"Well then, would mind taking one of my Memories?"
Cassie extended her hand without hesitation. "Okay."
Sunny grasped the blind seer's hands but hesitated before initiating the transfer. "I want you to understand the risks first. I'm not sure the Spell will appreciate me giving up this particular Memory, so you'll need to summon it, and agree to use it, immediately—don't even try to learn the runes. Also... it will hurt. Probably."
Through the boy's Flaw, Cassie sensed his flickering inner conflict—his resolution at odds with his trepidation. The two emotions clashed, and the continuously changing favored one would shine through the surface. His outward actions were in stark contrast to the war within his mind. Confident actions betrayed a rational mind calculating every risk.
"I understand. I trust you."
Sunny nodded with grim determination, and with a thought, he willed the Memory to transfer. Cassie summoned it. The manifestation started as a cluster of golden sparks, flickering like a distant star. But soon, the sparks twisted and swelled into a torrent of light. The energy seemed to pour from everywhere and nowhere, its radiance filling the room. Strangely though, the blinding light seemed to only make the shadows grow darker. They began to stretch and morph in a strange, eerie dance.
As a golden drop of ichor fully materialized, the weight of solace and a quiet peace settled over the room. The shadows, once alive with frantic motion, stilled in reverence, as though frozen by the presence that now filled the space.
In nearly the same breath, the golden teardrop shot forward, merging with Cassie's body. Being blind, she had no visual awareness of what was happening around her, so the sudden invasion of Shadow's Lineage felt like a surprising, violent intrusion. Her breath caught, and she collapsed onto the sheets of Sunny's bed.
The moment Cassie's body began to writhe in agony, Sunny rushed to her side, trying to steady her shaking frame. Her screams tore through the air, a horrifying sound that echoed in the small room. He pressed his palm over her mouth, muffling her cries for a split second, but the instant she sank her teeth into his flesh—desperate to break free—he pulled away. Inhuman shrieks bellowed from her contorted form, the sound raw and primal.
The dormitory around them would not remain indifferent to the ghastly noises, and so it was that Sunny began to hear pounding echoing from the room's entrance. "What the hell is going on? Somebody break down this fucking door, the girl's being attacked!"
Sunny bolted upright, and thinking quickly he rushed to fling open the door. He plastered a panicked expression on his face, struggling to make his voice crack with urgency.
"You—Get a doctor! She started shaking, and now she's screaming—does anyone have a healing aspect? Hurry!"
By now, the Sleepers in the academy knew all too well that Sunny's flaw made others able to discern his true emotions at a glance. And right now, the only emotions they could sense were fear fighting with determination—no guilt, no hidden motive.
***
As Cassie's screams began to fade, Sunny rushed to her side. "Cassie! Are you okay?"
When she opened her eyes, an endless black abyss obscuring the whites of her eyes retreated into her pupils. A headache brought her hand to her head. "Oh, Gods... What the hell was that?"
Sunny took control of the conversation, his voice calm, his actions methodical. His fingers brushed lightly against Cassie's wrist to check her pulse, then her forehead to gauge her temperature—performative actions, of course. The show was necessary to avoid suspicion. With both of them having strange episodes in one day, the attention they drew would be unavoidable. He was setting up a cover story, and he kicked himself for not doing so earlier.
"You were shaking suddenly and started screaming. I couldn't figure out what to do, so I had the Sleepers outside get help. Your Aspect gives you visions, right? Past or future, when you sleep? Was it a nightmare?"
Cassie, ever quick to analyze, realized the implication. She answered in a detached tone. "It was... I saw a nightmare. Of my death... It felt so vivid... so real."
Before long, Academy medical staff arrived, gently guiding the curious spectators away from the room.
As Cassie was examined, Sunny found himself briefly interrogated by the medical staff.
"What happened? Tell us everything."
Sunny could only hope Cassie's version of events would match his.
"We were both in bed when she suddenly started gasping and thrashing. When the screaming started, I asked the student outside to get help. A while before you showed up, she seemed to calm down. We talked, and she said she had a particularly nasty vision through her Aspect. It gives her an affinity to divination and revelations, you see. Then, you arrived. I'm just relieved she seems okay."
Across the room, Cassie gave subtle nod to Sunny.
***
The medical staff left after a thorough checkup, ensuring Cassie's vitals were stable and she didn't need a psychiatric hold.
The room fell into a heavy silence before Cassie finally turned toward Sunny.
"What the HELL Sunny? Why did you just give me Shadow God's lineage? HOW DID YOU EVEN HAVE THAT."
Sunny's response was calm, his voice steady.
"It was one of the relics from my Aspect Legacy. I gave it to you... because you'll need it to survive what's coming. Nephis was strong. The strongest to ever pass through this academy, in fact. As a Sleeper, she wielded flames capable of destroying or healing, alongside her peerless martial prowess and lineage of the Sun God. We won't have her by our side come the winter solstice, so I need you to be able to defend yourself."
Cassie nodded, her expression hardening with cold resolve. Sunny continued.
"Master Jet... the lady overseeing my first nightmare, she told me a truth I was forced to accept, no matter how much I loath it. Nobody survives in the Dream Realm alone. The two of us barely survived with Nephis at our side. Even then, that was only because she saw my potential and nurtured me into a blade worthy to stand as her equal. Your visions also saved us numerous times. Without both of us, she would've perished, too."
Sunny paused, and grasped the blind girl's hand, understanding that it let her perceive his new Flaw.
"I need you to be a reliable ally, not just in divination, but also in battle. I know your potential from watching your future self."
Cassie swallowed hard, the lump in her throat choking her words.
"But... this power. If you would like to tell me, was it not meant to be yours?"
Sunny replied without hesitation, though his flaw did not compel him to answer.
"No. My power is my own, and I intend to claim a different lineage. Do not concern yourself with feeling as if you have stolen from me... I had a very selfish reason to give you this power. Aspect Legacy or not, knowledge of the future or not, I need to be able to depend upon you in battle as Nephis once depended upon me. Two must fill the role of three."
Sunny's gaze darkened, and he willed Gloomy to rush toward Cassie murderously, as if to violently strike her down.
Cassie flinched, instinctively recoiling. The shadow, of course, did nothing to the blind seer.
Sunny's plan had worked.
"Sight is but a single sense. What your flaw has taken from you, I have replaced. Though you may not see, you can now join me among the shadows."