(Nephis perspective)
This is wrong.
This isn't how things were suppose to go.
This is not what she had said.
Things were taking different directions after her death.
And there was no one to warn her like in the past.
Everything had gone wrong after her death.
She lost a valuable .... asset.
Something that would have been useful.
After her death, she had to carry everything by herself.
Most of the work was done by her alone.
Others were weak.
So she had to do this alone.
She was left alone. ...like always.
So she did it alone.
She fought.
She fought everything head on.
And she won too.
One battle after another.
The spell couldn't stop her.
If she was given unbearable burden, then she was also given the strength to lift it.
The pain wasn't for nothing.
She absorbed everything she killed.
She grew stronger.
Every opponents made her stronger.
That's how she did it.
That's how she collected all the shard memories.
But for what?
Her achievements were all forgotten.
People didn't value her struggle.
All because of those two.
...
"I have a better plan."
...
With that, her existence was forgotten from everyone's eyes.
But she didn't care much.
Her goal was more important then anything else.
She didn't need glory, she didn't need recognition.
Those will follow, ...once she reach her goal.
They won't be able to cast her aside after she achieved her goal.
Be it destroying those ghools, or distroying the spell itself.
This was just the start of her journey.
As the last of immortal flame, she was destined to guide everyone towards a new path.
Just like her parents.
She'll do whatever it take to reach that goal.
Even if she had to walk on the corpses of others.
Nothing would be able stop her.
Nothing.
....
....
"COME ON, FALL IN A LINE, ...WE ARE GOING TO THE SPIRE. ... EVERYONE. FOLLOW A LINE." Gemma shouted.
He was tasked with guiding people together with some other people.
Keeping one thousand people in control was tougher then it looked.
If not for the floating swords making a boundary of short, things would be very different.
A big group of sleepers was standing outside the castle, ready to march.
In the air, above there head, floated blades made out of light.
It also kept the people in cheak, with it's presence of a transcendant, everyone was on edge.
They were like guardians of this group.
Terrifying guardians.
This was what they had paid for.
Every single memory of these people was used to create this monster.
People were awed and terrified at the same time.
What if that sword decides to kill them?
They wouldn't be able to do anything.
They were at the mercy of that blade.
But it was also there to protect them.
So they behaved.
"LET'S MOVE, PEOPLE. ...THE SOONER WE REACH THE SPIRE, THE BETTER. ... EVERYONE KEEP STEADY PACE, ...DON'T FALL BEHIND." Someone shouted.
People began to move.
Like a single unit.
With no memories to protect them.
Because they had something much better.
But how useful it will be, it was yet to be seen.
Nephis and her cohort was on the back.
Ensuring that no one was left behind.
"Those swords looks oppressive." Kai said.
"What did you expect.. This is what a Saint looks like, even one of them will be enough to kill everyone here in the blink of an eye." Caster said.
"..." Everyone went silent.
Nephis watched the blades with cold look.
They continued to move forward.
...
Up ahead, a hord of monsters charged at them.
Some people screamed.
It was there first time going against something like this.
And without any weapon or memories, nontheless.
But just a moment later, the monsters collapsed. .....Dead.
People saw the two blades float back and resume their previous position.
It only took two of them to kill that horde.
As if simply touching the monsters was enough to cause their death.
People saw this with shocked expressions.
They finally understood the thing.
Why they were wearing simple clothes.
Why they weren't in any formation.
....They just didn't need them.
They finally knew what it felt like to have a godlike being fight for them.
That's what they had paid for.
All those memories, they weren't just snatched from them for nothing.
It was for this. ...Hope. ....to return home.
To leave this cursed place behind.
Everyone saw the blade like it was a deity.
....
Nephis saw it like it was her mortal enemy.
It reminded her of something.
....The storys she had heard from her father about his adventures.
... about the flying swords of that man.
The man she hated the most.
She was going to destroy him.
And his domain of swords.
"I hate to admit but this plan is way better then our own, don't you think, Princess?" Effie asked.
Nephis just stayed quiet.
There was no need for an answer.
It was obvious.
But still she didn't like it.
...
"EVERYONE... YOU SAW THAT? .... THAT'S OUR SAVIOUR... NOTHING CAN CAUSE US HARM... ...WE ARE GOING HOME, AND NO ONE CAN STOP US. ...SO KEEP MARCHING TOWARDS THE FREEDOM. ....TO THE SPIRE!"
"TO THE SPIRE!" People shouted back.
There pace increased.
The blade didn't let anything reach the group.
Anything that came close died in a single strike.
Be it from land or something from the sky.
They all died.
With the might of a true Saint, nothing could stop the group now.
Moving like this, it didn't even take two days to reach the crimson spire.
.....
...
With a new morning, the sun rose above the spire again. ....Closer then ever.
The group were only about half a kilometre away from the spire.
....People were halted.
For a minute or so.
It looked like there was a battle going on in the front.
Or rather another massacre was taking place in front of the spire.
People moved again.
The group reached the gates of the spire.
A man with dark hair and dark armour moved towards the gate.
He unlocked the seals one after another.
"EVERYONE, RUSH INSIDE."
People did.
They entered the massive gates of the spire.
....soon after the sun started to shine brighter then ever.
Nephis and her cohort entered too.
She saw the two man who were moving at the front all this time.
Sunny.
And Raine.
The blades were still floating in the air.
Suddenly a beam was launched from somewhere, targeting the a flying weapon.
"Yeah, you can kill it." Raine said, surrounded by five swords that were ready to protect him from anything that got close.
Ten swords rose towards the top of spire and disappeared from sight.
"Will she be ok? ...with only that many?.." The black haired man asked, looking at the many swords that were massacreing some random corals figures.
"Ten is already an overkill. One should have been enough." The white haired man said with in a arrogent tone.
And just as he said that, something changed.
The spire shook.
Like something happened it it.
Some corals started to fall down.
People ran towards the walls.
But the place was crowded.
Many couldn't make it to the walls.
...
But those corals couldn't reach them.
When they looked up, they saw a massive sword, shielding them like a roof.
Some blades went pass to destroy the falling corals to pieces.
People saw this, there expressions showing awe.
"Hehehe, Isn't she just awesome? I told you she is the most awesome blade there ever will be. MY PRISMA IS THE BEST OF ALL OF THEM." The white haired man shouted in the air.
People just nooded their head.
Soon it was all done.
The fallen terror, the falling corals, all gone.
It was peaceful again.
"Everyone, there a gate up ahead. Let's climb higher..... But don't rush. Or..." Raine said as some swords turned towards the people in intimidating way.
People did as they were told.
They moved towards the gate, climbing corals.
There was no rush.
The spire was stable for now.
After the death of the terror, the group of people were enough to keep it stable.
Some noticed the new attribute, some didn't.
It didn't matter anyway.
They reached the gateway.
It was made of iron rings and was shimmering with glowing runes.
"THIS IS IT, FOLKS, THIS IS YOUR WAY HOME." Raine said.
People the gate with longing.
Some collapsed to there knees.
Emotion flooding them.
"Now, make yourself comfortable, this is going to take a long time." He said.
"EVERYONE, FORM A LINE... ENTER ONE BY ONE. ...WAIT FOR YOUR TURN, ONE BY ONE."
The people fromed a line, and one after another, they started to disappear inside the gate.
Some thanked Raine, some thanked the leaders they followed, some even thanked the floating swords.
It took about ten or so hours for a thousand people to use the gate.
....
"Well then, I'll leave the choice in your hand. ..just don't do anything stupid while I'm gone, alright?" Raine said as he also went inside the Gate.
The blades followed too.
Sunny was left alone.
....
Nephis saw this.
She saw the man leave.
She saw Sunny looking at her.
She knew something was up.
But she also wanted to find out what.
She and her cohort was the last to leave through the gate.
She knew this.
She knew the new attribute.
She understood that someone has to stay behind.
She wanted to leave too.
But for what?
She could have left the gate and return to the walking world, but for what?
She didn't have anyone waiting for her.
All she had was her goal.
And she knew if she wanted to achieve her goal, she couldn't run away from things.
She had to settle things.
...
The other party knew too.
That's why, he was standing alone.
...
Nephis moved towards Sunny.
"Princess, where are you going?" Effie asked.
"I just want to ask him something, don't worry about me, you can use the gate." Nephis said without looking back.
"But... He's.... he's dangerous!" Effie gritted her teeths.
Nephis turned around, sparks burning in her eyes.
"Not more then me." Nephis left them behind.
...
"Hey, Neph, I didn't saw you clearly back there, I almost thought you didn't came, ...you know, it's not your style to follow someone else..." Sunny said as Nephis approached.
Nephis stayed quiet.
"Not gonna say anything? ...I guess you aren't very sociable either." Sunny sighed.
Nephis stayed silent for a while. But she finally spoke ..
"Why did your friend left?" Nephis asked.
"Oh, him? ...I told him to give us some space, you know?... So we can talk heart to heart. ...It would be embarrassing otherwise, don't you think?" Sunny said casually.
....
Nephis stared at him.
They both knew where this was going.
They knew it was going to be a fight.
Something just compelled them to do this.
Amidst the sparks, they materialised their blade.
A silver sword. And a dark tachi.
They were ready to face each other.
But nobody moved.
They stood apart. Unmoving.
As if neither wanted to start the fight.
"Why did you kill her?" Nephis asked.
Sunny stared at her. Then laughed.
"Hahahhahaha, ...by dead gods...., that's actually hilarious,.... you are asking now? ...after what.... After almost half a year later? ..I can't believe it. ..." Sunny said laughing.
Nephis stayed silent.
But he had to reply.
"I guess she really didn't told you, after all. ... let's see, why did I kill her? She did something, or she was about to do something terrible, so I had to kill her before that."
"...She was about to betray me. ...for you, off course." Sunny said.
Nephis didn't spoke.
"But why did you care now? You didn't do anything for months, and now that we are stuck here, ...you know we are stuck here, right? ... anyway, now you are bringing this up? ...what gives?" Sunny asked.
Nephis spoke after some time.
"Because she told me to."
Sunny showed a confused look.
"She told me. ...the day before she died... She told me it isn't your fault, ..she told me what was going to happen won't be your fault." Nephis revealed.
Sunny eyes widened.
"I didn't understand at the time. But when I did, I couldn't do anything."
"I was left with her words..... That it isn't your fault. ..and she also told me not to fight you..." Nephis said.
"That's why you are alive, until now."
Sunny was shocked.
"I was always curious, what could be so important that she was willing to give up her life, ...But I didn't think it would be a simple betrayal that actually never even happened." Nephis said.
"It was going to happen." Sunny shouted.
"..." Nephis didn't reply.
"You don't understand, Neph. What she was going to do was far worst then any betrayal ever will be. ...you can't imagine the agony I would had to go through." Sunny said, trying to defend himself in front of the other member of their original trio.
"Why am I even explaining this to you, it's not like you can understand this kind of thing, ....people are just tools for you, something that can be useful to reach your goal, right?.."
"I bet you didn't even care when she died? And now you want to know the reason? ....I did that because I want to save myself from the pain and suffering." Sunny said.
"You won't get it. You are just a emotionless b... women who don't know the pain the broken heart brings."
Nephis listened.
"You think I can't understand the agony? ... Me? ...My whole life has been an agony, Sunny." Nephis said.
"You think I'm some crazy emotionless lunatic with saviour complex right? ... maybe you are right, ...but do you think I was born like this? ...do you think I was born to walk this path?" Nephis asked.
"No. I wasn't like this, Sunny. ...But after everything I went through, after everything was snatched away from me, I even lost own self."
"Because what I knew didn't work anymore. I couldn't stay alive with my old self and my old ideas."
"That's why. ... That's why I build myself anew. ...I burned my old self and created this one. ...where I removed all the unnecessary things, that were keeping me weak, that wanted me to end this all." Nephis said.
"I cast all of that aside, and here I'm am, standing stronger then ever." Nephis said fire burning in her eyes.
"So you see, you aren't the only one whose life is miserable, Sunny."
"You had your moments, and I had mine."
"We are all trapped in this cruel world, Sunny." Nephis said.
"That's why I'll do what I set out to do."
"I'll bring absolut distriction to this world."
"And nothing could stand in my way."
"Those Ghools who put me through all this, that spell, that took everything away from me, they will all burn in the same agony I went through. ... They will burn until nothing remains, not even ashes." Nephis said.
"...."
"....And what about me? ....where do I fit into your story, hah? ...what's my role in your plan, Neph? ....what am I to you?" Sunny finally asked.
"...." Nephis didn't reply.
She attacked him.
With her lethal stricks, she attacked him.
She was pushing him back.
After carrying her whole group for months, she was stronger then anyone was supposed to be at this point.
She was a demon, already close to filling her soul core to become a devil next.
But to her surprise, Sunny was holding his own against her.
'As expect of him... He is never easy to kill.'
There swords clashed again and again.
They were both holding back.
And they both knew that.
Pain invaded as she finally activated her aspect.
"Let's end this..." Nephis spoke as flame covered her sword.
Sunny's sword became pitch dark as if consumed by darkness.
They clashed again.
But this time, Nephis wasn't holding anything back.
She was going for the kills.
Because anything else wouldn't work.
"You know one of us had to stay behind, right?" Sunny said amidst the battle.
"I don't care." Nephis continued attacking.
Soon Sunny was pushed back.
He received numerous cuts, some shallow, some deep.
The battle shifted in Nephis faver greatly.
She forced Sunny to his knees.
"Is that all you got? ...I expected more from you." Nephis said.
"Yeah? ... I'm just waiting for your reply." Sunny said.
"After you answer me, I will give it my all."
Nephis stopped.
"So you are saying you are still holding back?" Nephis said.
She sounded angry.
"Fine, I'll tell you. What was that again, what do I think of you, right?" Nephis asked.
Sunny nodded, not sure if this was a good idea to discuss amidst the battle.
"Isn't that obvious? Our aspects make it clear." Nephis said.
"I'm the fire who guide everyone, the one who stands in front."
"And you are a shadow, someone who is destined to be a follower."
"You ask what you are to me? You are someone who is there to walk behind me, just like any other shadow should."
"You would follow me, do what I do, follow wherever I go, and never disobey."
"That's the role of a shadow, that's what you will do for me. That's your role."
"So now you know, right? Your role?" Nephis said.
"Our roles are already set by fate, I'm the light that will shine on this world, and you are going to be a shadow, hidden from all eyes."
"I thought you would be a good support, a capable follower,... just like Harus,..but I didn't knew you had in you to go against the will of your .....master." Nephis said.
"That's why you need to die, if you can't be mine then you are as good as dead." Nephis said.
"And that's what I feel about you."
"You are just a pawn I was willing to use to reach my goal, ...but not anymore."
"Because you are going to die now." Nephis straighten her posture.
Sunny stayed silent.
"If you kill me how are you gonna leave?" Sunny asked.
"You think I don't know about your friend who's hiding up there? As long as he won't interfere, I can safely kill you, and get away easily." Nephis said.
Sunny eyes widened.
"And even if he wasn't here, I would have done the same."
"You think I can't leave this place without this gate? ....it was closest to me so I went for it, ..you think I can't do that again?"
"There's isn't anything in this world that can stand in my way."
"....I can always look for another gate."
Sunny got up.
"I understand." Sunny said as he dismissed his sword.
Nephis was confused.
The fight wasn't over yet.
"Raine, you bastard! ....if you are hiding there, come down now, ....we are leaving." Sunny shouted.
"Oh, I'm here, alright." A person fell from above.
"Man, I thought I fooled you two, but you have some sharp senses." Raine said with a smile.
"It wasn't me, it was her, ...but looking at her expression, it looks like she was just guessing, hah." Sunny said as he turned towards Nephis.
Nephis was confused.
This isn't how this should have gone.
Their fight wasn't finished yet.
"You can't run away. You have to fight me, Sunny."
"I won't let you hide behind your friend's Echo, come and face me if you are a tru-"
"A TRUE MAN. ...I knew she was going to say that, hahaha ....that's the most useful provocation women's use to challenge mans. They want us to do things the way which are more favorable for them." Raine said.
"I think it's such a shame. Why would man abomdened their advantage just to prove that he's a true man, he can do that by just removing his pant-"
"Ok, she doesn't need to know that. Why can't you just shut up for once, dammit." Sunny shouted.
"Ok then, let's leave." Raine said.
"Yeah, let's go." They both moved towards the gate.
Nephis watched with strange expression.
"You are a coward, hiding behind him." Nephis shouted.
"You think I'll be afraid of him. I'll take you both head on, and I'll defeat you both." Nephis shouted in anger as her sword once again ignited with fire.
"Maybe she finally lost it. I told you to stay away but you didn't listen."
"You wanted to confront her, ...now you handle her, I'm not going to help you." Raine said.
"Who even needs your help, bastard? Are you looking down on me?" Sunny said.
"I'm lost fr..., ok, I shouldn't say that out loud, ...mhh...I'm Sunless, who was born from the shadows. I am the rightful heir of death and the bastard son of fate. Wherever I go, ruin follows. If you had any sense, you would have run away as soon as you saw me." Sunny announced.
"Say that to her." Raine said as he pointed at the charging Nephis.
Sunny turned towards her.
She was about to reach him with her sword.
"Ok, Stop her." Sunny said to no one perticular.
But the next moment Nephis froze.
She was standing there bewildered, trying to move, but she couldn't.
She couldn't move.
What the hell was happening? ...why couldn't she move.
She tried harder.
With her power of a demon, she tried to moved with all her might.
But her body was refusing to move.
As if she didn't have any control over it now.
She didn't understand what was happening.
She knew there was nothing wrong with her body.
No external force was there to stop her.
So why.
Why is it that her body refused to move?
Why it felt like she forgot how to move?
She gritted her teeth.
But even her mouth couldn't clench with the force she wanted to.
She looked at the man in front of him.
Who was in range of her sword.
He must be the cause.
He had done something.
Something unknown.
But what?
He had affinity to shadows, so it must be related to shadows.
But how can it be used to stop her...
She wanted to check her shadow.
But even her head refused to move.
"Man, look at her...., and she was saying that nothing could stop her, you literally stopped her. Hehehe. I bet she didn't saw that coming." Raine said.
"..." Nephis used her fire, her whole body burned with hot flames, but she still couldn't move.
"You should give up on moving while I'm here. You won't be able to. No one can." Sunny said.
"Explanations time!" Raine shouted.
Sunny looked at him with an annoyed gaze.
"Sigh... I need to explain, or it won't be satisfying, I guess." Sunny said.
He gestured as Nephis was finally able to move her head.
"YOU, RAT, ....WHAT DID YOU DO? WHY CAN'T I MOVE? WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?" Nephis shouted as she turned to look at her shadow.
And indeed, it wasn't like it should be.
It was darker. Much more darker.
Like some shadows were overlapping with each other.
Only the head of the shadow looked normal.
"What is this? How?" Nephis stared in shock.
"Ok, let me explain." Sunny said.
"Hey, that's my dialogue! ...You can't steal my dialogue. Use yours own." Raine shouted.
"Bastard, this isn't your dialogue. Do you want me to not say that for the rest of my life only because you also say it? You can't be serious?" Sunny shouted back.
This man was interrupting his cool scene. He was getting annoyed.
"Mhh. ..so where was I, ah, yes, you shouldn't try to move while I'm here, because..... I'm the rightful hair of death, and you know, no one can resist in the face of death."
CLAP.. CLAP ...CLAP..
Raine whistled and clapped.
"Good one, but that didn't explain anything." Raine said.
"I'm getting to that part." Sunny controlled his tone.
Nephis didn't knew what was happening.
She was frozen here like some statue .....and these two were bickering among themselves?
"So you see, Shadow are the most mysterious part of a human, on the surface they look nothing special, it almost looks like they aren't alive, like they are just created by a light source."
"But they are also a part of yourself like any other." Sunny said.
"And they also play major role in some things which even I don't understand completely..."
"You shouldn't have to tell her that, now credibility of your words has gone lower." Raine commented.
Sunny couldn't keep it in.
"YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT....UNLIKE YOU BASTARD, I CAN'T LIE, SO SHUT THE HELL UP." Sunny shouted.
"..."
"Ok, sorry about that.... So as I was saying..." Sunny continued.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE, ....DO YOU THINK THIS IS SOME GAME, ...JUST KILL ME ALREADY, OR I'LL HUNT YOU TWO DOWN TO THE DEPTHS OF HELL FOR THIS HUMILIATION. ....KILL ME, YOU BASTARD!" Nephis shouted.
"Well, we can't do that, you know.... Someone has to stay behind or the gateway won't work. ... didn't you know? ....I thought you have figured it out.... but maybe I was wrong, I guess. ....so much for trusting in women's brain." Raine sighed.
"...." Sunny gave him a deadpan.
"Mhh... As I was saying..."
The flames burned brighter then ever as Nephis gave him the murdering look.
"Ok, I'm done here... Let's go, Raine... she isn't in the mood to listen anyway." Sunny said as he turned around.
"You aren't good at explaining things anyway. . that's why she did listen." Raine said.
"IT'S BECAUSE YOU KEPT INTERRUPTING ME, BASTARD. THAT'S WHY SHE DIDN'T LISTEN." Sunny shouted.
Raine just whistled, ignoring the accusation.
Sunny sighed as they moved towards the gateway.
"Wait. How long I'm I going to stay like this. ....tell me what you did? ....Tell me what this is so I can come and kill you one day." Nephis shouted.
Sunny turned around.
Raine started to say something when..
"No, you can't do this. I'll do it myself. Just don't interrupt me this time." Sunny said as he moved towards Nephis.
"So you see, the thing is pretty simple.
You are so used to followed by your shadow that your body can't even move if it stop for some reason." Sunny said.
"I'm just using my shadows to hold yours in place. And this is the result." Sunny said.
"And you know what's the best part,... you can't change this even if you know this." He said with a smile.
"Everyone will have this vulnerability, only other people with shadow affinity can resist this, only because they can move without their shadow." Sunny said.
"The Shadow God created death itself, and so he made it so his followers, someone who had affinity towards shadow will have easier time bringing people to their deaths."
"You were right. We shadows are made to follow someone. But that doesn't mean we are weak."
"we shadows come with numerous abilities to be useful to our masters,to cook, to be useful, to do the chores, and even to kill."
"So even if you learn this, as long as you don't get a new aspect related to shadows, you won't be able to face me, ever."
"And I'll warn you, Nephis. If you came after me ever again...just remember..."
"No one is Immortal in front of me, even the gods were helpless in front of Death."
WHISTLE
Raine whistled loudly.
"Ok, I'm done, let's go." Sunny turned around, but paused.
"This is a goodbye, Nephis."
"Hope we never meet again."
He touched her face.
"Cough cough... Mmhh." He heard the voice came from behind.
"Alright, we are leaving. Let's go." Sunny finally left towards the gate.
Nephis just stared at them while they left.
The spell whispered in her ear.
[You have received a memory, Endless Spring.]