Aisling hadn’t entered the castle since that first night.
Not out of fear of that dangerous woman, but because of the curious shadow that wandered around.
They’re definitely bold and there’s something different about them — at least in Nephis it’s more noticeable.
But I can’t deny that there might be an exception…
my intentions have always been sincere, but there are too many coincidences to ignore.
I may be paranoid, but I understand people…
for the most part.
Aisling waited outside the castle gate.
Today was going to be the last day of the tribute.
The plan was to follow them and find out if they really were as special as he believed.
“Detective Aisling, at your service.”
Cian appeared on his shoulder, wearing a dark trench coat with a medium-brimmed black hat.
“You’re very spoiled.”
Aisling simply waited in the alleyways.
If people knew his intentions, they’d ask him: Why stalk those kids with barely verifiable evidence?
First: he trusted his intuition.
Second: there wasn’t much to do in those places.
Third, and last: he had always wanted to act like a detective.
None of his reasons could be considered reasonable, but they were.
Asking the inhabitants what their daily entertainment was meant receiving the same answer: “Looking at the Bright Castle and not lamenting my disgusting life so much.”
That had stopped being original and become a mediocre performance.
Leaning against the wall of some dark spot, he waited a few moments until he saw his targets.
He ignored the two of them and focused further down, on the silhouette of the shadow of the gloomy kid, sensing a faint hidden presence.
Confirming its presence.
He vanished into the alleyways.
If he has a shadow that can explore with total freedom, they could discover me if I try to follow them.
I can only stay ahead of them.
Near the boundaries, with the architectural marvel that was Nephis’s hut in view, he picked a random abandoned shack and sat on some rubble.
“Let me know if anything unusual happens.”
Aisling stroked the doll’s head, pulled out a piece of Nightmare Creature and calmly skinned it.
With his head down, he only heard a couple of footsteps, without giving them the attention they deserved.
I still don’t know their names…
Does that make me a bad detective, or do I have to highlight the skill of the stalked?
Doesn’t matter.
Let’s note it down.
First entry of the Observation Diary: a gloomy kid and a blonde girl visited Silvery…
* * *
Sunny and Cassie arrived at Nephis’s place, worried she might be having a terrible time due to lack of resources, and were surprised to find she was actually doing better than them.
They shared information about what each had discovered, and Nephis made the decision to take the next step.
They visited the makeshift cabin of Effie, the huntress who had helped them when they first arrived, in need of an experienced scout, who refused, questioning whether they had the necessary strength.
Nephis didn’t waste time; she said she’d get it and headed straight for the castle, under Sunny’s gaze, who hoped she wouldn’t do anything crazy.
If Nephis was planning to recruit Effie, she must have had a particular reason for returning to the castle.
A display of strength.
Indeed, Nephis did something that unfortunately surprised him.
Inside the Bright Castle she declared justice through a duel over the most recent and well-known abuse.
Andel, one of Gemma’s subordinates and a member of the most distinguished group of Dreamers, who had committed the terrible act, didn’t last long.
Expressionless, Nephis walked out in her armor, holding a severed head by the hair.
The blood was still fresh and dripped from the neck, revealing the frozen expression of fear on the murdered scout’s face.
They returned to Effie’s makeshift cabin, showing her the scout’s head.
The huntress narrowed her eyes and simply said:
Once inside, Sunny looked around the huntress’s cozy cabin, his gaze falling on something very different from before.
What caught his attention was a young man with dirty ash-grey hair sitting cross-legged on a pile of furs.
His appearance was better than average and he looked several years older than those inside the cabin, but he wore a small, carefree smile very different from that of the slum inhabitants, and he didn’t have the sharpness of a veteran who’d been lost for a long time.
In his hands he was seen handling a needle and thread with great skill, without bothering to look at the guests.
Sunny didn’t like him, reasoning that he carried the posture of someone who wasn’t even aware of the danger in the Dream Realm — a thought he immediately contradicted: no one who survived that long with that attitude was normal…
though he still didn’t like him.
Sunny was about to ask who he was, but their eyes met and a chill ran through him.
He didn’t understand why he felt the need to be on guard; even his shadow seemed to distrust that man.
“It’s you.”
Nephis’s voice helped him relax before anyone could notice his reaction.
The ash-grey-haired Dreamer looked at Sunny for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Nephis with a glint of recognition.
He put away the needle and thread and approached Nephis excitedly, shaking her hand with enthusiasm while saying:
“Silvery, you remember me!
I’m happy, I didn’t think I’d see you so soon.
Your presence is very—”
“Halt, Fool Boy.”
Effie interrupted him with a darkened expression.
Fool Boy?
Sunny thought about it for a moment and found it fitting as a first impression.
Aisling turned around and sat back down on the furs in the same position, watching the situation with curiosity.
Effie turned to the other three, more focused on Nephis, saying furiously:
“What the hell have you done, princess?!”
Nephis tilted her head with a slight frown, saying with confusion:
“You wanted me to prove my strength.
Isn’t that right?”
Effie went silent.
Misreading her silence, Nephis tried to clarify.
“That head belonged to…”
“I know whose head that is!
Where did you get it?”
Aisling showed interest at the mention of the head — a detail that didn’t go unnoticed by Sunny, who remembered they’d left it outside.
Sunny sighed, trying to ignore the ash-haired man, and using his shadow to keep watch on him, he began narrating the events: from when Nephis declared a duel, to when she cut off the scout’s head, to coming back.
His tone had no humor in it whatsoever; he wanted to curse with every word.
The atmosphere grew tense, everyone waiting for the huntress’s response.
Looking at them with a strange expression, suddenly Effie threw her head back and burst out laughing.
“You’re all crazy!
I’m surrounded by lunatics!”
Sunny was left speechless; he hadn’t expected that.
Effie accepted, warning that she had already rejected the Host and that anyone who tried to recruit her would be in Gunlaug’s crosshairs.
Sunny spoke first with a bitter voice:
“It’s a little late to worry about that, don’t you think?”
A laugh came from Aisling, watching everything as a spectator.
“This is very interesting.
I’m curious: where’s the head?”
That’s what you’re curious about?!
Sunny was conflicted about the ash-haired man.
Effie made a strange expression, as if she didn’t know how to respond.
Nephis pointed outside.
“We left it at the entrance.”
“Oh…
Thank you, Silvery.”
He stood up again and walked to the entrance, passing beside Sunny, whom he looked at with a certain amusement that gave him chills.
“I forgot to introduce myself: I’m Aisling. The source of this chapter is g.com.
May I know your names, shadow kid and Blondie?”
“Sunless…
but you can call me Sunny.”
Cassie, on the other hand, frowned, hesitating.
“Cassia.”
Effie watched the exchange, bringing a hand to her nape, asking with a hint of expectation:
“Wait.
Don’t you want to join?
Having you would be useful.”
Aisling shook his head, amused.
“What you’re doing sounds interesting, but working in a team isn’t my thing, and if it were up to me, I’d stay locked up in a shack.”
He left the cabin, leaving Sunny, Cassie, and Nephis speechless.
The first couldn’t hold back from saying:
“And who is that?
He’s very…
peculiar and gives off a very bad feeling.”
Effie couldn’t help but agree.
“Don’t pay him too much attention.
And yes, no doubt: he’s a weirdo.
About that feeling you have — he hasn’t confirmed it, but it’s rumored his Flaw causes disgust.”
Nephis looked at the door through which the man had just left for a few moments.
“Is he strong?”
“That…
you could say so.
Don’t let the first impression fool you; no one survives several years in this place keeping that face.”
* * *
Aisling returned to the slums, considering his mission finished.
It was exciting.
They don’t seem satisfied with Gunlaug and it looks like they want to form their own independent group, but that seems to be all.
Am I overthinking it?
“It was fun.”
Aisling looked at his doll on his shoulder, who nodded.
Listening to the chatter of the marginalized inhabitants, he learned the details of the commotion in the castle.
“Changing Star of the Immortal Flame Clan…”
The Immortal Flame Clan used to lead humanity, alongside Clan Song and Clan Valor, but one day it fell into disgrace.
That was the only relevant information he knew and kept in mind, along with a small surprise upon learning of the revelation of her True Name.
* * *
The next day, he didn’t expect to find news so soon.
There was one more member — he had the bearing of a Legacy with Light Feet.
Nephis’s group returned from the hunt to the slums, carrying large quantities of monster flesh on their backs before the eyes of everyone.
The most surprising part came when she offered to give the meat away without asking for anything in return.
Everyone was filled with doubt, unable to believe her words, but also unable to leave given the opportunity to have food.
Many questioned her and didn’t believe her words, but Changing Star gave them a speech to ease their doubts.
“Now come and take some food if you’re hungry!”
Aisling observed from the margins of the situation, wanting to applaud, but not wanting to draw strange looks.
Something is definitely wrong…
Charity isn’t something a person would be willing to practice in this place abandoned by the gods.
Though few are able to see it, they’re now blinded by need.
She’s the leader of her peculiar lackeys: slippery shadow, Blondie, the one who eats a lot, and Light Feet…
Why are you seeking this kind of attention?