The sun seeped through the holes in Effie's hut, as they hadn't been patched up yet. Disturbed in her deep slumber, the huntress's eyes slowly fluttered open. She yawned, clinking her eyes, and slowly rose from the bed. The roar of her stomach was stronger than the noise of the receding Dark Sea. Used to her Flaw, she reached for the bag where she kept her food. This one wasn't a spacial Memory, but still quite big. However, her eyes widened in horror when her hand met nothing but a terrifying emptiness.
'Where is my food?'
She calmed down immediately. She must've left it in their 'Headquarters' where Nephis was currently sleeping. They had only managed to build a little habitation. Nephis had insisted Cassie stayed in the headquarters, which was the safest. However, the blind seer had been unmovable, and claimed the newly constructed hut.
Caster had declared he'd stay in his quarters in the Bright Castle until an adequate place was found for him. Effie didn't like at all, but she didn't really care about him. Like, yes, he was a formidable warrior that would undoubtedly help them in the future… but Effie couldn't care less if he was there or not. The only thing that brought her joy was how easy it was to have him react to her teasing.
Effie put a tunic on before exiting. Nephis had warned her that if she caught her walking naked in the headquarters again… well, better not to dwell on that.
Now in front of the door, Effie hesitated for a bit. Could she be still sleeping? No, that wasn't possible. In the previous days, their leader had woken up even before her.
The notion of knocking didn't even cross her mind.
The pushed the door open. The light illuminated the room, revealing its hidden secrets. Something that wasn't there when Effie had left in the evening was now stationed in the left side. A wide, exquisite and refined bed made of ancient wood was occupied by two slumbering figures. A tall woman was embracing dark haired man, pressing him tightly to her chest. He was holding her back, one of his arms under her body, the other over. Her silver hair were spawled over them, shining softly in the dark. Their legs were tangled in a chaotic yet natural display.
The morning rays entering the room did not hit the bed directly, so the two only stirred a bit, not quite yet ready to wake.
Effie stared at the sight, her mouth agape. Her eyes bolted from Sunny to Nephis, then from Nephis to Sunny.
'No way. Doofus and Princess. No way. I had already noticed that spark between them, but… This fast! They seemed as dense as rocks!'
Her gaze dropped to the floor, where, strangely, two human shadows where now visible. One was enthusiastically waving his hand, while the other was gloomily staring at her.
Effie's gaze returned upon the slumbering couple, her smile wolfish as she carefully closed the door and sprinted out of the house towards Cassie's hut. She threw the door open and was upon the blind girl in a second, shaking her awake. Cassie yelped, panicked.
"What is happening?"
Conspiratory, Effie whispered loudly.
"Cassie, you have to see this. Doofus and Princess are sleeping together."
Cassie frowned, then covered her ears and pressed her head into the bed.
"I don't think I would have been sleeping this nicely had they been together. Besides, I'm blind. What am I supposed to see? Just let me sleep, please."
Realizing her mistake, Effie blinked twice before muttering a quick sorry and darting out of the hut.
On her way to the HQ, her steps haltered for a moment.
'Hey, but what did she mean with 'I don't think I would have been sleeping this nicely had they been together.''
Her exceptional mind would have surely reached the answer, but she didn't have any time to mull it over.
Perhaps, had their relationship been further down the line, she would've guessed immediately.
Unfortunately for her, luckily for Sunny and Nephis, she opened the door before she could find the meaning behind the oracle's word.
Laying on the bed was Sunny, now awake. He had sat up, his back resting against the bed's backrest. Nephis, still asleep, had already adapted to his position. She was holding his torso, her head on his lap. Sunny was enjoying the feeling of his hand caressing her silver strange before his face paled. If that was even possible.
Effie laughed seeing his expression.
"Caught you with your hands in the bag, eh Sunny. What were you doing in that bed?"
Sunny schooled his expression.
"We were just sleeping."
The huntress chuckled.
"Together? You were so attached to each other that I couldn't see where you ended and Princess began."
Sunny ignored her, answering as best as he could.
"Yes, this bed is much softer and better, and big enough to host the both of us."
"I bet her chest was softer, too."
As Sunny was turning into an interesting crimson, she added. "By the way, where did that bed come from?"
Sunny smirked internally. Just as the situation was about to turn for the worse, she had unknowingly offered him a way out.
"From the Dark City."
Effie scrunched her eyebrows.
"So, you actually survived there for a couple of days. Impressive, really. But how the hell did you bring it here?"
Sunny smiled amiably.
"Well, I turned it into a Memory, of course."
Effie blinked.
"You turned it into a Memory?"
Sunny nodded.
"Yes. But don't go around telling people! It's a secret, and making Memories really take a toll. Originally, the bed comes from the temple of the Dark City."
The huntress's eyes widened.
"Isn't there a Fallen One? I don't know what kind of creatures it is exactly, but everyone knows to stay away from that area. My… my old master thought it was at least a Monster."
"Yes, and your master was right. It is in fact a Fallen Devil who wields True Darkness… quite a nasty fella, if you ask me. He acts as an efficient bodyguard, though."
Sunny spoke about it as if he were talking about his shopping list. Effie, however…
"YOU LIVED WITH A FALLEN DEVIL?"
"Yes. Why are you getting so worked up? I once shared with a Great Devil, too."
Sunny meant the period he had spent on the island of the Soul Devourer Tree, where, technically, he had lived together with an Awakened Terror, a Great Devil and Nephis and Cassia.
Effie calmed down as she heard the bullshit he was spewing.
"Ah, I fell for it."
Woken up by the conversation, Nephis stirred. She yawned and opened her eyes, looking up to Sunny.
"Good morning, Sunny."
"Morning, Neph."
Nephis sat up and, unaware of the huntress's presence, cradled his face with her hands and kissed him.
Sunny froze, while Effie stared dumbfounded.