Walking into the reception hall, completely caught up in his thoughts, Ray ignored the gaunt young man sitting at the reception desk, and walked on Autopilot towards the throne room, where the normal trial stuff happens.
Ray ventures through the castle corridors with more or less familiarity. It's been quite some time since he had been inside of it, and his memories were always a bit twisted these days.
He could only curse his flaw for this.
It didn't seem as bad before, but the more time he spent around others, the more memories and visions would inevitably settle down in his mind and slowly twist his own thoughts.
At this point, Ray was already looking for ways to either stop it or at least slow it down. Before, it was possible to slow it somewhat down, because he was only ever truly around Effie, but with Nephis now training with him, it started increasing again. Something that would probably only get worse now with Sunny and Cassia around as well.
Even then, Ray didn't really want to distance himself from them, but if the need arises then so be it.
Not even realizing the distance he had traveled; Ray was already in front of the giant double doors of the throne room. And, just as he was about to enter hears a clear and determined female voice speaking.
"I am Changing Star of the Immortal Flame Clan, and I hereby challenge the pathfinder Ander, will he have the courage to fight his own battles? Or will he continue to hide behind others?"
This short declaration was enough to shock Ray greatly. For two reasons that is. The first being that she was about to challenge a pathfinder, one of the highest standing people here, and the second… 'Nephis, …no, Changing Star is a Legacy?'
His brows furrowed deeply, a small shadow lingering on his face, Ray decides to finally enter and take his place in the back, observing everything for now.
The current situation was that Nephis stood in a central position looking directly at the accused Pathfinder and another Person standing more or less, protectively in front of him.
'Gemma…'
The person in front was no other than Gemma himself. The leader of the hunters and Pathfinders, one of Gunlaug's lieutenants, and Nephis seems to be taunting him, unknowingly or not.
"As I have said, I'm responsible for my people. So, if you want to bring justice for the supposed victim, in the form of a duel, then I will represent him."
Everyone present thought that she would surely step down now, well besides the people who knew her. That being Sunny, Cassia, and of course Ray.
"I am not here for this matter today. I am here to make him face the consequences of stealing from someone, or rather not paying his dues," Nephis said, not backing down one bit.
"Wai- Wait, what do you mean with stealing?" Gemma, flustered looked over at Ander, confused about this sudden statement.
"He hadn't payed his shards when he went to the gambling den, so you could say that I'm here to stand up for Aiko," she just continued not letting him get back in the game.
"Just let me pay then-"
"No, this is not just about the shards. It is about the behavior of him. Therefore, I'm here to challenge him, and that has nothing to do with you, because this happened in his private time and not while fulfilling his duty."
Gemma grits his teeth hearing this, knowing that she was technically right and with the king's law being more or less fair, he had no option but to step down right now.
"Just finish it already, or are you scared Ander?" asked Gemma as he turned to the pathfinder once more.
A murmur spread through the room as Nephis and Ander stepped forward, standing face to face in the center of the throne room. The gathered warriors and hunters, dressed in ragged armor and bearing the scars of countless battles, leaned forward with interest. A challenge like this wasn't an everyday occurrence - especially one so bold.
Ander, a seasoned Pathfinder, smirked as he took in Nephis' calm demeanor. His stance was relaxed, confident - too confident.
"You must be out of your damn mind," he chuckled, shaking his head. "You think you can stand against me? I've killed creatures that would rip you apart in seconds."
A few members of the Host chuckled at his words, nodding in agreement.
"She doesn't even have a weapon," one of them muttered, his tone laced with amusement.
"She's just standing there… already given up?" another jeered.
Nephis remained silent. Unmoving.
Her silver eyes held Ander's gaze without wavering, unaffected by the mocking laughter that spread through the room.
Clicking his tongue, Ander sighed in exaggerated disappointment before rolling his shoulders. "Well, since you're so eager to die, I won't keep you waiting."
He raised his hand, and in a flash of shimmering light, his weapon memory manifested - a sleek, silver katana that gleamed unnaturally, as if its very presence could cut through steel. It hummed with a subtle energy, the air around it shifting ever so slightly. The effect of his aspect.
The spectators nodded in approval. Ander wasn't just a simple warrior - he was strong. Fast. Deadly.
Still, Nephis did nothing.
"Begin," a deep voice announced.
Ander wasted no time.
With a burst of speed, he surged forward, his katana flashing toward Nephis like a streak of silver lightning. His movements were practiced, his strikes precise. The sheer momentum of his charge promised a swift and decisive end.
Yet, Nephis remained where she stood.
She didn't flinch. Didn't react.
Only at the very last second, as Ander's blade was mere inches from her, did she do something - her fingers flexing ever so slightly.
In the next moment, her own sword had manifested.
A single, fluid motion.
A whisper of steel.
Ander never saw it coming.
One moment, he was swinging his katana - fully expecting to cleave her in two. The next, he was staring at the floor. His body stood frozen for a split second before collapsing limply to its knees.
His head, separated cleanly from his shoulders, rolled across the polished stone with a soft thud.
Silence fell upon the room.
No one spoke. No one breathed.
The only sound was the faint echo of Ander's head settling at Nephis' feet.
Everyone was having their own thoughts about what just happened, but two of them were the most apparent. Those being from Sunny, and from Ray.
Sunny didn't know what happened or how she did what she did, it seemed simple, but at the same time impossible. A memory needed time to be summoned, but her's appeared too fast compared to normally.
As for Ray, he knew this move, and how viscous it really was. With how she behaved he expected her to use something like this, but this just further reinforced his suspicions of her earlier words being the truth.
His feelings at this moment were very conflicted to say the least.