Thoughts murky and primitive. Gunlang's voice swept the room, causing all of them to shiver.
"You may call this evil. But this is a necessary evil."
Looking around in panic, eyes started to fall onto the piles of weapons.
Those with comrades exchanged looks of utter despair as others began to shift towards the pile. Hands began to pick up various weapons. But then somewhere in the crowd…a voice spoke up.
"I object."
All noise dimmed as everyone turned around, looking for the source of the voice. Those at the walls held looks of shock, the captains as well but instead mixed with knowing pity—even Gunlang seemed surprised as he spoke in a curious tone, rising from the throne.
"Who spoke the challenge?"
Heads turned, but nobody stepped forward.
Then the voice spoke again.
"I did."
Everyone abruptly turned to the entrance. The voice had come from the hall. Only now…the hall seemed unusually dark. The end was not visible, now shrouded in….darkness. To their horror the torches illuminating the space began to go out one by one as the shadows at the end creeped closer.
Then, the voice of the front guard Harper rang out, echoing from a conch hanging from the ceiling.
"A-Attack! The gateway has been breached! I repeat the gateway has been breached! One entity approaching the entrance, send everyone! Now!!"
Suddenly a scream rang out, as an arm pointed to a corner. The shadow which resided there now began to fester, growing, blossoming—stretching across the walls.
Those near leapt away, summoning weapons.
In other corners of the room shadows also grew, growing and connecting. All around them the shadow covered the walls, barring all means of exit shut, extinguishing the torches slowly as a chill ushered in.
Shouts of panic began to erupt.
"It's the creature from the walls!! It got in!"
"....the shadows. The shadows are attacking!"
"What the hell did they bring with them!?"
Various lights of manifested memories lit up the room.
Gunlang and the captains began to summon their own weapons, taking steps forward. But then from the hallway, a hiss sounded, causing all of them to tremble.
"Who dares spill blood in my castle?"