"...And so very modest."
His grin dimmed, but only for a moment.
Nodding energetically, Sunny agreed.
"Indeed, amazing is a word that can be used to describe me…"
They traveled across Weave to collect everything needed for the long journey ahead. Even after long years of being abandoned, the city still seemed to be in a relatively good shape. However, beneath the beautiful surface, it had already started to crumble.
Sunny knew that Weave was not going to exist for much longer. Maybe in a decade or two, the floating city was going to break apart and be swallowed by the currents of the Great River, disappearing forever under the waves.
Before it did…
They gathered fruit from the wild groves and other supplies from various caches that Ananke had established throughout the city. There was food, spices, wine, tea leaves, and necessities that one would need to travel the Great River.
There were items, as well. The weapons and armor that the people of Weave had crafted and used were of inferior quality to the powerful Memories that Sunny and Nephis wielded, but they were able to collect a lot of things that would make traversing the Tomb of Ariel easier — from simple blankets and cutlery to fishing nets sturdy enough to capture Nightmare Creatures and sail repair kits.
Everything went into the Covetous Coffer.
As they moved from one district to another, Ananke also shared stories of Weave and its people with them. How they lived, what rituals they observed, what passions drove them and what vices they sometimes succumbed to.
There were interesting details about the everyday lives of the River People and entertaining anecdotes. Sunny really learned a lot from hearing these stories, and the more he learned, the more amazed he became.
Their world was so different from anything he knew, and so, they had adapted to its strange circumstances with the tenacious ingenuity inherent to all humans.
Their knowledge of how to survive on the Great River had been built over many generations of persistent, relentless learning and unceasing improvement.
Humans were the most adaptable of species, indeed.
When Ananke started to tell them about Weave, there was a shadow of sadness in her eyes. However, as she remembered the people from her past, they gradually grew bright and warm.
A sweet smile appeared on her lips.
…But the more the young priestess spoke, the more despondent Sunny became.
He hid his expression and stared at the empty streets of the desolate city, his own eyes veiled by somber darkness.
'It's unfair…'
Ananke had been nothing but kind to them, so it was unfair. Sunny and Nephis were going to leave Weave to travel into the distant past and challenge the Nightmare, but she… she could never leave.
Because she was Riverborn.
After guiding the two of them as far as she could, the young priestess was going to return to the crumbling city. And live the rest of her life here, alone and forsaken.
Sunny's heart was heavy, and his hatred of the Mad Prince burned darker.
Looking away, he gritted his teeth.
'Curse that vile bastard...'