Bloody Mess

[Author's Note: I skipped the whole discussion about walking the ancient path of ascension. I thought it would be boring, so you get a small time skip instead.]

It had been hours since the incident, and the sisters had simply decided to let it go. There was no point in arguing over things they would never truly understand.

What Sunny did, and why he did it, was treated as a whole other category of secrets. The kind you could poke your nose into, but shouldn't act surprised when they suddenly stare back at you.

Like the mysteries of a god, not meant to be uncovered by mortals, truths their minds simply could not handle.

Only, Sunny wasn't a god. Far from it. He was just a Saint. At least, that's what everyone believed…until recently.

That belief had started to crumble in the past few days. It shattered when the sisters began learning more about the legendary Saint of Godgrave. With every impossible truth they uncovered, it became clearer by the day: Sunny was not just a Saint.

His official Rank didn't matter, not to him, and certainly not to anyone who had seen what he could do.

After all, he had just finished squaring up with a Sacred Shadow while casually drinking coffee and making conversation without a care in the world.

That… was something they would never understand. So most of them didn't even bother asking.

At least, most of them didn't.

The rest had their minds twisted in quick succession by Sunny's shallow and outrageous explanations.

What did capture everyone's interest, though, was what he had said about becoming Supreme, and that sparked an entirely new discussion.

Hours passed as the seven sisters, along with Sunny and Nephis, debated their plan to reach Supremacy without the Spell. Something unheard of in today's age. But now they knew the ancient path of ascension wasn't just a myth…it had happened in the shadows all along.

As it turned out, the Spell wasn't the only way to ascend. The Nightmares it provided were merely a shortcut, a modern replacement for a process that normally took years, even decades, and was much harder in its own ways.

Unlike the Spell's structured path, the ancient method required each individual to find their own way toward Supremacy, just as no two Aspects were ever the same.

Granted, the Nightmares threw you into life-or-death scenarios where your odds of survival were slim. But they also accelerated your growth, far faster than the ancient method ever could.

And one girl nearby had already walked that path. She had Awakened without the Spell, an achievement no one else could claim. Not even her impossible brother.

So, yes…Rain was feeling quite pleased with herself.

Not that she had much else to show for it. But that one achievement was impressive enough to get her into serious trouble if the wrong people found out.

At least, anyone Sunny didn't trust.

She could hardly blame him for telling his closest comrades. If it weren't for him, she probably would've already spilled the secret to Tamar…and half a dozen others.

So now, she had no choice but to keep it hidden.

No matter what.

Rain strolled through the Mimic, enjoying a rare moment of calm. After the relentless heat of Godgrave and the brutal battles they'd faced, the quiet was a welcome change.

Her natural curiosity pulled her toward exploring her brother's home…a place she never thought he'd have.

'It's nice. No way he designed this himself. If it were up to him, there'd be no curtains or rugs, just the bare minimum to make it livable.' She thought, her gaze drifting over the expensive furniture.

She was right, of course. Aiko had designed the interior.

Her arms swung loosely by her sides as she wandered, enjoying the moment…until a familiar stench assaulted her nose.

Lifting her arm, she sniffed herself and immediately found the source.

'I should definitely take a shower. It's been months since my last real one.' she thought with a grimace.

Grabbing a fresh set of black clothes and a towel, she finally indulged herself. The sensation of being thoroughly clean was nearly divine, it had been so long that it brought a rare smile to her face.

After slipping into her shorts and socks, she prepared to wrap her chest with bandages. It wasn't strictly necessary, there weren't any Nightmare creatures to fight in the near future, but she preferred the security.

Besides, as Sunny liked to remind her, you never knew when the enemy might strike.

"Easy for him to say…he doesn't have to deal with two lumps of flesh hanging from his chest," she scoffed to herself, though she knew he had a point.

As she finished securing the bandages, Rain reached for her shirt…only for the bathroom door to suddenly swing open.

She froze.

For a brief, hopeful moment, she prayed it was Sunny or maybe Nephis. Of course, fate had other plans.

Instead, a strikingly beautiful woman stepped inside, a woman no one could ever mistake.

Her skin was smooth and grey, like a clouded sky, devoid of warmth or imperfections. The unusual pigmentation only enhanced her breathtaking allure.

With her dark hair, perfectly white teeth, and red lips, she looked like an ethereal vampire.

Only the absence of sharp, elongated fangs reassured Rain that her blood was safe…probably.

She knew she was staring too long. Her anxiety spiked when Seishan finally shifted her posture, leaning casually against the doorframe, her face unreadable.

Panicked, Rain dipped into a bow.

"M-My apologies, Saint Seishan. I…I didn't mean to stare." Her nervousness practically hung in the air.

'I don't taste good. I know I don't.' she prayed silently, keeping her head low.

Seishan had seen this reaction a thousand times before. Once, she had reveled in the fear she inspired, even among allies. But that had been when she still served Ki Song.

That life was over.

'I should try to be… normal. I can't have Sunless sister cowering in fear just from seeing me.' she sighed inwardly.

The only problem? She had no idea how to do that.

How did you dismantle the image of a bloodthirsty Saint when you had spent years crafting it?

Still, for the sake of escaping the cold shadow of Ki Song, she wanted to try.

The dead gods only knew how badly it might go.

Seishan stepped closer and gently cupped Rain's chin, lifting her gaze. The younger girl trembled beneath her touch.

For a heartbeat, Seishan hesitated, then smiled reassuringly…or at least, she tried to.

Despite her usual air of aloofness, genuine warmth was foreign to her. The result was something caught between a smirk and playful amusement.

She looked at Rain as though she were a particularly intriguing snack.

Rain's heart pounded. 'I'm done for. She's going to drain me dry before Sunny can save me.'

But instead of fangs, a soft voice brushed against her ears.

"I'm not good at this," Seishan admitted. "So… I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. I should've knocked."

She released Rain's chin and straightened, leaning against the wall with a thoughtful expression.

"I think we've met before, haven't we, Rain? You're with the 7th Legion…I suppose that's why." Her voice was softer now.

Rain forced herself to open one eye, peeking up cautiously.

"I…I… um, yes. My commanding centurion is Tamar of Sorrow. I serve in the same cohort as her."

[Authors Note: Forgot what exactly the Masters are called in the Song Army. And to be honest…I don't care enough to look it up ;) Back to the Chapter…]

Seishan nodded, the pieces of memory falling into place. Yes, she remembered Rain now. Vaguely, but she remembered.

'Right, she was always beside Tamar.' A knowing smile curled on her tantalizing lips. 'Or better to say, in her shadow. It seems to run in the family.'

Seishan gave her an approving nod and extended a hand toward Rain. "It's nice to finally talk to you, Rain. You seem like an interesting girl. I'd love to have a conversation with you." A warmer, more inviting smile softened her features as she waited for Rain to accept the gesture.

After a brief hesitation, Rain reached out and shook her hand…slowly and cautiously.

Swallowing her fear, Rain forced a strained smile. "I'm not that interesting, to be honest. My teach…my brother is the overachiever in our family."

She chuckled softly as she released Rain's hand. "Oh, I'm sure you have your own fair share of stories to tell." Gesturing toward a pair of chairs by a window in the hallway, she added, "Would you like to sit down and talk for a while?"

Rain felt a chill crawl up her spine. 'Me? Talking to a renowned Saint? Why?' She sighed inwardly. 'But I guess I have no choice…'

Reluctantly, she nodded. This was going to be tough.

As she put on her shirt, Rain realized, much to her horror, that the Mark of Shadows had been exposed the entire time. She could only hope the Blood Sister hadn't noticed.

Once seated, Seishan appeared far more relaxed than Rain felt. She wasn't entirely sure how to ease the girl's obvious tension, so she took a direct approach.

"I noticed you're a bit tense. May I ask why?" Again, Seishan softened her voice, doing her best to appear as approachable as possible.

The gesture helped…if only a little. But then Rain's mind short-circuited, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "I guess for the same reason you were so tense around my brother?"

The second the words left her mouth, Rain froze. Panic surged through her veins as she clamped a hand over her lips. 'I just made a mistake people would be executed for…'

But instead of lashing out, Seishan laughed, loud and sudden. So much so that Rain briefly wondered if it was forced.

But it wasn't.

And that fact alone was more terrifying than anything Rain had anticipated.

"I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…I was just… caught off guard," Rain stammered, her voice barely audible beneath Seishan's laughter. Desperately, she added in a whisper, "Please don't kill me."

The laughter stopped immediately, and for a fleeting moment, a chill crept down Seishan's spine. She hadn't realized just how deep Rain's fear ran, and it unsettled her.

"No… It's fine. You're right, of course." Taking a steadying breath, Seishan crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair. "I was outright terrified of him. His strength didn't pale in comparison to the ridiculous stories about the Lord of Shadows." A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "But now that I'm his ally, I don't fear him anymore." She glanced out the window, her expression briefly clouded. "At least… not nearly as much."

When she turned back to Rain, her smile felt more genuine, less calculated. Relaxed by the lingering amusement, she let her thoughts flow more freely.

"You have nothing to fear, Rain. I wouldn't dare hurt you, not only because your brother would undoubtedly inflict unspeakable horrors upon me, but also because…" Her voice softened. "I find you interesting. And I enjoy your company."

Rain stared at her in disbelief. 'She… enjoys my company? How in the world did that happen?'

Still wary, she couldn't resist asking, "But why? Why are you interested in me?" She raised an eyebrow, surprised by how… normal Seishan was acting.

"Well, I think you've got a tough bite to you." Rain stiffened slightly, and Seishan sighed, realizing her poor choice of words. "That… came out wrong. What I mean is, you first caught my attention when you stood up to your brother so boldly." A playful gleam flickered in her eyes. "You even had the guts to kick him in the groin."

She smirked and winked, hoping to ease some of the remaining tension.

Against all odds…it worked.

From there, their conversation drifted into more casual territory. They exchanged stories of personal experiences and the challenges of being adopted. In that regard, Seishan couldn't help but feel like she'd missed out on something precious.

Rain had grown up as an ordinary girl…mundane, without the crushing weight of expectations. That, more than anything, fascinated Seishan. How had Sunny managed to shape her into such a formidable Awakened while maintaining a genuine, caring bond?

'Ki Song had no business adopting children,' she thought bitterly, swallowing a pang of regret. 'What's done is done…only the future holds power.'

The topic shifted again, this time to romance…an area where both found themselves equally lacking.

As it turned out, neither had much to share.

Almost half an hour later, Seishan had surprisingly managed to develop a friendly relationship with Rain, something she never thought would happen.

After all, what could a Saint possibly have to talk about with a freshly awakened novice? And yet, here they were.

Rain laughed heartily when Seishan revealed some secrets about her sisters, silly antics they had all gone through as children.

"So, the fearsome Lightslayer actually had a crush once?" Rain giggled, her earlier fear long forgotten.

Seishan raised her eyebrows and nodded quickly. She, too, seemed to have warmed up to the idea of a life without war and the constant shadow of death.

"Yes, she did. The poor boy was terrified when he found out who she was. Ki Song never gave us any freedom when it came to sharing our feelings with others." She sighed softly, realizing just how much she had been manipulated.

The woman should have married someone. Maybe then, she would have held onto some of her humanity. A flicker of jealousy washed over her as she recalled the tender looks Nephis and Sunny shared.

'Good for them. I hope I can have that, too…one day.' She allowed herself the thought, knowing that whoever she chose as a partner would have to be worthy of her presence.

She might no longer be a princess, but she still held onto her pride as a Saint. A partner who couldn't stand as her equal would never earn her respect…or her love, as fractured as her heart was.

For now, though, she was coming to terms with living as a commoner. Not weak by any means, but without the weight of royal blood.

Of course, she never truly had royal blood, none of them did, but they had been raised that way.

It was a significant change, but she was willing to embrace it. And getting to know how a normal Awakened lived could only help.

So, she asked the one person who could give her an answer.

"What do you do in your free time? When you're not on a battlefield or out hunting, I mean."

Their conversation had felt much more natural ever since those first awkward moments, like two strangers meeting in a café. Well… quite literally.

Rain, too, seemed to relax as she answered with a smile. "I guess I just unwind and visit my parents. They know I'm out there training and fighting nightmare creatures, so they worry about me all the time." Her smile faded slightly. "At least, I used to. I haven't seen them in months. I hope to visit soon so they know I'm still alive and well."

Seishan immediately caught the sadness in her voice. Revel had already filled her in on Rain's situation, so she understood more than she let on.

Hoping to lift her spirits, she offered a reassuring smile. "Even if you haven't seen them for a while, they're safe in Ravenheart. And with a brother like yours, I'm sure you'll be reunited soon. I have no doubt about that." Her voice was smooth and comforting, and her words seemed to carry just enough warmth to soothe Rain's worries.

Now that the tension between them had faded, Seishan finally felt ready to ask the question that had been on her mind from the beginning.

Her tone shifted to one of curiosity as she pointed to the now-covered spot on Rain's arm. "Can you tell me more about that snake tattoo? It seemed… special."

She immediately noticed the color drain from Rain's face. For a brief moment, the girl froze, her body stiff with tension.

But Seishan's question didn't seem to be the only source of tension when she noticed Rain's Gaze shift.

Following her gaze, Seishan's eyes landed on a small group of her sisters walking down the hallway…heading straight toward them.

[Author's Note: I know this chapter is different from the rest, but I wanted to write something calmer. I believe character development…especially for Rain, is important. The next chapter will be packed with more comedy and exciting events.]