Someplace else, Sunny slowly opened his eyes. Pure sunshine was pouring through the tall arched windows, and the air was suffused with warmth. The sweltering heat of Godgrave was dispelled by a pleasant breeze.
The storm was long over, and the world was at peace. His body felt refreshed and revitalized despite having been enveloped by a blissful fatigue not too long ago, and his mind was at ease. He had slept well… better than he had ever slept in his life.
Waking up in Neph's bed for the second time in a row felt quite amazing. Of course, this time, he had not just fallen asleep atop the covers. Feeling a tantalizing, warm softness pressing against his chest, Sunny raised his head and rested it on a hand, looking down. Nephis was sleeping peacefully by his side, in his embrace. Her long, beautiful silver hair was scattered across the pillow, glistening in the sunlight. Her face was smooth and enchanting, more vulnerable than it had ever seemed before. Below it, her slender neck led to a round, alabaster shoulder… and beyond that, the alluring sight of her delicate clavicle was revealed, making his heart race. To Sunny's chagrin, the rest was covered by a pristine white sheet.
Still, there was probably no sight more lovely in the entire world. He remained motionless for a while, delighting in the breathtaking scene and listening to the subtle sound of Neph's tranquil breathing. His mind was a little empty. This moment, this feeling, this… closeness. He had been wanting it so desperately, and for long. Being here, with her, was almost too meaningful to fathom. And he did not really want to fathom it, either — or anything, for that matter. He was in too good of a mood to spoil it with excessive thinking, and wished to simply enjoy the blissful beauty of the moment. He wished that it would never end.
How fitting it was, for him to attain what he wanted so deeply in the tower of the Demon of Desire...
With a quiet sigh, Sunny lowered his head back to the pillow and closed his eyes, enveloped in Neph's smell and basking in the sensation of her warmth.
Perhaps… it was alright to sleep for a bit more. He had almost drifted back into the gentle embrace of sleep when a tentative voice suddenly resounded in his mind:
[Uh… Sunny?]
Sunny opened one eye, startled a little and dissatisfied by the sudden interruption.
[What?]
Cassie remained silent for a few moments, then asked in calm tone:
[Are you guys coming down any time soon? Because, you know… you've been locked up there for a couple of days, already. And Nephis is technically in charge of this entire camp. There are some decisions I can't make alone.]
Cassie spoke in a composed, nonchalant tone… but that only made Sunny feel more embarrassed about what she had said. For a split second. Then, a satisfied smile crept up on his face.
'Why yes, we have...'
Sunny answered without opening his eyes, still lost in the softness, warmth, and sunlight. [Sorry. Nephis is… a bit tired. We should probably let her rest for a while longer, but I'll be there shortly and lend a hand.]
With that, he decisively relaxed his mind, intending to sleep. At the same moment, his shadow glided across the floor and slid out of the chamber. Assuming a human form on the stairs, Sunny stretched his arms above his head, sighed sweetly, and walked down with a spring in his step. Cassie was not too far away, buried under a pile of reports in her office. Walking in, Sunny picked one of them up and briefly studied the contents. 'Huh.'
On a usual day, his mood would have been dampened, but today, Sunny simply put the report down. "So soon?"
Cassie nodded. "The royal legions of the Song Army are already on the move. The Seventh Legion will be departing for the battlefield in a few hours, most likely."
She hesitated for a few moments, and then added:
"This time, Seishan and Beastmaster will be joining the fray, as well. Revel has not been seen on the surface since the battle for the Vanishing Lake, though… it is highly likely that she is leading an expedition to the Spine Ocean, already."
Sunny looked away, the darkness in his eyes growing a little bit deeper, and a little bit colder.
"What about the Sovereigns themselves?"
Cassie shook her head. "It seems that they are not going to take direct action against each other until both of the remaining Citadels are conquered. For now, they will be serving as a deterrent for each other… although I am not sure if Ki Song can even be contained. Her power is an insidious one, after all."
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