Restraining your bloodlust was one of the more difficult things to do especially when one reaches extreme levels of strength. Although in comparison to Sunny Nephis may pale in comparison, she was still no slouch.
That's why it took her every ounce of restraint to hold back her killing intent from bursting from her soul, taking a tentative glance at Sunny, who was still enjoying the warmth she provided, Nephis let loose a small sigh before shifting slowly.
'Threatening Rain and ruining this moment. Unforgivable.' Slowly but surely, she shifted her weight, gently placing Sunny's head on her pillow before donning her starlight legion armour. In a single burst of speed, she was outside her home, scanning the environment for any trace of the unknown assailant.
For someone who went to such lengths to hide their appearance, the unknown figure wasn't particularly fast. No, it wasn't that. They weren't trying to escape. Instead, they simply stood as far away from the house as possible while still maintaining a level of visibility.
A trap was a real possibility, however Nephis truly doubted that such a thing would have gone unnoticed by her senses and quickly closed the distance between the two. In moments, she was in front of the hooded figure. Their lips parted to speak however Nephis slapped her hand over their mouth before placing a lip over her finger.
"Don't speak too loud, Sunny's sleeping." She whispered, before tightening her grip on the shoulder of the hooded figure. Using her sword, in one deft movement she cut the hoodie off the body of the figure. Who it was caused her eyes to widen.
Pale golden hair fell loosely to the side as Cassie's pale blue eyes came into view. She had a torn expression painted across her face as she watched Nephis reaction. Nephis expression flashed through several things, from shock to fury to disappointment. She didn't know how to feel, who would have known Cassie would go so far as threatening Rain!?
"Cassie. Explain yourself." That was all she could muster, Nephis couldn't bring herself to believe Cassie had done this without reason. It was impossible! And from the looks of things, the fact that Sunny hadn't rushed out to kill her immediately meant that he suspected her too.
"I needed Sunny...out of the picture to move freely. The only reason I'm here is to tell you to make a choice." Cassie's voice was firm, but that only raised more questions in Nephis mind. What did she mean that Sunny needed to be out of the picture?
"We can get into choices later, what did you do to Sunny!" Rage flared in Nephis eyes as her hand twitched, preparing to put her sword to good use if need be. Cassie's expression remained impassive as ever, it felt like she was never truly looking at her. Looking at something far in the future.
"I didn't do anything personally. I just got him a little bit tired by pushing Rain onto him. But you need to make a choice and make it now. Would you sacrifice your dream for Sunny?"
The question hit Nephis in the chest like a pile of bricks. It had been one she faced herself with during the times of the forgotten shore, and she had once chosen her dreams over the man she found herself falling in love with. Now, it was a completely different matter. It didn't matter if her dreams changed, if it was with Sunny she was sure she could endure.
"I'm not going to sacrifice Sunny again. So now I need a full explanation, why did you help give Sunny insomnia for spells sake! Do you see how his health has deteriorated!?"
Despite this, Cassie's expression remained impassive. "If I didn't, he would have come to kill me or even worse. I only came here again to tell you this, since you've chosen Sunny, which I still can't wrap my head around. You're going to need to either break fate itself or live with the consequences. Only doom follows from a path with him, and you know it!"
Her words weren't born from hatred. In fact, quite the contrary. Despite her encounters with Sunny, as violent and emotional as they had been, Cassie couldn't bring herself to hate Sunny. She had no right to, and even worse, she had genuinely tried to kill him.
But she had seen it in her visions before, Sunny standing amidst it all. The world was scorched in flames and twilight, everything was dead, everyone was dead. Yes, the great clans had fallen but at what cost? And it didn't stop there.
All Nephis needed to do was make a choice. To choose her dreams, choose the world over Sunny. Cut off all connection with him and change their fates once more like she once had in the forgotten shore. She had done it once, why not do it once more?
Nephis too was under internal turmoil. Despite everything, Cassie had never lied to her about her visions. If what she was saying were true, and following Sunny would only lead to the destruction of the world then a hard choice needed to be made. But it wasn't one that involved killing Sunny.
"There's always a third option, we've changed fate before, and we can do it again. I'm not using Sunny as some lamb to the slaughter over a fate that we both know isn't certain!"
Her voice burned with resolve, before Cassie could respond, slow, heavy steps could be heard making their way towards them. They weren't laced with bloodlust or contempt, instead, the sight of Sunny mundanely limping towards the two with a shadow conjured walking stick came into view.
A yawn escaped his lips as his eyes weakly fluttered before a smile appeared on his face. Turning to Nephis, he made his way towards her before she grabbed onto him, allowing her to hold him upright. "I was wondering why my head suddenly felt cold, this is where you were."
Now, he turned his attention onto Cassie. "I had known you were trying to tire me out, but spending quality time with my sister wasn't an opportunity I could pass up. You've grown...well I guess." Another yawn escaped his lips as his head rested on Nephis shoulder.
"I was reading your lips before I got here, and I always wondered why Nephis couldn't be right. What was the issue with creating a third option? You wouldn't know this, but I personally have seen the strings of fate that exist in the world, and they can be changed."
Nephis wanted to ask, pry further but Sunny looked like he was on the verge of collapsing into her arms once more. "You can rest, I'll take you to the house once I'm done here." She whispered, Sunny gave her a slight nod before his body relaxed. Nephis grip tightening around his waist to keep him upright.
Sighing, she turned her attention back to the silent Cassie. She was gritting her teeth as her lip trembled at the sight of them. Before she could speak however, Nephis voice cut through her silent fury. "You're not really angry at anyone, you're angry that you don't have the resolve to defy the fates given to you in your visions."
Nephis was exactly right, at this a look of horror crossed Cassie's face. 'It's that obvious.' She thought to herself before sighing. Turning around, she moved to walk away however a shadow emerged before her cutting off her exit. Saint was standing before her with her great sword swung lazily across her shoulder.
As it turned out, Sunny still had the last embers of energy flowing through his body. "You're scum Cassie but saying you couldn't change is a lie. Maybe once you do, once you build the resolve to defy fate, and learn to be more honest...you could be a great friend though. Not mine though, we're far past that."
Another stifled yawn escaped Sunny's lips as he pushed himself away from Nephis gently before walking towards Cassie. His steps were slow and heavy as he became a few inches away from her. Extending a hand, Cassie flinched slightly before Sunny placed a hand on her head. He started patting her head gently.
"For what it's worth...you've done well." A stretch of silence extended over the three before the temperature dropped again. "But I'll only say this once. Cease all influence or activity you have in Antarctica."
Nephis raised an eyebrow as Cassie's expression remained indifferent. Internally, she was thrown into turmoil by Sunny's statement. She didn't even expect the range of his information to travel that far, however, that wasn't something Sunny had to know.
"It's friendly advice, from one former friend to another. If you don't, I'll kill you immediately I see you. It's not a threat, it's just what must happen."