Kai sat slumped in his chair, his expression dead and hollow, as Amon retched for the fifth time into the bucket. Somehow… somehow, this lunatic had enough soul shards for both of them to pass through the gates of Bright Castle.

"Are you satisfied now?" Kai asked flatly.

Amon lifted his pale face from the bucket, eyes watery, lips trembling. For once, he had no yap in him, which was a bit shocking since he's a professional yapper. Wiping his mouth, he staggered upright and muttered miserably:

"I'm not drinking anymore…"

Kai blinked, baffled. "…Drinking? What do you mean, drinking?"

Then his eyes widened. "Wait… were you drunk?!"

Amon grimaced, spat to the side, and coughed awkwardly.

"Yeah. When I'm drunk, I… do a lot of stupid shit."

Kai just stared at him in stunned silence, than leaned back, massaging his neck with hint of exhaustion visible in his eyes.

"At least the vomiting sobered me up," Amon added with a shrug, rubbing his face. "But… how the hell did I forget about Spire Messengers? Damn things almost gave me a heart attack. Thought I was gonna shit myself midair."

Kai buried his face in his hands.

Meanwhile, Amon pulled out a battered notebook from Fraud's Bag, flipped it open, and began muttering as he read through his 'bible.'

[My dreams and goals:

1. Clear first nightmare: +

2. Steal Endless Spring: +

3. Steal Underworld's Armament: –

4. Swindle Abominations: +

5. Steal soul shards: +

6. Have ship: +

7. Have cool flying ship: –

8. Glaze myself with fake lore: +

9. Traumatize Sunny: +

10. Roast Nephis and Cassie: +

11. Steal Weaver's Mask: –

12. Fly like Mr. Chow: +

13. Unlock monocle: +

14. Deceive entire world: –

15. Become greatest Blasphemer: –

16. Get wizard robes + pointy hat: –]

Amon frowned. "Huh. Most of 'em are done already… I need new material."

He scribbled a fresh line:

[17. Have cool dragon: +]

He shot a smug look at Kai. "Technically already achieved. Just gotta wait until you hit Saint rank."

Kai let out a pained groan.

But before Amon could continue brainstorming new ways to have fun, the door snapped open.

A woman entered.

Her dress was simple yet regal, velvet the color of deep wine. A silver necklace rested on her chest, her bracelets gleamed faintly, but what stole the breath from the room was her skin; smooth, flawless, and grey like storm clouds.

Kai went still as stone. His eyes widened slightly, but he didn't dare look at her directly.

Seishan swept her gaze over Kai, unreadable, then turned it onto Amon who was still swishing water in his mouth to kill the taste of vomit. Her eyes flicked to the bucket, and a faint shadow of disgust crossed her otherwise perfect face.

"What made you think you can just come whenever you please?" she asked coldly.

Amon waved lazily, then tossed two Awakened soul shards her way.

Seishan caught them without flinching, her face a mask of disdain. "Do you think you can bribe-"

"Yeah. "

"..."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. Then, after a long beat, she tucked the shards away with a curt nod.

Another presence slipped into the room. A young woman with snow-white hair tied into a neat ponytail and eyes clear as crystal water. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and she carried herself with a gentle smile that softened the air.

"Amon, where have you been… Is that…?"

After Amon quickly introduced Kai to two woman, they sat together in an uneasy circle. Amon lounged like it was his living room, Luna perched gracefully at his side, and Seishan sat rigid, arms crossed, her storm-grey skin gleaming in the candlelight. Kai… well, Kai looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

The silence stretched, heavy and brittle, until Amon cleared his throat with a pleasant smile.

"So," he said lightly, turning to Seishan. "Did Changing Star make contact with you?"

Seishan's eyes flickered wide for the briefest instant. Then the mask dropped back into place, colder than before. Her lips parted but before she could cut him down, Luna placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, her smile warm enough to melt stone.

"It's fine, Seishan. I told him. Not that it mattered, Amon would have figured it out anyway."

Seishan's expression barely shifted, but her eyes hardened to ice. "Let's say I indulge you. You share information with this… thing."

"But I'm Lil' Raven."

"Amon, shut up."

"Fine..."

Seishan didn't even blink at his nonsense. Her gaze slid past him, locking on Kai. "Why is he here, then? Why should Mr. Kai be privy to this?" Her voice lowered, sharp as glass. "I trust you have a reason, Luna."

Luna's cheer faltered. Her shoulders dipped as she exhaled a soft sigh. "As I said before… Amon is trustworthy. You don't need to worry."

Seishan studied her for a long, suffocating moment, then shifted her gaze back to Kai.

Kai froze. He hadn't said a word but his eyes betrayed him. His disbelief was plain as day.

Luna, finally realizing what had happened, paled. Her cheerful mask cracked into a frown, and she lowered her gaze like a scolded child.

Amon's own smile twitched, the faintest flicker of irritation creeping through his facade. "Really, Kai? You couldn't even pretend to back me up?"

Kai avoided Amon's gaze, muttering with guilt.

"…I'm sorry."

Amon sighed and shook his head. It didn't matter. Still... Luna, why don't you believe...? Shit. Whatever. Not worth the energy.

"Well, forget that. What matters is whether she did or not."

Seishan breathed out slowly, Luna giving her an encouraging, if slightly forced smile. Finally, she nodded, her tone flat and indifferent.

"Indeed. She wishes to cooperate with me. And for some reason, I feel you already knew."

Amon chuckled, smooth and pleasant.

"Of course I did. You want out of this forgotten shore, and you think Changing Star is your ticket. But you're wrong. She can't even save herself, let alone anyone else."

Seishan's eyes flicked toward Kai, but Amon rolled his own first.

"Kai. Tell her. Truth or lie."

Kai hesitated, then sighed. "…It's the truth."

Seishan gave a curt nod, as if she had expected no less. Kai frowned, his confusion breaking through.

"Wait… Lady Seishan, how do you know I'm telling the truth? Sure, I can detect lies, but what if I'm just lying to protect Amon?"

Her scarlet lips curved upward in faint amusement. She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other.

"You could, yes. But I have a trick of my own. I can feel your heartbeat and blood flow. With that, I know whether you speak truth or lie. And you did indeed tell the truth, Mr. Kai."

Amon and Luna had somehow ended up shoulder to shoulder on the couch, sharing the Endless Spring like conspiracy tea. He passed it over; Luna stifled a laugh at his whispered, "So… teen wolf?" She elbowed him, making him roll his eyes.

Kai squirmed under the weight of silence before blurting his curiosity.

"Then why even need me to confirm Amon's words?"

Seishan glanced at Amon who was mumbling something about wolves and a guy named Stiles and shook her head in faint displeasure before answering with a graceful smile.

"Because he's a good liar. Too good. His heartbeat, his blood flow, his body language, none of it shifts. He lies like breathing. That's why I need your flaw to anchor the truth."

Seeing the tension ease, Amon let out a sigh. He was a little annoyed that his attribute had been countered so cleanly, but Seishan wasn't stupid, he had expected as much.

"So," he said pleasantly, "shall we continue?"

Seishan gave a curt nod. Amon leaned forward, his smile calm, almost harmless. And yet, for some reason, a faint unease crept over her as his dark eyes fixed on hers.

"What are the requirements to leave this place?" he asked softly. "Do you know them?"

Her expression tightened, tinged with irritation and weariness. "We need to gather the shard memories. Then defeat the horde of Abominations sent by the Gate's guardian. Only after fusing the shards into a key to seal the Dark Sea can we access the Crimson Spire. Defeat the guardian… and then, perhaps, we may return to the waking world."

Amon nodded, satisfied. "And you believe Nephis can gather those shards?"

Seishan's voice grew colder. "…Yes. I believe she can."

"Heh." Amon leaned back, shaking his head, his smile growing sharper. "She can't."

Her eyes narrowed. "…Pardon?"

"She can't," Amon repeated, voice now edged with quiet amusement. "Because I already hold Dawn, Dusk, Zenith, Midnight, Starlight, and Moonlight Shard. And you…" his gaze flicked toward her, "…have the last one, Sunlight Shard. Which means... The only way out is through me. Without me, everyone rots here."

For a long moment, Seishan was motionless. The carefully carved mask on her face barely held but even she couldn't hide the flicker of disbelief, the rare crack of shock. Slowly, she turned her eyes to Luna.

Luna only nodded with a faint smile. Then to Kai, whose hesitant nod confirmed it.

"…But… how?" Seishan breathed.

Amon blinked innocently, then burst out laughing. It rolled through the chamber, bright and mocking. To her, he had been nothing but a leech, a background shadow clinging to Medici and Luna. To think that same shadow held the keys to their fate…

"Oh, my fair lady." He wiped a tear from his eye, grin wicked. "I have my ways."

He leaned forward again, voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur.

"So… are you ready to hear my plan?"

Two hours later, Seishan nodded reluctantly as Amon finished explaining his plan. It was solid… but she still felt uneasy, even with Luna's support.

"Then we take our leave," she said, standing. Luna followed with a warm smile, stepping lightly behind Seishan until the older woman abruptly stopped, nearly causing Luna to stumble.

Tilting her head, Seishan glanced at Amon, then at the bucket beside him, its contents… unpleasant. She quickly averted her gaze but could not hide the faint wrinkle of disgust.

"Why… is there a bucket filled with that filth? What happened?"

Amon and Kai exchanged glances. Kai looked away, awkward and embarrassed, while Amon simply whistled, a note of irritation in it.

Flashback:

High above the ruined city, Kai carried Amon through the clouds, his stomach churning as he peered down at streets that looked like a ants.

"We can still go back, Amon," Kai muttered, voice tight with unease.

Amon only shook his head, eyes gleaming with dangerous seriousness.

"How can you challenge heaven if you can't even challenge your own fears, Kai?"

Kai blinked, forcing a shaky smile. "…What does heaven have to do with this?"

Amon sighed, a grave expression of disappointment crossing his face. "Heavens are cruel. That's a fact. All we can do is persevere… and move forward. Now, drop me."

Kai's wings faltered. "Are you sure? Have you… done something like this before?"

Amon nodded calmly, a smug monk-like smile curling his lips. "Millions of times. Just trust."

Kai closed his eyes, took a deep breath… and let go.

Amon plummeted like a rock. The makeshift parachute flapped wildly, barely slowing him.

Kai clenched his eyes shut, unable to watch… until a horrifyingly off-key melody pierced the air:

"I believe I can flyyyyy~

I believe I can touch the skyyyyy~"

Kai's eyes snapped open, pale with disbelief. Below, Amon spun through the air, half-parachute, half-rag, somehow gliding across the ruined city.

Kai exhaled in relief, then froze. His blood ran cold, his body trembling.

Spire Messenger…? Oh… shit.

End Flashback

Seishan stared at the two of them for a long moment before sighing and closing the door, leaving Kai and Amon alone, Luna trailing behind.

Hearing the story had shaken her. The plan no longer seemed entirely reassuring. And the fact that Kai went along with his insanity was even more mind-blowing, making her doubt chance of escaping this place alive. But that wasn't what stunned her most was Amon already having the Zenith and Starlight shards, memories belonging to Huntress Athena.

"How did he get them and can we really trust him?" she asked Luna, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

Luna hummed cheerfully. "Can we trust him? Of course. Amon's… eccentric, sure, and not very reliable but he gets things done. Don't ask about the shards; he'll talk nonsense. What I can say is he wants out of this place as much as we do."

Seishan narrowed her eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "So that's it… he wants to leave. But why would he risk his life? He could die if he goes through with his plan."

Luna looked away, coughing into her fist and fidgeting with her hair. "Because he's lazy. Hates work, hates responsibility… living here is hard. He just wants comfort."

Seishan blinked, incredulous.

"That's it?"

"Yep. Lazy bum."

"…Bum?"

"Nothing. Forget it."

***

[A/N: Okay, guys, I don't know how this chapter came out since I'm on a freaking hangover and my head's about to split. Personally, I feel like it's lacking. But eh, I couldn't betray you guys, so whatever.

Is the chapter good?

1. Yes

2. Meh

3. No

4. Trash

Anyway, I plan to change Luna's true name. So we need votes! Should we keep True Creator or change it to Deputy of Heaven?

1. True Creator

2. Deputy of Heaven

That's it. Enjoy, and I'm going to take a bath again… fuck.]

***