Five days had passed since Arthur returned to the Waking World, and he had realized something very concerning…
He had no clothes.
When his family moved to their new house, they brought the clothes he already had, but… he only had casual clothes—regular pants, t-shirts, and hoodies.
Until that moment, he had never bought suits or formal attire.
So the problem was that he didn't have a single suit to wear to the Song Ball, which would take place in a few weeks, where he would be presented to the public as a new member of the clan.
So he had the brilliant idea of seeking help to go clothes shopping, and who better for that than someone who was an idol?
So Arthur contacted Kai, and in a little while, they were going to a mall to buy clothes.
He could have waited to go later or asked the clan itself, but this was an activity he hadn't done in a long time. Besides, he wanted to feel human again—to do normal activities.
For this, he had actually only invited Kai, thinking the others wouldn't be interested in something as simple as shopping for clothes. But to his surprise, almost everyone ended up accepting…
So in a little while, he was going shopping with the entire cohort, except Cassie… who, according to Kai, said she was very busy.
Thinking about her, he still felt a bit strange.
Arthur still cared for Cassie a lot. She was his childhood friend, and they had shared many wonderful moments together—they had trained together many times as well. But… she had also been willing to sacrifice Sunny's life so that he and Nephis could escape the Forgotten Shore.
And that was something he didn't know how to feel about. He knew the Dream Realm was a place of survival of the fittest—of stepping over others to ensure your own survival… but the other in this case was Sunny.
He was the one who had helped her stay alive many times during the journey. He was the one who had treated her like a little sister, and yet she had been willing to give Sunny's most private secret to Nephis and then give him the tools to discover it.
She had betrayed one of her best friends.
Arthur still didn't know the effect of Sunny's True Name—he had never told him, and Arthur had never asked. But if Sunny had been willing to kill someone to hide it, it must have been serious. Moreover, the fact that Cassie thought it could be used to sacrifice Sunny was another indication of the True Name's severity.
Either way, that was a topic for another time.
Currently, Arthur was changing his outfit while Regis watched him from a distance.
"I can't believe we're going shopping—my dream come true," the latter said excitedly.
Arthur looked at him out of the corner of his eye.
"'We?" he asked. "You're not going anywhere, Regis. You'll be in my core the whole time."
"What?! Why?"
"First, because I don't want everyone to find out about your existence," he continued. "Second, because you'll definitely say something out of line"
Regis laughed.
"Even if I'm in your core, I can still talk, you know? The only difference is that only you will hear me."
"I know," he replied as he put on a black hoodie. "And I prefer that over you getting into a fight with Effie."
Regis jumped onto his bed and lay down.
"That gluttonous woman? Why would I waste my energy on her?"
"You already did at the Academy," he stated.
Regis chuckled and said, "That was for shit and giggles." He added, "The one I'd like to use my energy on is Master Jet, if you know what I mean."
"Stop," Arthur ordered. "Not with Jet."
"Whatever you say, princess."
Arthur rolled his eyes and finished changing.
Moments later, he was walking down the stairs toward the main living room. He had put on a black hoodie, light blue jeans, and white sneakers.
Upon reaching the living room, he found Ellie sitting with her communicator, scrolling through social media, with two coffees and toast for two people. He wasn't hungry and had no intention of eating, but an idea occurred to him.
He approached and reached for one to bother her. At that moment, Ellie put down her communicator and moved the plate away from him.
"Hey! That's not for you!"
"What?" he pretended not to know. "Didn't my dear little sister make breakfast for her brother?"
She pointed at him with her other hand.
"What are you talking about?! You said you don't need to eat! You said it yesterday!"
Arthur smiled as he tried to grab another piece of toast from the plate she hadn't moved.
"What does that have to do with anything? Just because I don't need to doesn't mean I don't want to!"
"Stop!" Ellie shouted as she tried to push the other plate away. "That's for Rain, not for you, you womanizer!"
He pretended to be hurt by her harsh words. "How cruel… and here I wanted to spend the morning having breakfast with my sister."
She finally moved both plates out of reach.
"I know you're going out right now—don't lie to me!"
Arthur laughed and began ruffling her hair.
"Do you want to know who I'm going out with?" he asked.
Ellie shook her head and said, "No, I don't care."
"What a shame… and here I was going to ask Kai for an autograph for you."
At the mention of Kai, she froze and looked at him with a raised eyebrow, then pushed his hand away from her hair.
"Kai? As in Kai Nightingale?"
"Obviously," he said with a smile, then added, "I think Changing Star is also going, now that I remember…" He shrugged and headed toward the door.
Ellie stood frozen, staring at him, then shouted, "YOU BASTARD!" She stood up and ran toward him.
"What? You said you weren't interested."
She positioned herself between the door and him, opening her arms to block his way.
"But now I am! Get me an autograph from Changing Star cohort, please!"
Arthur crossed his arms and looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"Hmm, I don't know… I'll have to think about it."
Before he could finish speaking, Ellie was already grabbing his arms.
"Let's make a deal!" she offered. "If you get me an autograph from everyone, I'll stop calling you a womanizer!"
Arthur sighed incredulously.
"That's the worst deal in history, you know that, El?"
"But it's the one I'm offering you! Please! Pretty please!" she said, bouncing slightly.
Arthur started laughing and pulled her into a light hug.
"Fine, I'll see what I can do."
She returned the hug, thanking him. "Thanks! You're the best brother!"
He ended the hug and started ruffling her hair again.
"Okay, now it's time for me to go."
Ellie tried to stop him but couldn't, ending up with her hair a complete mess and pouting. He laughed again, and before leaving, he used a Memory to change his eye and hair color.
Even though he was only going to Sunny's house, he decided to change just in case someone recognized him in that short time. Mainly because the house was in a quiet neighborhood, and he didn't want fans starting to gather outside and bother the neighbors.
Now he had reverted to his look from before his First Nightmare. His eyes took on his father's blue color, and his hair took on his mother's reddish hue.
Then he left his house, hearing Ellie laughing behind him without understanding why. He went to Sunny's house, and before he could knock, the aforementioned opened the door.
Sunny looked him up and down with a frown.
"What's wrong?" Arthur asked, confused.
His friend shook his head. "What do you think you're doing? Do you want everyone to know it's you?"
Arthur opened his mouth but then closed it.
Sunny continued. "In the movie about the events of the Forgotten Shore, they included a scene of you as a kid with that hair and eye color… if you go out like that, they'll identify you."
'So that's why Ellie was laughing!'
"I see… thanks for telling me."
At that moment, Sunny let him into his house, and in the living room, Effie and Nephis were already waiting, sitting on the sofa.
"Hey, handsome, you're even handsomer than before," said the first.
Effie was wearing a short dark brown leather jacket. Underneath, she wore a fitted beige t-shirt, accompanied by olive green combat pants held up by a wide leather belt, and sturdy black boots completed the outfit.
Nephis looked up from her communicator, and after several long seconds, simply nodded at him.
'Autistic Star strikes again!' Regis said mentally.
'Shut up, Regis.'
Nephis was wearing a cream-colored shirt over a simple white t-shirt, combined with light blue wide-leg jeans and white sneakers. She finished with a pair of dark sunglasses on her head, while her hair had already taken on a black shade.
Arthur returned the nod and turned toward the huntress—ignoring her comment.
"Hey, Effie, how's everything going?"
"Normal, you know? Nothing special." She began to recount. "Doofus and Princess over here are still as dense as ever, Kai is still the same good guy, and Cassie—no idea."
"Well, normalcy in a world like ours is welcome," he replied, sitting down across from them.
Sunny shouted from the kitchen, "Effie! You ate my snacks!"
"What's the point of having food if you're not going to eat it?!" Effie shouted back.
"I was going to eat it!" he replied with the same intensity. "But it wasn't for you!"
Effie let out a sound of disapproval. "You're evil, little gremlin! Can't you see that someone like me needs to eat a lot to maintain my figure?!"
Arthur suppressed a laugh as the argument between Effie and Sunny continued.
Amidst the shouting, Nephis looked away from her communicator and asked him something.
"How are you handling your return, Arthur?"
He looked up slightly, thinking, then shrugged.
"Exhausting, but my family is in good shape, and that's all that matters." He looked at her. "And you? How are you?"
Changing Star shrugged. "I'm glad for you. I'm fine."
"Then I'm glad."
"Thanks."
'Awkward!'
Fortunately, at that moment, the sound of a PTV arriving was heard, and Arthur let out a sigh. Using his Aether sense, he identified Kai approaching the door.
Before the charming archer could knock, Sunny opened the door, and the former gave the latter a hug.
Then Kai entered the living room and greeted Arthur with a handshake.
"Lord Arthur, I'm glad to see you again."
Arthur returned the handshake with a smile.
"Just call me Arthur, please. And thanks—it's good to be back."
"Hey, handsome," Effie called out. "What does it feel like to be back? I bet you've been getting nonstop romantic—and not-so-romantic—letters." She finished by batting her eyelashes.
Before he could respond, Kai said timidly, "Sorry, maybe we could talk about this on the way?"
Arthur closed his mouth and quickly agreed, as it saved him from having to answer that. Then he decided to change his hair to black, while leaving his eyes blue.
The rest of the members did the same.
Kai put on a black cap and covered his hypnotizing green eyes with sunglasses. He wore a long red coat over his shoulders, adorned with silver embroidery that shone subtly in the sunlight. Underneath, he wore a fitted black turtleneck shirt, combined with perfectly cut dark pants and polished leather boots.
Arthur raised an eyebrow at Kai's attempt to go unnoticed.
Finally, Sunny was wearing a black hoodie, simple pants, and matching sneakers.
Everyone headed toward the PTV without protest, and before getting in, Effie looked at Nephis and Sunny.
"Doofus and Princess are sitting in the back with me. Any objections?" Sunny started to speak, but Effie continued. "Perfect! Now, chop chop!"
Arthur and Kai looked at each other, shrugged, and got into the PTV.
During the drive to the mall, he talked with Kai while listening to Effie make life difficult for Sunny and Nephis, who were sitting next to each other, their knees lightly touching.
Arthur rested his elbow on the PTV's armrest and asked Kai,
"So, Kai… what have you been doing since you got back?"
The charming archer glanced at him and continued driving.
"At first, I didn't really know what to do… I never expected to get a True Name upon returning, so I decided to follow my friends and train for the Second Nightmare." He paused. "Oh! I also participated in Avatar Singer!"
He tilted his head.
"Avatar Singer? What's that?"
Kai smiled widely as he explained. "Avatar Singer is a music competition show. Popular singers compete with each other, but the twist is that they are all using stock VR avatars to perform. So the judges can only evaluate their voices and skill. They only learn the singer's identity afterward."
Arthur nodded after a few seconds.
"I see—you wanted to be judged by your talent, not your appearance?"
The archer's smile grew wider.
"Exactly. Besides…" He paused. "I took the opportunity to announce my return to the fans! It was a perfect media storm!"
"Congratulations, then. It seems you succeeded," he said honestly.
Kai's smile, however, became more forced.
"Thanks, but now that I've become a Master, I had to retire…"
"What? Why?"
Kai was silent for a few moments, then smiled gently.
"Well, it's my Ascended ability, you know… it gave my voice a supernatural quality, and it would be irresponsible of me."
Arthur was silent for a few seconds, then returned the smile.
"I know it must have been a difficult decision, but I'm sure you did the right thing, Kai."
After that conversation, they continued chatting about other topics until they finally arrived at the mall.
The place was large, but nothing particularly striking. Several shops occupied both sides of the wide hallways, while groups of people walked from store to store carrying bags or just browsing. In some sections, there were benches to rest and small food stalls distributed near the central area. The lighting was uniform, and the atmosphere was filled with the constant murmur of conversations, background music, and the sound of footsteps.
It was, in essence, a fairly normal mall—and that was perfect for them, as they didn't want to draw attention.
Kai was "camouflaged," while Nephis and Arthur had Memories that helped them change their hair colors. Additionally, the first two were wearing sunglasses.
In response to this, Regis said mentally: 'Hey, you know who wears sunglasses inside? Blind people and douchebags.'
Arthur suppressed a laugh at that and continued walking through the halls.
So far, no one had recognized them—until the first person did, and strangely enough, it was Sunny they recognized.
A twelve-year-old boy approached and asked for an autograph. After receiving it, he ran off, and Sunny looked at them with a confused expression. Then he shrugged and continued.
Everyone kept following Kai until they reached a store. As soon as they entered, he took off his glasses and winked at the woman. She obviously blushed, but eventually opened a new door and gestured for them to enter.
The rest raised an eyebrow but ended up following Kai into the new room.
The room was much larger than it had appeared from the outside. The walls were covered with shelves and dark wooden cabinets that extended from floor to the ceiling. Dozens of suits rested on them, perfectly organized by color and style. There were designs ranging from simple and elegant to much more extravagant ones, made from high-end fabrics.
On the opposite side were the dresses. Long rows of garments hung neatly on metal racks, forming a mix of colors ranging from dark tones to white. Some were simple and refined, while others were adorned with details that made it clear they were intended for high-profile events.
In one corner, there was a long table with sewing tools and small devices for taking precise measurements perfectly arranged on its surface.
Several elevated platforms were distributed throughout the room so customers could try on clothes while the tailors made adjustments. Nearby, there were large full-length mirrors surrounded by lights that allowed every detail of the garments to be seen from any angle.
Waiting for them beside one of the platforms were two impeccably dressed employees—a man and a woman. Both maintained upright postures and professional smiles, although upon learning who had just entered the room, their expressions flickered for a fraction of a second before regaining composure.
After all, it wasn't common to receive Nightingale, Changing Star, Raised by Wolves, Sunny... and Paragon of Purity all at once.
Arthur, Sunny, and Effie stood completely frozen, staring at everything. In contrast, Kai and Nephis entered the room as if they had been there multiple times before—which Arthur didn't doubt.
"Wow," Sunny said after blinking multiple times.
Effie simply nodded, and Arthur had to follow suit.
The man with his arms behind his back welcomed them.
"It's an honor to be in your presence." He gestured to his companion. "My colleague and I will assist you with whatever you need."
What followed was tiring.
Over the next several minutes, they took an absurd number of measurements from him. Shoulder width, arm length, waist, legs—practically any part of the body that could be relevant for tailoring a suit.
Then came the fittings.
Suit after suit.
Some were too formal for his taste, others seemed designed for top Legacy's from the great clans, and some he simply didn't like.
Every time he tried on a ridiculous suit, Regis never failed to comment on just how ridiculous he looked.
Finally, they found one that convinced everyone.
It was an elegant, modern black suit that fit his body perfectly. The jacket highlighted the breadth of his shoulders without being uncomfortable, while the white shirt and dark tie maintained a sober and refined appearance.
After some minor adjustments, the suit was approved by both Kai and the rest of the cohort.
Then it was Sunny's turn, and unlike Arthur, he took much less time to decide.
When he came out of the fitting room wearing his choice, Arthur had to admit he looked surprisingly good. The suit was completely black with a simple design, but it combined perfectly with Sunny's long dark hair and black eyes, giving him a much more elegant appearance than usual.
It was then that Arthur noticed something curious. He turned his head slightly and focused on Nephis.
Changing Star's expression remained calm and indifferent as always, but the tips of her ears had a slight pinkish tint.
Arthur smiled at noticing that detail.
Then it was Nephis's turn, and the process was slower than his.
Finally, when she came out of the fitting room, she was wearing a simple, elegant white dress. It revealed her collarbone and left her alabaster arms bare. It had no excessive adornments or flashy details, but it was refined, sober, and fit her perfectly.
Arthur now looked at Sunny.
His friend was trying to appear normal, but he was watching her too intently with his onyx eyes, while his cheeks had taken on a pinkish color that contrasted with his pale skin.
He had to suppress a smile.
Then it was Kai's turn.
However, the charming archer had already chosen the suit he would wear to the Song Ball some time ago it seems, so he only needed to make a few minor adjustments to ensure it still fit him perfectly.
Finally, it was Effie's turn. The huntress stood up with a confident smile and walked toward the dress section, while the two employees seemed to mentally prepare themselves for what was about to happen.
As she began browsing options, Arthur moved away from Kai and Sunny, casually ending up sitting next to Nephis.
'Are you going to ask her about Song of the Liars?' Regis asked mentally.
'Don't call her that,' he replied.
"Neph, can I ask you something?" Arthur asked, keeping his eyes forward.
Changing Star didn't turn to look at him and remained focused on Sunny.
"Sure."
He was silent for a few moments and let out a sigh.
"Where is Cassie?"
"I don't know," she replied immediately.
"I'm sure you do."
She smiled slightly.
"You're right. I do."
"Then," a pause, "why did you lie to me?"
Changing Star ignored the question, and a sound-canceling Memory manifested.
"Tell me, Arthur, what do you know about the Sovereigns?"
Arthur frowned.
"Sovereigns?"
"I see." Nephis turned to look at him. "You still don't know what you've gotten yourself into, and yet you agreed to join Song anyway."
"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked, turning to return her gaze.
Nephis held his gaze for a few moments, then broke it and let out a sigh.
"The Sovereigns are people who overcame the Fourth Nightmare… becoming Supreme."
Arthur frowned. Even though he already knew this—because Sylvie had told him—he wanted to play along to see where she was going with all this.
"Let me guess…" He looked forward again. "This is related to the fall of your clan again?"
A quick expression of surprise crossed Nephis's face.
"Oh, you remember that? Well…" She shrugged. "Yes, it is."
"From what you've said, then I suppose Seishan's mother is a Supreme instead of a Saint, and she was involved in the fall of your clan?" A pause. "But that's not all, is it?"
Nephis shook her head.
"No, it isn't."
Then she was silent.
"You're not going to tell me?" Arthur asked, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
Nephis turned to look at him completely and smiled.
"You're smart enough to figure it out yourself… Besides," she looked forward again, "Effie is already coming out of the fitting room."
The next instant, Nephis dismissed the sound-canceling Memory and fixed her eyes on Effie's outfit. Arthur followed her gaze after letting out a sigh.
Effie was wearing a sleeveless white tunic that fell to her ankles. Over it, she wore a short golden cape draped over her shoulders. A wide belt marked her waist, while elegant white leather sandals completed the outfit.
Arthur was about to stand up from his seat, but at that moment, he felt Nephis grab his sleeve. He turned around, completely confused, to look at her, but she wasn't looking at him.
"Cassie is fine. She's been busy with the Fire Keepers and some issues related to our Second Nightmare, but nothing more." She finally let go and stood up.
He watched her the whole time until Nephis joined Kai, Sunny, and Effie in front of him.
'I don't buy that last thing she said,' Regis communicated mentally.
'I don't know. Either way, there's nothing we can do about it.'
Arthur shrugged and approached the group, who were talking among themselves. As he did, he received a message from Seishan telling him that her mother was expecting him in Ravenheart in two hours.
He replied and put away his communicator. Immediately, Sylvie also spoke to him mentally.
'The Queen is ready, and all the Saint sisters will be present. I know I don't need to tell you this, but don't let their presence intimidate you.'
'Thanks, Sylv.'
After that, he finally reached the group, and they all agreed to go get something to eat. The rest of the morning was quite normal—and quite human—to Arthur's relief. He also took the opportunity to ask everyone for an autograph for his sister.
They continued talking about basic things as they ate, and when they finished, the five went their separate ways.
Kai left for an interview he had. Effie and Nephis went to the Immortal Flame Manor. And finally, Sunny returned to his house to train Rain.
Arthur, for his part, went to meet up with Sylvie and Seishan.