Shadow Slave: Endless Souls

On the top of the coral pillar, three figures were sitting while waiting for the barbeque made of monster meat to finish grilling. Below it [Volcano], the flaming sword lays on the ground, turning from a fearsome slaughter tool to one used to cook their meal.

"So, how was your stay here so far?"

"Not good."

Nephis answered honestly; since their attempt to light a bonfire during the night attracted the inhabitants of this land, they didn't manage to have a good night's sleep. Well, after that they wouldn't dare to have one so casually. Edward looked at Cassie who was sitting beside Nephis and asked:

"Did you have any visions related to the Gate or human citadel?"

As the only person who talks to Cassie openly at the Academy, of course, he knows what her Aspect Ability is. And say the truth it was a remarkable ability in his eyes, the ability to know the future or the past, then again it was also more burdensome than anything.

She reminded him of Kairos Fateweaver from Warhammer 40k, he is a daemon that looks like a bird with two heads. One head sees all the possible future while the other sees the future, but they can't see the present, just like Cassie, who also lost her ability to see the present in the form of blindness.

"Sadly no, I am afraid I haven't seen anything like that."

Cassie shook her and said in a sad tone, a little heartbroken for her uselessness.

"It's okay. I am sure it will come to you soon enough."

His eyes then wander around their surroundings, wanting to locate the headless statue Sunny is supposed to be staying. Sadly he couldn't locate it, making him frown a little he was sure the statue wasn't supposed to be much farther from here.

'Did he land in a different place? Not possible, Nephis and Cassie did everything according to the plot of the original book.'

"What."

Nephis asked in her monotone voice, making Edward look at her in a confused look.

"Are you looking for?"

Edward lets out a chuckle, which makes Nephis frown.

"You should speak your sentence without breaking like that. Otherwise, others will be confused."

Then he cleared his throat and answered in a cheerful tone.

"Well, I thought I saw something akin to a huge man-made structure yesterday close to here so I was wondering if I could locate it."

His answer made Nephis raise her eyebrow does that mean there is a chance they will be able to find a human citadel using that structure he said as a starting point?

"I saw nothing."

Edward nodded at Nephis's short answer without putting much thought behind it.

"Hey Edward did something happen to you when you were here?"

Cassie suddenly asked in a curious tone.

"Hm? No? Nothing noteworthy as far I am concerned."

"You sure? Because you seem so different all of a sudden."

"I don't quite grasp what you meant Cassie."

"It's just at the Academy you felt so... how should I say it? Out of the world? You speak so coldly that whatever emotions linger inside it feel so fake and forced. But here? You are so different. Your voice is more alive and full of emotions. I feel like talking to a completely different person."

Upon hearing her words Edward lets out an understanding gasp. Say the truth it wasn't he was cold on purpose in the real world it's just whatever remained of the original Edward was affecting the way he was carrying himself in the real world. It was like muscle memory making him feel so suppressed. 

But here? This is the spiritual body he is using completely free of any antics of the original Edward, here in the Dream Realm he was free. A chuckle escaped from his mouth, and he answered to Cassie in a cheerful tone.

"Because I feel so free here. As if freed from whatever burden that was on my shoulder is just pushed away."

Nephis thought that made sense, some Legacy clans are so strict their descendants felt free when they arrived at the Dream Realm first time because they were outside the watchful eyes of their clan. Of course, even so, they didn't act as freely as Edward did because the public's watchful eyes were watching them. Preventing them from doing anything that will tarnish their clan's names but what if those witnesses can be silenced?

Though that possibility made her wanna summon her Memory, she knew she must hold back. Use this to her advantage; he might be a powerful enemy but he is also a powerful ally too if she managed to use him right.

"That sounds a little bit awful don't you think? You have parents right Edward?"

Cassie's mention of Edward's parents made him flinch because they weren't his parents they were the original's parents.

"Did you see them in your vision?"

Cassie nods her head.

"Cassie, I love you as a friend and you know that. So listen carefully okay? Sometimes secrets are better left as a secret okay?"

For a moment, his voice lost Its cheerfulness and returned to his cold, monotone voice. Making her tremble in fear which made Edward feel bad immediately and come closer to her.

"Ah, I am sorry, Cassie, I didn't mean to scare you. A family is a little sensitive subject to me okay?"

He holds her hands making her turn her head towards his direction. Her lifeless blue eyes stared at him without blinking, and he stared back.

"Did they abuse you?"

Then she quickly shut her mouth as if said something she shouldn't have said. A dark chuckle with no feeling of humor escaped from Edward.

"Not really, but you will understand it soon enough."

He then looked at their barbecue which was getting ready with a soft smile and said.

"The food is ready, do you have anything to drink?"

The blind girl nodded her head and summons her Memory Endless Spring. The light particles dance around her hand for a moment. A second later, a beautiful bottle made of patterned blue glass appeared in her hand.

Looking at the familiar water-filled bottle he couldn't help but summon his own.

"Woah, it's the same as the memory I have what are the chances?"

Upon hearing this Cassie looked surprised.

"Eh? You got the same Memory as Endless Spring?"

She sounded disheartened after all having in the possession of Endless Spring was one of her few advantages. Edward patted her on the shoulder and said with a smile.

"Don't be disheartened Cassie it's just a Memory. There are many things you are good at."

He then took a thin and long stick before sticking a few meat pieces on it and handing it to Cassie.

"Here, a monster shish kebab. Be careful when eating okay?"

Cassie nodded her head, then gave another one to Nephis who examined it a few moments before eating it.

As for Edward, he was stuffing the meat into his mouth with a satisfied smile on his face.

Soon the night comes and with it, the storm has come too. Shivering cold wind blows towards them, Cassie shivered in cold but Edward could only hold her hand to offer emotional support. Edward already handed his cape to Nephis allowing her to use it to cover herself.

Drops of water fell on them, Cassie covered her face while Nephis used his cape, as for Edward himself? He has the hunter's hat. They sat close to each other silently observing the raging storm, waiting for it to come to an end. The world around them might be cold but they have each other to warm their hearts... kind of warming at least.

***

Sunny crouched in the middle of the platform, enduring the rage of the storm and the sea, and couldn't help but curse inside. The feeling of coldness and a raging storm couldn't help but his bad memory of his First Nightmare. The image of a freezing cold mountain and that demonic soldier bastard couldn't help but flash in his mind.

"Curses."