The return trip was much more difficult than the outward journey. Not only because they no longer had the convenient aid of a hundred-meter-high statue to transport them, but also because they were missing a member and their main explorer. Although Cassie could detect the worst horrors hidden in the coral byrinth, those more common enemies eluded her, as did the danger of taking a wrong turn and being swallowed by the bck tide.

  Fortunately, they weren't completely lost and managed to adapt to what they had. After recrossing the point where Sunny had disappeared, the one they feared most, they continued with a very simir formation to before. Only Saint was the main combatant, while Changing Star took on a more supportive and guarding role for Cassie.

  The cooperation with the echo was the strangest part. Not only could neither of them understand the strange situation they were in and why it still seemed to move autonomously, as if it were a completely living being. The fact that it could summon, but especially receive memories, seemed completely out of the ordinary to them. But they were in no position to question the strange statue, as its strength was invaluable if they wanted to return alive. Furthermore, it didn't seem to pay any attention to them outside of battle.

  The shadow that accompanied the strange statue was also a strange topic to discuss. At first, they had wanted to talk to the shadow, hoping it might be Sunny's consciousness and that it was the one giving orders to the echo, but this was almost immediately dismissed. The shadow... was strangely different from him. He seemed to be able to reason to a degree, which made him the statue's main interpreter on most occasions, even if it was only signs, he could express. Strangely, this led Cassie to develop a certain friendship with the shadow.

  The echo's abilities also seemed to have grown, not only having inherited several of his former master's tributes, but also gaining elemental abilities that he wouldn't normally acquire until he became a devil. Lately, the versatility of Sunny's appearance wasn't conveyed equally. Although her shadow was with them, she wasn't able to act as an explorer as she had before. He could travel and explore on his own, yes, but he would only serve as a guide when followed due to him ck of communication. It was this small consotion that kept them from getting lost and drowning in the byrinth.

  Almost eight months ter, the group of six finally set foot on the stone wall that divided the bck sea and the shining castle.

  "We're back at st," Kai spoke, his expression distant, mencholic. He gazed at the horizon, but his eyes seemed to be observing something beyond.

  Each one dispyed a different expression, ranging from tiredness, joy, anticipation, hints of fear, and more. The long journey had sapped their strength and eroded their minds. Gone were the young and inexperienced awakened. Now each of them had a distinct aura, like veteran warriors. “What are we supposed to do now, Princess?” – Effie spoke, her expression serious. It was clear she feared that conflict could start at any moment.

  “We’re going back to camp first,” – She finally said, her voice cracking.

  At that moment, a sword crashed against the ground. The startled group turned only to see the proud statue staring at them impatiently. Even the happy shadow seemed to have abandoned its good humor and instead maintained a tense expression.

  Effie was the first to speak, forcing a smile.

  “What’s wrong, darling? You don’t want to fight now, do you?” – She gave a small, awkward ugh – “I thought we’d be best friends by now.”

  Sure, by that point they’d been fighting shoulder to shoulder for months on end, risking their lives for each other for longer than she’d spent with Sunny himself, but the truth was, none of them seemed to have grown accustomed to the intimidating knight’s presence. "She wants to settle the score," Cassie finally blurted out, seeming to be mentally somewhere else.

  Caster frowned at this, eyeing the statue suspiciously. "What debt are you referring to?"

  "Isn't it obvious?" Changing Star replied, eyeing the statue with determination. "The promise we made to Sunny for his help."

  "What? You've got to be kidding. It's too big a risk for a promise that no longer makes sense."

  "He does," she looked at everyone before raising her voice. "It was the promise we made to him before we left, and we owe him for it."

  At those words, everyone had a different reaction, but determination was etched in their eyes. All they needed was a pn good enough to kill a creature that could wipe out an entire city. Luckily for them, they still had an awakened demon on their side, and perhaps more importantly, a shadow as spiteful as its previous owner.

  Saint simply kept his gaze fixed on the forgotten cathedral, allowing the rays of dawn to cover her armor. Her eyes glittered with anticipation.

  …

  The dark knight smmed violently into the marble column, shattering the structure in a violent impact. In turn, his already cracked armor crumbled even further. Changing Star welcomed this event, celebrating with a burst of white fmes that incinerated his enemy. A deafening scream filled the entire pce, as if the fmes were burning more than just his body. The group of sleepers, though wounded, couldn't help but cover their ears at such a commotion. But there was one individual who remained unaffected.

  Saint smmed the bck knight once more into the marble column, knocking both of them to the ground. Her enemy tried to get up, but she wouldn't allow him that luxury. With a powerful kick that shattered his own greaves, the knight was thrown far away, knocking him off his weapon. A heartbeat ter, a heavy blow shook the ground. The sound of metal pieces falling echoed.

  The once agitated bck knight went berserk. His armor began to corrode while a phantom of darkness seemed to escape from its core. Saint was undeterred. She advanced without hesitation even as the creature threw itself at her in a rage.

  With a mocking gesture, she caught it with a single arm, passing through its body and tearing out something resembling a soul essence crystal, only more... red, bckened by corruption. The group of sleepers could only stare in astonishment as the terrifying statue brought the strange crystal to its lips and consumed it.

  Thus, the dark knight stopped screaming and colpsed into dust. The cathedral protected for hundreds of years had finally lost its guardian. Saint fell to her knees, feeling immense pain in her soul. Unused to such sensations, the effect was strong, but she was no longer as helpless as before. Her gaze never strayed from her surroundings, and her mind remained alert.

  When they paused for a few seconds, her body changed. Her height once again seemed to increase, surpassing two meters. Her skin, pale as marble, took on a dark hue like obsidian. While her armor, already beautifully decorated, became like bck, dull metal. But above all, her aura changed completely, becoming deeper, more mysterious, more tyrannical.

  < You have evolved into a devil >

  < Your attribute [Heart of Shadows] has evolved to [Heart of Night] >

  < Darkness gives you strength, and shadows give your life. Neither part can live alongside the other, but for you, princess of the underworld, both will guard you from your heart. As long as you are surrounded by shadows and true darkness, your fight will never end. >

  < You have received the [Armed] attribute. >

  < Summon true darkness to forge a weapon you master or augment one you already use. Weapons that have already been augmented with shadows will have an extra boost. >

  Saint stood up slowly, carefully observing the extent of her evolution. She felt more powerful, but, above all, more aware, more real. As if a fog affecting her mind had finally parted to give way to a consistency of her own being.

  The happy shadow looked at her with a happy expression, celebrating her master's new form, but, although no one noticed, not even she herself, the shadow seemed to deepen.

  "What the hell just happened?" – Caster broke the silence – "What kind of echo is this?!"

  Her words seemed to bring out what everyone was wondering. Sadly, no one had a clear answer. Only maybe Cassie, but she didn't tend to share more than necessary. Therefore, Changing Star continued with a question that mattered most to her.

  “We kept our agreement… Saint. Now I must make you a new proposition. Will you accompany us in the battle against Gundalf and the siege of the Crimson Spire?”

  Her words sounded light, but there was much implied within them.

  First and foremost, it was the first time Nephis had referred to the echo by the name Sunless had coined for it; which acknowledged it as an individual and not an extension of someone else.

  Second, it spoke of the creature’s stance from now on. No matter how strange it was, its power far surpassed that of any of them. Having it as an ally would be a blessing, but there was really nothing they could offer it with certainty. What would the echo want from a statue?

  Now that Saint had no debts or bances to collect from them, there was nothing tying it to their group, so what would it choose?

  The answer was clear.

  The happy shadow, which had remained still all this time, moved. Deforming, it represented the figure of the shining castle, next to the distorted silhouettes of each member of the court, with Saint's graceful figure beside them at dawn. Curiously, only the figures of Saint, Nephis, and Cassie seemed to have been rendered in detail.

  The court breathed a sigh of relief, and as if on cue, the group settled down to rest while Nephis tended to their wounds. Even Saint paused for a moment, allowing the shadows and shards of darkness to envelop her and heal her battered body. But this didn't st. Without even giving a sign, the proud knight made her way deeper into the chapel, using a hidden passageway just behind the statue of the nameless goddess.

  The confused group of sleepers started to follow her, but a young woman's voice stopped them instantly.

  "Don't follow her. What's in there isn't for our eyes."

  "What do you mean, Cassie?" Nephis asked, his brows furrowed.

  " “I don't know, but if any of us see what's down there… death might be a better option. Just wait.”

  Although reluctant, the group obeyed, simply keeping their gaze fixed on where Saint's towering figure had disappeared.

  …

  With a creaking sound, the mystical metal doors creaked open. Saint had used the key her former master had left behind to open that pce, trusting the strange new intuition that called to her.

  She advanced alone with a firm step, leaving behind the happy shadow, who had retreated with a trace of fear.

  The sight she received might have been shocking to most individuals, but to Saint, it was simply an interesting sight. Chained in the center, a mummified corpse y wearing a strange demonic mask. She could feel it; this was the mark of her father's older brother.

  The cursed inscriptions surrounding the pce battered her mind and affected her perception. Although she was immune to mental attacks, the discomfort caused by that writing was beyond a mental attack.

  Wasting no more time, she approached the stuffed corpse and removed the mask. Instantly, the body vanished into dust.

  < You have received a memory: Weaver's Mask >

  Saint's eyes shone with interest. Without looking back, she left the room, closing the chamber with a creak. She stared at the ancient mask for a few seconds before untying the csps that held her helmet to her armor. Her inhumanly beautiful face was visible for a few seconds, causing the shadows to recede, only to be repced by the image of a fearsome, three-horned demon. The mask, strangely, fit perfectly.

  The happy shadow trembled for a moment, then gdly took its pce next to Saint's own shadow, as if pleased that the terrible being that had emerged from the depths of that cathedral was not its enemy.

  The shadows of the entire chapel were slowly drawn towards her figure, burying her never to be seen again.