'...Huh.'
Attributes: [Flame of Divinity], [Lord of Shadows], [Blood Weave], [Bone Weave], [Soul Weave], [██], [Marble Shell].
Sitting atop Shrike's back as winds battered his face, Sunny looked at his attributes.
'Marble Shell… I'm already back to this point. Whatever happened to the Stone Sword attribute I was supposed to get anyways?'
He had expected something like the Shell, only for it to disappear.
'Perhaps with time it'll show itself?'
Sunny sighed.
'Time…'
His peak power in the past had only been as an Ascended, and now, he was back to that point.
Would he go further?
'What choice do I even have anymore?'
He had set himself on this path, he needed to grow stronger, no matter what. He was surrounded by enemies on all sides, even if they weren't hostile now, who knew what the future would hold? Perhaps he was just cynical, or even paranoid, Sunny didn't care.
He'd lost it all once before, and it wouldn't happen again.
Sunny sighed and pushed those thoughts out of his head.
He was approaching his destination, after all.
Above him, a long chain hung over the abyss, connecting to a remote island.
He'd been traveling across the Kingdom of Hope for just over a week, flying at a relaxed pace. His broken arm was mostly healed by now, and the worst of his injuries had mostly recovered. The only wound left was from when his throat had nearly been crushed by Aranea, leaving a red handprint that still remained around his neck.
Rubbing his neck slightly, Sunny sighed. It burned quite a bit, and he was already using the [Living Stone] trait of the Shell to heal himself, but it would still take time.
Ignoring the pain, he summoned Weaver's Mask. The Heart Grove was only a few minutes away now, and he didn't want anything unforeseen happening.
…A couple minutes later, they arrived. With a flap of its wings, Shrike flew upwards towards the underside of the island. After scanning the underside for any hidden abominations, Sunny jumped up and vanished into the shadows of the island, gliding towards the topside.
Reaching the top of the island, he was met with a wall of trees and vines, nearly completely blocking his path. He attempted to slide through the gaps, only to find a strange warding effect coming off of them.
'Front door it is.'
Gliding along the side of the island, Sunny reached the part of the island connected to the heavenly chain. Before him, an opening large enough to fit a caravan was present in the wall of trees, forming a dark tunnel.
Sending his shadows through, he quickly scouted the island, searching for any potential threats.
'This place is… damn.'
The Grove was… magnificent.
Emerald leaves were in every direction, hints of orange present in them from the approach of fall. Large roots and grass were woven into the ground of the island, all of them seemingly merging together, as if the Grove was one large entity. Nightingales sang in the trees as all sorts of wildlife pranced around the woods in harmony. The forest before him was so beautiful that Sunny felt his heart beat faster at the sight of it.
'Was this what they meant?'
The Heart Grove was supposedly a place of solace, one where pilgrims took long journeys to visit, overwhelming them with sorrow and regret.
If Sunny wasn't in the form of a shadow, tears might have welled up in his eyes.
'There's a mystical feel to this place…'
Although the Grove was definitely beautiful, Sunny didn't think it would be enough to move him to tears.
'Although it's called the Heart Grove, the Sacred Grove is also one of its names… Is the Sacred in Sacred Grove literal? Is this… a Sacred being?'
Sunny had no clue idea how a Sacred being would look. The only being of that rank he had ever seen personally had been the Vile Thieving Bird, and that had been a Cursed Terror.
Shifting his vision, Sunny couldn't find anything in particular. The vegetation around him was simple vegetation.
He hummed slightly, emerging from the shadows. Dismissing his mask, he walked through the tunnel of wood and vines, entering the Heart Grove. His shadows had not spotted anyone on the island besides a single mundane human, so Sunny was almost certain it was safe. Perhaps dismissing the mask was foolish, but he wanted to enter the Grove like an actual pilgrim would have, just out of pure curiosity.
Leaves rustled in the soft breeze as Sunny entered with slow steps.
On the outskirts of the forest, a small hut stood. Just outside the door, a middle-aged man sat on a small chair, carving the skin from a fruit with a simple stone knife. Sunny recognized the man, as it was a younger version of the man he had once lived as in a dream during his battle with Nightmare. He wasn't worried about the man recognizing him, as if the man hadn't recognized Solvane, why would he recognize Shadow?
The man took a while to notice him, but when he did, a bright smile emerged on his face as he approached Sunny.
"Greetings, mister! Welcome, welcome… What brings you to the Heart Grove?"
Sunny glanced at him.
"...I was just curious about this place."
The man laughed slightly.
"So, you have come to see the Jewel of Hope's Kingdom then! Please, be at ease, there are no dangers here. The Lady of the Grove is out currently, but feel free to explore at your own pace, if you like. My name is Amil; Will you tell me yours, mister?"
"Sunless."
The man blinked, seemingly realising something.
"Sunless… Were you one of Shadow's? If so, then… I'm sorry. It must be hard for you."
"I wasn't really, but yes. It is… difficult."
Amil patted his shoulder, a compassionate expression on his face.
"Well, it will be fine now. The Grove will help with your regrets and sorrows, please, come with me."
Amil turned and began to slowly walk into the Grove. Sunny had never seen the true Heart Grove before it was destroyed, and he was quite excited. He'd already looked through some of it with his shadows, but surely seeing it in person would feel different.
"May I ask how you got here, Sunless?"
Sunny glanced at him, his eyes hollow.
"I flew."
"...I see."
Amil seemed to realise Sunny wasn't exactly in a talking mood, and refrained from asking anymore questions, instead choosing to walk in silence.
Song birds sang as they jumped from branch to branch in the cool air of the woods. As Sunny walked, he saw several animals watching him curiously.
'Real animals…'
Regular animals were exceedingly rare in the waking world, while practically extinct in the Dream Realm. While the waking world's animals had been lost from war, pollution, and overconsumption, the Dream Realm's animals had simply been lost to Corruption.
Sunny curiously watched the animals of the Grove. He saw all sorts of birds, foxes, deer, and rodents, all of them either scurrying around or watching the humans curiously. Strangely, he even saw things like bears, wolves, moose, and big cats. All the animals seemed to get along, he had spotted wolves standing with calves, tigers sleeping next to deer, and even foxes playing with rodents.
'Weird…'
Turning to Amil, he asked:
"Do the animals here not attack each other?"
Amil glanced back at him, smiling.
"Not at all! It's wonderfully strange, is it not? We all live with the blessing of the Grove, so there is neither conflict nor competition here."
"What about food? Or overpopulation?"
Amil smiled proudly.
"Haven't you felt it? The Grove has a pacifying effect on the hearts of all beings, no such thing will happen here!"
Sunny nodded.
"I see. Thank you."
Some things made a bit more sense now, like why Solvane had waited on the outskirts of the island instead of entering to find Aidre directly.
After walking for a while, Sunny saw a curious sight. A small human settlement was inside the Grove, small huts of wood stood as people milled about with looks of serenity in their eyes.
'This place really is nice…'
As they passed through the small village, some folks greeted Amil.
"Amil! Is this another pilgrim?"
"Amil, have you been sleeping well?"
"Welcome, welcome!"
Sunny remained silent as Amil politely greeted the people before continuing his trek forward.
'Hm. This place…'
Sunny had suspected that the Sacred in Sacred Grove was literal, and now…
'It must have been Sacred once, before the Sun God destroyed Hope's Kingdom. This place must be the life that sprouted from its corpse.'
Although it was a little morbid, it was also sort of beautiful in a sense, to live on in such a way. It also explained the mystical effects of the forest around them.
Suddenly, Sunny appreciated the sight a bit more.
Turning to Amil, he asked:
"Where are you taking me?"
Amil remained silent for a moment before responding.
"To the heart of the Grove."
Sunny paused for a moment.
"...The heart?"
"Of course! Most pilgrims come here simply for a visit to that place. You'll see why soon."
"Alright."
They went back to silently walking a moment later.
'What's gonna be at the heart of the Heart Grove? It's gotta be something impressive, right? It's the heart, after all…'
He tried imagining all sorts of things, from a living tree that would answer any question, to an ancient tree whose sap healed all wounds.
'Might not even be a tree at all.'
Sunny doubted his own thoughts though, as practically every mystical tree he had seen so far had at least something to do with Heart God.
'Maybe it'll be one of those flying trees like on the Chain Breaker?'
He knew that the mystical tree that allowed the flying ship's enchantments to work was from here, but he had no idea if it was any tree or some particular one. Perhaps it was none, and it was only something one could specially request from the Lady of the Grove.
'Doesn't matter anyways… It's not like I can take it out of here.'
Sunny sighed in his heart.
'I would've loved to meet the Lady of the Grove in a proper manner, but...'
Unfortunately, the Spell seemed to have other plans for him.
'Why can't it ever be easy?'
He could've learnt all sorts of things from the Chain Lords, and yet they'd been locked into conflict since his arrival.
'Imagine what I could've learned from Shadow? A Shadow Aspect user with centuries or perhaps even a millennia of experience…'
He could've learned more sorcery from Noctis too, or perhaps more about souls and plants from Aidre, but it was already too late for that. Neither Noctis nor Aidre were present on their islands, and he was definitely seen as an enemy to them.
'Well, I can't blame them…'
He had appeared out of nowhere and killed two of their fellow Chain Lords, after all. Even if they weren't the most harmonious of groups, they were still bound together in duty and purpose.
'But… then again.'
Their conflict had likely been brewing for a long time. After all, it would only be a few more years or decades until Solvane showed up on this island to kill Aidre, judging by the familiar man next to him. By now, Aidre had likely spread the knowledge that Hope had once been a benevolent ruler rather than a cruel tyrant, inciting the creation of several cults and such.
'Maybe… I won't even have to do anything?'
If Sunny simply waited, the Chain Lords may even begin to fight each other. Solvane had already seemingly split from them, leaving only four Chain Lords who actually worked together. But between the four that might've resided in Ivory City, there was bound to be conflict. Sevras and Noctis didn't seem to get along, and the Ivory Dragon had to have been aware that Aidre was spreading knowledge of Hope's benevolence, he was no fool after all.
'And with the sudden introduction of Hope's Poison…'
They were ticking timebombs. All locked in the same city together.
Sunny grinned slightly, earning him a sidelong glance from Amil.
They continued to walk in silence, the forestry around them growing thicker and thicker. Thin rays of sunlight shown through the thicket, reflecting off the morning dew collected on the countless emerald leaves. Light mist wafted through the air as shoes crunched against the vegetation on the ground, the sights and sounds of it all made Sunny feel at peace.
'Is this the pacifying effect?'
It was… quite nice.
'Staying here for a few days wouldn't be so bad…'
He still needed time to recuperate. His arm was still fractured, and the wound on his neck was fading far too slow for his liking. Burns still lined his body from stray blasts of lightning that had struck him as well. He could still fight, but he was definitely not in the best shape.
Hearing the sounds of running water, Sunny turned his head curiously.
Several animals were drinking from a small creek, the water within it some of the clearest Sunny had ever seen. A stag partially submerged in the water stared at Sunny peculiarly, long verdant vines hung from its beautiful antlers like a mantle, giving it a mysterious presence.
"Do the animals usually stare at the pilgrims who visit here?"
Amil laughed slightly.
"Not always. But I think this is the first time I've seen that deer in particular stare at someone so curiously. Perhaps they feel at peace when they see you?"
"...Me?"
Sunny mumbled to himself slightly before going quiet.
Who on earth would feel at peace upon seeing him? Were they mad?
…Then again, Shadow God was also the god of peace and solace.
Their trek forward continued, the path narrowing as the trees around them seemed to lower themselves. The forest grew darker and darker, until…
'...Wow.'
Through an opening in the thicket, Sunny saw the heart of the Grove.
An enormous white weeping willow tree stood in the center of it all. Long branches hung low to the ground, their leaves nearly dipping into the seven streams that seemed to come out from beneath the tree. A large clearing filled with beautiful flowers surrounded the willow, the trees of forest seemingly not daring to grow near it, perhaps out of reverence.
Sunny was moved at the sight, his heartbeat slowing.
Amil smiled at his reaction.
"Incredible, isn't it?"
"Yeah…"
Sunny sighed.
The sight of the willow tree briefly overlapped with the desecrated remains of the Grove he had seen in the present.
…In the world they lived in, beauty never lasted.
"Its beauty never diminishes, no matter how many times I see it."
Amil looked proudly at the tree, but Sunny could tell there was sorrow in his eyes too.
Tracing his gaze, Sunny spotted what Amil was looking at. On one of the larger branches of the tree, a small hut sat, the humble abode of the Grove's Lady.
The two stood in silence for a while, each consumed by their own thoughts as they stared at the tree.
After a while, Sunny broke the silence.
"What now?"
Amil smiled, a hint of longing in his gaze.
"Come with me."
Sunny quietly followed the man, treading carefully. This was still the territory of a supposed enemy, after all, even if the enemy wasn't here.
Only when they got closer to the tree did Sunny realise just how big it was.
'How… how is this thing not visible from the edge of the island?'
Despite his question, Sunny already knew. The sheer weight of itself caused the tree to hang extremely low, and despite its incredible size, it was nowhere near the tallest tree in the Grove.
Stepping on the fertile soil below, Sunny felt something strange.
'This… this thing's roots…'
Colossal roots were beneath the ground, coiling and reaching throughout the entire island. It was entirely possible that every other tree on the island was connected to this one, simply because of how far reaching its roots were.
Walking closer and closer to the tree, Sunny could feel otherworldly winds brush against his face, as if testing his intentions.
'Relax. I'm just here out of curiosity.'
He suppressed any violent thoughts, intending to appear as peaceful as possible.
As they approached the tree, Sunny saw where Amil was leading him. A large gap between the tree and ground was present at the roots, leaving a small opening to the inside of the tree.
Brushing his hand against the colossal roots as he passed them, Sunny shifted his vision out of curiosity.
The tree… wasn't exactly Awakened, but it definitely wasn't mundane either. It had no cores or nexuses to speak of, but powerful streams of essence still ran through it, feeding life to the rest of the Grove. Perhaps there were cores present somewhere within the tree's vast roots, but Sunny couldn't see any from where he was.
They continued to walk for a while, entering underneath the tree. Amil panted slightly, tired. They had already been walking for some time, and for a mundane human like him, it wasn't easy.
'...Thank you.'
Sunny silently thanked the man. He had brought him to the heart of his mother's Grove without asking for anything in return. Was he naive? Or did he simply have that much faith? Sunny did not know, and he did not ask.
The world gradually dimmed as the light of the sun above them vanished, blocked by the titanic roots around them. The undergrowth was not completely dark though, as many luminous insects flew about, soft lights emitting from their bodies.
The sound of splashing water resounded as they stepped through shallow puddles, reaching deeper and deeper inside. As they walked, the sound of running water grew louder and louder.
Reaching the center of the cavelike structure beneath the tree, Sunny's eyes widened slightly.
Before him was a spring. Water emerged from deep underground, led outwards by seven channels, bringing the crystal clear water to the rest of the island. Luminescent plants grew in the ground, giving the spring an ethereal feel. The sound of the running water calmed Sunny's heart.
"This place…"
"This is the Spring of Serenity."
Sunny nodded.
"Why are we here?"
Amil patted Sunny on the shoulder.
"Because, you seem like a man of many sorrows, Sunless. Please, try bathing in the Spring, it will wash them away."
Sunny stared at the man like he was insane.
"Bathe… in it? Don't animals drink from it?"
Amil laughed slightly, slapping his back.
"Don't worry about that. It is impossible to diminish the purity of the Spring. Please, try it! I insist."
Sunny looked down at himself. He was currently wearing the Puppeteers Shroud to give his skin time to repair itself, and although he had showered not too long ago, he was still quite dirty.
But still, Sunny decided to believe the man. He had been nothing but kind to him. Even if he tried anything, he was still a mundane human. No matter what he did, he couldn't kill Sunny. Even if he was incapacitated, Serpent was still there, coiling around his skin.
Dismissing the top half of his armour, Sunny discarded his boots as he slowly walked into the Spring, step by step. The water was cool to the touch, but not cold. Dirt drifted off his skin and clothes, but was quickly washed away by the Spring. Sunny continued stepping forward until the water was up to his neck.
'I suppose I'll need to dip my head underwater for whatever this is?'
Taking a deep breath and shutting his eyes, Sunny plunged into the water.
The sound of bubbles passing him by filled his ears for a moment before silence descended.
The water felt… therapeutic. All his muscles relaxed, the tension that had been present in them since the beginning of the Nightmare fading. A solemn expression was on his face as he drifted silently within the waters. The pain that had been bothering him for a while seemed to fade, and a cool sensation filled his body.
'I… don't feel my sorrows being washed away. Was Amil only saying that figuratively?'
Still, Sunny felt incredibly relaxed.
Surfacing, he took a deep breath before turning to Amil.
"I hope you don't mind, but I think I'll stay for a while."
"Of course, of course! No worry at all."
Waving him off, Amil smiled before turning around.
"I'm sure you know the way out, I'll be relaxing in the tree's shade while you bathe. Please, take all the time you need."
"Okay… Thank you."
Floating on his back, Sunny stared at the soft lights floating in the air above him, sighing contently. He felt as if he were in the most comfortable bed in the world.
After a while, floating in the Spring, Sunny fell asleep.
And for the first time he had entered the Nightmare, his dreams were sweet.
***
Sunny groggily opened his eyes.
"Ugh…"
'How long did I sleep?'
He could feel shadows blanketing the world outside, so he knew it was nighttime. He'd been asleep for at least the entire day.
He had made his body lighter so that he could float comfortably in the water, but he really didn't expect that it would cause him to fall asleep almost immediately.
'Was I really that tired?'
Lifting himself out of the water, Sunny felt reinvigorated. His body wasn't quite brimming with energy, but most of his injuries were now healed. His arm had been mended and his burns were soothed, but the red handprint on his neck still remained, only fading slightly.
Leaving the Spring, Sunny stepped through the shadows, getting rid of the water that had stuck to his skin. Now dry, he felt cleaner than he had ever felt in his entire life. His hair seemed almost shiny, and his skin glowed as if there was a light inside his body. The circles that had been forming under his eyes had vanished, and the frayed ends of his hair had been smoothed out. He felt renewed.
And yet…
'I don't think that washed away my sorrows… So it really was figurative.'
Sunny was only mildly disappointed. The Spring was already far better than he had hoped, but still, he didn't really know what he had expected.
'How on earth would sorrows even be washed away?'
It wasn't like the water could seep into his mind.
Summoning his shirt, Sunny smoothed out his hair before walking outside at a relaxed pace.
…Only to immediately turn back around.
'It'd be a shame to just leave this, right?'
Summoning the [Fountain Keeper], the liquid storage memory he had gotten from the Forgotten Shore, Sunny began storing the spring water.
After a few minutes, the memory was completely filled, and the spring wasn't diminished even in the slightest.
Smiling slightly, Sunny turned and left.
…He had actually wanted to sleep a little longer, but he didn't want to be inconsiderate. Amil had to have been waiting for a while now, if he were even waiting at all.
Stepping outside, Sunny took a deep breath. The air outside was incredibly fresh, and the feeling of it entering his lungs was quite pleasant.
Nightingales sang cheerfully in the branches of the surrounding trees, announcing the arrival of dawn. Pale lilac washed over the world as the sun rose over the horizon, bathing the Grove in its light.
Sunny smiled slightly at the sight.
Spreading his Shadow Sense outwards, he spotted Amil.
The man was asleep, laying in a small patch of grass next to one the trees giant roots, covered in a wool blanket. Beside him sat a basket, filled with an assortment of fresh fruits taken from the woods surrounding them.
'You are too kind…'
Sunny didn't know why the man was so hospitable to him. Was he like this with everyone? That had to be exhausting…
Sunny did not disturb the man though. Instead, he began climbing the tree.
Of course, he was going to sneak into the Lady of the Grove's abode.