Sunny's life couldn't have been more lively these past few hours.
Honestly, he could barely keep track of everything that had happened since the sun went down.
First, Senrix handed him a weapon-type Memory right after he finished talking with Nephis.
It was called [Starlight Sword].
The name alone sounded noble, almost too grand for someone like him to carry.
Senrix mentioned casually that the sword didn't really fit Sunny, but it was still a good enough weapon for him to use.
He said it like he was commenting on the weather, not handing over a treasure that most Sleepers would kill for.
When Sunny asked why he was giving him the Memory at all, Senrix just shrugged in his usual laid-back tone and said he didn't even need weapons.
His voice carried that same effortless confidence that made it hard to argue with him.
His fists were more than enough on their own.
And watching him fight earlier, Sunny didn't doubt that for a second.
Of course Sunny didn't complain.
Only a fool would turn down an Awakened weapon in the Dream Realm.
This was an Awakened weapon, after all.
Even the lowest rank of Memory could mean the difference between life and death out here.
Even if the sword didn't match his Aspect in the slightest, it didn't matter as long as he could actually wield it.
Begging for compatibility was a luxury he couldn't afford when monsters hunted them every night.
Besides, the poetic description of the Memory still echoed in his mind, refusing to leave him alone.
The words felt heavy, like they were carved into his thoughts instead of just read.
[The oldest of the seven heroes bore no grand titles, only the crushing weight of being the first to step into the dark. He carried no legacy and no expectations, only a duty no one else was willing to take. He raised his blade not to conquer the abyss, but to give those who followed a single point of light to look forward to when their courage faltered. He fought not for glory, but so others wouldn't have to feel alone when the darkness closed in. He was the first to bleed and the last to let the light go.]
The description was beautiful, but it told him nothing useful about enchantments, skills, or limitations.
He didn't understand a single thing about what it meant, so Sunny was practically blind regarding the sword's actual ability.
It was like being given a locked box with no key and told it might save his life.
All he knew was that it wasn't compatible with his Aspect, and that frustrated him more than he wanted to admit.
He clenched his jaw, forcing the irritation down before anyone noticed.
Senrix seemed to have given Nephis an armor-type Memory as well, because Sunny suddenly noticed she was no longer wearing the seaweed clothes she had crafted.
The change was so stark that it took him a moment to process it.
Instead, she now wore a stunning suit of silver armor that caught what little light there was and threw it back in gleaming fragments.
The plates looked seamless, as if they'd been grown rather than forged, and they moved with her like a second skin.
The change made her look even more distant and untouchable than usual.
If Changing Star had been cold before, now she looked like a statue of a goddess carved from moonlight.
After all that business with the Memories, Senrix, being the absurdly well-prepared guy he was in this forsaken place, cooked a huge amount of meat right in front of the four of them.
He pulled the slabs of meat from somewhere in his storage and started a fire without any visible effort.
The smell alone was enough to make Sunny's stomach clench painfully.
It was smoky, rich, and spiced with something he couldn't name, and it made his mouth water instantly.
Soon the five of them were eating quietly, sharing the meal that Senrix and Nephis had prepared together.
For a few minutes, there was no talk of Nightmares or survival, just the sound of chewing and the crackle of the fire.
The food was delicious.
Each bite was tender, seared perfectly on the outside and dripping with juices that ran down his fingers.
It was probably the best meal Sunny had ever had in his entire life, though he had to admit that his gnawing hunger played a huge part in that judgment.
Back in the outskirts, he'd gone days on stale bread and water, so this felt like a feast fit for kings.
Then Cassie and Senrix each summoned a flask and a bottle, passing the two sources of water around the small circle.
The containers looked ordinary, but the water inside was clean and cold, better than anything they'd found so far.
The simple act of sharing felt strangely intimate out here, where survival was measured in sips and mouthfuls.
No one spoke, but the gesture said more than words could.
When they finished the meal, the dark sea returned in full force, and night fell upon them like a physical weight.
The tide rose without sound, swallowing the shore and dragging the last traces of warmth with it.
Everything was consumed by absolute darkness within moments.
Even the stars seemed to dim, as if the sky itself was afraid to watch.
Of course, Sunny could still see the other four clearly: Nephis, Cassie, Elysia, and Senrix.
His eyes pierced the gloom easily, a small mercy in a place that offered very few.
Under the cover of night, Changing Star remained pretty much the same.
She sat perfectly still, her posture unchanged, as if the darkness didn't affect her at all.
Cold, composed, and unreadable as ever.
Her silver armor gave off a faint glow, outlining her like a ghost in the dark.
Everlasting Love was still quietly gazing into the distance.
She hadn't moved in minutes, her expression soft but focused on something far away.
When Sunny looked closer, he realized she seemed to be staring at a mountain he couldn't properly make out, even with his enhanced night vision.
It was just a darker shape against the black sky, but her eyes were fixed on it like it was calling her name.
Avatar of Apocalypse was silently glancing between Sunny and Nephis, his expression thoughtful, like he was weighing something only he could see.
His brow was furrowed slightly, and his fingers tapped against his knee in a slow, deliberate rhythm.
The blind girl, however, let her true emotions show for once, probably thinking that no one could see her in the dark.
Her usual calm mask had slipped, and the vulnerability underneath was painfully clear.
She looked far more lost, lonely, and frightened than she ever did during the day.
Her hands were clenched in her lap, trembling just enough for Sunny to notice.
As if trying to resist those feelings, Cassia spoke up in a bright, deliberate voice: "How about we formally introduce ourselves? I'm Cassie."
Her tone was too cheerful, too forced, but no one called her out on it.
Nephis glanced in her direction and shrugged.
She didn't seem interested in playing along, but she didn't refuse either.
"Neph."
One word, clipped and final, just like her.
Seemingly breaking out of a trance, Elysia said in a cheery voice, "My name is Elysia, but you are free to call me Ely~"
Her voice was warm, and she even added a small tilt to her head, as if she could see them smiling back.
Sunny was still confused about why she kept staring at that far-off mountain, but he decided not to think about it too much.
Whatever was bothering her, pushing wouldn't help right now.
There were enough mysteries already.
And adding one more to the pile wouldn't change anything tonight.
After Elysia, Senrix's voice came next.
He sounded amused, like the whole situation was a game only he understood.
"Senrix.
You can call me Sen or Rix, whatever you want."
Then it was Sunny's turn.
His throat went dry for a second, and he had to swallow before speaking.
He exhaled quietly, glad they hadn't asked for his name directly.
A direct command might have forced his true name out before he was ready.
Most likely he would still have been able to give his human name, but it might have depended on the exact wording of the question.
He still didn't trust them enough to tell them his true name, not yet.
These people might be allies, but trust was earned in blood, not introductions.
Relieved, he smiled into the darkness and answered, "I'm Sunless.
But you can call me Sunny."
The lie came easy, practiced from years of hiding who he really was.
Sunny was slowly growing fond of having conversations in the dark.
There was something about the absence of light that stripped away pretense.
Without the burden of light, people seemed more relaxed and honest, as if the shadows gave them permission to drop their masks.
Nephis looked less like a statue, Cassie less like a prophet, and even he felt less like a cornered rat.
It reminded him of the frequent blackouts that used to sweep through the outskirts when he was a little kid.
The power grid in the slums was always failing, leaving entire blocks in silence.
His family had no choice but to huddle together and spend a few hours doing nothing but talking to each other, sharing stories to keep the cold away.
His mother would tell old legends, and his father would hum tunes he'd half forgotten.
Now, those dark hours had become some of his most precious memories.
He'd never thought he'd find that same feeling again, especially not here.
He was silent for a few moments, listening to the distant sound of the dark sea, and then said, "Since we're going to be depending on each other, should we share what abilities and Memories we have at our disposal?"
His voice was calm, but his heart was pounding.
It was a logical suggestion.
If they were going to fight side by side and risk their lives together, knowing each other's strengths was more or less vital.
You couldn't plan around someone if you didn't know what they could do.
Still, he noticed Nephis glance in his direction with a guarded look on her face, her silver eyes sharp even in the dark.
She didn't trust easy, and he couldn't blame her.
Luckily, he was obscured by the night, and his expression stayed hidden.