21 Meeting the Main Cast

Sunless POV

The sun rose on the horizon, and the dark sea retreated. Sunless's eyelids opened, and he sat up. He looked at the shark-like nightmare creature's carcass and the many Carapace Scavenger ones. More Carapace Scavengers approached the buffet and gorged themselves on the corpses. The fox flew out from the crimson labyrinth soon after and continued its slaughter.

'I'm glad we'll stay here for a few more days. I do not want to fight all those creatures.'

Cassia woke up beside him and smiled.

"I had a vision!"

Nephis got up and turned towards her.

"What is it about?"

Cassia took a moment to formulate her thoughts.

"I learned the origin of that fox you told me about. It was inside a burrow on the side of a large cliff. It leads into a large cave. Inside it was someone laying against the fox's side."

Sunless's eyes widened.

"Perhaps we can invite them to join our group. Wait, did you see their face?"

Cassia shook her head.

"No, I didn't. It was blurred. Oh, and they had some shiny objects in a pile. But they were blurred too."

Nephis asked.

"What direction is the burrow located?"

Cassia pointed northwest.

Sunless sighed.

"Nephis. Are we going to that cave? Or will we ignore the person and continue with our original plan?"

Nephis stared west and then gazed northwest.

"We'll go find that person first. Our journey will be easier if they join us."

Sunless said.

"I'm not sure what we can offer for them to join us. That fox they have can slaughter us."

Nephis looked at Sunless.

"I don't know."

Sunless replied.

"We need to find something to offer. I doubt they'll join us without any benefit for them."

Nephis closed her eyes and pondered for a minute. Her eyes opened, and she said.

"I'll train them how to fight."

Sunless's eyes widened.

"You will?"

Nephis nodded.

"Let's go."

The trio took a detour around the massive horde of nightmare creatures. Sunless's shadow scouted ahead and led the way. They carefully traversed the crimson labyrinth and stopped about noon.

A large cliff was to their right. Crimson coral covered part of its surface. A small opening in the rock was about halfway up.

Sunny pointed to the opening.

"I believe we're here."

Nephis nodded and said.

"Send your shadow inside."

***

Tyrel POV

Tyrel woke up to the Cephalopod Quiver tapping him. His eyelids opened, and he saw a humanoid shadow staring at the huge mound of soul-shards beside him. He grimaced as he ordered the Cephalopod Quiver to get ready for combat.

'Why the heck is Sunless Shadow here?! He saw me and my Soul Shards. I'm not giving them any. These are for my master plan.'

Tyrel looked at the shadow and spoke.

"I know you're there. No shadow can exist without a thing to cast it. Get out of here, creature!"

Tyrel summoned his bow and Azure Arrow Memories. He pulled back the Azure Arrow and aimed it at the shadow.

The shadow ran away, and Tyrel closed his eyes.

'I'm going to have to leave this area.'

Tyrel summoned Saphira back.

She materialized out of sparks.

"What happened, Tyrel?"

Tyrel communicated his thoughts.

'There are people outside. We need to talk in our minds. I don't want them to think you're a Dormant Titan but an Awakened Devil.'

Saphira communicated her thoughts.

'Alright. If I need to do anything, I will.'

Tyrel transferred his thoughts to Saphira.

'Saphira, can you swallow all the soul shards? I don't want them all to see them.'

Saphira stealthily used her telekinesis as she swallowed all the shards.

For ten minutes, there was silence before a golden rope was thrown into the cave. It wrapped around a rock and latched on it.

Footsteps and climbing echoed throughout the chamber as a hand reached the top of the entrance. Soon, Nephis climbed up into the cave. She looked at Tyrel and then helped up Cassia and Sunless.

Tyrel clung to Saphira and thought.

'Nephis's fire can easily kill me. I can't let her get close to me, just in case.'

Sunless looked at Tyrel and Saphira as a grim smile formed on his face.

"Hello, Tyrel."

Tyrel forced a smile.

"Hi, Sunless. What brings you to this cursed land?"

Sunless sighed.

"My bad luck. I thought you had horrible luck, too, but... This place seems like your playground. You're able to relax out of danger."

Nephis stepped forward.

"Can you join us?"

Tyrel shook his head.

"I will not. I gain nothing from going along with you."

Nephis offered.

"I can train you how to fight in return."

Tyrel replied.

"I'm a ranged fighter, and I have enough experience. To be honest, I don't want to return to Earth."

Nephis frowned.

"Did you give up on returning?"

Tyrel shook his head.

"No, I did not. I believe it will be better in the Dream Realm. I'm not attached to Earth. No one saved me when I was in the outskirts, so why should I stay in a world like that?"

Nephis frown deepened.

Tyrel continued.

"I see no point in going back. All of you can If you like, but I'm staying in the Dream Realm. I'm more scared of fellow humans than nightmare creatures. Don't you see?"

Nephis sighed.

"Okay. You don't have to return to Earth if you don't want to. But please help us return. You're powerful, and we need your assistance."

Tyrel shook his head and was about to refuse when Saphira communicated her thoughts to his mind.

'Tyrel. I know you're worried about them backstabbing you. But don't worry, if they try, I'll use my telekinesis and throw them into the sky. They would burst to pieces if that happened. So please help them.'

Tyrel furrowed his brows, closed his eyes, and sent his thoughts into Saphira's mind.

'Saphira. I know you like helping people. But I'm not a Saint. It's just not who I am. They can do it without our help. They're strong.'

Saphira's thoughts flowed into his mind.

'Just demand something as payment. That girl already offered to train you.'

As Tyrel and Saphira talked in their minds, Nephis, Cassia, and Sunless waited.

Tyrel thought.

'Saphira. I have horrendous talent with melee weapons. I had to use that horrifying stone just to be able to use all melee weapons in battle. I'm not going to do something I have no talent for forcefully. Besides, I don't like getting close to my enemies.'

Saphira thought.

'Tyrel. Just demand something else.'

Tyrel's eyes opened, and he spoke.

"You need to offer something else for me to join you three."

Nephis seemed at a loss.

"I don't have anything else to offer."

Nephis closed her eyes and pondered for a while. A minute later, her eyes opened as she looked at Tyrel hugging Saphira. She grimaced for a moment before her gaze became determined. She walked closer to Tyrel.

"You seem scared. How about, in return, I hug you when you're scared?"

Tyrel's, Sunless's, and Cassia's eyes widened.

Tyrel spoke.

"Huh? Would you comfort me? I don't understand. Why are you so willing to get my help?"

Nephis grimaced.

"Because the Dream Realm is dangerous. We need your help. I'm willing to offer comfort in exchange for your assistance."

Tyrel placed his hand on his head.

"I do wish for comfort. But..."

Nephis walked forward and leaned toward him.

"Will you accept, Tyrel?"

Tyrel closed his eyes.

'I really don't understand. For her to be willing to do this... And I'm still scared of the flames she has.'

Tyrel's eyelids opened.

"I'll do so. And you don't need to comfort me. I can see you don't like doing that. However, I shouldn't be expected to cook, keep watch, or make stuff. Or do anything but shoot arrows and my Echo clearing the path. These are my demands."

Nephis turned toward Sunless and Cassia.

"Should we let him in on those terms?"

Sunless and Cassia nodded.

Nephis turned around and gently hugged Tyrel. She held him against her chest in silence.

Tyrel's eyes widened as tears fell from his eyes. He shivered and pleaded.

"Don't hurt me...

Nephis said.

"I won't hurt you. None of us will. To show this, I'll still hug you if you need it or want it."

Tyrel broke down, hugged Nephis back, and let out his emotions.

Sunless spoke.

"Nephis. I believe he needs to return to Earth and get therapy. And possibly a professional cuddler. His mind seems to be very weak."

Nephis didn't say anything and hugged Tyrel.

Tyrel closed his eyes and spoke.

"Thank you for this, Nephis."

Nephis responded.

"You're welcome. Do you want a longer hug?"

Tyrel spoke.

"Yes, I do."

Nephis replied.

"Just tell me when to stop."

For about ten minutes, Tyrel hugged her before he spoke.

"Stop hugging me, please."

Nephis let go.

"Do you feel better?"

Tyrel nodded and wiped the remnants of the tears on his face.

"I do."

Nephis spoke.

"Good."

Nephis walked over to Sunless and Cassia. Together, they talked. The group stayed in the cave the rest of the day and overnight.

(Do you guys like the platonic interaction between Tyrel and Nephis?)