With that, she turned to Nephis:
«Way inferior to Master Sunless. I bet he can't even cook. Stay strong, Princess!» f𝚛e𝐞𝐰𝚎b𝚗o𝚟𝚎l.c𝗼m
Nephis closed her eyes.
Sunny, meanwhile, opened them wide.
«What the hell do you mean, way inferior?! How can I be inferior to that lazy bastard?! I mean… we're the same person!»
Cassie had a very strange expression on her face. Nephis exhaled slowly, remained motionless for a moment, and opened her eyes again.
«Lord Shadow. Meet Saint Athena, Raised by Wolves.»
Sunny stared at Effie, lamenting the fact that looks could not kill.
Or rather, his looks could not. There had to be an Awakened out there somewhere with such Aspect, and definitely more than a few Nightmare Creatures.
He said emotionlessly:
«…She's loud.»
Effie gave him a dirty look and grinned.
«Wanna arm-wrestle? If you win, I'll shut up.»
Scowling behind the mask, Sunny tilted his head and stared at her some more. He was tempted, but did not wish to destroy the table.
«I don't.»
She laughed.
«Good choice!»
With that, she finally sat down.
Now, there were six of them, sitting around a table. Which, coincidentally, was round.
Changing Star of the Immortal Flame clan, Saint Cassia, Song of the Fallen, Nightsinger Kai, the Dragonislayer. Saint Athena, Raised by Wolves… the War Beast. Soul Reaper Jet.
And a mysterious Transcendent known as the Lord of Shadows.
The five Saints looked at him, while Sunny stared back at them silently.
«…The cohort is all here.»
He secretly looked around.
The room where they had gathered was not exactly opulent… but someone told him that history was going to be made here today.
He could practically sense it in the air. The omen of ruinous change.
Sunny sighed and said evenly:
«It seems that I've found myself in illustrious company.»
Nephis remained silent for a while, then sighed.
«I told you that the nature of our partnership would depend on your answers, Lord Shadow. Your answers were satisfactory, so… I've decided to trust you. Enough so, at least, to bring you into the inner circle. These people are my closest confidants.»
She paused, then added after some deliberation:
«Usually, I would not have been so quick to trust someone, But time is not on our side, and my instincts tell me that you deserve it. I've asked Saint Kai to help me confirm this feeling… I hope you won't take offense. Saint Cassia advised me to take this step, as well.»
Sunny remained silent for a moment, then said in an aloof tone:
«What a strange group. Two renowned Transcendent warriors of the Sword Domain. Three exalted champions of the government. And me… a stray that has no master. Why, exactly, are the six of us gathered here together?»
Nephis looked at each of the gathered people slowly.
Then, she shrugged and answered in her usual even tone:
«Because the six of us are going to destroy the Sovereigns.»