I lost him…
That was Luna's first thought when she woke up.
She never thought Amon would stay behind. She never believed he would truly be gone. But now…
Watching him lie in the sleeping pod, eyes closed, face calm and expressionless, something inside her cracked.
He was here, so close… and yet, his mind was somewhere far away, still wandering the Forgotten Shore. Maybe he had already left it behind, drifting toward the Nightmare Desert or the Hollow Mountains.
Luna lowered her gaze, her face blank as memories of the Spire resurfaced, of how he had deceived her. If she had known… she would have never allowed it.
Fuck! Why would he do that? Just why!? It didn't even make sense. So… why?
But even that anger couldn't stand against the crushing sorrow and despair that swallowed her whole as she stared at him. She no longer knew what she was feeling. It was something beyond words, as if her entire world had been shattered into pieces.
Her eyes were sunken, lifeless. She couldn't even cry anymore, even if she wanted to.
She already had, until there were no tears left.
And what was the point of crying anyway?
Luna shook her head and forced a faint, pale smile as her hand slid gently through his long, dark curls.
Outside, everyone was listening to Awakened Rock. Most likely, they were praising their unity, their bravery, boasting about how they survived. And of course… showering the dead with glorified words, vowing to never forget their sacrifices…
What bullshit. Something went wrong… Amon would never sacrifice himself. I know him. I know everything about him. There's no way that could have happened. He definitely planned something… he always has plans…
But even as those words echoed in her mind, Luna's chest tightened. Because that didn't mean all his plans worked. He was human, too. Sometimes, he could fail.
She knew that, she understood it, yet she still felt selfish and childish. Still wanting him beside her. Still imagining him sitting across the table when she ate. Still imagining him waking up next to her in bed… only to clutch the empty sheets.
Haaaaa… If only I knew whether he was alive or not… That would've been so much better. But even divinations were useless. The uniqueness of the Error Pathway prevented anyone from obtaining information about Amon. And as he grew stronger, his resistance to divination only increased.
Which made everything even more painful, unbearably frustrating, because there was nothing Luna could do... Nothing.
She couldn't protect him, couldn't find him, couldn't even see him.
Luna's clenched fists gradually loosened as she exhaled, forcing herself to breathe steadily.
It's okay. He's fine. I'm sure of it. Nothing could kill that bastard… yes… no one is capable of killing him…
She held onto that belief like it was the only thing keeping her alive.
"My lady… it's time to return. After that incident with the Awakened Blood Son of Heaven, I believe it would be best if we depart."
The young woman behind her spoke with calm professionalism, hands clasped neatly behind her back as she adjusted her gloves, eyes sharp and serious.
Luna nodded in acknowledgement, grateful… but her faint smile trembled, then vanished completely as her thoughts inevitably drifted to Medici...
Flames and blood filled the dojo as a massive steel spear crashed down, piercing through the floor. In response, the writhing flesh erupted, corroding the spear and everything around it. Within seconds, the dojo crumbled under the force of the explosion that followed, shaking the academy grounds as fire spread through its surroundings.
From within the inferno, a young man in dark, gleaming armor stepped out. His arm was melting, ivory bones dangling loosely as if they might fall off at any second.
Across from him stood a beastly creature born from a disgusting pool of blood and writhing, rotten flesh. Its entire body was deformed and abominable as it roared in defiance…
Luna clicked her tongue in annoyance at the memory of that battle, shaking her head in dismissal.
After they escaped from the Forgotten Shore, after she Awakened, Luna had forced Medici to explain his actions, to tell her why Amon wasn't with them.
But his explanation… was disappointing. No, more than that. it was appalling.
Medici had done nothing when Amon deceived her into drinking that wine, which in reality had been laced with a sleeping drug. He said nothing and did nothing. He simply let Amon act however he pleased, without asking, without interfering, as if Amon's life meant nothing to him.
Maybe he deserves it. He never valued life anyway… so he lost his own... Remembering Medici's words only made her angrier. If she hadn't lost consciousness back then, she would never have allowed it.
But Medici had. He'd left his best friend behind.
And the reason for it… was beyond ridiculous.
Apparently, it was because Ben, one of Medici's subordinates, had died. As if Amon had killed him. When in truth, Amon had saved all of them.
So why… why did everyone hate him?
It never made sense to Luna.
Even now, she could bet her life that somewhere, someone was laughing... Happy that Amon was left in the Forgotten Shore.
Not to mention, everyone had already decided he was dead. Even if there was a chance he was still alive.
Of course she knew; it wasn't as if she were deaf.
Maybe that was the good thing? Gunlaug and Harus… those two psychopaths were part of his cohort too. Maybe it was better if they were gone.
I hope he's dead… I hope he's dead…
Now I feel relieved...
Those were the words of the Sleepers. Hearing that made Luna sick, so sick she wanted to kill them all.
And eventually… she snapped.
She had fought Medici, and their battle left a trail of ruin behind it, nearly burning down the entire west side of the academy. Even now, Luna knew she would've lost if not for that stranger's interference.
Her Awakened Ability, Shepherd, required grazing souls to reach its full potential. Without grazing, she had been weaker, outmatched by Medici and his Iron-Blooded Knight.
They were both punished afterward.
But neither suffered anything truly severe… though for entirely different reasons.
Though she didn't know who had stopped the fight. The next thing she remembered was feeling dizzy, then falling asleep. What shocked her most was that she actually slept. She even had a dream, a real one, instead of being transported into a dream realm. Whoever intervened had to be powerful… frighteningly so. Maybe it was one of the Masters in academy? No, she doubted it. None of them could've knocked out both her and Medici so effortlessly.
Medici was the same. That bastard… Luna clicked her tongue in annoyance, sighed, brushed her hair behind her ear, and bent forward. Her scarlet lips found Amon's cheek as she kissed him warmly, then she straightened with a sad smile.
"I'll be back before you know it... so please, just come back."
After saying that, she glanced at her driver and gave a small nod. The young woman didn't respond, she simply opened the door leading out of the medical center.
Luna stepped out of the sterile room. She wore nothing special, just a black dress and a jacket, mundane clothes, really, but she didn't care. Instead, she reached into her bag, pulled out a folded piece of paper, and stared at it with a hollow expression.
[I know you killed two castle guards in the Dark City and… ate them.]
Her face went dark. She narrowed her eyes in displeasure, clenched her fist, and tore the paper into pieces before continuing down the street.
Medici… even if you know that, so what? Do you think you can threaten me? Me!?
Luna smiled, but it was a cold, humorless thing. The absurdity of the situation made her want to laugh. She knew what that idiot was doing... Incitement, huh? Trying to make her hesitate, to seed doubt about what Amon would think when he came back.
Did becoming a conspirator make him even dumber? I'll soon have the influence of a Great Clan… while he has nothing. What did Medici hope to gain with such petty games? A single word from her could destroy him and his legion.
Slowly, her expression softened. Her scarlet lips curved into a small, near-tender smile.
It's time to join the Song Clan...
She settled into the PTV, crossing her legs and leaning back, chin propped on her fist. Seishan sat beside her in a red velvety dress; her gray skin seemed to drink the light as she glanced over.
"What are you thinking about, sister?"
Luna smiled faintly; her crystal-blue eyes glittered with anticipation. "Nothing much… just wondering about meeting Mother in Ravenheart."
Seishan nodded, expression thoughtful. "We'll meet Eunbin first, then she'll transport us into the dream realm. Besides, I received information about something interesting."
Luna tilted her head, a slight frown appearing. "And what might that be?"
Seishan's mouth curved in amusement.
"Hmm… that Medici is staying neutral for now. But there's a possibility he'll join the Valor Clan."
Luna chuckled and looked out the window, a humorless smile playing at her lips. Then she turned back to Seishan. "I think I'll be needing soul shards… a lot of them."
Seishan's eyes held Luna's for a beat before she sighed. "You still don't want to talk about it?"
Luna shook her head stubbornly. Seishan's mouth twitched in frustration, then her eyes widened with an idea and she changed course.
"Do you think Amon will join the Song Clan if he comes back?"
Luna frowned. She couldn't imagine Amon joining her family. "No way he would do that."
Seishan shrugged, leaning back in the PTV's leather seat. "But you can't be with him if he doesn't. It's improper for a princess to have affairs with every random man. And there will be marriage proposals from other clans, Mother might even marry you into the House of Night to secure their support. Who knows?"
Luna's face darkened at Seishan's casual tone. "I'll fuck whoever I want. Nothing will change that. As for marriage proposals or the House of Night… if those fools don't want their heirs' dicks ripped off and fed to dogs, they'd shut their pathetic mouths."
Seishan laughed at Luna's reaction, her melodious voice echoing through the PTV.
"Well, well... I did try to warn them. Still, his situation isn't exactly sunshine and rainbows. Even if he comes back, he'll have to face the consequences of his actions."
Luna frowned, her eyes half-lidded and weary as she drew in a deep breath.
"...Elaborate."
Seishan shrugged, unfazed by Luna's sharp tone. "Nothing much. It's just that he, Gunlaug, and Harus will all be held accountable. It's a rare situation, but too many Sleepers are demanding justice, you see? Those three were the worst Sleepers in the Dark City. Their reputations are... infamous. Everyone knows them, and everyone hates them."
Her tone softened slightly, but her words carried weight. "Do you understand how many people Harus and Gunlaug killed? How many want revenge? How many Sleepers died because Amon just... snapped and dropped a ship onto the battlefield? Those lives weren't worthless. Their friends and families want blood."
Seishan sighed, crossing her arms. "Normally, something like this would've been swept under the rug. But it's not that simple this time. The hatred for those three runs too deep... and once the information leaked, it spread like wildfire. Now, the situation's escalated beyond control, making it even more dangerous for Amon and his entire cohort."
Luna lowered her gaze, her expression thoughtful, then looked up with a faint smile.
"So you're saying the influence of the Song Clan will protect them, from both the government and the other Sleepers. In other words, you plan to use this situation as an excuse to bring Amon and his cohort under the Song Clan's banner… tying him to the clan through marriage... through a union with me. Am I correct?"
Seishan's mouth twitched as she fought back a smile. She hadn't expected Luna to piece it together so quickly, but there was no real need to hide it either.
"Well, that's true," she admitted smoothly. "But that doesn't mean it's a bad idea. In fact, it's quite beneficial for him as well. There's also the possibility of the Elders from the Valor Clan sending assassins after him and his cohort if they refuse to join them or remain neutral. Don't think you can fool those old foxes, they know about your relationship with him. And if they believe the Song Clan might gain Amon's loyalty, they'd rather eliminate him outright."
Luna nodded slowly, fully understanding the weight of Seishan's words. It wasn't as if she didn't already know what the Elders and the King of Swords were capable of.
"I'll think about it," she said quietly. "For now, let's just wait for their return."
The driver gulped and trembled in silence. If word got out that Amon, the most heinous Sleeper in history, had an affair with the new princess of the clan… hiss! She would be executed without mercy. That would be the price for tainting Princess Luna's reputation.
Not to mention, the princesses had discussed the political state of the world and the situation of Amon and his cohort. That information was highly valuable… and dangerously sensitive. She shivered as chills crawled up her spine. But when she saw the massive gates opening ahead, she let out a sigh of relief. Finally, the PTV had reached its destination: the Song Clan's mansion in the waking world.
A stone road stretched between rows of trees, real trees, which were rare these days. Flowers bloomed all around the mansion, some as tall as the trees (clearly from the Dream Realm), while others were small, soft, and delicate. The entire area could only be described as a garden.
Stepping out of the PTV, Luna exhaled softly, massaging her neck and licking her lips. Seishan followed from behind, glancing at the mansion with a faint smile.
"It's time to return home," she murmured.
At that moment, the mansion doors opened. The guards saw Seishan and Luna, then immediately knelt, heads low and expressions solemn.
"Welcome back… Princess Seishan and… Princess Luna."
A young woman stepped forward from behind them. She was almost unbearably alluring, breathtaking and tantalizing. Tall, with fair skin and sensual red lips. Her cold beauty was made even more striking by her dark, inviting eyes, which shone with strength and willpower.
Her long black hair fell like a waterfall of silk. She wore a lustrous red dress with faint adornments, regal and mesmerizing on her slender frame. Her face held a hint of aloofness… and a hint of humor. The kind of face one could never look away from.
Smiling faintly, she opened her arms in greeting and spoke in a soft, pleasing voice:
"Welcome back… sisters."
Seishan smiled warmly, but Luna shifted a little, clearly awkward about meeting her. She was familiar with Seishan but Eunbin was still… a stranger. Even if, technically, they were sisters now.
Eunbin seemed to notice her unease. Her smile widened, sharp white teeth gleaming in the sunlight as she stepped closer.
And then she did the most unexpected thing. She leaned in and kissed her.
Luna froze, her eyes widening in shock as Eunbin's arms casually wrapped around her neck, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and she felt Eunbin's lips brush against her cheek. When Luna glanced down, Eunbin was smiling up at her, radiating disarming warmth.
"Don't be so tense," she said softly. "We're sisters now. There's no need to feel awkward."
Luna forced a small smile, still a bit stiff, but she nodded."I… understand."
Eunbin chuckled lightly and led them toward the mansion.
Inside, everything radiated wealth and authority. The polished halls, towering ceilings, long corridors lined with elegance, it felt less like a home and more like a castle.
No… it was a castle. They just called it a mansion. Still, it wasn't surprising. Compared to Ravenheart, this place was a humble cottage. After all, Ravenheart was a hundred times larger.
They settled in the dining room, where a refined dinner was prepared. As they ate, conversation flowed, first about the Forgotten Shore, then about the changes in the waking world.
About everything Seishan had missed during her six long years trapped in the Dark City.
"So that's how it is… I really need to become Master as quickly as possible now," Seishan muttered, sighing deeply and leaning back in her chair.
Luna listened, frowning as thought gathered behind her eyes. The conflict between Song and Valor had reached a dangerous stage. War would come soon, it felt inevitable.
Right now the Song Clan was focused on gathering as many resources as possible: soul shards, mystical ores, memories, and echoes. Anything to stand against the Valor Clan, which clearly had the advantage in raw resources and weaponry.
But Song had a higher number of Transcendents, and the quality of their warriors was exceptional.
Each side had its strengths and weaknesses. Valor's power came from the massive amount of memories and echoes its forgemasters produced. Their knights had excellent coordination; as an army, they were superior.
Song, however, had its princesses, some of the deadliest Awakeneds in the world. Eunbin alone could subjugate countless Nightmare Creatures, turning them into an army of beasts. In the Dream Realm, where beasts outnumbered humans, that power mattered. Nurturing powerful Awakeneds required time, resources, and effort. Not to mention that their survival often depended on luck as well.
In many ways, Song was superior. There was Revel, perhaps the most powerful Transcendent at the moment; Moonveil, deadly for nullifying opponents' aspects; and Silent Stalker, arguably the deadliest hunter alive.
Individually, Song's members were more powerful but as a collective, Valor still held the edge. Alliances would be decisive: they had to win the support of legacy clans and recruit powerful new Awakeneds emerging right now.
Luna looked down and sighed. Looks like I need to become Master as soon as possible… She rubbed her temples. And I'll need nightmare seed for that. Haaaa… too much work. Besides, the specific souls I have to graze to gain the abilities I want. I need to study my victims…
After thinking for a moment, Luna looked up, her voice cold and serious.
"Nephis will join the Valor Clan… And if Medici does as well, then we'll be at a clear disadvantage. If it were either of them alone, it would be fine. But both together? That's problematic. That's why we need support."
Eunbin rested her cheeks on her palms, eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Oh~ and who might those supports be?"
Luna glanced at Seishan and nodded, her expression conflicted. Medici was still her friend, even if he had allowed Amon to be left behind. Facing him was difficult… but she needed to steel her resolve. If he chose to abandon them, so be it.
"I can do divinations… And in my dreams, I saw a candidate worth considering. I don't know who he is or where he comes from, but I know his name… and I saw how he fought. He's the Prince of Nothing… Mordret."
Seishan and Eunbin's eyes widened in disbelief and shock. If they didn't already know Luna could perform divinations, they might have questioned her intentions, why she brought up that cursed child, and how she even knew about him. But it was Luna, so they swallowed their doubts. Seishan, however, grew curious about something else.
"How do we even find him? Sure, he might be powerful… if what you're saying is correct. But he disappeared, and no one knows where he is. So… how?"
Luna's lips curled into a faint smile as she leaned forward.
"I can't pinpoint his exact location with my abilities alone… but if Hel, the experienced diviner, helps… we might succeed."
Eunbin laughed. It was a sharp, unrestrained laugh that made tears well in her eyes. Luna furrowed her brows, confused by her reaction.
"Oh my~ and here I thought you were talking about that interesting boy… Amon, was that his name?"
Luna blinked, then, in a strangely calculating manner, glanced at Eunbin's chest first, then tilted her head slightly to take in her figure(her ass). Her expression dimmed, and she grimaced, muttering under her breath.
"Shit…"
Eunbin's eyes went wide in confusion, unsure why Luna was staring at her so intently. Then, realization dawned on her, and her eyes narrowed before widening in shock, her mouth twitching in disbelief.
"So… I'm… his type?"
Luna didn't look up. She kept her gaze fixed on the table, her voice bleak and flat.
"Fuck..."
***
[A/N: Sorry, guys. I've been really busy lately, so I don't have much free time to write. I also won't be able to respond to comments as I used to. My schedule is a mess, so chapters will be posted randomly whenever I have time to write.
As for this chapter, yes, Luna and Medici fought. Of course, it's not that simple, as we've only seen Luna's side. Everyone has their own truth, so Medici will perceive the situation differently. We'll see more about that in the next chapter, which will focus on Medici.
I mentioned before that Luna's situation would be complex, and it's slowly revealing why. She's hiding a lot, and we'll gradually learn everything about it.
In the next chapter, we'll also learn more about the state of the world, Gemma's true name, Medici's situation, Sunny's exploration report, Nephis's dilemma, and more.
That's it for today, enjoy the meal!]
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