The afternoon sun blazed in the sky, sometimes hidden by the clouds drifting across its blue expanse. The world was aglow with the golden light, the streets of the great castle alive with the hustle and bustle of human activity.
Aiko, dressed as impeccably as ever, made her way through the city-castle with long strides, much unlike her usual modest pace which was never too fast to stir people away or too slow to annoy.
She was in a complicated mood today, for some reason. Whatever transpired the day before remained a constant nag in the back of her mind, making her scowl slightly. But it slipped away just as quickly as it came, replaced with a pleasant smile which she flashed at people passing by.
Since there was still ample time before her appointment with a potential new client, Aiko decided to detour into Abyssal Fire: Coffee Shop and Bakery — 'What a mouthful' — for their signature coffee. Perhaps it would improve her mood if she spent some money on top-quality beverages.
As she waited in line, she tuned in to her surroundings and listened to the chatter in the little shop.
Knowing the current trends was an important part of doing business, after all. And she was nothing if not a very competent businesswoman. Her greed — instinct for business gave life to her projects and brought her and her boss many profits.
'What would that useless man do without me, huh?' She shook her head in exasperation.
At that moment, she heard a teenager whisper-shout to their companion. "Hey, did you hear? They're adapting The Devil of Antarctica into a book."
'Oh?' Aiko's ears perked up with interest. That sounded like a good investment opportunity.
"Seriously?" A second person asked in surprise.
"Yes! Soon, the Dream Realm will be able access killer stories like that one. I can't wait to read about the Southern Campaign." A wistful sigh. "The story of those brave soldiers still gets me emotional to this day…"
"Huh? I thought the movie was based on a person. Is it not?"
"Wasn't it a story to show the heroism of all the soldiers that perished in the Chain of Nightmares?"
The second person frowned. "I could've sworn it was inspired by some guy called Mongrel, or something —"
The original speaker's eyes widened and he hastily slapped his friend's shoulder.
"Don't say that name out loud! Don't you know? Mongrel is one of the many pseudonyms used by that traitorous monster."
"Oh! Yeah, we don't talk about that around here…"
"That's right. Besides, why would there ever be a movie inspired by a mongrel…"
Aiko frowned. She knew who Mongrel referred to, of course, and knew it was almost a buzzword nowadays, but that particular statement gave her pause.
She felt like she was missing something.
'Chain of Nightmares… Mongrel… Huh… Wasn't there a guy called Lord Mongrel back then?'
Lord Mongrel, the champion of the Fifth Annual Dream Tournament. The mysterious person who actually dared to challenge the former Princess of Valor, Lady Morgan to a duel as a reward for winning the tournament.
He once held off an entire advancing horde of Nightmare Creatures invading through a Gate by himself and refused to give ground until the government forces arrived. He also enlisted in the First Army and traveled to the Southern Quadrant to help during the Chain of Nightmares, fighting an endless number of monstrous beasts and saving countless lives.
Many believed he had stayed back in Falcon Scott, choosing to give up his spot on the last ship and let someone else escape the doomed city. They called him a hero, a noble patriot of humanity who sacrificed himself to save another, and a movie was made based on his heroic exploits in the Antarctic Center to honour his memory.
But even so, his name slowly disappeared into history.
…Until it came back in the form of her boss, who managed to garner a reputation amongst the citizens of Bastion as the famous boy toy of Changing Star and inadvertently revive the legend of Mongrel.
'Come to think of it, Lord Mongrel always wore a demonic mask.'
Recalling the image of the infamous Dreamscape duelist, Aiko's frown deepened.
Was it just her or the mask Mongrel used was the exact same one Sunny used as the Lord of Shadows?
'Also, the armor…' Looked just like one of the armor she had seen in Stev's Memory shop back in the Dark City.
They even had an entire conversation about how useless and unsellable it was once, though she recalled he managed to sell it, towards the end, to Nightingale, who was accompanied by… a short man with pale features and dark hair dressed in dark clothes.
Aiko blinked, then shook her head.
Surely, it could not be. There was just no way, no way at all. Certainly…
But the seed of doubt had been planted, and from there her mind automatically filled in the missing parts. It just fit together, a little too well, actually.
'Is that how he knew where and how to find me? Because he was my boss before…"
It made sense, but at the same time…
'Wouldn't that mean…'
An ugly scowl contorted her face. Her brows twitched with anger and realization.
'That… That bastard… He's definitely going to pay for all my pains!'
Aiko's heart burned with indignant fury, eyes blazing with an unsettling intensity. Other customers gave her uncertain looks and shifted uncomfortably.
But Aiko did not care.
There was nothing more detestable to her than unlawful termination, and Sunny had done it to her not just once, but twice — twice!
What an injustice!
He was even worse than the other, dragonslaying bastard.
She certainly wasn't going to let it slide this time.
Aiko's lips curled into a sinister smile, an idea already taking form in her head.
'I know just what to do…'
It was her turn to place an order. Aiko stepped up to the counter, and flashed the auburn-haired lady — who was also one of the establishment's owners — a dazzling smile.
"Good afternoon, miss. Would you be interested in a business proposal?"
- - -
The next day, Sunny was staring at a reflection of himself in a full-body mirror.
He wore a neon yellow tunic and lime green pants under a hot pink apron dotted with scarlet hearts, and his hair was dyed a bright green, its tips fading into blue.
'I look like a unicorn puked on me.'
Sunny's expression was twisted with revulsion. His color had always been black, not this utter… utter chaos. His skin crawled from the colors. He felt supremely uncomfortable, itching to tear it all off and don his usual black tunic instead.
Nephis sat in a corner, watching him quietly. Though her face remained impassive, the amusement in her eyes was unmistakable. Sunny's face flushed red with embarrassment.
As he continued to squirm in his outfit, a petite woman in an astute business suit walked into the room, holding a black clipboard in her hands. When she saw Sunny, her face lit up not with wonder but rather dark glee.
"That fits you perfectly, Boss!"
He scowled at her.
"I look like a fool!" He protested, pointing at his reflection in the mirror indignantly.
His manager shrugged. "I think you look perfect. You agree, right, Lady Nephis?"
Nephis hummed thoughtfully, eyes trailing him top-to-bottom and back before meeting his eyes. Her expression was unreadable, a mask of cold indifference, but her grey eyes glittered with mirth, the corners of her lips curling upward slightly.
"I think you look… stunning."
Sunny could've sworn he heard a laugh in her voice as she said it.
'She's definitely making fun of me.'
But she looked happy, even though she tried to hide it.
He sighed.
"Well, if the lady is pleased, then I guess… I guess it's not that bad after all."
Aiko beamed.
"I knew you'd say so. Now, go out there and start your shift."
With a last glance at Nephis, Sunny exited the room, still pulling on his collar and huffing begrudgingly.
Of course, if he truly wanted to, he could opt out of this in a moment and no one could stop him — Nephis wouldn't. But Sunny also felt a little guilty about what happened, knowing that Aiko had suffered greatly in the years after he went off-grid.
So… he'd indulge her antics, if only to appease her dissatisfaction at being abandoned by not just one, but two of her employers one after another.
As for what kind of payback the petite woman had in mind…
He was going to work for Abyssal Fire for a week.
Aiko had hatched the plan as soon as she realized who Sunny was and immediately brokered a deal with the establishment's co-owners. In the end they made him a temporary barista for a 'special event week', thus the eye-catching outfit.
Sunny had enjoyed running a café in the past, and he was quite happy to be able to do something like it again, even if temporarily. But he certainly didn't like being dressed up as he was currently.
'I can't decide if I'm glad for it or not.'
It was still early, but soon, the regulars of the coffee shop and bakery would be spilling through the doors. Already he could sense a few customers lining up outside, awaiting the opening of the shop.
One of the co-owners of the establishment, an auburn-haired lady named Sarai, did the final checks and gave Abyss, the other owner, a thumbs up. The young man drew the curtains, stepped outside, and flipped the 'closed' sign to show the 'open' side instead.
"Welcome to Abyssal Fire: Coffee Shop and Bakery!" He beckoned to the line of people, grinning.
He continued as the people began to enter the shop to make their orders. "Also, a new barista will be joining us for the next seven days. Do try out what drinks he has to offer!"
"We must warn you, though: he is a little eccentric." Sarai smirked, gesturing to Sunny who was working the drinks station.
There was a lull in the moment as the customers took in his appearance, before the crowd broke out in murmurs and muffled laughter.
Sunny smiled, an ominous glint in his dark eyes, and spread his arms wide.
"Welcome, welcome! What would you like to drink? There's the Spiteful Serpent, Corrupted Winter Shake, Cursed Tyrant's Doubts… Take your pick!"
- - -
Business was booming. Everyone wanted a try of the unique concoctions of the peculiarly dressed barista.
"I'd like to order a Fallen Knight."
"One Coral Scavenger and one Centurion Monster please!"
"Two Corrupted Heralds please."
"Coming right up!" Sunny placed a glass on the counter. "Furnace of Ice for Kazuha! Enjoy!"
A young man with black hair and cyan eyes came up smiling and took the drink after thanking him.
Three more cocktails appeared on the counter as gasps of delight sounded. Sunny inwardly smirked, feeling smug at the reception his drinks were getting.
"One Fallen Knight, Coral Scavenger, and Centurion Monster!"
"Thanks!"
Sunny was barely able to catch a breather as he worked non-stop, since he couldn't manifest an incarnation to help out in public. He had no choice but to make do with only one pair of hands.
He handed two glasses of Corrupted Heralds — super strong spirits complete with eerie art of still faces — to a man wearing a dark hoodie that read 'donttouchme'. The man thanked him and collected the drinks.
"One Corrupted Winter Shake and Steel Drowned Prince."
Sunny paused at the newcomer's voice and glanced up to see ice-blue eyes staring at him with amusement.
It was Jet, smiling lazily as always.
He blinked, looking over her shoulder to find Effie sitting by the window with a smirk on her face.
'…Damnation. She's never going to let this one go…'
His smile became forced, but he still took the order anyway. Before he could even get started on it, though, another pair entered the shop. The chatter grew silent, a lull in the mayhem, and then chaos erupted all over again, with even more fervor than before.
'Hm? What's up with… Oh.'
A man with auburn hair and mesmerizing green eyes walked up to the counter, accompanied by a woman with raven-black long hair that made her alabaster skin look even paler, her vibrant vermillion eyes sparkling sharply. They were dressed casually, but that only made them even more dazzling to onlookers.
"Welcome! What can I get you?"
"Hello, what do you recommend?"
Sunny thought for a bit.
"Let's see… I suggest the Ivory Dragonbone and the Crimson Guardian."
"We'll take that, thank you."
And then the couple left to get a seat in a corner, attracting the attention of virtually everyone in the shop.
Sunny didn't mind. It was better that their attention wasn't focused on him, especially with his ridiculous outfit…
'But still! Why do you two have to look so dashing!?'
He begrudgingly set to work and made the drinks, throwing all sorts of ingredients together almost haphazardly but also with finesse and skill. Soon enough, the four cocktails were done and Sunny prepared to receive more orders.
- - -
It was dusk when the crowd finally thinned out.
Only a handful of people remained, relaxing and sipping their drinks, be it one of Sunny's unconventional cocktails or Abyss' signature coffee. Some also enjoyed a baked pastry or two while they chatted with friends or family.
Sunny was beginning to clean up the counter when another customer entered the shop. He looked up, and his heart stopped.
Nephis' long hair was jet black, eyes dark brown, completely unlike her usual silver and grey color palette.
It was still possible that someone might realize her identity despite her disguise, so Nephis had hidden herself in a remote corner and simply watched the comings and goings of customers throughout the day. But now that there were few people around, Nephis was free to show herself.
Sunny quickly composed himself.
"Good evening, ma'am. May I get you something?"
Nephis hummed, lips curled in a small smile.
"I want… a Divine Shadow Titan."
Sunny blinked, tilting his head a little. "That isn't on the menu…"
Nephis only stared at him, brown eyes blazing intensely.
Sunny blinked again. And then he felt the heat rise to his cheeks.
He choked.
"That… That one's a little hard to get. Perhaps I could personally deliver it to your doorstep later…?"
"Hm. That's fine by me, thank you." Nephis turned away and left, but not before flashing him a very smug grin by her standards.
Sunny wanted to fall through the ground.
'How could she say that with a straight face!?'
Aiko floated to his side, shaking her head in exasperation.
"You two are shameless. You just can't control yourselves at all, can you?"
"That's preposterous. Of course we can," Sunny huffed indignantly.
Then added, "We just don't want to…"
The petite businesswoman deadpanned him. "Whatever. You're earning me tons of money, so I don't care."
"You only care about money," he scoffed.
"Duh! Money is happiness."
"Well, I can't disagree…"
Aiko grinned.
"Of course not. You're my Boss, after all. If you didn't agree, I wouldn't work for you…"
- - -
A few days later, as Sunny was finishing up the last bit of cleaning before calling it a day, four people burst into the shop, nearly running into one another and tumbling to the floor as they did.
There was an old man with messy grey hair, absentminded eyes, and a pair of bushy eyebrows; a young man with unruly hair, his wife, a meek-looking young woman with mousy hair and an unassuming face; a tall, handsome man who held himself with gallant poise.
They stood frozen, staring at Sunny with eyes wide like saucers. Their faces were deathly pale.
Before Sunny could open his mouth to say something, they all shouted:
"Captain!"
"Sunless!"