Cassie suddenly sat up straight. Her eyes were wide open, and her face was a little pale. She looked nervous and excited.
Nephis frowned.
"Cassie? What's the matter?"
The blind girl turned to them and smiled.
"A… a vision! I had a vision!"
The group had varied reactions, Ares was interested, Nephis looked indifferent as ever, and Sunny was skeptical and curious.
Meanwhile, Changing Star stretched her hand, as though prepared to summon her sword.
"Are we in danger?"
Cassie energetically shook her head.
"No, it's not that! People… I saw a castle full of people!"
She smiled at pointed with her finger.
"I don't know how far it is, but I'm sure that it's in that direction!"
Upin hearing her words, there was a moment of awkward silence, they looked at each other, not knowing whether to be glad or petrified.
Cassie's small, delicate finger was confidently pointing west.
Hearing nobody speak, the smile slowly disappeared from Cassie's face, replaced by confusion. Feeling the sudden tension, she asked:
"Uh… what's wrong?"
Sunny sighed.
"No, nothing is wrong. It's just that that direction is the one we wanted to avoid."
After some thought, She added:
"That's where me and Ares came from . There's a lot of scavengers down there."
The blind girl's face fell.
"Oh."
Nephis, who was quietly listening to them, gave her an indecipherable look and finally spoke:
"Tell us more about the castle."
A shadow of the previous excitement returned to Cassie's eyes. With a serious nod, she began describing her vision.
"I dreamt of a vast, ruined city built of weathered stone. It was surrounded by tall, impregnable walls. Various monsters were wandering its narrow streets. In the center of the city, the was a hill, and on that hill stood a magnificent castle."
She smiled.
"But there were no monsters in the castle! Instead, it was full of people. I think… no, I'm sure that they were Awakened. Some were guarding the walls, some were going about their lives without a care in the world. There was food, safety, and laughter!"
'Well, that sounds great.'
If this castle really existed, then all of their problems would be solved.
Ares sighed and said.
"Well, Did you see anything else?"
Cassie frowned, trying to remember. Then, her face cleared.
"Yes! I saw all of us entering the castle! That means we will make it"
A brilliant smile appeared on her doll-like face, beaming with so much joy that she Infected the group with a joyous mood.
Ares then stood up, his gaze looking at their next destination.
"Even if it's dangerous, it doesn't matter, a risk is followed by reward, to stay put is to die."
Nephis seemed to agree as she nodded.
"We should start planning then."
In the grey light of morning, they abandoned the tall hill and ventured west, as they knew the path before hand, the small party made quick progress.
Nephis was walking in front, her sword ready to strike at any moment. Next to her was Ares, looking carefree and bored, yet all of his body was ready to react at any moment. A bit behind them was Sunny. The responsibility of holding the golden rope and guiding Cassie along was entrusted to her
Of course, the actual person… creature?.. leading them was her shadow. It scouted ahead, carefully observing the labyrinth for signs of danger.
The labyrinth was just as it was before, confusing and seemingly endless. Crimson blades of "coral" protruded from the black mud, creating a vast, tangled forest.
And just like the day before, they Hunted nearly everything they came across, avoiding Large groups of 4 and more.
The most they've battled was a wandering group of 3 carapace scavengers.
They noticed that the number of scavengers they've met was growing, indicating that their feast is nearing its end.
The day ended with another successful hunt, and they were able to get to the headless statue.
the night began to descend, the three Sleepers sat in the center of the circular stone platform and rested. As they did not bring any materials to make a fire and it was already too late, there was no way to cook food. They ended up chewing on the strips of dried meat, passing the bottle of limitless water around.
After they had their fill they started sharing the soul shards.
But Sunny chose to give hers in exchange for duels, which she didn't really have to, but Ares accepted nonetheless, he had already noticed Sunny's inability of absorbing the shards.
Sunny, Nephis and Ares spared with each other as they used to before, adapting to their growing strength from their continuous hunts.
And so the day ended.
Yet the night brought with it an eery gift to Ares.
He dreamt...
From the void where the shattered stars weep,
It clawed to the light—a beast from the deep.
Its heart a shard, corroded, cracked,
A crown of thorns where the world was sacked.
Grief was its marrow, hate its breath,
Madness a hymn that sang of death.
From talons curled, like blades of old,
Black blood dripped—each drop a soul sold.
The earth recoiled, the skies turned gray,
As shadows rose to herald the fray.
Three terrors birthed from venomous rain,
Each born to burn, to break, to maim.
First, the Shadow—a shroud unkind,
A veil of night that choked the mind.
It smothered suns, eclipsed the breath,
And sowed the fields with seeds of death.
Where darkness spread, madness bloomed,
As reason cracked and souls were entombed.
Its shadow spread, a ravenous tide,
Swallowing cities where hope once died.
Madness incarnate, it danced on the bones,
Of children, of kings, of crumbling thrones.
Second, the Voice—a serpent's tongue,
Its words spun lies where truths had clung.
With wings of ash, it pierced the night,
And rained down arrows of blighted light.
Each syllable warped, each lie took root,
Till fathers killed sons for poisoned fruit.
Third, the Silence—a hollow stare,
It stole the past, left nightmares there.
Memories frayed to threads of pain,
Brothers turned foes, love turned to chain.
Its gaze a blade, its touch a curse,
It trapped the world in a dying verse.
Mankind raged—with guns, with flame,
With shard-forged heroes who bore no name.
But steel turned dust, and courage drowned,
As the beast strode forth, its claws unbound.
It crushed their might with a grin, a sigh,
And bathed in rivers of "why?" and "why?"
Yet deep in the ash, where the ruins breathe,
A flicker pulsed where the dark would seethe.
No roar, no blade, no false glow—
Just a flame the shadows dared not know.
An ember unbroken, a spark undrowned—
The beast's own wrath, in light reborn.
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