Chapter 47

Cassie remained motionless as the proximity of the sword to her throat made her stiffen in place.

Kiyotaka looked at her with his monolithic face, his eyes cold and unyielding as he spoke again.

"Everything went as planned, right?"

His piercing words, filled with bloodlust, made Cassie stiffen even more. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Kiyotaka continued, his voice cutting through the tense silence.

"You knew, from the beginning when you saw that dream... You knew where it would all lead. Do you think I don't understand your plan?"

Cassie's eyes widened in surprise, her heart skipping a beat. She could feel the cold edge of the blade pressing closer, a thin line of blood appearing on her delicate neck.

"What was it again... 'I saw a colossal, terrifying crimson spire. At its base, seven severed heads were guarding seven locks. And at the top, a dying angel was being consumed by hungry shadows. When I saw the angel bleed, I suddenly felt as though something so precious that it can't be described with words was taken from me.' Isn't that what you said?"

Cassie's hands trembled, her face paling even more as her breath hitched in her throat. Kiyotaka's voice was relentless, a steady, ominous rhythm that mirrored the pounding of her heart.

"It clearly speaks of the battle between Sunny and Nephis. Now, why would they battle? The answer is clear: only one of them could leave this place. Why? Because the Crimson Spire requires a soul, a human that can run it, a human that can be its engine."

With each word he spoke, Cassie trembled more, her knees feeling weak as she struggled to remain standing.

"Isn't that so, Cassie? You knew it, and you chose Nephis... You told her something about Sunny, didn't you?"

Cassie's eyes shook as she remained silent, unable to answer, her fear paralyzing her.

Kiyotaka stepped closer, his voice dropping to a murderous whisper that sent chills down her spine.

"You will tell me everything... down to the last detail."

At his whisper, Cassie couldn't keep standing anymore. She collapsed to the ground, cold sweat running down her skin. Kiyotaka's grip tightened as he grabbed her chin, ignoring her yelp of pain. His eyes bore into hers, his voice calm but steely.

"Speak."

Cassie's breath came in shallow gasps, her body trembling under the weight of his demand. She knew that there was no escape, no lie that could save her now. The truth was the only thing that stood between her and the blade at her throat.

"I... I did," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I told Nephis... I told her about Sunny's potential vulnerability, about his fear. I thought it would protect her, give an edge in her fight against Sunny..."

Kiyotaka's grip tightened, his eyes narrowing.

"And the dream? What did you see, Cassie?"

Tears welled in her eyes as she struggled to form the words.

"I saw the Spire... I saw the battle... I saw Nephis and Sunny fighting, only one of them could survive. I didn't want to believe it, but... but I knew it was true. I had to choose, Kiyotaka. I had to choose who to save."

Kiyotaka's expression remained unreadable, but the intensity in his gaze didn't waver.

"And you chose Nephis. Why?"

Cassie's voice cracked as she answered, the weight of her guilt pressing down on her.

"Because... because I believed she had the best chance. Sunny... he's strong, but he's broken. Nephis has the light, the fire... I thought she could lead us, save us all... not only here... but beyond that... in the waking world."

Kiyotaka released her chin, but the sword remained poised, a constant reminder of her precarious position.

"And what about me? What part did I play in your vision?"

Cassie looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and desperation... and hope.

"You... you were the only one who could see through it all, who could challenge the fate we were given. I knew you would confront me, that you would demand the truth. That's why I stayed behind. I needed you to understand."

Kiyotaka's eyes bore into hers for a long moment, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words. Finally, he stepped back, lowering his sword but not his guard.

"I see," he said quietly. "I understand now. But understand this, Cassie: I hate being manipulated, to the core... and Sunny is no different."

Cassie nodded, tears streaming down her face as she whispered.

"I know, Kiyotaka. I know."

Cassie remained on her knees, trembling, her mind a whirlwind of fear and guilt. The memory of her dream haunted her relentlessly. She had seen Sunny, his face contorted with pain and desperation, speaking his True Name. The moment the name left his lips, he killed the person to whom he said it. The horror of it was seared into her mind, a dark prophecy she couldn't escape.

The decision to tell Nephis about Sunny's potential fear had torn her apart. She cherished them both, but she had to choose. Nephis, with her radiant light and unyielding determination, with her ability to lead the masses, seemed to be a better choice... no, it was more than pure logic... Cassie cherished Neph more, she wanted her to be alive. But in making that choice, she had condemned Sunny to a fate she could scarcely bear to think about. Her heart ached with the betrayal, and the weight of her choice pressed down on her like an iron chain.

Cassie reached into her pocket, her fingers trembling as she pulled out a crumpled note. She held it out to Kiyotaka, her hand shaking so much she almost dropped it.

"Take it," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. "It explains everything."

Kiyotaka took the note, his eyes never leaving hers. He unfolded it slowly, the paper crackling in the tense silence. Cassie watched him, her heart pounding in her chest, as he read the words she had written in a moment of desperate clarity.

Kiyotaka's face remained impassive as he read, but Cassie could see the flicker of something dark and dangerous in his eyes. She knew that her confession, her choice, had set something in motion that couldn't be stopped. She had played her part, and now all she could do was wait and see what consequences her actions would bring.

Cassie remained kneeling, tears streaming down her face as she watched Kiyotaka. She had made her choice, and now she had to live with it, whatever the cost. The weight of her decision pressed down on her, but in the depths of her despair, she clung to a fragile hope that, somehow, it would all lead to a better future for those she cared about.

And so, she stepped to the Gateway and soon returned to the waking world, leaving Kiyotaka behind.

Kiyotaka stood there, motionless. Spilling his blood on the note, he set it ablaze, crimson flames erasing its contents.

As he did so, he turned away from the Gateway and dissolved into darkness with his Darkness Veil, repeating one phrase in his mind over and over again, as if fearing he would forget it.

Lost From Light.