Sunny cleared his throat.
“Why wouldn't it be premium? You brother is quite an awesome teacher, you know."
Rain's gaze turned perilous.
"Oh, don't I know it! Don't I know it well!"
Sounds of laughter resounded in the corridors of the old manor, dispelling the silence.
Sunny had missed this laughter. But now, he didn't have to miss anything, ever again.
***
Days later, far away, two figures emerged from the shadows of the Forgotten Shore. One of them was Sunny, and the other was Asterion — bound, drained of essence, and barely able to walk.
He had spent the last few days sealed in the sorcerous circle on the underground floor of the Nameless Temple, in the company of Sunny's new Shadow. That kept the Dreamspawn contained for a while... but it wasn't going to contain him for long.
So, Sunny had come up with a different solution.
He pulled on the black chain, forcing Asterion to follow him up a tall mountain of rubble.
They were climbing the remains of the Crimson Spire, while the battlefield where the Dreamer Army had made its last stand loomed in the distance behind them.
"What a... charming place."
Asterion's voice was hoarse, but he still maintained his composure.
Sunny did not answer.
Instead, he continued forward until they finally reached their destination.
At the heart of the towering ruin, a deep well brimmed with darkness.
Far below, on the bottom of the well, there was a circle of black water, its surface flawlessly smooth... like a dark mirror. Asterion glanced down, a grim expression settling on his face.
Eventually, he turned to face Sunny and smiled.
"So, this is it, then?"
A hint of malevolent amusement ignited in his golden eyes.
“This is where you intend to seal me? What a lovely choice! Ah, but you must know that I will escape this seal, too — just like I escaped the Moon. One day, I will break free."
Sunny studied him for a while, his eyes full of somber consideration.
Then, he smiled faintly.
"Sure. I know you will."
Sunny took a deep breath and glanced around.
"But it will take you a long time. And by the time you escape... we will either be gods, or there won't be anyone left for you to devour."
Sunny faced Asterion.
"Do you see, Dreamspawn? Yes, I might not be able to destroy an idea..."
He raised his hand slowly.
“But I can make it obsolete."
With that, Sunny smiled and pushed Asterion into the well.
Into the cold embrace of the Dark Sea.
The Dreamspawn disappeared into the black water with a scream, and it swallowed him whole, suffocating the dark malice of his voice.
The water rippled a few times...
And grew still.
Soon, there was no trace of disturbance left on his surface, and no trace of him left under the lightless sky of the Forgotten Shore.
The story of the Dreamspawn was over, and new stories were about to begin in his wake.
***
Far away, at the estuary of the River of Tears, Ananke disembarked from a ship and jumped onto the soil of the Dream Realm. Her escorts stayed back, giving her space. She glanced down with an uncertain expression, unfamiliar with the feeling of a boundless expanse of solid ground under her feet. It was all so bizarre that she felt like her days were spent wandering the peculiar new world in a daze.
There were no impenetrable walls of black stone behind the azure sky. There was only a single sun traversing its vast expanse. People aged with the passage of time and died of old age while remaining in place.
It was all strange and unfamiliar... but not unwelcome.
Because this world was alive.
It was full of life.
And she was going to give her people a new life in this vast, vibrant world.
Ananke remained motionless for a long while, then pulled the seven bone amulets from beneath her mantle.
Her melodious voice resounded on the misty shores of the Stormsea, whispering the Names of Return and Liberation.
And then...
Countless figures slowly began to appear around her, hazy at first, then more and more solid.
She welcomed them with a smile.