After the fierce battle with the bothersome abominations, Sunny thought he had seen the worst of the day. But as he took a moment to catch his breath, a new presence stirred on the horizon. A massive, dark shadow rushed across the sky with a speed that could only belong to something flying. With a quick, clear thought, Sunny realized who must be approaching him—a familiar and formidable figure who was known to soar through the skies. There was no doubt in his mind: it could only be Master Roan.
Sunny's heart skipped a beat as he watched a large griffin descend from above. The majestic creature landed gracefully a short distance away, careful to choose a spot clear of obstacles so that neither it nor its rider would be hurt. In a flurry of practiced movements, Sunny quickly recalled his past magical creations—he unsummoned the older versions of Saint and Nightmare that had once served him and instead sent their future forms to a nearby forest. He made sure that he looked as presentable as possible despite the chaos that still clung to him.
Not stopping there, Sunny discarded his cloak of darkness, a garment that had long hidden his secret. Instead, he chose to don the puppeteer shroud, a disguise that helped him blend into his surroundings and hide the truth about his unusual origins. He preferred that others never learn of his mongrel nature, so every detail of his appearance was meticulously arranged to avoid suspicion.
Before long, the griffin's powerful wings carried it back into the air, and from its back stepped Master Roan. His bright, warm smile spread across his face as he walked slowly toward Sunny, a clear sign of his pleasure at finding him. The friendly tone in Roan's voice did little to ease the storm of thoughts racing through Sunny's mind. He had been dreading this meeting, fearing that it might signal an end to his long-cherished freedom and his passion for the hunt.
Deep down, Sunny knew he had only a few moments left before a major change loomed over his life—he was destined for Antarctica soon, a place that promised harsh, unforgiving conditions. With less than a hundred abominations remaining to be defeated by his own hands, he worried that his days of hunting might come to an abrupt close. Yet, despite this heavy thought, he found himself forced to pause, forced to delay his next hunt a little longer as he listened to the welcoming words of Master Roan.
"Ah, Master Sunless, it is truly wonderful to see you today. I have been looking all over for you," Roan said, his voice steady and kind. The simplicity of his greeting, delivered with genuine warmth, made it clear that there was more to this encounter than just a chance meeting. As the two stood there, the sky slowly brightening above them, the weight of destiny and unspoken challenges hung in the air—a reminder that sometimes, even when one battle is over, life still holds many more trials and surprises in store.
Sunny's thoughts churned with a mix of worry and reluctant acceptance. There was another, less obvious reason he dreaded any further involvement with the White Feather clan. In his mind, every abomination he had slain had subtly altered their nature—changing the way they moved, evolved, and even fought. He was painfully aware that his actions might have set in motion changes he couldn't fully control. In the worst case, he would be forced to undo the damage he had caused; at best, he might have to help them repair what his own hands had shattered.
His voice, heavy with fatigue and hidden irritation, betrayed his inner struggle. It seemed as if his tone was laced with anger towards Roan, even though deep down, he was simply trying to do his duty. "It's great to see you. May I know why you were looking for me?" he asked, his words carefully measured despite the storm of emotions behind them.
Roan, ever the embodiment of kindness and straightforwardness, responded without hesitation. "Oh, my wife would like to thank you for what you have done for the Chained Isles," he said, his tone warm and sincere. "You have killed so many abominations that the very nature of their kind has changed. Even they are struggling to adapt to a new way of fighting, which means we can defeat them much more easily now. Thanks to your efforts, we are one step closer to taking over the entire region and welcoming more people to live here."
This announcement was unexpected, yet Sunny couldn't help but feel relieved that the news wasn't of a darker nature. However, there was a detail in Roan's words that nagged at him. According to Roan, Sunny's work had targeted only the awakened and fallen creatures—the ones that roamed freely under the islands. The corrupted abominations, far more stubborn and dangerous, were left untouched. These creatures were a constant challenge, one that Sunny had never been able to defeat except under very rare circumstances.
Before Sunny could muster the strength to explain or protest about the corrupted abominations still plaguing the islands, Roan interjected smoothly, as if reading his thoughts. "And don't worry about those corrupted abominations," Roan continued with a confident smile. "My wife, along with a few other masters and I, will handle them. In fact, my wife wants to thank you in person. I was hoping to invite you to dinner so that she can formally express her gratitude for all you have done."
The words hung in the air, carrying a mixture of promise and an invitation to step into a new chapter of unexpected alliances. Despite his inner reservations and the heavy burden of his past actions, Sunny couldn't help but appreciate the unexpected kindness in Roan's gesture—even if it meant facing more challenges than he had ever imagined.
Sunny was completely caught off guard by Roan's unexpected behavior. For a brief moment, he felt as though his very body had frozen in shock. It took him a few heartbeats to gather his thoughts and even longer to consider whether this might be a trap. With a weary sigh and a quick mental decision to go along for now, he replied, "Sure, I guess I can do that."
Before he could fully process his own words, Roan had already taken action. Grabbing Sunny's hand firmly, Roan pulled him toward the giant griffin that waited nearby. In one swift movement, Sunny was lifted into the air as Roan took a running jump, effortlessly boarding the majestic creature. Sunny couldn't help but feel a slight relief at not having to use even a tiny bit of his essence to get airborne; preserving his energy was crucial, especially since he was already managing two manifested bodies. One was with Roan now, while the other was busy preparing his cohort for the harsh conditions of Antarctica.
In no time at all, the two men were soaring high above the ground, the mighty griffin slicing through the sky with ease as it braved the heavy pressure of the high altitude. The wind rushed past them, and the world below became a patchwork of clouds and distant shapes. The ride, though thrilling, was not without its own challenges, and Sunny took a moment to steady himself and appreciate the rare quiet of the journey.
As they flew, the vast sky and the roar of the wind around them made the silence seem even more pronounced. Breaking the calm, Sunny decided to ask a question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time—a question he had always been curious about but never had the chance to ask. His voice carried both genuine curiosity and a hint of the underlying tension that this unexpected turn of events had brought with it.
"Master Roan, may I ask you something rather personal?" Sunny ventured, his voice soft yet laden with curiosity and apprehension. For a long moment, Roan remained silent, his eyes drifting into the distance as if searching his own memories for an answer. Finally, he spoke with a measured calm, "Sure, go ahead, but I can't promise that I will answer everything."
Sunny nodded slowly, even though he knew Roan might not have noticed the gesture. Despite his best efforts to sound composed, the quiver in his tone revealed his inner unease. "It's about your wife, Saint Tyris. I was wondering—has she always been so cold, so disconnected from reality?"
For several heartbeats, silence stretched between them. In that quiet, Sunny's thoughts tumbled over themselves. He suddenly realized how foolish his words might be—dangerous even—given that Roan possessed every right to dismiss him or, in a moment of anger, cast him aside. Yet when Roan finally responded, his tone was anything but hostile. Instead, his eyes lit up with a warmth and pride that softened his usually reserved manner.
"Actually, when we are alone, it's quite the opposite," Roan said gently. "When it's just the two of us at home, she holds on to me with all her heart. I've never met anyone more emotional than her; she gives everything she feels. In those moments, she becomes the person I adore most." He paused, as if savoring the memory, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And if I'm being completely honest, that is my favorite thing about her. To be the only one in the world who sees her true self—that vulnerability and passion—is a treasure. It's a luxury that fills me with pride, a secret I will cherish for as long as I live."
Sunny listened intently, absorbing every word as though it were a rare gem. The simple truth in Roan's confession resonated deeply within him. He understood the rare honor of witnessing a hidden side of someone—a side only shared with those trusted with one's innermost emotions. Just as Sunny was gathering his thoughts to speak, Roan continued, his voice now laced with a hint of mirth.
"I am sure I'm not the only one who treasures that secret bond," Roan said with a light chuckle. "There's another reason I invited you to dinner, by the way. I want to build a strong relationship with you—and with your future wife, Nephis. I was meant to keep this between us, but I know you understand. She reminds me of my own wife in her younger days, holding back her feelings from the world and showing them only to you."
The revelation struck Sunny like a bolt of lightning. He realized that his wedding had not been a secret known only to a few close confidants like Anvil and Morgan, but rather that the entire clan Valor might have sensed the deep connections that bound their lives. Roan's confident tone suggested that he held many truths hidden behind a calm exterior—truths that made him all the more formidable. Sunny felt a shiver of recognition, for he too had been entrusted with similar confidences in his own circle.
Struggling to organize his racing thoughts, Roan finally spoke, "From my own experience, I know that the reason Anvil allowed you to marry her was because he recognized the deep bond between you two. It tells me that she truly loves you and that you share a connection similar to what I have known with my own wife. When we were about to be married, she wouldn't let me go—even when I was completely exhausted from everything. So my advice to you is this: let her think that you have lost your power, that you are vulnerable. Let her believe that she has won. And then, when she lets her guard down, you can use every bit of strength you have to turn the tide in your favor. It might be a difficult maneuver, but trust me, the reward will be worth it." He ended his counsel with a subtle wink, a gesture that conveyed both humor and sincere wisdom.
Sunny 's smile broadened at Roan's advice. "Thank you for sharing that," he said warmly. "You are absolutely right—she is exactly like that. The chance to see her unguarded, to witness her true self, is the most precious gift I have ever received. It makes me feel as if I have already won in life."
Before either man could continue, an unexpected disturbance shattered their private moment. Both turned sharply to their right, and there, against a backdrop of darkening skies, a massive thunderbird emerged. Its wings spanned a great distance, stirring fierce winds as bolts of lightning danced wildly around it. The creature's presence was both magnificent and terrifying, as if nature itself had come alive to remind them of the world beyond their conversation.
In that sudden moment, the faces of both Sunny and Roan turned ashen. They had been so wrapped up in their personal exchange—so absorbed in the intimacy of shared secrets and strategies—that they had completely overlooked the dangerous spectacle unfolding nearby. The thunderbird, with its raw, untamed power, served as a stark reminder that, no matter how profound the bonds between men, the forces of nature and fate were always at work, ever ready to intrude upon their carefully constructed worlds.