[A/N: Hiatus for a week or so. I have my term exams]
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After the movie was over, Kai appeared to deafening applause and gave a short speech, congratulating the director and the crew of the movie and then inviting them on the stage for a short Q&A.
Sunny stared at the director of this travesty, seriously considering silently assassinating him for a few moments. Then, he glanced at Effie, who — judging by her face — was thinking the same.
Nephis fleed the scene along with Cassie as soon as the movie ended, moving to a lounge.
Luckily for Sunny, Kai was finished with his business soon, and they were able to leave the theater for a more private space.
…Otherwise, there might have been civilian casualties at the premier of the Song of Light of Darkness. After that damn writer had announced Sunny's identity to everyone in the restaurant, the amount of people asking him to say "Are you crazy?!" to their faces almost pushed him to the brink.
In any case, soon he found himself in a sophisticated lounge in the company of Neph, Effie, Cassie, Kai and Aiko.
Aiko plopped down beside Nephis, who slid away as if the contact burned. Sunny noticed an unfamiliar expression in Nephis' eyes—something close to fear—and shrugged inwardly.
'I did hear Nephis' bank were sucked dry due to her.'
When they were seated, Kai gave them a guilty look.
"Well… uh… it wasn't that bad, was it?"
Aiko was the first to reply, "I don't know about the others. I enjoyed it."
Effie smiled at him, and said sweetly:
"Sure, sure! But also, the only reason you're still alive is that it would be a chore to clean the blood of my wheelchair."
Kai chuckled nervously and glanced at Sunny:
"What about you?"
Sunny shrugged.
"I don't mind. Actually, I am happy to be portrayed as a bumbling fool."
The charming archer blinked.
"Really?"
Sunny gave him a serious nod.
"Of course! It's easier to fool people who think that you're the fool. So… I don't mind."
Kai allowed himself a small smile and then looked to Nephis. Her expression had gone stone—hollow eyes, a practiced, emotionless smile. "It took every nerve in my body to stop myself from burning the theater down," she said quietly.
"I also believe that the writer should retire from playmaking, because if he makes another one, I'll be sure to knock on his door."
Kai looked away in embarrassment.
"Anyway… you don't have to worry too much, really. These types of films are usually made to boost public morale. No one is really going to take them seriously. Even mundane people understand the difference between reality and fiction when it comes to the Awakened."
Sunny laughed.
"Sure. When they want to."
Nephis did not laugh.
Kai swallowed hard.
**
"Bullshit."
Asher's voice came out low and venomous, his eyes burning like molten glass as he glared at the skull.
"You're telling me… that Daemons started out as sacred beings?!"
Azarax's skull tilted, a cruel chuckle rattling through his ribs.
"Well, of course! You think this King would lie? But tell me, little one… how are you still sane, handling such forbidden knowledge?"
Asher's boot slammed into the ground, splinters flying from the pale bark beneath him. "Who cares how I can handle it?! You're not going to explain how every damn daemon began as something sacred?!"
Azarax, now unpinned from the tree unlike Eurys, rolled his shoulders as though stretching after centuries of stiffness.
"Fool! Haven't I just mentioned it! Daemons were beings part of a god! A forgotten Dream God! Its foolish to think they wouldn't start out as at least sacred beings! Utterly foolish!"
Asher pointed at himself, voice rising.
"Then WHY AM I NOT SACRED?!"
Eurys laughed softly from where he still hung nailed to the bark.
"My, oh my, little Daemon… it seems you merely carry the lineage of the forgotten one. A droplet of ichor in mortal clay. To compare yourself to a true Daemon—a shard of the god itself—would be… misguided."
Azarax barked a laugh.
"Even that withered fool understands me! You, however, are astoundingly doltish." He paused, inspecting Asher with faint interest. "Though… your core is peculiar. Interrupted mid-possession, perhaps? An unfinished Avatar?"
Asher drew a sharp breath, forcing himself to steady. It wasn't fair—none of it was. Eurys's logic made sense, but it didn't dull the ache. After everything—after learning of Daemons, their citadels, angels, void beings, even about Dahila, the seventh and most powerful god—he still couldn't shake the truth that all Daemons had begun as sacred.
Except him.
Bullshit Sacred Origins!
He glanced at Azarax and spoke coldly.
"You can leave. I've no further business with you."
Azarax frowned but turned, his bones clattering softly as he walked away. Halfway through, he looked back once more before walking forward, without turning back.
Asher turned to Eurys. "Now…" He lifted his hand, freeing the nailed skeleton from the bark. "Find me a proper seed, Eurys."
Eurys flexed his wrists, laughing under his breath.
"Very well. I'll keep my promise, little Daemon. Guiding something as exalted as you will be… amusing."
He paused, mock-hurt creeping into his tone.
"Though I must admit, you looked far too pleased to see me stuck on this tree. What could a humble slave like me have done to earn such disdain?"
Asher smirked grimly. "I killed you once—in a Trial, conjured by a Nightmare spell." He licked his lips. "Didn't particularly enjoy it then and still wanted you to suffer, but knowing you were trapped here for eons? That was satisfying."
Eurys chuckled, dry and knowing.
"My, oh my… how petty. Even after you realize it wasn't truly me?"
Asher turned away, smiling wide enough to show teeth.
"Of course it's petty. I don't care if it was the real you or the fake you."