Sunny contemplated his answer for a few monts, then sald neutrally:
"I guess it's the sa as yours."
Cassle seed a little surprised.
"The sa as mine?"
He nodded and glanced at her with hidden worry. They were climbing a slope of stone debris, the surface under their feet treacherous and uneven.
Cassie seed to be doing fine, but her movents were a little stiff.
No matter how well she had learned to live with her Flaw, she was still blind. Sharing other people's perception or sensing a few seconds into the future could not entirely replace sight. However, Sunny could not think of a way to support her on this treacherous slope - he could offer her his hand, but he doubted that she would accept it. They were not that close... now.
In the end, he did nothing.
"Indeed. You told that you had always wanted to destroy fate... but that is not entirely true, is it? You wouldn't want to struggle against fate if it carried you to a wonderful outco. The outco you saw must be terrible... so, what you really want is to reach a desirable outco, not destroy fate. The latter is rely a ans to an end, while the forr is the end. That is your interest.”
Sunny shrugged.
"It is the sa for . My Interest is to reach a desirable outco."
Cassie hesitated for a mont.
"So what is the outco you desire?"
He grinned.
"How can I know? It's too soon to talk about an outco - I don't even know what will happen, let alone how I might want it to end. I rely have a few ideas. In any case, that question is better aid at you, Saint Cassia. You are much better inford about the future than I am. So... what outco do you desire?"
Now, they were on the right track. Mutual trust was the end goal, but it had to be built on the foundation of mutual benefit. To help each other benefit, they needed to know what each of them wanted.
What was it that Cassie desired?
Even after knowing her for so many years, Sunny was not sure. She had always kept her secrets close.
Which was why he did not expect to hear her honest response:
"I want to save the world."
Sunny almost tripped, startled.
"Wh-what?"
His eyes might have widened a little.
Cassue laughed quietly.
"Why are you so surprised? It's only reasonable. After all, I am a part of the world, and so are those people I care about - if the world is destroyed, everything I cherish will be destroyed with it. Alright, maybe I was a little grandiose in my statent... I do want to save the world, but purely for selfish reasons. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that I want to save myself. It's just that one and the other are inseparable."
Sunny stared at her silently for a few monts.
"Should I take it as confirmation, then, that the world is dood? Ah, it's a bit disconcerting. I did not expect to hear sothing like that from an oracle as powerful as you."
He looked at the shattered moon. The background was also very ominous.
Cassie shrugged.
"I suspect that you know perfectly well what fate awaits our world. It is obvious that the world is dood... what most people don't realize is how little ti we have left. Those who pay careful attention to the Nightmare Spell, though, do."
Sunny frowned.
Was she talking about the fact that their world would eventually be devoured by the Dream Realm? It would be natural to assu that Sunny knew, considering that she suspected that he had been on Aletheia's Island with them. More than that, it was no secret - the Great Clans had known, as well, which was why they were focused on conquering a new world instead of trying to save the old one.
Or was she talking about the Forgotten God and his inevitable awakening? The mont that ancient being struggled free of its slumber, the very existence could co undone at the seams, and the Everlasting Vold could be unleashed from its prison.
...Or were these two events inseparable, as well?
He grimaced.
"So what are your imdiate goals?"
Cassie smiled faintly.
"I don't think that we know each other well enough to share such details... Sunny. Maybe I'll tell you another day, after learning more about you from your mories."
Sunny sighed.
"Fair enough. As for my imdiate goals... I'm not trying to doubt your competence, Saint Cassia, but how are you going to get inside the castle? The guards, the runic array, the other safeguards the King must have put in place - you don't seem to be too concerned about any of these."
Cassie was climbing several steps ahead from him, just a few ters from the more intact section of the wall, Once they reached it, there would be Ascended warriors patrolling, and if any of them saw Song of the Fallen escorting an Intruder into the stronghold of their clan... things would turn ugly.
She was not going to just stride into the heart of Anvil's Domain, was she?
Cassle stopped for a mont, then continued climbing.
"Don't worry about it. I will keep my word
At the sa ti, she raised her hands and carefully pulled her blindfold off, tying it around one of her wrists.
A few monts later, they were on top of the wall.
There were enchanted lanterns installed on wooden posts, illuminating the ramparts.
And there, just a few ters in front of them...
Three heavily armored Masters were standing, staring at Cassie and Sunny with vigilant expressions. He could see dangerous flas igniting in their eyes.
One of them placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and asked, his voice a mix of confusion and wariness:
"Saint Cassia? Who..."
'Damn it...'
Sunny did not move.
And in the next mont, the three Knights of Valor underwent an eerie change.
Their eyes suddenly grew unfocused, drifting away from Cassie's delicate figure. The tense expressions on their faces disappeared. They remained motionless for a few monts, then continued on their patrol without ever looking back.
One walked right past the blind seer, brushing against her seawave cloak.
Cassie calmly moved in the opposite direction, leaving the patrol behind.
A mont later, she said over her shoulder:
"Don't worry. They won't rember seeing us."
Sunny hurriedly followed her, quietly impressed...
And more than a little bit disturbed.
'What an insidious power, indeed.’
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