The rest of the night was as uneventful as it could get. He peacefully waited the entire 23-ish hours left of the bedtime before he finally started hearing people waking up again. The first to speak up was the only unmasked one in the room, Elegy. His panicky screeches woke Hatwell up immediately after, who didn't at all appreciate the human alarm clock.
"AAHHH!" Elegy screamed with all his might, "W-Where am I!? Why is everyone's head covered with a bag!?"
"WAHHH! A-Ah, I can't see!" Hatwell cried out as well, "It's dark! I'm scared! Why can't I see anything!?"
"Stop shouting, both of you!" Sorbet finally peeked out from under his protective bag to explain everything, "You're safe, it's alright, so let me-"
"Back the hell off!" Elegy kicked him in the abdomen the moment Sorbet tried to get close, "Just 'cause we can't die doesn't mean I won't hurt you!"
"Hnghh... Tch, bastard!" Sorbet scratched his golden scarred forearms in retaliation before undoing his ziptie, "I'm your friend, idiot! Let me explain everything first before you go kicking my rings!"
"Ack! H-Huh, Sab...?" Elegy looked confused.
"Wrong, sigh... You really did forget everything." He sighed, "Hold on, let me untie Hats first before I go ahead and give you the rundown."
"Hats?" Hatwell returned him a puzzled stare once Sorbet took the bag off.
"That's you. You told me your name was Hats." Sorbet used the abbreviated name, because it was easier to say, "And this guy called himself Elegy."
"E-Eh? No, my name is Ga-"
"By the way, I'm Sorbet. You mistook me for Sab yestercycle as well." He talked right over them, "A lot of things happened, and we ended up teaming up to reach a sacred place at Heaven's Edge called the Shrine."
"Shrine?" Hats still couldn't quite follow him on this, "Hold on, do you remember yesterday!?"
To this question, Elegy also had an interested look on his face. Both knew that it was possible to retain their memories from yestercycle, as they both experienced it from their point of view. Regardless, the question that remained was how it had occurred, because the last thing Elegy remembered was fighting against the Gods with Maggie and the others in their Abode.
"Sorry, but I need to go find my group-" Elegy was about to skedaddle, "Oi. Move out of the way, man."
"Your group... You said a girl named... Or rather, with the initials M.G was in it?" He carefully picked his next words.
"Maggie...!" Elegy's Eyes shrunk back in fear, "What do you know about her?"
"She, as well as the rest of your group, are all in the Shrine." Sorbet lied, "It's the main reason you're helping the two of us go there in the first place. We all have... someone waiting for us there."
This was a half-truth, in a way—though it sounded believable enough to feel like a full one. Indeed, their goal was to reach the Shrine, and indeed, Sorbet had someone waiting for him there (namely, his wings). As for the reason behind Elegy having to go there, the details were less important. Hats' even more so. Details are barely noticeable, hence why they're not main points to bring up in any conversation. This is the mindset Sorbet had as he ruthlessly lied to both of them about following his lead.
"And Hats too, he was a huge help against the White Monster we faced last night." Sorbet explained, leaving aside the fact that he meant Hats' pecs were a good vision shield.
"Hold on." Hats shivered, "W-We encountered the White Monster last night?"
"Duh, why else do you think you two don't remember anything from that time?" Sorbet groaned, "Look, you don't have to believe me, but at least know that it's completely thanks to you guys that I survived to tell you all this."
"Eh? You stayed awake the entire time under that bag?" Elegy tilted his head, "So that means we can retain our memories if we don't sleep!"
As the conversation steadily moved along, it seemed more and more feasible that Sorbet was telling them the truth and nothing else. Though Elegy was still a bit skeptical over the name change, Sorbet was quick to explain that it's probably just been a lot of cycles between his last waking memory and now. Again, the logic checked out, so despite his confusion about suddenly being put into such a foreign situation, Elegy was quick to accept the situation as it was and move on, lest he wastes more of their daylight being skeptical.
"Okay, then if that's the case, let's continue heading for that Shrine!" He nodded resolutely.
"Alright!" Sorbet dapped him up.
"Hey, I'm glad you guys got everything sorted out..." The owner of the house suddenly woke up from his bed, still tied up with his head covered, "Now could you please get out of my house?"
"Oh damn, I totally forgot about you." Sorbet glanced at him with a shrug, "Sorry, I hope you can understand that you're tied up for my safety."
"It's okay, just untie me and I'll call it water under the bridge." He chuckled, "...G-Guys?"
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Alas, the poor bloke was left alone in his room, tied to his bed and forbidden from even seeing the trio leave the house. After all, they were in such a hurry that they didn't even wait to hear him out after Sorbet apologized.
"Shouldn't you have untied him?" Hats asked, "It feels wrong to just leave him there."
"Some people would pay good money to get put in that situation." Sorbet reasoned.
"Depends on who's the one tying them up." Elegy corrected him with a disappointed sigh, "Also, even the kinkiest of people would want a way to free themselves as a failsafe."
"See, I can immediately tell you're not into bondage just from that sentence." Sorbet mocked him with such a smug grin, "You poor, naive soul. Failsafes defeat the entire purpose!"
"I never said I was into that stuff, you perv..."
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Their speedy jog out of their latest shelter was quickly substituted for a light speedwalk, which eventually devolved into a leisurely stroll. They were running a marathon, after all, not a sprint. The distance was so vast that it wouldn't do them any good to tire themselves out running when they would have to stop by another house anyways when bedtime came. Right, they're headed for the literal Edge of Heaven, a place outside of the night infinite residential area, so it was obvious that they would at least have to go through this same spiel a couple of times, if not more. Sorbet was quite tired, however. He hadn't slept a wink for over 30 hours now, and despite the fact that he was a seraphim who COULD nap whenever he wanted and still keep his memories, the other two didn't know that.
"Yaaawn~" He couldn't hold it in any longer.
"I wonder, would falling asleep during the day reset your memories?" Elegy pondered.
"...Probably not." Sorbet got an idea, "So then, if you guys don't mind me getting some well-deserved shut-Eye for a bit, let's...!"
"Absolutely not." Hats grabbed his arm and kept them both in motion, "You're not falling asleep after setting us off on this journey with you. What if you forget your memories?"
"I won't."
"We don't know that." Hats continued, "I can understand you're tired, but you need to hold out as our leader."
"Is he our leader?" Elegy cocked his head back.
"Right now, he's the only one out of us who knows where the Shrine is." Hats replied, "Besides that, he probably also knows a ton of stuff he's yet to reveal to us that we might never get to know if he forgets."
It was a very real worry to have, however it was factually untrue due to Sorbet's seraphimhood. He couldn't tell them that he's a seraphim, however, because it would most definitely out him as Sab to Elegy. No, right now he needed to play along in order for them to gain his trust again. It was tough to accept, but he wasn't going to be allowed any sleep for the time being. Whether or not they'd become more lenient later was quite the uncertain question, but for now he had no other option but to stay awake.
"Mngh..." Sorbet felt his Eyelids get heavier and heavier, "Uuuugh..."
"Let's pick up the pace to get you warmed up." Elegy suggested, "Come on, hop to it! Follow my pace and jog along! There's no way you're gonna be sleepy after that!"
"Here, give me that sword you're holding." Hats put his hand out, "It's probably tiring you out more, having to carry such a heavy thing."
Immediately, Sorbet twitched, yanking Elegy's serrated sword back in fear. The sword was the one thing that gave him enough time to get everyone inside the house, so obviously he wasn't going to let go of it so easily. In truth, it would most definitely be better suited in Elegy's hands than his, but Sorbet didn't want to give it away. As far as he was concerned, the sword was his. After all, despite how flashy Elegy was with it, he didn't actually swing it once against the White Monster.
"T-The sword is... mine." Sorbet nervously looked at both of them.
"Oh, you got it from your home?" Hats still kept his hand out, "Don't worry, I'll just hold onto it while you and Elegy do your warm up."
"I'm wide awake." Sorbet fussed, "So there's no need for you to hold the sword. Look, Eyes wide open."
"Hmm..."
Hats was quite suspicious, and Elegy was left hanging as he jogged in front of them. This gave Hats enough time alone with Sorbet to ask him all he wanted to know.
"Is the sword really yours?" He asked, "It doesn't seem like something you'd want as a human."
"Looks can be deceiving." Sorbet lied.
"Maybe. Then, could you tell me why I decided to help you two on your journey?" He asked the second question.
"Come again?"
"Well, you have someone you're looking for, and Elegy has a group to find, but what about me?" Hats reiterated, "What's my purpose for finding the Shrine?"
"You... I don't know." Sorbet looked away.
"So you admit that much."
"No, you don't get it—you literally never told me." He continued, "Even back then, we just said we'd go, and you said you'd help us. I didn't wanna pry when it meant an additional team member, but I did find it puzzling as well."
"So, what you're saying is, since the current me doesn't have a reason to go..." Hats raised an Eyebrow, "Then I don't have to go."
"Maybe it's just 'cause you're a good person." Sorbet quickly engaged in damage-control, "Maybe... You saw the two of us and the mammoth task ahead of us, and wanted to help us reach the goal post. I'll mention that it WAS your help then landed us that shelter home."
"Was it, now?"
"As I said, you were of great help." Sorbet nodded, "But of course, there's also the possibility of you having a secret goal yourself. Just 'cause you never said anything doesn't mean you don't have your own ulterior motives for reaching the Shrine."
"Ulterior motives?" He frowned at that phrase.
"Sorry, didn't mean to make it sound so sinister." Sorbet rephrased it, "Reasons, your own reasons for going there."
"No, I didn't-"
"So then, what are you gonna do?" Sorbet stopped walking to ask, "Are you gonna leave, after all?"
"..."
"I'm not forcing you, just in case that wasn't clear." Sorbet added at the end, "You can choose to follow or abandon us, it's your freedom."
"Yo, slowpokes!" Elegy didn't quite appreciate them being so far behind him, "The street's crowded, so if you don't seriously start picking up the pace, I'll lose you!"
"Then stop jogging, you nincompoop!" Sorbet shot back with a laugh, "Sorry, I'd give you more time to think it over, but I guess my partner's in a rush."
"...Heh." Hats chuckled, "I ain't leaving you two alone."
"You sure?" Sorbet curbed his wry smirk.
"Of course, you need someone to keep you safe." He clanked his golden arms together energetically, "And if I was of help to you guys before, then I'll surely do the same again!"
Success, Sorbet was now once again back on track to reach the Shrine with the same group he had before. They were quite easy to manipulate, he thought, perhaps this revenge wasn't such a pipe dream after all...