"I bought you a jar of honey," a soft-spoken voice told him with a hint of amusement in her voice.
Sunny resumed his movement, slowly turned in horror to stare at Eunbin, who was smiling at him, and walked inside, leaving the door slightly cracked behind her.
"Eunbin?" Sunny assumed someone else was coming and extended his shadow sense, and he was correct as he felt another shadow walking towards his Emporium.
"Sunless," She smiled at him as he pointed a trembling finger at the abomination she was holding in her hand.
"Damnation! You bought a jar of honey! Do you really hate me that much?! You say you want to talk and hang out more, and then you bring this!What kind of psychological games are you playing with me?!" Sunny asked, outraged, making Eunbin laugh with joy.
"You know she doesn't, so quit being so damn dramatic, Saint Sunless." Silent stalker scoffed at him while walking in and closed the door behind her. She sat at a table with her ever-present frown etched onto her face.
"What brings you here? And how come you always come after I close, Eunbin?" Sunny asked and sat down across from Silent Stalker, who stared at him with a neutral expression. It was a small but noticeable change from being glared at constantly by her when he first arrived in Ravenheart.
Eunbin slowly stopped laughing and looked at him with an even bigger smile, something that was still a strange but always welcome sight for her somewhat aloof expression she held in front of everyone else.
"Oh, gods, I always find myself laughing when I'm around you. As for your first question, don't worry, I will get to that soon. But Sunless, a jar of honey is not going to kill you, I promise, unless you're allergic to it. You're not allergic to it, are you? Can saints even be allergic to anything at this rank?" She asked, amused, though he could hear concern creep into her tone.
"No, I'm not allergic, and no, they can't, at least I don't think so- wait, hang on, why are you asking me in the first place? You should know this since you've been a Saint longer than I have!"
Eunbin smiled shyly while fluttering her eyelashes at him and pretended not to hear his question.
"Good, I'm glad you're not. As for your second question from before, it's so we can have a conversation like we are right now, Sunless. I really hate getting interrupted by people who come here to stare in awe whenever I am here, mostly. I mean, I know I'm pretty, and I do admire the attention from time to time, but even I have a limit. So, I usually wait until you're at the slowest hour to show up." Eunbin shrugged with a smile and sat down beside Silent Stalker.
"That's actually understandable. What about you, though?" He looked at the sullen princess with interest; obviously, she wasn't here to strike up a conversation with him like her sister.
Right?
"I want you to make me a bow, since you're never in the workshop that was lent to you ever since Bin hired you as our purveyor all those months ago. I had to come here, and I happened to find Bin walking towards your Emporium, so I decided to tag along." Silent Stalker said in a gruff tone, her gaze at him sharp but not unkind, unlike their previous encounters, yet it was still untrusting.
It seemed like saving Moonveil earned him a bit more respect from the Sullen Princess. Sunny wasn't complaining, though, as progress was progress. The more the song sisters trusted him, the more likely he would be to convince them somehow that their ghoul of a mother was despicable.
Convincing Eunbin was part of his main goal as well; becoming closer to Eunbin was something he never expected to happen in the first place. But it was a bonus, a very pleasing and welcoming bonus, might he add.
Of course, Sunny would never, under any circumstances, say this out loud to any of the women, especially not Howl, as that would likely never let it go. That woman already teased the enchantress enough as it was.
Sunny shook his head, getting a funny look from the sullen woman and an amused smile from Eunbin.
"What are you thinking about, Sunless?" Eunbin asked,
"You," Sunny said, causing his friend to smile wider.
"Oh? What about?" She asked with her husky voice while leaning forward with both elbows now propped beneath her chin. Suddenly, Sunny found it hard to concentrate on what he was going to say.
"About how meeting you was an unexpected but very welcome surprise. I truly mean it, I haven't enjoyed myself with anyone this much in the past four years, so thank you for that." He eventually said, smiling, after regaining his composure.
For the first time he had known her, Eunbin genuinely seemed stunned, then after a long minute gave him one of her million-dollar smiles and let out a beautiful laugh.
"You're very welcome; it has been a delightful experience with you as well." She smiled at him.
Just as he was about to respond to Eunbin, that was when Cassie's voice resounded softly in his head.
[Sunny.]
[Yes? What is it, Cas?] Sunny asked, and he suddenly realized that he had accidentally used her nickname. If she had any problems with it, she didn't say anything.
[I just wanted to inform you that Mordret infiltrated and attacked Valor a few minutes ago. I'm sitting with Morgan and Neph right now, and I was told that he had dozens of vessels attacking Saint Jest and Morgan, and those were just the ones he kept out to blend in. There's no real way of knowing how many more he has killed and taken or how many of his vessels are currently in Bastion posing as its citizens and knights at the moment.]
That was very troubling news.
Was this bastard trying to start the fighting between both sides prematurely, as he did in Antarctica? What was his goal?
If he even had one, Sunny thought to himself, going off Mordret's track record, the lunatic likely couldn't help himself once he caught sight of Morgan or his father.
Regardless of the reasons, Ki Song needed to have a tighter leash on the Prince of Nothing.
[Anything else?] Sunny asked,
[Yes, he contacted me through a mirror and said that he would assist us in the mirror maze next time we went.] Cassie said with a tone of suspicion.
What?
Just what was that bastard planning now?
Sunny pushed those thoughts aside and resumed his full attention on the conversation he was half-heartedly listening to between the two sisters at the moment. Just in time, too, as Silent Stalker turned her attention on him again.
"When do you think you could start on it?" She asked, with a critical gaze at him.
"Two days after tomorrow, I'll need the specifications on what enchantments you want on it; those will take a while to make, depending on how many you want on it and if it is the right fit. After all, I can't just put any random enchantments on there and call it a day. I also have to get the materials for the bow, the string, and possibly the arrows, should you want any more." Sunny began to explain, prompting Eunbin to put her left hand under her chin and listen attentively, smiling, which he took as a signal to continue speaking.
"For the bow string, I will need to get the right materials and make it durable enough not to break under pressure when you draw the string, but not so durable that you cannot pull it at all. For the actual bow itself, I will-" he continued, but stopped when Silent Stalker cut him off with an annoyed look and a dismissive hand wave.
"Yeah, yeah, I know all of that. Bin already gave me the rundown of making a bow memory as we were walking here. I just needed to know when you could start, not an entire rant about the process of gathering what you needed to begin making it. Save that for Bin, not me." She rolled her eyes and looked at Eunbin, who now had a slight pout on her face for interrupting Sunny.
"Well, in that case, then there's nothing else to discuss in that area. Eunbin, I'm free the rest of today if you aren't busy." Sunny said.
"I'm not busy at all, Sunless," Eunbin said with a smile.
"What? But you just told me-" Silent Stalker began.
"I'm not busy at all, Sunless," Eunbin repeated with a more forceful tone.
"Uh, alright if you say so, we can leave now if you want to. I have a place that I've been meaning to go to for a while." Sunny said while slowly nodding.
"Excellent, my friend. I'll have to change first, then I'll be back here. Be nice, Silence." Eunbin said, getting up from her chair and leaving the emporium. Silent Stalker stared at the empty tables, then at the night sky, and Sunny sat in silence while mentally scratching his head.
Change for what? What she's wearing is just fine. Sunny wondered in confusion, then inwardly shrugged at it until Cassie came to his aid once again.
[Make sure to compliment her appearance; she may not make it obvious, but she values your opinion even if she doesn't say anything about it. You saw how she lit up when you commented about her hair before you went to the beach.]
"How have you been, Silent Stalker? I hope you enjoyed yesterday's party." Sunny smiled politely at her.
"I'm fine, and if you mention what I wore at all, I'll make sure you regret it." Silent stalker hissed, it was clear that she was embarrassed.
"I wasn't planning on it," Sunny held his hands up in a defensive gesture.
"Good," the woman nodded, but didn't look the slightest bit convinced.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, the door opened again
"Sorry I took so long, I got held up by Howl and Veil. You know how they act whenever I go somewhere that involves you. Those girls can't seem to understand the concept of hanging out or a friendship in general." Eunbin rolled her eyes and sighed.
The Enchantress wore an expensive blouse, jeans, and jewelry on both wrists.
"That's just how siblings are," Sunny smiled.
"I suppose so, but I'm sure rain isn't like that. She seems like a polite and caring girl, even if she gets annoyed at your antics." Eunbin said with a soft laugh.
"Have fun, Bin." Silent Stalker said, getting up from her chair, and nodded stoically at Sunny, then walked out the door and closed it behind her
"I never thought I would see you in casual clothing. It looks excellent on you," Sunny said after Silent Stalker left.
"You think so?" Eunbin said, giving herself a look over, then back at him.
"I do, it's a welcome change." He smiled and nodded, getting her to smile as well.
"Good, I never wear jeans because they're either too constricting or because I've never had a reason to do so. I wear dresses more than anything else because they are practical and allow more movement. I also just wear them because I like the way they look on me." She said, leaning against the door frame.
"You said your sisters teased you on your way here, and that made me wonder how you first met them. If you don't mind me asking, that is." Sunny walked over to her.
"Not at all, I'm glad you're finally asking about me. I didn't want to keep asking about your past and never say anything about mine; otherwise, I would start to feel guilty." She smiled at him, fixed the jewelry on her wrist, and stood straight.
Sunny nodded, signaling for her to go on, and took hold of her arm as she outstretched it to him. Once they were transported to the waking world, he shielded his eyes and allowed them to slowly adjust to the change in scenery and time of day before moving his hand away.
Where it was nighttime in Ravenheart, it was the afternoon in NQSC. The sun shone brightly across the megacity, giving warmth to the people bustling throughout the sidewalks and stores, giving the illusion that everything was fine, and to the majority of the waking world, it was; they were clueless about how close war was to them.
As they began walking, Eunbin finally decided to speak.
"I met Seishan and Hel when I was taken to the orphanage at seven. By that point, they had been there for years, with Shan, who had yet to conquer her first nightmare. I met her on the day she turned ten, and she was now acting as a protector for Hel, who had recently conquered her first nightmare and was being plagued by random visions of the future and death, with rivers of blood flowing from humans. She was nine at the time, four years older than me."
"So you three were the first to be adopted?" Sunny asked with interest.
"That's right, the day after I was dropped off was when our mother showed up and began the process of adopting us, and after six months of me being at the orphanage, she finally got the approval and officially adopted us." Eunbin nodded.
"That's wonderful to hear, also Seishan is three years older?" Sunny asked, making sure not to mention her age. It was something Rain, Aiko, and Cassie had drilled into his head.
"Yes, she is. Naturally, I had to learn to take care of myself, having been made an orphan due to my parents being killed by a nightmare gate opening on top of them. But since I was only a child, I had no money, so I stayed at a friend's house for the time being until she died during her first nightmare. As soon as she did, her parents dropped me off at the orphanage and never looked back," Eunbin said with a rare tone of sadness.
Sunny didn't say anything and listened attentively. Suddenly, she smiled at him and softly laughed, getting a confused look from Sunny.
"What? What is it?" He asked with a frown.
"Nothing much, it's just I used to get bullied by children for my appearance, if you can believe it," Eunbin said, eyeing him closely for a reaction.
Sunny gaped at her, getting her to laugh again, this time much louder.
"You're right, I don't believe it," Sunny eventually said, shaking his head at her after she stopped laughing.
Was this how people felt around Sunny all the time? Surely not!
"Really? You, out of all people, don't believe me? Consider it a taste of your own medicine." The woman shrugged carelessly.
"Of course I don't! I mean, you've looked at a mirror, right?" Sunny scoffed at her.
"Yes, I have," Eunbin smiled softly,
"Gods, just when I thought I'd heard everything. What did they even call you?" Sunny asked in a bewildered tone.
"They called me Trashbin, you know, because my name is Eunbin. Now that I'm older, I realize how silly it was not to laugh at it." She said, smiling and waving at the people who stared as they walked down the sidewalk. After a few of them went weak at the knees, she turned her attention back to him and smiled.
"Trashbin? You can't be serious," Sunny stifled a laugh.
"I'm very serious and don't laugh. I was very offended as a child." Eunbin playfully pouted.
Realizing the conversation had gone off course, he steered back to the topic at hand. Sunny hesitated for a few seconds. "Have…have you been back? To your home?" He asked hesitantly. Sunny wanted to be careful, as Eunbin trusted him enough to open up about her past.
"I bought it decades ago when I became awakened and have been paying the mortgage for it as well as hiring a cleaner to tend to it every few months so it doesn't get dusty. But no, no, I haven't." She shook her head.
"How come?" Sunny asked, almost softly.
"I'm too afraid," Eunbin said quietly, meeting his gaze.
Sunny was baffled at seeing this side of Eunbin, but he wanted to hear more, so he kept his mouth shut, prompting Eunbin to continue speaking.
"I know, it sounds ridiculous, a saint being afraid of the home she grew up in for a time, but you must understand that I was only a child back then. It was a time when I was most vulnerable and powerless to help my parents, and I'm afraid I will feel like that all over again the moment I step through the front door."
"Would it be better if you had someone to go with?" Sunny asked, tilting his head.
"Yes, yes, I think it would. You don't have to, though. I mean, I came here to hang out, not venture into my past and face my ghosts." Eunbin softly protested.
"I know, but this is still hanging out, isn't it? Besides, we still have all day, and the place isn't going anywhere. Well, unless it's like my emporium and can grow legs and walk off." Sunny gave her a lopsided smile.
"Alright, if you say so," Eunbin nodded and smiled as well.
"Good, lead the way then," Sunny said with a gesture of his hand.
Happy Thanksgiving, if you celebrate it :) if not, then I hope you have a good weekend. Let me know if you enjoyed the chapter.