Takeoff

In a state of hidden shock, Sunny whispered to himself.

"Just who the hell are you?"

'I don't know his intentions at all. Whatever, at least he's supposedly on our side.'

Sunny reassured himself as best as he could.

Growing up in the outskirts, a lesson he learned was to always be afraid of the unknown. Even after learning how terrifying the known danger was.

Thus at least he knew the danger that Caster and Nephis could pose. 

He would be keeping an eye on the newcomer.

'What a weird armour. It's as if it was alive.'

Moving on from the hunter, Sunny narrated his conditions of assistance to the rest of the group. 

Aldric was not shocked or nervous at the request. With the seven of them, it would be a reasonable task to defeat the Fallen Devil. They would be much stronger from the journey they would be embarking on.

Caster, Effie, and Kai did not receive the news so well.

"Don't worry. I've researched and tailed the bastard from day till night. I know every detail about him. Besides being compared to Gunlaug, what is a Fallen Devil in comparison?"

Sunny spoke like a crude salesman.

After reassuring the group and distracting them with the mention of Gunlaug, Sunny introduced his "Brilliant Emporium."

The mention of the pop-up shop reminded Aldric about his inability to absorb soul shards. If offered to him, how would he respond?

'Maybe I can say that my soul core is completely saturated. But Kai would notice the lie. I'll just refuse it and pocket my own shards, hinting that I would absorb them later.'

Aldric had a stressful thought. He was not one to manipulate so easily and find a way out through deception. But it was a skill to learn nonetheless.

"Don't worry. I have my own stash." 

Aldric responded to the offer of 10 shards from Nephis.

She bought 60 from Sunny at the cost of 6 memories. 

Not one to ask questions, She gave the teen a stare and nodded her head.

Once the cohort fully assimilated their shards, they made their way south out of the accursed city.

Taking the spearpoint of the formation. Nephis stood stalwart with her black and white plated armour. 2 steps behind her were Effie and Caster to her left and right respectively, they were the second wave of attack and would support Nephis directly.

Behind them, Kai, Cassie, and Aldric were in line. Adorned in their own armours, Kai was the long-ranged support with his bow as well as Cassie with her sentient rapier. 

Aldric would act as the central guard. Protecting the long-range attackers as well as being ready to support Caster and Effie should they feel overwhelmed. He was at a far enough distance to not affect Nephis directly.

One thing to note about their abilities was that they were now both powerful sleepers. They had developed enough power and control to not be affected by the other's power at a distance. When in contact, the battle of supremacy would continue. 

Heading the rear, Sunny stood alone at the end of the formation. He would be the rearguard who protected them from the dangers behind them as well as use his shadow to scout ahead. 

Aldric thought it made more sense for him to cover the rear, but he was not here to argue or explain himself.

The cohort trudged through the Dark City, Effie guiding them away from danger zones and towards the south exit.

Aldric heard a conversation between Kai and Sunny about the number of sleepers arriving in the Dark CIty. How each year the number decreased from 400 in the year he arrived to a pitiful 5 this year.

Kai spoke about how there was no future in the current status quo and chose to stake his bets on Nephis. To conquer the crimson spire and lead them to the waking world.

Aldric agreed with the sentiment. The notion of living just to survive in such terrible conditions genuinely vexed him. Pure complacency.

However, he had enough empathy and critical thinking to understand their point of view. 

They were so focused on surviving till tomorrow that they didn't think past it.

He had thought about the number of sleepers arriving at the Dark City. From the hundreds to single digits. 

It was as if the nightmare spell was relaying its disappointment. Arming them with 400 combatants only for those in power to see them as a resource to be exploited or as a competitor.

The nightmare spell was practically screaming that this was not the way to live. That this was not the way forward.

Philosophers and scholars back in the waking world often theorised that the nightmare spell was a system of evolution. What would have taken tens of thousands of years had taken 10 in terms of civilisation. 

Perhaps it would have taken millions for humans to evolve naturally and be able to use soul essence and develop aspects. 

Even with the conjecture, it was widely accepted that the nightmare spell had an agenda and this was one of the times it was obvious.

'It will all come to a conclusion very soon.'

Aldric thought.

A soft voice broke through the silence.

"Something is following us."

The blind girl spoke.

"Does your shadow see anything?"

Effie spoke to the Scout.

"I'm going to withdraw my shadow and send it to take a look. Stay vigilant."

The cohort all silently readied themselves for battle. 

Aldric calmed his mind and took a steady breath.

"It's that... that damn hunchback. He's following us."

The group exploded into a discussion of whether they could defeat the hidden arm of the Bright Lord.

Caster seemed adamant about their capabilities, but Effie spoke of how devoid of knowledge they were of his aspect and abilities.

The discussion came to a close when the leader came to a decision.

"We will face Harus some other day. Right now, reaching the resting point of the first cohort is the priority."

The Pathfinder was relieved at the discussion as she was the most wary of Harus. 

"Then, follow me and prepare yourself."

-----------

Changing course from the south towards the east border, the cohort arrived at the tall expanse of the city wall.

Their goal was an ancient lighthouse. With it crumbled to ruins, what remained was their goal.

With the tower collapsed on its side, they entered through the side and walked through the tunnel.

Aldric had immediately recognised this place.

It was where he had entered the Dark City from.

Effie spoke in a serious voice.

"Listen to me carefully and do as I say. Once we are inside, don't separate from the group. Stay together and keep your weapons at hand. The place we are going to is full of nightmare creatures. They are not too strong but they are special."

Suddenly a voice broke through her directives.

"We are going inside the catacombs right?"

Effie looked at Aldric in surprise. 

"Yeah. How the hell did you know?"

Cassie spoke next.

"This is how you entered the Dark City right? I remember you told me about it."

Sunny was surprised at how Cassie spoke. It kind of stung knowing how she had made other friends but was not willing to speak to him.

"How on earth did you make it out of there alive as a fresh sleeper?"

The Amazonian woman stomped forward into Aldric's personal space.

"I'll show you."

Aldric summoned the [Warding Eye]. 

In the ruins, a ghostly green flame shone bright. It was emanating from an ominous eyeball that was attached to his neck by a silver chained necklace.

"This memory is capable of warding off the undead in this area. We should be able to avoid them if we stick together."

Effie spoke in overzealous joy. 

"You bastard. You had that this whole time and you never told me?"

**********

Thanks for reading once again.

Hope all is well. 

Loved the ideas about his darkness abilites. Still thinking about his awakened ability.

You think they could have taken Harus on?

Anyways, that's all. 

Till the next one.