“What a happy day.
I wonder what I’ll do today, besides survive, of course.”
Standing before the immense castle, Aisling moved with a slow step, observing with care the lower class living outside the Bright Castle, made up of inhabitants who couldn’t afford to pay the entrance fee.
The third ruler of the Bright Castle, Gunlaug, charged a Soul Fragment per week, which meant going out to hunt and putting oneself in danger.
The biggest problem of staying outside was the same threat of Nightmare Creatures that roamed the Dark City surrounding the castle.
Aisling entered the castle, paying a stupid Soul Fragment, and made his way to the gambling den.
On arriving, he was greeted by a small young woman with black hair and brown eyes.
“Dear Aiko, how have you been?”
Aiko startled, but on seeing who it was, let out a sigh of relief.
“It’s you, Ais.
Haven’t seen you in months.
Back to gathering Soul Fragments just to lose them again?”
“My luck is good this time.
I’ll make you lose business.”
“As long as you don’t try to cheat again; we already know how your tricks with your doll work.”
Aisling shrugged.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…
How many have arrived since the winter solstice?”
Aiko’s expression turned grim.
“Over these last two months, same as always.
It’s a sad year.”
“So few…
disgusting.
No new faces to enjoy, though maybe there are still a few crazies yet to arrive.”
Aiko sighed and gave him a strange look.
“Are you here to play or not?”
“I heard some idiot has been bothering you.
Has business been going well?”
Aiko let out another sigh; her shoulders fell, feeling the weight of the anguish.
“Lately an explorer has been coming in to play; that’s nothing new, but the guy refuses to pay what he owes and uses his influence to avoid trouble.
No one dares get in his way.”
Aisling put a hand on her shoulder, giving her a smile.
“Don’t worry; as soon as I see him, I’ll kidnap him.”
Aiko’s expression filled with panic; she looked from side to side and whispered:
“Are you crazy?
If they hear you, they’ll use any excuse to take your head.”
“Mmh…
Doesn’t matter; I can always escape.”
“That’s not the point!”
She gave him a punch in the arm, though as the owner of a gambling den she wasn’t focused on combat and her strength wasn’t much.
“Listen carefully…
If you do something strange, I’m the one who’ll suffer the consequences…
So don’t do anything stupid.”
“Relax, little Aiko; I’m discreet.”
“How can someone with a face like a fool keep on surviving?”
“Doesn’t matter.
We have to be happy.”
Aiko lamented, though she was starting to get used to his attitude.
The first time she saw him she hadn’t liked him, for some reason.
She saw him rarely, entering the castle whenever he pleased.
He usually paid the Soul Fragment but didn’t use the facilities as he should.
Everyone found it strange, but soon forgot about him, chalking it up to him just being a madman.
Aiko would have let it go too, but Aisling had taken a liking to her gambling den and tended to talk with her more often than with anyone else.
That led Aiko to notice the strangeness of the foolish-faced man, who was, deep down, a good sort.
He tended to have an annoying attitude but a reassuring presence.
The main reason she considered him a great friend, however, came down to a certain incident in her first months in the Forgotten Shore.
Aisling handed over the Soul Fragments he owed the greedy Aiko.
This little one likes her earnings…
A Dreamer entered the den, with threatening blue eyes and a stocky build.
Aiko’s expression wrinkled with fear and annoyance, gestures Aisling didn’t miss.
“Is that him?”
“Yes…
that’s Andel.
Don’t say anything now; I don’t want trouble.”
Aisling kept quiet, observing the air of superiority that explorer carried.
The explorers, together with the hunters, were the capable combat Dreamers under Gemma’s command, one of Gunlaug’s lieutenants.
Being under Gemma’s command, that wretch could abuse his power and hide behind his superiors.
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How should I deal with you?
Aiko caught a dangerous gleam in his eyes for an instant, but as it disappeared as quickly as it came, she dismissed it as part of her stress.
Aisling had become an expert at seeming as useless and ordinary as possible.
The Insidious Tunic, being no armor and looking more like a fragile garment, made him look like a simple man with nothing impressive on show, having only the luck of being inside the castle.
“I’ll see you later, little Aiko.”
“Huh?
But you haven’t spent anything!
My time is valuable.”
“Same as mine; you already owe me several days of companionship.”
Aiko watched him leave without being able to stop him.
* * *
Night was approaching.
Aisling hurried before getting caught there.
“Goodbye, Harper; we’ll see each other when the world requires it.”
He said his farewell laughing at Harper, who wore a cordial but tense smile watching him.
He didn’t seem accustomed to his way of acting, nor did he understand his mad idea of leaving even after having already paid the Soul Fragment.
In fact, he didn’t like his actions at all and considered them a mockery of his way of living.
Passing through the castle gate, he could see two young Dreamers arriving.
Dreamers arrived after two months…
not bad.
Fresh blood.
I hope they don’t die soon.
Without being able to recognize the scent of those two people’s blood, he immediately recognized where they came from.
The young man with black hair must have gone through hell to reach the castle while carrying that blind girl on his back.
He didn’t seem like such a bad person judging by his actions, guiding her despite the terrible disadvantage she carried.
With his sight he was able to make out several features before they noticed his curious gaze.
As he passed by them, he simply kept going.
He kept walking calmly, entering the slums and passing through several of the inhabitants’ huts.
Everyone had already hidden and prepared for another night.
“Which one should I pick…?”
Walking and moving further from the castle with each step, he couldn’t help a solemn glance at the new empty huts that appeared the farther he got.
His gaze turned more solemn as the darkness covered him.
He picked a random hut from the last ones, near where Nightmare Creatures tended to pass.
He looked at its disordered and dirty interior, as expected, and lay down on the floor without further thought, having a cozy night embraced by the shadows.
* * *
He had an uneventful night and didn’t wake even as light filtered through the broken, deteriorated gaps of the hut; he stayed unconscious in his confined space, full of tranquility and alone.
Until he heard light footsteps going back and forth without stopping.
He thought they’d last only seconds and kept waiting for a full hour.
Bored of lying there and having to keep listening to the noises outside, Aisling got up, detecting a scent of blood — most likely from another inhabitant of the area.
Stepping out of the hut, he came across a young Dreamer with silver hair carrying stone slabs from one place to another without stopping or resting.
Her expressionless face revealed little — not tiredness, not irritation — making her look like a robot that could keep at her work efficiently and never stop.
The young woman didn’t seem to notice him, so Aisling sat on the ground in front of his hut, watching her go back and forth, always bringing materials.
It cost Aisling to look away.
Not because of her beauty, nor because of her unique and expressive actions, nor because of her armor representing the seven heroes of the Forgotten Shore — he’d look into that later.
His attention stayed fixed on her silver hair, bright and silky no matter the situation.
An insult to his own dull, ash-grey hair.
What kind of sign is this, Spell?
Do you want me to eat her and take her hair so I can finally have beautiful hair?
I should; it doesn’t sound that bad.
Beautiful heads of hair must be eliminated.
Aisling decided to make a move.
* * *
Nephis was stacking stone slabs.
Her goal was to build a functional, solid hut.
She had wanted to take some of the surrounding huts as reference, but none of them came close to her standards.
Determined to stay at the edge of the slums, where she could enjoy the quiet and have a decent view.
Even so, she had to protect herself from Nightmare Creatures as best she could.
“Hello.”
Nephis was surprised by the voice behind her, though her expressionless face stayed the same as always.
She hadn’t expected another inhabitant of the slums to greet her, and with a voice so far from sounding grim.
She noticed the young man with dirty ash-grey hair waving his hand in a simple greeting with a clumsy smile.
She didn’t like him, though she didn’t know why.
She was sure he wasn’t the type of person who simply judged others by their appearance or actions.
Nephis didn’t speak; she didn’t know what to answer.
She stared at him for a couple of seconds until the ash-grey-haired young man spoke again, not caring much about the silent response.
“I’m Aisling.” Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
“Nephis.”
Aisling’s eyes lit up at that single response.
He drew a little closer, this time with a hint of concern.
“Nephis…
I’ll remember it.
I don’t want to be a bother; I was just wondering why you’d build your shelter in a place like this.
It’s dangerous and there are even better spots.”
Nephis looked around.
“It’s quiet.”
Aisling stood open-mouthed.
“I understand…
I understand…
How fascinating; I didn’t know there were still people like you left.
At least not like Effie, who has her needs.
You’re starting to grow on me.
I’m sorry if I didn’t make a great first impression; the stupid Spell made it so I’m not very well received by others.
I’m very unpleasant, some say.
But I don’t think that really matters; I always treat others well and I hope that, over time, their perception of me changes for the better.
I’d like for us to get along; you can see me as your elder and trust me.
It doesn’t matter if you have a question; I’ll try to answer it as best I can.
Though castle matters don’t usually interest me, I know enough not to get myself into trouble.
I’ve lived several years in this place and I know very well the prime spots where you can rest without a Nightmare Creature grabbing you by the feet.
I could also recommend you an easy hunting area so you don’t risk too much and start light…
What do you say?”
Nephis wanted to escape.
Her social processing system, which allowed her to interact with others, had long since started failing against how overwhelming Aisling became from one moment to the next.
Though she couldn’t stop him.
It was an opportunity to learn more.
She took her time to think.
Aisling might have certain unique traits, but so did everyone.
He wasn’t a bad person either; despite living in that place for years, he worried about a stranger with genuine intent.
“The exit portal…
does one exist?”
“A portal?
Yes; there is one, but it’s so dangerous that people have been failing to reach it for years.”
Aisling’s response caused a reaction in Nephis.
Aisling could see her eyes burn, full of conviction.
Something that made his heart beat as if he’d discovered a new color in his life.
He held back the urge to bite her.
He had been aware of that urge for years whenever he was around people who felt very special to him.
With Master Jet, he supposed it was because she was the first Awakened of ascending rank he had ever seen in his life.
With Seishan there had also been an urge that he hadn’t managed to identify until years later, as well as wanting to put them on equal footing in a situation of extreme caution — he supposed it was because of her unique appearance among the Awakened and the divine lineage she possessed.
As if he wanted to taste different kinds of dishes.
Nephis’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.
“Where is it?
What’s the danger?”
“In plain sight: the Crimson Spire.
Guarded by a Fallen Terror; a threat that simple Dreamers cannot face.”
Aisling expected to see her expression turn dark, but instead his eyes opened slightly at the sight of her will growing stronger, fanning the flame in her heart.
He pulled a Soul Fragment from his Secret Compartment and offered it to her, to Nephis’s surprise.
“This…”
“Your friends entered the castle, but you stayed out here.
Maybe they only had two Soul Fragments between them.
Use this one; I don’t mind.
I’ve already seen the castle and it’s not to my taste.”
Nephis hesitated for a moment and shook her head.
“Sure?
You could rest with the safety of not dying.”
“Sure.”
Aisling put the Soul Fragment away and felt even happier.
Taking a deep breath, he said:
“Doesn’t matter.
Let me help you.
At this rate you might not finish before night falls; everyone needs at least a roof to live under.”
With even more questions now, Nephis let him help, finishing her hut and gaining more information in the process.