Weeks turned into months as Sunny continued his life at the academy. More Sleepers arrived—first two, then ten, then two hundred. Sunny spoke with them and even made friends among those from humble backgrounds, but he stayed away from the Legacy children, keeping his distance from their closed-off world.
His days settled into a rhythm: training classes in the afternoon, quiet conversations with Cassie, and solitary combat practice in the evenings with the snake. He discovered that the blind girl had developed feelings for him—something he didn't want. But he knew it wouldn't last long.
He trained with the serpent to refine his fighting style, sharpening his mastery of the Shadow Dance. Time blurred for Sunny in the repetition of these simple, pleasant moments—free of killing, free of fear. He even found a strange sense of joy in not having to think of the best way to kill someone or something constantly.
But he knew it wouldn't last. He had a long road of blood ahead of him… if he wanted to protect those he cared about.
His thoughts were interrupted one afternoon in the cafeteria, where he sat beside Cassie when someone shouted:
"An Ascended Aspect?! That's insane! What did the Spell say?!"
Of course. Sunny knew what was happening even before looking. Han Li Caster was bragging about his Ascended Aspect again, and the Legacy was fawning over him.
"Cassie," Sunny asked casually, "what's your Aspect Rank?"
He had never asked her before—fearing it might make her wary—but nearly a year of friendship had made her more open with him. Cassie leaned closer and whispered:
"…It's Sacred."
Sunny feigned surprise, letting out a shocked, "What? Sac—" only to be silenced by Cassie quickly pressing a hand over his mouth.
"Shut up, you idiot! Do you want me locked away by the Great Clans like a rat?"
He mumbled through her hand, "Alright, alright… I was just surprised. I mean, your Aspect is impressive… but mine is Higher."
Cassie blinked at him, bewildered. For a moment, she genuinely questioned if he had gone insane. "He's crazy… but the weird thing is that he didn't lie before ."
"… Divine?" she asked in a whisper.
"Silence, You idiot," Sunny muttered with a smirk.
Cassie snapped her mouth shut and lowered her gaze to the table, flustered—but unable to hide the burning hope in her eyes.
Another week passed. Then, at last, she arrived—the one Sunny had been waiting for.
Nephis. or changing Star
She sat alone in a corner of the hall, sipping coffee with her headphones in.
Soon, Awakened Rock would give his speech. Then the new Sleepers would line up to have "Psychological counseling"
. It wasn't mandatory, but most pretended to cooperate. After that, an Awakened would conduct private interviews—where They will ask about the first Nightmare and your aspect It wasn't necessary to give them a Complete answer you just have to say "I don't know "
Sunny had already decided to reveal his true name. When asked about his Aspect, he would describe it as "lethal in combat… deadly." Which wasn't a lie. Not yet—but it would be, once he became a Saint or completed his Soul Core.
During the interview, he dodged a few questions, answered others truthfully, and played his part well.
When his turn came, he was greeted by an Awakened responsible for "mental wellness."
"So, Sunless," the man said calmly, "did anything in your First Nightmare leave a psychological mark? Something you'd like to share? Maybe I can help."
"Not really. It felt more like… a game," Sunny replied.
The man jotted down notes without looking up. But Sunny, who had learned to read people through the Shadow Dance, could see the man's subtle admiration. His psychological profile was unusually solid for a new Sleeper.
"Can you describe your Aspect?" the Awakened continued. "Is it beneficial, restorative… combat-related?"
Sunny tilted his head.
"I'm still figuring it out. But I know this—it's deadly in combat. And… useful."
He felt the quiet sting of his Flaw—distant but still present. His words weren't a lie. Just not the whole truth.
The Awakened was impressed. Scribbling more notes, he finally asked the last question, this time with a spark of anticipation:
"Did the Spell grant you a True Name?"
Sunny smiled.
"Oh, yeah. It did."
He leaned back and said, simply:
"Herald of Death."
The man froze. His expression shifted—shock, awe… and respect.
He rose to his feet and, to Sunny's surprise, bowed slightly.
"I have to report this to my superiors. I'm not qualified to evaluate you."
Once all the Sleepers had finished their interviews—including Cassie and Nephis—the ranking board were posted for all to see.
Cheers and gasps erupted across the hall as names began to appear on the screen. The list of the strongest Sleepers.
First Place:
Name: Sunless
True Name: Herald of Death
Second Place:
Name: Nephis
True Name: Star of Change
The room fell silent. All eyes turned toward the two at the top of the list.
Sunny didn't care for their stares. What did please him, however, was the fact that Nephis… was finally looking at him.
Her gaze was guarded. But in it, he saw something more.
A flicker of interest. A spark of anticipation.