Awakened Kim laughed quietly.
"There was. Now however, we have a Dark Castle... ruled by a Dark Lord."
June blinked a couple of times.
"That's a little on the nose, isn't it?"
She coughed.
"Oh... it is. Don't say it to the boss's face though. Granted, he probably heard you already - he hears everything, after all.
June paled.
"What I meant to say was that it is beautifully poetic and highly symbolic. Yeah?"
Kim looked at him with a hint of disdain and shook her head.
"In any case, let's go. I need to get back to NQSC soon."
They walked across the Dark City together as she explained a few more things. June was a little bit distracted however, by the sight of countless harrowing Nightmare creatures - or rather, their silent shadows - moving along the desolate streets, clearing them of stone debris or transporting building materials.
It seemed like the entire city was beinng slowly restored to its former glory.
At some point, they passed a magnificent ruined cathedral. Rhythmic sounds of a hammer striking an anvil could be heard from the inside, ringing far and wide in the silence of the desolate city.
June looked at it with curiosity.
"What is happening there?"
Awakened Kim glanced at the cathedral and frowned slightly.
"There... our blacksmith is there, working endlessly to arm the members of the Shadow Legion. He is a shadow, just like the rest of them."
June thought he heard a reverent note in her voice, but wasn't sure what it meant.
Finally, they ascended the tall hill and stopped. The Nameless Temple was to their right, while the towering gates of the Dark Castle were in front of them.
Looking at the dark chasm, June couldn't help but shiver.
"You know, Awakened Kim... looking at this gate, I can't help but feel like it is the maw of a giant, insatiable beast."
She gave him an odd look, then headed towards the gate with a nonchalant shrug.
"Well, that is because it is. This entire castle is one giant Transcendent Devil."
June chuckled.
'This Awakened Kim... she really has a strange sense off humor.'
"You're joking, right?"
The unassuming woman entered the castle without responding.
June hesitated in front of the gates for a few moments.
"...Right?"