"Cassie? What's going on?" - Changing Star spoke, her voice hoarse.

  She was reluctant to even make a sound in that pce, but the situation had descended into complete chaos. She needed information to decide the best course of action, she needed to know who her enemy was, she needed to know—! Where is Sunny…?

  Cassie lingered for a few moments, as if she hadn't yet awakened from her confusion.

  "No, I don't know" - she sighed deeply. - "The future changed, something, something happened that shouldn't have. Everything is wrong, what I see is no longer there, and what was meant to be will no longer be."

  "Cassie, calm down!" Nephis held her shoulder, trying to reassure her.

  She understood how scared her friend was, she herself was, but she needed her help if they wanted to survive and help Sunny. If he was still alive, that is. She pushed that thought out of her head, refusing to believe such a thing so easily. After all, he was the only person who wouldn't want to engage in battle.

  While a strange feeling of pain coursed through her heart, the commotion in front of them finally subsided. Silence was restored, and the heavy footsteps echoed again. A second ter, the rope was pulled twice, urging them to continue.

  "Cassie..." – Changing Star raised her weapon once, but to her surprise, her friend's hand rested on hers, urging her to lower her sword.

  With resignation, the group continued. Now much more nervous than before. The fact that Sunny's careful, quiet footsteps were repced by the confident, heavy stride of another individual only served to increase their fear.

  Nephis and the others had an idea of ??whose footsteps those footsteps belonged to, but the fact that Cassie hadn't confirmed it left her unnerved.

  Finally, the sound of the river finally appeared nearby. Together, they crossed the river using an old bridge that swung under the weight of the group.

  Nothing attacked them.

  "Can we open our eyes now?!" - Kai spoke immediately, his voice seemingly unable to contain his stress.

  "...Yes," - Cassie finally replied.

  Without any delicacy, the group removed the blindfold and tore off the pieces of wax covering their eyelids. When their vision cleared, everyone seemed to tense up.

  "Oh, it's just you! Beautiful, haha," Effie gave an insincere ugh.

  "Is it...? But... doesn't it look a little different?" Kai commented, swallowing heavily. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

  "Where are you, master?" Caster finally asked. Tired of waiting.

  The elegant knight just stared at them intently, with no sign of answering their question. Until finally, she pointed down. The group stared at her in confusion, not understanding the apparent gesture, until they soon realized that the statue's shadow was very different from her—in fact, it looked like...

  "Sunny! Oh, man. You really scared me!" Kai cried out in relief.

  The shadow flinched, as if caught stealing cookies in the middle of the night. It awkwardly scratched its head, then csped its hands together apologetically.

  Effie burst out ughing, a genuine ugh. As if finally freed from some weight.

  "Dammit, you fool. You really scared me back there. Come out now so I can beat you up."

  The shadow panicked, hiding behind Saint's figure. The group waited, but the shadow only seemed to repeat the apologetic gestures.

  The group had recovered somewhat, but only Nephis and Cassie remained serious. Especially the tter, who only grew paler. The atmosphere began to grow heavy once more.

  “Where... where is Sunny?” Changing Star spoke in a heavy voice.

  The question hung in the air. But it was none other than Cassie, who answered the question with tears in her eyes.

  “He’s dead…”

  “What?” Kai’s voice broke off.

  “Ja, Cassie, don’t joke, his echo and his shadow are right here. He must be out there somewhere.”

  “Sunless was a different being because of his shadow appearance. I don’t know how it happened, but Sunny no longer exists in my visions.” Her words had a strong impact on the group, even Caster seemed shocked. “He’s disappeared from the future.”

  Kai colpsed to the ground, hugging his knees. Effie just turned away with a grimace. Caster remained expressionless, while Nephis clenched his fists. Cassie continued speaking, as if she were now only thinking out loud. "How is this possible? He didn't look like this in my visions... is it, is it my fault? Why did I try to change him? And why? Why does she have her attributes?"

  At these st words, the group stopped, staring at the towering echo. It couldn't be that... this echo was the culprit, right?

  The idea seemed ridiculous, but at that instant, when their emotions were so jumbled, the thought turned to suspicion. If Sunny really was dead, who was controlling the echo there?

  Saint's eyes fshed with crimson light. She raised held her stone shield and steel sword. She tapped her shield lightly, as if challenging them to try.

  The atmosphere was tense, and conflict seemed about to erupt, but before everything could spiral into disaster, a brave shadow took a step forward for peace.

  The happy shadow, using the full weight of his name, leaped (or slid?) with his arms outstretched to block both groups with his body. With a disheartened expression, he begged them to stop. Even shadow tears fell like rain.

  Fortunately for him, his unexpected sacrifice gave Changing Star time to regain his senses and step forward.

  "Echo," - she began, her voice as cold as ice - "Whose side are you on?"

  Saint remained expressionless, but a hint of interest shone in her pupils.

  Name: Marble Saint

  Rank: Awakened

  Css: Demon

  Attributes: [Battlemaster] [Loyal] [Ember of Divinity] [Fated] [Heart of Shadows] [Recognized by Shadows] [Blood of Weavel]