Shadow Slave/// Oldest Dream

Fate, as always, had a twisted sense of humor.

Once again, Nephis and Sunny found themselves alone—something that had felt long overdue.

Sunny exhaled heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"So, let me get this straight. You're going to join Clan Valor, fight for them until Clan Song is wiped out just to earn Anvil's trust… and then stab him in the back?"

Nephis was quiet for a few moments, then gave a casual shrug.

"More or less. Why?"

Sunny dragged a hand down his face.

"This is a terrible plan! There are more holes in it than in Swiss cheese—whoever the hell Swi is. What if Valor doesn't win the war? What if Anvil never trusts you, even a little? Do you really think he's that stupid? He knows you hate his guts!"

What neither Nephis nor Sunny realized was that their oh-so-serious conversation had an unexpected audience.

Cassie and Klaus sat together, alone—but far from uninformed. They couldn't hear what was being said, of course. But they didn't need to.

Klaus could see them perfectly through the window. And more importantly, Miseria—his faithful, beautiful Wraith—was floating invisibly behind him, whispering every word into his ear like some melodramatic ghostly narrator.

Meanwhile, Cassie was borrowing their vision, hopping between Nephis's and Sunny's eyes like a curious channel surfer. One second, she was watching from Nephis's sharp gaze. The next, through Sunny's exasperated scowl.

How did they end up in such a situation?

Well… they got bored.

So they dragged over some chairs, grabbed popcorn, and decided to enjoy the drama like it was prime-time theater.

Cassie smiled awkwardly, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers.

"It is a terrible plan… but it'll be fine. Nephis is fated to succeed."

Klaus snorted with laughter, tossed a handful of popcorn into his mouth, and crossed his legs with theatrical flair.

"Yeah, sure, it might work—mostly because that guy's too indifferent to stop her. But don't think Clan Valor's dumb. They'll know."

He leaned back, eyes gleaming with dry amusement.

"Wanna know how she survives? A miracle. That's it. A big, dumb miracle that makes Valor hesitate just long enough. They'll use her—until she's too dangerous to keep around or no longer useful. Then? Poof. Gone."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Is she out of her mind or just pretending?"

Cassie chuckled, taking a sip from her juice.

"Hey, that's my friend! And… yeah, she's a little dense, but like I said—it'll be fine. I already know the outcome... unless you go messing with fate again."

Klaus shrugged, leaning back like the tapestry of fate was just a rug beneath his feet—and for him, it sort of was. Becoming the Narrator had changed everything. Without it, fate would've held all the cards. Not total control—he was never powerless—but even with his attribute, fate still did everything it could to steer events toward its precious little predestined outcomes.

Still, Klaus played the game with loaded dice.

"I don't know if I will," Klaus said casually. "But if you tell me what's going to happen, then maybe—maybe—I'll know what to do."

Cassie shot him an unimpressed look and shook her head.

"That won't work. Stop trying to set up these little traps. I have a goal—and you knowing about it might ruin everything."

Klaus raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Uh-huh… I wonder what that plan is."

He leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing with exaggerated suspicion.

"Are you finally plotting to kill me in my sleep?"

Meanwhile, Changing Star looked at Sunny with a calm, unwavering gaze.

"I do," she said. "I decide who wins. I decide whether he trusts me or not. It all depends on me, doesn't it? If I want the great Song Clan to fall, then I have to make sure it does. If I want to earn Anvil's favor, then I have to make sure he gives it. I'm not a passive observer in this, Sunny. I have agency. I can shape the future into what I want it to be… or at least try."

She paused for a breath, her voice steady.

"Sure, the chances of success are low. But when were the odds ever in our favor?"

Sunny scoffed, running a hand through his hair in exasperation.

"I'll give you that. Our luck has always been garbage. But there's a difference between being thrown into overwhelming danger… and walking into it by choice."

He looked at her sharply.

"We don't have to be the underdogs anymore, Neph. But you—you're choosing this."

Klaus frowned, his smile fading. He didn't like what he was hearing.

That wasn't confidence—it was delusion. Bold, reckless, suicidal delusion.

You really must be fated to pull off such a bullshit plan. And yes, the chances of success were poor, to say the least.

My little sister... Are you really that much of an idiot?

He grimaced, stunned by the realization. Nephis—his sister—was practically walking into suicide. What the hell was going on?

Klaus was genuinely dumbfounded.

He had only recently become friends with Sunny. Before that, he'd nearly killed him—and they'd always clashed. But people often became friends after fighting, so it wasn't all that strange.

Sunny was still too paranoid most of the time... but not this time.

This time, he was right.

"What do you think about this?"

Cassie furrowed her brow, her expression thoughtful but edged with frustration.

"It's idiotic," Cassie said flatly. "I agree with Sunny—not about Nephis throwing herself into danger; she doesn't really have a choice there. But her plan? It lacks any real foundation."

She leaned forward slightly, her voice more serious.

"She doesn't have the information she needs—about the upper ranks of the Valor Clan, the Elders, the Saints… and most importantly, about Anvil himself. I don't know, Nik. They destroyed her family. It doesn't take a genius to guess she wants revenge. So why would they ever keep her alive?"

Her eyes softened with conflicted guilt.

"I want to believe it'll work. I really do. But… if I don't help her—and if she wasn't fated to succeed—she'd already be dead."

Klaus nodded, his eyes growing cold.

"I know. And I don't like her mindset. When I say things like that, there's always a plan behind my arrogance. And behind that plan, a dozen backup plans. But when she talks like that... it just sounds like and is delusion."

He glared at her for a moment, then spat out,

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

Changing Star frowned, meeting his gaze.

"What?"

Sunny stepped forward, voice sharp.

"Me! You're forgetting me! I have a say in this too, goddammit!"

She stayed silent for a beat. Finally, Nephis replied calmly,

"I'm not forcing you to do anything. You don't have to follow me to Valor if you don't want to."

Cassie's expression flickered with conflict before she shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away.

Klaus, already reading her mind, grinned with a teasing smile.

"So, what's your analysis of this little episode, Lady Song of the Fallen?"

Cassie let out a soft, melodious laugh, bittersweet in its tone.

"I feel guilty... I know what I did was wrong. But it was my choice. I chose to save Nephis. Maybe that decision saved Sunny's life too—even if it meant he became a slave. Maybe it protected him from Mordret… Maybe I'm not the one breaking fate. Maybe it was already meant to break."

Her voice grew quieter but steadier.

"Still, I'm not the same person I used to be. I've saved their lives more times than I can count—just like they've saved mine. I saved them from the Dark Sea, from corrupted Abominations, from Ashen Barrow, from the Mist, from Darkness, from the Crimson Spire, and the Forgotten Shore… People often forget that. They only remember one mistake—a helpless girl who didn't know what to do."

Klaus remained silent. He'd be angry too if someone had turned him into a slave—so he understood Sunny's bitterness. Yet, seeing things from Cassie's and Nephis's perspectives helped him grasp where they were coming from.

Not to mention, Cassie was right. The only reason they were here instead of lost to the Forgotten Shore was because of her.

Sure, the Dreamer army could find other warriors like Nephis—not as powerful or devastating, but capable nonetheless. They could find someone like Sunny too. But could they find an oracle with Cassie's caliber? No, they couldn't. That was how valuable she truly was.

"So... what will you do now?" Klaus asked gently. "You know I support whatever you choose."

She smiled warmly and leaned back, the change in her unmistakable. The doll-like, delicate features were gone—replaced by a cold-blooded, merciless edge.

"I don't care. That's how I feel. I'll repay my debt, and then it's over. I'm not planning to serve anyone. All these suspicious looks, all this judgment... Ahh, I'm tired of it. And I'm angry, too. People don't realize how scary I can be, Nik."

Klaus laughed, brushing a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"That's my girl. But yeah, I know exactly how terrifying you can be."

Cassie shrugged, sipping her juice and munching on popcorn as if she were watching nothing more than a casual drama.

"I can be anyone. I see through everyone's eyes. I know their past, present, and future. Their deepest secrets… Nothing is hidden from me. If I wanted, I could turn this world upside down. Reveal secrets about the Great Clans, about Nephis and Sunny, about the future of this dying world... What do you think would happen then?"

Her eyes glinted with dark amusement.

"I could turn people's lives into living nightmares. Throw the entire world into chaos. I can do all of this… and I pity anyone who crosses me, because I'm not planning to let things slide—not again."

Klaus nodded with satisfaction. Cassie had always been timid and reserved, but now... maybe it was his influence, but she seemed darker, more sinister, unapologetic, ruthless... and, if he was being honest, pretty damn hot.

"Alright then," he said with a sly grin, "let's have some fun."

A crooked smile spread across Sunny's face.

"Oh, great. But is that really true? There's a certain bond between us, after all. I'm free to do as I please… until you decide otherwise. Who knows? Maybe your mood will change someday."

Nephis stared at him for several long seconds. Then she sighed and crossed her arms.

"Ah, so this is what it's really about."

Sunny gritted his teeth and spoke slowly.

"Since we're on the topic… let's talk. Nephis, what are you planning to do with your power over me?"

Her face remained impassive. After a moment, she met his gaze coldly and said,

"...Nothing. I will never order you to do anything for me, ever again."

Sunny opened his mouth to argue but stopped short. He stood there quietly for a few moments before letting out a long breath.

"Well… good. Because if you ever tried, one of us would be dead. That's not a threat—it's a fact."

Klaus's eyes sparkled with excitement—so much so, he practically lit a cigarette with them.

"Oh, oh! This is getting interesting. Sunny's throwing out threats now! Wait… why do I get the feeling Nephis means something different with her words?"

Cassie stifled a laugh and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Maybe she does. Who knows~?"

Suddenly, white sparks ignited in Changing Star's eyes. She leaned forward slightly, her voice trembling with barely restrained emotion.

"And do you know why?"

Sunny's brow furrowed, unease creeping in.

"No, I can't say that I do. Why?"

She took a deliberate step forward, stopping just as close as they had been during their dance. Her face remained calm, but her eyes burned with searing flame.

"…Because I don't need anyone to follow me against their will. I don't need magical collars to make people serve me. I don't need slaves. That's not enough for me, Sunny. Why settle for submission when I can have loyalty? People who follow me, serve me, obey me—they'll do it because it's their deepest desire. They'll do it with a smile."

Her gaze locked onto his.

"If I ever want to make you mine, Sunny, you'll become mine—not because you were forced, but because you want to. That… is also a fact."

Klaus froze, then grimaced, slapping his forehead in dumbfounded embarrassment. His soul sea wasn't so different from the world outside.

Near his soul cores, Loki was doubled over, laughing hysterically.

Klaus didn't know how a bird could make such a sound with a beak, but Loki was managing it perfectly while shouting at him,

"Hey, hey! Your sister totally fumbled there! Kekekhahaha!"

Klaus blinked. Since when did my soul sea turn into a theater for spirits?

Of course, it's Loki's doing... that vile bird's probably called the others over.

... That's my boy!

Then he paused, a flicker of self-awareness hitting him.

Wait... why does Loki remind me so much of myself?

Nah, nah, just imagining things again.

Cassie turned away, stifling her laughter as her shoulders shook.

"That's… honestly a little sad."

Klaus grinned, eyes gleaming as he leaned forward like a gossiping gremlin.

"Nah, she ain't the Star of Ruin. She's the Star of Ruining the Moment!"

Cassie giggled, tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth, clearly entertained.

"Uhm… still, I think she was flirting?"

Klaus took a long sip of his whiskey like it was juice, then groaned dramatically.

"So what now? Lost From Rizz versus Fumbling Star? Gods below in the Shadow Realm… that ain't rizz!"

Cassie nearly choked on her popcorn, coughing as she smacked her chest with one hand, then hastily wiped her mouth. Her eyes were wide with disbelief.

"Oh, like you'd know! Your username is still 'Rizz1er'! And now Belial and Hecate are mimicking you too! Belial's going around as 'LadiesMan217'! What does that even mean?! And Hecate? She made her username 'The Deep', but insists on calling herself The Peak! So now what? I've got Rizz1er, LadiesMan217, and The Deep all under one roof?! What even is this?"

Klaus froze, eyes narrowing. Then he leaned back slowly, smug and regal, as if the heavens themselves had bestowed an honor upon him.

Huh... what's this warm feeling in my stomach?

Pride?

...Yeah.

Damn right.

He nodded to himself.

"That's the way to go... my legacy is thriving."

***

Guys, I had to write this. There was no way I was passing it up. Like—when you really understand both Sunny's and Nephis's perspectives, there's just no way you don't die from laughter.

Bro got ragebaited so hard he packed his bags and went to another continent to fight a war! 💀

Anyway—enjoy, folks. This was truly absolute cinema. 🎬🔥

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