Chapter 35

 Valor's infrastructure and manpower had taken a blow from Mordret's recent attack. And while Morgan's notoriety increased further due to being the one to hold him off, Nephis actually received most of the fame.

Her accomplishments in limiting the fires that would have undoubtedly killed all present were spread far and wide, her praise became so high that Anvil himself had officially adopted her, making Nephis his surrogate daughter.

Sunny on the other hand, his accomplishments faded into irrelevancy. For good reason too, Sunny hadn't particularly accomplished much during the attack aside from repelling a fallen terror and although such a feat on its own was truly monstrous, it simply paled in comparison to Nephis and Morgan.

Such a conclusion was fine with Sunny though, after all, one couldn't pull the strings while dancing alongside the puppets. The less seriously he was taken in comparison to Nephis, meant that he could make bolder movements without receiving as much suspicion.

Plans for the future however, faded out of his mind the moment he opened the door for Nephis to make her way into his house. Her arrival had been unexpected, Sunny was currently in the midst of drawing up plans for his next huge project, but with Nephis present, focus became impossible.

Before the door could even close behind Nephis, she tackled him onto his couch before enveloping him into a hug. A pleasant smile settled itself across her features as she grabbed his face gently. "Is this why you pushed yourself till you gained insomnia, to make me a princess?"

Sunny didn't get the chance to answer however, as she instantly captured his lips in her own. His hands moved to wrap themselves around her waist however, Nephis pinned them to the couch with her own before tracing kisses across his upper body.

"It was, if I knew this would be the reward I'd make you the queen of the world!" That sentence was all he managed to get out as pleasant hums escaped his lips, Nephis kisses tickled, and more than that they were extremely pleasant on the skin.

Lying on his chest, Nephis smiled at Sunny before looking him in the eyes, running her hand through his hair. Sunny merely smiled at her silently before noticing the look in her eyes. "You're undressing me mentally." Nephis face shot red as she buried her head into his chest.

A small "Yes" escaped her lips as Sunny could only laugh in response. Moments like these, he wished they could last forever. However, it seemed like fate itself was determined to get in the way of his plans. He still hadn't had a conversation with Cassie yet, it was long overdue.

Nephis lips firmly placed themself against his own for a moment, inhibiting him from continuing his plans as she rested her head on his chest. "Stop thinking about speaking to other women when you're with me." She whined as Sunny smiled in response.

The two continued to lay with each other for hours, the thought of going out and spending time with Nephis in public was quickly killed as potential disturbances interrupting their time together flashed through his mind. His hand twitched at the thought, almost moving to summon the sin of solace to cleave through flesh.

Three knocks on his door drew his attention away from Nephis who was currently drawing circles on his chest. She begrudgingly separated herself from him as Sunny moved to answer the door. Opening it slowly, he was greeted by Cassie's signature sea wave cloak and dark blue blindfold.

Extending a hand, Sunny pulled the blindfold off her face before inviting her in. "I'd like to speak to you while looking you in the eyes." Sunny commented mildly before inviting her in. Nephis took in Cassie's form before sitting up, her posture straightened and stiffened.

Like she was talking to a stranger.

"You probably have questions Cassie, about how I know what you're doing in Antarctica or what I think it is. So, I'll come out and say it. I don't want to be used as a weapon to break fate. If I am to find my freedom, which I will. I'll do it my own way."

Nephis eyes snapped in his direction, there was only one clear direction which guaranteed his freedom. It was her death. But regardless, Nephis knew that wasn't an option Sunny was considering. At least not currently. But that only begged the question of what other ways did he plan to free himself.

"I am...trying to redeem a past injustice. And you reject me doing even that, you can't keep being angry at me when you stop me from changing what I did!" Cassie's voice carried pent up emotion that she had been repressing for what felt like months. At her comment, the shadows in the room danced wildly as Sunny turned his head to the side slightly.

A hand reached out and grabbed his own, squeezing it. Nephis was serving as a tether to rationality when he was about to lose his own. Just like he had asked her to. With a sigh, Sunny sat down next to Nephis with a thud before smiling slightly.

"I'm not angry at you, not right now. I'm more disappointed if anything, I thought you were better than this. Did you even think for a second what would happen if you removed me from fate entirely, all the connections I've built to people in the world. Destroyed, gone!"

Cassie's lip quivered at the thought of it. Manipulating fate in such a fine manner that allowed her to break his chains while keeping him tethered to the world was impossible, it was the only method she had available to her and the only one she knew was realistic.

"We can work around it, build our relationships once more. Maybe we could even become friends again! Why do you keep robbing me of every opportunity to get close to you!? You let Neph back in, why not me!?"

Her facade of calm composure quickly crumbled as her sentence continued. Her eyes, despite being unseeing remained laid on Nephis. The emotion that burned within them wasn't merely anger. It was contempt, jealousy, vile bubbling envy.

"We...had something special. I was like your younger sister, and I did something horrible to you, believe me I know! If I don't do this, the other option is to kill you and prevent an even more horrific future!"

Tears cascaded from her eyes as Sunny stared at her. Despite his indifferent mask, his fists were balled so tightly he almost drew blood. Sunny wanted to get in Cassie's face, let his repressed emotions flare up however Nephis grip on his palm held firm.

"Cassie, the only reason I let Neph back in is because of something simple. I'm stupidly in love with her; I saw her change from the vile woman I wanted to kill to someone new. How couldn't I value someone like that! But you, you've changed alright. You went from someone who conformed to fate, to someone who looked for alternatives yet you're still too weak to even consider bending fate to your choices!"

Sighing to himself, a malicious grin settled itself across Sunny's face. "It's always 'this is impossible' or 'that can't be done' but why not!? Nothing's absolute in this world, why can't I change the world how I see fit. Why do I have to be the sacrifice for your machinations, why do I have to be the one forgotten!?"

Before Cassie could speak, Nephis finally broke her silence. Her eyes remained fixed on Cassie with burning resolve. "I can't guarantee things will go back to how they were before, but moving forward is always possible. There is always another way, look at the fact flaws exist! The Gods controlled fate and now they're dead. If they can die, if they can succumb, why can't fate itself!"

A sigh escaped Cassie's lips as she got up and made her way out the door. Nephis moved to follow her, her eyes snapping backward to study Sunny. However, he simply nodded his head allowing her to chase after her.

Soon enough, the two found themselves a considerable distance from Sunny's house. Cassie's eyes focused on Nephis with rage as she readied herself for what was about to happen.

It was time for a long overdue conversation