Deceit

Nephis was surprised. It was impossible for anyone to survive the soul damage inflicted by the Sun. Even she, a Devil, would perish.

'So how is he alive...?'

The truth was, Nephis felt regret.

'If I had known someone was still out here... I wouldn't have sacrificed myself. I could've been with them now...'

Nephis looked at the boy standing before her and asked again, her voice sharper this time:

"Who are you? And how are you still alive?"

The boy didn't spare her a glance. His eyes were fixed on the Crimson Spire.

Those eyes—she recognized them. How could she not? She had seen them in her own reflection before.

Suddenly, the boy began to walk toward her. She raised her sword, preparing for any sudden movement, but to her surprise, he passed right by her, heading toward the crumbled entrance of the Crimson Spire.

When he reached the entrance, he stopped, staring at the shattered remains of the tower for five long minutes.

Then, he laughed.

"Haha... Hahahahaha—!"

Raphael's laughter echoed like something unhinged, sending a chill down Nephis's spine. For a moment, she forgot to breathe.

When he turned to her, his once dull and lifeless eyes now burned with emotion—anger chief among them.

"You must be Nephis of the Immortal Flame Clan," he said, his voice dripping with venom. "Answering your question, my name is Raphael—someone unimportant."

Nephis regarded him carefully and asked again:

"How are you alive? The Sun should have killed everyone outside the Crimson Spire."

Raphael sighed. "It's my ability. You could say I can heal myself—including soul damage."

Nephis narrowed her eyes. She didn't believe him.

"That's impossible," she said firmly. "Even if you could heal yourself, the soul damage would outpace any regenerative ability. Especially since you're a Sleeper."

'She's not backing down... Does she think I'm an assassin?'

"You're not entirely wrong," Raphael said. Then he smirked. "But before I explain, let me ask you something. Why are you still here? You should've left with the others."

Of course, Raphael already knew the answer, but he needed to establish trust. Gaining the trust of someone like Nephis—who struggled with Paranoid Schizophrenia—required careful maneuvering.

"The gate of the Crimson Spire needed a soul to work," Nephis replied flatly.

She didn't elaborate further, but she didn't need to.

"I see," Raphael said, his tone laced with bitter sarcasm. "What a hero you are, Lady Changing Star, to sacrifice yourself for others."

Nephis didn't react to the criticism. She knew how foolish she had been.

"Now," she said, her voice cold, "tell me how you're really alive."

Raphael didn't respond with words. Instead, he summoned his scythe. Seeing this, Nephis immediately raised her sword, assuming a battle stance. But to her shock, Raphael slashed his own neck.

'What... did he just kill himself?!'

Nephis rushed toward him, her flames flaring to heal his wound, but then she froze. Raphael was still standing, and his neck was already regenerating.

"As you can see," Raphael said calmly, "I'm... immortal. That's how I survived the Sun."

For the first time, Nephis's stoic expression broke. Her mouth fell open in shock.

"How... That's impossible. There's no way the Spell would grant someone an ability like this."

"Well, if it's impossible," Raphael said with a wry grin, "then I wouldn't be alive right now, would I?"

Nephis still couldn't fully believe him. Immortality was unfathomable—something even the gods themselves didn't possess.

"Since you've finished your interrogation—"

"Wait," Nephis interrupted. "There's one more question. I've never seen you in the Dark City, and you're not one of my soldiers. Were you summoned this year?"

Raphael smirked, as though he'd been waiting for this question.

"No, not at all. I was summoned to the Dream Realm the same year as you. I even attended the Awakened Academy with you."

"If you were at the Academy," Nephis said, frowning, "I would remember someone like you."

Someone as striking as Kai was impossible to forget.

"Well," Raphael said, his smirk widening, "it's no wonder you don't recognize me. Back then, I was a bit of a loner. I only spoke to one person. I don't know if you know him—his name is Sunless. Black hair, pale skin, short—really short. Beautiful enough to be mistaken for a girl."

Nephis's eyes widened. She hadn't expected to hear that name again, not after what she'd done...

"Ah... yes," she said hesitantly. "I know him. He was part of my cohort."

"What?!" Raphael's voice rose with urgency. "Wait, was he summoned here? To the Forgotten Shore? Did something happen to him? Please, tell me he got out of the Dream Realm safely."

Nephis studied Raphael. His expression and tone were genuine, filled with concern as if he was worried for a dear friend.

"Yes," she said finally. "He was here in the Forgotten Shore. But he escaped safely."

Raphael's face lit up with relief.

"Phew... Thank the gods he's safe."

Nephis narrowed her eyes and asked, "If you were summoned to the Forgotten Shore the same year as me, why have I never seen you?"

Raphael froze, then took a deep breath. She could see the fear flicker in his eyes.

He pointed east.

"Because I wasn't summoned to the Forgotten Shore. Nephis, if you think this place is hell... let me tell you, it's nothing compared to what lies to the east."

"Why?" Nephis asked. "What's so terrifying about the east that it scares even an immortal like you?"

Raphael smiled faintly.

"Something that even an immortal like me fears to go near."

Nephis sighed and asked, "So, what are you going to do now?"

"Me?" Raphael said with a grin. "Where else would I go? I'll come with you, of course! I may be weak, but I don't need food, water, or rest. I won't be a burden."

"I see," Nephis said simply. "Then come. We'll head to the Dark City."

"The Dark City?" Raphael asked, tilting his head.

Nephis sighed again. "It's where the humans summoned here live. Now let's go."

She turned to leave, but Raphael's voice stopped her.

"What are you doing? Won't you come up?"

Nephis turned to see Raphael sitting atop a massive beast. It had a scorpion's tail, a humanoid body covered in stones and scales, and a monstrous face with four horns and a maw full of tusks. Its four legs and two clawed arms radiated menace.

"Did you really plan to walk the whole way?" Raphael teased.

Without a word, Nephis approached the Echo and climbed onto its back.

"Take the lead, Princess," Raphael said with a smirk. "Oh, by the way, his name is Tank."

Nephis simply nodded, giving Tank directions.

From behind her, Raphael's smile faded.

'Everything's going according to plan...'

In truth, he'd deliberately used Sunny's name to soften Nephis's defenses. She clearly harbored feelings of guilt and care toward Sunny, and Raphael had exploited that to earn a sliver of her trust.

It would take time to gain her full confidence, but Raphael wasn't worried. The seed had already been planted.

———————

This the first time I wrote a whole chapter full of dialogues.

What do you think?