Shadow Slave: Eternal Dawn

By the time Nico left the courtyard of the Bright Castle, the sun was beginning to set, casting pale colors of violet and burnt orange across the horizon.

He trudged towards the throne room. Upon arriving, there was a bustle of chatting voices and subtle movement within. The castle residents were chowing down on their evening meal.

Once he settled into his usual spot at the corner of one of the far tables, closest to the dais, he stared down at his vegetable soup with glassy eyes.

Experimenting with Kido had been a long, arduous endeavor that taxed his mind in ways he didn't feel were possible until now. Today was a complete failure, but also a learning experience that showed more was possible.

He idly prodded at his soup with his spoon.

Despite cloudy thoughts, his mind worked feverishly to interpret and catalogue the results from their testing.

'I couldn't fuse our essence, but I managed to transfer some to her core. From there, nothing should've been stopping her from using it to trigger her Aspect, but why was something blocking it? The only difference in our essence is my lineage and that shouldn't affect whether or not she can expend it.'

His brows furrowed as he recounted his experiences earlier.

'The seed was strange, too. With my essence within it, I felt more connected to its mundane soul, but I couldn't shape it at all. Something is missing. My essence is there, but the connection is superficial.'

He exhaled and rubbed his forehead.

'It turned out fine, anyway. I learned I can transfer my essence to others. The connection doesn't seem to be any different, but I can change that in time. I might even be able to take essence when I become an Awakened.'

It was strange for him using his Dormant Ability. There was a whole plane of existence outside the purview of human senses. Souls had dominion in the world, both as parts of it and as individuals. Trying to touch his own soul was as instinctual as breathing was, but trying to interact with other's souls was much, much more difficult. It was a muscle he'd never exercised, and as such felt impossible to truly grasp or move with his roots.

A wave of nausea passed through him.

'I really shouldn't use so much of my body's essence next time. Who knew expending so much would make my blood pressure drop. Or whatever I have, instead.'

As he brushed his bangs back and began to ponder again, a voice, amused and laidback, called to him:

"Nico! Where have you been, my friend? I searched for you for quite some time earlier. You even missed lunch."

The visitor raised a brow.

"You look tired. Did you hunt down a Demon or something?"

Nico peered up at the man.

"I was busy, Gemma. What do you want?"

The lieutenant chuckled and sat down across from him. His handsome face was curled into a wry smirk, hands clasped on the table in relaxation.

"Hey now, I'm genuinely worried! I mean, it looks like you don't even know you're eating..."

Nico's mouth opened for a moment, then closed. He looked down, and sure enough, he was holding a spoonful of hot, aromatic soup. Below it, a half-empty bowl was sitting.

'Am I really that absent-minded right now?'

He delicately placed the spoon down and flexed his fingers, then pushed the bowl away.

Sighing, he replied languidly:

"I was testing an interesting way to use my Dormant Ability with Kido. It was tiresome."

Gemma's eyes sparkled.

"Kido, huh? Well, um, how was she, anyways?"

A whirl of emotions spilled into the tired boy's heart. The lieutenant of the Hunter and Pathfinders was currently emitting such a strong affection that it was impossible not to sense it. Affection, desire, and warmth burned for the young woman with a startling intensity — so much so that it felt almost as if Nico was infatuated with the girl too, for a moment.

A spark of amusement arose from within Nico, and the corners of his lips twitched upwards slightly.

"She's fine. You should go visit her."

Gemma's face twisted in confusion and surprise.

He didn't expect that response.

"What? Why?"

The boy across from him straightened plainly. 

"You seem fond of her. Do you need another reason?"

Gemma's breath caught. His subtle grin froze on his lips.

"I—I must not have heard you right. What... what did you just say?"

"Well, I said you seem fond of her, and asked do—"

"Okay! Okay. I... remember now," he interrupted, face brightened.

He shook his head as if trying to dispel some sort of hex, both embarrassed and aggrieved at the indifference with which Nico treated the matter.

"But, uh, that's quite the terrifying thing to hear from you," he grumbled. "Have you no tact?"

No answer came from Nico.

The two stopped talking for a while after that. Neither had much to say, and their food was growing ever colder beside them. Nico himself tried to force more soup down, despite the queasiness that nestled deep in his stomach and twisted his gut with every swallow.

Not too long later, the sun had finally crossed the horizon and disappeared beneath the darkness of the Forgotten Shore's starless sky. Nobody could see the sea rising or feel its horrible waves crashing against the impregnable aegis of the Dark City's walls, but its dread was long since inspired into every Sleep in the Bright Caste, and none were spared from the grip of fear that those murky waters oozed.

When only a few smoldering torches fought against the yawning shadows of the throne room, and everybody besides the two lieutenants and a couple Handmaidens had fled to their dormitories, a detached tone dispelled the silence:

"I have a request to ask of you, Nico."

The person across from him spat instantly:

"I'm not scouting for you."

Gemma seemed surprised by the sudden reaction, but continued regardless:

"Fortunately, then, this is not a scouting mission."

He paused, and the glint in his eyes was swallowed by unfathomable malice. Where the once laidback Gemma had been, now sat a brutal hunter, hands wrung together as his posture shifted, becoming sharper — more firm.

His tone was foreboding when he spoke:

"We're going hunting, and I want you by our side. This time we're going after an Awakened Devil."

Nico's brow rose.

That was surprising. An Awakened Beast alone was stronger than every single sleeper in the Bright Castle, and they wanted to go after a creature that had four times as many Soul Cores, wicked intelligence, and profane powers?

The Hunter and Pathfinders were no slouches, of course. They had been hunting Beasts, Monsters, and an occasional Demon for years. He had no doubt they'd probably be able to slay it. But was it really worth the risk? Extra shards and a relatively equal amount of meat wasn't worth it.

He looked down at the table aimlessly.

"Why the Devil?"

Gemma's gaze became distant.

"The thing is wicked. It's the strongest creature amongst the Awakened stragglers of the city, and it knows it. So, it began hunting them much like we do. Multiple of our marks have been devoured before we could properly learn and study them. More will only continue to die, and it is in the region of the Dark City most familiar to us, so we can't just leave it be."

He paused and ate a spoonful of his now cold soup, then grimaced.

"There's other reasons, naturally, but those are the most pressing. And we... expect a few of us to die to it. Hopefully, with you there, the losses can be minimized."

Nico stared at the young man before him.

"What? That's it? One Awakened Devil, no matter how strong, will eventually perish to the Fallen rulers of the city."

His tone dropped lower:

"Find a new hunting ground until then. You Pathfinders are resourceful, aren't you?"

Irritation flickered across the other lieutenant's face.

"If only it were so simple. You think we haven't tried hunting in other areas? Some places just aren't made for us Sleepers, and the grounds we use now were meticulously routed and memorized."

He paused, radiating a palpable discontent.

"I don't know whether or not we'll lose more lives exploring somewhere else or just ridding the Devil, but I'd much rather chance it than stumble into something much, much worse."

A beat of silence settled across the two powerful Sleepers. Gemma spoke first, and with a hint of sarcasm.

"Besides, the lives of our Hunters and Pathfinders aren't your concern — we both know you'll be the first one to escape should anything go wrong."

He leaned forward sharply. 

"I've made my decision. So... will you help us or not?"

Nico's eyes shimmered in the dim hall like a boundless whirlpool.

'That's a more befitting demeanor of a Hunter.'

He replied, his venom twisted into an aloof casualness before he could speak by his Flaw:

"For half its shards."

A laugh escaped Gemma, but it had no humor.

"Yeah. Whatever. Take them, if you want."

A thick tension settled between them, and after a few cursory words, they separated and went to rest for the night.

Tomorrow, the Devil was going to be slain by human hand.