The atmosphere was delightfully warm and snug, a feeling he hadn't experienced in quite a while. The campfire had dwindled to mere embers, its flickering glow struggling against the passage of time. Looking down, he noticed her beside him, her long, unruly black hair always finding its way into his mouth, though how remained a mystery to him. Rin's head was nestled comfortably on Sunny's shoulder, his skin radiating warmth against her cheek like a soothing heat pack.

'idiot'

He let out a sigh as memories of her sudden awakening flooded his thoughts. It struck him as odd since she had never displayed such behaviour before. The fear in her eyes was unsettling, especially considering that Rin wasn't easily frightened. Whatever haunted her dreams must have been truly terrifying to trigger a panic attack. The fact that she remained silent showed that these nightmares were a regular occurrence for her.

'you can't be loud in the slums when sleeping in the street, to much danger'

And the jumble of words she said, Sunny was definitely sure she said a name

'Ryo'

He would ask her when she woke up, he told her a lot about himself, he was pretty sure she trusted him enough to tell him…

Now that he thought about it

'why I'm i trusting her so much, and why do i care'

Once again, he glanced downward, sensing the warmth of her hand as it found its place on his shoulder without a conscious thought.

She slumbered peacefully, completely unaware of the world around her, a small droplet of drool escaping from the corner of her mouth.

A gentle smile curved his lips as a flood of memories rushed back, each one intricately woven with her presence.

From their serendipitous encounter at the police station to the warmth of their shared moments, cuddled together to ward off the biting cold, to their knack for finding humour in even the most challenging situations.

The memories of her cradling him in his final moments when his chest was caved in, the expression on her face, it was genuine, showing her deep care and concern.

Every memory tugged at his heartstrings, leaving a bittersweet ache within him and red tinted ears.

'idiot'

He looked around to make sure nobody was looking and pushed one of her hair strand behind her ear

"OI love birds wake up"

Sunny winced as the booming voice of the large woman startled him. He turned around and glanced upward, only to find Effie towering over him with a wide, toothy grin spread across her face.

Sunny gently nudged Rin, coaxing her out of her deep sleep. Blinking groggily, she caught sight of his dark hair before shooting him a playful middle finger, hoping to convey her desire to continue sleeping. But her peaceful rest was abruptly interrupted as Effie, with surprising strength, pulled her upright by her arms, causing Rin to stumble and grasp onto the nearby wall for support.

Glaring at Effie, Rin quickly wiped away the drool that had accumulated on her chin, feeling irritated at being disturbed from her blissful nap. "What's the deal?" she grumbled, her voice thick with sleepiness and annoyance.

"We're leaving"

***

They set out for the castle when the sun was starting to rise

Before leaving the safe haven of the granite tower, Effie gave them a list of instructions:

"Follow behind me. Listen to everything I say. Don't make any noise. Don't bleed. Don't think too much. Some of the creatures out there can hear noisy thoughts, others can sense strong emotions. So don't feel fear, either."

That part made her frown*

*Does that mean this communication too?*

*Probably not also. How are we supposed to control what we feel?*

The vigorous huntress grinned at Sunny.

"What? You never tried to solve maths equations in your head to impress a lovely lady? Just do the same."

*Pretty sure you never went to school*

*I….i..went to school at some point*

*Sunny im not dying because you're Excited we had the same incident last time*

As Sunny's сheeks began to turn bright red, the huntress giggled and turned to the three girls:

"Correction. The two of you, try not to feel fear. Doofus, Weird Eyes, you two try not to get too excited. If walking behind me turns out to be too much, ask to get slapped, alright?"

Rin stopped for a second, Effie's words sinking into her before she realised, the hunter was talking about her and Sunny.

*Wait…. WHY I'M I BEING INCLUDED!?!*

*WHAT ABOUT ME?!*

Both scowled and uttered through gritted teeth:

"That… won't be a problem."

"IT...wont happen"

Effie blinked a couple of times, then smiled.

"Ah! From what I saw yesterday you two are taken, I see, I see…"

Rin froze

'What… what was that supposed to mean?!'

Suddenly, it dawned on her why Effie had mentioned that. The memory of the panic attack and the night they spent together came flooding back, especially with Sunny in the picture. Struggling to rein in her emotions, she decided to follow Effie's suggestion about math. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began counting to ten, hoping to regain her composure.

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She heard Sunny's voice in her head

*Maths equations my ass… who does she think she is?! Wait… why am I counting?*

*Agreed why I'm i counting too?*

After ensuring her companions grasped her directions clearly, the huntress pivoted and effortlessly shifted the colossal granite slab obstructing the tower's exit. With lean muscles rippling beneath her olive-toned skin, she presented a striking sight against the backdrop of the landscape.

*Rin stop staring*

*YOU'RE LOOKING TOO.. YOU HYPOCRITE*

*Yeah but I'm counting*

Rin couldn't help but fixate on the sight of her towering figure, feeling a surge of awe mixed with a hint of apprehension. That massive slab of granite before them seemed to defy gravity, making Rin wonder about the immense strength possessed by this strikingly beautiful giantess. Just how powerful was she, lifting something that appeared to weigh a couple of tons, if not more?

Catching a glimpse of their stares, Effie raised an eyebrow and winked.

"You two like what you see? Didn't know you two were like that"

Rin replied barely holding in her shout

"We're not dating"

Effie paused, her gaze sweeping over Sunny before returning to Rin with a thoughtful expression.

"Uh huh, you sure?"

Sunny answered:

"No… huh… wait, YES! I mean, that's not what I..i.…-um. How are you that strong?"

She glanced at the granite slab, then at him.

"Oh, that. That's my Aspect Ability. It's a strong all-around physical enhancement."

*Nice change of subject*

Having such a rare and potent ability was truly remarkable. It might not have been as showy as some others, but it made Effie an absolute powerhouse. It wasn't just about her strength; she had a complete package - speed, agility, endurance, and resilience all amplified. It was almost like she stepped out of one of those tales Neph would occasionally drone on about, the ancient heroes with their extraordinary prowess. And the extent of her enhancement was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Moreover, it's highly probable that she had accumulated a significant reservoir of soul essence from her years spent hunting monsters in the Dark City. All those shards that the defiant huntress had withheld from the oppressive lord of the castle must have been absorbed into her being.

However, it begs the question: why would she openly reveal her Ability? Disclosing such secrets is inherently risky, particularly in the unforgiving environment of the Forgotten Shore.

Effie grinned.

"What? It's not like it's a great mystery. Around here, anyone with a pair of eyes knows what my Ability can do. Do you want me to tell you what my Flaw is as well?"

*Yes please*

*Yes*

There was a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Sunny shook his head and rin could already hear his voice in her head

*Yeah, right. As if anyone is insane enough to share their…*

"It's very simple! My Aspect not only enhances all my physical attributes, it also does the same with all my physical needs. Why do you think I ate enough meat to create a literal pile of gnawed bones, for the fun of it?"

She laughed and shook her head.

"Well, it was fun, not gonna lie…"

Having the strength of many men came at a price in the Dark City - the insatiable hunger of many men as well. In this unforgiving place where sustenance was scarce, it wasn't just a minor inconvenience; it was a perilous flaw. This curse drove individuals like Rin and Sunny to the edge, knowing firsthand the relentless grip of hunger and its transformative power.

To many outsiders, the severity of this condition might seem trivial, but not to Rin and Sunny. They understood the true depths of starvation, how it could ravage a person's body and soul.

Effie's presence in the Dark City might have stemmed from necessity rather than choice. Perhaps she didn't willingly embrace the life of a huntress; perhaps circumstances left her no alternative but to roam the dangerous streets in search of sustenance.

*What other physical needs do people have?*

*Air, then water and food, then…*

*Huh she's really...*

"Hey! You two, I said not too get excited!"

Rin glanced up at Effie, who was laughing at them with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Feeling a surge of frustration, Rin shook her head and looked away.

However, when she noticed Nephis and Cassie watching with amusement, her anger began to ebb. It dawned on Rin that Effie's jesting might have a purpose beyond mere mischief.

*Can you tell what she's doing*

*Yep*

Perhaps, as an experienced huntress, she was trying to ease the tension and prepare them mentally for the dangers of the cursed city. Meanwhile, Effie's grin only widened, hinting at her intentions.

"What? No answer you two?"

They glared at her and spoke at the same time:

"Don't distract me."

As she grappled with her inner dialogue, she made a conscious effort to redirect her thoughts, feeling a tug of reluctance as she finally mustered the words. Rin glanced over at Sunny, and in that moment, it was clear he understood exactly what she meant.

"We're solving equations..."

***

Just moments later, they emerged from the towering granite structure, stepping onto the eerie streets of the Dark City.

Effie donned her ancient armor, summoning the Corinthian helmet adorned with a proud crest of blue horsehair. Only her eyes and lips peeked out from behind the narrow visor, giving her an air of mystique.

Strapped to her back was a weathered leather bag, bulging with the remnants of her recent conquests – the flesh, bones, and hides of the creatures she had vanquished during her hunt. Rin marveled at the bag's deceptive size; it seemed far too small to contain such trophies, yet its weight betrayed its true contents, far too heavy for any ordinary person to bear.

Amidst the array of gear, including the armor, a formidable long knife, and a worn black leather apron, Rin noted the fourth Memory Effie had summoned. She couldn't help but wonder how many more tools of her trade lay hidden within Effie's arsenal.

Despite their proximity, Rin had yet to catch a glimpse of Effie's chosen weapons.

As the pale light of dawn cast ghostly shadows over the cursed ruins, they ventured forth, and in the silence, Rin heard words that chilled her to the core:

*Who's Ryo?*