The PTV stopped in front of the great Song Clan's compound, but Cassie made no move to get out.
She remained seated in the comfortable seat, watching the guards' perspectives through her Ascended Ability.
Cassie had spent weeks studying the guards' patrol patterns to ensure they wouldn't be noticed at any moment.
For exactly thirty seconds, there were no guards watching the area where the PTV had stopped, and during that time, Sylvie and Arthur were supposed to exit.
Everything was going according to her plan.
Exactly two seconds after they parked, she saw, through the perspective of one of the guards, both of them walking toward the exit.
And when she saw Arthur, a feeling of love and something akin to fear entered her body.
Both were easy to identify in their origin.
She was afraid that Arthur would hate her for what she had done—for lying to him and trying to manipulate him.
And at the same time, she loved him with all her heart. She loved him so much that sometimes she was scared of getting lost in that feeling and forgetting her goals.
They had been friends for a long time, and she was surely the person who knew him best.
For that very reason, and even though it pained her to her very soul, she had to let him go.
Sometimes love is letting go.
Cassie knew that Arthur could probably forgive her… but even so, things would never be the same or even similar in any way. There were already too many complications in their paths to think about something like love.
She couldn't afford the luxury of being in a relationship, no matter how much it hurt.
The future of the world was in her hands.
She knew how the world would end.
She knew how her family and loved ones would die—and also how.
She knew how she herself would die and where she would be buried.
That was why she had to focus on breaking Fate.
The plan was already underway. Only a few details remained to be polished, and one of them would be polished today.
In the end… the future of the world was in the hands of Arthur and Sunny.
One as the sacrifice, and the other as the executor.
At least, that was what she thought.
Although everything was actually very confusing… she hadn't actually been able to see Arthur in one of her visions at any point, and yet, she felt he would play an important role.
Cassie sometimes had visions where everything looked… empty.
At first, she thought her Innate Ability was failing, but slowly, as those visions accumulated, things began to fall into place.
Those empty visions were actually about Arthur.
She saw an altar with runes she didn't understand, while a stone was stuck in the wall.
She saw a green area in the middle of a desert with two skeletons hanging from a tree, and she didn't understand anything.
In another, she saw a place full of True Darkness, and she didn't understand anything.
And finally, she also saw a nightmare gate open in the middle of the street while creatures died without anyone touching them, and she didn't understand anything.
Where there should have been a figure, there was nothing. It felt as if what she was supposed to see was being suppressed, as if a greater force had decided that she had no access to it.
But this didn't fit with Arthur at first, since in the Forgotten Shore, she could at least identify a blurry figure. But in these visions, she couldn't even see that.
She thought it could be Arthur, mainly because of all the strange things surrounding him. If at first she only saw a blurry figure, why couldn't it become something empty later? After all… she couldn't even see his Attributes using her Dormant Ability.
Cassie was lost in everything related to Arthur.
Why couldn't she see his Attributes? What could be in them that prevented her from seeing them?
A person's Attributes were connected to the Spell, and they both had it… so why couldn't she see them?
Had he hidden them on purpose? Was that even possible? Or… had a greater entity hidden them as well?
What was the relationship between the Spell and Fate?
She knew the answer.
Weaver.
Or so she wanted to believe.
Cassie didn't know the relationship between the Spell and Weaver… but how insane would it be to think that the Daemon of Fate had created it?
Even so, although she knew who, she didn't know why.
Why was Arthur special compared to the rest? What made his Attributes so special that they couldn't be seen? Would they be dangerous to see? Why was his future hidden?
She didn't know the answers to those questions…
Thirteen seconds.
Cassie watched through Shakti's perspective.
The Fire Keeper was looking outward from the driver's seat and could see Arthur head-on.
She got out of the PTV and stood in front of the door.
Using this perspective, she could see him perfectly, and when she did, a feeling of longing flooded her body.
Arthur was wearing a mostly black, warm outfit—likely because Ravenheart was a very cold place. His long, pale wheat-colored hair was tied back, with some strands falling over his forehead, framing his perfect face.
His golden eyes were the purest thing she had ever seen, like an immaculate sunrise chasing away a storm that could never reach him.
His presence felt so out of reach that just watching him made her feel strangely small, as if an impossible distance existed between them, no matter how close they were.
For a second, she even felt that she didn't deserve to be looking at him.
Not because his presence conveyed fear or anything similar—for her, it was the opposite. He was everything she lacked.
He was strong; she was weak.
He acted according to what he believed was right; she acted according to what Fate dictated.
Arthur was protected by Fate.
Cassie was just another pawn.
Fifteen seconds.
Arthur didn't see her, but Sylvie did, so Cassie focused on her perspective.
Now she was seeing herself through Sylvie's eyes, and unconsciously, she began to adjust her outfit.
First, she fixed the white shirt she was wearing under a beige jacket, adjusting the position of a handkerchief she had placed in the chest pocket. Then, her next step was to smooth her blonde hair, making it fall perfectly down her back.
She finished with her hand indirectly going to the ring he had given her.
Seventeen seconds.
Arthur now noticed her standing in front of the PTV, and he tilted his head slightly.
At that moment, Cassie returned to Shakti's perspective and saw Arthur's perfect face.
He was even more handsome than before—as if that were possible. Every feature seemed to have been sculpted with absurd precision. Straight lines, impeccable proportions, and a symmetry that made it hard to look away.
He also had a slight feminine resemblance in his face. She thought that with a little makeup in certain places, he could even pass for a woman.
At that thought, she couldn't help but smile genuinely.
Twenty seconds.
They were already quite close, so Cassie prepared herself and greeted them.
"Sylvie… Art, I'm glad to see you after so long." She tilted her head slightly. "If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to speak with Art alone for a few minutes."
Arthur turned to look at Sylvie, and she simply shrugged.
"Nice to see you again, Cassie," said Sylvie. "I have a few things to do, so he's all yours."
"That's fine. I have some free time now," Arthur replied, giving Sylvie a farewell hug.
Cassie, for her part, opened the door and entered the PTV. Arthur followed shortly after.
The PTV's interior had been modified and looked more like a limousine. She sat in the back while Arthur sat in the front but they were looking at each other.
The moment the doors closed, Shakti began to drive.
Sitting across from Arthur, she could only see his perspective, but it wasn't necessary to notice the tension in the air. An uncomfortable silence was present.
Cassie was, in fact, lost.
She had already practiced what she was going to say at this moment, but now, sitting across from him, she forgot everything.
And that was despite her having a great memory. Still, there were so many things she wanted to tell him, and at the same time, so many things she couldn't tell him, that she remained completely silent, not knowing how to feel.
All she knew was that it was a bittersweet feeling.
But that was how her life was going to be from now on. In fact, it was how it had been ever since she returned.
She also didn't know what to say because, in the end, words lost meaning and were never enough. Only actions mattered.
Cassie had lived a clear example of this.
On their first day together, if Sunny hadn't asked Nephis why she didn't abandon her, only to then respond that he would have done so… perhaps she wouldn't have told Nephis Sunny's True Name.
If she had waited until after the Soul Devourer Tree, perhaps she would never have done it... or maybe she would have still done it.
But at that moment, she realized that words were always insufficient. Because at that moment, Sunny risked his life to save her twice, even after saying he would have left her to die.
So if words lose meaning, an apology using them would be insufficient.
That was why Cassie was going to break Fate and by doing so, she was going to make Sunny free.
That was going to be her apology.
But at the same time, Cassie knew that Arthur was different. With him, words carried more weight.
That was why she summoned a memory to cancel sound and broke the uncomfortable silence.
"I'm sorry, Art…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
Arthur remained silent for several seconds, and finally, she heard a slow exhale.
"Do you know what hurt me the most about all of this, Cas?"
Cassie slowly shook her head.
"It wasn't the lies. It wasn't that you tried to manipulate. Of course, it bothered me… but that wasn't the worst part." He paused briefly. "What hurt me the most was that you didn't trust me. You preferred to do all that rather than trust me, and when you gave me the impression that you did, it was just another lie."
Cassie immediately lowered her gaze.
"I wanted to…" she said in a low voice. "I really wanted to." Her hands clenched the fabric of her pants. "But I was scared. By then, I had already made the decision to betray Sunny, and… I couldn't stop myself. I felt that the further I went, the more impossible it was to turn back."
Her voice trembled.
"I thought that if I told you everything… you would hate me."
He shook his head.
"I could never hate you, Cassie."
"I couldn't take the risk," she replied immediately. "I didn't want to lose you, and I didn't want to talk about the things I saw." A shiver ran through her body. "Every time I did, I felt like those visions became more real. As if by speaking them, I was bringing them one step closer. And I didn't want that to happen, but…"
Her eyes began to water.
"I failed, Arthur. I failed over and over again. And because of my naivety, you and Sunny were the ones who paid the price."
For a few seconds, there was only silence, but then Arthur stood up and sat beside her.
"No."
Cassie tilted her head toward him.
"I'm not going to tell you it was all your fault, because it wasn't." He paused for a few seconds, and then continued. "You were given a burden that no one should ever have had to bear, and the conditions at that time didn't help you at all."
He paused briefly.
"And your Flaw didn't help either. Every time you tried to make a decision, I bet you ended up doubting yourself."
She listened to his words in silence and eventually shook her head slowly.
"But I was the one who gave Nephis Sunny's True Name," she said in a determined tone. "I was the one who lied to her to force her to use it. I was the one who lied to you to manipulate you, and I was the one who gave you the tools to discover Sunny's True Name and his Flaw."
Tears finally began to fall from her eyes, soaking her blindfold.
"No one forced me to do those things, but they were my decisions."
Arthur remained silent, presumably because he knew she was right, and Cassie also knew that he knew.
"Yes," he said dryly. "They were your decisions, and they were wrong."
The words hit harder than she expected.
"But understanding why you made them is important." He paused and brought his arm to her shoulder, hugging her lightly. "I'm not going to tell you that you did nothing wrong, because that would be a lie, but I'm also not going to act as if you were a villain."
Arthur paused for a few moments and shook his head.
"You didn't do it out of malice. You did it because you were scared and thought there was no other way." He finished in an accusatory tone. "Because you tried to carry everything alone."
Cassie lowered her head.
"I know…"
Then they both fell silent, because they both understood something that seemed contradictory and yet was true.
Cassie wasn't entirely guilty, but she wasn't innocent either.
"It wasn't your fault that the circumstances were shit, Cas," he continued. "But they were your decisions, and that's why you have to take responsibility for them."
Cassie let out a small laugh through her tears.
"You always find a way to say the hardest things in the least hurtful way."
She didn't see it, but she was sure Arthur was smiling.
"Someone has to."
She remained silent for a few seconds, then smiled and nodded.
"You know... Neph gave me a similar answer, but she obviously wasn't as... as, let's say, tactful." She laughed softly. "I'm going to take responsibility," she said confidently. "That's why I wanted to apologize to you, and I'm also going to apologize to Sunny."
After a few moments, Arthur replied.
"Yeah, I can imagine how Nephis said it." He let out a sigh. "Well, that's all I can ask of you." He paused. "What's done is done, and we can't change it. The only thing we can decide is what we do from now on."
Cassie remained motionless for a few seconds and then smiled sincerely.
"Thank you, Art… you're the only person I can really talk to like this, so thank you for being who you are."
She moved to hug him tightly at that moment, but before she could, she felt a tap on her forehead.
"Auch!"
Cassie brought both hands to her forehead.
"Why did you do that?!" she asked, raising her voice.
Arthur replied in a mocking tone, mimicking hers: "'Thank you for being who you are.'" Then he laughed. "Don't be silly, Cas! You don't have to thank me for something like that!"
Then he started laughing harder, until he stopped hugging her and began holding his stomach.
Cassie stayed where she was, holding her forehead, then frowned and turned toward him, pointing her finger.
"I was being serious when I said that!"
"I know!" he said between laughs. "And that's what makes it funnier!"
She couldn't do anything but pout and look away, crossing her arms.
But at the same time, her lips betrayed a smile that she couldn't hide, bringing back that bitter feeling.
She really loved him. That was why she couldn't have him.
After that, they continued talking about other, less important topics for a few minutes until the PTV stopped in front of a completely abandoned building.
However, neither of them made a move to get out.
Cassie took the opportunity to say something important.
"Art… do you remember when I said I was going to take responsibility for my decisions?" Arthur nodded, and she continued, "Well, what I'm about to tell you is somewhat related to that."
She cleared her throat and began to tell him.
"A few days ago, I had a vision, and it involved Sunny."
"What did you see?"
"I saw a group of Awakened ascending a mountain buried under ice. Their figures advanced slowly toward the heart of a snowstorm—a calamity surrounded by furious winds and a cold so ruthless it seemed to devour existence itself.
On the margins of that storm, the Awakened began to succumb, one by one. The cold claimed their bodies, immobilized their limbs, and finally extinguished the spark of life burning inside them, leaving them turned into silent statues of ice.
And yet, moving among them was a wild shadow.
It advanced with fierce determination, carving a path through the wind and death, as if it refused to accept the fate that claimed everyone else—and at the same time, cursed not to suffer it."
Arthur remained silent, processing the entire vision.
"That's all," Cassie continued. "I don't know when it will be, or where, but the shadow is clearly Sunny."
"Why are you telling me this?"
She hesitated for a few seconds.
"Because I need you to save him."
Cassie didn't see it, but she was sure Arthur frowned at that moment.
"Me?" he asked, then continued, "You just said you don't know where or when, and you expect me to save him?"
"I don't know exactly where it will happen," Cassie replied quickly, "but I am sure of one thing: it will happen in Antarctica."
Arthur fell silent again.
"Antarctica? Why would Sunny go to Antarctica?"
Cassie shook her head as she said, "That… it's better if someone else tells you." Then she went and opened the PTV door. "In fact, you're here to talk to that very person."
Arthur got out of the PTV without responding, and when he noticed that she wasn't following him, he turned around. But before he could ask, she said,
"I only go this far. I'm not necessary for the conversation you're about to have." Cassie smiled. "I'm truly happy to see you again, Art, and thank you for your words today."
Arthur returned the smile.
"I suppose you can't tell me who this person is, can you?" She shook her head, and he let out a sigh. "I expected as much… well, I'm also happy to see you, Cas. Take care."
Cassie smiled more widely and waved goodbye. Then, with the same hand, she closed the door, and the PTV started immediately.
Arthur stood watching it drive away, and as he did, a worry entered his body.
'She didn't tell me which room I had to go to… damn.'
Still, it wasn't going to be hard to figure out. Right now, he was in an area of the Outskirts where he could feel the call of a Gate not too far away.
Indicating that it was a completely empty zone, and through his Aether sense, he could tell that the building in front of him wasn't empty.
In one of its rooms, a person was sitting on a sofa.
In fact, he recognized who it was, so he simply searched for the Aetheric pathways and used Godstep.
From one moment to the next, he found himself in a completely gray room, illuminated only by the exterior lights. However, the figure sitting on the couch illuminated it simply with her presence.
She was clearly… Nephis.
Changing Star of the Immortal Flame.