Ray really needed a break.
Not only had he fought through parts of the night, staying on edge because of that weird bastard lurking in the sea, but today had been nothing but an exhausting rush. First, he had to carve a path through nightmare creatures just to reach the wall - unable to even take the time to harvest their soul shards - and then, to top it off, he'd spent the last few hours climbing this stupidly high structure.
Now, standing at the top, the fatigue hit him like a crashing wave. He needed to rest.
Before dropping onto the stone and closing his eyes for however long his body would allow, Ray glanced around the wall in both directions, scanning his surroundings. His gaze immediately locked onto a faint, flickering glow in the distance. A fire.
His first instinct was caution. A fire meant someone was there. But whether that someone was a Sleeper like him, a nightmare creature with a taste for theatrics, or something worse, he had no way of knowing. Even if it was another Sleeper, who was to say they'd be friendly?
Still…
The scent of grilled meat drifted through the air, and Ray's stomach twisted in longing. The hunger he'd been ignoring all day roared to life.
Screw it.
Keeping his grip firm on [Stormpiercer], Ray moved forward carefully, his steps silent against the worn stone. As he approached, the scent grew stronger, and the fire came into clearer view.
The person sitting by it was alone, eating, and completely at ease - something that immediately told Ray one thing. They were strong.
The closer he got, the more details he made out. The figure was seated in what looked like an old guard post - half a corridor, half a small room built into the wall. A space with limited escape routes. To some, that might be a death trap. To others, it was the perfect spot to hold your ground.
Then, when he was about twenty meters away, the person turned and looked straight at him.
Ray met sharp, assessing eyes.
The woman watching him could only be described as an Amazoness. She had a strong, athletic frame, tanned skin, and wore practical, well-worn gear. Not heavy armor, but layered cloth and light plating in a way that prioritized movement. Her dark hair was tied back, but a few loose strands fell around her striking features.
Ray had read about them before - the Amazons. A tribe said to have existed long before the emergence of the Spell, composed entirely of women. Fierce warriors, said to be some of the deadliest fighters of their time. And if the stories were true, trying to take advantage of the fact, that they were only woman, was a fast way to get butchered.
The woman's eyes swept over him from head to toe, her expression unreadable.
"I don't think I know anyone with those kinds of Memories," she said, leaning back slightly. "And someone like you? You'd be hard to miss. Let me guess - you're one of this year's batch of Sleepers?"
Ray nodded. "Yeah, I think so. The Winter Solstice was two days ago, so… yeah. But - where are we, exactly? I haven't found any noticeable signs or landmarks for any known region of the Dream World."
The woman let out a long sigh, tilting her head back as if she'd heard this question a hundred times before.
"Well then, congrats, kid. Welcome to hell."
"…That bad, huh?"
"Oh, you have no idea." She smirked slightly. "This region? Doesn't exist to the outside world. No maps, no records. No convenient landmarks to help you figure out where you are. At one point, the unlucky bastards who landed here started calling it the 'Forgotten Shore.' And, well-" she gestured around them, "-you can probably guess why."
Ray remained silent for a moment, taking that in.
"Great," he muttered. "So I'm stranded in a place no one even knows exists."
"Yep." The woman popped a piece of grilled meat into her mouth, chewing leisurely. "But hey, good news - you're not the first, and probably won't be the last."
Ray narrowed his eyes slightly. "There are others?"
The woman shrugged. "A colony of Sleepers. Some new, some very old. They've made their base in the city beyond this wall. It's not exactly a safe haven - but compared to staying outside with the sea? It's the better option."
Ray glanced past her, toward the darkened expanse beyond the wall. "And the city itself?"
She made a vague motion with her hand. "A half-dead ruin crawling with nightmare creatures, many of the fallen rank. The usual. But the Sleepers there have managed to hold a spot - made themselves a home in a mountain at the city's center. A nice, looming castle straight out of a horror story."
Ray raised an eyebrow. "A castle?"
She grinned. "Oh yeah. Giant, dark, looks like a villain's lair. Real cozy."
"…And you're telling me they just live there?"
"More like survive." Her expression turned a little more serious. "It's complicated. You'll see for yourself soon enough." Then, just as quickly, her smirk returned. "But enough about that. You hungry or what?"
Ray didn't hesitate. "Absolutely."
"Thought so." She scoffed lightly, tossing a piece of meat his way. "Sit your ass down, handsome. You look like you're about to drop."
Ray caught it, eyeing her for a moment before stepping closer and finally lowering himself onto the stone. He took a bite, and after nothing exploded, burned, or poisoned him, he allowed himself to enjoy the meal.
The woman watched him with amusement.
"Name's Athena, by the way," she said casually. "Most just call me Effie."
Ray swallowed his bite before responding. "Ray."
"Figures." She smirked. "You look like a Ray."
He raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Effie just laughed. "Nothing bad. Just means you're fun to mess with."
Ray and Effie ate in silence at first, both savoring the much-needed meal. But as the minutes passed, they realized something odd.
Neither of them seemed to know when to stop.
What started as casual eating soon escalated into a silent challenge. Each time one of them reached for another piece, the other did the same. Neither spoke about it, but the tension was there. A war of endurance, fought with grilled meat.
Ray, fueled by his earlier starvation, refused to back down. But Effie? She had the seasoned confidence of someone used to eating ridiculous amounts after long hunts. And she was determined not to lose.
The pace quickened.
The fire crackled.
More and more food disappeared.
And then, finally, Ray slowed down. He wasn't full yet, but he could feel the point approaching, the dangerous threshold where one more bite would send him collapsing backward. Across from him, Effie swallowed her last piece, stretched her arms over her head, and grinned victoriously.
Ray groaned. "You're insane."
Effie smirked, tapping her stomach. "And you thought you could beat me?"
"Next time, I'm preparing beforehand."
"Next time? You're on."
Despite his loss, Ray couldn't help but grin. It had been a long time since he had just… relaxed with someone. But as satisfying as the meal was, there was one big problem.
Both of them were so full that even moving felt like a risk.
They leaned back, staring at the night sky above the Forgotten Shore, willing their stomachs to process what they had just done to themselves. The air was quiet, aside from the distant sound of waves and the occasional low howl from the ruins beyond the wall.
It took a while before they were in any shape to talk again.
Ray was the first to break the silence. "So… you always eat out here? Or is there a reason you're not at that castle?"
Effie didn't answer immediately. Her expression shifted - just slightly - but enough for Ray to notice. Something complicated flickered in her eyes before she sighed, running a hand through her dark hair.
"You'll understand soon enough," she said, leaning forward and poking at the fire with a stick. "I can take you there tomorrow." Then, after a brief pause, her lips curled into a proud smirk. "After all, I am one of the - if not the - best hunter who ventures into the city."
Ray clapped lightly, making Effie flash an even smugger grin.
But the amusement faded quickly. She shifted her posture, her tone turning more serious.
"No, but really. The situation at the castle is… complicated. And you?" She eyed him carefully. "You don't strike me as the submissive type."
Ray raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like." She rested her elbows on her knees, watching him closely. "The way you hold yourself. The way you talk. You're not the type to blindly follow someone else's orders just because they say so."
Ray frowned. "…And that's a problem at the castle?"
"Could be." Effie exhaled through her nose. "Let's just say - things aren't as simple as 'a bunch of Sleepers working together.' There's a system. A hierarchy. And if you step on the wrong toes, you'll find yourself in a bad spot real fast."
Ray was quiet for a moment, considering her words. He didn't know much about this place yet, but he'd learned to trust his instincts. And right now? They told him that Effie's warning wasn't something to brush off.
"…Got it," he said finally. "I'll keep that in mind."
Effie studied him for another second, then nodded, satisfied. "Good."
Silence settled between them again, the fire crackling softly.
Then, after a while, Ray let out a thoughtful hum.
"Say… do they have normal clothes there?"
Effie blinked. "Huh?"
"I mean, I don't dislike the whole knightly aesthetic," he gestured at himself, still clad in his Sentinel's Embrace, "but I'd rather have something normal to wear when I'm not expecting a fight."
Effie let out a short laugh. "Oh, you poor thing. Is your heavy ass armor a bit uncomfortable?"
Ray rolled his eyes. "I just don't like sleeping in full plate, thanks. And for your information, it is actually not really heavy."
"Well, lucky for you," she said, stretching lazily, "yeah, they've got clothes at the castle. Stuff scavenged from the city, or even made from some nightmare creatures. It's not exactly a fashion paradise, but it beats walking around naked."
Ray let out a mock sigh of relief. "That's the best thing I've heard all day."
Effie chuckled. "Enjoy it while it lasts, kid. The rest of what you'll hear tomorrow? Not so fun."
Ray leaned back against the stone. He had no doubt about that.