'Pathetic.'
Returning inside, Sunny entered his room and sat on the cot, staring at the wall.
He spent most of the day there, going out only once to pretend to train with the Midnight Shard. While he was repeating the katas, he thought that he caught sight of Nephis observing the movements of his sword with a frown on her face. But a second later, she was distracted and drawn away by the neverending torrent of tasks required of her.
'Good riddance! Go chat with Caster, see if I care!' Come to p a n d a-n o v e l,c o m
His sudden anger surprised Sunny.
Well, at least it was better than the grim apathy that reigned over him this whole day.
'What's wrong with my mind lately? It's like I'm back on the Ashen Barrow.'
Frowning, he dismissed the Midnight Shard and returned to his room.
However, someone was waiting for him there. It was Cassie.
The blind girl stood silently with her back to the door, holding the wooden staff in her hands. Her face was unusually still. It almost looked… bleak.
Sunny's heart skipped a bit.
'Did she… did she find out?'
Forcing out a fake grin, he made his voice sound cheerful and said:
"Oh, hey Cas. Do you want something?"
She turned to him and, after a moment of hesitation, smiled. However, something about her smile was off.
It was almost as though it was as forced as his own.
The blind girl lingered, then said:
"No, nothing in particular."
Sunny blinked a couple of times.
'What's up with her today?'
Meanwhile, Cassie raised her hand and found his shoulder.
"No… actually, I have a present for you."
He raised his eyebrow.
"A… present?"
She nodded. In the next moment, a spark of energy suddenly traveled from her body into his.
Sunny flinched.
[You have received a Memory: Endless Spring.]
Wasn't it… that pretty glass bottle of hers, one that contained an almost endless amount of water?
Why was she giving it to him?
"Why are you gifting me this all of a sudden?"
She was silent for a few moments, then gently shook her head.
"I just wanted to. Why? Can't I give you something, after everything that you have done for us?"
Sunny hesitated.
"I guess you can. I just didn't expect it."
Cassie gripped his shoulder and remained motionless for a weirdly long amount of time. Then, she looked away and said, her voice light and even:
"We'll meet again soon, Sunny."
'Weirdo.'
He patted her hand and said, a little embarrassed.
"Of course we will. Where would I go? This lodge is too small for us not to bump into each other all the time anyway."
She slowly removed her hand and chuckled.
"Yeah. You're right, of course. I'll… I'll go now."
With that, she turned away and headed for the door.
Sunny stared at her back and shrugged.
"Alright. Bye."
'What has gotten into her?'
Reaching the doorway, Cassie froze for a second. Without turning her head and letting him see her face, she lingered for a while, then quietly said:
"...Goodbye, Sunny."