A month had quickly come to an end - Well it did for Sunny, Kai however was exhausted and on constant guard - Sunny's surprise attacks to check if he had been practicing his shadow sense not only allowed him to get a grip quicker but also made him develop as a fighter enough so they could go to Neph
The duo made their way to the Outskirts of the Bright castle - Specifically to the largest tent present in the area, and as expected 2 beings descending from the sky was bound to cause a large commotion - Thankfully the terrified screams turned to confused and hushed whispers all while they held weapons pointed at the 2
it was natural - Sunny and Kai had both went missing a long time ago and were both thought to be dead
Thankfully someone who was once in the castle and was disposed of since he was unable to pay the shards - recognized Kai and from that everyone looked towards them and now with everyone looking in their direction, they all saw Sunny too and everyone knew damn well who Sunny was
Sunny decided to humor them with a bow - "Thanks for the warm welcome" - Perhaps it was because Sunny said the words with a monotone threatening throne yet with a smile, that they backed off in fear and continued their whispers
The star of darkness is alive
He returned
Kai was with him
I thought they both died
Sunny noticed Kai's discomfort and turned away from the people and made his way towards the tent entrance
"May I enter" - He asked a question with a smile, but his tone suggested an order
The guards standing in front of him seemed to tremble slightly under his gaze
"Forgive..." - the man gulped his eyes dashing to his female colleague who turned away. Steeling himself he continued to speak - "Forgive me sir, Lady Changing Star and her cohort are in a meeting if you could please wait fo..."
Sunnys smile halted - "Move"
"Yes sir!" - they slid to the side of the flap, their heads lowered
They were clearly panicked and apologetic but sunny stopped them - "I'm not angry nor was that a threat, I simply have important matters to discuss with my... Companion"
The guards' expressions eased as they looked at sunny with less fear as did everyone who was eavesdropping - "Pardon us - we'll return shortly"
Normally such a commotion would have alerted those in the tent to the events happening right outside but sunny knew a memory was being used to block sounds but that was limited to sounds, Sunny lifted the tarp acting as a door and walked in - Kai following right behind him
The inhabitants of the tent stopped and looked at Sunny - all their voices going silent aside from Cassie who was still speaking
" Why are you all silent. I know It will be difficult to get all the remaining shards memories but it's not impossible so...."
Cassie was not able to keep talking as not only was she interrupted by Nephis but also because of the words she spoke
"Sunny is that" - She began her question unsure if what she was seeing was real - 5 months was a very long time especially now that she was hunting herself, she knew just how difficult it was or perhaps it was just that her and Sunny worked together perfectly - Well whatever it was his return set back in - "... You're back"
A warm slime blessed Sunny's face reminding her of the one that he gave before covering her face with kisses and then disappearing- "I am"
Hearing that Cassie begs to tear up. She didn't even use her little rapier instead she used the table and guided herself to Sunny's voice - throwing herself into a hug which he returned happily
Cassie cried in his arms as he rubbed calming circle into her back as a hand cradled the back of her head whispering reassurance into her ear - A technique he remembered seeing his mom use on Rain - "it's okay I'm back"
Sunny continued to calm her though he stopped talking as he raised his head. Looking first at Nephis.
Looking on the surface there was no real reactions. But to sunny he could see the fury of emotions raging in Nephis eyes - Happiness, relief, longing, worry.
Nephis and Cassie had grown accustomed to Sunny's strength, but they knew very well that he was not a God - especially during the time they were apart it became very apparent how well they worked together - So even though they didn't want to the thought of whether he still drew breath or was currently being devoured crossed their minds more than they wanted to admit
"Effie, Caster, Kai, Cassie... Could Nephis and I have a moment"
"Told you. The prince and princess reunite" - Effie said with a cheeky smile whilst looking at Caster who was very expertly masking his hate towards Sunny's return
Effie woke up and walked out ruffling Sunny's hair on her way out
Cassie stopped crying a smile on her face - "You aren't going to disappear again are you"
"No Cass. I'm back and I have a lot of wonderous stories for you" - Sunny said as he slowly walked her over towards Kai - Sunny was sad that this time he wouldn't be able to see her reaction to being led by her idol
And lastly... Caster - Sunny simply nodded at him as he walked out, it was clear to Caster that he was no match for sunny, especially without going all out since he was hiding some skills to take Nephis out by surprise - Not that it would, matter regardless.
Sunny turned his gaze away from the people exiting the tent and focused it onto The Girl a few meters from him - Their eyes locked as soon as they made contact neither looking away
From the opposite side Sunny slowly began walking towards Nephis direction while sliding his hand on the table edge - as he walked, he spoke in a masterfully crafted hurt voice - "You know Neph... When I kissed you, I thought we wouldn't suppress our healings"
"That was before you left me... For 5 months" - She spoke very clearly almost sternly but Sunny could hear the lump on her throat
Sunny smiled at her stubbornness - that soft smile caused Nephis to melt her anger disappearing entirely. Sunny sat on the table right in front of Nephis though she was a few steps away from him as she was standing when he came in
He opened his arms and moved his wrists gesturing her to walk into his embrace - and walk into his embrace she did. Sunny was far too short compared to Nephis yes but whilst sitting on the table he was at the perfect height for her head to lay on his chest
Sunny held her - neither of them speaking, though Sunny could feel the way her shoulders relaxed
Unlike what he did with Cassie sunny held Nephis by her waist his one hand tightening pulling her closer next to his body. The other tangled in her now longer hair as he gently scratched her head
Nephis in turn had been holding onto Sunny on the easiest position. Which just so happened to be by the waist - So his actions incurred a blush from her. Sunny who noticed the tips of her ears turn slightly red and so he decided to take more than a hug
Pulling his hand back gently he caused Nephis head to follow - He looked directly into her eyes - his abyss like eyes meeting her bright star like ones
Perhaps it was his closeness or this 'reassurance' he was giving her, but he saw an expression he had never seen ever bless her face - it was a genuine sad expression, that made Sunny feel a pang for leaving her and a great protective urge bubbled up inside him
Placing his lips on her forehead first and then he left his kisses all over her face. He ignored the tears. And kissed her cheek, her temples, her chin, the tip of her nose and finally he pulled away after her tears stopped
Nephis however wanted more.
She pulled his face in with her hands, clumsily kissing him -Her lack of experience in his field evident. Sunny cupped her face. Like a gentle teacher sunny guided her slowly returning the kiss.
Air was not something he needed desperately so sunny continued until Nephis pulled away her breath was slightly ragged
"I've missed you Neph"
"I missed you too sunny"
...
Sunny has already revealed almost everything of his journey to Nephis, it was honestly everything aside from the existence of a certain Daemons mask - and by the end of his tale even Nephis was Speechless and Sunny made sure to close her slightly opened mouth with a kiss bringing her back
They had never left that position - Where sunny sat on the table and she against him - He continued to talk about their time apart
One of her favorite bits was the death of the tree that had attempted to enthralled her and something that caused her to pout a bit was the fact that he had already become a titan
Killing at least 26000 nightmares, getting echoes and memories, upgrading them, killing the tree Sunny especially enjoyed her reaction to his shadows. Though sadness was evident realizing that Shelly was too large to be used with people around - Sunny had also decided to keep birdy a secret for now.
"you've been very busy"
"As have you, I've noticed the outskirts looking better than when I left"
"Yes, that's because..."
"I know about your plan Nephis. Don't worry - I'll help"
Before their conversation could continue Sunny felt Kai and Cassie nearing and decided if he didn't see Cassie's reaction he would see Nephis if it was the last thing he did
"You know to make up for leaving I did bring something you like"
"Something I like?"
"Did you see the person I walked in with"
"No I... I was a bit focused on you" - She said with a deep blush
Just then Kai entered the tent with an amazed Cassie
"Neph guess who Sunny's friend is" - Cassie spoke a giddy tone in her voice
"Night... Is that Night" - Nephis looked at Sunny with an almost Stunned gaze
"Yup and he will be a new Cohot memb..." - Sunny stopped due to Effie's whistle from behind the 2
"Did you kiss enough for all this time apart?" - A mocking smile showing on her face - Cassie feeling a deep sense of second-hand embarrassment as did Kai who just now realized the position that Nephis and Sunny was in
Sunny wouldn't let that comment slide - "No not yet but I bet you have eaten through the supplies I gave you already"
Effie chocked on air at his response, but before she could speak Caster walked in - "Have you... Caught up"
Sunny smiled - "yeah"
"Good because I have bad news"
The entire group looked at Caster, worry shone with curiosity, Effie attempted to lighten the mood- "let's get chairs for the pretty boys then we can talk"
She was speaking about Kai and Sunny and was prepared to continue with her mocking - "No need"
Sunny willed and darkness flowed from his soul to the ground in lines, 1 besides Cassie's chai and one besides Nephis - from both ends of the lines 2 chairs rose - their midnight black color a sharp contrast to the brown ones the others had
Sunny gestured to Kai to lead Cassie to her seat and sit in his chair, While Sunny hopped of the table and sat beside Nephis who had already went to her seat a few moments after Caster entered and spoke
Effie whistled in amazement while Caster seemed slightly stunned.
"The news?" - Sunny questioned, breaking the awkward silence.
Caster developed a more serious tone - "I heard some people talking, blaming Effie for the death of 5 pathfinders"
"Why Effie?" Nephis spoke, her serious demeanor back.
"Yeah, why me - I didn't kill any of those bastards" - She spoke a bit loudly and continued her last bit in a more hushed tone - "No matter how much those idiots deserve it"
"They say the way those people were killed was similar to how Effie deals with things - Bare hands"
Kai shifted his head and looked at Sunny who motioned for him not to speak yet
Caster looked towards Effie and questioned - "Effie I don't want to seem rude but..."
Sunny stifled a laugh at Casters plan to create a wedge in the cohort - though they didn't see it as that, so they looked at Sunny as if he had 2 heads
"No Caster - Effie didn't do it"
"How do you know" - Caster asked though something told him he knew the answer
"Because I killed them" - Sunny grinned
"What did they do?" - Nephis didn't seem to distrust him any less or even worry about the clear implications of insanity that Sunny added for comedic effect
"They trapped Kai in a well to draw out his memories, so I killed them"
"Well then they deserved it but we still need to deal with the situation" - She completely dismissed the deaths and focused on a solution - "Effie is going to have to leave"
"She can come with me" - Sunny spoke, the silence returning just as fast.
"Woah woah woah, how about we talk about the fact that I haven't actually killed anyone and technically beauty queen here framed me before deciding where I go. Not that I wouldn't mind a night or 2 with you Sunny but seriously"
Sunny noticed the flames ignite in Nephis eyes and decided to clarify.
"And you think they care? Gunlaug just wants an excuse to kill one of us to put Neph in place and as for your little remark - I plan to take Cassie with me too"
"Me?" - Cassie asked with a confused expression
"Yeah, it'll be nice to catch up" - Sunny said masking his actual plan
"Kai, caster and Nephis are also the people with the most favored status here. So, it's best they stay"
"that's... True" - Nephis spoke sensing sunny had a plan in mind.
Caster. Possibly seeing a greater opportunity to kill Nephis when no one is around naturally didn't oppose the idea, but clearly Kai joining seemed to irk him.
A few more moments past and the plans were settled properly.
Soon Caster left.
Then Kai
Nephis left last after a kiss
Then after they left Sunny called for Cassie and Effie to join him in his journey to the ruined cathedral - He smiled mischievously as his teaching techniques had long improved due to his past and recent teachings on how to use Shadow Sense - and how he would soon have a legal reason to beat Effie up for all those teasing remarks