Night and Star

Seren was braiding Cassie's hair when the tent flap rustled. She expected Kallen. Sunny had swung by and let them know that he was planning to come visit, but the person who stepped in after her brother was impossible.

Auburn hair gleaming like embers in lamplight. Eyes greener than emerald. A smile that spearheaded six diamond albums and a hundred consecutive weeks at the top of the charts. 

 Seren's hands froze mid-braid. No. No way… there's actually no way. She recognized those features anywhere. Kai, Night—whose face was posted on her wall back home—stood in Nephis's grimy tent, looking absurdly out of place. He was a diamond in a mud puddle. And Seren was looking at him. In person!

Sitting in the chair in front of her, Cassie tilted her head. "Seren? You stopped breathing, are you okay?"

Of course she wasn't okay! Her lungs had frozen, she had frozen! Night was standing at the end of the room she was in!

"Uh," the singer rubbed his neck, flashing an awkward smile that somehow accentuated his features rather than diminished them. Her heart lit ablaze "Seren was it? Your brother told me all about you on the way over."

A sound escaped Seren's throat—half squeak, half sob. Cassie seemed incredibly confused, but for her part did not interrupt. 

"It's nice to put a face to the name," He took a few steps farther into the tent. "Happy early birthday, though."

Seren's hands flew to her mouth. Her head bobbed so fast her braids whipped her cheeks, she was still speechless—the girl who'd memorized every lyric now wordless before her idol. 

~~~

Kallen Pov

Kallen watched his sister from the opening of the small home. He wore a warm grin as she short-circuited before the singer. 

When he glanced at Cassie, the Daemon of dread whispered to him, "She is afraid of you."

He ignored this. Strangely, it hadn't changed since their meeting. Nephis had probably told her of how he had attacked their group upon arrival. But he figured she'd enough time to get over it… perhaps not?

Nephis was stood a few paces away from him, a complex expression on her emotionless face. Kallen gave his sister one last glance before motioning for Nephis to follow him. They went for a walk.

A gust of wind carried the sound of Seren's laughter from the tent. 

Not too long after, they walked side by side on the streets of the outer settlement. Nephis had stayed silent, but he could see something forming beneath the surface. She was concerned about something.

"Why is Night with you?" She finally asked.

Kallen's eyes flicked to her. "I helped him out of a tough situation, so I cashed in a favor. Seren probably told you, but her birthday's in a few days. She's a super-fan of his, so I figured, why not just have him meet her."

"No… I mean, what is he doing on the Forgotten Shore."

Kallen frowned at her. "I imagine he's here for the same reason as the rest of us? Why, are you a fan of his as well?"

"Who isn't?" Nephis said, a hint of frustration showing on her face. "He's the lead singer of Night&Gale, who wouldn't be a fan of his?"

"Oh. I don't listen to a lot of music… I knew he was popular but… it doesn't matter. Kallen shook his hands. "Forget all that. I came to visit for a reason."

Nephis pivoted to work-talk impressively quick. "Sunny gave me the general details that you were going to be sent on some mission, but he was unable to eavesdrop on the orders you were given in time."

"I'm going to the Crimson Spire," he said. "Gunlaug is trying to get me killed, but I have other reasons…" Kallen trailed off, weighing the danger of what he was about to say. "I've thought about this for a while, but I've already entrusted you with my sister's life, so you deserve to know what's coming. You and Sunny."

Nephis looked at him with that calculating gaze. She stayed silent.

"I get these… these visions. They are related to my Aspect Legacy, and I have reason to believe that there is a titan laying dormant in some sort of cave system beneath the Spire."

"A Titan." Nephis's voice was flat, but her footsteps slowed almost imperceptibly. Without his attunement to vibrations, he might not have recognized. "You're certain?"

"Yes." Puddle formed on his shoulder. "The first time I got these visions… well this little guy was waiting for me in antarctica. He was a Dormant Titan."

She cocked her head, eyes locking on to the Veilray. "That thing was a Titan?"

Puddle seemed to recognize the slight, and glowered at the girl, but it wasn't too intimidating in all honesty. "Well… he was when I fought him. He's a Dormant Beast now. Same as me."

"Will he grow stronger?" She asked, a hint of surprise on her face. "If so, that's a pretty potent Aspect Legacy."

"I'm not sure… but my Aspect Legacy is just as dangerous as it is helpful. More dangerous, probably. I get these headaches… they grow and compound before exploding into a vision of the Titan I am forced to kill."

"And there's a Titan at the bottom of the Spire?"

Kallen shrugged. "I think so, but I haven't confirmed it yet. That's something I would like to do with this excursion."

"Hmm."

"I have reason to believe that the Titan is a dragon, at least of the Awakened rank."

"I thought only Corrupted creatures could survive in the dark sea," Nehpis said.

Kallen shook his head. "Maybe. But Titans are always different. It must have some sort of insurance to keep the more dangerous Leviathans away. That's another thing I'd like to scout out."

"Would you like any of us to go with you?"

"Just Kai," Kallen said. "His Aspect allows him to fly. He'll be my ride, I'm afraid anyone else would just slow me down underwater."

Nephis did not argue with him, taking the statement at face value. She'd seen him train underwater, she knew that they'd be a hindrance. Just another thing to protect. She'd probably just offered out of courtesy.

"Also." Kallen's muscles tensed. "I think the Titan might attack this place. Please don't ask me why, because I won't tell you. I just have a feeling."

It's because of Seren's flaw, he couldn't say.

"Okay. I trust you, Kallen."

"I would have liked to take Sunny, but I'm already asking too much of him. Besides, his shadow scout doesn't work very well in the sea."

"Kallen," Nephis said. Her tone was sharp, but undeniably gentle. "We trust you. You've been forgiven for what happened back at the nest. You don't need to tiptoe around us anymore, you weren't in your right mind."

Kallen opened his mouth, but closed it and nodded. 

A small commotion came from their side—Kallen's left. He looked over there, but ignored it along with Nephis. 

"Do you think Gunlaug knows?" She stopped walking. There was a flash of white flame in the depths of her gaze. "What's waiting there?"

"I think he's terrified of it. Why else wouldn't he go there himself? With his Transcendent armor and deftness underwater, why wouldn't he just deal with the thing?"

Nephis expression was thoughtful; she seemed to agree with Kallen's assessment.

Kallen continued. "I bet he's seen the thing himself. What I don't understand, though, is why he's sending me. Obviously, it's a suicide mission, but what if I provoke the sleeping giant and it comes after me? He must know that I would flee it and return to the dark city. Unless he doesn't think there's a possibility of me escaping? Or maybe he doesn't think I'd return?"

"I'm not sure," Nephis said. "You told me that Night… that Kai could fly, and that he is your 'ride.' are you taking him as insurance?"

"He'll be there to fly me out if things go south."

"You can't lead it here though…" she said, realizing what he meant.

Kallen nodded. "Kai and I will probably go in the opposite direction if that happens. Which was another thing I needed to talk to you about. Sunny mentioned that you found the map to the First Lord's body and that you intend to head there."

"I see."

"If we do wake that Titan and have to flee, that's where I will go. Seren will be able to find me, so you won't need the map so long as you've got a good grasp on how you'll get there. I'll send Kai after you guys if we manage to survive… of course, assuming we anger the Titan and it comes after us."

Nephis appeared to accept this. "That's… that's a solid plan I suppose. But don't get yourself killed—I happen to quite like your sister."

"Of course. But I do want you to promise me something," he said slowly. "If I don't come back, get her through that gate. However you have to. However many people you need to trample to do so."

"She's a capable person. She wouldn't need me to hold her hand, you know." Nephis waited for a long moment, studying him. Then, with surprising sincerity, she said, "But yes. I promise."

The wind shifted, carrying with it the smell of the nearby dark sea. Kallen resisted the urge to sneak a nervous look at the Spire. Instead, he thought of the way his sister's face looked lit with joy when she saw Kai.

He met Nephis's stoic gaze. 

"She's afraid you're an assassin, even though she doesn't believe it."

"She's afraid that Sunny is an assassin, even though she doesn't believe it."

"She's afraid that Caster is an assassin."

"She's afraid you won't come back."

"I'm happy to have called you a friend, you know," Kallen said suddenly, feeling his cheeks flush slightly from embarrassment. "You, Sunny, and Caster. I owe you all a debt I could never repay for saving me. For escorting Seren to me."

Nephis stared at him with a blank look. "She was a helpful addition to our cohort."

But her flaw, Kallen thought.

"Regardless, thank you."

"You're welcome." Nephis's shoulder brushed his armor as she moved past. "Come on, Sunny's waiting by the eastern ridge. He'll want to hear all of this from your mouth."

Kallen followed after a moment. The look of determination was the closest thing to 'good luck' he'd ever get out of her.

He felt guilty as they made their way to Sunny.

~~~

After meeting with Sunny, Kallen allowed himself a long night's rest. The next day, he found Gorn first, the hulking hunter polishing his axe by the barracks. It was a pointless endeavor, Memories always repaired themselves in the soul sea, but he knew many Awakened liked to partake in the act. 

Kallen tossed him a wrapped bundle. Gorn caught it, seeing the small soul shards within. "Next weeks pay, I'll be out for a while."

"Bastard," he replied grinning. "Come back alive won't ya."

Jaric was next. He didn't look up when Kallen told him where he was going. His meeting with the rest of the hunters was curt, and he didn't bother seeing off Mira, Lyss would take her pay to her.

But speaking of Lyss. She waited by the gate. Kai was on his way, but he wasn't there yet, so there was a free moment to speak with the girl.

Her bow was slung over her shoulder like always. She was the paranoid type. The torchlight on the castle's wall caught the charm around her neck, one he'd given her to help her breathe under water. He'd used it to teach her how to fight underwater, mostly because her aspect was practically useless in the depths. 

She held out a water flask, her fingers brushing his when he took it. "I know you already have one, but a little more water can't hurt, right? Especially for someone like you."

Kallen recognized what she was doing. She just wanted him to have something of hers.

He took a small drink from the flask even though he wasn't particularly thirsty. "Watch Mira for me. I still don't trust her."

Lyss's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Only if you stay safe. Don't do anything crazy out there.."

"She's afraid you're going to die," Ariel whispered.

Kallen clasped her wrist. "I'll be back in no time at all."

She nodded, the edges of her eyes slightly pink. She knew the vague details of his mission, they both knew it was unlikely that he would return soon.

When he saw Kai approaching in the distance and swallowed, a grim resignation settled over his head. Time to go.

A/N: Sorry I'm late :]