Chapter 62: (ch62) The apology
"They are weak because Gunlaug will never allow anyone strong to exist outside of his control. So… I am not going to be your pathfinder. Sorry, princess."
The room was dark as the group gathered in a main room a table between them, the sun had yet to rise darkness still enveloping the area
A lady with marble white hair spoke her tone was a grumble of words
"We might be new here, but we are not weak. Between all of us we have killed dozens upon dozens of Awakened creatures in the Labyrinth…"
Across the table an attractive young woman with hazel eyes and beautiful brown hair, tied in a simple braid spoke back.
"Even if that's true, that was there. Out here in the Dark City, things are very different."
Both refused to stand down as they stared at each other, one with a relaxed smile on her lips, the other with stubborn flames burning in her eyes.
between them on both sides of the table two black haired figures looked at each other already sighing
*Shes gonna do something stupid watch*
The figure with shorter raven black hair groaned internally so only the other could hear
Rin was about to speak when she was interrupted
"So, if we prove that we have strength, you might reconsider?"
She was going to voice her opinion now
"Wait! hold on, nephis don't we get a say in th-"
"Damn! You say it like it's easy. You do know how many people can't even step a foot into the ruins, right? If you guys survive in this hell for a few years, maybe then we can talk again."
Nephis was looking at the Huntress for a while, and then smiled darkly.
"We will talk again in the evening. Then, you will change your mind."
'ignored again'
And so the group of four found themselves up and early as the sun rose to fight the darkness away
Walking towards the castle
The longer they walked in silence the more silent questions were asked between a certain pair, finally rin spoke slowly like she was coaxing a bloodthirsty monster to peaceful negotiations
"Nephis…what are we doing and why are we going towards the scary fuck off castle"
Neph glanced at her for half a second before turning around and continuing
"Follow me."
*Top class explanation, Rin really asking the big ones hope that answered everything*
Rin stood looking dazed and confused like she had just been hit with a flashbang before running back towards the supposed 'leader of the group'
"No… wait…nephisss remember what we talked about, we use our words yeah to communicate"
Nephis stopped, the words made her consider and Rin smiled she had actually gotten through to her and was going to hear the plan from start to finish
white flames dancing in the depths of her cold grey eyes. She spoke with all seriousness:
"We're going to the castle"
And so nephis continued to walk off leaving Rin
"..."
*Deep breaths Rin remember breath in for five*
Rin turned her gaze to her black-haired companion, her lips curling into a familiar, disarming smile. Yet, her eyes betrayed a different message entirely—a sharp, unspoken warning. If he dared to push any further, trouble awaited him, and it wouldn't end in his favor.
He gulped catching up to nephis too
Soon, they scaled the magnificent stairs and were approaching the gates of the castle. They were growing increasingly nervous about Neph's intentions.
"Uh… Neph? What do you need us to do?
She shrugged, then said in her usual indifferent tone:
"You don't really need to do anything. Just follow me and try to look… uh… virtuous. Oh and Rin im sorry"
"I…um..huh"
*What's she sorry for*
*No clue but now i'm a bit more peeved*
The guards stationed in front of the gates stepped forward, barring the way with a mixture of scorn and leering glances. Their disdain was unmistakably aimed at Sunny, while the lingering, suggestive looks were reserved for the girls accompanying him.
"Stop! What business do you have in the Bright Castle? Want to pay the tribute?"
"Or maybe want to get paid, instead? If you know what I mean…"
She sighed too herself, looking over at sunny who looked like he wanted to kill the two of them
Nephis looked at them with a calm expression, then said:
"I want to go inside, but I'm not going to pay tribute."
The laughter abruptly ceased, leaving an uneasy silence hanging in the air. The two guards turned their attention toward them, their expressions still tinged with a faint hint of amusement. But beneath that surface, a sharp, menacing glint flickered in their eyes, hinting at danger that felt all too real.
"Have you lost your mind, wench? Why are you here if you're not going to pay tribute? Stop wasting our time!"
Changing Star's expression remained utterly blank, her flawless ivory features betraying not a single flicker of emotion. After a brief pause, her voice cut through the air, calm and measured:
"I'm here to invoke the Right of Challenge."
Both groups were silent as they stared at the emotionless woman's face
*Mad! She has gone mad!*
She could call Nephi's crazy like Sunny loved to do but behind those cold eyes was someone that was rational and calm in any situations, that was what made her dangerous to any opponent, but it also meant there was a way to do something here that rin wasn't seeing and neither was Sunny….
And Cassie well, Rin still thought she was dangerous too, it was the unexpected people that always change your expectations.
Meanwhile, one of the Guards frowned:
"Stop joking around, little girl. Shut your mouth and get lost if you want to live."
Neph didn't move. Instead, she said:
"I'm not joking."
The other Guard stared at her, then shook and sneered reaching his arm out to grab Nephis by her hair:
"Leav-..."
Rin really didn't like senseless violence but if this was a challenge nobody was allowed to intervene
Her own hand reached out grabbing the guards wrist and with a small influx of essence she tightened her hold, the guard looked into her dark eyes as she spoke
"Dont"
He tried to pull away, but it was like trying to free his hand from solid concrete—she didn't move an inch. Realizing his struggle was pointless, his other hand tightened around the spear, ready to strike. But before he could even react, she moved with startling speed. His arm was wrenched behind his back, the spear useless in his grip, and with a sickening thud, his face was slammed against the cold, unforgiving brick wall.
The more resistance he put up, the harder he was knocked down as his hair was grabbed and slammed into the wall
Rin let go Letting the poor man slide down the wall, leaving a bloody trail, she looked at the other guard with an innocent smile on her face
"Can we go in now"
The man looked between her and his friends in quick succession
"i..um..yes…sure yes please come in"
The other Guard stayed behind, a bewildered and darkly excited expression on his face.
With the sound of the rusty chains swinging in the wind invading their ears, the four passed beneath the hanging skulls and entered the castle.
Nephis looked at Rin
"Was that necessary"
"Very….. besides he was stopping a right of challenge, anyone who does that is allowed to be removed"
the sound of footsteps, she raised her head and threw a furtive glance in their direction.
An expression of confused surprise appeared in her eyes, sunny turned too
"Uh… Red, Sunny and Cassia? What are you guys doing back here?"
*Is that… Harper*
Rin refused to smile but her voice inside definitely showed her joy
*Didn't you tell him you would meet in the future what's it been… a day*
Not knowing about the thoughts raging between the two, Harper smiled:
"Oh! Did you guys get lucky and come into some shards? Back already to pay the tribute?"
Two guards had dragged a bloody faced one behind Harper
"Uh, no. Not exactly…"
******
By the time the four of them were ushered into the castle's grand hall, word of the upcoming challenge hadn't yet rippled through the fortress. As a result, there wasn't a crowd waiting—just a few dozen curious onlookers who had been passing by and stopped to investigate the noise. Yet, with every passing minute, more and more people began to gather, drawn by whispers of something unusual unfolding.
Nephis stood at the threshold of the hall, her expression unreadable. Her calm demeanor radiated a quiet confidence, as though she had already mapped out what was to come. She seemed unshaken, a pillar of composure amid the growing anticipation.
Rin stood to the side of her, currently Nephis needed to show the people around how unshakable her group was and she spent enough time 'relatively' with her family to know how to stand at attention, like soldiers of the lunar clan spoke to her parents
Sunny, however, was a different story. Despite his best efforts to appear unfazed, nervous energy crackled beneath the surface. His mind buzzed with uncertainty, a stark contrast to Nephis's outward serenity the conversation between them was chaotic
*Calm down you idiot you're already shaking*
Glancing around to make sure that no one could eavesdrop on their conversation, Sunny had leaned to Nephis and whispered:
"You're not really going to fight one of Gunlaug's lieutenants, are you?"
She agreed with Sunny, even with her strength there was no chance right now that she could win
They had talents of their own.
Nephis didn't turn her head and simply said:
"...The walls have ears."
'seems like my friend has noticed the red hooded bastards too, i'm still confused what shes sorry for'
the Guard that had led them inside appeared from the grand hall, threw a dark look at them, and spat:
"Come on in, fools."
Nephis turned to look at her, his gaze steady and full of unspoken meaning. Rin could feel it—the weight of the moment pressing down on them. Something significant was about to unfold, something that would leave an indelible mark on everyone present. This wasn't just another fleeting event; it was the kind of moment people would talk about for years, the kind that lingered in memory like a shadow.
"Rin i need you for this"
((((A/N: ME CHANGE TRUE NAME IT WAS CRINGE SO I CHANGED IT)))))
Changing Star and Fallen moon simply walked forward, leaving Sunny and Cassie no choice but to follow.
Inside the hall, a small group of people stood clustered together, their conversations muted and their focus drawn toward the entrance. As the doors creaked open, two figures stepped into view, immediately shifting the atmosphere. A wave of confusion rippled through the crowd, their quiet murmurs rising and falling like an uneasy tide.
The newcomers were striking in their contrast: one with hair as dark as midnight, the other with locks as pale as freshly fallen snow. Their yin-and-yang appearance was impossible to ignore, each standing as if a mirror to the other's opposite.
Rin leaned over and whispered
"What im i doing again"
"Look menacing"
'i put a mans face through a brick wall and she's telling me to look more menacing'
She sighed summoning her sword at her, the black katana, gracefully accepted its place on her hip
"Who is that?"
"Never seen the other one before either"
"There's something strange about them"
"Their both fucking weird"
The last one made her look over with a frown
The scene lacked the grandeur and drama that had marked the day of Jubei's death. There was no crowd of lieutenants gathered, no sign of the Bright Lord presiding over events. Instead, the room felt eerily quiet, almost abandoned. Only Gemma, the leader of the Hunters, occupied the space. He sat idly on the steps leading up to the vacant white throne, his posture slouched and his expression faintly sullen, as if weighed down by some unseen burden.
Rin's eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar presence, but her heart sank when she realized Harus was nowhere to be found. Disappointment settled heavily on her as the silence around her seemed to deepen.
She also didn't see the sixth lieutenant, or any of his lackeys yet
"Did I hear it correctly? One of you three wants to invoke the Right of Challenge?"
While Rin didn't move Nephis took a step forward, looked him right in the eyes, and answered in her usual indifferent voice:
"I do."
Her composure stood in stark contrast to the weight of her words. It was a serene stillness that clashed with the fiery, venom-laced tirade Jubei had unleashed in this very hall just three days prior. The memory of his impassioned condemnation still echoed in the minds of all who had been present, making her measured tone all the more jarring. Gemma's brow furrowed even further, his confusion etched deeper into his features.
"You do know what that means, right, little girl?"
She continued to stare at him without showing any sign of fear, then repeated:
"I do."
The tall Hunter sighed, rin couldn't tell if it was in annoyance or boredom.
"Listen… it is indeed true that anyone has the right to invoke the Right of Challenge. But throwing your life away is a really stupid thing to do. I'm sure that you had to suffer a lot to make it this far. Everyone here did, pretty much. So how about you think about it some more and reconsider?"
His tone wasn't hostile—if anything, it carried a strange sincerity, as though Gunlaug's lieutenant genuinely wished to spare her from an unnecessary death. Yet, his earnestness was wasted. Neph simply cocked her head slightly, her expression unchanging, and replied:
"No need."
Gemma sighed again, then shook his head.
"Fine, have it your way then. Who are you here to accuse?"
With no delay changing star spoke
"I am here to accuse the Pathfinder known as Andel."
Andel was the one responsible for the crime that had ultimately triggered Jubei's fateful challenge—and his tragic death.
The crowd stirred again, their hushed murmurs rippling like a restless tide. Gemma blinked, his expression darkening. A deep scowl settled across his face as he muttered, displeasure evident in his tone:
"As I've told the last time, I am the leader of both Hunters and Pathfinders. Any crime they commit while performing their duties is my crime, so I will be the one to answer for it. Are you sure you want to challenge me, kid?"
'Did she bring me here closer so that she could have back up when she struggled to kill him
as much as she loved living on the run
'i don't'
It would be a pain in the ass if they had to live in the dark city because one of gunlags men was killed
Though the older man's tone was weighty and stern, she stood unfazed, not even a flicker of reaction crossing her face. Instead, her eyes locked onto his, sharp and unyielding, as if cutting through the tension between them. With deliberate calm, she tilted her head ever so slightly, her expression unreadable, before shaking her head in a slow, deliberate motion that carried more weight than any words could.
"I'm not here to accuse him of murdering the young man from the outer settlement. I'm here to accuse him of theft. Andel has lost a considerable amount of soul shards while gambling, but refused to pay. That is stealing. Since it was done on his private time and not while performing any official duties, you have nothing to do with it."
Gemma stared at her, a bewildered look written clearly on his face.
Rin was doing the same, she quickly masked it before she heard Sunny in her head
*Well, that was… unexpected. Kind of ingenious, actually. Who knew Neph can be so crafty?*
*The woman who used her sword as a lightning rod, and you were shocked*
By reframing the accusation, turning it from a hunting-related crime to a petty misdemeanor unrelated to Andel's duties as a Pathfinder, she skillfully stripped the lieutenants of any grounds to defend him—at least if they intended to uphold their claim of being fair and impartial.
But did that make a veteran Pathfinder like Andel any less dangerous than one of Gunlaug's handpicked enforcers?
And even if someone dared to challenge this twist, would Gemma stand by and allow it?
Almost as if reading his mind, the tall Hunter arched an eyebrow, his voice tinged with disbelief as he spoke:
"What? A… a gambling debt? You want to... did Aiko send you?"
Nephis shook her head again.
The room fell silent, all eyes turning toward her with a mix of disbelief and curiosity, as if she had just uttered something completely unthinkable. Even the ever-composed lieutenant couldn't hide his incredulity. A faint edge of exasperation crept into his usually steady tone as he broke the silence and asked:
"No. I've never even met her."
"If you don't even know the person Andel owes the shards, why are you here challenging him on her behalf?!"
Neph simply shrugged.
"Do I need to personally know the victim of the crime to punish the criminal?"
Gemma stared, clearly finding the whole situation ridiculous.
"...It's just a gambling debt. I can pay the shards myself, and we all can.."
However, Changing Star interrupted him. Her voice was still inexplicably calm and even:
"It's not about shards. It's about justice… and law. After all, the law is our only guiding star in this dark world. Without its light, there's only darkness."
'ooooh shes using Gunlags words against his own men, damn she's smart i didn't even thinking about'
She left him with little choice but to satisfy the request for a challenge.
After all, going against it would be tantamount to going against the Bright Lord's will.
The hunter closed his eyes as he looked up and sighed in frustration speaking in a dark tone
"Go and bring Andel here. Tell that bastard that after he kills this stupid girl, he and I will have a long conversation about his… life choices."
Then, he glanced at Neph and said:
"And you… say your goodbyes and prepare for battle. Oh, right. What is your name? Tell us. That way, you will at least be remembered."
Looking him right in the eyes, Nephis stayed quiet for a bit, and then answered.
Her clear voice resounded loudly in the grand hall:
"I am Changing Star of the Immortal Flame clan"
She hesitated for a moment, glancing over her shoulder. Her gaze met Rin's with an intensity that sent a chill down her own spine. The look in her eyes was so sharp, so full of resolve, that it almost made Rin's hands ball into fists. She knew Nephis was on the edge of making a stupid decision, one that would effect one of them forever
"and if I die heiress of the Lunar clan, Rin Lunar will fight after me"
Suddenly, everything became silent.
'so that's why she apologised'
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