Shadow Slave- Back in time.

Ch. 36

The princess stared at the shard, before glancing at Kai's stricken face. He slowly nodded, making her mind shook. How could that be the truth? Could Night be lying? No, she knew for a fact that the striking singer couldn't lie for his life.

Meanwhile, the new comer plopped down on his chair, calm, as if he hadn't just declared he had slain one of the mightiest creatures ever killed by a Sleeper.

Or by any normal Awakened, really. Fallen Demon were nightmares for the average warrior.

The silence in the room was deafening, its oppressive void urging Seishan to say something.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze to the others. She was a bit reassured by Kai's disbelieving face, but her hope was snuffed when she saw Cassia's and Changing Star's aloof expressions, unfazed like it was their daily routine.

'I might've underestimated them. By a margin, too.'

Sunless smirked as he looked at her, his eyes teasing.

"Have I surprised you, Lady Seishan?"

There was no reason nor any way to lie, but the exotic beauty lingered with her answer.

'You are behaving like a fool, Seishan.' She berated herself.

"I must admit I'm impressed, Sunless. I did not expect to receive such a valuable welcoming gift." Seishan looked at the clock hanging from the wall, and sighed.

"As you must be aware of, my absence will not go unnoticed for long. I regret meeting in such circumstances, but I suggest you go straight to the point, Changing Star. While it is a pleasure, why did you want to meet?"

Changing Star of the Immortal Flame regarded her with that terrifying, expressionless, cold grey eyes. In those grey eyes dwelled a flame made of steel, hot enough to burn the heavens and cold enough to freeze hell.

"I am going to kill the Bright Lord, and then conquer the Crimson Spire. Will you help me, or be annihilated along those who oppose me, Song Seishan?"

Seishan had been expecting such a goal, as crazy as it may have seemed. She had, perhaps, even hoped it. And when she had looked into the outskirt's Saint grey, determined eyes, her assumptions had been cemented, even before she spoke.

Changing Star's declaration was so bold and brazen that it would've made her laugh, weren't she aware of whom she was facing.

Song Seishan faced her heavy gaze, challenging and unfazed.

She smiled, her sharp canines showing. Her voice was as firm as it was daring.

"You are bold, Changing Star. You aren't the first to challenge his rule. What makes you think you won't be just one of the heads hanging from the gates? You are reaching too far, daughter of the Immortal Flame.

The Bright Lord is akin to the Sun here. Unreachable and absolute. Don't be like Icarus, Changing Star."

Seishan's hopes were unattainable. Hope was poison. She must remember that.

But Changing Star was hellbent, and would not change her stand.

"Gunlaug is merely a human. I shall penetrate his armour and pierce his heart. And then I will extinguish the Sun. They are not as invincible as you think, Song Seishan."

Changing Star did not understand. She had not seen how Gunlaug had conquered everything under the sun that could be conquered by a mere human. His unscratchable Memory, that covered his body like a second skin, exuded a feeling of oppression and hopelessness.