Artisan of Fantasy shaped that usual smile on his beautiful face. Nephis maintained his ever-impassive expression, while Cassia hugged her knees to her chest, her face laden with apprehension, lacking its customary brightness.
Silence hung for a moment until Sunless laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You two are insane, completely insane! We're talking about an Awakened Demon, right? Did you forget we're mere Dreamers?"
Ariandel's smile faded, giving way to a fearless, indifferent calm.
"I've asked myself that same question before."
His voice, deep and smooth, sounded almost melodic and seemed to envelop the surroundings.
"An orphan from the outskirts, trapped in a dream, within a Nightmare, imprisoned by an awakened terror. That's what I believed while living an illusion that, inexplicably, suffocated me."
Sunless felt the weight of his presence. Nephis watched him with unfathomable eyes, and Cassia appeared even more fragile in her anxious silence.
"I killed myself and—without knowing who I really was, moved only by the persistent will of who I had been—I faced the abominable creature that had devoured my memories... then I awakened by your side, Sunny. In that cold cell, sentenced to be sent to another hell in a mere month."
He paused, inhaling deeply before exhaling slowly.
"It is this world that has gone mad, my friend... I am merely a reflection of that perverse unreality."
'Understood,' Sunless thought. 'So, it was an Awakened Terror...'
Still intimidated by the intensity of Ariandel's resolve, he could not suppress a protest—more out of principle than conviction:
"But that thing... it's gigantic! So tall you couldn't even touch it with a sword! What do we do, politely ask the bastard to lower itself to our level?"
Nephis frowned, casting him a look of disapproval.
"It's just a—"
"Awakened Demon, I know!"
Sunless sighed, shaking his head in frustration. Talking with them was like arguing with stone monoliths.
The minds of the Artisan of Fantasy and the Star of Change still intrigued him.
Sunless knew something deep and dark lurked behind their exteriors—one pleasant, the other radiant. No one would endure so much, fight so hard, unless pursued by their own demons. Sunless knew this from experience.
And looking at Ariandel and Nephis, he realized their personal demons were more terrible than any monster they had ever faced. Perhaps even more terrible than the Carapace Demon itself.
But why were they so obsessed with finding that damned castle? Why did the need to return to reality seem stronger than anything else?
Sunless simply did not understand.
His burning desire to return and claim what the world owed him was so intense it would make anyone shudder. But what could be more important than life? What would remain if they lost their lives in the process?
He looked directly into Artisan of Fantasy's mystical eyes and retorted:
"When we decided to fight the Carapace Centurion, it was because we had no choice. We were cornered. But now? Can't we simply avoid the Ashen Barrow?"
Ariandel's expression softened, returning to his usual affable tranquility.
"We can follow this path, the only one we have westward, or wander as peregrines through this desert."
He smiled.
"But I never said I'd fight the Demon directly."
Sunless laughed.
"True, I admit."
When the laughter subsided, he wiped his eyes and asked, calmer:
"Then what's your point?"
Ariandel let the silver pendant at the end of his long braid slip through his fingers.
"If the creature is as sentient as you observed, it can be subject to illusions or other deceptions. I don't intend to face it fair and square."
Nephis considered this, then raised an eyebrow.
"You have a plan?"
Artisan of Fantasy shook his head.
"Not a complete one yet. I'll think more about it... But there is something I already know for certain."
Sunless looked at him, curious.
"What is it?"
Gently, Ariandel released Cassia's hand and stroked her hair. His eyes contemplated something beyond.
"We will not fail to reach that castle... nor will we die on this Forgotten Shore."
With an almost oppressive calm, he concluded:
"After all, this is our destiny."
...
They spent another quiet night within the backbone of the dead leviathan. Of all the camps they had, this was without doubt the safest.
Sunless even considered suggesting to Ariandel that they stay there for a while—weeks, perhaps months, if necessary. They could explore the area calmly, hunt monsters, and grow stronger.
Then, after absorbing hundreds of soul fragments, shadows—and whatever else strengthened the Artisan of Fantasy—armed with dozens of Memories and, who knows, a few more Echoes, they would have a real chance against the Carapace Demon.
However... the Forgotten Shore was treacherous and unpredictable. So far, they had managed to survive, but luck could turn in an instant. A single mistake, one wrong encounter, an enemy more than they could handle, and it would all be over.
Not to mention the unknown horrors lurking in the depths of the dark sea.
Each additional day spent there increased the risk of something inevitable and fatal happening. Their best hope of survival was to face the Carapace Demon as soon as possible.
Perhaps, by defeating it, they would finally glimpse the walls of the promised castle.
Sunless tossed and turned all night, thinking about the colossal creature and watching Ariandel, who seemed to be shaping, little by little, the seed of a plan to kill it.
Only near dawn did he manage to fall asleep—and, half an hour later, was gently shaken by Cassia.
Sunless blinked, confused, staring at the blind girl.
"What is it?"
Artisan of Fantasy gestured to Nephis, calling her over. Cassia, a little pale, gathered courage before speaking:
"I had another vision. A vision about the Carapace Demon—"
Sunless awoke immediately. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes and looked at her, attentive.
Nephis moved closer and sat beside them, her face barely visible in the weak dawn light.
"Past or future?"
Cassia hesitated for a moment, then replied firmly:
"Past. I'm sure."
Ariandel, kindly, draped an arm over her shoulders.
"That's good. So... what did you see?"
Cassia inhaled deeply, leaning slightly into him, and fell silent for a few seconds, organizing her thoughts.
"I saw the Ashen Barrow on a deep night, surrounded by a furious storm. The winds bent the branches of the great tree as if desperate to break them. Lightning tore the sky without rest, illuminating the entire island with constant thunder. The rain fell like a flood."
She caught her breath and continued:
"The Carapace Demon stood there, in the midst of the storm, like an unshakable fortress of polished steel. Arcs of electricity danced among the spikes of its armor, but it didn't even seem to notice. It was exactly as Sunless described... proud, sinister, and terrifying."
Cassia closed her eyes.
"When I looked at it, I felt... an emptiness. An ancient corruption. It just watched the storm until it began to subside. The winds weakened, the rain stopped. The great tree remained untouched, as magnificent as before. But then, the final lightning bolt fell from the sky—and struck the ground beside it."
Sunless frowned, alert for any useful information.
'So lightning doesn't affect it? Damn. With that metal carapace, I almost thought I could lure it under the tree during a storm.'
Meanwhile, Cassia continued:
"Lightning could never harm the Carapace Demon, much less the miraculous tree. But when it struck the ground, it ignited the dry leaves covering the island. Soon, the fire spread, turning the Ashen Barrow into a beacon in the darkness."
Sunless tensed, remembering something.
At the start of his journey on the Forgotten Shore, the girls had mentioned that the light he saw from the giant knight statue was made by Nephis. And that, he learned later, was a mistake.
In that land, light at night attracted creatures from the dark sea... which no one wanted around.
'So... what horror was lured this time?'
Cassia swallowed dryly.
"When the flames began to die down, the sea opened and... a thing crawled out. An immense mass of bone and rotten flesh, bound by black seaweed. Thousands of horrid eyes glowed beneath, and tentacles writhed as it advanced toward the tree."
She trembled slightly but forced herself to continue:
"It was the most repulsive thing I have ever seen. But it seemed... slow, heavy. As if being out of the water weakened it. The Carapace Demon did not hesitate. It launched itself at the creature without a second thought, ignoring that it was at least ten times larger than itself."
Nephis, who had been silent until then, asked:
"How did it survive?"
Cassia hesitated.
"I... don't know. I saw only the beginning and the end of the battle. At dawn, the Carapace Demon crawled back to the tree's shadow. It was gravely wounded, with several legs severed and its scythes covered in cracks. The fire had gone out, and the sea creature... was gone."
She paused again before whispering:
"But the worst wound was to its chest. The Demon's steel armor had cracked, and a piece of its pulsating heart was exposed. Rivers of blue blood flowed onto the gray sand. It crawled to the base of the tree and collapsed among the roots."
Silence fell over the group.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Artisan of Fantasy let one hand brush Cassia's delicate shoulder.
"So it is not impenetrable."
Sunless and Nephis exchanged glances.
"How goes your plan?" she asked.
Ariandel blinked, looked at both of them, and smiled.
"I already had an idea of how to proceed... now, thanks to Cassia's vision, I also have the confidence needed."
Sunless raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
Artisan of Fantasy nodded.
"Although it is a somewhat stupid idea."
Nephis stared at him.
"What are we going to do?"
Ariandel smiled more freely, light and fearless.
"First..."