Sunny stood outside the gate; he was told to wait there until a PTV came and picked him up.
Bin had arranged for a home visit so he could report his progress and to meet his two other saint sisters.
'Great,' he thought, tugging at the collar of his uniform. 'Because I definitely haven't had enough weird interactions for one week.'
A sleek PTV hummed to a stop in front of him. The tinted window slid down halfway.
"Get in," a familiar voice ordered coolly.
Sunny blinked.
"...Master Jet?"
She was behind the wheel, wearing dark sunglasses despite the fading light. She didn't look at him as he climbed in—just started driving.
"You were expecting a chauffeur?" she asked without turning her head.
"No, ma'am," Sunny replied quickly, buckling in. "...Maybe just not you."
"Someone flagged this as a high-sensitivity transport. That means I drive, or someone else like me does. Can't afford political fallout if a PTV gets shot up, stolen, or spontaneously explodes," she said.
"Right, that's comforting," Sunny grimaced.
They sat in silence.
"You've been practicing," she noted, eyeing his bruises.
Sunny looked down at himself; his body wasn't muscular or anything, but there was quite the difference from his outskirts days.
"Daily training and sparring," he confirmed.
Jet nodded. "Good, keep at it."
Eventually, they reached a large...
Sunny didn't even know what to call it.
Mansion?
Skyscraper?
The building was so large that he couldn't tell.
He stepped out of the PTV and craned his neck, trying to take it all in.
The structure loomed like some modernist monolith, a seamless fusion of glass, steel, and pale stone.
It looked more like a fortress than a house.
There was very little security, considering the place housed saints, masters, and Awakened.
"I was expecting… I don't know. A nice house. Not a fortress," he croaked.
Jet's gaze lingered on the towering structure for a moment and shrugged.
"Anything less wouldn't be befitting for one of the great clans."
Sunny didn't have a response for that.
The extravagant doors swung open without so much as a sound.
A boy who seemed to be a little older than Sunny walked out of the building, his eyes blindfolded.
He had an aura of power around him, and even though he couldn't see, he was sure of his every step.
He stopped a couple feet away from Sunless, then nodded at Master Jet as if he could see her.
"Thank you, Master Jet, for your services," he said. "I'll be taking it from here now."
Master Jet nodded, but a hint of a smile played on her face. "Not a problem, Awakened Ashryn."
Sunny gave the boy a once-over. He was taller than Sunny, but not by much. He looked much too young to be working, but Awakened—especially young prodigies—were known for taking up jobs at a young age.
Master Jet got into her PTV and promptly took off with a small wave at Sunny.
Ashryn, presumably, turned towards Sunny and beckoned him to follow.
As soon as he stepped inside, the door shut behind him with a sound like the sealing of fate.
Inside, the temperature dropped slightly—cool, dry, and perfumed faintly with something herbal. The floors were dark stone, seamless and pristine, while the hall stretched forward into softly lit elegance. Everything about the place radiated wealth and restraint.
Sunny thought he should start a conversation but decided against it; he wasn't one for idle chatter.
And apparently, so was the person in front of him.
Ashryn walked silently ahead, his footsteps light and deliberate—too deliberate for someone who supposedly couldn't see. The blindfold didn't hinder him in the slightest. If anything, it made Sunny feel like he was the one who might trip over something.
Eventually, they reached a large set of double doors—real wood, not faux or synthetic. Ornate, but not decorated. Just enough to let you know someone very important was behind them.
Ashryn knocked once and then stood next to the door, facing away.
"Enter," said a familiar voice inside.
Sunny more or less guessed that Ashryn had done his duty, so he nudged the door forward.
Nothing.
He pushed harder.
Still nothing.
Just as he was wondering if he should use his shadow or if there was some sort of mechanism, a cough resounded next to him.
"It's pull."
Sunny could almost swear there was a hint of a smile on his face.
His face reddened a bit, and he coughed.
"Yes, of course."
And with what little dignity he had, he entered the room.
The room was tastefully decorated; it was more of a lounge, if anything.
Subtle lighting glowed from recessed strips in the ceiling, casting warm tones over a spacious lounge. The air smelled faintly of fresh mint and lemon. The floors were smooth dark stone, accented with rich woven rugs. A low table sat in the center, surrounded by minimalist furniture—clean, angular, and absurdly comfortable-looking.
There were two people seated. Moonveil smiled as he walked in, giving him a friendly wave.
He cast a glance at the other figure—
Lithe, and full of barely contained bestial energy. Her handsome face was illuminated by a slight grin, and her eyes were full of cocky confidence. She wore leather trousers and a sleeveless vest, leaving her toned, tan arms exposed.
"So, this is the pup, eh?" she said. "I have to say, a little on the short side."
Moonveil laughed. "That's what Bin said too."
Sunny treaded carefully around his new sister. He didn't know her temper or if she would be easily offended by his usual snarky comments.
So, he stayed silent.
The woman gave an exasperated sigh. "It's bad enough that I have to deal with the uptight elders and officials. You could at least humor me by not being stif—"
Just then, a side door opened.
A petite young woman walked in, wearing a dark robe. There was a hint of innocence on her lovely face, and a strange calmness in her large, glistening eyes.
In stark contrast to that innocence, however, were heavy drops of blood falling from her slick hands.
Moonveil shook her head slightly and muttered something that suspiciously sounded like "Poor Ashryn."