should I?

The guards looked in shock at the scene unfolding before them. They had been warned about a potential threat from a sleeper's awakening chamber, but nothing could have prepared them for this sight. The air itself seemed to vibrate with power.

The first thing they saw was a girl covered in flames so pure and beautiful they were somewhat compelled to walk into them. These weren't ordinary flames - they defied every instinct the guards had about fire. Instead of radiating heat and danger, they seemed to emit waves of healing energy that washed over everyone present. Their fatigue melted away, replaced by an inexplicable sense of wellbeing and security.

Even as their training kicked in and they emptied their magazines, not a single bullet reached their target. The rounds simply... vanished, as if the very air refused to carry them to their destination. Their confusion peaked until they glimpsed a shadowy figure approaching the burning girl. Rather than consuming this newcomer, the flames appeared to welcome him, almost seeming to reach out in greeting.

The figure carried a blanket - nothing special, just ordinary fabric - yet the way he moved suggested complete confidence. He wrapped the burning girl in the blanket, embracing her without hesitation. For a moment, nothing changed, then gradually the flames began to recede until they disappeared entirely, leaving the girl to collapse limply into his arms.

The boy himself was a peculiar sight - short, with features reminiscent of a living porcelain doll. But what struck the guards most was his expression: far from showing fear or concern, he seemed almost... happy. It wasn't until he drew closer that they became aware of his true presence, the shadows around him suddenly seeming deeper and more menacing than natural darkness had any right to be.

"Tell the nurse I'm coming there with a freshly awoken sleeper," he announced, his voice carrying notes of both urgency and barely contained excitement. His pace quickened as he moved past them, though his steps remained steady.

Only after he'd passed did the guards' professional composure crack. They scrambled for their communicators, fingers trembling slightly as they made the necessary calls. By the time they'd regained their composure, the strange pair had vanished - literally, as the man seemed to melt into the shadows, leaving no trace of his passage.

In moments, the mysterious figure materialized before the nurse's door, his knock echoing in the empty hallway with deliberate purpose. Not waiting for a response, he entered swiftly, his precious cargo still cradled carefully in his arms.

Within an hour, the news had spread like wildfire - Nephis of the immortal flame, the changing star, had finally broken free from the dream realm's grasp. The revelation sent ripples through every level of society, drawing thousands to the academy's gates. Their voices merged into a single demanding chorus, all calling for her release.

The cohort's entry into the academy went unchallenged - their master status serving as an all-access pass. While they discussed the situation in hushed tones, Sunny's attention remained fixed on Morgan. She leaned against the wall, fingers dancing across her communicator's screen, no doubt reporting to anvil or someone else in clan valor. His thoughts drifted to Cassie, questioning whether his actions towards her had been justified. Her plan to use him as a weapon against fate still troubled him, though the weight of that knowledge felt different now.

In his mind, Cassie remained an enigma - dangerous yet somehow worthy of understanding, perhaps even forgiveness. Despite her status as possibly the most potent seer alive, she was still human, with a human shadow. That should have given him some insight into her thoughts and feelings, but her shadow proved as inscrutable as she was. His power to read shadows somehow failed when it came to the blind girl, adding another layer to her mystery.

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Sunny abandoned that fruitless line of thought and decided to act on instinct instead. Taking advantage of his near-invisibility among the important figures filling the room, he retreated to a shadowy corner. Using his powers, he slipped into the nurse's room and from there, into Nephis's dreams.

The transition left him momentarily disoriented before the dreamscape solidified around him - a vast, scorching desert stretching endlessly in every direction, broken only by distant ruins. An obsidian tree with crimson leaves stood as the sole landmark, smaller than the soul Devouring Tree but no less striking. Two animated skeletons hung from its bark, creating a macabre display that somehow felt right in this dreamscape.

Beneath the tree's shadow sat a girl, her posture speaking of pain, sadness, and regret as she hugged her knees to her chest, staring into the middle distance. After gathering his courage, Sunny approached and sat beside her, waiting in silence for her to speak first. She seemed lost in thought, but when she finally noticed him, her reaction made his heart skip.

Her head turned slowly, eyes widening with a mix of emotions that took his breath away - happiness and something deeper, something that made him quickly check her shadow for confirmation. What he found there nearly overwhelmed him - not just the expected emotions, but a deeper connection that let him feel her thoughts, her state of being. Love radiated from her soul like heat from a furnace, pure and unconscious and absolutely true.

Her mouth fell open in surprise, but she quickly composed herself, though Sunny could now read the emotions behind her seemingly neutral tone. Every word carried undertones of joy and affection that only he could detect, making it increasingly difficult to maintain his own composure.

"Sunny, It's nice to see you. How are you here though?"

"My shadow, nightmare," he replied, gesturing to his mighty steed lurking in the shadows. "He has an attribute that lets me enter dreams of others." He couldn't quite keep the pride from his voice, earning a small but noticeable smile from Nephis.

They lapsed into silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Nephis contemplated Sunny's rapid growth and changed behavior, while Sunny's thoughts whirled in chaos, every second bringing him closer to acting on impulses he wasn't sure he should trust.

'Should I?'

The thought repeated endlessly in his mind. His earlier resolve to live without regrets seemed to war with an inexplicable sense of wrongness, of stepping into unknown territory.

Before he could resolve his internal debate, Nephis made her move. Her hand found his where it rested on the ground, the contact sending electricity through his entire body. Her eyes met his with determination and hope, letting her actions speak what words couldn't.

Sunny sat frozen, too stunned to respond. Had her absence in his life truly affected him so deeply that a simple touch could leave him speechless with joy? The realization of what was happening slowly dawned on him, and he adjusted his grip to hold her hand properly, his heart thundering in his chest.

Clearing his throat and fighting to keep his voice neutral despite his tomato-red face, he managed to say, "So, I take it you know how I feel."

Changing star's smile brightened the dreamscape around them. She turned to look ahead, her voice carrying a happiness that seemed to make the very air vibrate. "Yes, I saw something in you that told me how you felt towards me. I don't quite understand what it is and how to control it, but I know that it's not lying to me."

Unable to contain himself any longer, Sunny turned to her, his expression betraying a hunger that had nothing to do with food. But before he could act, Nephis stopped him. Her eyes met his, and something in them made him freeze in place. Without words, her look conveyed enough to keep him still, fear of hurting her overwhelming his desire to act.

Then she spoke, regret heavy in every word, as if each syllable caused her physical pain: "Sunny, please don't do that. I feel the same as you, but we can't have this kind of relationship. Not now at least, you will have to wait for me to accomplish my goals first. I hope that is okay with you."

The light seemed to drain from Sunny's eyes as he sat back, his face becoming an emotionless mask that barely concealed the storm beneath. He looked on the verge of tears, though pride kept them from falling. A deep sigh escaped him, and when he spoke, his voice carried the weight of a heart trying to tear itself apart.

"Okay, I expected this to happen. I'll see you once you wake up so we can talk."

Rising with mechanical precision, he moved to his mighty steed's shadow and activated its attribute, leaving her dreamscape. He materialized in the shadows outside the nurse's office, each step back to his seat feeling heavier than the last.

Though he tried to act normal, his cohort wasn't fooled. They watched him with varying degrees of concern, but maintained their silence. Cassie looked particularly affected, teetering on the edge of tears herself, as if she could sense the depth of his pain.

The nurse's emergence brought a momentary distraction. "She is okay, and it also seems that she beat the second nightmare, and therefore became master."

Disbelief swept through the room, everyone except Sunny reacting with shock. He merely nodded, plastering a fake smile on his face that fooled almost everyone. After a beat of silence, the room erupted in a cacophony of emotions and exclamations.

Through it all, Sunny remained unnaturally still and quiet, more subdued even than Cassie. When the excitement finally settled and people returned to their seats, the doors opened once more.

A young woman stepped out, her presence immediately commanding attention. Her silver hair caught the light, creating an almost ethereal glow around her head. Her matching silver eyes carried a strength and confidence that seemed to radiate outward, affecting everyone in the room. Her face remained relaxed, showing no signs of her years in the sleeping pod. Her movements were fluid and graceful, defying expectations for someone who had been unconscious for so long.

Her overwhelming presence made even Sunny question her power, though his thoughts were interrupted by what came next.

***

The drive home felt surreal, with hundreds of people following their vehicle in various forms of transportation - echoes, bicycles, PTVs, and even people running while carrying others. All this attention focused on one person: Nephis. Sunny tried to concentrate on driving while Kai sat beside him in front, and Effie, Cassie, and Nephis occupied the back seats.

He found himself hoping for a miraculous gate to appear and make everyone forget about them, but fated clearly had other plans. Upon reaching his house, he discovered a crowd had already gathered. Without hesitation, he created a shadow tunnel to his front door, allowing them to bypass the throng of people.

Finally inside, Sunny sank onto his couch, allowing himself a moment of relief. But before he could fully relax, a knock echoed through the house. As Effie moved to handle it, Sunny stopped her, quickly opening the door himself to pull the visitor inside.

Rain stood in the entryway, his sister's usual confidence replaced by an uncharacteristic nervousness, as if she'd committed some unforgivable sin in front of the whole world. The sight of her distress stirred something protective in Sunny, despite his exhaustion.

"Hey, what are you up to?" he asked, his voice betraying the bone-deep weariness that came from days without proper rest and the emotional toll of recent events. He wasn't trying to be harsh with his sister, but fatigue had stripped away his usual filters. Standing before her, he met her eyes directly, her nervousness making him wonder if he'd somehow caused this anxiety, or if perhaps she'd finally accepted the truth about his connection to the changing star's cohort.

"I, uh...came to apologize," Rain managed, her words tumbling out. "I'm sorry I doubted you and haven't believed you. I hope you aren't mad at me, and I wish to keep being your student even if it means paying triple the current amount."

A weary sigh escaped him - this wasn't the reaction he'd expected from Rain, and it made him feel like an even bigger asshole than usual. "I knew you wouldn't believe me so I'm not mad at that. And you can keep being my student for the same price, I can't care less about something like that."

Relief flooded Rain's face, a smile breaking through her anxiety. She'd been terrified of his potential reaction, hoping but not daring to expect such understanding. Without warning, she threw herself into his arms, tears flowing freely as the emotional dam broke. These feelings surprised even her - she couldn't quite identify their source, but they felt right and true.

The scene played out before a varied audience. Cassie sat on Sunny's couch, her expression unreadable. Kai had reclaimed his earlier position, while Effie was already ordering food, having thoroughly depleted the refrigerator's contents. But it was Nephis's reaction that carried the most weight - her slightly widened eyes betrayed a hint of pain at seeing Sunny so close with another woman. Perhaps she was already second-guessing her earlier decision, or maybe simple jealousy had taken root at witnessing Rain's easy closeness with him.

Sunny continued patting Rain's back, returning her embrace as minutes ticked by. When she finally pulled away, her eyes were red and puffy from crying. Though the cohort maintained their distance - their relationship with Rain being somewhat strained, except for Kai, whom she actually liked - they understood Sunny's need to care for his sister and stayed put.

After providing Rain with tissues and settling her on the couch, Sunny called her parents, explaining the situation and his intention to keep her there until she fully recovered her composure. Throughout this domestic scene, Nephis remained lost in thought, questioning whether she'd made the right choice earlier. Her distraction was obvious to everyone, especially Sunny, who interpreted it as a form of payback for their earlier interaction. He made a point of demonstrating his reliability, though his primary focus remained on ensuring his sister's wellbeing and comfort.

Eventually, Rain calmed enough to speak normally, though she continued apologizing for her emotional display. It was only then that Nephis seemed to fully realize Rain was Sunny's sister - a detail he hadn't explicitly mentioned. She felt somewhat foolish for her earlier jealousy, though she wondered if his omission had been intentional. It hadn't been, and even Rain herself was unaware of her status as Sunny's sister.

Later, as Sunny showed Nephis to her room, his exhaustion was evident in every movement and word. Just as he finished explaining the accommodations and turned to leave for his own much-needed rest, Nephis closed the door before he could exit. She cornered him against it, her hands planted on either side of his head. The sudden action jolted him from his fatigue, his face flooding with emotion as his mind raced through possible responses. Shadow step would make escape easy, but did he actually want to escape?

He waited, heart pounding harder with each passing second, curious to see where this was heading. Nephis just stared at him, her eyes moving from his eyes to his face to his lips, but taking no further action. She was clearly battling her own internal struggle, regretting her bold move but unwilling to back down. No one had ever taught her how to handle these moments - how to kiss, how to confess, how to navigate any romantic situation.

Going with pure instinct seemed risky, but she'd already committed herself. It couldn't possibly be THAT bad, right?

As Sunny finally decided to retreat to his room, he suddenly felt a shift in the atmosphere - like prey sensing a predator's approach. His heart rate spiked, and just as he prepared to leave, he found himself with unexpected company for his journey.

Then it happened - the press of something soft yet indescribably sweet against his lips. In the space of a heartbeat, he found himself melting into the sensation, craving more with an intensity that surprised even him. But the question remained - would this moment lead to everything he'd been hoping for?

The air between them crackled with possibility, both aware that this single moment could change everything - if they let it.